WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:04.259 Good morning, Munster Church. My name is Andy 00:00:04.259 --> 00:00:07.280 Schultz, as Pastor Jim said. Greetings from your 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:09.560 brothers and sisters in Christ at Faith Church. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:12.939 I actually serve on Faith's staff as the executive 00:00:12.939 --> 00:00:15.119 administrator, and it's with great privilege 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:18.420 that I get to be here today. to give Pastor Jim 00:00:18.420 --> 00:00:20.379 a week away from the pulpit, which is a huge 00:00:20.379 --> 00:00:22.059 deal and a huge relief. I know it seems like 00:00:22.059 --> 00:00:24.179 he's a machine and he can just do this like automatically 00:00:24.179 --> 00:00:26.199 every single week, but it's a lot that goes into 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:28.280 preaching a sermon. So thankful that he gets 00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:30.079 a chance this weekend to serve as a father and 00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:32.799 a husband and have that rest. And I'm also honored 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:35.420 to be able to declare the very word of God as 00:00:35.420 --> 00:00:38.030 we continue in this summer of Psalms today. covering 00:00:38.030 --> 00:00:42.950 Psalm 55. And Psalm 55 reads like many other 00:00:42.950 --> 00:00:45.670 psalms that we attribute to David, the king of 00:00:45.670 --> 00:00:49.289 Israel. David has problems, and he brings them 00:00:49.289 --> 00:00:53.210 to the Lord. And we see many of these psalms 00:00:53.210 --> 00:00:56.310 that sound like desperate pleas. He's on the 00:00:56.310 --> 00:00:58.289 run. You've been studying them. You've been hearing 00:00:58.289 --> 00:01:01.329 about them. Like he's in immediate danger of 00:01:01.329 --> 00:01:03.689 his life, which, if we're honest, isn't exactly 00:01:03.689 --> 00:01:06.349 something that we can always... directly relate 00:01:06.349 --> 00:01:08.890 to, at least I hope not. Maybe that is your story. 00:01:09.230 --> 00:01:13.250 But Psalm 55 has a very unique twist in it. And 00:01:13.250 --> 00:01:15.750 I want you to listen, see if it stands out to 00:01:15.750 --> 00:01:18.409 you. It has an angle that makes this psalm kind 00:01:18.409 --> 00:01:21.129 of stand out because of the situation that David 00:01:21.129 --> 00:01:24.730 describes. Here it is, Psalm 55, and be on the 00:01:24.730 --> 00:01:27.909 lookout for that. I'll read the entire psalm. 00:01:27.909 --> 00:01:32.390 It says this, Give ear to my prayer, O God, and 00:01:32.390 --> 00:01:36.579 hide not yourself. from my plea for mercy. Attend 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:40.500 to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint 00:01:40.500 --> 00:01:44.180 and I moan because of the noise of the enemy, 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:46.620 because of the oppression of the wicked, for 00:01:46.620 --> 00:01:49.819 they drop trouble upon me and in anger they bear 00:01:49.819 --> 00:01:53.840 a grudge against me. My heart is in anguish within 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:57.200 me. The terrors of death have fallen upon me. 00:01:57.239 --> 00:02:01.420 Fear and trembling come upon me and horror overwhelms 00:02:01.420 --> 00:02:05.719 me. And I say, Oh, that I had wings like a dove, 00:02:05.819 --> 00:02:09.180 I would fly away and be at rest. Yes, I would 00:02:09.180 --> 00:02:11.860 wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:15.099 I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging 00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:18.840 wind and tempest. Destroy, O Lord, divide their 00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:21.900 tongues, for I see violence and strife in the 00:02:21.900 --> 00:02:25.060 city. Day and night they go around it on its 00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:28.379 walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it. 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:33.180 Ruin is in its midst, oppression and fraud. do 00:02:33.180 --> 00:02:37.419 not depart from its marketplace. For it is not 00:02:37.419 --> 00:02:41.340 an enemy who taunts me, then I could bear it. 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:45.479 It is not an adversary who deals insolently with 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:48.300 me, then I could hide from him. But it is you, 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:54.099 a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:58.460 We used to take sweet counsel together. Within 00:02:58.460 --> 00:03:02.830 God's house, we walked in the throng. Let death 00:03:02.830 --> 00:03:07.409 steal over them. Let them go down to Sheol alive, 00:03:07.550 --> 00:03:10.409 for evil is in their dwelling place and in their 00:03:10.409 --> 00:03:14.789 heart. But I call to God, and the Lord will save 00:03:14.789 --> 00:03:18.650 me. Evening and morning at noon, I utter my complaint 00:03:18.650 --> 00:03:22.949 and moan, and he hears my voice. He redeems my 00:03:22.949 --> 00:03:26.569 soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for 00:03:26.569 --> 00:03:30.520 many are arrayed against me. God will give ear 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:33.840 and humble them, he who is enthroned from of 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:36.300 old, because they do not change and do not fear 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:41.120 God. My companion stretched out his hand against 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:44.979 his friends. He violated his covenant. His speech 00:03:44.979 --> 00:03:47.960 was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart. 00:03:48.020 --> 00:03:51.620 His words were softer than oil, yet they were 00:03:51.620 --> 00:03:56.520 drawn swords. Cast your burden on the Lord. and 00:03:56.520 --> 00:04:00.680 he will sustain you. He will never permit the 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:05.460 righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast 00:04:05.460 --> 00:04:08.979 them down into the pit of destruction. Men of 00:04:08.979 --> 00:04:12.060 blood and treachery shall not live out half their 00:04:12.060 --> 00:04:17.920 days, but I will trust in you. Friends, the grass 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:19.720 withers and the flowers fade, but the word of 00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:23.300 our God stands forever. Let's pray together. 00:04:25.610 --> 00:04:30.250 Father God, we thank you for this word. We thank 00:04:30.250 --> 00:04:32.790 you that David lived his life and experienced 00:04:32.790 --> 00:04:35.189 these things and wrote these psalms that we could 00:04:35.189 --> 00:04:39.029 compare them to our lives and know, Lord, that 00:04:39.029 --> 00:04:42.850 these crazy things that happen to us, they're 00:04:42.850 --> 00:04:46.470 not out of the ordinary. This is the life. This 00:04:46.470 --> 00:04:49.889 is the life here on earth. We live in sin, and 00:04:49.889 --> 00:04:53.459 Jesus, we know that you are redeeming us. God, 00:04:53.459 --> 00:04:55.680 you are redeeming us in and through your Son, 00:04:55.740 --> 00:04:58.100 Jesus, and for that we are thankful. That we 00:04:58.100 --> 00:05:00.639 can endure these trials, endure these horrible 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:05.420 things that we experience. Because we know, Jesus, 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:10.779 you are on the throne. High above. With a name 00:05:10.779 --> 00:05:14.240 that is greater than all other names. And so 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:16.560 we thank you that we could come to your table 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:20.860 today, Jesus. That we could be restored by your 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:24.170 blood today, Jesus. That we could confess our 00:05:24.170 --> 00:05:27.050 sin to you, Jesus, and be redeemed, Jesus. For 00:05:27.050 --> 00:05:29.870 that, we are thankful. And now we are cleansed 00:05:29.870 --> 00:05:32.529 and we can hear this word with open eyes and 00:05:32.529 --> 00:05:36.089 open ears, open mind and open heart to know what 00:05:36.089 --> 00:05:38.730 you have for us as a church today. And so we 00:05:38.730 --> 00:05:40.949 thank you, Lord God, for this word. We pray in 00:05:40.949 --> 00:05:44.709 the name of Jesus. Amen. Let his spirit be present 00:05:44.709 --> 00:05:47.230 with us as we hear today. So did you see the 00:05:47.230 --> 00:05:49.629 thing that made the psalm stand out, made it 00:05:49.629 --> 00:05:52.129 a little different? It seems that David was... 00:05:53.340 --> 00:05:57.240 That he was betrayed by someone he trusted dearly. 00:05:57.699 --> 00:06:01.319 And the pain from that is evident. So let me 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:03.980 sum this passage up and what I hope that we can 00:06:03.980 --> 00:06:05.800 take away from this. I like to take things and 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:07.800 kind of boil them down to like a little sentence 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:10.459 or two. And this is what I would say. That even 00:06:10.459 --> 00:06:14.879 in betrayal, even in betrayal, when it hurts, 00:06:14.980 --> 00:06:22.180 you belong to God. Draw near. Even in betrayal, 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:28.100 you belong to God. Draw near to Jesus. So we've 00:06:28.100 --> 00:06:29.899 spent this Independence Day weekend celebrating 00:06:29.899 --> 00:06:33.060 America's freedom, blowing off our fingers. We 00:06:33.060 --> 00:06:36.319 celebrate because we rid ourselves of the rule 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:39.319 of the British monarchy, right? And as we celebrate 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:41.560 that, I'm really interested in the story of a 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:45.100 notorious colonial American figure by the name 00:06:45.100 --> 00:06:47.500 of Benedict Arnold. Has anybody heard that name 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:49.970 before? Lots of hands up there, lots of historians. 00:06:50.550 --> 00:06:54.569 So infamous is Benedict Arnold that just mentioning 00:06:54.569 --> 00:06:57.250 his name, for those that know his story, is to 00:06:57.250 --> 00:07:01.230 speak synonymously with the term betrayal. So 00:07:01.230 --> 00:07:02.990 for those that aren't aware, Benedict Arnold 00:07:02.990 --> 00:07:06.069 was born in colonial Connecticut in the 1740s, 00:07:06.069 --> 00:07:08.170 and during the time of the Revolutionary War, 00:07:08.269 --> 00:07:10.949 he was an American military leader, American 00:07:10.949 --> 00:07:13.550 military leader, and I want to emphasize that. 00:07:14.089 --> 00:07:17.550 who was entrusted to command West Point in New 00:07:17.550 --> 00:07:20.050 York, which is a very strategic location. There's 00:07:20.050 --> 00:07:21.889 a river and all these things. It was a really 00:07:21.889 --> 00:07:24.050 important post that he had on behalf of the Americans. 00:07:24.290 --> 00:07:28.850 But secretly, he was planning to surrender the 00:07:28.850 --> 00:07:35.550 fort to the British. Why? You also have to know 00:07:35.550 --> 00:07:38.310 this about Benedict Arnold. He was wounded in 00:07:38.310 --> 00:07:41.209 battle earlier in his career. So he was injured. 00:07:41.329 --> 00:07:43.850 He was hurting. He felt like a political pawn 00:07:43.850 --> 00:07:46.829 as they were making decisions about army promotions. 00:07:47.029 --> 00:07:49.649 And he was also married to a woman that was thought 00:07:49.649 --> 00:07:52.810 to be a British loyalist. And then he owed a 00:07:52.810 --> 00:07:54.689 debt. He actually owed a debt from a previous 00:07:54.689 --> 00:07:57.970 accounted for fund in a previous operation. So 00:07:57.970 --> 00:08:01.670 he's desperate. He owes money. He's conflicted. 00:08:01.709 --> 00:08:05.009 He's likely bitter. And so Benedict Arnold sold 00:08:05.009 --> 00:08:07.629 out his side of the battle to the British for 00:08:07.629 --> 00:08:10.569 20 ,000 British pounds, which may or may not 00:08:10.569 --> 00:08:12.550 seem like a lot until I tell you that translated 00:08:12.550 --> 00:08:18.209 to today's money, that's about $3 million. But 00:08:18.209 --> 00:08:20.529 his plot was discovered before it actually was 00:08:20.529 --> 00:08:23.189 implemented. So instead of facing charges for 00:08:23.189 --> 00:08:25.129 treason, which would have been appropriate for 00:08:25.129 --> 00:08:28.310 such a move, he escaped. He began advising and 00:08:28.310 --> 00:08:33.990 fighting for the other side. The British. So 00:08:33.990 --> 00:08:37.090 imagine being General George Washington, and 00:08:37.090 --> 00:08:38.950 you have entrusted Benedict Arnold, you have 00:08:38.950 --> 00:08:42.169 given him this very important post. With your 00:08:42.169 --> 00:08:44.690 troops, you've given him a fort and command over 00:08:44.690 --> 00:08:47.389 the strategic location in this river, and then 00:08:47.389 --> 00:08:49.809 you find out the whole time that he was actually 00:08:49.809 --> 00:08:54.169 working for the enemy. So now rewind about 2 00:08:54.169 --> 00:08:56.570 ,800 years, and you can kind of get where David 00:08:56.570 --> 00:09:00.580 is coming from here. Look at Psalm 55, verse 00:09:00.580 --> 00:09:04.419 13. It says, but it is you, a man, my equal, 00:09:04.659 --> 00:09:08.580 my companion, my familiar friend. We used to 00:09:08.580 --> 00:09:11.740 take sweet counsel together within God's house. 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:14.639 We walked in the throng. There's a relationship 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:19.879 here that did exist until you betrayed me. Have 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:21.720 you ever been there? Have you ever been in a 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:24.299 situation where you have felt betrayed? Perhaps 00:09:24.299 --> 00:09:26.179 it's not a betrayal to the level of Benedict 00:09:26.179 --> 00:09:29.899 Arnold. I would hope not. I don't think you've 00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:31.860 ever been involved in a conflict that would sway 00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:33.879 a large -scale war. But let me ask you this. 00:09:34.100 --> 00:09:36.320 Have you ever been the one who was betrayed? 00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:42.340 Because I bet when you're the one who is betrayed, 00:09:42.659 --> 00:09:47.059 others might not think your betrayal is as big 00:09:47.059 --> 00:09:49.000 as what Benedict Arnold did, but to you it's 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:51.179 actually just as much. It's just as important. 00:09:51.299 --> 00:09:54.059 It has affected you just as much. Have you ever 00:09:54.059 --> 00:09:59.960 been betrayed and thought, how? Could you? How 00:09:59.960 --> 00:10:03.940 could you? Perhaps you have felt the desperation 00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:07.580 of the pain caused by someone close to you turning 00:10:07.580 --> 00:10:12.340 their back on you and hurting you. And I've seen 00:10:12.340 --> 00:10:13.860 this over and over again recently. It's kind 00:10:13.860 --> 00:10:15.659 of been a theme in my life with those that I'm 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:18.399 around. In my family and my friendships and in 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:20.860 pastoral care responsibilities, I have been observing 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:24.399 close people to me enduring the pain of divorce 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:28.919 specifically. Which is incredible betrayal. In 00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:30.899 fact, I would say that it seems to be the hardest 00:10:30.899 --> 00:10:35.179 of betrayals to endure. When it comes to human 00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:37.759 relationships, right? Two people become one and 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:39.879 they share everything. All of their intimate 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:42.179 secrets, all of their insecurities, and all of 00:10:42.179 --> 00:10:45.320 their trust. And then for whatever reason, the 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:49.259 one becomes separated into two again. And the 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:52.639 things that you know about the other, all those 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:55.919 intimate details begin to come out. and push 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:59.679 you further apart. And it feels like betrayal. 00:10:59.940 --> 00:11:03.139 Nothing feels more like betrayal when an ex -spouse 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:05.720 uses the information that they have about you 00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:08.759 to hurt you in divorce negotiations or as co 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:13.740 -parents. And it leaves you saying, how could 00:11:13.740 --> 00:11:24.149 you? We had something, but now, why? I remember 00:11:24.149 --> 00:11:28.350 the feeling of disgust I felt when former Chicago 00:11:28.350 --> 00:11:31.529 Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras signed with the 00:11:31.529 --> 00:11:37.049 St. Louis Cardinals. Like, ew. Gross. How could 00:11:37.049 --> 00:11:42.429 you? Yes. The divorce didn't really stick with 00:11:42.429 --> 00:11:44.870 us, but the Cubs analogy did. We're like, yeah. 00:11:46.509 --> 00:11:49.309 How could you? You're the worst. There's 29 other 00:11:49.309 --> 00:11:52.710 teams, and that's the one you chose? Come on. 00:11:54.669 --> 00:12:00.149 What about when someone leaves your church? Churches 00:12:00.149 --> 00:12:03.490 are families, friends. But sometimes we treat 00:12:03.490 --> 00:12:05.169 churches like they're independent businesses 00:12:05.169 --> 00:12:08.529 that have to impress me as a consumer or I'm 00:12:08.529 --> 00:12:11.409 out of here. And then you get the classic betrayal 00:12:11.409 --> 00:12:14.470 that occurs in the form of a departure and then 00:12:14.470 --> 00:12:17.429 a subsequent scathing Google review. about your 00:12:17.429 --> 00:12:19.870 church. Well, the people there at church X, they 00:12:19.870 --> 00:12:22.350 are very unfriendly and I wouldn't recommend 00:12:22.350 --> 00:12:25.789 it to you. Or pastor so -and -so, he had no time 00:12:25.789 --> 00:12:29.289 for me or something like that. It feels like 00:12:29.289 --> 00:12:31.149 betrayal, right? Because they were part of your 00:12:31.149 --> 00:12:33.230 family and then boom, they're out there and they're 00:12:33.230 --> 00:12:35.389 taking what they learned or experienced here 00:12:35.389 --> 00:12:37.230 and now they're smearing your great name as a 00:12:37.230 --> 00:12:39.909 result. Friends, that is a betrayal. So you want 00:12:39.909 --> 00:12:42.629 to know a fun story? I just wanted to see if 00:12:42.629 --> 00:12:45.529 that's happened here, so I checked out your church's 00:12:45.529 --> 00:12:55.950 Google reviews. May the Lord bless you. Is anybody 00:12:55.950 --> 00:12:59.070 nervous right now? All right, I'll read you a 00:12:59.070 --> 00:13:01.389 few. They're all good, by the way. I'll just 00:13:01.389 --> 00:13:04.669 give the end away. Someone said this. This isn't 00:13:04.669 --> 00:13:07.110 just a building. They genuinely care for each 00:13:07.110 --> 00:13:09.149 other and they love the Lord. All are welcome. 00:13:09.190 --> 00:13:13.059 All are sinners. Awesome. Way to go. You did 00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:14.899 it, Munster Church. That's it. Here's another 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:17.340 one. It says, friendly people, good environment, 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:20.440 great sermons. That was written before today, 00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:24.320 just so you're aware. Another one, the last one. 00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:27.799 Great service, energetic, and moving young pastor. 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:30.980 I would recommend to everyone. Young pastor? 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:38.039 Pastor Jim? You invited me, just for the record. 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:42.559 So despite there not being negative Google reviews, 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:44.399 you passed the test, by the way, just so you're 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:47.399 aware. The clause, right, they come out when 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:50.500 people separate from the church. And I know that 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:52.379 you've experienced this. You're thinking of somebody 00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:56.000 right now. I guarantee it. Have you ever had 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:59.960 a pastor leave your church? That feels like betrayal, 00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:03.120 doesn't it? It's like, hey, we had a good thing 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:08.860 here. Like, how could you? Even in betrayal, 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:13.399 friends. You belong to God. Because it happens 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:16.700 inside of the church too. So draw near to Jesus. 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:18.600 That's our takeaway. Let's break that sentence 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:21.320 down into three little parts to truly understand 00:14:21.320 --> 00:14:23.799 the place of the psalmist. In this case, David. 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:27.120 To truly understand how we can be comforted when 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:29.799 our world is turned upside down by somebody close 00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:31.899 to us. So let's start with the first part. Even 00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:35.600 in betrayal. You see, David, of course, was betrayed 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:38.779 by someone close. But scholars can't really pinpoint 00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:41.500 an exact culprit here. We have a lot of records 00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:45.120 of David's life. 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles. But 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.460 from that, we know David experienced betrayal 00:14:47.460 --> 00:14:50.379 over and over again by his son Absalom, for example, 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:54.519 his counselor Ahithophel. But the details of 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:57.240 those specific incidents don't necessarily line 00:14:57.240 --> 00:15:00.519 up with the wording here in Psalm 55. So it's 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:02.559 really kind of a mystery to know the details 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:05.440 around what happened here, what David is referring 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:09.559 to in Psalm 55. But we do know this. It was really 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:14.840 painful. It was very difficult. David says this 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:19.820 in verse 4. He says, my heart is in anguish within 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:23.909 me. The terrors of death have fallen upon me. 00:15:23.950 --> 00:15:28.730 Fear and trembling come upon me. And horror overwhelms 00:15:28.730 --> 00:15:33.149 me. And David is likely talking about a physical 00:15:33.149 --> 00:15:36.929 present danger to his well -being. Kind of like 00:15:36.929 --> 00:15:39.169 Benedict Arnold. We see that in other psalms 00:15:39.169 --> 00:15:41.909 as well. Did the person close to him betray him 00:15:41.909 --> 00:15:45.659 and then switch sides? Is he an enemy now looking 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:48.240 to take David's life? But if we're honest, when 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:50.720 we're betrayed by another, it feels like this 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:53.539 too, even when our life isn't directly in danger. 00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:55.659 And friends, I am here to tell you that it is 00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:58.919 okay to be honest with God about how you feel 00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:03.419 about something. The dashboard of my car right 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:06.279 in front of me hears a lot of complaining to 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:09.919 God on my drive to and from work. And I work 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:15.009 for a church. God is not offended by me in the 00:16:15.009 --> 00:16:19.450 way that I'm hurt. It's not being dramatic to 00:16:19.450 --> 00:16:22.409 pray this to God. God, this really stinks and 00:16:22.409 --> 00:16:26.230 I'm uncomfortable with it. Why is that okay? 00:16:26.269 --> 00:16:31.549 Because David shows you it's okay. But instead, 00:16:31.669 --> 00:16:36.950 like a patient father, God hears me. He may even 00:16:36.950 --> 00:16:39.549 immediately respond to my prayer or do something 00:16:39.549 --> 00:16:43.559 miraculous. Or maybe God won't do the thing that 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:47.799 I want him to do. But he still hears me. Now 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:50.700 David had a specific ask of God regarding this 00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:52.559 person or people that betrayed him. He said this 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:56.960 in verse 9. He said, destroy, O Lord. Divide 00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:00.740 their tongues. For I see violence and strife 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:02.740 in the city. David is basically saying here, 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:06.920 Lord, I know what you can do. I know you've got 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:11.019 the nuclear option, so do it. divide their tongues, 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:13.359 could even be a reference to judgment placed 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:15.640 upon those constructing what we consider the 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:18.339 Tower of Babel from Genesis chapter 11. If you 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:20.799 know that story, people that speak one language, 00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:22.779 they try to build a tower straight up to God, 00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:26.339 and so God punishes them by ruining their ability 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:28.759 to communicate to each other by confusing their 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:32.019 language, by confusing their tongues. David could 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:34.019 be drawing upon that imagery, saying, hey, Lord, 00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:36.059 yeah, you remember when you do that? Do that 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:41.240 now. Make it so that I can survive here. He thinks 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:44.000 the ability to communicate, being taken away 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.579 from the enemy, would give him an advantage. 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:47.900 And in prayer, he just wants God's response. 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:53.599 Because David was fully human. He had limitations, 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:59.259 and he was incapable of saving himself. And betrayal 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:07.920 is not unique to David. Famously, Jesus. On the 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:11.430 night when he was, what? betrayed. We did it 00:18:11.430 --> 00:18:15.650 here today. He took bread and he broke it. We 00:18:15.650 --> 00:18:18.390 know exactly who it was. It's written in our 00:18:18.390 --> 00:18:21.490 scripture. Who betrayed Jesus? It was one of 00:18:21.490 --> 00:18:24.650 the 12. From inside the house, inside the group 00:18:24.650 --> 00:18:27.769 of friends, Judas Iscariot, he sold Jesus out 00:18:27.769 --> 00:18:31.250 to the religious authorities for 30 pieces of 00:18:31.250 --> 00:18:33.869 silver. And I don't even know what that translates 00:18:33.869 --> 00:18:43.019 to today. But. Is there anybody here that would 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:45.480 look on the events that happened after that betrayal 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:52.259 negatively today? Let me say that another way. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:55.859 Yeah, Jesus was betrayed and it was really bad. 00:18:57.940 --> 00:19:03.039 But what came of it, friends? But what came of 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:07.079 it? And do we look at that? It's a bad thing 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:09.480 as we follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:12.359 I mean, the arrest of Jesus was unjust. The charges 00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:14.200 against him were made up. The beating and the 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:16.700 torture he received were certainly not deserved. 00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:21.519 Having his body be destroyed by nails and left 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:26.319 to die, yeah, that was unfair. All from the betrayal. 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:33.630 But without the bloodshed of our Savior. without 00:19:33.630 --> 00:19:36.269 the Father's wrath against the sin of mankind 00:19:36.269 --> 00:19:39.309 being satisfied by the slaughter of our Lord, 00:19:39.369 --> 00:19:42.210 without Jesus becoming a living sacrifice, then 00:19:42.210 --> 00:19:46.190 what would we have today to benefit from? And 00:19:46.190 --> 00:19:48.410 I'm not saying all betrayal is good. Don't hear 00:19:48.410 --> 00:19:51.829 that. But this particular betrayal was certainly 00:19:51.829 --> 00:19:55.670 a part of God's plan for Christ. And His plan 00:19:55.670 --> 00:20:00.349 for us is to also follow and be like Christ. 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:03.740 The Apostle Peter writes this in 1 Peter chapter 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:08.279 4. Beloved, as he addresses you. Beloved, do 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:11.279 not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:14.880 upon you to test you. As though something strange 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:19.039 were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:22.420 you share Christ's sufferings. That you may also 00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:26.480 rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:32.539 He called you beloved. Even though he said, hey, 00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:36.539 things are going to go south. You're going to 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:41.539 suffer. But when you suffer, you are beloved. 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:46.220 When you are betrayed, you belong to God. You 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:49.400 are his. When we are in Christ, we are beloved. 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:52.559 Because friends, even in betrayal, you belong 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:55.640 to God. You belong to God. You're his beloved. 00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:58.779 You're his created children made in his image. 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:02.819 The Father bestows love upon you even when you're 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:08.619 betrayed. Even when you're on the run. Even when 00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:11.339 you're fearful. And even when you're suffering. 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:17.640 Now David was able to rely on the promises of 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:21.480 a covenant that the Lord made with him. And you 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:24.819 can read that in 2 Samuel chapter 7. But essentially, 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:28.670 it tells David, hey. God says, you belong to 00:21:28.670 --> 00:21:34.329 me. God promised David that he would receive 00:21:34.329 --> 00:21:36.529 rest from his enemies. He promised him that his 00:21:36.529 --> 00:21:39.309 name would be great, that his offspring would 00:21:39.309 --> 00:21:42.049 establish God's kingdom. And those are promises 00:21:42.049 --> 00:21:44.650 that David could take to the bank. David knew 00:21:44.650 --> 00:21:48.150 he was a part of a greater story. So what greater 00:21:48.150 --> 00:21:52.650 story are we a part of to know that we belong 00:21:52.650 --> 00:21:56.440 to God? I need confidence. That I belong to God. 00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:58.940 Well, the Apostle Paul writes this in Colossians 00:21:58.940 --> 00:22:02.099 chapter 3. He says this, If then you have been 00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:05.759 raised with Christ, seek the things that are 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:09.619 above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand 00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:13.400 of God. And Paul goes on in this passage and 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:16.279 gives what it looks like to live into a new self. 00:22:16.970 --> 00:22:19.569 to look above what's happening in the day -to 00:22:19.569 --> 00:22:22.029 -day of my life, to put on these new attributes 00:22:22.029 --> 00:22:24.789 like clothing. He says to put on love, to put 00:22:24.789 --> 00:22:27.289 on humility, to put these things on as Christ 00:22:27.289 --> 00:22:30.529 did. And then Paul continues. He says, set your 00:22:30.529 --> 00:22:33.930 minds on things that are above, not on the things 00:22:33.930 --> 00:22:39.529 that are on earth, like earthly comfort, safety, 00:22:39.750 --> 00:22:44.490 lives that are free from suffering, avoiding 00:22:44.490 --> 00:22:47.910 betrayal. Those are the ideals of this earth. 00:22:49.349 --> 00:22:52.190 But here, Paul is challenging us to see ourselves 00:22:52.190 --> 00:22:54.950 in a different way. And then there's this. Here's 00:22:54.950 --> 00:22:57.329 kind of the money verse, verse 3 of that passage. 00:22:57.569 --> 00:23:02.450 For you have died, and your life is hidden with 00:23:02.450 --> 00:23:07.369 Christ in God. What does that mean? Friends, 00:23:07.390 --> 00:23:10.329 you don't have to worry about those that have 00:23:10.329 --> 00:23:13.250 betrayed you. It doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:20.960 But in Christ, we die to our old sinful ways 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:24.420 when we submit our lives to Jesus. When we're 00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:27.619 drawn to God the Father through Jesus his Son. 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:33.779 Friends, we share in Christ's death. And we share 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:38.500 in his humiliation. And we share in his suffering. 00:23:39.230 --> 00:23:43.329 And we share in the agony of betrayal, even when 00:23:43.329 --> 00:23:47.210 it's by those closest to us. Even when we say, 00:23:47.450 --> 00:23:53.309 how could you? But when we die to our old ways, 00:23:53.549 --> 00:23:56.869 when we're covered and we're hidden with Christ 00:23:56.869 --> 00:24:00.789 in God, then we get this. Colossians 3 verse 00:24:00.789 --> 00:24:06.269 4. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then 00:24:06.269 --> 00:24:12.119 you also will appear with him. In glory. Now 00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:16.660 that's interesting. When Christ. Who is your 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:21.359 life. Appears. Then you also will appear with 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:24.160 him in glory. Christ doesn't just give you life. 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:28.940 He is your life. When we follow Christ and we 00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:31.940 are transformed by him, we put on a new self, 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:34.759 and then it becomes harder to distinguish who 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:38.140 I am and who Jesus is. As he doesn't just become 00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:43.559 a part of my life, he becomes my life. He is 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:46.299 your life. And when that's the case, when you 00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:48.839 share in his death and suffering and betrayal, 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:54.700 so you also get to rise with him in glory. So 00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:57.700 when the trumpet sounds and he returns to judge 00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:59.920 the living and the dead, friends, are we not 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:05.339 counted as being with him? What more can I need? 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:11.740 Betrayal is awful. But I can look down the road 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:14.660 and know that in Christ I get to rise with him 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:16.940 in glory. Again, David from our psalm, verse 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:20.039 18, he says, He redeems my soul in safety from 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:22.640 the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:27.059 against me. You belong to God. That's what this 00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:29.579 is all about. In the battle for the souls of 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:33.079 man, evil will not and cannot be victorious, 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:36.119 as we also share in the victory of our Lord Jesus 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:39.220 Christ. Hallelujah and amen. What more could 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:41.700 we possibly fear when that is our promise? But 00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:44.079 if we're honest, sometimes we just need a little 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:47.700 more. We need support from the Lord. when we 00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:50.319 fear the worst. And thankfully, we have a loving 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:53.359 and caring father that listens when we cry out. 00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:56.019 Because friends, even in betrayal, you belong 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:59.240 to God. And so there's this, draw near to Jesus. 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:01.980 You can't just take this promise and walk out 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:03.779 on the street and just say, I'm good. But sometimes 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:07.279 we need the day -to -day, the moment -by -moment 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:10.019 with Jesus. So how do I do that? How do I draw 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:12.200 near to him? Well, friends, the beauty of the 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:14.819 Psalms is that they give us language to follow 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:18.009 and prayers to pray to our Lord. The life of 00:26:18.009 --> 00:26:20.730 the psalmist is your life as well. The distress, 00:26:20.990 --> 00:26:23.089 the trouble, the pain, the fear, it's all a part 00:26:23.089 --> 00:26:27.829 of the experience. And David opened it up in 00:26:27.829 --> 00:26:31.329 Psalm 55 with a very clear directive. And it 00:26:31.329 --> 00:26:33.049 was his right to pray to the one true living 00:26:33.049 --> 00:26:40.109 God. He said this, Friends, that is hard language 00:26:40.109 --> 00:26:43.849 for us to fathom because it feels rude. But it's 00:26:43.849 --> 00:26:47.440 not. God invites us to give him our fears. He 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:50.200 invites us to give him our sin. He invites us 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:53.420 to find joy in this great privilege by offering 00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:56.220 us a great high priest, as the author of Hebrews 00:26:56.220 --> 00:27:01.720 says. Christ is our advocate. He is for you. 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:07.019 Why? Because we belong to God. And so draw close. 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:10.859 To Christ, verse 22, cast your burden on the 00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:14.220 Lord and he will sustain you. He will never permit 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:16.779 the righteous to be moved. The word sustain here 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:21.079 can also be translated as to keep in, to hold. 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:24.779 And that matters because to sustain feels like, 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:27.220 hey, Lord, can you sustain me with enough energy 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:31.720 to run this 5K today? But that's temporary. That 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:33.519 word is good, but I don't know if it tells the 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:38.019 whole story. But when you translate it as to 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:42.220 keep in, to hold, cast your burden on the Lord 00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:46.799 and he will hold you. That lands differently 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:49.160 with me. That brings a layer of permanence to 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:53.240 God's promises through his word. Friends, Jesus 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:56.980 was betrayed and he still asked the father to 00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:59.039 take away the suffering that he knew was coming. 00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:03.440 David knew God had vowed to do great things in 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:06.109 and through him and yet... He was worried about 00:28:06.109 --> 00:28:09.890 his future because of a betrayal. And for us, 00:28:09.890 --> 00:28:13.430 there will be suffering. We will feel the sting 00:28:13.430 --> 00:28:17.109 of betrayal and may even feel isolated or lonely 00:28:17.109 --> 00:28:24.490 or ostracized. Sin will betray you by offering 00:28:24.490 --> 00:28:27.549 you a lie that seems way too good to be true 00:28:27.549 --> 00:28:32.450 and then leaves you in a bad spot. Sin doesn't 00:28:32.450 --> 00:28:36.930 care about the damage that it leaves. But you 00:28:36.930 --> 00:28:41.670 do, and you'll be betrayed by that. But what 00:28:41.670 --> 00:28:45.990 a privilege it is to be counted amongst God's 00:28:45.990 --> 00:28:54.099 people. As Peter said, rejoice. Rejoice in that 00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:56.940 suffering because to rise in glory with Jesus 00:28:56.940 --> 00:29:00.460 is what this is all about. Seeing all of creation 00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:04.539 redeemed and restored back to God the Father. 00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:10.000 That's the whole point of the story. So my challenge 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:12.960 for you today is to ask the Lord for more than 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:16.799 you are currently asking him. I don't mean ask 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:19.380 him for more money. Obviously don't be asking 00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:23.549 him for material goods. Ask him for boldness 00:29:23.549 --> 00:29:28.529 and courage. Ask him for protection from evil. 00:29:28.710 --> 00:29:35.190 Ask him to use you for his glory. Ask him to 00:29:35.190 --> 00:29:38.210 be transformed. That people around you can't 00:29:38.210 --> 00:29:42.009 separate who you are and who Jesus is. Because 00:29:42.009 --> 00:29:45.349 he has transformed so much of you to be like 00:29:45.349 --> 00:29:51.079 him. Cast your burdens upon him and be hidden 00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:55.380 with Christ. Be kept in by God and live into 00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:59.839 that promise. And I guarantee he will not let 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:05.119 you go. You can take it to the bank. I love the 00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:09.440 words of a hymn. Before the throne of God above 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:11.940 is the hymn. And the verse that I love, it says 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:17.480 this. Behold him there, the risen lamb. My perfect, 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:21.940 spotless righteousness, the great unchangeable 00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:25.359 I am, it says. The king of glory and of grace. 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:27.519 Does anybody know this, the verse of this psalm 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:30.200 or this hymn? I'll finish it out. It says this, 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:33.339 and I love it. One with himself, meaning me, 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:39.920 I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:44.940 My life is hid. with Christ on high, with Christ 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:49.880 my Savior and my God. It's so beautiful. Let's 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:50.180 pray together.