1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,600 After looking through this text that we had initially planned for this morning and talking with Grant, we decided to remain in Psalm 144 2 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:13,440 But we're gonna do it in a much smaller way than before. Lord willing, we'll cover this Psalm in greater detail soon 3 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:16,080 but for now we're gonna focus our attention on a 4 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,840 foundation point of theology within this Psalm and that's this 5 00:00:21,340 --> 00:00:25,360 God's sovereign care for his people 6 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:32,800 Now I'm gonna ask for your grace ahead of time because as Grant noted I've only had an evening to prepare so expect a shorter teaching 7 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,800 Than usual some of you are like amen. He's not going an hour 8 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:43,400 But I pray it will still be of some encouragement and help to orient our hearts to understand God even better 9 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,840 So within this song we have this view of God's sovereign care for his people 10 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:55,020 Amidst the difficulty of enemies the difficulty of going to war now Pastor Jeff walks through the entire thing 11 00:00:55,020 --> 00:01:01,800 He will clarify the nature of the war here with a proper understanding of the context within a Davidic Psalm 12 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:06,500 Because we are far less familiar with the idea of war and a theocracy 13 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:15,200 Than in those days of David's reign, but for today we're gonna focus on God's sovereign care 14 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:22,920 Now around the world today if you were to look at the news there are several large-scale wars being fought 15 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:29,840 Currently Ukraine is battling Russia who seeks to gain some resources maintain a buffer with NATO 16 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,480 I'm not talking politics. Those are just the headlines in 17 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:41,720 Yemen a civil war continues with numerous influencers outside of that nation in 18 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:49,960 Ethiopia there was a civil war that officially ended last year, but there continues to be skirmishes and 19 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:52,520 instability to this day in 20 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,680 Myanmar the ramifications of a military coup again 21 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:01,320 Continues to destabilize the country 22 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:07,440 And if you were to turn on any news outlet focused on international affairs 23 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:16,040 The most talked about conflict today is in the Middle East with Israel continuing its efforts against Hezbollah in Lebanon 24 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:23,760 Now while we watch this we may think it's indicative of the end times being at our front porch 25 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,560 and in many ways proportionally the world 26 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:29,360 isn't as 27 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:31,360 Broken as we'd like to think 28 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,640 That may shock you to hear me say that 29 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,960 Today I think the world is more at peace than it has ever been 30 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,120 But these wars 31 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,920 They dominate our news cycle you hear about why? 32 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:49,880 because fear sells 33 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:58,480 Fear of instability fear of rising prices and inflation fear of encroachment fear of what if 34 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:04,680 Fear dominates the hearts and minds of mankind and rightfully so 35 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,880 We have so much to fear because we're not in control 36 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:14,280 We should rightly be afraid when we recognize we have no influence regarding the course of this world 37 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:20,520 in fact every unbeliever should be frozen in fear by what they see 38 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,920 Because it should look like chaos to them 39 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,440 But for the believer 40 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:32,080 When we look at a world ravaged by wars and hatred 41 00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:34,640 Jealousy and selfishness 42 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,200 We remember that there is one 43 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:41,240 Above all these things and that no missile 44 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:43,880 No bullet 45 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:45,880 No hurricane 46 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,200 Arrives without permission from the Almighty 47 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:55,120 There is not one molecule out of place 48 00:03:55,360 --> 00:04:01,520 According to the sovereign one who holds all things together by the word of his power 49 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:06,080 And this is the hope this is the claim 50 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:11,000 Hope this is the clarity that David brings to Psalm 144 51 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:16,480 Hopefully you've already turned your Bibles there. We're gonna dig in in just a moment, but quick background 52 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,800 This is a royal song when David was king 53 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:29,120 And it emphasizes the well-being of God's people through war through conflict because God is for his people 54 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,680 Because he's for his people they can be confident in battle 55 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:39,920 Because he's for his people they know that God delivers them from their enemies 56 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,280 Now we're only gonna focus on three verses today 57 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:45,880 Verses two three and four 58 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,760 We're gonna look at the wonder of mankind 59 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:57,920 At God as a creator who cares so intimately and so purposefully for his creation and God willing will see some application 60 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:00,040 after that 61 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,480 Now verse two picks up after verse one 62 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,480 Some of you are following along. Yes 63 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,400 David has just recognized that the Lord God Yahweh is 64 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:16,120 The source for his strength and war and in battle his rock 65 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:20,160 Now David speaks in a familiar way in many other Psalms 66 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:25,480 There's at least five others that are almost identical to the words that he uses here 67 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:32,440 For example Psalm 18 to says this the Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer 68 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:38,760 My God my rock in whom I take refuge my shield and the horn of my salvation 69 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:47,360 My stronghold and if you're looking at Psalm 144 verses two three and well really two if you're looking there you see such 70 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,360 similarity, it's almost the same words 71 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:57,240 Out throughout the Old Testament God is referred to as a fortress a refuge the one who delivers and gives his 72 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:05,280 Loving kindness to his people the emphasis is always on God who provides all these benefits 73 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:08,760 So now look in Psalm 142 144 verse two 74 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:11,680 the first line there 75 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:16,280 My loving kindness if you have the ESV it says my steadfast love and 76 00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:20,240 My fortress and many of you know 77 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:27,360 Loving kindness if you're a student at masters or have been ever you've been raised in the church you've heard of this term 78 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:32,560 Loving kindness if you want to say it, you know the the proper way I said I 79 00:06:33,280 --> 00:06:36,360 Won't make you say it that way you can say has said 80 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:38,680 Loving kindness 81 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:45,360 it's one of the most well-known Hebrew terms in the entire Old Testament and it indicates God's steadfast 82 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,720 Unchanging resolute love for those who love him because 83 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:52,760 He loved them first 84 00:06:54,480 --> 00:07:01,520 One of the key aspects of God's character is his abounding loving kindness or a steadfast love that sets him apart from 85 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,200 every other supposed God or deity 86 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:11,480 The great I am he is not petty and cruel, but he is personal. He's intentional 87 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:18,920 He's committed based on his character even when those that he loves fail to love him well 88 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:25,720 It's God's has said that ensures that he keeps his promises 89 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,480 every single one 90 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:34,360 So that if God says that he will do something like preserve your life unto eternity 91 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:37,560 He will do it 92 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,960 Nothing will thwart the Almighty 93 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:49,920 Now that attribute alone could fill volumes, but I think you can see why David would start here when speaking of trusting God 94 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:58,160 God is faithful in his love and will always ensure that he ultimately cares for his people 95 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:04,040 Now David continues then in describing God as a fortress 96 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:09,560 Now what is a fortress? If you've been to Israel, maybe you've seen a fortress 97 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,320 Maybe if you've been to other ancient structures as well 98 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:19,000 Let's let's narrow it down to something we might be more familiar with do you remember making forts as a kid 99 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:25,640 You know sometimes Zion likes to gather all the couch cushions and a few blankets 100 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:29,120 And he makes a fort and we crawl around on the ground 101 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:34,480 We hide in the fort protected from the outsiders the imaginary monsters that are attacking us 102 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:41,080 Now those cushioned forts fun as they are are not structurally sound at all correct 103 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:50,040 The slightest movement or adjustment makes the whole thing come crashing down with all the screams and laughter that that brings 104 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:53,720 Now throughout history 105 00:08:53,720 --> 00:09:00,120 People have made all kinds of forts fortresses and they didn't use cushions or blankets 106 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:07,360 But they use mortar and stone and they feel very very safe in the fortresses that they build 107 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:15,520 But I tell you that even the strongest human fortress is but a pile of pillows and blankets 108 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:17,920 before the Almighty 109 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:22,240 The best fortress is not one made with our hands 110 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:30,600 The best fortress is to be found in the hands of the one who holds all things in his will 111 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:36,300 For God to be your fortress means that you trust him 112 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:44,400 You trust him you do not find yourself to be safe by what you do the preventative measures that you take 113 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:49,200 But you entrust even your safety unto him 114 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,200 and 115 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:52,920 entrusting him 116 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:57,880 You know that your eternal destination is what is protected 117 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,600 Not your comfort not the things you want 118 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,040 your eternal 119 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:05,240 reality 120 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:07,760 Because people can come and destroy your flesh 121 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,560 But they cannot destroy your soul 122 00:10:12,560 --> 00:10:19,120 David elaborates on this more he says my stronghold and my deliverer 123 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:24,920 And as you can see in the text this verse continues that Hebrew parallelism that we've been talking about 124 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:27,840 During this series in the Psalms and even in Ecclesiastes 125 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:33,400 These words and phrases they're distinct refuge or stronghold and and 126 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:40,640 Fortress are not the same but the same idea is present David is building that idea God is 127 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,640 David's safety 128 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:47,240 Now a stronghold in biblical times was a unique kind of fortress 129 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:49,320 It was set high up 130 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,000 So if you've seen the movie rendition of Lord of the Rings 131 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:59,080 You know there's a great city built into the rock and at the very top of that city after layers of walls and 132 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:02,160 Protection and gates was the king's residence 133 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:10,440 God is like that to David a stronghold through which the enemy may encroach to try to destroy him 134 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:14,600 But he is set high above the danger because of God 135 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:23,000 Not only that not only is he a stronghold but as his deliverer David emphasizes that even if danger comes 136 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:28,560 God is going to help him escape that danger and draw him into safety 137 00:11:28,560 --> 00:11:35,560 A deliverer is one who helps another person to be delivered. It makes sense, right? A deliverer delivers something 138 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:42,320 The previous Psalms if you were to read 142 and 143 139 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:49,960 Both focus on God being the one who delivers his people out of trouble 140 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:55,760 Intrinsic to this idea of being a deliverer is being delivered into safety 141 00:11:55,760 --> 00:12:02,160 Because if you're delivered out of the frying pan and into the fire that is no delivery at all 142 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,760 Not a good one. That's not the one that's being described here 143 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:10,080 But if you're delivered from the hands of the enemy into safety 144 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,760 Then you've been delivered well and you can rejoice 145 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:20,360 And is that not how God delivers us his children from the shadows of darkness 146 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:23,160 into his marvelous 147 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,160 light 148 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:35,160 Now David furthers this point in his next phrase my shield and he and whom I take refuge 149 00:12:35,560 --> 00:12:42,160 Now beyond being a deliverer. Yahweh is described by David as a shield in the ancient world a shield was critical in battle 150 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:46,160 It protected from stray arrows and various attacks 151 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:51,160 David describes God as his shield the one in whom he takes refuge 152 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:55,160 And again this is underscoring the idea of God as a fortress as a stronghold 153 00:12:55,160 --> 00:13:00,160 Not only is God those things but to David to David 154 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,160 He takes refuge in him 155 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:09,160 In God we know that phrase in him. How many of you remember Ephesians one 156 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:17,160 In Christ here's what said about being in Christ. We have every spiritual blessing 157 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:24,160 In him God chose us in him. We are to be holy and blameless 158 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:31,160 In him in him we have redemption in him. We have forgiveness in him 159 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,160 All things are brought to their conclusion in him 160 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:37,160 Believers are an inheritance 161 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:43,160 In him we believe and in him we are sealed 162 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:46,160 According to God's has said 163 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:52,160 Christ being the fullest expression of God's faithful love 164 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:56,160 You see scripture is consistent 165 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:01,160 God is David's refuge just as Christ is our refuge today 166 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:04,160 Now look at the next portion 167 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:10,160 Says who subdues people's under me now scholars are split about this phrase 168 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:15,160 Because the language appears differently in manuscripts but take it in context and I think the language is clear 169 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:20,160 God preserves his people against his enemies 170 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:24,160 That word subdued that means to beat down 171 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:31,160 To beat down like a metal worker beating gold and conforming it into the shape that he desires 172 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:36,160 But the emphasis is not David's ability to subdue 173 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:39,160 Or to beat down 174 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:44,160 Here the emphasis is God's ability to subdue others under him 175 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:48,160 And this reality doesn't make David prideful it brings about humility 176 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:53,160 David is not pompous when he considers that God subdues people to be under him 177 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,160 Instead he marvels 178 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,160 He marvels that God would give him such a position 179 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,160 Look at verse 3 180 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:05,160 He says oh Yahweh we are to be holy and blameless 181 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:10,160 He says oh Yahweh what is man that you know him that you regard him 182 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:15,160 When David considers God's loving kindness his steadfast love 183 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,160 He knows God's character as a fortress 184 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:22,160 He knows God's character as a stronghold a deliverer a shield and a subduer 185 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:30,160 And in all of that he marvels that God who sits enthroned above the heavens would even give a thought about him 186 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:34,160 As we studied in Psalm 139 187 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:39,160 Not only does God know every chromosome every cell of our body 188 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:42,160 But he knows our thoughts 189 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,160 He knows our innermost being 190 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:49,160 He truly knows us 191 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:52,160 And yet who are we to God 192 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:56,160 What what can we offer the king of kings 193 00:15:56,160 --> 00:16:00,160 Now another aspect of Hebrew parallelism continues 194 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:04,160 He says this or the son of man that you think of him 195 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:08,160 Again who are we as humans 196 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:13,160 To an almighty all powerful creator we are less than ants 197 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:22,160 What could possibly bring the great I am to consider to regard to think about us 198 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:26,160 Only himself 199 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:33,160 Humans have been given such an incredible honor in being created in the likeness of God 200 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:38,160 No other creature on this planet shares such a distinction 201 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:44,160 And no other creature has squandered their blessing of being created in such an image as much as we have 202 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,160 We have been given everything 203 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:52,160 We have the incredible responsibility to rule over creation 204 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:58,160 And yet we have sought to worship the creation rather than the creator 205 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,160 God has loved us so much 206 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:09,160 He's considered us so much and yet we have rejected him so much 207 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:13,160 So who is man to the Almighty 208 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:21,160 We have this great capacity to imitate our creator and yet we often focus entirely on ourselves 209 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,160 So why would he think of us? 210 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,160 Why would he know us? 211 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:33,160 And David continues with another form of Hebrew parallelism pushing the point 212 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,160 He says in verse 4 213 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,160 Man is like a breath 214 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,160 A breath 215 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:44,160 Here the word is Chabel 216 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:49,160 It's the same word used in Ecclesiastes 30 times 217 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:53,160 There the word means vanity 218 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:57,160 Here one moment, gone the next 219 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:00,160 Soap bubbles 220 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:03,160 If you don't mind, do this exercise with me 221 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:11,160 Take a breath, nice and slow and calmly exhale 222 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,160 That was a breath 223 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:15,160 Do it again 224 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:19,160 That was a person 225 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,160 You do it again 226 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:23,160 It's another person 227 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:24,160 You do it again 228 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:25,160 That's another person 229 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:29,160 How many times have you breathed while you've been in here this morning? 230 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:33,160 Have you counted? 231 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:35,160 See when you string your breath together 232 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:40,160 They seem rather insignificant, don't they? 233 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,160 That's us 234 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:44,160 A breath 235 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:45,160 A vapor 236 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:47,160 Meaningless 237 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:51,160 Over and over humans just keep coming and coming 238 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:53,160 As easy as a breath 239 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:59,160 As common as blades of grass is what God's word says 240 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:06,160 But to God, to God, His people are more than a breath 241 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:12,160 To God, His people receive His loving kindness 242 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:18,160 His people are protected in Him like a fortress, a stronghold, a shield 243 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:27,160 In Him, His people are dearly loved, protected and provided for even sacrificed for 244 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:31,160 So in one sense, mankind is like a breath 245 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,160 And without God we should be regarded as such 246 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:38,160 In another sense, we are so valued 247 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:43,160 But before we get to that value, consider his next statement 248 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:48,160 He says, man's days are like a passing shadow 249 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:53,160 Our lives are so short in the context of eternity 250 00:19:53,160 --> 00:20:00,160 You know, in David's day, many scholars estimate the typical life expectancy of a person was around 40 years 251 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:01,160 40 years 252 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:08,160 That means many of us in here have already exceeded that average expectancy or are getting very close 253 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,160 Life in that day was difficult 254 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:21,160 It is widely held that in the ancient world, half, half of all children didn't make it past the age of five 255 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,160 And those that did survive? 256 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:29,160 They had to deal with the harsh living conditions, poor medical care and non-existent medical care 257 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:33,160 And constant wars and conflicts 258 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:39,160 Life in the ancient world was more like a breath than we can fathom 259 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:48,160 Earlier, when speaking about war, I said that the world today is more at peace than it has ever been 260 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:52,160 And some of you may have bristled at that statement 261 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:55,160 But this is my comparison 262 00:20:55,160 --> 00:21:00,160 We do have millions around the world who suffer great hardships 263 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:05,160 And through my work at Children's Hunger Fund, I see many of them across Africa 264 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:15,160 But though we have such great numbers of those living in extreme poverty, the proportion, the percentage of those living in such similar contexts at the ancient world 265 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:19,160 It used to be higher in the past 266 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:22,160 It is lower today 267 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:31,160 Generally, life was more difficult for the average person in the ancient world than it is for many average people today 268 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:40,160 The earth is more populated than it's ever been, even still, it's estimated that less than one in ten people live in extreme poverty 269 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:48,160 Now if you add in people who don't meet that extreme level but just generally poor, it's maybe three in ten 270 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:54,160 Three in ten people around the world struggle to have basic needs met 271 00:21:54,160 --> 00:22:02,160 So that means the rest, while not necessarily rich, are not extremely poor 272 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:10,160 So today, a fair estimate is that seven in ten people have reasonable access to medical care 273 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:16,160 Better living conditions and generally peaceful lives 274 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,160 Now, you could take a higher rate 275 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:23,160 You could take a higher rate of those in poverty, you could reverse the numbers 276 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:32,160 You could say that seven in ten people today live in some range of poverty and that's still higher than every published metric 277 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:36,160 And I would even argue that's higher than reality 278 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:47,160 But even if you took seven in ten people, said seven in ten are poor, that still means that three, three out of every ten people would be well off 279 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:52,160 So what was the population like in the ancient world? 280 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:57,160 Well first, the population of the world in David's day was a fraction of today's population 281 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:01,160 Roughly maybe two times that of modern day California 282 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,160 That was the whole entire ancient world in David's day 283 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:16,160 But in the ancient world, scholars even with a generous estimate say that around one in ten people would be considered noble or wealthy or well-to-do 284 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:18,160 One in ten 285 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:26,160 That means today that our wealth ratio is three times higher than the ancient world for the average person 286 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:31,160 Three times higher than the ancient world and that's with inflated numbers 287 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,160 That's with inflated numbers on poverty 288 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:38,160 I think the ratio of the wealthy class is much, much higher today 289 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:46,160 But I think we also need to consider the disparity in the ancient world between the wealthy and the working class 290 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:48,160 It would have been immense 291 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,160 It's nothing like comparing the super rich today to the middle class 292 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:54,160 Nothing compares well in our context today 293 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:55,160 That's the difficulty 294 00:23:55,160 --> 00:24:01,160 When you compare poverty in the United States to say poverty in Uganda, you see a very different dynamic 295 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:11,160 And I would argue that the poorest people in somewhere like Sub-Saharan Africa would view their life much more like a breath, a vapor, a shadow 296 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:15,160 Than the poorest people in the United States 297 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:18,160 Because here we are today 298 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:26,160 A middle class, normative representation, not just of the U.S. but of Western, modernized society 299 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:33,160 And when we hear a life expectancy of 40 years, we think that that is just impossible, impossibly low 300 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:38,160 I'm not going to make you raise your hand in here to tell us that you're over 40 301 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:44,160 But if you were to look around, that is not our normal society 302 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:53,160 Our riches, our blessings of healthcare and nourishment, living conditions, education, and so much more 303 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:58,160 They all build up hubris in ourselves 304 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:08,160 Pride in what we can do and accomplish to the point that we no longer see ourselves as a breath 305 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:23,160 But we should, because even if we live to 80 or 90 or 100 years, we are no closer to comprehending an eternal God than someone who lives 40 years 306 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:30,160 David knew the importance of viewing mankind properly in light of the Creator 307 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:39,160 And we need to be reminded, especially in light of the many blessings that so much of the world population experiences today 308 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:48,160 David knew that man's days were like a passing shadow, and we would do well to heed his reminder 309 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:55,160 Now as we close today, as we consider God's care for us, his sovereign care in light of Psalm 144 310 00:25:55,160 --> 00:26:01,160 I have three key thoughts that I want to leave with you, three key thoughts to meditate upon 311 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:08,160 The first is this, this phrase, in him, in him 312 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:13,160 Believers are hidden in God 313 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:16,160 David knew this, and so should we 314 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:21,160 Now while the context of this Psalm is war and enemies, strife and difficulty 315 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:27,160 Throughout the Psalms, David and others express that when trouble comes, they are safe in the fortress 316 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:34,160 They are safe in the stronghold that is God, they are in him 317 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:43,160 The second is this, by him, by him 318 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:50,160 Believers are protected and provided for by God 319 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:56,160 Being hidden in him means that God himself is the protector and the provider 320 00:26:56,160 --> 00:27:08,160 He is an active shield, guarding his people from harm, and he delivers his people from danger, providing ultimate and, don't miss this, eternal security 321 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:17,160 Not temporary joy, not temporary gladness, not comforts being met, but eternal security 322 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:21,160 By him 323 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:28,160 And the third one is this, for him, for him 324 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:33,160 Believers are created for God 325 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:38,160 When David wonders what is man to an almighty God, and he remarks that man is like a breath 326 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:44,160 We need to see, just like David, that God has chosen to know us 327 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:55,160 We are a breath, but he chose to know us, he chose to think of us, he chose to willingly and joyfully place his loving kindness upon us 328 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:59,160 And God doesn't do that because of what we've done 329 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:07,160 He does it in spite of what we've done, because it's according to his character 330 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:15,160 And the New Testament were reminded in 1 Peter that God saves many people according to his mercy, and he's done, he's done so much 331 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:22,160 That people, that people would be his possession, that they would be his, for him 332 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:27,160 Those who he loves would be for him 333 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:40,160 So in God's sovereign care, throughout all times, all situations, war times and famines, wars and rumors of wars, difficulty, strife, pain, heartaches 334 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:49,160 Those who trust in Christ for salvation, they are in him, by him, and for him 335 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:58,160 So as you read this Psalm, you consider the nature of war, or life in a theocracy, it's very difficult for us, we don't live in that 336 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:02,160 But we can consider the brevity of mankind's life 337 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:08,160 We can be encouraged to trust that when a person is loved by God, they have no need to fear 338 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:13,160 You may take a different take on today's current events, whether it's worse or better 339 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:17,160 You can come talk to me later, it's not a hill to die on 340 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:23,160 But I think it's important to recognize how many blessings the average person has today 341 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:29,160 As you look around, we don't consider our life as a breath, but we should 342 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:38,160 We need to be confronted with that, to think otherwise would be to think unbiblically, because David said it is God's word, not David's 343 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:42,160 It's God's, man is like a breath 344 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:48,160 And yet, who is man, that God would think upon him 345 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:57,160 And it's because of that, that we can trust that God is doing ultimate good in his sovereign care, even when we struggle to see his good 346 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:05,160 Even when we focus so much on the troubles of our fleeting days, we can see that God is good 347 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:11,160 And so we don't trust in what we see, we trust in what God has said 348 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:17,160 Because he will accomplish all his holy will 349 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:21,160 Now for our time of reflection here, I want to take a moment 350 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:27,160 If you're a believer who trusts in Jesus, I want you to take a moment and just think him 351 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:30,160 Think him for caring for you, in ways that you're not even aware 352 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:35,160 Maybe this week you thanked him for things that were very specific 353 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:41,160 God's sovereign care for you is in the minutiae of your life, in all the small things 354 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:47,160 Thank him for being aware of all of those things of your life, even when you're not 355 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:51,160 The fact that you keep breathing when you don't tell your body to 356 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:53,160 Thank him 357 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:58,160 If you've been selfish this week, believers, repent 358 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:06,160 If you've been asking for things in a selfish demand from God, repent and then ask him to help you see why you were created 359 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:11,160 You're still drawing breath and life in your lungs because there is something still to do or bear 360 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:18,160 You're created to walk in newness of life, you're created to walk in the good works that he's prepared beforehand for you 361 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:21,160 So ask him to help you see those 362 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:27,160 Remember that you're in him, you're by him, and you're for him 363 00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:32,160 And if anyone in here this morning is not a born again believer 364 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:38,160 Today is the right time, today is the right time to ask God for his loving kindness, for his grace 365 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:45,160 You're going to hear testimonies later today about what God has done in bringing new life 366 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:52,160 And the mercy of Christ is for everyone who comes to know that they can turn nowhere else 367 00:31:52,160 --> 00:32:01,160 That they can't go anywhere, so they run to Jesus and they ask him to be the stronghold, the refuge, the fortress 368 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:09,160 To rescue us and deliver us from that pit of darkness into his marvelous light 369 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:18,160 Lord God Almighty, we recognize as a congregation today that you sit enthroned above the heavens 370 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:29,160 You are the Creator and Sustainer of all things and everything is under your powerful and good care 371 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:37,160 But we are breathed here today and gone tomorrow and yet we think so much of ourselves 372 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:44,160 So help us to be humble before you, remembering our station and remembering our purpose 373 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:50,160 Thank you for bestowing your loving kindness upon people who are unworthy by our efforts 374 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:58,160 But made worthy by the sacrifice of your Son, our Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ 375 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:05,160 May you powerfully help us to proclaim your excellencies for you have done great and mighty things 376 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:10,160 And your name is to be greatly praised 377 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:15,160 We pray this, in the name of Christ, amen