1 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,240 Well, good morning. My name is Steve Atkinson. 2 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:10,760 I serve as one of the elders here at New Life. 3 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:16,079 If you're visiting this morning, like to welcome you and pray 4 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,840 that you leave our service today encouraged, blessed, and 5 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:22,840 reminded that we serve a risen Savior. 6 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:28,360 Amen. Sitting over here this morning 7 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:32,119 as we were singing, I had a thought about something. 8 00:00:32,119 --> 00:00:33,840 This is totally off script already. 9 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:40,760 Sondra gave it, sent me a forwarded me a text or a 10 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,800 Facebook post or something earlier this week that really 11 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,800 touched my heart. And if for some reason I feel 12 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:52,080 like I need to start this morning with this because it, it 13 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,160 describes me and maybe it describes you. 14 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,760 Every time I get up here, I tell you about how how God saved me 15 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:03,080 as a young man and then I drifted away and, and now he's 16 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,160 using me more than ever in my later life. 17 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:12,720 But what Saunder sent me was a note that said my past is a 18 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,960 point of reference, not a place of residence. 19 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:19,800 Amen. So that's where I'm at this 20 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:24,920 morning. I am I'm no longer in my past. 21 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,760 I'm resting in my my future with Lord Jesus Christ. 22 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,040 So we got a lot to cover this morning. 23 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:38,400 I sent the elders a text earlier this week and said bring you 24 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:40,360 popcorn boys. It's going to be a long it. 25 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:48,280 So I know everybody went, but we're going to go ahead and get 26 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:52,360 started this morning by my we're going to be in Psalm one O 5. 27 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:57,880 Psalm one O 5. The big, big idea for the sermon 28 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:03,880 is remembering God's faithfulness fuels our faith. 29 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,639 Remembering God's faithfulness fuels our faith. 30 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:14,360 Once you get to Psalm one O 5 with the first thing you'll 31 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:20,960 notice is it's a, it's a fairly long Psalm that 45 verses. 32 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,800 So for those of you that were excited when you saw that I was 33 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,920 preaching this morning thinking you were getting out early and 34 00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:33,400 going to get in the line before the crowd at Chickadee or 35 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:38,280 Whataburger. I can't guarantee that if I 36 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:42,520 spend just a couple of minutes on each verse, that's like an 37 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,240 hour and a half or two hours. So not sure when we're going to 38 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:47,480 be there. We may have to take a break 39 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,320 halfway through and eat and come back. 40 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:55,120 I don't know, but so get comfortable, you know, I'm 41 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,520 kidding, right? It's I. 42 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:05,040 But just for the record, I want to tell you all that so far, you 43 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,360 know, we've, we've had this wonderful, this great preaching 44 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,200 on Sunday nights, the last Sunday night of the month. 45 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,880 We've heard from all these young guys preaching along with James 46 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:19,040 and I. And so far, I hold the record 47 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:22,160 for the shortest sermon. You're welcome. 48 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:27,920 And I think at least through next month, my record is secure 49 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,760 because Kyle and Dustin are preaching next month. 50 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:37,720 So I, I, I need not worry about. Anyway, let's pray as we get 51 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:42,560 started. Heavenly Father, as your people, 52 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:48,760 we come before You today with gratitude and wonder, eager to 53 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,640 hear of Your faithfulness throughout the generations. 54 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:57,080 As we look at this passage, remind us that You are the God 55 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:01,000 who keeps Your Word, who leads with power, and who never 56 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,960 forgets Your promises. Lord, give me the ability to 57 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:09,080 preach Your Word with clarity, with humility and boldness. 58 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,080 You are always so gracious during my preparation to show me 59 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,839 amazing things about You. Father, allow me now to share 60 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:23,880 those things with Your people. I pray this morning that you 61 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:28,160 transform the black letters on the white paper in front of me 62 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:34,840 to read letters the voice of our Savior Jesus Christ as He is 63 00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:39,480 seen in this passage. Let every word I speak be guided 64 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:45,080 by Your Spirit and let every ear hear not my voice but Yours. 65 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:50,400 I pray earnestly that you be glorified in it all in Jesus 66 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:55,880 name, Amen. Jasper did a great job last week 67 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:01,280 helping us to see God's glory and providential care, how He is 68 00:05:01,280 --> 00:05:05,000 revealed in creation, and how the glory of creation leads to 69 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,960 praise and worship of the Creator. 70 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:16,640 Just think how infinitely, infinitely complex God's task is 71 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:21,760 of managing the world in which we live as He supplies food and 72 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:27,160 water to his creatures. So last week he taught us about 73 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:33,360 how God's creation, how God is faithful through his creation. 74 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,600 The realization of the complexity of our world can only 75 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,800 result in great praise, worship, and all of God as the Creator 76 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:43,880 and Sustainer of this vast world. 77 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:51,000 As we look this week at Psalm One O 5, a historical Psalm that 78 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,280 recounts many of God's blessings on His people, Israel. 79 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:59,080 This psalmist placed where it is not because David numbered the 80 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:03,640 Psalms as he authored them, but because there is a divine order 81 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:07,360 to God's Word. Psalm One O 4 speaks of the 82 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,880 mighty works of God and the glory do Him in creation. 83 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:15,480 Then Psalm One O 5 continues this praise and worship by 84 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:19,440 remembering his deeds and mercy granted toward the people of 85 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:24,200 Israel. Before we read our text today, 86 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,760 I'd like to ask you to join me in a little visualization. 87 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,720 You heard the little bell earlier. 88 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:40,120 This was my grandmother's. I'm I'm guess I'm going to start 89 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:45,680 getting the the being thought of as the guy that always brings 90 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:47,760 little keepsakes or trinkets when I preach. 91 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:53,360 But this was my grandmother's. My grandmother was confined to a 92 00:06:53,360 --> 00:07:00,080 wheelchair most of her life. She used this bell to summon my 93 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,840 grandfather and that's what she wanted. 94 00:07:04,840 --> 00:07:11,200 Something you you can't see. Maybe y'all can, but but this 95 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,760 bell has been broken at least three times. 96 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:18,360 The handle has been broken and it's it's been fixed. 97 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,840 And I don't know whether that was because my grandfather was 98 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:33,040 deaf or because my grandmother may have thrown this at him. 99 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,480 I don't know. But but I never asked my mom, 100 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:43,200 but the bell was passed down from her to my mother, to me in 101 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:49,520 a box of keepsakes. I think this bill probably 102 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:54,440 brought back good memories for my mom, probably not so much for 103 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:58,600 my grandfather. But what I want to talk about 104 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:04,760 this morning, and I wanted to relate this passage to is a box 105 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,720 of keepsakes that David is going through. 106 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:13,840 So I'd like for you to if you would. 107 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,360 I know this is dangerous for a preacher to say, but I'd like 108 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:23,080 for you to close your eyes. Just relax now I already saw 109 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,440 that some of y'all already had your eyes closed, so y'all do 110 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:28,600 have to open your eyes back up after this is over. 111 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:33,120 But picture in your mind. Picture in your mind. 112 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:37,400 David, King of Israel. He is. 113 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:42,159 He's in his palace. He's in all of his royal robes. 114 00:08:42,799 --> 00:08:46,520 He's got a golden crown with jewels on his head. 115 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,440 He's got golden rings. He's got golden chains. 116 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:55,920 He is, he is dressed in all of his royalty. 117 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:06,440 He's in the palace living room and he's getting ready for the 118 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:10,440 Covenant, the Ark of the Covenant to be brought back to 119 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:15,920 Jerusalem. Today he he's got a tent set up 120 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:21,440 for the ark and he's planned a celebration. 121 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,480 That'll be the biggest church service Jerusalem has ever seen. 122 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,760 Every detail has been taken care of. 123 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,400 The priests know all their duties. 124 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,360 The burnt offerings and peace offerings have been prepared. 125 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:39,520 The musicians are ready to play, the dancers are ready, the food 126 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,760 is ready. First Chronicles 16 four tells 127 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:47,680 us that David appointed Levites as ministers to invoke, to thank 128 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,400 and to praise the Lord the God of Israel. 129 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:55,960 Others were there to play harps and liars, sound symbols, blow 130 00:09:55,960 --> 00:10:01,000 trumpets and others to sing. It was truly going to be a 131 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:07,640 celebration, nephew. Keep that visualization in your 132 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:09,720 mind. You can open your eyes before 133 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:14,600 you start nodding. Second Samuel 6 and First 134 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:18,760 Chronicles chapters 13 through 16 tell us of the moving of the 135 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:21,960 ark from Ovid, Edom's house, to Jerusalem. 136 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,920 The Levites carried the ark into the into Jerusalem with great 137 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:31,800 celebration, and David and all Israel danced and rejoiced 138 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,040 before God. The ark was placed in the tent 139 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,760 that David had prepared, marking its permanent residence in the 140 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,720 city. Later, in First Chronicles 22, 141 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:47,440 David realizes the inequity of him living in a cedar house. 142 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:52,600 But God only has a tent. So he tells Nathan, the prophet, 143 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:55,840 of his plan to build a magnificent temple to God where 144 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,640 the ark will be permanently housed and all Israel will 145 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:02,120 worship God. But David will learn from Nathan 146 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,560 that God will not allow him to build a temple. 147 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:08,280 But Solomon, his son, will have that honor. 148 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,440 But David doesn't know that he's not going to get to build a 149 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:13,360 temple. Right now. 150 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:18,400 He has this image in his mind of the temple that he wants to 151 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:22,480 build for God. But as he's thinking about all 152 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:27,080 these things, he's sitting on the royal sofa, and suddenly he 153 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:31,360 remembers that there's a box in the drawer of the sofa table. 154 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,520 So he reaches down and he opens that drawer and he takes out 155 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:40,000 that box. He knows that whatever's in this 156 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:46,920 box is important because maybe he saw his dad, Jesse, looking 157 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,160 at the things in the box many years before. 158 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:56,040 But before we look into this imaginary box with David, please 159 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,520 stand with me as we read Psalm One O 5. 160 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:11,000 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, make known 161 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,880 his deeds among the peoples, sing to Him, sing praises to 162 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:17,440 Him, tell of all His wondrous works. 163 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:21,560 Glory in His holy name. Let the hearts of those who seek 164 00:12:21,560 --> 00:12:25,240 the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and His strength. 165 00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:30,000 Seek His presence continually. Remember the wondrous works that 166 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,320 He has done, His miracles and the judgments He uttered. 167 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:37,840 Oh, offspring of Abraham, His servant, children of Jacob, is 168 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:41,120 chosen once. He is the Lord our God. 169 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,360 His judgments were in all the earth. 170 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:47,040 He remembers His covenant forever, the word that He 171 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:51,200 commanded for 1000 generations, the covenant that He made with 172 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:56,160 Abraham, His sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to 173 00:12:56,160 --> 00:13:00,120 Jacob as a statue to Israel, as an everlasting covenant. 174 00:13:00,560 --> 00:13:05,720 Saying to you, I will give the land of Canaan at your portion 175 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:09,280 for an inheritance. When they were few in number of 176 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:13,120 little account and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to 177 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:17,720 nation, from one king to another people, he allowed no one to 178 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:20,680 oppress them. He rebuked kings on their 179 00:13:20,680 --> 00:13:24,720 account, saying, Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no 180 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:27,440 harm. When he summoned a famine on the 181 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:31,400 land and broke all supply of bread, he had sent a man ahead 182 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,680 of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 183 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:39,520 His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck was put in a collar of 184 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:43,200 iron, until what he had said came to pass. 185 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:48,040 The word of the Lord tested him, the king sent and released him, 186 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,280 and the rulers of the people set him free. 187 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:57,240 He made him Lord of his house and rulers, and ruler of all his 188 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:01,120 possessions, to bind his Princess at his pleasure and to 189 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:05,400 teach his elders wisdom. Then Israel came to Egypt. 190 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:11,560 Jacob summoned in the land of Ham, and the Lord made his 191 00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:15,440 people very fruitful and made them stronger than his foes. 192 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:20,520 He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily 193 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:24,080 with his servants. He sent Moses his servant, and 194 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,520 Aaron whom he had chosen. They performed his signs among 195 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:29,880 them and miracles in the land of Ham. 196 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:33,360 He sent darkness and made the land dark. 197 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:35,880 They did not rebel against his words. 198 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,160 He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to 199 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,160 die. Their land swarmed with frogs, 200 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,080 even in the chambers of the kings. 201 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:48,280 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies and gnats throughout 202 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:50,400 their country. He gave me. 203 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:54,160 He gave them hail for rain and fiery lightning bolts through 204 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:57,120 their land. He struck down their vines and 205 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:00,200 fig trees and shattered the trees of their country. 206 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,720 He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number, 207 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:08,600 which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate 208 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:12,200 up the fruit of their ground. He struck down all the first 209 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,960 born in their land, the first fruits of all their strength. 210 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,600 Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was 211 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:22,920 none among his tribe who stumbled. 212 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:27,240 Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had 213 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:30,520 fallen upon it. He spread a cloud for a 214 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:32,880 covering, and fire to give light by night. 215 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,240 They asked Him. They asked, and he brought 216 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:38,800 quail. He gave them bread from heaven 217 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,640 in abundance. He opened the rock, and water 218 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,320 gushed out. It flowed through the desert 219 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:47,120 like a river. For he remembered His holy 220 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,160 promise, and Abraham his servant. 221 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:53,080 So he brought out his people. So he brought his people out 222 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,960 with joy. His chosen ones was singing. 223 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,840 And He gave them the lands of the nations, and they took 224 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:03,960 possession of the fruit of the people's toil, that they may 225 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,800 keep His statues and observe His laws. 226 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:10,560 Praise the Lord, this is the word of the Lord. 227 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:18,610 You can be seated. Now. 228 00:16:18,610 --> 00:16:22,290 I want you to remember the picture of David that you 229 00:16:22,290 --> 00:16:26,890 visualized a moment ago. Visualize the anticipation that 230 00:16:26,890 --> 00:16:33,970 he has before he even opens this little box, and his anticipation 231 00:16:34,370 --> 00:16:39,440 is leading to to joy and excitement and that culminates 232 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:44,000 into spontaneous worship. This joy and excitement that we 233 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:48,840 see in David shows how God's faithfulness fuels our worship, 234 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:54,120 which is my first point today. God's faithfulness fuels our 235 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:58,680 worship. The comment in the ESB Study 236 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:02,680 Bible regarding this Psalm says that this is a hymn urging God's 237 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:07,880 people to trust and worship the Lord alone by reminding them 238 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:11,760 that He is, that He alone is worthy of their deepest loyalty. 239 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:15,560 Look at the phrases that David uses in this these first 7 240 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:17,440 verses. Look at verse one. 241 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:20,480 Give thanks to the Lord. Call upon His name. 242 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:27,760 Make known his deeds in verse 2. Tell of all His right wondrous 243 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,080 works and glory in His holy name. 244 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:35,560 Verse 3, rejoice. Verse 4 seek the Lord and His 245 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,400 strength, seek His presence continually. 246 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,280 And then in verse 5, also remember the wondrous works He 247 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,280 has done, His miracles, all that. 248 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:49,640 Sound familiar? We've all heard those phrases 249 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:56,360 before, haven't we? So what attitude then should we 250 00:17:56,360 --> 00:18:02,600 bring into worship of the great God Jehovah Yahweh, King of 251 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:06,440 Kings? Are we together in somber 252 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:09,760 silence? Sometimes. 253 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:18,880 But when we gather on the Lord's Day to worship our Creator, we 254 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,000 are to come with joyful thankfulness. 255 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:29,640 Now, does that always happen? I don't know about you, but 256 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:35,320 there are times that I come with a heavy heart and to be brutally 257 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,680 honest, I may not even feel like being here. 258 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:45,280 Oh, an elder admitted being human. 259 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,960 But you know what? There's no other place on earth 260 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,160 that I need to be during those times. 261 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,600 Then in the House of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 262 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,800 Amen. Thanksgiving and gratefulness or 263 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:08,520 spiritual habits that we have to intentionally develop through 264 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:12,280 continual practice. We could practice by taking time 265 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:15,840 each day to talk with God and to thank Him for all He has done. 266 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:22,240 We can choose each day to believe His promises and in His 267 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:26,440 faithfulness. Once again, I'm going to get off 268 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,800 track here. I have a habit of getting 269 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:34,560 getting up early most every morning, but on mornings that I 270 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:41,080 preach, I get up really early. And the time that I get to spend 271 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:45,400 with Jesus early in the morning on the Sunday morning before I 272 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:50,040 preach is absolutely amazing. He showed me something else 273 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:52,120 about my little bell this morning. 274 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,920 Our prayer life can be like this bell. 275 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:09,760 When everything is going well, when life is good, finances are 276 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:13,600 great. Our little bells, our prayer 277 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:21,200 life sits on the desk. But then think about when when 278 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:25,400 the economy starts. Going down, we start worrying 279 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:31,480 about finances. Jesus, I need you. 280 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:37,880 But then when he works all that out for us, our little bell goes 281 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:43,720 back on the desk and it's quiet the next time we need something. 282 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:52,640 Jesus, I need you. Help me Then our bill is quiet 283 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:59,800 and goes back on the desk. How's your prayer life? 284 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:09,200 We're going to move on. We can all agree that God is 285 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:13,160 faithful, right? Then as His children, we should 286 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,720 also be faithful. We should strive to utilize the 287 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,520 power of the Holy Spirit to fight our broken, sinful 288 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:25,640 humanness, to submit to this holy power, to help us remember 289 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,200 God's faithfulness, Lamb and faith. 290 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:33,960 Lamentations 322 through 23 tells us the steadfast love of 291 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:37,240 the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an 292 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:39,640 end. They are new every morning. 293 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:44,760 Great is your faithfulness, Deuteronomy 79 says. 294 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:47,800 Know therefore, that the Lord your God is God. 295 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:52,320 He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to 1000 296 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:56,160 generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. 297 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:02,040 So, because He is faithful, the appropriate and natural response 298 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:06,040 from His people should be Thanksgiving, joy, and gratitude 299 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:11,440 expressed in our worship of Him. True and proper worship does not 300 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:14,680 flow merely from beauty. Rather, it should gush from our 301 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:18,680 hearts like a stream in the spring that is fed by the 302 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:22,560 snowmelt from a heart overwhelmed by God's goodness 303 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:27,080 and dependability. We don't worship to earn God's 304 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:29,440 favor. That can't happen. 305 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,720 Our worship is a response to the already given grace and mercy 306 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,280 that comes from God. It is a call to remember that 307 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:43,400 worship is rooted in the nature and actions of God, not in our 308 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:48,040 worthiness or emotion. His unchanging faithfulness is 309 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:52,200 the anchor and motivation for a life of praise, Thanksgiving, 310 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,360 and devotion. Now to get back to our 311 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:00,440 visualization. We're finally now get to see 312 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:04,000 David opening this box and finding out what's inside. 313 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:10,240 So now he has the opportunity of remembering God's faithfulness. 314 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,760 It's my next point, remembering God's faithfulness. 315 00:23:15,360 --> 00:23:18,680 As David opens the box, what's he find in there? 316 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:24,520 He finds memories. Memories of God's faithfulness 317 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:28,680 to His covenant people, Israel, from God's promise to Abraham to 318 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,040 the entrance into the Promised Land. 319 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:36,640 In verse 8, we see confirmation of God that remembers that God 320 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:41,000 remembers his covenant forever. So does that mean that God 321 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:43,480 forgets? Of course not. 322 00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:48,640 Here the phrase he remembers is more of a relational term, 323 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:52,920 meaning that it's a signal or a sign that God's loyalty and 324 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:56,600 faithfulness to his people. God remembering means His 325 00:23:56,600 --> 00:24:00,240 promises are never broken, regardless of our failures. 326 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:06,400 In verses 9 through 11, we see that God's covenant with Abraham 327 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:10,640 to possess the land of Canaan continues with his sworn promise 328 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:14,360 to Isaac and then confirmed to Jacob. 329 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,960 David also recalls how God protected his people before they 330 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:22,800 became a nation when they were few in number, vulnerable. 331 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:26,600 And we're wondering, God protected them by demonstrating 332 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:28,800 His faithfulness through His covenant. 333 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:36,640 These verses reinforce the value of God's people, not because of 334 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,360 their strength in battle or their number, but because of His 335 00:24:39,360 --> 00:24:44,040 promise. In verses 16 through 25, David 336 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,280 looks into the box again and sees how God orchestrated the 337 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:53,240 events to fulfill His covenant promises even through hardship. 338 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:59,640 Verse 16 tells of the great famine that was summoned by God 339 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:03,800 in order to get Joseph to Egypt sold as a slave. 340 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:12,840 This is amazing. God summoned the famine. 341 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:19,160 The ESB is the only version that I found that I looked at that 342 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:22,680 used the word summoned. All the other ones that I looked 343 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:30,000 at used the words called for. There's something we don't need 344 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:34,480 to miss here. Whether it's summoned or called 345 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:43,120 for the famine, The Hebrew word is KAWRAWI have no Hebrew 346 00:25:43,120 --> 00:25:47,160 training so I'm not going to try to roll that R and and tell you 347 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:53,160 what it's supposed to sound like, but it means basically 348 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:58,800 called for. These verses don't say that God 349 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:02,600 caused the famine, rather he called for it. 350 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:07,560 The famine was already planned and created by God for his use 351 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:10,360 at this time to preserve the nation of Israel. 352 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:16,360 Genesis 4154 says that there was a famine in all the lands, but 353 00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:19,000 in the land of Egypt there was bread. 354 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:26,640 Those of you that have played baseball, there's an example 355 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:31,320 here. God is standing at the at the 356 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:39,480 dugout door and he says, hey famine, you're up, but don't hit 357 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:44,800 the ball to left field. That's what God did with the 358 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:49,400 famine. He could have had that famine 359 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:56,960 include the entire world, but that famine was stopped at the 360 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:01,160 borders of Egypt. This shows that God is sovereign 361 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:04,920 even over natural disasters. The famine didn't happen by 362 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:09,760 accident, it was called for or summoned by God for a greater 363 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:14,240 purpose. Nothing, absolutely nothing, 364 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:17,640 happens in creation without being part of His plan. 365 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:22,880 What immense, immeasurable, faithful power of Yahweh, the 366 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:27,280 God of our salvation, to put limits even on a famine. 367 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:33,000 Verse 18 speaks of the suffering Joseph endured before his rise 368 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:37,000 to power. Spurgeon says of this burst that 369 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:41,920 the iron fetters were preparing Joseph to wear chains of gold 370 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,200 and making his feet ready to stand on high places. 371 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:49,280 This verse emphasizes real pain and injustice. 372 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,000 Joseph, though he was faithful, was wrongly imprisoned. 373 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:56,560 Yet this was all part of God's larger plan. 374 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:01,320 It shows us that God's promises often involve seasons of waiting 375 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:05,240 and pain. Joseph's suffering shaped his 376 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:07,880 character and positioned him to save nations. 377 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:13,440 When Pharaoh finally releases him, Matthew Henry says the 378 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:20,200 verse 21, Pharaoh made Joseph Prime Minister of state, Lord 379 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:23,880 president of his council to command his Princess at his 380 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:28,680 pleasure and teach them wisdom. Here we are reminded that when 381 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:34,000 we remain faithful, God not only lifts us up, he equips us to 382 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,880 bless others with wisdom and compassion. 383 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:43,720 Again, David looks into his imaginary box in verses 26 384 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:46,520 through 42. He sees a memory of Moses and 385 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:51,600 Aaron, as well as God's mighty acts in delivering Israel from 386 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:56,120 Egypt and his faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham. 387 00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:00,520 We see God's sovereignty in these verses and how He controls 388 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:04,400 nature and nations, acting with purpose through miracles and 389 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:10,000 judgment. Verses 28 through 4028 through 390 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:14,120 34, God shows us his control over darkness. 391 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:18,240 He turns water into blood. He calls for swarms of frogs and 392 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:22,560 flies and gnats. He changed their rein into hail. 393 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:27,080 He killed their crops with hail and with locusts. 394 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:33,200 And these plagues culminated with what will forever more be 395 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:39,080 known as Passover, when we see God powerfully delivering His 396 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:42,480 people from bondage. As they leave Egypt, He makes 397 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:46,600 provisions for them in the wilderness in the form of food, 398 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:51,800 water, and protection from animals and armies, Verse 42 399 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:58,840 says, For he remembered his holy promise and Abraham his servant. 400 00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:02,240 This short verse carries profound meaning. 401 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:06,640 It serves as the climax and motivation behind all of God's 402 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:09,880 mighty acts listed in the previous verses. 403 00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:14,040 If we break this verse down, look at the first part He 404 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:17,640 remembered. This doesn't imply that God had 405 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:25,000 forgotten and suddenly recalled. I mentioned this earlier, but 406 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:27,480 it's important enough to say again. 407 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:33,040 In Scripture, remembering often means acting on a promise. 408 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:37,320 God remained mindful and faithful of what He had said to 409 00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:42,640 the generations before. The next part of this verse, His 410 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:45,080 holy promise. This refers to the covenant with 411 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:49,440 Abraham to make his descendants a great nation, give them a 412 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:52,720 land, and bless all the nations through them. 413 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:57,480 It is called holy because it is set apart, divine and 414 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:01,840 unbreakable. Then at the end of the verse it 415 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:08,720 says and Abraham his servant. Even long after Abraham's death, 416 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:14,240 probably 1000 years after his death, God still honors his 417 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:17,520 servant. This shows God's faithfulness 418 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:21,160 across generations, not just in the moment. 419 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:31,360 My final point this morning is that God's faithfulness calls 420 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:34,440 believers to trust in His promises. 421 00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:39,960 God's faithfulness calls believers to trust in His 422 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:44,920 promises. Verses 42 through 45 bring the 423 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:48,040 Psalm to an end and allow David to tell us about God's 424 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:51,880 faithfulness, His blessings, and His purpose for His people. 425 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:55,720 The whole of Israel's deliverance and blessing is 426 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:59,000 grounded in God's faithful memory of His covenant with 427 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:02,760 Abraham. David tells us of the joy and 428 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:07,160 singing that emphasizes God's desire for his people to live in 429 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:11,800 freedom and celebration. Verse 44 tells us of God's 430 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:17,720 generous grace. 45 tells us that God's blessings were not just 431 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:23,360 for comfort, they had a purpose so that his people would live 432 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:26,760 according to his ways and be a lot to all the nations. 433 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:31,920 We have been this morning. We've been with David this 434 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:35,240 morning as he looked back at the faithfulness of God. 435 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:38,680 So is this Psalm just a history lesson? 436 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:44,440 Is it included in the Bible just as a reminder of all the things 437 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:51,520 God did for the Israelites? No, no, no, my friend is much 438 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:57,440 more, so much more. And there's another aspect to 439 00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:02,960 this Psalm that David didn't understand but we know about and 440 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:06,920 that is the gospel of Jesus Christ here shown in Psalm one O 441 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:11,400 5. Y'all really didn't think when I 442 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:13,720 said that was my final point a minute ago. 443 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:16,440 That was like I was ending, did you? 444 00:33:17,840 --> 00:33:19,520 No, I'm, I'm getting this preaching thing. 445 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:24,680 Let's look and see how Jesus shows up in this text. 446 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:30,320 First, God's covenant faithfulness culminates in 447 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:35,240 Jesus, the full fulfillment of the promise of the covenant. 448 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,600 The Psalm centers on God remembering his covenant with 449 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:44,040 Abraham, a promise to bless his descendants and bring salvation 450 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:47,880 to all nations. Listen to what the Lord told 451 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:50,760 Abram in Genesis 12. Three. 452 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:56,520 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I 453 00:33:56,520 --> 00:34:01,000 will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be 454 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:05,600 blessed. Jesus is also the fulfillment of 455 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:10,199 God's promise. Galatians 316 says Now the 456 00:34:10,199 --> 00:34:13,360 promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. 457 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:18,520 It does not say and to offsprings referring to many, 458 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:23,840 but referring to 1 until your offspring, who is Christ. 459 00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:29,960 Martin Luther says of this verse that the praises the promises 460 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:36,239 that were made in view of Christ in one seed, not in many seeds. 461 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:41,000 God's commitment is personified in Jesus. 462 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:46,400 This commitment is the central theme of Christian faith. 463 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:51,600 It means that Jesus is the living, breathing, human 464 00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:56,920 expression of God's unwavering faithfulness, love, and promise 465 00:34:57,360 --> 00:35:00,920 to humanity. Through Jesus life, death, and 466 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:03,800 resurrection, God will make a new covenant with his people, 467 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:08,080 one of grace, forgiveness, and eternal life. 468 00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:15,200 Verses 23 through 38 that we looked at earlier tell the story 469 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:19,760 of deliverance from bondage, exemplifying how Jesus rescues 470 00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:24,080 us from sin. The Gospel tells us that Jesus 471 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:27,320 delivers us from the slavery of sin and death. 472 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:34,040 In Romans 6, Paul is talking about the believer under grace 473 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:38,880 and the problem of habitual sin. Beginning in verse 6, he says we 474 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:42,440 know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that 475 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:47,200 the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no 476 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:52,560 longer be enslaved to sin, for one who has died has been set 477 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:59,240 free from sin. Paul also tells us in Colossians 478 00:35:59,240 --> 00:36:04,800 1 verses 13 and 14 that he has delivered us from the domain of 479 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:08,520 darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son 480 00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:12,840 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 481 00:36:13,720 --> 00:36:17,760 The exodus of David that had been, that he had been taught 482 00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:21,840 about was a foreshadowing of the salvation of Christ. 483 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:29,000 Freedom by grace, not by effort. We also see here God's provision 484 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:33,320 in the wilderness is also a foreshadowing of Jesus, the 485 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:37,720 bread of life. God provided food and water, and 486 00:36:37,720 --> 00:36:42,240 Jesus said in John 635, I am the bread of life. 487 00:36:43,680 --> 00:36:46,840 God's provision in the wilderness points us to Jesus as 488 00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:51,200 our spiritual sustenance, the one who satisfies completely. 489 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:56,720 And finally, this Psalm is a call to remember and respond. 490 00:36:58,040 --> 00:37:03,080 We are to seek the Lord. We are to embrace His guidance. 491 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:07,600 We are to trust in His covenant. We are to proclaim Him. 492 00:37:08,480 --> 00:37:10,880 We are to praise Him for His faithfulness. 493 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:13,560 We are to proclaim His holy name. 494 00:37:13,640 --> 00:37:17,760 We are to rejoice in Him. We are to rejoice in God's 495 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:22,760 provision through Christ. We are to rejoice in the new 496 00:37:22,760 --> 00:37:28,760 covenant of Christ. I want to leave you with this 497 00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:33,640 this morning. Psalm One O 5 is both a song of 498 00:37:33,640 --> 00:37:38,920 praise and a spiritual anchor. It reminds us that God's work in 499 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:41,720 history it is not just for the past. 500 00:37:42,640 --> 00:37:46,480 It is the foundation of our trust, worship, and obedience 501 00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:49,480 today. It is the fuel for our faith. 502 00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:54,400 The proper response to God's grace through His faithfulness 503 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:57,280 is worship, witness, and obedience. 504 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:01,880 Not to earn salvation, but because it's freely given. 505 00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:07,400 If you don't have a personal relationship with my Jesus, 506 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:13,040 please come and talk with me or any of the elders after the 507 00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:16,880 service this morning. We'd be thrilled to talk to you 508 00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:20,720 about what life in Christ is all about. 509 00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:26,360 Pray with me, please. Gracious and faithful Father, 510 00:38:28,240 --> 00:38:30,840 thank you for meeting us through Your Word today. 511 00:38:33,120 --> 00:38:39,840 As we saw, you are a God who keeps His promises, who leads 512 00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:42,520 with power, and who provides with mercy. 513 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:47,960 Lord, help us remember what you have said through this passage. 514 00:38:49,080 --> 00:38:53,720 I pray our worship is pleasing to you, that our faithfulness is 515 00:38:53,720 --> 00:38:58,440 always anchored in Jesus, and that we are obedient to You not 516 00:38:58,440 --> 00:39:01,200 out of duty, but out of love for you. 517 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:06,840 Teach us to remember with both our minds and with our lives, 518 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:11,720 declaring Your goodness and how we live, how we serve, and how 519 00:39:11,720 --> 00:39:15,720 we trust You. Now, as we come to a brief time 520 00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:20,680 of reflection, fill our hearts with the joy of Your salvation. 521 00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:25,840 May the truth of Your Word guide our steps and may the power of 522 00:39:25,840 --> 00:39:30,000 Your Spirit keep us faithful. In Jesus name we pray.