1 00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:04,000 You might have noticed last week that we did not cover the 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:08,119 entirety of Second Samuel Chapter 21, and that is okay 3 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,040 because I'm here to come for you tonight that we will cover those 4 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:13,040 verses in this. Chapter. 5 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:19,560 Sometimes the chapter breaks may may confuse us or may cause us 6 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,800 to separate the thought pattern, but we have to try to look past 7 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,280 as much as those chapter breaks. And numbers and verse numbers 8 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:27,560 are helpful. We have to also see beyond that 9 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,650 and see the flow of thought. And so we will look at some of 10 00:00:30,650 --> 00:00:34,450 these verses in a moment here. But I want you to see the first 11 00:00:34,450 --> 00:00:37,890 word of Chapter 22. If you have the ESV, it's the 12 00:00:37,890 --> 00:00:41,610 word, and if you have the new King James Version, you'll have 13 00:00:41,610 --> 00:00:46,130 the word then. And the first word there denotes 14 00:00:46,130 --> 00:00:49,930 that what is happening here in chapter 22 is connected to. 15 00:00:50,490 --> 00:00:53,810 The collection of verses in the preceding section. 16 00:00:54,410 --> 00:00:58,810 What you see in the last part of chapter 21 is very much tied to 17 00:00:58,930 --> 00:01:02,130 what you and I are going to be introduced to here in chapter 18 00:01:02,130 --> 00:01:04,970 22. And what you have in the last 19 00:01:04,970 --> 00:01:08,010 verses of chapter 21 is quite interesting. 20 00:01:09,250 --> 00:01:14,530 You have here a bullet point point form report of David and 21 00:01:14,530 --> 00:01:19,730 his men fighting against the common foe, the Philistines. 22 00:01:20,530 --> 00:01:23,370 That's what you see, very rapid fire style. 23 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,920 Just some reports of how David and his men conquered the 24 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:29,640 Philistines. But not just the Philistines in 25 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,520 a general sense. In a very specific sense, what 26 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,320 you will see there in those verses is how David and his men 27 00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:38,680 conquered the giants who are numbered. 28 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:45,240 Among the Philistines you have 4 specific skirmishes and each one 29 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:50,920 of those battles refers to a giant who has been overtaken by 30 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:52,120 God's. People. 31 00:01:52,670 --> 00:01:55,350 I want us to read it quickly before we come into chapter 22, 32 00:01:55,710 --> 00:01:59,750 verse 15 to chapter 21. There was a war again between 33 00:01:59,750 --> 00:02:02,310 the Philistines and Israel, and David went down together with 34 00:02:02,310 --> 00:02:05,310 his servants, and they fought against the Philistines. 35 00:02:05,670 --> 00:02:11,190 And David grew weary, and Ishby Banab, one of the descendants of 36 00:02:11,190 --> 00:02:15,710 the giants whose spear wait 300 shekels of bronze, and who was 37 00:02:15,710 --> 00:02:17,910 armed with a new sword thought to kill. 38 00:02:17,910 --> 00:02:20,730 David. But Abisha, the son of Zuraya, 39 00:02:20,730 --> 00:02:23,850 came to his aid and attacked the Philistine and killed him. 40 00:02:24,490 --> 00:02:28,250 Then David's men swore to him. You shall no longer go out with 41 00:02:28,250 --> 00:02:31,490 us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel. 42 00:02:32,290 --> 00:02:35,930 After this there was again war with the Philistines at Gob. 43 00:02:36,580 --> 00:02:41,420 And Sivakai the Hushatite struck down Saf, who was one of the 44 00:02:41,420 --> 00:02:44,100 descendants of the giants. And there was again war with the 45 00:02:44,100 --> 00:02:47,220 Philistines at Gob. And El Hanan, the son of Yair. 46 00:02:47,220 --> 00:02:51,820 Origim the Bethlemites struck down Goliath the Gettite, the 47 00:02:51,820 --> 00:02:54,180 shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 48 00:02:54,740 --> 00:02:57,220 Chronicles tells us that this was actually Goliath's brother. 49 00:02:58,620 --> 00:03:02,220 Verse 20 there was again wore a Gath, where there was a man of 50 00:03:02,220 --> 00:03:05,300 great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six 51 00:03:05,300 --> 00:03:10,270 toes on each foot. 24 in number. And he also was descended from 52 00:03:10,270 --> 00:03:13,510 the giants. And when he taunted Israel, 53 00:03:13,510 --> 00:03:17,030 Jonathan, the son of Shamai, David's brother, struck him 54 00:03:17,030 --> 00:03:20,270 down. These four were descended from 55 00:03:20,270 --> 00:03:23,510 the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David. 56 00:03:23,710 --> 00:03:25,670 And by the. Hand of his servants. 57 00:03:27,230 --> 00:03:30,750 You can take each of these incidences and and expand upon 58 00:03:30,750 --> 00:03:31,710 them. We're not going to do that. 59 00:03:31,710 --> 00:03:34,630 I want us to take a few points from an overarching perspective. 60 00:03:35,660 --> 00:03:37,100 I want to make one point here to start. 61 00:03:37,100 --> 00:03:41,620 First, recognize how this is mentioned in the latter part of 62 00:03:41,620 --> 00:03:44,700 David's life. He became weary. 63 00:03:45,180 --> 00:03:48,620 Seems as though David is getting old at this point. 64 00:03:49,060 --> 00:03:53,740 He's not the same agile, quick, strong, fierce warrior that he 65 00:03:53,740 --> 00:03:56,490 was in his youth. You know his body, like it will 66 00:03:56,490 --> 00:03:58,770 with all of us will, you know, going to take a toll. 67 00:03:58,770 --> 00:04:01,010 And it did take a toll on him and the men under him. 68 00:04:01,010 --> 00:04:02,370 Recognize that. And he said, you're done. 69 00:04:02,370 --> 00:04:03,770 You're not coming to war with us anymore. 70 00:04:03,890 --> 00:04:05,810 You have to stay back. Let us take care of it. 71 00:04:06,970 --> 00:04:10,090 What I find so significant about this is that David is still 72 00:04:10,090 --> 00:04:12,090 fighting giants near the end of his life. 73 00:04:14,410 --> 00:04:19,610 David is still fighting these towering foes, even as a 74 00:04:19,610 --> 00:04:24,060 seasoned warrior. When David fought Goliath as a 75 00:04:24,060 --> 00:04:25,700 youth, it was not a one time event. 76 00:04:26,940 --> 00:04:30,380 No, what we see here is that there is reoccurrence. 77 00:04:31,180 --> 00:04:33,420 These giants reintroduce themselves. 78 00:04:34,380 --> 00:04:37,660 And like David, you and I might have known battles in our 79 00:04:37,660 --> 00:04:40,460 younger years in the faith. We might have seen God bring 80 00:04:40,460 --> 00:04:43,980 great victories and certain aspects of our sin and our 81 00:04:43,980 --> 00:04:47,220 flesh. But that does not mean that that 82 00:04:47,220 --> 00:04:51,780 same sin, that same temptation. Is not willing to revisit us 83 00:04:51,780 --> 00:04:57,500 with a vengeance. In fact, you can expect that you 84 00:04:57,500 --> 00:05:00,220 should keep that in mind so that your heart would be strong and 85 00:05:00,220 --> 00:05:02,900 that you would be. You'd be discerning with your 86 00:05:02,900 --> 00:05:05,020 awareness and not to let your guard down. 87 00:05:05,940 --> 00:05:08,220 David here is dealing with giants yet again. 88 00:05:08,220 --> 00:05:11,940 Your battle will with sin will continue until you give up your 89 00:05:11,940 --> 00:05:16,340 final breath. It doesn't decrease as you 90 00:05:16,340 --> 00:05:18,800 increase in age. No, no. 91 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:23,400 You can expect a lifelong struggle with sin. 92 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:25,280 And when I mean struggle, I don't mean defeat. 93 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,600 I mean a constant wrestling with the flesh. 94 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:30,840 That's what Galatians 5 tells us, that the spirit and the 95 00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:33,960 flesh are constantly at war with one another. 96 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,120 And we see that here in the physical sense. 97 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,200 And it's it's true. It points to the spiritual 98 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:42,000 trajectory of our own lives. We can expect that here are 99 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,000 giants yet again. And I think this is helpful for 100 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,200 even those who serve in the in the local church setting. 101 00:05:48,090 --> 00:05:50,490 There are people in the local church who who are devoted to 102 00:05:50,490 --> 00:05:52,970 serving, who are very much involved with the lives of other 103 00:05:52,970 --> 00:05:54,570 people. And if you've been in the local 104 00:05:54,570 --> 00:05:57,450 church long enough, you know that in the church problems 105 00:05:57,450 --> 00:05:59,730 arise. And if there's a time of peace, 106 00:05:59,730 --> 00:06:03,530 then surely at any point there will be some kind of turbulence 107 00:06:04,570 --> 00:06:06,930 that will make its way among the people of God. 108 00:06:06,930 --> 00:06:08,570 And I've heard it, I've heard people say it. 109 00:06:09,450 --> 00:06:11,450 Haven't we already dealt with this issue before? 110 00:06:12,610 --> 00:06:16,050 Haven't we already faced these problems before? 111 00:06:16,900 --> 00:06:20,580 Hasn't our church learned? Enough already. 112 00:06:21,460 --> 00:06:24,380 And if you're there, if you feel that way, if you, if you sense 113 00:06:24,460 --> 00:06:28,300 your your body, your soul, your mind, your heart becoming weary. 114 00:06:28,300 --> 00:06:31,460 Remember David. Remember David with the giants. 115 00:06:32,900 --> 00:06:36,140 Understand that Goliath had siblings. 116 00:06:38,180 --> 00:06:43,460 Sin has siblings. Sin multiplies. 117 00:06:43,860 --> 00:06:48,620 Sin is ever present. Sin is waiting and always ready 118 00:06:48,620 --> 00:06:52,420 to wage war, so keep that in mind, not to discourage you, but 119 00:06:52,420 --> 00:06:55,620 to encourage you. Your flesh may grow old, may 120 00:06:55,620 --> 00:06:58,620 become weak, but our hearts cannot afford to do so. 121 00:07:00,140 --> 00:07:02,340 The Lord will be with us. Secondly, we mentioned these 122 00:07:02,340 --> 00:07:06,260 giants and noticed that although David was the main target of the 123 00:07:06,260 --> 00:07:08,580 Philistines, they wanted him. He was the lamp of Israel. 124 00:07:09,140 --> 00:07:11,380 He was a shining star. If we can get him, we can get 125 00:07:11,380 --> 00:07:14,420 the rest. Was it David? 126 00:07:15,290 --> 00:07:17,490 Who conquered the giants? What did we read? 127 00:07:18,530 --> 00:07:22,370 It was the servants, 4 servants, 4 different servants, who faced 128 00:07:22,370 --> 00:07:27,130 4 different giants. That's not an accidental insight 129 00:07:27,210 --> 00:07:30,090 that is very much strategic by the spirit to tell us something 130 00:07:30,090 --> 00:07:33,530 so wonderful, so wonderful about your faith and my faith. 131 00:07:35,050 --> 00:07:36,690 Consider this. Why is this important? 132 00:07:36,690 --> 00:07:42,850 Because David for the longest time was recognized and praised 133 00:07:42,850 --> 00:07:45,520 as the giant Slayer. Of Israel. 134 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:51,160 When David faced off Goliath, who did he have behind him? 135 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:56,080 Cowards? In Saul's army, not one single 136 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,520 soldier was willing to stand up against Goliath. 137 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:06,400 Only one teenager was willing to face off with this blasphemer, 138 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,320 and through his faith in the living gods saw victory. 139 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,200 And the nation recognized them and crowned them and praised 140 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:17,400 them as such. But according to this text, 141 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,920 eventually something happened. What happened? 142 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,160 Some of those who admire David, follow David, submitted to 143 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:27,240 David's leadership, followed his example. 144 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:31,680 David wasn't the only giant Slayer. 145 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:35,640 Now you have different men who did the same. 146 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,679 What do we learn from that? Here's what you learn from that. 147 00:08:40,789 --> 00:08:46,070 David's faith, his obedience, his trust, inspired those around 148 00:08:46,070 --> 00:08:52,150 him, inspired those around him to believe the way David 149 00:08:52,150 --> 00:08:56,470 believed and to be courageous the way David was courageous. 150 00:08:57,270 --> 00:09:00,910 Consider that That's glorious. That's awesome. 151 00:09:01,830 --> 00:09:05,510 Because what it tells me is that there is something. 152 00:09:05,860 --> 00:09:09,300 Profoundly beautiful and glorious about a single minded 153 00:09:09,300 --> 00:09:12,660 devotion to Jesus Christ when you are willing to allow your 154 00:09:12,660 --> 00:09:15,980 faith to go to the place where David went to stand alone. 155 00:09:15,980 --> 00:09:20,540 If you have to stand alone, then God is able to take that quality 156 00:09:20,540 --> 00:09:25,140 of faithfulness and use it as a means to birth a new conviction 157 00:09:25,700 --> 00:09:28,380 in the. Dormant or the fearful, he's 158 00:09:28,380 --> 00:09:30,700 able to do that. Do you remember the the words of 159 00:09:30,700 --> 00:09:34,180 the Apostle Paul and Philippians 114 when he was writing to this 160 00:09:34,180 --> 00:09:37,140 church in prison? I love that epistle because 161 00:09:37,140 --> 00:09:40,100 here's this man in prison writing to Christians in their 162 00:09:40,100 --> 00:09:42,820 church, in their homes. Rejoice over and over. 163 00:09:42,820 --> 00:09:44,900 Rejoice, rejoice. I mean, you would think they 164 00:09:44,900 --> 00:09:47,460 would write letters to him and say rejoice, rejoice, rejoice. 165 00:09:47,980 --> 00:09:49,980 He's writing to them from a dungeon. 166 00:09:50,220 --> 00:09:53,060 You rejoice. I'd be convicted just reading 167 00:09:53,060 --> 00:09:55,140 those words. But he said something so 168 00:09:55,180 --> 00:09:57,500 interesting in Philippians 114. You can turn there if you'd 169 00:09:57,500 --> 00:09:59,780 like. He gives this wonderful inside, 170 00:09:59,940 --> 00:10:03,360 inside that. Solidifies really the point that 171 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,640 I'm trying to make, he says. Here and most of the brothers. 172 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:14,400 Having become confident in the Lord, by my imprisonment are 173 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,240 much more bold to speak the word without. 174 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:21,960 Fear. What was it that inspired the 175 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,320 Brethren to become more bold in their proclamation and their 176 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:26,840 witness? It took Paul. 177 00:10:27,860 --> 00:10:30,300 And his willingness to go to great lengths. 178 00:10:30,300 --> 00:10:33,580 And his devotion to God, even if it meant his imprisonment, Even 179 00:10:33,580 --> 00:10:35,860 if it meant what potential death. 180 00:10:36,340 --> 00:10:37,900 Remember, there he was talking about Philippians. 181 00:10:37,900 --> 00:10:40,580 One look, I might die. I don't know if I have this 182 00:10:40,580 --> 00:10:41,660 tension. Should I go up? 183 00:10:41,860 --> 00:10:44,260 It's far better, but if I stay, it's better for you. 184 00:10:44,740 --> 00:10:47,260 So there there was rumors there, there was talk that he could 185 00:10:47,260 --> 00:10:49,900 even be put to death. And the Christians who knew 186 00:10:49,900 --> 00:10:53,020 about Paul's imprisonment said if he can go through that, if 187 00:10:53,020 --> 00:10:55,140 he's willing to go there, surely we can. 188 00:10:55,980 --> 00:11:04,290 Surely we can. If you just choose to stay and 189 00:11:04,290 --> 00:11:08,970 to fight for your marriage in the spirit, who knows what kind 190 00:11:08,970 --> 00:11:11,370 of hope you will give to other marriages that are struggling? 191 00:11:12,570 --> 00:11:13,810 If you young person, listen to me. 192 00:11:13,810 --> 00:11:15,610 I'm so glad to see so many young people here. 193 00:11:16,450 --> 00:11:21,250 If you but choose to be pure in this defiled, disgusting, 194 00:11:21,450 --> 00:11:25,930 distracted generation, perhaps your faith will shine. 195 00:11:26,380 --> 00:11:30,140 And will be a way out for others who have been convinced that 196 00:11:30,140 --> 00:11:35,340 compromise, degeneracy, lukewarmness, indifference is 197 00:11:35,340 --> 00:11:39,020 the norm. Shock people. 198 00:11:41,820 --> 00:11:44,500 What happens when something or someone so precious to you is 199 00:11:44,500 --> 00:11:48,540 taken from you and yet you still choose to sing and yet you still 200 00:11:48,540 --> 00:11:51,820 choose to serve the Lord? Surely God can take such a 201 00:11:51,820 --> 00:11:54,140 faith. And use it as a supply of 202 00:11:54,140 --> 00:11:57,500 strength for those who will face their own sorrows in their 203 00:11:57,500 --> 00:12:04,540 tomorrows with their own song. So we see here that these men 204 00:12:05,220 --> 00:12:09,380 followed the example of David and they slew their own giants. 205 00:12:10,340 --> 00:12:12,020 Who knows what God can do with your faith? 206 00:12:13,060 --> 00:12:14,780 Who knows what God can do with your devotion? 207 00:12:15,140 --> 00:12:16,860 It might take some time, but it's worth it. 208 00:12:17,020 --> 00:12:19,540 You may not know it immediately. But you can believe that that is 209 00:12:19,540 --> 00:12:22,900 how contagious faith can be. Fear is contagious, but so is 210 00:12:22,900 --> 00:12:24,220 faith. We always talk about how 211 00:12:24,220 --> 00:12:26,460 contagious fear is. Let's talk about how contagious 212 00:12:26,460 --> 00:12:32,020 faith is. Side note, David was a leader. 213 00:12:32,020 --> 00:12:34,060 Be careful who you allowed to be a leader in your life. 214 00:12:35,660 --> 00:12:38,620 Who do you sit? Under what kind of pastors do 215 00:12:38,620 --> 00:12:40,860 you sit under? What kind of teaching do you 216 00:12:40,860 --> 00:12:43,980 listen to? Because whether you realize it 217 00:12:43,980 --> 00:12:46,980 or not, their level of faith will inspire you for the greater 218 00:12:46,980 --> 00:12:49,610 or for the worse. This would be very, very 219 00:12:49,610 --> 00:12:51,770 discerning. Be very, very careful. 220 00:12:51,770 --> 00:12:55,170 Nobody's perfect. Understand that there is a level 221 00:12:55,170 --> 00:12:58,410 of imitation that occurs when you willingly choose to make 222 00:12:58,410 --> 00:13:03,610 someone a leader in your life. Saul, look what he did with his 223 00:13:03,610 --> 00:13:04,970 men. He confused them. 224 00:13:04,970 --> 00:13:07,010 They they were just it was a mess. 225 00:13:07,770 --> 00:13:10,010 David wasn't perfect, but oh, did he have faith. 226 00:13:10,010 --> 00:13:12,410 And that faith trickled down to those who said we want to follow 227 00:13:12,410 --> 00:13:18,450 David Speaking of song. What's the substance of chapter 228 00:13:18,450 --> 00:13:20,170 22? You look at it just from from a 229 00:13:20,930 --> 00:13:23,730 face value perspective, and you can recognize that this is a 230 00:13:23,730 --> 00:13:28,850 song, this is a hymn, this is, this is a Worshipful praise 231 00:13:30,050 --> 00:13:32,810 that's being given unto the Lord, and it's confirmed here, 232 00:13:32,810 --> 00:13:35,450 Verse one. And David spoke to the Lord the 233 00:13:35,450 --> 00:13:39,290 words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from 234 00:13:39,290 --> 00:13:43,050 the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 235 00:13:43,890 --> 00:13:48,400 Chapter 22 is a song. And notice again that first word 236 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,880 and or the new King James Then now only is this song. 237 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:57,000 It is a song placed on the backdrop of giant killing 238 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:01,480 victories to teach us what there there seems to be again just 239 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:05,320 just see past that big #22 and that title that's been inserted 240 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:07,680 there. And if you just have the text, 241 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,800 you see a flow of thought in which the Spirit wants to convey 242 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:16,270 continuity. And so, right after this just 243 00:14:16,270 --> 00:14:21,190 short tribute of these men killing giants, you come to this 244 00:14:21,630 --> 00:14:26,990 song to to convey what that on the other side of radical 245 00:14:26,990 --> 00:14:30,390 obedience, that on the other side of complete trust in the 246 00:14:30,390 --> 00:14:36,030 Lord, especially in and through your trials, awaits a song so 247 00:14:36,030 --> 00:14:42,660 powerful, so deep, so rich. An exuberant praise that will 248 00:14:42,660 --> 00:14:47,540 burst forth from your bosom. That's what we see here, David, 249 00:14:47,540 --> 00:14:50,940 rejoicing with the backdrop of all the victories that God has 250 00:14:50,940 --> 00:14:55,220 brought him through. And I love to see that. 251 00:14:56,700 --> 00:15:00,780 Proverbs 29 Six says that an evil man is ensnared in his 252 00:15:00,780 --> 00:15:03,820 transgression. But a righteous man sings and 253 00:15:03,820 --> 00:15:07,700 rejoices. A righteous man sings and 254 00:15:07,700 --> 00:15:10,220 rejoices. What's the connection? 255 00:15:10,900 --> 00:15:13,540 An evil man is ensnared in his transition, but a righteous man 256 00:15:13,540 --> 00:15:17,420 sings and rejoices. It's very hard to sing when you 257 00:15:17,420 --> 00:15:20,580 don't have a clear conscience. It's very hard to sing when 258 00:15:20,580 --> 00:15:23,900 you're in bondage. It's very hard to sing when your 259 00:15:23,900 --> 00:15:28,420 enemy not just not just people who are being used by Satan, the 260 00:15:28,420 --> 00:15:32,300 sin, your flesh, the world and the philosophies of this world 261 00:15:32,300 --> 00:15:33,940 and narratives and all the discouragements and the 262 00:15:33,940 --> 00:15:36,580 allurements of this world. When those things have a hold on 263 00:15:36,580 --> 00:15:37,660 you, it's very difficult to sing. 264 00:15:37,660 --> 00:15:41,890 But when you are set free. Then you'll know how to sing. 265 00:15:43,370 --> 00:15:48,370 Then you'll know a true song, as we're about to find out, you 266 00:15:48,370 --> 00:15:49,290 know. But I looked at this and I 267 00:15:49,290 --> 00:15:51,290 thought, there's more, there's more here. 268 00:15:52,370 --> 00:15:54,210 People debate when this was written. 269 00:15:55,330 --> 00:15:57,570 Most people agree that this is not chronological. 270 00:15:57,970 --> 00:15:59,970 Some believe that this was written at a later. 271 00:15:59,970 --> 00:16:02,210 Time or an earlier time rather. There's debate. 272 00:16:02,530 --> 00:16:04,950 There's debate here. But one thing is for certain 273 00:16:04,950 --> 00:16:08,670 that based on what we see in 21, based on what we see even in 22, 274 00:16:08,830 --> 00:16:11,710 this is this is somewhere in the second part of David's life. 275 00:16:12,350 --> 00:16:14,910 How do we know that? Because he wrote it when the 276 00:16:14,910 --> 00:16:19,950 Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, all his 277 00:16:19,950 --> 00:16:21,430 enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 278 00:16:21,670 --> 00:16:26,750 So definitely post Saul, but all his enemies at some point David 279 00:16:27,110 --> 00:16:29,430 knew a level of victory. He was able to pause and. 280 00:16:29,430 --> 00:16:32,350 Reflect on God's faithfulness and then? 281 00:16:33,030 --> 00:16:37,870 Rejoice in light of it. Now if you know your Bibles very 282 00:16:37,870 --> 00:16:40,470 well, you will notice that this is not the only place where this 283 00:16:40,470 --> 00:16:42,150 song is written. Does anybody else know where 284 00:16:42,150 --> 00:16:44,990 almost a copy paste version is found in the Bible. 285 00:16:45,950 --> 00:16:47,750 That's right, Psalm 18. It's almost. 286 00:16:47,750 --> 00:16:50,630 Word for word. Psalm 18 Why? 287 00:16:50,990 --> 00:16:54,230 Why did the Bible include the same song in two different 288 00:16:54,230 --> 00:16:56,550 places? And here's what most people 289 00:16:56,550 --> 00:17:00,230 believe, that Psalm 18 was actually written by David when 290 00:17:00,230 --> 00:17:05,310 he was much younger. And then in Second Samuel 22, 291 00:17:05,310 --> 00:17:08,630 you have David singing a song with minor adjustments in his 292 00:17:08,630 --> 00:17:13,230 later years. You know what's so inspiring 293 00:17:13,230 --> 00:17:17,990 about that? David is still be able to sing 294 00:17:18,270 --> 00:17:20,990 with the same strength, the same depth, the same passion as he 295 00:17:20,990 --> 00:17:24,869 did when he was first walking in the grace of God. 296 00:17:26,990 --> 00:17:31,510 That tends not to be the experience of many professing 297 00:17:31,510 --> 00:17:36,170 believers. It seems to to deflate over 298 00:17:36,170 --> 00:17:36,810 time. What do I mean? 299 00:17:36,810 --> 00:17:39,130 That their song is not as strong. 300 00:17:39,930 --> 00:17:42,010 Their singing is not as exciting. 301 00:17:43,970 --> 00:17:47,170 They lose that passion and that fierce faith. 302 00:17:48,290 --> 00:17:52,850 You don't see that with David. David was able to sing with that 303 00:17:52,850 --> 00:17:56,890 same type of faith and knowledge of God as when he first was 304 00:17:56,890 --> 00:18:00,930 introduced to the fragrance of the Lord's power and mercy over 305 00:18:00,930 --> 00:18:05,400 him. I want you to be able to say out 306 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:09,760 of this Bible study, I Lord, I want to be able to sing in my 307 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:13,400 final days, Not just in my former days, not just when I 308 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:17,440 started, but when I'm finishing. I want to be able to say it is 309 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:20,720 well with my soul. I want to be able to say how 310 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:24,960 great is our God. I want to be able to say he will 311 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,400 hold me fast because he has helped me fast. 312 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:30,960 You see this? This is a man singing a song. 313 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:38,640 Later in life, it's easy to sing when it's fresh, but for so many 314 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:45,280 it becomes normal and familiar and common. 315 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:49,480 And now it's just routine. You cannot read the song and 316 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:52,560 think that this journal entry is routine. 317 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:56,440 This is a man who has remained consistent. 318 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:59,400 Though he had ups and downs, his faith remained. 319 00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:03,170 His faith remained. And oh Lord, would you help us 320 00:19:03,170 --> 00:19:09,010 have that same end? So you see, it's a large, large 321 00:19:09,010 --> 00:19:10,450 song. We're not going to be covering 322 00:19:10,450 --> 00:19:12,730 verse by verse. We're going to pause in some 323 00:19:12,730 --> 00:19:14,650 verses. We're going to read over others. 324 00:19:14,850 --> 00:19:19,570 But let's look at this just skimming through and trusting 325 00:19:19,570 --> 00:19:21,250 that we will still be blessed as we do. 326 00:19:21,250 --> 00:19:25,290 So let's look at verse, Let's look at verse two. 327 00:19:26,010 --> 00:19:33,470 He said, The Lord is my rock. My fortress and my deliver, my 328 00:19:33,470 --> 00:19:37,510 God, my rock, and whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn 329 00:19:37,510 --> 00:19:41,390 of my salvation. My stronghold and my refuge, my 330 00:19:41,390 --> 00:19:45,550 Savior. You save me from violence. 331 00:19:47,990 --> 00:19:51,270 It's difficult to move forward without looking. 332 00:19:51,470 --> 00:19:54,670 At the great acknowledgement that David gives to the Lord, 333 00:19:55,030 --> 00:19:56,550 the. Wealth of titles? 334 00:19:56,550 --> 00:19:59,950 That he ascribes unto his God, Look at this rock. 335 00:20:00,630 --> 00:20:04,190 Fortress, deliverer, shield, horn of my salvation. 336 00:20:04,190 --> 00:20:09,430 Stronghold, Refuge, Savior, these are profound and you, you 337 00:20:09,430 --> 00:20:12,830 almost get the sense that David is in in a in a good way, 338 00:20:12,830 --> 00:20:16,710 frantically trying to express all that God is to him. 339 00:20:17,230 --> 00:20:19,510 Lord, you're this and you're this and you're this and you're 340 00:20:19,510 --> 00:20:21,430 this. You ever meet a young guy or 341 00:20:21,430 --> 00:20:24,190 young gal who's who's madly in love with somebody else? 342 00:20:24,470 --> 00:20:27,070 It's amazing how they become like Shakespeare, right? 343 00:20:27,750 --> 00:20:30,230 They're just able to come up with things and. 344 00:20:30,630 --> 00:20:33,870 They, they, they, they tried to put language to what's going on 345 00:20:33,870 --> 00:20:36,550 in their hearts. And that's the impression that 346 00:20:36,550 --> 00:20:39,870 you get here from David, who just starting off by adoring the 347 00:20:39,870 --> 00:20:43,550 Lord and ascribing all these beautiful things, these titles 348 00:20:43,550 --> 00:20:47,830 and these elements of who he is. That's profound. 349 00:20:48,110 --> 00:20:52,110 But what's more precious to me is how David verbalizes and 350 00:20:52,110 --> 00:20:56,110 communicates these ideas of God from personal experience. 351 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:01,120 Did he say the Lord is the rock, the fortress, the deliverer? 352 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:03,480 Did he say he's the shield? The horn of my what? 353 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:07,440 What is he saying? Is it the no, It's my big 354 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,640 difference between the two, big difference between the two. 355 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:14,000 And I'm afraid that many professing Christians are 356 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,040 content to live with the former perspective. 357 00:21:18,120 --> 00:21:20,800 Many Christians are are are content and having an accurate 358 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:23,160 and maybe even a deep theological understanding and 359 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,520 framework of the nature and the character of God, but with no 360 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:31,280 testimony with it. Theology without testimony. 361 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:34,960 What a miserable state to be in. What a miserable state to be in, 362 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:39,520 To be able to say the but not be able to say my That's not God's 363 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:43,680 will. Theology, good theology, sound 364 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:45,200 doctrine is not an end in itself. 365 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:48,240 It's a means to an end. God doesn't want us to just 366 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,480 stuff our brains with truths and for us to be able to boast. 367 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:51,760 Look how sound we are. Look how. 368 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:54,200 Look how biblical we are. That's not God's intent. 369 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:57,500 It's for it to change you. For you to. 370 00:21:57,500 --> 00:22:00,860 Taste it. Not just stuff it for you to be 371 00:22:00,860 --> 00:22:05,780 able to say this is true of me. Not just true on a screen. 372 00:22:06,180 --> 00:22:10,740 Big difference. And here's this man oozing out 373 00:22:11,020 --> 00:22:18,100 glorious, specific, Profound Truths, but preciously ascribing 374 00:22:18,100 --> 00:22:20,140 it. From a personal testimony. 375 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,800 How can one effectively pray? How can one effectively praise? 376 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,440 How can one effectively proclaim unless he can say with 377 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:32,840 confidence he saved me, He provided for. 378 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:36,280 Me. He protected me. 379 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:43,360 I don't want to refer to this example to the wrong person, but 380 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:47,680 there was an old preacher. Many hundreds of years ago who 381 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:49,360 when he trained his missionaries, would not allow 382 00:22:49,360 --> 00:22:53,000 them to preach unless those missionaries were fully 383 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:55,720 convinced that they were forgiven for their sins. 384 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:00,000 Why go and tell people about what Christ has done in the 385 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,720 world if you can't be able to say and he's done it in me, 386 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:07,480 where's that authority And that doesn't even please God. 387 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:12,040 What if Paul saying Galatians 220 when he talked about Christ 388 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,880 living in him, he ended it by saying who loved? 389 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,400 What the world? Who? 390 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:18,920 What loved the church? No. 391 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:22,080 Who loved me and gave himself up? 392 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:23,440 For who? The world? 393 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:24,960 The church? No. 394 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:28,240 Me again. Who loved me and gave himself up 395 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:31,040 for me? There's personal, intimate 396 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:34,960 implications. With these awesome truths that 397 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,360 do apply to all men. But are meant. 398 00:23:37,360 --> 00:23:44,160 For you to be able to say it's true of me, my rock, my deliver, 399 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:47,280 my fortress. Glorious. 400 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:52,000 And then we see here in verse 4 the depth of his intimacy with 401 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:55,160 the Lord. I call upon the Lord who is 402 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:58,480 worthy to be. Praised and I am saved from my 403 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:04,320 enemies. I call upon the Lord second part 404 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:08,160 and I am saved from my enemies. Now wait a minute, we read at 405 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:12,760 the end of verse of chapter 21 of Four Different Men. 406 00:24:13,850 --> 00:24:16,050 Who saved David? If you look at it from a human 407 00:24:16,050 --> 00:24:18,930 standpoint, 4 different men who came to his side. 408 00:24:19,090 --> 00:24:21,090 Four different men who rescued him. 409 00:24:22,570 --> 00:24:25,650 If you talk to a shallow person, they would be able to say David. 410 00:24:25,650 --> 00:24:29,650 It was Abhishay who saved you. David, it was Al Hanan who saved 411 00:24:29,650 --> 00:24:32,450 you. It was Sabakai who saved you. 412 00:24:32,450 --> 00:24:35,130 It was Jonathan, your relative, who saved you. 413 00:24:36,120 --> 00:24:38,320 And David would acknowledge that the Holy Spirit acknowledged 414 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:41,080 that they were instruments. But you see, these men were not 415 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:44,160 operating independently from God's provision and God's 416 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,880 Providence. These men were the answers to 417 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:52,880 David's. Prayers I call upon the Lord. 418 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,040 I am safe from my enemies. Well, you and I just saw how he 419 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:57,480 was safe from his enemies. What does that mean? 420 00:24:57,480 --> 00:24:59,600 It means that when God saved him, he used these men. 421 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,080 You know, many of God's answers to our prayers are wrapped in 422 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:07,650 flesh and blood. We just need the eyes to see it 423 00:25:09,170 --> 00:25:12,290 and not just the the Saint of your local church or the St. in 424 00:25:12,290 --> 00:25:14,890 your family. Was Abishai a St. 425 00:25:14,970 --> 00:25:16,770 Or did David have trouble with Abishai? 426 00:25:17,490 --> 00:25:21,330 He had trouble with Abishai. Are Ravens clean animals 427 00:25:21,330 --> 00:25:23,770 according to the libertical law? Are they dirty animals? 428 00:25:24,250 --> 00:25:27,930 They're unclean animals and God used them to feed his servant 429 00:25:27,930 --> 00:25:30,290 Elijah. God's resources are very 430 00:25:30,290 --> 00:25:39,670 colorful, very colorful. And he tends to prove to us that 431 00:25:39,670 --> 00:25:44,630 when he really wants to bless us and help us and come to our aid, 432 00:25:46,110 --> 00:25:49,150 he's never in need. He's never low on resources. 433 00:25:49,950 --> 00:25:52,150 He can even make your enemies help you. 434 00:25:53,670 --> 00:25:56,790 And so we see here that David recognized that although these 435 00:25:56,790 --> 00:26:01,110 men were faithful, were servants, they were an extension 436 00:26:01,110 --> 00:26:03,670 of God's mercy, and they were the answer. 437 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:07,520 To his prayers. Now, before we move on, it's 438 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,280 worth noting how prayer is mentioned in the song so early. 439 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:13,360 Why? It's because prayer in a major 440 00:26:13,360 --> 00:26:16,720 way is the cause of this man's great praise. 441 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:20,640 Do you see that? If we want to know greater 442 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,400 praise from our hearts, then we must know how to 1st give 443 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,040 ourselves to serious prayer on our knees. 444 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:32,920 Praying people are people who know how to praise true praying 445 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:36,410 people. And David could praise often 446 00:26:36,410 --> 00:26:40,850 because David prayed often, saying what's the connection? 447 00:26:40,850 --> 00:26:43,330 It's very easy apart from salvation, can you think of a 448 00:26:43,330 --> 00:26:47,730 greater stimulation, a greater motivation than Almighty God who 449 00:26:47,730 --> 00:26:51,330 inhabits the heavens answering your puny? 450 00:26:51,330 --> 00:26:56,490 Voice when you have a need that'll get you to church, and 451 00:26:56,490 --> 00:26:58,970 that will get you to sing no matter who else is not singing. 452 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:04,200 And this is exactly what David is trying to communicate. 453 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:08,320 He tells us even in the beginning of his song that I'm 454 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:13,160 telling you why I'm singing. I called upon the Lord and he 455 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:16,440 saved me. He saved me. 456 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:21,160 And we might think, well, yeah, that's a Bible story and that's 457 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:22,960 David. And he was a unique character. 458 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:25,960 No, no, no. Give prayer a chance long 459 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,640 enough, Be specific enough with your prayers and you will come 460 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:33,810 to the same conclusion. In fact, David gives us exactly. 461 00:27:34,610 --> 00:27:37,650 What it is that? Happened when it came to God 462 00:27:37,650 --> 00:27:40,730 saving him. It says here, for the waves of 463 00:27:40,730 --> 00:27:42,770 death encompassed me. The torrents of destruction 464 00:27:42,770 --> 00:27:44,810 assailed me, the cords of shield. 465 00:27:44,810 --> 00:27:47,810 Entangled me. The snares of death confronted 466 00:27:47,810 --> 00:27:49,250 me. What is he trying to say? 467 00:27:49,250 --> 00:27:50,170 I'm. I'm surrounded. 468 00:27:50,530 --> 00:27:56,330 Like this is it. I'm at my end in my. 469 00:27:56,330 --> 00:28:00,530 Distress I called upon the Lord to my God. 470 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:05,640 I called from his temple. He heard my voice and my cry 471 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:09,280 came to his ears again, apart from the cross, me personally, 472 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:11,600 maybe you would disagree. Is there anything more glorious 473 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:18,200 than this? I can cry and heaven can hear 474 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,800 me. I was just talking to somebody 475 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:22,400 the other day. How? 476 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:24,520 How amazing this idea of FaceTime is. 477 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:28,480 I remember the days. I remember the days where dialup 478 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:31,150 was the thing. And so you would go. 479 00:28:31,150 --> 00:28:33,390 And if you picked up the phone, you ruined the connection. 480 00:28:33,470 --> 00:28:36,830 Remember that horrible, torturous sound when you picked 481 00:28:36,830 --> 00:28:38,110 up the phone? Some of you remember that. 482 00:28:38,830 --> 00:28:42,270 And in such a short amount of time, I'm able to press a button 483 00:28:42,870 --> 00:28:45,470 and somebody across the world, I can see their face, they can 484 00:28:45,470 --> 00:28:49,030 show me the room, show me what's going on in that very moment. 485 00:28:50,350 --> 00:28:55,550 This is more impressive, Where the seraphim cannot look, Where 486 00:28:55,550 --> 00:28:58,270 the seraphim cover their feet. My voice can reach that very 487 00:28:58,270 --> 00:29:01,710 throne room. This is what he's saying. 488 00:29:01,790 --> 00:29:06,550 My cry came to his ears. Didn't come to an Angel? 489 00:29:06,550 --> 00:29:08,870 Then go? No, it came directly to God 490 00:29:08,870 --> 00:29:13,030 himself. And then he says what happens 491 00:29:13,030 --> 00:29:18,790 after that takes place. He says, then verse 8, then then 492 00:29:19,430 --> 00:29:22,350 as a result. Of my crying and my calling upon 493 00:29:22,350 --> 00:29:24,550 the Lord, let me tell you what happened. 494 00:29:24,750 --> 00:29:28,310 Then the earth reeled and rocked. 495 00:29:28,590 --> 00:29:32,310 The foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked because he 496 00:29:32,310 --> 00:29:36,390 was angry. Smoke went up from his nostrils 497 00:29:36,550 --> 00:29:38,670 and devouring fire from his mouth. 498 00:29:38,990 --> 00:29:41,190 Glowing coals flamed forth from him. 499 00:29:41,310 --> 00:29:43,910 He bowed the heavens and came down thick. 500 00:29:43,910 --> 00:29:47,110 Darkness was under his feet. I'm not going to keep reading, 501 00:29:47,230 --> 00:29:51,790 but you get the idea. This is rich in imagery. 502 00:29:52,030 --> 00:29:56,750 This is metaphorical, obviously, but there's a message behind it. 503 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:01,080 Look back at verse 8. Then the earth reeled and rocked 504 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:04,120 the foundations of the heavens trembled and quake because he 505 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:06,480 was angry. He heard my cry, came to his 506 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:07,920 ears. And this is what happened. 507 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:09,640 And can I give you a modern translation? 508 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:12,400 A verse, A verse 9 rather verse eight. 509 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:17,200 God moved heaven and earth to answer my cry. 510 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:23,840 God moved heaven and earth. To come to my aid. 511 00:30:29,860 --> 00:30:32,980 In fact, he goes on to describe, as I just said in great length, 512 00:30:33,500 --> 00:30:35,340 how it is that the Lord came to him. 513 00:30:36,180 --> 00:30:37,660 Look again at verse 11. I stopped. 514 00:30:37,660 --> 00:30:40,740 At verse 10 He rode on a cherub and flew. 515 00:30:41,060 --> 00:30:43,580 He was seen on the wings of the wind. 516 00:30:44,500 --> 00:30:49,060 Translation, the swiftness of God, the quickness of God, the 517 00:30:49,060 --> 00:30:51,380 promptness of God, the willingness of God. 518 00:30:51,660 --> 00:30:56,340 The moment he heard my voice, he got on a chair and he came down. 519 00:30:56,340 --> 00:30:58,810 He flew to me. Didn't walk. 520 00:30:59,010 --> 00:31:02,210 Didn't pace. He flew to my aid. 521 00:31:03,690 --> 00:31:05,970 And what that means is that God is not reluctant to hear your 522 00:31:05,970 --> 00:31:08,610 prayers. God is not hesitant. 523 00:31:08,610 --> 00:31:12,810 God is not too busy. God does not put you on pause 524 00:31:12,810 --> 00:31:15,170 because he's overwhelmed with everything else that's happening 525 00:31:15,170 --> 00:31:16,890 in China and Australia and Africa. 526 00:31:18,050 --> 00:31:22,970 According to the need, he will move in perfect accordance to 527 00:31:22,970 --> 00:31:25,370 meet it. He's never late. 528 00:31:25,890 --> 00:31:28,100 He never delays. He's never annoyed. 529 00:31:28,380 --> 00:31:32,220 He is swift. He will fly to come to your 530 00:31:32,220 --> 00:31:34,900 assistance. That's what David is conveying. 531 00:31:35,340 --> 00:31:38,500 He came at the right time. He's like a father that hears 532 00:31:38,500 --> 00:31:41,100 his child outside playing and that child falls. 533 00:31:41,700 --> 00:31:45,100 And when he cries, he drops everything to stoop down and to 534 00:31:45,140 --> 00:31:48,060 wrap his arms around me to bring me into his safety. 535 00:31:50,180 --> 00:31:52,580 That's very hard for us to say Amen to because we don't sense 536 00:31:52,580 --> 00:31:55,260 that in our prayers, right? We just get silence most of the 537 00:31:55,260 --> 00:31:58,380 time. Think about David's experience. 538 00:31:58,380 --> 00:32:00,140 Not every single time he prayed, God came through. 539 00:32:00,140 --> 00:32:02,060 He spent many, many years in the wilderness. 540 00:32:02,580 --> 00:32:06,060 What David is saying is I have cried out to the Lord and he's 541 00:32:06,060 --> 00:32:08,420 always come at the right time. That's the point. 542 00:32:08,940 --> 00:32:10,260 He's always come at the right time. 543 00:32:11,980 --> 00:32:14,620 And we see other verses. Look down at verse 17, he sent 544 00:32:14,620 --> 00:32:16,100 from on high, he took. Me. 545 00:32:16,100 --> 00:32:20,340 He drew me out of many waters. Remember, this is David, 546 00:32:20,340 --> 00:32:23,660 reflecting on what has been done in the past many waters. 547 00:32:23,660 --> 00:32:27,840 I've almost drowned many times. And God has never failed to pick 548 00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:31,120 me up and to rescue me. He rescued me for my strong 549 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:33,760 enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 550 00:32:33,960 --> 00:32:35,760 They confronted me in the day of my calamity. 551 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:39,880 But the Lord was my support. But the Lord was my support. 552 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:43,760 What a song to be able to sing near the end of your life. 553 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:46,120 And I get it. You might be discouraged more 554 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:48,880 than encouraged because again, OK, this is Bible study. 555 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:50,320 This is a sermon. It's motivational. 556 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:51,960 I'll give you that. But this is David. 557 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:54,120 He had a special covenant with the Lord and everlasting 558 00:32:54,120 --> 00:32:56,520 covenant. It's obvious why God was sparing 559 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:59,480 him and giving him so much grace. 560 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:04,200 I work at 9:00 to 5:00. I'm trying to pay my bills. 561 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:08,360 I barely make it to church. This Bible said it doesn't 562 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:09,960 really help. It's inspirational, but it's not 563 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:12,720 very practical. And I would say, hold on, Don't 564 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:16,400 let your thoughts and your doubts swallow you yet, because 565 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:18,160 this is not the only song that David has written. 566 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:21,480 This is not the only song. It's not the only song that the 567 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:25,290 Holy Spirit used David to pen. Can I show you another one? 568 00:33:25,290 --> 00:33:28,770 That will give you the hope that you need to look at this Psalm 569 00:33:28,770 --> 00:33:31,410 in another way? Go to Psalm 145 in your Bibles 570 00:33:31,410 --> 00:33:33,850 quickly and look here at verse 18. 571 00:33:33,850 --> 00:33:36,890 This is David still and notice what David says. 572 00:33:36,890 --> 00:33:39,690 And Psalm 145 verse 18. You've heard it. 573 00:33:39,690 --> 00:33:44,690 Over and over I called. I cried in my distress. 574 00:33:45,010 --> 00:33:50,050 He heard my voice. That's you, David. 575 00:33:51,530 --> 00:33:54,050 What about me? Well, here's David. 576 00:33:54,810 --> 00:34:02,530 By the Spirit, Psalm 14518, the Lord is near to all who call on 577 00:34:02,530 --> 00:34:06,490 him. Not some, not a few, not the 578 00:34:06,490 --> 00:34:08,730 special supernatural super Saints. 579 00:34:09,610 --> 00:34:13,610 The Lord is near to all who call on Him. 580 00:34:14,650 --> 00:34:18,969 Here's the first condition to all who call on him in truth. 581 00:34:21,290 --> 00:34:23,090 He fulfills the desire of those who. 582 00:34:23,409 --> 00:34:26,210 Here's a second condition. Who fears him? 583 00:34:27,090 --> 00:34:29,810 He also hears their cry and saves them. 584 00:34:32,570 --> 00:34:34,969 How can I know the support that David is known? 585 00:34:35,449 --> 00:34:38,889 How can I be assured that my cry can reach the ears of Almighty 586 00:34:38,889 --> 00:34:42,290 God? Two things Call on him in truth 587 00:34:43,050 --> 00:34:44,250 and walk in the fear of the Lord. 588 00:34:46,010 --> 00:34:47,570 Call on him in truth. Be sincere. 589 00:34:47,570 --> 00:34:49,889 Don't let your mouth contradict your heart. 590 00:34:50,900 --> 00:34:56,460 Don't hide anything from God. Walk in the light, and also fear 591 00:34:56,460 --> 00:34:59,620 him to give him the reverence in the awe that he deserves. 592 00:34:59,940 --> 00:35:05,260 Ascribe unto him the worth that he alone deserves. 593 00:35:05,660 --> 00:35:08,460 And when these two simple conditions are met, then we will 594 00:35:08,460 --> 00:35:12,140 know what David is known God's ear at all times. 595 00:35:13,140 --> 00:35:16,180 And this is what's fascinating, because you see here and back in 596 00:35:16,180 --> 00:35:19,020 our main song and verse 42 of Second Samuel 22. 597 00:35:19,500 --> 00:35:22,660 When describing and condemning his enemies, David says of them 598 00:35:24,180 --> 00:35:25,980 They looked, but there was none to say. 599 00:35:25,980 --> 00:35:31,900 They cried to Hoobaal Molech. No, they cried to the Lord. 600 00:35:31,900 --> 00:35:35,820 But he did not answer them. They cried to the Lord, and he 601 00:35:35,820 --> 00:35:37,100 did not answer them. Why? 602 00:35:37,100 --> 00:35:39,820 Because they did not call him. In truth they did not fear him. 603 00:35:40,340 --> 00:35:41,900 They were trying to kill the Anointed One. 604 00:35:42,500 --> 00:35:44,500 They were living in contradiction to God's desire 605 00:35:44,500 --> 00:35:47,420 and will, and they thought that they had the right to call upon 606 00:35:47,420 --> 00:35:48,820 the Lord. There says no way. 607 00:35:50,620 --> 00:35:52,820 You know, people mock prayer, but it's amazing how many 608 00:35:52,820 --> 00:35:56,020 heathen are willing to pray when when the temperature is right. 609 00:35:57,900 --> 00:36:02,100 I saw a clip not too long ago of the World Trade Center. 610 00:36:02,100 --> 00:36:07,220 Some of the the footage of the planes of of pedestrians, people 611 00:36:07,220 --> 00:36:09,900 walk down the streets who had their cameras and just the 612 00:36:09,900 --> 00:36:12,900 different angles of the the the planes flying into the towers. 613 00:36:13,180 --> 00:36:16,740 And what struck me as much as that footage was just 614 00:36:16,740 --> 00:36:20,980 unbelievable. What struck me was the the 615 00:36:20,980 --> 00:36:23,620 shrieks and the cries of the people who witnessed it. 616 00:36:23,620 --> 00:36:27,060 And you know what was the common cry? 617 00:36:27,740 --> 00:36:33,820 Oh my God, oh Lord, have mercy. That's what people were saying 618 00:36:33,820 --> 00:36:36,980 over and over again. And between those cries were 619 00:36:36,980 --> 00:36:42,500 just pure shrieks. Oh my God, Lord, have mercy. 620 00:36:42,900 --> 00:36:49,160 Lord have mercy. There's something in us that is 621 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:51,760 aware that there is something transcendent above us. 622 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:54,800 And even the heat then have a knowledge, though they try to 623 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:58,040 suppress it when they're squeezed just right. 624 00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:02,800 It's amazing what peaks up. It's amazing what they squeal 625 00:37:03,320 --> 00:37:05,520 the heat in here. They cried to the Lord, but He 626 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:07,720 did not answer them. Not that he's willing, not 627 00:37:07,720 --> 00:37:10,040 willing to forgive them. But you can't have your sin and 628 00:37:10,040 --> 00:37:12,480 have the support of the Lord at the same time. 629 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:15,290 You can't. These are the conditions that 630 00:37:15,290 --> 00:37:17,770 David lays out, and you can say that David indirectly alludes to 631 00:37:17,770 --> 00:37:20,850 those conditions in the second-half of this song. 632 00:37:21,010 --> 00:37:22,650 Let's come down here back to Second Samuel. 633 00:37:22,650 --> 00:37:25,850 Let's look at verse 21. David says something quite 634 00:37:25,850 --> 00:37:28,810 amazing here that actually has caused people to be. 635 00:37:30,090 --> 00:37:33,930 Stumbled in some way. 21 The Lord dealt with me according to 636 00:37:33,930 --> 00:37:37,370 my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands. 637 00:37:37,370 --> 00:37:40,450 He rewarded me, for I have kept the ways of the Lord, and I've 638 00:37:40,450 --> 00:37:42,410 not wickedly departed from my God. 639 00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:46,200 For all his rules were before me, and from his statutes I did 640 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:48,960 not turn aside. I was blameless before him, and 641 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:52,400 I kept myself from guilt. And the Lord has rewarded me 642 00:37:52,400 --> 00:37:56,640 according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His 643 00:37:56,640 --> 00:38:01,000 sight. Anybody concerned with David's 644 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:05,640 words here, you've been with us, especially in Second Samuel, 645 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:12,740 these collection of verses. Have led people to believe that 646 00:38:12,740 --> 00:38:15,740 when David wrote this song, when do you think they believe he 647 00:38:15,740 --> 00:38:21,940 wrote it? Yeah, before Bathsheba, before 648 00:38:21,940 --> 00:38:25,100 Uriah. It's very difficult to reconcile 649 00:38:25,100 --> 00:38:30,380 David's confidence. With his major moral failure, 650 00:38:30,620 --> 00:38:32,700 how? How can you say that after what 651 00:38:32,700 --> 00:38:37,880 you've done? And some people don't even go 652 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,360 that far with their thinking. They just are disturbed with 653 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:44,240 what he's saying altogether. Why would you say this in a 654 00:38:44,240 --> 00:38:47,200 song? Can you imagine all of us 655 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:48,920 singing on Sunday morning? The Lord has rewarded me 656 00:38:48,920 --> 00:38:51,200 according to my righteousness. My hands are clean. 657 00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:56,600 I for us many people that think this is fair, seical, we don't 658 00:38:56,600 --> 00:38:58,360 talk about our righteousness and we don't talk about our 659 00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:00,120 holiness. And that's the impression that 660 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:03,600 you get that David seems to be saying, I have this divine favor 661 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:07,240 because I've been a good boy. And I've been walking in 662 00:39:07,240 --> 00:39:10,440 obedience, and so I have God's face shining upon me. 663 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:15,520 And the way the remedy from any confusion or misinterpretation 664 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:18,320 is 1 discipline that we cannot forget. 665 00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:21,240 It's the discipline of looking at the context. 666 00:39:21,240 --> 00:39:25,680 Let's look at the context. Consider why David is saying 667 00:39:25,680 --> 00:39:27,840 this at this point, and what the song is really all about. 668 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:30,560 What is the song about? It's a song of deliverance. 669 00:39:30,920 --> 00:39:33,120 Deliverance from who? His enemies? 670 00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:36,000 How God has rescued him from his foes. 671 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:40,440 And this makes more sense now when we consider why he's saying 672 00:39:40,440 --> 00:39:45,600 this, with the surrounding ideas of him being surrounded by evil 673 00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:49,120 people who want to attack him, who want to kill him, who speak 674 00:39:49,120 --> 00:39:51,440 lies about him. Why is he saying this? 675 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:54,720 Because he's trying to communicate that the 676 00:39:54,720 --> 00:39:57,520 righteousness and the cleanness of my hands is in relation to my 677 00:39:57,520 --> 00:40:04,000 dealings. With these people, this is not 678 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:07,130 David. Going on a different train of 679 00:40:07,130 --> 00:40:09,250 thought and talking about how awesome he is and how he has 680 00:40:09,250 --> 00:40:11,370 gained eternal life because of his good works. 681 00:40:12,130 --> 00:40:14,890 You get that idea when you pull these verses out of the context, 682 00:40:15,130 --> 00:40:17,290 but when you honor the surrounding, what you see David 683 00:40:17,290 --> 00:40:21,330 doing here in his prayer, in his song, he's appealing to a clear 684 00:40:21,330 --> 00:40:27,290 conscience without a cause. They are hating me. 685 00:40:27,810 --> 00:40:31,170 My enemies want to kill me. They want to surround me. 686 00:40:31,330 --> 00:40:34,090 They want to devour me. But I didn't do anything. 687 00:40:34,720 --> 00:40:37,840 I desire peace, but when I speak, they are for war. 688 00:40:39,320 --> 00:40:43,520 So what David is doing is in the context of his dealing with 689 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:46,920 these people. He is confessing to God. 690 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:51,920 I'm in the right in this as long as my conscience bears witness. 691 00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:54,320 There is nothing that I know that I have done that would 692 00:40:54,320 --> 00:40:56,720 cause me to be in the wrong in this situation, that would 693 00:40:56,720 --> 00:40:59,840 invoke and provoke them to treat me in this way. 694 00:41:01,690 --> 00:41:04,330 So that's what we see here. This is not a man talking about 695 00:41:04,410 --> 00:41:08,170 how his standard of righteousness has won God's 696 00:41:08,210 --> 00:41:11,050 eternal life. Or it's just him saying in this 697 00:41:11,050 --> 00:41:17,770 situation I'm blameless in this predicament, I don't see how I'm 698 00:41:17,770 --> 00:41:21,610 guilty. And David's word here does 699 00:41:21,610 --> 00:41:23,610 highlights whether you like it or not. 700 00:41:24,170 --> 00:41:27,930 It highlights how your behavior and mine can actually influence 701 00:41:28,450 --> 00:41:30,130 how we experience God's blessing. 702 00:41:31,060 --> 00:41:35,180 Not how we receive His His grace for everlasting life, but how we 703 00:41:35,180 --> 00:41:38,420 experience God in our life. I know you've been told 704 00:41:38,420 --> 00:41:41,660 something else, probably right. No matter what you do, God will 705 00:41:41,660 --> 00:41:42,420 do this for you. Go. 706 00:41:42,420 --> 00:41:44,860 No, that's not true. No, you can't do whatever you 707 00:41:44,860 --> 00:41:46,980 want to do and expect God to bless you in the same way. 708 00:41:47,580 --> 00:41:51,340 No, I don't know where you got that from, but stick it back in 709 00:41:51,340 --> 00:41:54,060 the the cookie and send it away, right? 710 00:41:56,180 --> 00:42:00,370 That's fortune cookie theology. What we see here is that David 711 00:42:00,370 --> 00:42:03,770 is is proving that there is a principle. 712 00:42:04,690 --> 00:42:08,730 If I live in a certain way, if I act in a certain way, then I can 713 00:42:08,730 --> 00:42:12,450 expect God to treat me in a certain way, and that's what he 714 00:42:12,450 --> 00:42:14,890 confirms in verse 26. With the merciful you show 715 00:42:14,890 --> 00:42:17,770 yourself merciful. With the blameless man, you show 716 00:42:17,770 --> 00:42:21,290 yourself blameless. With the purified you deal 717 00:42:21,290 --> 00:42:25,050 purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem torturous. 718 00:42:28,860 --> 00:42:32,660 What was David's conviction throughout his exile, when Saul 719 00:42:32,660 --> 00:42:35,380 was alive, he continued to show mercy. 720 00:42:36,100 --> 00:42:38,980 Mercy, Mercy. Mercy, Mercy. 721 00:42:39,740 --> 00:42:42,780 You know what's so fascinating? I'm persuaded that when David 722 00:42:42,780 --> 00:42:46,300 had that one season where he was among the Philistines, you 723 00:42:46,300 --> 00:42:48,700 remember that when he was so discouraged, he said, Saul's 724 00:42:48,700 --> 00:42:50,220 going to kill me. I'm one step away from death. 725 00:42:50,220 --> 00:42:52,460 I'm going among the Philistines. He'll stop bothering me then. 726 00:42:52,580 --> 00:42:53,860 Remember that. And it led him to all these 727 00:42:53,860 --> 00:42:56,820 issues and how God still was able to pull him out of that and 728 00:42:56,820 --> 00:42:58,700 bring it back to where he was supposed to be. 729 00:42:58,780 --> 00:43:02,140 I believe in great part how God did that was because God 730 00:43:02,660 --> 00:43:06,940 remembered how merciful David was, and remembering how 731 00:43:06,940 --> 00:43:09,780 merciful David was, God chose to be merciful to him. 732 00:43:10,940 --> 00:43:14,140 Look, just let's just talk plainly here with the merciful. 733 00:43:14,140 --> 00:43:20,540 You show yourself merciful how I treat other people. 734 00:43:21,140 --> 00:43:23,260 Am I ready to receive that same treatment from God? 735 00:43:25,440 --> 00:43:27,760 There is a mercy that you and I no matter what we've done, God 736 00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:29,360 is still willing to dispense it on our lives. 737 00:43:29,560 --> 00:43:32,520 That's the cross. But in practical daytoday life, 738 00:43:33,160 --> 00:43:37,040 imagine that this this is a divine administration. 739 00:43:37,040 --> 00:43:38,920 In God's universe. With the merciful, you show 740 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:40,320 yourself merciful. With the blameless, you show 741 00:43:40,320 --> 00:43:42,240 yourself blameless. With the crooked, you make 742 00:43:42,240 --> 00:43:51,400 yourself seem torturous. Lord, please when I am offended. 743 00:43:54,500 --> 00:43:59,220 Help me remember this. When somebody has wronged me, 744 00:43:59,620 --> 00:44:04,340 help me remember this rule, no matter how bad it's been in your 745 00:44:04,340 --> 00:44:05,780 life. I've never sat in the counseling 746 00:44:05,780 --> 00:44:08,900 session, maybe once where somebody said somebody wants to 747 00:44:08,900 --> 00:44:10,940 try to, somebody wants to try to kill me. 748 00:44:13,780 --> 00:44:14,380 I don't. I don't. 749 00:44:14,380 --> 00:44:15,620 I don't think that's the norm. Right. 750 00:44:15,860 --> 00:44:18,340 Nobody in here has ever had their fatherinlaw chase them 751 00:44:18,340 --> 00:44:20,140 around Chicago and try to kill them, right? 752 00:44:20,620 --> 00:44:21,740 Maybe. Maybe you don't want to say it. 753 00:44:21,740 --> 00:44:24,870 That's OK. Yeah, David could still be 754 00:44:24,870 --> 00:44:30,270 merciful to such a man, and he experienced God's mercy as a 755 00:44:30,270 --> 00:44:32,270 result. God looks at how we treat people 756 00:44:32,270 --> 00:44:36,670 even in their sin, and he considers it. 757 00:44:39,910 --> 00:44:43,230 There's so much more to say, but just Scroll down here in verse 758 00:44:43,230 --> 00:44:45,670 31. Can you imagine? 759 00:44:45,670 --> 00:44:46,590 We're just a. Little bit over. 760 00:44:46,590 --> 00:44:50,790 Half of this Psalm, the song This God. 761 00:44:52,030 --> 00:44:57,310 His way is perfect. The word of the Lord proves 762 00:44:57,310 --> 00:45:00,870 true. He is a shield for all those who 763 00:45:01,110 --> 00:45:03,550 take refuge in him. What a statement. 764 00:45:03,990 --> 00:45:07,590 This God, His way is perfect. Remember, this is David 765 00:45:07,710 --> 00:45:12,030 reflecting. This is David pausing and 766 00:45:12,030 --> 00:45:15,710 pondering after all that he's been through now in his old age 767 00:45:15,830 --> 00:45:17,590 and. And you've been here every week. 768 00:45:17,590 --> 00:45:20,470 You know what he's been through in caves. 769 00:45:21,410 --> 00:45:28,090 Betrayed, lied about people, attempted to assassinate him, 770 00:45:29,810 --> 00:45:34,530 family, fractured relationship, all this mess, all this delay. 771 00:45:34,850 --> 00:45:36,810 I mean, it looked like he was about to become king of Israel. 772 00:45:36,810 --> 00:45:39,450 Then there's another delay, and then it comes again. 773 00:45:39,450 --> 00:45:43,890 And then all these problems. And yet in hindsight, he could 774 00:45:43,890 --> 00:45:46,610 confidently say. Oh, his way is perfect. 775 00:45:48,290 --> 00:45:50,920 His way is perfect. Hey, honestly, if I looked at 776 00:45:50,920 --> 00:45:52,720 that, I wouldn't consider that perfection. 777 00:45:54,040 --> 00:45:55,640 I would avoid some of those potholes. 778 00:45:55,640 --> 00:45:59,560 I would fill some of those up. Less ups and downs and more ups. 779 00:46:00,840 --> 00:46:03,080 And yet David by the Spirit says no, no, you don't understand. 780 00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:07,280 The way God has led me was absolutely necessary. 781 00:46:08,840 --> 00:46:10,720 I wouldn't want to. When you're saying it's perfect, 782 00:46:10,720 --> 00:46:13,320 what he's saying is there is no other way I would want to have 783 00:46:13,320 --> 00:46:16,600 it. And usually such a confession 784 00:46:16,600 --> 00:46:22,140 comes at the end of the tunnel. But the Holy Spirit has given it 785 00:46:22,940 --> 00:46:26,500 to us here so that you can say it while you're in the dark. 786 00:46:27,820 --> 00:46:29,660 If it was true for David, it's true for you now. 787 00:46:29,660 --> 00:46:31,300 You don't have to wait to be able to say it. 788 00:46:31,900 --> 00:46:34,420 You could say it right when you're beginning to feel the 789 00:46:34,420 --> 00:46:38,300 pressure, the persecution, the trials, the test, You can say 790 00:46:38,380 --> 00:46:41,500 with a smile with your chest out and your shoulders back. 791 00:46:42,260 --> 00:46:46,940 This God His way is perfect. Bring it on. 792 00:46:50,430 --> 00:46:52,030 The word of the Lord proves true. 793 00:46:52,030 --> 00:46:54,430 He's a shield for all those who take refuge in him. 794 00:46:59,150 --> 00:47:04,150 He comes down here and I'm going to end this with a couple more 795 00:47:04,150 --> 00:47:07,590 thoughts. Just one thing after the next, 796 00:47:07,590 --> 00:47:09,470 talking about what he's done for him. 797 00:47:10,510 --> 00:47:12,110 He made my feet like the feet of a deer. 798 00:47:12,110 --> 00:47:14,150 Verse 34. He set me secure on the heights. 799 00:47:14,150 --> 00:47:17,360 He trains my hands for war. So that my arms can bend. 800 00:47:17,360 --> 00:47:19,280 A bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of 801 00:47:19,280 --> 00:47:21,000 your salvation. I love this phrase. 802 00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:28,480 Your gentleness made me great. The gentleness of God you read 803 00:47:28,480 --> 00:47:29,760 back. I mean gentleness. 804 00:47:30,280 --> 00:47:31,920 Smoke coming out of your nostrils. 805 00:47:31,920 --> 00:47:34,680 Mountain shaking arrows being shot at your enemies. 806 00:47:34,920 --> 00:47:42,240 Gentleness, gentleness for his children, gentleness for his 807 00:47:42,240 --> 00:47:44,160 children. It's another story for those 808 00:47:44,160 --> 00:47:46,430 who. Persist to be his enemies. 809 00:47:47,670 --> 00:47:49,630 You gave a wide place for my steps. 810 00:47:49,630 --> 00:47:51,550 Under me. My feet did not slip. 811 00:47:52,870 --> 00:47:54,910 Verse 40. You equipped me with strength 812 00:47:54,910 --> 00:47:57,310 for the battle. You made Those who rise against 813 00:47:57,310 --> 00:48:02,950 me sink under me verse. 47 The Lord lives. 814 00:48:03,590 --> 00:48:08,350 The Lord lives. He's alive. 815 00:48:08,350 --> 00:48:11,070 And I can prove it to you. Look at my look at the giants. 816 00:48:11,070 --> 00:48:13,110 Look at all the things that he's taken care of. 817 00:48:13,310 --> 00:48:17,320 He's alive. And blessed be my rock, and 818 00:48:17,320 --> 00:48:19,880 exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation. 819 00:48:20,600 --> 00:48:22,520 I notice here what he says in verse 50. 820 00:48:23,360 --> 00:48:27,360 For this I will praise you, O Lord, this is so fascinating 821 00:48:27,920 --> 00:48:34,480 among the nations, and sing praises to your name, among the 822 00:48:34,480 --> 00:48:36,480 nations, you would think you would say among the great 823 00:48:36,480 --> 00:48:38,160 congregation. He said that in Psalm 40. 824 00:48:38,800 --> 00:48:41,640 But he's not speaking about his own people, he's speaking about 825 00:48:41,640 --> 00:48:45,410 the neighboring nations. I will sing among them. 826 00:48:45,450 --> 00:48:50,970 You know what he's saying, Lord, how you have worked in my life 827 00:48:52,050 --> 00:48:58,650 has given me the conviction to not make my praise private, to 828 00:48:58,650 --> 00:49:02,770 not shy away when I'm in the presence of the heathen, but to 829 00:49:02,770 --> 00:49:05,530 be willingly. Oh Lord, I even asked for the 830 00:49:05,530 --> 00:49:10,170 opportunity to be among the Gentiles and to be able to sing 831 00:49:10,170 --> 00:49:12,850 your praise, even though I may sing alone. 832 00:49:16,270 --> 00:49:18,110 You know, you and I have opportunities to do that in our 833 00:49:18,110 --> 00:49:20,230 own lives in different ways. Give me some ideas of how you 834 00:49:20,230 --> 00:49:24,110 and I can actually honor God among the nations. 835 00:49:25,870 --> 00:49:28,350 I'm not even looking for, like these magnificent ideas. 836 00:49:28,350 --> 00:49:34,710 Just very simple ways. I have one in mind when you go 837 00:49:34,710 --> 00:49:37,710 out with your family to that restaurant after Sunday service, 838 00:49:38,670 --> 00:49:40,150 when you're out there with your friends. 839 00:49:41,050 --> 00:49:43,250 Some place that you heard about and you're excited to taste. 840 00:49:43,530 --> 00:49:45,610 What can you do there among the nations? 841 00:49:48,490 --> 00:49:52,250 Lord, we thank you for this food and we just want to tell you 842 00:49:52,250 --> 00:49:54,850 that you are the reason why we get to enjoy these beautiful 843 00:49:54,850 --> 00:49:57,210 gifts. All the sights, all the tastes. 844 00:49:57,210 --> 00:50:00,250 This comes from you. We want to pause and give you 845 00:50:00,250 --> 00:50:02,450 glory for it. In Jesus name we pray. 846 00:50:02,450 --> 00:50:03,450 Amen. Amen. 847 00:50:06,970 --> 00:50:08,850 I'll praise you among the nations. 848 00:50:10,410 --> 00:50:12,570 Don't miss those opportunities. I've sat with Christians over 849 00:50:12,570 --> 00:50:13,890 the years. I know they're hungry. 850 00:50:13,890 --> 00:50:15,250 I know the service was long and just. 851 00:50:15,690 --> 00:50:17,930 They just go right into it. You're missing an awesome 852 00:50:17,930 --> 00:50:19,650 opportunity to praise among the nations. 853 00:50:21,330 --> 00:50:23,210 It's subtle, right? And it should be something like 854 00:50:23,210 --> 00:50:26,370 out of like David, his heart wanting to give on, not in a. 855 00:50:26,730 --> 00:50:27,850 Not in a. Legalistic way. 856 00:50:27,850 --> 00:50:29,770 Not in a showy way, in a genuine way. 857 00:50:32,090 --> 00:50:33,930 May the Lord give us wisdom to know how to do that. 858 00:50:33,930 --> 00:50:35,250 But you know what's so fascinating? 859 00:50:36,890 --> 00:50:45,040 Paul quotes this very verse. To make a different point, does 860 00:50:45,040 --> 00:50:50,400 anybody know, because this is found also in Psalm 18, what 861 00:50:50,400 --> 00:50:54,000 text in the New Testament points to this reference? 862 00:50:54,120 --> 00:51:14,610 Any idea, think, any idea? Well, if you don't know, it 863 00:51:14,610 --> 00:51:17,970 starts with the letter R Anybody know now? 864 00:51:19,450 --> 00:51:22,850 The book of romance. Romance, Chapter 15. 865 00:51:23,810 --> 00:51:27,530 I want you to see this with your own eyes and we'll close here. 866 00:51:29,850 --> 00:51:33,650 I'm not surprised that after such a lengthy song for there to 867 00:51:33,650 --> 00:51:36,850 be found a prophecy of some sort. 868 00:51:39,120 --> 00:51:41,760 Romans 15, verse 8. Let's go to verse 8. 869 00:51:41,960 --> 00:51:43,560 Paul speaking to these Christians. 870 00:51:43,560 --> 00:51:44,960 You know what's happening with these Christians. 871 00:51:44,960 --> 00:51:47,800 There's division among them because some have the conviction 872 00:51:47,800 --> 00:51:50,640 of certain foods being healthy and holy, and others say, hey, 873 00:51:50,640 --> 00:51:52,120 it doesn't matter, we're free in Christ. 874 00:51:52,280 --> 00:51:54,760 Some people believe some days are holy, others say no. 875 00:51:55,040 --> 00:51:58,000 These days are necessarily to be sacred, and there's divisions, 876 00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:01,600 and that division obviously is somewhat known among the 877 00:52:01,600 --> 00:52:04,040 Gentiles and the. Jews who are in the same church. 878 00:52:04,320 --> 00:52:05,720 And so Paul wants to exhort them. 879 00:52:05,720 --> 00:52:08,080 And he says, for I tell you that Christ became a servant. 880 00:52:08,410 --> 00:52:12,090 To the circumcised, to show God's truthfulness, in order to 881 00:52:12,090 --> 00:52:15,290 confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order 882 00:52:15,290 --> 00:52:19,650 that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy. 883 00:52:19,650 --> 00:52:22,450 As it is written, therefore, I will praise. 884 00:52:22,450 --> 00:52:29,090 You among the Gentiles, and sing to your name, and sing to your 885 00:52:29,090 --> 00:52:34,000 name. In David's context, in Second 886 00:52:34,000 --> 00:52:37,680 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18, when he sings, when he says I will sing 887 00:52:37,680 --> 00:52:40,240 to you among the nations, what he's saying is I will 888 00:52:40,240 --> 00:52:44,360 unashamedly testify of you. I will sing in the presence of 889 00:52:44,360 --> 00:52:46,920 the Pagans. I have No Fear, You are worthy. 890 00:52:47,080 --> 00:52:50,080 You've been so good to me. Paul takes that by the Spirit 891 00:52:50,080 --> 00:52:52,120 because he has that authority and he has a different. 892 00:52:52,120 --> 00:52:55,280 Bent on it. He's speaking to this church 893 00:52:55,280 --> 00:52:58,120 that is experiencing division among themselves, namely Jew and 894 00:52:58,120 --> 00:53:00,800 Gentile, and he goes to this verse to say. 895 00:53:01,220 --> 00:53:06,180 Do you realize that in God's mind, hundreds of years ago, he 896 00:53:06,180 --> 00:53:10,580 had it in his heart that you would have Jew and Gentile 897 00:53:11,140 --> 00:53:17,780 singing together? So in David's setting, it's 898 00:53:17,780 --> 00:53:20,820 singing to the nation's. Paul takes that verse by the 899 00:53:20,820 --> 00:53:24,100 Spirit and he says it's not to the Gentiles, it's with the 900 00:53:24,100 --> 00:53:27,580 Gentiles. And he's trying to hammer this 901 00:53:27,580 --> 00:53:30,260 point. God wants you to be unified. 902 00:53:31,570 --> 00:53:33,530 You know, one of the ways that we can proclaim our unity 903 00:53:33,530 --> 00:53:35,730 displayed is when you and I come together and sing. 904 00:53:36,690 --> 00:53:41,330 I ever thought about that? I'm just thinking about it now. 905 00:53:41,770 --> 00:53:44,610 I mean, one of the ways that we express our express our unity as 906 00:53:44,610 --> 00:53:49,130 a nation. We have an anthem, we have these 907 00:53:49,130 --> 00:53:51,570 slogans, we have these chants, we have these phrases. 908 00:53:51,570 --> 00:53:56,330 They, they color, they put some, they put some glue to what it is 909 00:53:56,330 --> 00:53:58,090 that we have as convictions in our hearts. 910 00:53:58,650 --> 00:54:01,370 And when we see this text, what I see here is that God in his 911 00:54:01,370 --> 00:54:04,050 heart did not just have it in mind that we would all 912 00:54:04,050 --> 00:54:06,010 experience forgiveness, that is true. 913 00:54:06,250 --> 00:54:09,090 But through that forgiveness, through that salvation, we would 914 00:54:09,090 --> 00:54:13,010 come together and sing. There is something very ancient 915 00:54:13,090 --> 00:54:15,730 that's happening every time you and I gather here and express 916 00:54:15,730 --> 00:54:21,570 ourselves in worship and praise. Therefore I will praise you 917 00:54:21,570 --> 00:54:23,490 among the Gentiles and sing to your name. 918 00:54:27,940 --> 00:54:32,620 I said I was done, but one more thing. 919 00:54:34,660 --> 00:54:36,660 Go back to chapter 22, verse one. 920 00:54:38,780 --> 00:54:44,970 Do you know where I get my permission to that pastor Daniel 921 00:54:44,970 --> 00:54:51,850 Benna and Philippians, Paul says finally in chapter 3. 922 00:54:51,850 --> 00:54:54,930 And he had much more to say. So when you hear preacher say, 923 00:54:54,930 --> 00:54:57,490 I'm almost done, they're following the steps of the 924 00:54:57,490 --> 00:55:01,290 apostle Paul, all right. And he said, follow me as I 925 00:55:01,290 --> 00:55:05,450 follow Christ. Second Samuel 22, verse one. 926 00:55:05,450 --> 00:55:14,010 And David spoke to the Lord the words of the song when on the 927 00:55:14,010 --> 00:55:18,370 day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all of his 928 00:55:18,370 --> 00:55:21,010 enemies and from the hand of Saul. 929 00:55:22,290 --> 00:55:25,690 It's amazing how the spirit doesn't put Saul under the 930 00:55:25,690 --> 00:55:28,050 category of enemies. It's fascinating. 931 00:55:28,760 --> 00:55:35,840 But what's interesting, too, is that it says on the day David 932 00:55:35,840 --> 00:55:41,760 was not only not forgetful, not negligent and giving God 933 00:55:42,640 --> 00:55:49,560 heartfelt, mindful gratitude, he saw it with delightful urgency. 934 00:55:52,000 --> 00:55:56,040 Praise, in David's mind, was an absolute priority. 935 00:55:57,840 --> 00:56:01,520 Especially when God has come through in one way or another on 936 00:56:01,560 --> 00:56:04,680 the day. If you want to know one way to 937 00:56:04,680 --> 00:56:08,640 please the heart of God, well, Christ does it for us. 938 00:56:08,840 --> 00:56:11,400 I know positionally that's true. That's wonderful. 939 00:56:11,400 --> 00:56:15,800 We can rest in that. But if you want your life to 940 00:56:15,800 --> 00:56:20,880 bless God, one of the ways you can be assured that this can 941 00:56:20,880 --> 00:56:28,600 happen is by giving him thanks. And with the urgency that you 942 00:56:28,600 --> 00:56:30,760 might have had and pleading with the Lord and petitioning with 943 00:56:30,760 --> 00:56:34,320 the Lord and seeking the Lord when that answer comes, when you 944 00:56:34,320 --> 00:56:37,800 see some sort of relief, you know what blesses him when 945 00:56:37,800 --> 00:56:41,520 you're just as urgent, and giving him glory for it. 946 00:56:42,960 --> 00:56:45,840 I see that with Jesus and Luke 1717 there was 10 lepers. 947 00:56:46,320 --> 00:56:50,080 They were all healed. One came back and Jesus asked in 948 00:56:50,080 --> 00:56:51,600 that verse, where are the others? 949 00:56:53,270 --> 00:56:55,510 Is it only this foreigner who has come back to praise God, 950 00:56:55,510 --> 00:56:57,950 It's a picture of the Gentiles. Yes, I get it, coming to the 951 00:56:57,950 --> 00:57:02,350 fold and the Jews not seeing the mercy of Jesus and who he is. 952 00:57:02,790 --> 00:57:07,110 But there's practical implications only one after what 953 00:57:07,110 --> 00:57:10,710 I've done. And so I see from that text in 954 00:57:10,710 --> 00:57:15,630 Luke 17 that what blesses the Lord is when I intentionally, 955 00:57:16,230 --> 00:57:20,590 when I I shake off all the other things that would try to hinder 956 00:57:20,590 --> 00:57:24,520 me from being grateful. And I say, Lord, thank you, 957 00:57:26,080 --> 00:57:27,480 David. Didn't wait another day. 958 00:57:27,480 --> 00:57:29,480 On that day, what was it? A specific moment? 959 00:57:29,480 --> 00:57:31,720 We don't know. But when the revelation of God's 960 00:57:31,720 --> 00:57:36,480 deliverance from all his enemies fell upon him, what came from 961 00:57:36,480 --> 00:57:41,640 him was what you read here. I want that. 962 00:57:42,880 --> 00:57:44,880 Not just now, at this point of my life. 963 00:57:44,880 --> 00:57:50,600 I want that when I am old and weary, like David was. 964 00:57:51,910 --> 00:57:53,510 Can we ask God to give it to all of us? 965 00:57:54,430 --> 00:58:05,190 He will surely help us. Lord, thank you for this Bible 966 00:58:05,190 --> 00:58:09,390 study. Thank you for the simple nudges 967 00:58:10,870 --> 00:58:15,150 of the simplicity of our faith. Lord, we are aware that there's 968 00:58:15,150 --> 00:58:20,750 so much more that you have to say through this chapter, but 969 00:58:20,750 --> 00:58:25,390 what we heard. Suffices for us to stop and to 970 00:58:25,390 --> 00:58:31,350 apply what we just learned. Thank you, oh Lord. 971 00:58:31,350 --> 00:58:38,030 Thank you for your goodness. We can declare by faith this God 972 00:58:38,030 --> 00:58:42,710 His way is perfect. And Lord, though we may not 973 00:58:42,710 --> 00:58:46,790 fully realize how you will pull us away from all the waters that 974 00:58:46,790 --> 00:58:50,990 seem to be pulling us in, you've reminded us. 975 00:58:51,940 --> 00:58:54,940 That all who call upon him in truth, and all who fear him, you 976 00:58:54,940 --> 00:59:01,180 will hear and you will deliver. Help us love you, fear you, 977 00:59:01,500 --> 00:59:07,300 honor you, Help us believe even now that our cries to you, 978 00:59:07,300 --> 00:59:09,860 whether they are silent or whether they are heard by 979 00:59:09,860 --> 00:59:13,540 others, they they reach your ears. 980 00:59:15,900 --> 00:59:19,860 And when the appointed time comes, you will swiftly come. 981 00:59:20,370 --> 00:59:24,290 Fly in our direction. You will in your mysterious 982 00:59:24,290 --> 00:59:28,010 Providence, raise up Abish eyes and use people that we might 983 00:59:28,010 --> 00:59:32,770 have known for years to extend your grace in our lives. 984 00:59:32,890 --> 00:59:35,050 Help us see when you answer a prayer. 985 00:59:35,850 --> 00:59:37,850 Help us recognize when you come through. 986 00:59:38,250 --> 00:59:43,010 Help us not miss it. God, we thank you for this 987 00:59:43,010 --> 00:59:46,640 family. And we pray that we would honor 988 00:59:46,640 --> 00:59:49,840 you for what you had in mind many, many, many, many years 989 00:59:49,840 --> 00:59:51,840 ago. That people from different 990 00:59:51,840 --> 00:59:54,120 backgrounds, different nations, different tribes and tongues 991 00:59:54,120 --> 01:00:00,000 coming together to sing of a common salvation, To sing the 992 01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:02,800 Lord lives. Or we give you honor tonight. 993 01:00:02,800 --> 01:00:04,280 In Jesus name. Amen. 994 01:00:04,640 --> 01:00:05,920 Amen. Well, shall we do that? 995 01:00:06,680 --> 01:00:10,320 Shall we do that? Shall we fulfill an ancient 996 01:00:10,400 --> 01:00:15,050 prophecy? That the most unlikely people 997 01:00:15,050 --> 01:00:19,370 would come on a Friday night because they actually enjoy 998 01:00:19,370 --> 01:00:26,090 singing to an invisible God, but who is ever present still. 999 01:00:27,410 --> 01:00:31,250 Yes, indeed, the Lord is worthy. Let's do that.