Journey to Intimacy
Series: A SUMMER OF PSALMS
Speaker: Nick Freestone
Date: 5th January 2019
Passage: Psalm 73:1-28
00:00:00 --> 00:00:10 You good? How's it going? Thumbs up? Yeah. When someone comes up to you who you know and they
00:00:10 --> 00:00:15 say, how's it going? What do you say? What's the response? Good. Yeah, I'm good. Yeah. Dan,
00:00:15 --> 00:00:19 you heard the sermon this morning, can't answer any more questions. Everyone else has to get
00:00:19 --> 00:00:25 involved, but thank you. Our reflex answer is, I'm good. And it doesn't mean that we're putting
00:00:25 --> 00:00:31 a hand up and saying, I'm a good person. It's not a morality question or statement. What
00:00:31 --> 00:00:37 you're saying is actually quite profound. You're saying that, oh, my desires and needs are being
00:00:37 --> 00:00:46 satisfied. And in summary, yeah, I'm good. So how are you going? Normally, if you know the
00:00:46 --> 00:00:51 person, they'll add something. They'll add some authenticity to the I'm good. They'll say,
00:00:51 --> 00:00:59 yeah, I'm good, but I'm really busy. Or they'll add, I'm really tired.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:05 Our declaration that we're in a good place is usually followed by the areas of our life
00:01:05 --> 00:01:12 where good is not being done to us. So how's it going? What's the extra thing you'd add?
00:01:12 --> 00:01:23 I'm good, but... Has anyone asked you, instead of how are you going, have they asked, how's it going
00:01:23 --> 00:01:33 with God? It's a bit more of a challenging variation. But I wonder if someone asked you that, would you
00:01:33 --> 00:01:40 just say, yeah, we're good? Or would you go, yeah, we're good, but I don't always feel close to God.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:48 Or good, but I'm so busy and overwhelmed, I feel like I have no time for Him. I was just talking to
00:01:48 --> 00:01:52 some guys up the front, and I think all of us pretty much shared that about what we're looking
00:01:52 --> 00:02:03 forward to in 2019. We're good with God, yeah, but we'd love to be growing in Him. And we were sharing
00:02:03 --> 00:02:12 ways that we thought we might be able to do that. I think every Christian feels a tension here. Yes,
00:02:12 --> 00:02:18 God is good and faithful to us, but our circumstances could be better. They're difficult.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:25 We all desire to be a safer, richer, more well-known, or to have less conflict in our life,
00:02:25 --> 00:02:33 or just be able to balance a budget. It might be so bad that you're screaming those desires into a
00:02:33 --> 00:02:40 pillow each night. But no matter our circumstance, we know that life can be really hard as we follow
00:02:40 --> 00:02:49 God through hard times. And it's the hard that challenges our view of God's goodness to us.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:58 So today, I want to say that we are in part of the Bible that will meet you right here in your hard times.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:04 Whether you're in hard times now, or whether you will be in the future, it'll prepare you, or it will give
00:03:04 --> 00:03:13 you word right now. So that's where we're headed. This psalm is a journey through our frustrated desires
00:03:13 --> 00:03:20 to satisfaction in intimacy with God. And there alone, you're going to be able to answer the
00:03:20 --> 00:03:26 question after church tonight when everyone's cheekily asking, how's it going with God?
00:03:26 --> 00:03:32 You're going to be able to say, satisfied and joyful. You're going to be able to say, great.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:41 But before I dive in today, let's step aside and just talk about our summer in the Psalms,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 a summer of Psalms. This is what we've got for the next couple of weeks.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:51 I put this image together and I was really excited about all the hot weather we were having,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:56 and it was going to feel like in the room, like it does in the picture, and then it was the coldest
00:03:56 --> 00:04:06 day of the year. Before I dive in, I want to talk a little about Psalms. They are songs that Israel
00:04:06 --> 00:04:15 used to sing together, and they cover all of these areas of human expression, of praise and depression,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:27 joy and grief. They've been carefully curated into this book of 150, and each psalm had a place in the
00:04:27 --> 00:04:36 day-to-day life of Israel. Each psalm had a purpose for them. And now, as God's people, each has a place
00:04:36 --> 00:04:45 in our day-to-day life too. They are for us poems without music. We only have part of their art,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:54 but we have the important bit. We miss nothing of the meaning of each song because we dive into God's
00:04:54 --> 00:04:59 words in the psalms. And even though you might not have the key change you're longing for as you're
00:04:59 --> 00:05:05 reading the psalm, or the melody to help ride the emotions of where it's going and help you understand
00:05:05 --> 00:05:16 it, God is speaking by his Spirit through the psalms. So let's look, I'm going to jump back into the psalm now,
00:05:16 --> 00:05:25 let's look at psalm, or song number 73, a psalm of Asaph. And make sure you've got that page in front of you.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:32 Grab a pen, scribble all over it. You can make spelling mistakes if you want to write notes. No one will see it.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:39 It's okay. Sometimes we process things better if we have a pen in our hand. We get to scribble on something.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:49 That's why it's there for you now. Asaph was a Levite. He was a leader in King David's temple song team.
00:05:51 --> 00:06:05 And he is the man behind this psalm. We hear this psalm like it's his story. And sometimes,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:13 when you hear a Taylor Swift song, I turn the radio off, but you might listen and think,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:19 oh, I wonder which celebrity relationship that she's had this is about. For Asaph, we don't have
00:06:19 --> 00:06:27 all that information. But what's revealed to us is that we can be confident that he has put this story
00:06:27 --> 00:06:31 into our hands on purpose for it to be our story as well.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:39 So here's how to place yourself in the psalm. Look at verse 14. Take up your page or look in your Bible.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 Verse 14.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:48 All day long I've been afflicted. Every morning brings new punishments.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:54 So that's his life. Daily persecution and affliction.
00:06:54 --> 00:07:02 Is that your experience right now? Should we just flick to the next psalm, flick to 74,
00:07:02 --> 00:07:13 if that's not your experience? No. First, this psalm will prepare you for that day when verse 14
00:07:13 --> 00:07:22 is exactly how you feel. When your life is just like Asaph's. But secondly, let's jump right up.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:33 Look at verse 2. Asaph says that his persecution and affliction threaten his foothold.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:39 He's nearly slipped from his sure footing and coping and faith.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:49 That verse is how Asaph invites you into his story. You can't experience his persecution, his circumstance,
00:07:50 --> 00:07:56 but you know what it's like to have circumstances in your life that just try and knock you down.
00:07:56 --> 00:08:08 Imagine a huge fight with your spouse or with your best friend. You don't know how to resolve it. It lingers for days.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:15 It pushes you into dejection and just despondency and it's you're lonely.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:20 Finally, I have this feeling of loneliness in situations like that.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:31 Asaph's description of faith-shaking difficult season in his life invites us to bring our own into it,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:36 into this psalm. As we fear that like him, we feel like we're going to fall.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:42 So look later over at verse 21 and 22 when he says,
00:08:43 --> 00:08:50 My heart was grieved. My spirit embittered. I was senseless, ignorant, like a beast.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:55 And then in verse 16, jump down the bottom, verse 16.
00:08:55 --> 00:09:01 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:07 I know that in hard seasons of my life, I've felt exactly like that.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 I'm sure you have too.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:17 If someone asked me or asked you right then in that hard season,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 how's it going with God?
00:09:19 --> 00:09:26 Would your painful, difficult, real circumstances creep into the way that you answered that question?
00:09:26 --> 00:09:32 So let's look at verse 1.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:38 God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:47 That's a promise of God that Asaph seems to be questioning during his hardship.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:51 He's opening challenge to his heart.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:58 But soon we'll find out if Asaph finds that God is good, like he has been taught.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:09 Here, in verse 1, pure in heart is more than just the washing of hands,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:13 or the doing the right things, or the keeping pure in mind and body,
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 like in verse 13.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 It's more than that.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:21 It's a description of someone pursuing God on his terms.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:25 And we heard from Sam Lowe last week, talking from John 8, about exactly that.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:34 It's a description of someone who's obeying God and caring for others.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:40 And for Asaph in Israel, that meant obedience, sacrifice, and selflessness.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:51 And for us, it means following Jesus, trusting in him and his pure heart, trusting in his sacrifice,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 as we love others more than we love ourselves.
00:10:58 --> 00:11:02 Asaph thought that he was following God on God's terms,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 but his life wasn't working out.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:09 This challenged the promise that God is good.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:14 So, do you feel that God is good to you?
00:11:16 --> 00:11:20 If you understand good to mean peaceful, blessed, and prosperous,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 then you might say no.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:29 That's why Asaph wonders, in verse 13, he says,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 surely in vain.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 Is it all in vain that I've been following God?
00:11:37 --> 00:11:42 For Asaph, God doesn't seem to be doing to him the good that he expected.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 So, he's at this turning point.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 Okay?
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 He's in this horrible circumstance,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 and he's challenging that promise in verse 1.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 He feels like he's falling and slipping.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 And then verse 3,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 Asaph sees the prosperity of those who do not follow God,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 and he is envious.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 Friends, envious is so dangerous.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:15 Longing and yearning for a way out of circumstances.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:21 It turns our eyes to those who have the circumstance that we wish that we had.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:28 Look at what Asaph sees in the world as he turns in verses 4 to 12.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 And just underline them as I go through.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 I'm just going to summarize a few of them.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 Because he sees in the world,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 as he turns,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 and is envious.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 He sees their health,
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 their strength,
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 their safety,
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 their freedom,
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 their riches,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 their fine clothing,
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 jewellery,
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 influence,
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 ease,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 wealth.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 Now, those,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 on their own,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 are not bad things.
00:12:55 --> 00:13:04 But what would the cost be for Asaph to get all of those things?
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 Now,
00:13:06 --> 00:13:10 in Eastern and Western cultures,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:15 we have songs that talk about prosperity like Psalm 73,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 just in a totally different way.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:20 We just wholeheartedly throw ourselves in at verse 3 and go,
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 that's amazing!
00:13:21 --> 00:13:25 Can you think of a song that does that?
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 Longs after prosperity?
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 Money, money, money,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 always sunny,
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 in a rich man's world.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 Abba's beautiful,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 great song that,
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 it was one of my mum's favourites.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:47 If not favourite,
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 then why was she playing it?
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 It was painful.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 But it is about a woman
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 who doesn't care
00:13:53 --> 00:13:56 about what it costs,
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 just has to get prosperity.
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 She's willing to just take
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 any guy who can say,
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 hey, I'm worth a decent amount of money,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 she's like,
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 problem solved.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:10 Adrian,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 my brother over here,
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 shared with me another song,
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 and we're going to play it
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 and absorb it
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 and enjoy it together right now.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 Can you hit play on that, Sarah?
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 We're going to,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 just,
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 just,
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 turn it up.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 Turn it up,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 just absorb the greatness.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 Does anyone know what
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 tin means?
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 Money,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 that's right.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 Just keep it going,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 keep it going,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 because we've got to enjoy
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 what this is about.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 One of the lines in there
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 is literally,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 no money,
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 no talk,
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 which means,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 you've got no money,
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 I've got no interest in you at all.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 And I asked Google Translate
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 to help me with some of the translation.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 Just keep it playing
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 while I read some of these.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 I always want more money.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 I want more money in my day.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 Borrowing money
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 is the most demeaning.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 If you have money,
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 you'll be less guilty
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 driving down the street
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 and stealing other people's things.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 It's trying to poke fun
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 at Hong Kong's pursuit
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 of prosperity,
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 and yet,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 it doesn't provide
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 an alternative.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 It just says,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 in Hong Kong,
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 we love money.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 That's just the reality.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 I think all cultures agree,
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 and I think we're,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 we're brought up
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 to pursue prosperity
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 as a good thing.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 And if you get prosperity,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 it'll solve
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 all the problems
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 of your heart.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 I think that's universal.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 But in Psalm 73,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 prosperity
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 is paired
00:15:42 --> 00:15:45 with moral poverty.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 Prosperity costs
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 everything to get it.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 The prosperous here,
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 and you can circle
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 these ones
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 if you've underlined
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 the first ones,
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 circle these.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 The prosperous here
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 are wicked
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 and arrogant,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 prideful,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 violent,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 malicious,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 oppressive,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 blasphemous.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 They spread heresy.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 They lead people astray
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 and away from God.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 These are not those
00:16:12 --> 00:16:15 who are pure in heart.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 From verse 1.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:19 But even as Asaph
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 sees this,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 right,
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 he seems to be
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 angry at them,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 yet he can't help
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 feeling pulled
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 into how they
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 pursue the world.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 That's what envy does.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 It leads
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 us to look
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 for satisfaction
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 outside of our
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 circumstances.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 And we're constantly
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 bombarded by
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 envy-fueling
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 advertising.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 Get a new car
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 that we bus next to you
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 that's helping you
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 pursue envy,
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 not God.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 Turn on your phone.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 There'll be an advertisement
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 on there as well
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 doing the same thing.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 Or on Facebook
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 and there'll be
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 someone's
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 beautiful cruise
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 holiday photos
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 from Vanuatu
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 like Wendy's
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 this morning
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 when I turned
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 on Facebook.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 look,
00:17:07 --> 00:17:10 it's never been
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 easier
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 to envy
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 the prosperous.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 But it
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 always costs
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 us.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 Because if we
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 have to stop
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 following God
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 to pursue
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 prosperity.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 And as that
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 reality dawns
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 on Asaph,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 he feels like
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 he's got nowhere
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 to go.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 So look at
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 verse 16.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:36 When I tried
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 to understand
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 this,
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 it troubled
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 me deeply.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 In other
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 translations
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 it says
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 life was
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 wearisome.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:49 It seems
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 that hopelessness
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 has set in.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 It's like
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 he either
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 gives into
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 envy
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 or gives up
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 in despair.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 But in his
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 weariness
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 he turns
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 to God.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 There are
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 two points
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 here where
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 Asaph,
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 he just
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 stops in
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 his tracks.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 He doesn't
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 give into
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 envy or
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 give up
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 in despair.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 He stops.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 Verse 15,
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 just above
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 where we were.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 If I had
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 spoken out
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 like that,
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 he deliberately
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 ceases that
00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 expression of
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 envy and
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 trades it
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 for silence.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 He turns
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 away from
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 giving in.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 And then
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 in verse 17,
00:18:35 --> 00:18:38 he enters
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 the sanctuary
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 of God.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 The
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 psalmist
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 went into
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 the temple
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 to be as
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 physically
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 near to
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 God
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 as he
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 could.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 Perhaps
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 even to
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 question God
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 himself on
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 verse 1.
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 God,
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 you said
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 you were
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 good.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 But we
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 don't get to
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 see what
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 happened.
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 But we
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 see the
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 result.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 That near
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 to God,
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Asaph's
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 envy was
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 turned upside
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 down.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 Now his
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 envy turns
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 to pity
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 for the
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 prosperous.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 of those
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 who
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 follow
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 prosperity,
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 he says,
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 then I
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 understood
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 their
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 destiny.
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 Verse 17,
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 I came
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 near to
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 God and
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 I saw
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 their
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 future.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 There's
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 something
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 coming to
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 those who
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 sin,
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 who abuse
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 power and
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 lead humanity
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 astray,
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 who perpetrate
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 injustice in
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 the world,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 and it's
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 God's
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 judgment.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 It's
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 fair and
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 it's
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 coming to
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 them.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 Maybe not
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 now, but
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 it certainly
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 will come.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 But when
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 God sees
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 evil, he
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 does not
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 see it like
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 Asaph did.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 He doesn't
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 look at it
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 in envy.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 Rather,
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 it's
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 perpetrators.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 When he
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 sees them,
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 they're like
00:19:58 --> 00:20:00 ghosts or
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 fantasies to
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 him.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 They're
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 mists and
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 phantoms that
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 he just
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 brushes aside
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 and all
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 that's left
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 is justice.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 You can see
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 in verse 20
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 there, it's
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 quite a
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 difficult verse
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 to grasp,
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 but that's
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 the imagery
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 the psalmist
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 is using
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 for God's
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 judgment.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 Notice as
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 well that
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 Asaph went
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 from slipping
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 and being
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 knocked down
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 in verse 2
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 to his
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 persecutors
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 being completely
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 knocked down
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 and swept
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 away and
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 destroyed.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 Their destiny
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 is awful
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 because it's
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 away from
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 God
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 completely.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 See, this is
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 the worst of
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 the punishments
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 mentioned.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 Look at
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 verse 27.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 It's horrific.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 Those who are
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 far from
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 God
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 will perish.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 Nearness
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 to God
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 is safety.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 Without
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 him,
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 anyone's future
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 is destruction,
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 no matter
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 their prosperity.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 authority.
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 So what's
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 the insight
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 into
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 Nearness
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 to God
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 that Asaph
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 is clinging
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 to?
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 I think
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 that he
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 got a
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 glimpse
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 in the
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 temple
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 that day
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 of his
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 place with
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 God
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 that God
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 had graciously
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 given him.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 Listen to
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 the impact
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 of God's
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 promises
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 to him.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 This is
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 where I
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 find that
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 idea
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 in verse
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 23.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 And this
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 is Asaph
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 talking to
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 God.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 Yet I
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 am always
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 with you.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 You hold
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 me by my
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 right hand.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 You guide
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 me with
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 your counsel
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 and afterward
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 you will
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 take me
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 into glory.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 It's a
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 beautiful
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 promise.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 And as we
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 follow Jesus
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 it's our
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 promise too.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 Nothing
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 had changed
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 for the
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 psalmist
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 in his
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 awful
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 situation
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 but God
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 had affirmed
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 his
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 unshakable
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 place
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 with him
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 right now
00:21:54 --> 00:21:56 in his
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 mess
00:21:56 --> 00:21:59 but also
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 into
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 his
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 afterward.
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 For the
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 Israelite
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 hearing this
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 they did
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 not have
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 the view
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 of eternity
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 in heaven
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 that we
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 get from
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 the New
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 Testament.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 Jesus
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 brought that
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 promise
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 but Asaph
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 was relying
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 on God
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 for deliverance
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 from his
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 circumstance
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 right now
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 and trusting
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 in God's
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 nearness
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 to him
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 to be
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 the only
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 good
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 that he
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 would ever
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 need
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 regardless
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 of what
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 that would
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 look like
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 in the
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 future.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 Glory
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 in verse
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 24
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 have a look
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 at verse
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 24
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 and afterward
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 you will
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 take me
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 into glory.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 The
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 afterward
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 Asaph
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 hoped for
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 was the
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 end of
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 this season
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 in his
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 life.
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 A future
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 beyond
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 there.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 He did
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 not know
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 certainty
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 on into
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 eternity
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 but for
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 him
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 there is
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 so much
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 more to
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 God's
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 promise
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 there in
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 verse 24.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 Asaph's
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 hope
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 was in
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 God's
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 sovereignty
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 and plan.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 You see
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 that in
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 28.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 His
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 sovereign
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 Lord
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 is his
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 refuge.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 The one
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 who understands
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 all things
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 who orchestrates
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 all things
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 the sovereign
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 Lord
00:23:10 --> 00:23:12 and that
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 sovereign
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 Lord's
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 plan
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 is Jesus
00:23:15 --> 00:23:17 and though
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 Asaph
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 knew not
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 how God
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 would save
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 him he
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 trusted in
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 the God
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 who had
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 drawn
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 into him
00:23:22 --> 00:23:24 but for
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 us we
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 see Jesus.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 So we
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 look forward
00:23:28 --> 00:23:31 to God
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 aiding us
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 in our
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 circumstance
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 now but we
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 can also look
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 beyond it
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 through our
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 circumstances
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 to eternal
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 life to
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 complete
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 nearness
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 with God
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 forever
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 as well
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 as help
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 injustice
00:23:46 --> 00:23:48 and our
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 circumstances
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 today.
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 The
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 psalm
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 is a
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 foreshadowing
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 of God's
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 bigger
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 plan
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 a plan
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 for our
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 eternity
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 to fully
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 provide
00:24:00 --> 00:24:02 the desires
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 for the
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 desires
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 of Asaph's
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 heart
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 even beyond
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 what he
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 could see.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 That makes
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 me think
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 of the
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 C.S.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 Lewis quote
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 from
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 mere
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 Christianity
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 which I
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 only know
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 through a
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 song.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 So I'm
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 going to
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 share the
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 song version
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 because that's
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 what I
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 remember.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 But C.S.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 Lewis says
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 he supposes
00:24:24 --> 00:24:26 that if I
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 find in
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 myself
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 desires that
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 no thing in
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 this world
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 can satisfy
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 I can only
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 conclude
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 that I was
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 not made
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 for here.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 Our
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 desires
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 call us
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 to eternity
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 with God
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 not to the
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 envy of the
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 world.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 And with
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 God with
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 us we
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 have the
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 only good
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 we'll ever
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 need right
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 now and
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 for eternity
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 overriding
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 our
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 circumstances
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 and our
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 future
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 worries.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 Hear that
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 reality
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 inspire
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 Asaph.
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 Look at
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 the joy
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 that's in
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 verse 26.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 My heart
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 and my
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 flesh may
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 fail.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 There's
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 no may
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 in the
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 original
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 language.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 It's just
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 my heart
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 and flesh
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 fail.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 They just
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 do.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 But God
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 hear that.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 but God
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 is the
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 strength
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 of my
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 heart
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 and my
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 portion
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 forever.
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 He can
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 see that
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 God
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 steps in
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 to be
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 with us
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 in our
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 frustration
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 and lead
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 us to
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 joy.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 There's
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 no gap
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 in nearness
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 to God
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 in that.
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 He's
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 our strength
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 of heart
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 when our
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 hearts
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 fail.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 And we're
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 left in
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 our psalm
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 with this
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 stark contrast
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 of verse
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 27 where
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 it says
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 people
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 who are
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 those who
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 are far
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 from you
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 will
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 perish.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 But
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 Asaph
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 declares
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 in the
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 midst of
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 his
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 horrible
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 situation
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 as for
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 me
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 it is
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 good to
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 be near
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 God.
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 I have
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 made the
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 sovereign
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 Lord
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 my
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 refuge.
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 God
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 is a
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 refuge
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 a safe
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 foundation
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 that can
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 never be
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 shaken
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 enough
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 to break
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 and cause
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 us to
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 fall.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 The
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 psalm
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 doesn't
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 have
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 the
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 answer
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 in there
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 for how
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 to find
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 God
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 or how
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 to come
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 near to
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 him.
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 We
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 have to
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 look to
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 Jesus
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 for that.
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 And there
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 are many
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 places I
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 could go
00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 and I
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 just want
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 to go
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 to one.
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 Matthew
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 7,
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 24 and
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 25,
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 Jesus
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 is telling
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 a story.
00:26:45 --> 00:26:49 he says,
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 everyone
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 then who
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 hears these
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 words of
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 mine and
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 does them
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 will be
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 like a
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 wise man
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 who built
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 his house
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 on the
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 rock.
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 And the
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 rain fell
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 and the
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 floods
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 came and
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 the winds
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 blew and
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 beat on
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 that house
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 but it
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 did not
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 fall
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 because it
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 had been
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 founded
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 on the
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 rock.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 So hear
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 and do
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 Jesus'
00:27:09 --> 00:27:11 words and
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 you will
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 not be
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 swept away
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 no matter
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 the tide
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 or storm.
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 Your feet
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 will never
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 slip.
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 They will
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 never lose
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 their footholds.
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 Jesus
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 is the
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 way to
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 finding
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 intimacy
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 with God
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 as we
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 follow him
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 through his
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 word to
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 the cross
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 and to
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 his
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 resurrection
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 and into
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 a life
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 with him
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 forever.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 It's
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 through
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 Jesus'
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 death in
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 our place
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 that he
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 takes us
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 off the
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 sand
00:27:40 --> 00:27:42 so graciously
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 takes us
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 off our
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 slippery
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 ground
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 and
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 establishes
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 us
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 firm
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 on
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 him
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 the
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 rock
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 himself.
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 So we
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 find our
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 strength
00:27:52 --> 00:27:54 as he
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 is lifted
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 up in
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 weakness
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 on a
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 cross
00:27:57 --> 00:27:59 as he
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 took our
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 sin away
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 to give
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 us back
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 our
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 intimacy
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 with God.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 God.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 Let's
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 see something
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 wonderful
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 here in
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 verse 26.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 Verse 26
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 go back
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 there.
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 Where it
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 says God
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 is the
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 strength
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 of my
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 heart.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 The Hebrew
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 word for
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 strength
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 there is
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 rock.
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 God is
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 the rock
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 of my
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 heart.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 We stand
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 on rock
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 only when
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 we depend
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 on Jesus
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 himself.
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 Today if
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 your heart
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 is
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 embittered
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 or weak
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 or failing
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 or you
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 just can't
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 understand
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 what's
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 going on
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 in your
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 life
00:28:40 --> 00:28:42 run to
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 him.
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 The true
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 rock of
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 your heart
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 and your
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 portion
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 forever.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 Rely on
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 him as
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 your
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 foundation
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 and strength
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 for
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 eternity.
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 And join
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 the psalmist
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 in verse
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 25 and
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 shout to
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 God,
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 who have
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 I in
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 heaven but
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 you?
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 There is
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 nothing on
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 the earth
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 that I
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 desire
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 besides
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 you.
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 I have
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 all I
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 could ever
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 desire
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 with Jesus
00:29:07 --> 00:29:09 says
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 Asaph
00:29:10 --> 00:29:13 if he
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 saw the
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 whole
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 picture.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 Is that
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 enough for
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 you?
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 To be
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 near God?
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 The psalm
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 has given
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 us a
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 process to
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 walk
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 through
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 when
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 we're
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 frustrated
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 in our
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 circumstances
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 and on
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 our way
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 to envy
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 of the
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 world.
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 So open
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 your Bible
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 when you're
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 bitter and
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 weary.
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 Learn to
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 take this
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 journey in
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 prayer and
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 come near
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 to the
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 counsel of
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 God.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 Seek
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 his word.
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 Read
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 of Jesus
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 in the
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 gospels.
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 Wonder
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 in his
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 love as
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 he comes
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 near to
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 you to
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 bring you
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 to God.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 How's
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 it going?
00:29:55 --> 00:29:59 Follow
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 Asaph and
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 share this
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 journey with
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 other
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 believers.
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 Remember
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 that.
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 Remind
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 each other
00:30:05 --> 00:30:07 of this
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 psalm and
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 journey through
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 it together.
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 If someone
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 says how
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 you're going
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 and you're
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 not good,
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 talk to
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 them.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 Recall
00:30:13 --> 00:30:15 everything
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 that's going
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 on in your
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 life so
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 that you're
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 given the
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 opportunity for
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 someone else
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 to remind
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 you of
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 all you've
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 got in
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 Jesus.
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 Ask each
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 other,
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 how are you
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 going with
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 God?
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 Ask the
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 question that
00:30:29 --> 00:30:31 matters because
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 life is
00:30:33 --> 00:30:35 hard, but
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 hard does
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 not mean
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 wrong.
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 I'll say that
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 one more
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 time because
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 it's late in
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 the sermon.
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 It's important.
00:30:43 --> 00:30:45 Life is
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 hard, but
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 hard does
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 not mean
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 wrong.
00:30:51 --> 00:30:53 Hard can
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 still be
00:30:53 --> 00:30:55 good with
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 God.
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 Last
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 thing.
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 Have this
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 worldview of
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 Asaph,
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 right?
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 He didn't
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 see only
00:31:05 --> 00:31:07 his life in
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 the balance
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 as he
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 wrestled
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 with envy,
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 as he
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 stood in
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 this
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 circumstance.
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 No,
00:31:12 --> 00:31:14 he could
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 see in
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 verse 15.
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 Just have
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 a look at
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 verse 15.
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 I would
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 have betrayed
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 your children
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 if I had
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 spoken out
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 like that.
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 He
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 deliberately
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 changes
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 course because
00:31:27 --> 00:31:29 he does
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 not want
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 potential
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 believers to
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 be led
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 astray.
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 Those who
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 he might
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 have been
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 talking about
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 in verses
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 4 to
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 12.
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 Those who
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 don't yet
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 know the
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 benefits of
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 nearness to
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 God.
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 And then
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 as he
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 finishes,
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 Asaph
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 reaffirms
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 that
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 commitment
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 in verse
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 28.
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 He ends
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 the psalm
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 with this
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 verse that
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 feels like
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 it's on
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 its own.
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 If you
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 don't see
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 that it's
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 on his
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 heart in
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 the midst
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 of his
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 trouble and
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 wrestling
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 with God.
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 The very
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 end of the
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 psalm,
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 it says,
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 I will
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 tell of
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 all your
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 deeds.
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 Would
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 you respond
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 to your
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 joy in
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 God as
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 he fulfills
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 all your
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 desires in
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 him by
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 sharing that
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 good news?
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 Go tell
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 the world.
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 Go tell
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 of his
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 deeds.
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 As we
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 go,
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 this psalm
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 can help
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 us be
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 ready for
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 hard times,
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 armed with
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 readiness to
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 turn to
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 God in
00:32:28 --> 00:32:30 Jesus and
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 rest in
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 the relationship
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 of intimacy
00:32:32 --> 00:32:34 that Jesus
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 himself has
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 won for
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 us.
00:32:36 --> 00:32:39 God
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 will
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 not have
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 the music
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 to sing
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 Psalm 73
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 as they
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 did in
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 Israel
00:32:45 --> 00:32:47 3
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 years ago.
00:32:50 --> 00:32:50 We're
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 blessed with
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 songs to
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 help us
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 turn back.
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 Things that
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 people have
00:32:54 --> 00:32:56 written with
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 the same
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 heart and
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 the same
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 intent to
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 turn us
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 away from
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 envy and
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 to call us
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 back to
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 God.
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 We're going
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 to sing some
00:33:04 --> 00:33:04 of those
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 right now.