Psalm 140

[0:00] Good evening and a warm welcome to the service this evening.

[0:24] Those who are watching online, those who are listening in on the telephone again. It's good for us to come this evening to worship God together. And we'll begin this time of worship by singing to God's praise from Psalm 140.

[0:39] And we'll sing from verses 1 to verse 7. Lord, from the ill and throwward man, give me deliverance. And do thou safe preserve me from the man of violence.

[0:51] And we sing down to the end of verse 7. I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God, unto the cry of all my supplications. Lord, do thine ear apply.

[1:02] O God, the Lord, who art the strength of my salvation. A covering in the day of war, my head thou hast put on. These verses 1 to 7 we sing to God's praise.

[1:13] Lord, from the ill and throwward man, give me deliverance.

[1:32] Undo thou safe preserve me from the man of violence.

[1:50] Who in their heart mischievous things are meditating ever.

[2:07] And they for war assembled are continually together.

[2:25] Much like unto a serpent's tongue.

[2:37] Their tongues they sharp to make. And underneath their lips there lies the poison of a snake.

[3:03] Lord, keep me from the wicked's hands.

[3:14] From violent men me save. Who utterly to overthrow my goings.

[3:37] Purposed have the proud for me. A snare have head.

[3:51] And courts, yea, they on it. Have by the wayside for me spread.

[4:09] The against for me have said. I said unto the Lord, thou art my God unto thee cry.

[4:36] Of all my supplications. Lord, do thine ear apply.

[4:54] O God the Lord, who art the strength of my salvation.

[5:12] A covering in the day of war.

[5:23] My head thou hast put on. Let's unite our hearts in prayer now.

[5:41] Let's pray. Our heavenly Father, we thank you that on this large day evening we are able to come into your presence.

[5:52] And that you have given us the desire. You've given us the opportunity. You've given us the freedom to gather together in worship. And we ask, Lord, that you would still our hearts.

[6:05] That you would clean our minds. And that you would enable us to focus on you as our God. We thank you for the psalm that we have sung.

[6:16] And we pray that with the psalmist we would be able to say, I said unto the Lord, thou art my God unto the cry of all my supplications. Lord, do thine ear apply.

[6:28] We thank you that although you are the God who is sovereign, the God who rules and who reigns over heaven and earth. We thank you that we can say that you are our God.

[6:41] And we thank you that we have the assurance that as we sing praises, you are the God who hears and who accepts these praises when they are in spirit and in truth.

[6:53] And we thank you that as we pray in and through the name of Jesus, we have the assurance that you hear our prayers and that you help us. We thank you in that psalm that we see so many times that you are the God who helps us, who rescues us, who delivers us, who preserves us.

[7:13] You are the one who, as we cry to you, responds in mercy and in grace. And we would ask, Lord, for that mercy and for that grace this evening.

[7:28] We confess once more that we are sinners and we are worthy of receiving your judgment. But we cry out for mercy. And we ask, Lord, that you would withhold from us the judgment that we deserve.

[7:41] And we look to you for the grace that comes through Jesus. All that we do not deserve, we pray that you would give to us because of what Christ has done.

[7:53] We thank you that his life was a perfect, righteous life. The life that we have not lived. And we thank you that his death was not in vain, but his death was in our place.

[8:05] He who was innocent died in the place of the guilty so that we who are sinners could be saved in and through his blood. So we ask, Lord, that we would know the assurance of that salvation.

[8:20] We pray that we would be found this evening and each day returning to that cross where we are humbled as we see our sin.

[8:32] But where we are lifted up and encouraged as we see our Saviour. Help us, we pray, as McShane said in days gone by, to look at ourselves, yes, but for every look itself we take.

[8:45] May we take ten looks at Jesus. We pray that you would help us this evening as we open your word. That we would be given your spirit that we may understand and see and hear the things that you would have us see and hear.

[9:01] We pray that you would give to us the faith that is a gift from God. And we pray, Lord, that you would enable us to lean upon you throughout this new year that we have entered into.

[9:13] We thank you that although we do not know what's ahead, we come to the God who knows the future. And we pray that you would equip us, that you would prepare us for all that is ahead of us.

[9:26] At this time we are conscious of much in the way of trouble in this world. As we feel the bite of the pandemic once more. We pray, Lord, that you would help us, that you would protect us.

[9:39] That you would steady us at a time when so many are in panic. Enable us to look to you and to know your continued protection over us.

[9:49] We thank you, Lord, thus far that you have been with us. And we pray that you would continue to have your hand upon us. And enable us to continue to seek to shade under your wings.

[10:03] We pray, Lord, for those who are in authority over us at this time. As they have decisions to make week by week. Which are decisions which could not ever have been imagined or planned in times past.

[10:20] We pray that you would give them the wisdom that they need. We are conscious, Lord, that we do not hear those in authority asking for wisdom from heaven. We are conscious that we do not hear anything of a reverence of and a bowing down before the God who rules over all.

[10:40] But we ask, Lord, that you would enable us and enable them to be humbled. We pray that you would reveal yourself to us once more as a nation.

[10:53] That we may return to the God who once we walked close with. And we would once more look to the book where we receive wisdom from heaven. Forgive us for our wanderings and heal our land, we pray.

[11:07] As we would seek to turn back to you. We ask, Lord, that you would be with those who are struggling tonight. We are conscious once more of those who are grieving.

[11:18] We pray for your comfort to be given to them. We are conscious also of those who struggle with addictions and who may feel low at this time of year.

[11:29] And we pray for all who are in such need that you would reach out to them. And that they would know your help and your presence. We pray for the YF as they meet again this evening.

[11:41] And we ask, Lord, that in their early years, they and the Sunday School, all the young people of our community, that they would know you, that they would remember you, that they would trust you in the days of their youth.

[11:55] And that they would walk with you all the days of their lives. So hear our prayers. Help us, meet us at the point of our need. And enable us to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus.

[12:06] For we pray these things in his name and for his sake. Amen. We'll turn now to read the psalm that we sang. Psalm 140.

[12:18] And we'll read the whole of this psalm. For the director of music, a psalm of David. Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men.

[12:29] Protect me from men of violence who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's.

[12:39] The poison of vipers is on their lips. Selah. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked. Protect me from the men of violence who plan to trip my feet.

[12:51] Proud men have hidden a snare for me. They have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path. Selah.

[13:04] O Lord, I say to you, you are my God. Hear, O Lord, my cry for mercy. O sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle.

[13:17] Do not grant the wicked their desires, O Lord. Do not let their plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah. Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused.

[13:32] Let burning coals fall upon them. May they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits never to rise. Let slanderers not be established in the land.

[13:45] May disaster hunt down men of violence. I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor, and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live before you.

[14:02] Amen. And may God bless that reading of his word. We'll pray once more. Our heavenly Father, we ask now, once more, that you would be close to us.

[14:15] We pray that you would speak into our lives. We pray that we would know that sense of your presence, that our hearts would burn within us, as those who know that we are walking with Jesus.

[14:31] Enable us, Lord, we pray, to know the help of the Holy Spirit in reading, in preaching, in listening, and in responding.

[14:44] And what we pray for ourselves here, we pray for every congregation that meets online this evening, and the very few congregations that are able to meet in real time as well.

[14:57] We pray, Lord, that as we struggle with the restrictions that continue to be over us, that you would give us patience. And Lord God, that you would enable us to continue to know your hand upon us for good, and your ministry to us in our need.

[15:16] So hear our prayers and help us as we open your word, and we pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, if you could turn with me to the psalm that we read, just for a few minutes.

[15:32] Sometimes when we are on a journey, there can be viewpoints that are marked at the side of the road, and they're signposted, and I suppose we are encouraged just by their existence and by the signs.

[15:46] To stop the car, to take in the view, to take out a flask of coffee, and to just enjoy the scene. And we see tourists doing that kind of thing all the time. They sit in their cars watching the waves breaking over the sand.

[16:01] They get out of their cars and they wander down to enjoy the water. But we who live on the island tend to be more familiar with the landscape, and we rush on.

[16:18] Now in the psalm that we are looking at here, we see the word sila. It's a word that's commonly used in the psalm. 71 times we'll find it in the psalms. It's used three times in this psalm.

[16:31] And it's a mark within particular psalms, whereby we are encouraged as readers not to rush on, but to take a moment, take a breath, and pause, and meditate on the person and the works of God.

[16:51] And that's something that we often find hard to do. We're people who find it very easy to be busy and industrious, but we find it hard to stop and take a moment and meditate upon the reality and the revelation of who God is and what he's done for us.

[17:13] But we need to do that more often than we think. And so these silas are there as signs in the psalms for us to pause and meditate upon God.

[17:27] And in the psalm we see various things about who God is, as he reveals himself to us through the psalmist and through the psalmist's prayer.

[17:38] And the first thing that we see in the psalm is that God is our rescuer. Verse 1, David says, Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men.

[17:49] That's how this psalm, that's how this prayer begins. It's quite abrupt. He just cries out, Rescue me. O Lord, from evil men. Now most of us know when it comes to prayer that we are to usually begin with worship.

[18:07] We think about who God is before we get to our own petitions. Sometimes we use that acronym to help us structure our prayers. Acts. A for adoration. C for confession.

[18:19] T for thanksgiving. S for supplication. So we start with God. We move on to confession. We take time to thank him for who he is and what he does for us. And then we move on to the petitions and the requests.

[18:33] But David here, in this psalm, he just goes straight to the request. He's in trouble. He's struggling.

[18:44] And so you could say that this psalm, it's like an arrow prayer. It's an emergency call. David cries out to God. Asking that God would rescue him.

[18:57] And there's times when that's the only kind of prayers that we can pray. We feel like we're sinking. We feel like we're in desperate trouble. And so we cry out, as David did, rescue me, Lord.

[19:10] Save me. Help me. We can think about Peter in Matthew chapter 14 when he's sinking. And he just cries out to Jesus, Lord, save me.

[19:21] And for David, he has that sinking feeling in this psalm. He is sinking under the slandering tongues of evil men. And so he sends this prayer up like a flare from a sinking boat.

[19:36] He cries out for rescue. And he does that because he knows that God is our rescuer. And he's the one who rescues us.

[19:49] Not only from evil men, but from the one who is the architect behind the designs of evil men. Satan.

[20:02] Spurgeon says David does not so much plead against an individual as against the species represented by him. Namely, the being whose best description is the evil man.

[20:15] And David recognizes, I think, the evil one behind these evil men. And so he cries out to the only one who is able to rescue him from the clutches of that evil one.

[20:31] And that's the Lord. So the application for us. As we sometimes come under pressure. As we sometimes come under attack.

[20:43] As we recognize the enemy. Using circumstances and people to attack us. At so level. What do we do?

[20:53] Who do we cry out to? And we cry out to the Lord. And we ask that he will rescue us. David in Psalm 23.

[21:05] In that well-loved psalm. It says, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil. For you are with me.

[21:17] And that's the reality. When the Lord is our shepherd. Yes, we'll still face evil. But we need not fear evil. Because the good shepherd, Jesus, came to rescue us from evil.

[21:34] We're just through Christmas a few weeks back. And we can ask the question, why did Jesus come? We celebrate the fact that he came at Christmas.

[21:45] But why did he come? And John tells us in 1 John 3.8. The reason the Son of God appeared. Was to destroy the devil's work.

[21:57] In other words, the reason the Son of God appeared. Was to rescue us. From the devil's works. From the devil's attacks. We've sentimentalized so much of Christmas.

[22:09] But Christmas actually was a declaration of war against Satan. Christmas was a rescue mission. Where God the Son. Left heaven.

[22:20] To come to earth. To rescue us. So the first thing we see here. Is that God is rescuer. And we are rescued as we cry out to him in prayer.

[22:35] As David did. So let me ask before we move on. Have you cried out to him? For that rescue. For that salvation. For that help.

[22:45] That he alone can give us. The second thing we see here. Is that God is our preserver. Verse 1. Still protect me from men of violence.

[22:58] That's what the NIV says. The ESV translates that same word. As preserve me from violent men who devise evil plans in their hearts.

[23:09] And stir up war every day. They make tongues. Verse 3. As sharp as serpents. The poison of vipers is on their lips.

[23:20] So we learn here as David cries out. As he continues to cry out. That God is our preserver. He is his preserver. Now what was David's predicament? In terms of the circumstances he was in.

[23:34] In this psalm. Well we're not too sure. It may have been that he was not yet king. But as one who had defeated Goliath. His popularity was on the incline.

[23:44] And Saul. The king's popularity was on the decline. So Saul was increasingly hating David. He was violent. He was jealous against David.

[23:55] And David was vulnerable. So it may have been. That Saul's staff. Were slandering David. And were on attack against David.

[24:07] Because they saw him as a threat. Or it may be that it's during his reign as king. When he often faced trouble. And violence. And opposition to his reign.

[24:17] But either way. Whatever situation he was in. He was at risk. He faced enemies. He was the target of evil men. And their evil designs.

[24:27] So what does he do? Well he asks that God would preserve him. The Hebrew word that's used. For that word.

[24:38] That's translated as protect or preserve. Is a word that means to be kept secret. Or to be hidden. Spurgeon says.

[24:49] There is but one sure preserver. And it is our wisdom to hide under the shadow of his wings. We may not therefore hope to pass through the world without enemies.

[25:00] But we may hope to be delivered out of their hands. And preserved from their rage. So that no real harm shall come out of their malignity.

[25:10] This blessing is to be sought by prayer. And expected by faith. Now at the beginning of a new year.

[25:22] We do tend to look out. We wonder what's in store. And if we are realists. Then we can expect that there will be some degree of trouble.

[25:35] In the course of this year. We can't expect to be followers of Jesus in this hostile world. And not face trouble because of our faith.

[25:46] But when we do. The encouragement we are given. Through this psalm. Is that there are wings of shelter. That we can hide under.

[25:57] And be preserved as we take solace. Psalm 91. Which has been much quoted over the last year. Verse 4 says. He will cover you with his feathers.

[26:09] And under his wings. You will find refuge. His faithfulness will be your shield. And rampart. Over the past few weeks.

[26:19] I was watching a program. A documentary. Where various people are taken. And they are dropped in the middle. Of this wilderness. This arctic wilderness.

[26:30] The program is called Alone. And these people. They have to try and survive. For a hundred days. And not phone. To be taken out of the place.

[26:41] And so. The first thing. Each person does. When they are dropped in this harsh wilderness. Is they build a shelter. Because there is no hope for them. If they don't have a strong shelter.

[26:53] Now for us as Christians. If we are Christians. We don't have to build our own shelter. We have a shelter. From all the trouble. Of this world.

[27:05] And the Lord is our shelter. It's the message we are being taught here. And we are preserved. We are protected. As we come to the Lord.

[27:15] And as we walk close. With the Lord Jesus. So. Be encouraged to come to him. And maybe that there is someone. Who is watching tonight.

[27:25] That is likely. That there is someone watching tonight. Who has not yet come to the Lord. And if you haven't. What is stopping you. This evening. From coming to the Lord.

[27:37] And asking him to. To forgive you. Of your sin. And come into your life. And if we are those who.

[27:49] Are Christians. Who are already. Following the Lord Jesus. Then. The encouragement. That I think we are given. And by application here. Is that we. Are to. Walk close with God.

[28:02] And to know. That constant. Protection. That he alone. Can give us. So God. Is.

[28:13] Our rescuer. Our God. Is our. He is our preserver. And at this point. We read in the psalm. That word.

[28:24] Selah. So we should take a moment. And pause. And think about the. The rescue.

[28:35] That has been. Offered to us in Christ. Think about the. The preservation. That we are assured.

[28:46] When we are those. Who are in Christ. As we think about that. We should be moved. Within us. To praise him. For who he is.

[28:58] And what he has done. And continues to do. For us. And promises. To do for us. Ultimately. He is our rescuer. He is the preserver.

[29:09] Of our souls. The third thing here. Is that God. Is our keeper. Verse. Four. Keep me.

[29:20] O Lord. From the hands. Of the wicked. And the word there. That is used. In Hebrew. Can be translated. As guard. Or keep. Or watch. It carries with us.

[29:31] With it. The idea. Of a bodyguard. Bodyguard. And we are familiar. With that. That picture. We see it on television. Often. The VIP. Attends the functions.

[29:43] And they have the two. Burly. Bodyguards. Either side of them. They have the team. With the earpieces. And the eyes. All over the room. To make sure. That they are kept safe. That they are protected.

[29:54] And yet. Sometimes. We know. Those who. Those who. Are employed. To watch over. To keep safe. These important people. They miss things.

[30:07] Sometimes. They don't move quick enough. To give the protection. That they should give. Sometimes. They don't care enough. Or they don't have enough strength. To be able to put themselves.

[30:18] In that place. Where they'll protect. From harm. But the thing. We see here. Is that. Our God.

[30:30] He's our keeper. He is the ultimate. Bodyguard. He is. The all-knowing one. There's no. Intelligence. That passes him by. He's the all-seeing one.

[30:42] There's nothing in our room. There's nothing. In the universe. That he has not. Seen. He's the all-powerful one. There is no one. There is nothing.

[30:52] That can stand against him. And overcome. And he is the one. Who loves us so much. That he laid. Down his life. So that we.

[31:03] Could be eternally. Safe. So as we pray. With David. In verse four. Keep me. From the hands.

[31:15] Of the wicked. Then we can be assured. That if we have the Lord. As our God. We have nothing. And we have no one to fear.

[31:29] We saw something of that. In the last psalm. Also. Psalm 139. We are given the assurance. In that psalm. That our days in this world. They are numbered. And God is the one.

[31:41] Who has set that number. He has given us. Works of service. To do. If we are his people. For as long as we are here. And in one sense. We could say.

[31:51] We are indestructible. Until the day. That God has determined. That we will go from time. Into. Eternity.

[32:03] So. In the light of that truth. How are we to live? We are not to live. Recklessly. Or stupidly. We are to be careful.

[32:16] To be sensible. We look both ways. Before we cross the road. We wash our hands. And keep the rules. In the middle of a. Of a global pandemic. But we don't panic.

[32:29] We don't worry and stress. Like the world does. Because. Like David. We have a keeper.

[32:40] We have a guard. Of. Our souls. One who is watching over us. Psalm 1 to 1. Verse. 3 to 8.

[32:52] He who watches over you. Will not slumber. Indeed. He who watches over Israel. Will neither slumber. Nor sleep. The Lord watches over you. The Lord is your shade.

[33:03] At your right hand. The sun will not harm you. By day. Nor the moon. By night. The Lord will keep you. From all harm. He will watch. Over your life. The Lord will.

[33:14] Watch. Over your coming. And going. Both now. And. Forever. More. Now. Why would we go through life.

[33:26] Alone. And even more so. Why would we go through death. Alone. When we have a God. Who offers to.

[33:37] To watch over us. Through every. Day in life. And. And to be with us. Watching over us. In death's dark veil. And through death. Into. Into.

[33:48] Life. Into. Life. Everlasting. If we will take his hand. Trust him. And call him. Our God. God is our.

[34:01] Our keeper. That's the third point. The fourth point here. Is that God is our protector. Verse four. David says. Protect me from men.

[34:11] Of violence. Who plan to trip my feet. Verse five. Proud men have hidden a snare for me. They have spread out the cords of their net. And have set traps. For me along my path.

[34:23] And the word there for protect. Or for preserve. Depending on whether you're reading the ESV. Or the NIV. It's the same word that's in verse two. But the situation is different.

[34:36] If we glance back at verse two. We see that David is very much aware. And he's intimidated by the plans of these evil men. And he hears all the slanderous words that they say about him.

[34:49] But in verses four and five here. David. David. He can't see the trip wires that they've set. And he doesn't know where these hidden snares are. He doesn't know where the traps have been placed.

[35:02] And so he comes to the God. Who does know. And he prays for protection. And for us.

[35:12] When we think about the things that worry us. Most of our worrying is about things that we can't see. We worry about falling into this trap.

[35:26] And that net. We worry about the snares. And the troubles that may or may not be up ahead. And the message that we're given here.

[35:38] I think is a straightforward one. And it's the message not to worry. But rather to pray to God.

[35:50] For protection. Sometimes we'll watch these documentaries of the war years. And we see sometimes as part of these documentaries.

[36:03] These ships. These minesweepers. These small ships that were designed to remove. Or to detonate mines. To clear the way. So there's no explosions.

[36:14] There's no danger in the channel ahead. So that the way is made safe. And that's the kind of protection that our God is able to give us.

[36:26] As we acknowledge him. In all our ways. Proverbs 3 verses 5 and 6. He goes before us. And he makes our paths straight.

[36:37] He is our protector. And you'll see in the psalm. That that takes us to the second sealer.

[36:50] So what do we do? We take a breath. We pause. And we think. About the fact.

[37:03] That God is our keeper. The one who watches over us. The one who guards us. We think about the fact that God. Is our protector.

[37:16] And we stop panicking about life. And we praise him. Point number five.

[37:26] God is the one who is the hearer. Of our prayers. Verse 6. David says. O Lord. I say to you.

[37:37] You are my God. Hear O Lord. My cry. For mercy. And we know already. That David here. He's in trouble.

[37:49] But in the midst of this trouble. We don't hear David. Calling a conference. With other people. We don't hear David. Phoning a friend.

[38:00] We don't hear him looking for other people. To seek counsel from. He doesn't speak to them. He speaks directly. And firstly. And earnestly. To God. And what does he say?

[38:15] Well he professes. First of all. That his faith is in God. He says that. That God is his God. The God whom he is in relationship with.

[38:28] O Lord. I say to you. Verse 6. You are my God. He professes. His faith is in God. And he confesses his own sin.

[38:38] And his own need. That's why he cries out. In verse 6. For mercy. Hear O Lord. My cry. For mercy. And it's because David knows God.

[38:50] And it's because David knows that God hears him. That he prays. And it's because David knows. That God can help him.

[39:04] That he prays with such fervency. In the midst of this difficult trial. Stephen Lawson.

[39:14] The commentator says. Our trials. Either make us. Or break us. They either make us into the people God wants us to be. Or they break us. And we crumble.

[39:26] But we never do remain. Never do we remain the same. When we go through a difficult trial. They either drive us closer to God. Or away from God.

[39:37] The same sun. That melts the snow. Hardens the clay. Our trials. Either soften us. Or they sour us. They either make us better.

[39:50] Or they make us bitter. And David here. As he's under trial. He. He doesn't become embittered.

[40:01] He doesn't. Turn his back on God. But he draws near to God. He doesn't go silent.

[40:13] And look for help. Every other place. But he cries. Out to God. And God hears. And God answers. And through David's prayer.

[40:25] And God's response to that. God's protection. And preservation. And keeping. And rescue. Are unlocked. One of our girls.

[40:39] Got a. A mobile phone. For Christmas. She used to have a phone. With. A SIM card. That never had any credit on it. But now she's got a contract.

[40:51] Where she can make calls. But. When I was. Asking her. If she's actually made any calls. She told me the other day. She hasn't made one single call yet. And I just wonder.

[41:04] As I look at myself. And. And each of us. How much. Are we making use. Of the open line. That we have to heaven. How much.

[41:16] Are we ready to cry out. To God. As David did. How. Ready are we to. To call.

[41:27] Upon the name. Of the Lord. The one who hears. And who answers. Our prayers. Sometimes we sing that hymn.

[41:41] Approach my soul. The mercy seat. Where Jesus. Answers prayer. There humbly fall. Before his feet.

[41:51] For none. Can perish. There. And there are many. Resolutions. That we could make. For. For this year. But I think.

[42:02] That there would be no. Better resolution. That we could make. Than to be those. Who are more. Ready to pray. Because we have a God. Who. Who is a hearer.

[42:13] Of our prayers. The sixth point here. Is that we see that God. Is the one who is sovereign. Verse seven. O sovereign. Lord.

[42:23] My strong deliverer. Who shields my head. In the day of battle. Do not grant the wicked. Their desires. O Lord. Do not let their plans. Succeed. Or they will become.

[42:35] Proud. And again. As we. We look at that verse. Or these two verses. Verses seven and eight. We. We see the repetition. That God is our rescuer. He is our deliverer.

[42:46] He is the preserver. He is the keeper. He is the protector. Of our souls. But the opening note. Of verse seven. Is that God is sovereign.

[42:58] And I think we do well. To remember that. There are so many people. At this point. In history. Who are. Hitting the panic button. Because. They think the world.

[43:09] Is in a state of chaos. We see global pandemics. We feel the. The reality of that. In our lives. Day by day just now.

[43:21] We switch on the television. We see. The United States of America. In a state of political. Freefall. And it looks to some like. Everything is falling apart.

[43:34] Everything is. Is spiraling out of control. But we are taught here. That God is sovereign. In spite of what we see.

[43:46] God is sovereign. And as the hymn goes. God. Is working his purpose out. As year. Proceeds. To year.

[43:58] Or year succeeds. To year. And that's a truth. And that's a truth. That was true. Of the year 2020. And that's a truth.

[44:08] That will be true. Of the year 2021. God is sovereign. He is working. He is always working. We can't always see what he's doing. We don't always understand his ways.

[44:21] But he is sovereign. So in a world. Just now. That is so. Uptight. Let's take heed of the.

[44:33] The third sealer. And the psalm. Let's take a breath. And let's pause. To be thankful. That God is sovereign.

[44:46] That God is still. Hearing. Our prayers. And that he is the God. Who can be trusted. And the final point here.

[44:59] Is that God. Is just. And in verse. Nine to verse 13. We hear. David's prayer. Come to. A conclusion. And he says.

[45:11] Let the heads. Of those who surround me. Be covered with. The trouble. Their lips have caused. Let burning coals. Fall upon them. May they be thrown. Into the fire.

[45:21] Into mighty pits. Never to rise. Let slanderers. Not be established. In the land. May disaster. Hunt down. Men of violence. I know. That the Lord.

[45:32] Secures justice. For the poor. And upholds. The cause. Of the needy. Surely. The righteous. Will praise your name. And the upright. Will live.

[45:44] Before you. The emphasis. In that final. Section. Is on God's justice. He is a God. Who is just. And we get a bit.

[45:56] Screamish. About. This kind of a prayer. But David. Knows God. And he knows. That God. Is a God.

[46:06] Who is just. He knows. That God. Is a God. Who. Who cares. For the needy. And as one. Who at this point. In his experience. Was facing. Unjust men.

[46:18] And dealing. With injustice. And David. As one. Who was. Who was very much. In need. He looks to God. And simply.

[46:29] He prays. Thy will be done. And we might ask. The question. Is that a cold. Hard prayer. And the answer. Is no. It's not. And yes.

[46:42] We should love. Our enemies. And yes. We should desire. The repentance. And the salvation. Of those. Who may be. Our enemies. But if.

[46:52] Wicked men. Are determined. Not to repent. And not to turn. From their wicked ways. But rather. To rebel. Against God.

[47:03] And terrorize. God's people. As they are. Throughout the earth. Then God. Has made clear. That they will face. Justice. That they will face.

[47:14] Judgment. And these. Images. Of coals. And fire. And pits. It's a language of judgment. But. The truth is. All of us.

[47:26] Will meet God. And if we refuse. To repent. If we determine. That we will carry on. On a wicked course.

[47:37] Where we stand. Against God. And we refuse. His. His mercy. We refuse. His grace. And we reject. His son. And the Bible.

[47:48] Is crystal clear. There is judgment. But if we are able. To say with David. The Lord is my God. If we are trusting.

[47:59] And bowing. Before. The Lord Jesus. Then we can be assured. That when we meet him. We will meet him.

[48:10] Not as our judge. Who will sentence us. To eternal punishment. But we will meet him. As the rescuer.

[48:22] And the preserver. And the watcher. Over. The protector. Of our souls. We will meet him. As the one.

[48:33] Who has heard. And who answers. Our prayers. We will meet him. As the God. Who is the savior. Of our souls.

[48:44] And we will pray. Our heavenly father. We thank you. For this psalm. We thank you. That you. Reveal yourself.

[48:57] To us. In and through. These prayers. Of David. We thank you. That the scripture. Is the means. Through which. You have shown us. Who you are. And we thank you.

[49:08] Lord. For who you are. As we hear. The prayer of David. We recognize. That the answer. To David's prayer. Is Jesus. And we see.

[49:20] That what David. Experienced. In part. Jesus. Experienced. In full. We think. Of the. The fact. That Jesus. Was slandered.

[49:31] By evil men. He was. Made. The focus. Of the wicked. Plans. Of wicked men. He felt. The violent.

[49:42] Blows. As he approached. The cross. He was the man. Of sorrows. He is the one. Who suffered. He is the one. Who died. In our place. So that we could be spared.

[49:53] The judgment. That we deserve. As we cry out. For mercy. And given the grace. That Jesus. Paid for. With his blood.

[50:06] So hear us. Lord. As we do. Cry out. With the psalmist. That you would rescue us. Give to us. All that. Christ. Paid for on the cross. Give to us.

[50:16] The grace. That we do not deserve. But that grace. That is offered. To us. In the gospel. Enable us. To say each one. The Lord. Is my God.

[50:28] Enable us. To know the joy. Of your. Salvation. And we pray these things. In Jesus name. And for his sake. Amen. Oh for a closer walk with God.

[50:50] A calm and heavenly frame. A light to shine upon the road.

[51:06] That leads me to the land. Where is the blessedness I knew.

[51:24] When first I saw the Lord. Where is the soul refresh in view.

[51:40] Of Jesus and his word. What peaceful hours I once enjoyed.

[51:59] How sweet their memories still. But they have left an aching void.

[52:15] The world can never fail. Return, O holy dove.

[52:32] Return, sweet messenger of rest.

[52:42] I hate the sins that made thee mourn. And drove thee from my breast.

[53:02] The dearest idol I have known. Whatever that idol be.

[53:17] Help me to tear it from thy throne. And worship only thee.

[53:33] And worship only thee. So shall my walk. Be close with God.

[53:45] Come and serve it by frame. So pure a light shall mark the road.

[54:03] That leads me to the land. Amen.

[54:21] And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the love of God the Father. And the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit. Be with us all. Both now and forevermore. Amen.