100:00:00,080 –> 00:00:02,760Um, in distress he says,200:00:02,760 –> 00:00:04,760I am in distress he says300:00:04,760 –> 00:00:07,140because though I believe and though I am one400:00:07,140 –> 00:00:11,220of God’s people, I feel about as far away from God as is possible500:00:11,220 –> 00:00:12,880for a person to be.600:00:12,880 –> 00:00:15,800I’m one of His people. I know nothing of His joy.700:00:15,800 –> 00:00:19,340I’m one of His people but I’m a long way from knowing His peace.800:00:19,340 –> 00:00:22,740I’m one of His people but I don’t feel His presence.900:00:22,740 –> 00:00:25,760Welcome to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith.1000:00:25,760 –> 00:00:28,320I’m David Pick. Glad you could be with us today.1100:00:28,400 –> 00:00:30,820Colin, I think we ask for a show of hands how many of us1200:00:30,820 –> 00:00:32,700have sometimes felt like that.1300:00:32,700 –> 00:00:34,200I think a lot of hands would go up.1400:00:34,200 –> 00:00:35,480That’s exactly right.1500:00:35,480 –> 00:00:37,939And isn’t it marvelous that the Bible actually1600:00:37,939 –> 00:00:41,500addresses the reality of a believer,1700:00:41,500 –> 00:00:45,060feeling that he or she is a long, long way from God.1800:00:45,060 –> 00:00:49,080That’s what we’ve got in Psalm 120 and in many other psalms.1900:00:49,080 –> 00:00:51,040You know, Woe to me2000:00:51,040 –> 00:00:52,660I dwell in Meshech.2100:00:52,660 –> 00:00:56,200I’m about as far away from the place of the presence of God2200:00:56,200 –> 00:00:58,160as it’s possible to be.2300:00:58,439 –> 00:01:00,320These psalms that we’re looking at2400:01:00,320 –> 00:01:02,500are actually called psalms of ascent2500:01:02,500 –> 00:01:05,339because they are the psalms that were sung2600:01:05,339 –> 00:01:10,040while believers, God’s people who lived a long, long way2700:01:10,040 –> 00:01:13,339away from Jerusalem, while they were travelling2800:01:13,339 –> 00:01:16,199to come and seek the face and the presence of God.2900:01:16,199 –> 00:01:18,480Well, that’s a journey that we know about.3000:01:18,480 –> 00:01:20,900We know what it is to feel far from God.3100:01:20,900 –> 00:01:23,739We know what it is to try and draw near to Him,3200:01:23,739 –> 00:01:25,739and that’s where these psalms really help us.3300:01:25,760 –> 00:01:30,519So join us today if you can, in Psalm 120 and 120.13400:01:30,519 –> 00:01:33,599as we continue the message, Delaying to Deciding.3500:01:33,599 –> 00:01:34,540Here’s Colin.3600:01:34,540 –> 00:01:36,699I called our first reflection on these psalms,3700:01:36,699 –> 00:01:39,699Moving From Delaying to Deciding.3800:01:42,040 –> 00:01:44,400And, you know, the first step in moving3900:01:44,400 –> 00:01:47,440from delaying to deciding is to develop4000:01:47,440 –> 00:01:52,440a holy discontent with your present position.4100:01:52,480 –> 00:01:54,800And I wanna suggest to you that the greatest barrier4200:01:54,800 –> 00:01:58,559to our spiritual progress is our own personal comfort.4300:01:58,559 –> 00:02:03,559That’s why it’s so hard to grow as a Christian in America.4400:02:04,120 –> 00:02:07,959We can get by in Meshech.4500:02:07,959 –> 00:02:12,059We can get used to living without prayer.4600:02:12,059 –> 00:02:14,960We feel that we can basically handle our lives4700:02:14,960 –> 00:02:17,300except for a few times.4800:02:17,300 –> 00:02:20,100We become used to the way things are,4900:02:20,339 –> 00:02:22,419we become used to the way things are.5000:02:22,419 –> 00:02:23,860We believe and hope, of course,5100:02:23,860 –> 00:02:25,300that one day we will be in heaven,5200:02:25,300 –> 00:02:26,320but as from the rest,5300:02:26,320 –> 00:02:29,679we become content to live at a distance from God,5400:02:31,259 –> 00:02:33,860and there is a comfort in whatever you’re used to,5500:02:34,820 –> 00:02:38,580and that comfort can keep you there far too long.5600:02:40,899 –> 00:02:42,940That’s why people stay in debt, you see,5700:02:44,779 –> 00:02:47,699because the pain of solving the problem5800:02:47,820 –> 00:02:50,460seems to be greater than the pain of living with it,5900:02:51,699 –> 00:02:53,940and you never make the change6000:02:53,940 –> 00:02:57,059until there’s that wholly discontent6100:02:57,059 –> 00:03:00,839that says, I cannot stay here any longer.6200:03:02,899 –> 00:03:05,860That’s why people go for years in the coldest of marriages.6300:03:07,059 –> 00:03:08,399You just get used to it.6400:03:10,300 –> 00:03:11,500It may not be what you want,6500:03:11,500 –> 00:03:13,139but it becomes what is familiar,6600:03:13,139 –> 00:03:14,820and so you stay with it.6700:03:15,619 –> 00:03:18,860Change isn’t gonna happen in any area of our lives6800:03:18,860 –> 00:03:22,779until somewhere deep inside you come to the conclusion,6900:03:22,779 –> 00:03:25,699I can’t live like this any longer.7000:03:27,360 –> 00:03:28,860You’ve gotta to get to the point of saying,7100:03:28,860 –> 00:03:29,820it isn’t working.7200:03:32,259 –> 00:03:34,020And you see, that’s exactly what’s happening7300:03:34,020 –> 00:03:35,199in Psalm 120.7400:03:35,199 –> 00:03:38,300It’s not just I live in Meshach.7500:03:40,220 –> 00:03:43,020See, what he says, verse five.7600:03:44,000 –> 00:03:49,000It’s woe to me, that I live in Meshach.7700:03:49,940 –> 00:03:54,940And that woe is the low point at which the journey begins.7800:03:57,259 –> 00:03:58,339Jesus spoke about it.7900:03:59,580 –> 00:04:02,240Blessed are the poor in spirit,8000:04:03,380 –> 00:04:05,179for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.8100:04:08,300 –> 00:04:10,580Blessed are those, in other words, who’ll say8200:04:10,580 –> 00:04:12,940God, I’ve had it, living like this.8300:04:13,399 –> 00:04:15,240I’m coming to you today.8400:04:17,640 –> 00:04:18,920I can’t go on without you.8500:04:20,959 –> 00:04:21,679I need you.8600:04:23,540 –> 00:04:24,339It’s not working.8700:04:29,019 –> 00:04:32,600Is there any trace of that kind of discontent within you?8800:04:32,600 –> 00:04:35,459That holy discontent as we begin a new year?8900:04:38,179 –> 00:04:42,200Is there any evidence of that kind of dissatisfaction9000:04:42,279 –> 00:04:43,600with the way things are?9100:04:43,600 –> 00:04:45,480Can I put the question this way?9200:04:46,619 –> 00:04:49,640Would you be content to go from now to the end of your life9300:04:49,640 –> 00:04:53,320and to enter into heaven in your present spiritual state?9400:04:55,179 –> 00:04:56,019Would you?9500:04:58,519 –> 00:04:59,480See, Jesus said,9600:04:59,480 –> 00:05:04,160blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.9700:05:06,559 –> 00:05:09,140Do you see any evidence of that hunger?9800:05:09,239 –> 00:05:10,059Hunger.9900:05:11,440 –> 00:05:14,019Boy, when I’m hungry that motivates me.10000:05:16,720 –> 00:05:19,040Do you know the Old Testament prophets10100:05:19,040 –> 00:05:22,579had the ministry of promoting discontent?10200:05:24,899 –> 00:05:27,980And you know there is a true sense in which10300:05:27,980 –> 00:05:29,859anyone faithful to the word of God10400:05:29,859 –> 00:05:32,440must have part of that as their ministry.10500:05:34,079 –> 00:05:36,100Haggai is a classic example.10600:05:36,119 –> 00:05:39,220See, people have God far too comfortable10700:05:39,220 –> 00:05:40,760and he says to them this.10800:05:41,920 –> 00:05:45,119Haggai 1, give careful thought to your ways10900:05:46,700 –> 00:05:48,239because you’re planting a lot11000:05:48,239 –> 00:05:50,059and you’re harvesting very little.11100:05:52,200 –> 00:05:55,119And you’re eating a lot but you’re never satisfied.11200:05:56,640 –> 00:05:58,059And you’re earning a whole lot of money11300:05:58,059 –> 00:06:00,600and you’re putting it in a purse that has holes in it.11400:06:00,600 –> 00:06:02,179You can read that in Haggai in chapter one.11500:06:02,179 –> 00:06:03,600Do you see what he’s doing?11600:06:04,100 –> 00:06:07,339He’s saying you’re so content with all that we’re doing,11700:06:07,339 –> 00:06:10,119so content with all that we’re earning,11800:06:10,119 –> 00:06:13,100so content with all that’s being poured into our lives11900:06:13,100 –> 00:06:14,380and all the fun things12000:06:14,380 –> 00:06:17,320but actually you’re not satisfied, are you?12100:06:18,559 –> 00:06:19,399Are you?12200:06:22,640 –> 00:06:25,160All change begins with dissatisfaction12300:06:25,160 –> 00:06:26,720with the way things are.12400:06:29,079 –> 00:06:33,420So thank God if it bothers you to be far from him.12500:06:34,600 –> 00:06:38,100Thank God if you’ve come to the place of saying12600:06:38,100 –> 00:06:39,760not just I live in Meshach12700:06:41,519 –> 00:06:45,660but woe to me that I live in Meshach.12800:06:45,660 –> 00:06:48,019I have been here too long.12900:06:50,519 –> 00:06:55,519See a holy discontent is the first sign of spiritual life.13000:06:56,559 –> 00:06:59,200It’s the first hope of real and lasting change.13100:06:59,200 –> 00:07:02,760It is the first step in moving from delaying13200:07:02,760 –> 00:07:05,619to deciding.13300:07:07,799 –> 00:07:08,739Here’s a second.13400:07:10,299 –> 00:07:12,959Allow God to deal with others13500:07:13,839 –> 00:07:16,679and ask God to deal with you.13600:07:18,040 –> 00:07:19,739Now I wonder how many of the difficulties13700:07:19,739 –> 00:07:23,440and problems in your life arise from other people.13800:07:23,440 –> 00:07:25,820I’m almost certain that for most of us13900:07:25,820 –> 00:07:27,679the answer will be plenty.14000:07:28,559 –> 00:07:31,640Notice how many of the psalmist’s problems here14100:07:31,720 –> 00:07:34,239arise directly from other people?14200:07:34,239 –> 00:07:35,959There are the lying lips14300:07:35,959 –> 00:07:39,299and there are the deceitful tongues of verse two,14400:07:39,299 –> 00:07:42,399there are the people who hate peace in verse six,14500:07:42,399 –> 00:07:44,019no doubt the same folks are the ones14600:07:44,019 –> 00:07:47,359who are for war in verse seven.14700:07:47,359 –> 00:07:49,440So you see, with all these problem people14800:07:49,440 –> 00:07:51,440around him creating all this conflict14900:07:51,440 –> 00:07:53,679and all this trouble and all this untruth15000:07:55,279 –> 00:07:57,359it would be very easy for the psalmist15100:07:57,359 –> 00:08:00,700to develop what we call a victim mentality.15200:08:02,640 –> 00:08:06,359For him to start playing the blame game.15300:08:07,940 –> 00:08:10,140Lord, the reason that I’m so far from you15400:08:10,140 –> 00:08:13,059and struggling spiritually is very simple.15500:08:13,059 –> 00:08:15,839There are a lot of difficult people in my life,15600:08:15,839 –> 00:08:17,940so why don’t you do something about them?15700:08:19,339 –> 00:08:23,220Lord, why did I have to be born in Mishech anyway?15800:08:23,220 –> 00:08:24,859Lord, why don’t you change Mishech15900:08:24,859 –> 00:08:26,119and make it a place I can have16000:08:26,119 –> 00:08:28,160a more fulfilling and comfortable life?16100:08:28,459 –> 00:08:30,220See, change never begins16200:08:30,220 –> 00:08:32,940so long as you’re playing the blame game.16300:08:33,840 –> 00:08:38,000Blaming God, blaming circumstances, blaming other people.16400:08:39,400 –> 00:08:42,500The psalmist has had enough of that.16500:08:45,099 –> 00:08:46,500So he won’t go there.16600:08:46,500 –> 00:08:48,179Notice what he does?16700:08:48,179 –> 00:08:50,960He places the problem people in his life16800:08:50,960 –> 00:08:53,419into the hands of God.16900:08:53,419 –> 00:08:54,599That’s what verse three is about.17000:08:54,599 –> 00:08:56,820What will He do to you17100:08:56,820 –> 00:08:59,000and what more besides, O deceitful tongue?17200:08:59,000 –> 00:09:00,539He’s talking about the problem people,17300:09:00,539 –> 00:09:02,239the ones with deceitful tongues.17400:09:03,659 –> 00:09:07,880God is going to deal with the problem people in your life.17500:09:09,159 –> 00:09:11,400And there’s no vindictiveness in what he says here.17600:09:11,400 –> 00:09:13,179He simply states the reality.17700:09:13,179 –> 00:09:16,380God’s gonna deal with all the problems of lies17800:09:16,380 –> 00:09:18,200and deceit and of conflict17900:09:18,200 –> 00:09:20,599and he will do it in perfect justice18000:09:20,599 –> 00:09:23,799and in the sight of all the beings in our world18100:09:24,000 –> 00:09:26,880and the Psalmist is content that it should be so.18200:09:28,719 –> 00:09:32,119He’s realized something that all of us need to grasp.18300:09:33,479 –> 00:09:36,119You can’t change Meshech.18400:09:39,760 –> 00:09:42,320You can’t change your husband, your wife.18500:09:44,020 –> 00:09:45,320You can’t change a boss.18600:09:47,239 –> 00:09:49,419You can’t change your past.18700:09:50,280 –> 00:09:52,020You can’t change the world in which you live in.18800:09:52,020 –> 00:09:52,960It’s this world.18900:09:52,960 –> 00:09:54,080It’s how it is.19000:09:56,820 –> 00:09:58,659You can spend the whole of your life19100:09:58,659 –> 00:10:00,479wanting it to be a better place,19200:10:00,479 –> 00:10:02,380but it isn’t going to happen.19300:10:04,479 –> 00:10:07,119So the Psalmist gets it absolutely right.19400:10:09,099 –> 00:10:12,080He allows God to deal with others,19500:10:13,080 –> 00:10:17,599and he asks God to deal with himself.19600:10:19,919 –> 00:10:22,520That’s what verse one is all about, isn’t it?19700:10:22,520 –> 00:10:25,039I call on the Lord in my distress,19800:10:25,039 –> 00:10:27,500and he answers me, and what’s my call?19900:10:27,500 –> 00:10:29,320Oh, God, save me.20000:10:31,039 –> 00:10:31,960Deliver me.20100:10:33,559 –> 00:10:35,919I need your help living in this world.20200:10:39,000 –> 00:10:42,000You know, you could make the sum your own.20300:10:43,119 –> 00:10:48,119You could come to God like this today.20400:10:48,880 –> 00:10:50,159You’re listening to Open The Bible20500:10:50,159 –> 00:10:51,479with Pastor Colin Smith20600:10:51,479 –> 00:10:54,640and a message called Delaying to Deciding.20700:10:54,640 –> 00:10:56,580It’s part of our series called20800:10:56,580 –> 00:10:58,359Moving in the Right Direction,20900:10:58,359 –> 00:11:00,119and if you ever miss one of the series,21000:11:00,119 –> 00:11:01,679don’t forget, you can always catch up21100:11:01,679 –> 00:11:04,700or go back and listen again online at our website,21200:11:04,700 –> 00:11:07,580openthebible.org.uk.21300:11:07,580 –> 00:11:08,960There you’ll find all the messages21400:11:08,960 –> 00:11:11,260which have already gone out on air.21500:11:11,260 –> 00:11:12,460Back to the message now.21600:11:12,460 –> 00:11:15,559We’re in Psalm 120 and 121.21700:11:15,559 –> 00:11:17,679Here again is Colin.21800:11:17,679 –> 00:11:21,119How do you move from delaying21900:11:21,119 –> 00:11:22,440to deciding?22000:11:22,440 –> 00:11:23,919How do you get off22100:11:23,919 –> 00:11:25,719being stuck in the same place22200:11:25,719 –> 00:11:30,380for years and years and years of your life?22300:11:30,380 –> 00:11:33,440You develop a holy discontent22400:11:33,440 –> 00:11:36,039with your present position.22500:11:36,039 –> 00:11:41,099Woe to me that I dwell in Meshach.22600:11:41,099 –> 00:11:44,239And you allow God to deal with others22700:11:44,239 –> 00:11:47,080and ask God22800:11:47,080 –> 00:11:49,479to deal with yourself.22900:11:49,479 –> 00:11:52,840Then here is the last thing.23000:11:52,840 –> 00:11:55,820You cultivate confidence23100:11:55,820 –> 00:11:59,539in the help of God.23200:11:59,539 –> 00:12:01,020As you move into Psalm 12123300:12:01,020 –> 00:12:02,440and this is why we are taking them23400:12:02,440 –> 00:12:04,020in pairs together.23500:12:04,020 –> 00:12:05,539You see immediately this man23600:12:05,539 –> 00:12:07,979has begun the movement.23700:12:07,979 –> 00:12:09,260He started the journey.23800:12:09,260 –> 00:12:12,400Woe is where the journey begins.23900:12:12,400 –> 00:12:14,820He is on his way to Jerusalem.24000:12:14,820 –> 00:12:16,020Jerusalem is the city24100:12:16,099 –> 00:12:18,419that is set on the Hill.24200:12:18,419 –> 00:12:19,280Now he is coming24300:12:19,280 –> 00:12:21,780within sight of the city24400:12:21,780 –> 00:12:24,200and he looks up24500:12:24,200 –> 00:12:25,820at the city on the mountains.24600:12:25,820 –> 00:12:27,440I’ll tell you24700:12:27,440 –> 00:12:29,380if you are in Jericho24800:12:29,380 –> 00:12:31,320on the plains24900:12:31,320 –> 00:12:33,859and you are looking up to Jerusalem25000:12:33,859 –> 00:12:35,159it feels like looking up25100:12:35,159 –> 00:12:37,000at the Rockies.25200:12:37,000 –> 00:12:38,820I mean it is high.25300:12:38,820 –> 00:12:41,320You are thinking to yourself25400:12:41,320 –> 00:12:42,280how in all the world25500:12:42,280 –> 00:12:45,719am I going to get up there?25600:12:45,760 –> 00:12:46,760I’ve taken the journey25700:12:46,760 –> 00:12:48,580from Jerusalem down to Jericho.25800:12:48,580 –> 00:12:49,580By the way did you remember25900:12:49,580 –> 00:12:50,239Jesus talked about26000:12:50,239 –> 00:12:52,739the story of the Good Samaritan26100:12:52,739 –> 00:12:53,739the man who was going down26200:12:53,739 –> 00:12:55,299from Jerusalem to Jericho.26300:12:55,299 –> 00:12:57,880See it is a big slope.26400:12:57,880 –> 00:12:59,719I went down26500:12:59,719 –> 00:13:03,059and I did it on a bus.26600:13:03,059 –> 00:13:04,159See the Psalm is talking about26700:13:04,159 –> 00:13:06,159going up26800:13:06,159 –> 00:13:08,640and doing it on foot26900:13:08,640 –> 00:13:09,640and an ordinary person27000:13:09,640 –> 00:13:10,960standing at the bottom of these hills27100:13:10,960 –> 00:13:12,000is gonna be looking up27200:13:12,000 –> 00:13:12,419and he will say27300:13:12,419 –> 00:13:13,460how in all the world27400:13:13,700 –> 00:13:18,739am I gonna get up there?27500:13:18,739 –> 00:13:19,520I think that is how27600:13:19,520 –> 00:13:20,859we should read the famous words27700:13:20,859 –> 00:13:22,679at the beginning of Psalm 121.27800:13:22,679 –> 00:13:24,479I lift my eyes up to the hills.27900:13:24,479 –> 00:13:25,900That is where He’s heading.28000:13:25,900 –> 00:13:27,460I’m heading on this journey28100:13:27,460 –> 00:13:28,559to the place where God28200:13:28,559 –> 00:13:30,260has promised to meet me.28300:13:30,260 –> 00:13:32,919I’m seeking Him.28400:13:32,919 –> 00:13:34,359That’s where I’m going.28500:13:34,359 –> 00:13:36,380How in all the world28600:13:36,380 –> 00:13:38,099am I gonna get there?28700:13:38,099 –> 00:13:41,219And the answer is28800:13:41,219 –> 00:13:43,260my help comes from the Lord.28900:13:44,260 –> 00:13:45,739See, every Christian29000:13:45,739 –> 00:13:47,000knows this experience.29100:13:47,000 –> 00:13:48,940You make the decision29200:13:48,940 –> 00:13:50,859to follow Christ29300:13:50,859 –> 00:13:52,099and it’s not long before29400:13:52,099 –> 00:13:53,299you’re asking the question29500:13:53,299 –> 00:13:54,539can I really do this?29600:13:54,539 –> 00:13:57,320Can I actually live this life?29700:13:57,320 –> 00:14:00,280Can I make it to the place29800:14:00,280 –> 00:14:02,599of the presence of God?29900:14:02,599 –> 00:14:04,219And using the picture30000:14:04,219 –> 00:14:05,039of the journey30100:14:05,039 –> 00:14:08,059there are here in the Psalm30200:14:08,059 –> 00:14:10,140all the pressures and burdens30300:14:10,140 –> 00:14:11,700of the heat of the day.30400:14:12,659 –> 00:14:14,659There are all the fears and worries30500:14:14,659 –> 00:14:16,340that come to us in the night.30600:14:16,340 –> 00:14:17,900There are all the difficulties30700:14:17,900 –> 00:14:19,380and temptations of the road,30800:14:19,380 –> 00:14:21,780places where your foot could slip.30900:14:23,820 –> 00:14:25,059And I don’t know how it is for you31000:14:25,059 –> 00:14:26,419at the beginning of this new year31100:14:26,419 –> 00:14:27,340but maybe you’re looking31200:14:27,340 –> 00:14:29,440at the mountains in front of you31300:14:30,280 –> 00:14:32,059and you see how steep the road is31400:14:32,059 –> 00:14:32,840and you look at31500:14:32,840 –> 00:14:34,239all that you’ve got to handle31600:14:34,239 –> 00:14:36,020in your life in the next 12 months31700:14:36,020 –> 00:14:37,559as God opens them up to you31800:14:37,559 –> 00:14:38,539and you say to yourself31900:14:38,539 –> 00:14:40,280I don’t know if I can make it.32000:14:41,219 –> 00:14:43,020I lift my eyes to the hills,32100:14:43,020 –> 00:14:44,919Where does my help come from?32200:14:46,340 –> 00:14:48,380Well thank God for the answer.32300:14:49,460 –> 00:14:52,799My help comes from the Lord,32400:14:53,840 –> 00:14:56,260the maker of heaven and earth.32500:14:58,159 –> 00:14:59,080By the way,32600:15:00,440 –> 00:15:05,440can you imagine Christ praying these Psalms?32700:15:07,880 –> 00:15:09,359See the gospels tell us32800:15:09,440 –> 00:15:10,780about the ministry of Jesus,32900:15:10,780 –> 00:15:12,799his teaching, his parables, his miracles33000:15:12,799 –> 00:15:16,219and then they tell us that he33100:15:16,219 –> 00:15:18,520set his face to go where?33200:15:18,520 –> 00:15:20,880To Jerusalem.33300:15:22,200 –> 00:15:24,520In fact, half of the gospel in Mark and Luke33400:15:24,520 –> 00:15:27,059is telling us about his journey to Jerusalem,33500:15:27,059 –> 00:15:29,500his journey of ascent.33600:15:31,940 –> 00:15:33,979Jesus took this journey.33700:15:34,859 –> 00:15:39,900Jesus went from Galilee down to Jericho33800:15:39,900 –> 00:15:42,020and from the plains of Jericho33900:15:42,020 –> 00:15:46,559began the climb up to Jerusalem.34000:15:47,960 –> 00:15:49,780He didn’t come like people had come34100:15:49,780 –> 00:15:52,780for thousands of years, hundreds of years34200:15:52,780 –> 00:15:54,760to offer a sacrifice.34300:15:54,760 –> 00:15:58,239He came to be the sacrifice.34400:16:00,239 –> 00:16:03,099Can you imagine him coming to the plains of Jericho34500:16:03,739 –> 00:16:05,940where we’re told he healed a blind man?34600:16:09,659 –> 00:16:12,919And then, looking up to these hills and saying,34700:16:12,919 –> 00:16:15,179I lift my eyes to the hills34800:16:15,179 –> 00:16:20,059and knowing all that lay ahead of Him in Jerusalem saying,34900:16:21,119 –> 00:16:23,539where does my help come from?35000:16:26,580 –> 00:16:29,280For Him to be able to affirm my help35100:16:29,280 –> 00:16:32,559comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven.35200:16:33,719 –> 00:16:34,799And of earth.35300:16:36,580 –> 00:16:38,479If Jesus could pray like that35400:16:38,479 –> 00:16:42,059knowing what was ahead of Him, so can you.35500:16:46,340 –> 00:16:48,520And you see the great affirmation35600:16:48,520 –> 00:16:50,739that comes in these last moments,35700:16:50,739 –> 00:16:52,880five times at the end of this psalm35800:16:52,880 –> 00:16:54,919we’re told that the Lord watches us.35900:16:54,919 –> 00:16:56,659His most wonderful, wonderful Word36000:16:56,659 –> 00:17:00,280as we launch out into this new year.36100:17:00,359 –> 00:17:01,200Verse 3.36200:17:07,339 –> 00:17:08,339I love that.36300:17:09,579 –> 00:17:12,680It means that God will never tire of you.36400:17:12,680 –> 00:17:16,300You know how it is when someone talks too much36500:17:16,300 –> 00:17:18,660and eventually your eyes glaze over36600:17:18,660 –> 00:17:21,180and you begin to nod off?36700:17:21,180 –> 00:17:23,219You ever done that?36800:17:23,219 –> 00:17:24,040And then that person says36900:17:24,040 –> 00:17:27,020you’re not really listening to me, right.37000:17:27,020 –> 00:17:29,660That’s slumbering, isn’t it?37100:17:29,699 –> 00:17:30,939I’ve had enough.37200:17:30,939 –> 00:17:32,520Can’t take anymore.37300:17:33,719 –> 00:17:35,380God never slumbers.37400:17:36,239 –> 00:17:37,459He never tires of you.37500:17:37,459 –> 00:17:41,839He never says, oh not her with that problem again.37600:17:41,839 –> 00:17:44,079His eyes never glazed over.37700:17:45,439 –> 00:17:48,900He who watches over you never tires of you,37800:17:48,900 –> 00:17:50,619never comes to the point of saying37900:17:50,619 –> 00:17:53,000I’ve had enough of him.38000:17:53,000 –> 00:17:55,140I’m going to watch over a better Christian.38100:17:55,140 –> 00:17:57,099He never says that.38200:17:57,199 –> 00:18:01,239He who watches over you never slumbers.38300:18:01,239 –> 00:18:04,420Indeed verse four, he who watches over Israel38400:18:04,420 –> 00:18:06,920will neither slumber nor sleep.38500:18:08,199 –> 00:18:10,699He’s never off duty.38600:18:10,699 –> 00:18:12,380Never takes a break.38700:18:13,439 –> 00:18:16,060You never need to waken him up.38800:18:16,060 –> 00:18:17,979He never stops working.38900:18:19,180 –> 00:18:21,560Remember Elijah and the contest with the prophets39000:18:21,560 –> 00:18:23,660of Baal and they’re trying to cut themselves39100:18:23,660 –> 00:18:25,560and do all these kinds of great things39200:18:25,560 –> 00:18:26,979from their God up.39300:18:30,420 –> 00:18:32,800Do you know there are times when you and I wonder39400:18:32,800 –> 00:18:36,060what in all the world God is doing?39500:18:36,060 –> 00:18:38,339But whatever the mysteries that are going on in your life39600:18:38,339 –> 00:18:40,119you can be certain of this.39700:18:40,119 –> 00:18:41,359God is at work.39800:18:43,900 –> 00:18:45,239He never sleeps.39900:18:47,239 –> 00:18:49,800My Father is working.40000:18:49,800 –> 00:18:52,319He’s working still, said Jesus.40100:18:53,300 –> 00:18:57,459And he works through the hardest day of your life.40200:18:58,359 –> 00:19:00,000The Lord watches over you.40300:19:00,000 –> 00:19:03,920Verse five, he is your shade at your right hand.40400:19:06,599 –> 00:19:10,599Think of that picture of the sun blazing in midday.40500:19:10,599 –> 00:19:13,900Some of us are feeling the pressures of life40600:19:13,900 –> 00:19:15,160in the daytime.40700:19:16,060 –> 00:19:18,400Everything you’ve got to do.40800:19:19,660 –> 00:19:21,540And the Lord’s going to watch over you40900:19:21,619 –> 00:19:23,439and he’s gonna help you as you move through41000:19:23,439 –> 00:19:26,439that day by day in this coming year.41100:19:27,780 –> 00:19:29,719And then there’s this bit about the moon by night.41200:19:29,719 –> 00:19:31,439Some of us struggle much more at night41300:19:31,439 –> 00:19:32,599than we do during the day41400:19:32,599 –> 00:19:34,560cause that’s the time when the fears41500:19:34,560 –> 00:19:36,680and the worries begin to multiply41600:19:36,680 –> 00:19:38,260and take hold of us.41700:19:38,260 –> 00:19:41,280And he’s gonna be your shade in all the anxieties41800:19:41,280 –> 00:19:44,359and worries and dangers of the night.41900:19:45,300 –> 00:19:49,800In fact, verse seven, the Lord will watch over your life.42000:19:50,800 –> 00:19:52,839The ultimate outcome of everything42100:19:52,839 –> 00:19:55,300that concerns you is in his hand.42200:19:55,300 –> 00:19:58,880Think of what this meant for Jesus to pray this42300:19:58,880 –> 00:20:00,239as he went up to Jerusalem.42400:20:00,239 –> 00:20:01,579By the way, it’s very important to do that42500:20:01,579 –> 00:20:03,520so that we understand what it really means42600:20:03,520 –> 00:20:05,800when it says he’ll keep you from all harm42700:20:05,800 –> 00:20:07,880and watch over your life.42800:20:09,839 –> 00:20:13,260See, Jesus experienced excruciating pain.42900:20:16,099 –> 00:20:18,920He entered the depths of darkness.43000:20:20,420 –> 00:20:23,180He was crucified, dead, and buried.43100:20:23,180 –> 00:20:25,680You can’t get worse than that,43200:20:27,439 –> 00:20:30,199but on the third day, God raised him from the dead,43300:20:30,199 –> 00:20:34,359and today, he is seated at the right hand of the father.43400:20:37,040 –> 00:20:38,500And you see, that’s why the apostle Paul,43500:20:38,500 –> 00:20:40,260who suffered so much,43600:20:42,420 –> 00:20:46,579was able to say who can separate us from the love of Christ?43700:20:47,520 –> 00:20:51,439If God be for us, who can be against us?43800:20:51,439 –> 00:20:55,219Even if we’re going to face death itself all day long,43900:20:55,219 –> 00:20:58,300nothing can separate me from the love of God44000:20:58,300 –> 00:21:01,140that is in Christ Jesus, my Lord.44100:21:02,739 –> 00:21:04,739He watches over my life.44200:21:06,119 –> 00:21:06,959Not just that,44300:21:06,959 –> 00:21:09,920the Lord will watch over your coming and your going,44400:21:09,920 –> 00:21:12,000both now and forevermore.44500:21:13,920 –> 00:21:15,000I love that,44600:21:15,739 –> 00:21:17,060because it reminds me44700:21:17,060 –> 00:21:18,680that God is not just interested44800:21:18,680 –> 00:21:20,260in the great things of my life,44900:21:20,260 –> 00:21:23,599you know, my death and my eternity,45000:21:23,599 –> 00:21:25,660but he’s interested in the most ordinary activity,45100:21:25,660 –> 00:21:27,560my coming and my going.45200:21:28,619 –> 00:21:30,780My help is from the Lord.45300:21:32,119 –> 00:21:34,280And notice that the psalmist ends by saying45400:21:34,280 –> 00:21:37,119that these things are true both now45500:21:38,420 –> 00:21:39,500and evermore.45600:21:40,459 –> 00:21:43,380Take your pick as to which you think45700:21:43,380 –> 00:21:47,060is the most encouraging of these two things.45800:21:49,060 –> 00:21:51,560The Lord watches over you now.45900:21:54,079 –> 00:21:55,900That’s good, isn’t it.46000:21:56,819 –> 00:21:59,979The Lord watches over you forevermore.46100:22:03,199 –> 00:22:04,640Pick out pick.46200:22:04,640 –> 00:22:06,119They’re both true.46300:22:07,219 –> 00:22:08,699So what about you?46400:22:09,140 –> 00:22:13,400Are you ready to move from delaying to deciding?46500:22:13,400 –> 00:22:15,219Are you discontented with where you are46600:22:15,219 –> 00:22:17,000at the present time?46700:22:17,000 –> 00:22:18,900Are you ready to follow Jesus and trust him46800:22:18,900 –> 00:22:21,459with everything in your life?46900:22:21,459 –> 00:22:23,800As we do that, our confidence grows47000:22:23,800 –> 00:22:25,959and we’ll continue to see how that works47100:22:25,959 –> 00:22:29,060in our series Moving in the Right Direction.47200:22:29,060 –> 00:22:30,819So I’ll hope you’ll stay with this series47300:22:30,819 –> 00:22:32,739on Open the Bible.47400:22:32,739 –> 00:22:34,540Don’t forget if you ever miss one of the series47500:22:34,540 –> 00:22:36,819you can easily catch up or go back and listen again47600:22:37,180 –> 00:22:38,439online at our website47700:22:38,439 –> 00:22:42,500openthebible.org.uk47800:22:42,500 –> 00:22:45,900Also on our website you can find Open the Bible Daily.47900:22:45,900 –> 00:22:49,239That’s a series of short 2-3 minute daily reflections48000:22:49,239 –> 00:22:51,300based on Pastor Colin’s teaching48100:22:51,300 –> 00:22:54,300and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish.48200:22:54,300 –> 00:22:55,500There’s a new one every day48300:22:55,500 –> 00:22:57,459and many Christians find it’s a brilliant way48400:22:57,459 –> 00:22:59,579to start the day.48500:22:59,579 –> 00:23:01,099Fly Through the Bible is available48600:23:01,099 –> 00:23:02,979in a number of different formats48700:23:02,979 –> 00:23:05,339and in the coming days we’ll bring news48800:23:05,339 –> 00:23:06,579of some exciting ways48900:23:07,199 –> 00:23:08,699that you can use this material.49000:23:09,520 –> 00:23:12,060Colin Smith’s original book Fly Through the Bible49100:23:12,060 –> 00:23:13,780is our gift to you this month49200:23:13,780 –> 00:23:16,380if you’re able to begin a new direct debit49300:23:16,380 –> 00:23:18,020to the work of Open the Bible49400:23:18,020 –> 00:23:21,140in the amount of £5 per month or more,49500:23:21,140 –> 00:23:24,300or a one-off gift of £50 or more.49600:23:24,300 –> 00:23:25,459If you’re able to do that49700:23:25,459 –> 00:23:27,660we’d love to send you a copy of the book.49800:23:27,660 –> 00:23:30,640Colin, why did you use the flying metaphor49900:23:30,640 –> 00:23:32,099to describe this book?50000:23:32,099 –> 00:23:33,979Well, suppose you were making a visit50100:23:33,979 –> 00:23:35,380to the Grand Canyon50200:23:35,420 –> 00:23:37,219and exploring it for the first time.50300:23:37,219 –> 00:23:39,219I mean, I guess you could hike down50400:23:39,219 –> 00:23:41,699and you’d get a sense of the depth of the canyon.50500:23:41,699 –> 00:23:43,099You could drive around the rim.50600:23:43,099 –> 00:23:45,859You’d get a sense of the length of it,50700:23:45,859 –> 00:23:49,300but perhaps the best way to get an overall sense50800:23:49,300 –> 00:23:52,000of the vastness and beauty of the Grand Canyon50900:23:52,000 –> 00:23:54,260would be to take a flight over it.51000:23:54,260 –> 00:23:56,739Now, when it comes to the Bible,51100:23:56,739 –> 00:23:59,719to get a high-altitude overview51200:23:59,719 –> 00:24:02,119of what the Bible’s story is all about51300:24:02,119 –> 00:24:05,099seems, to me, to be the best place to begin.51400:24:05,119 –> 00:24:06,839The Bible really is one story.51500:24:06,839 –> 00:24:08,859It begins in a garden, it ends in a city,51600:24:08,859 –> 00:24:12,060and all the way through it’s about the Lord Jesus Christ.51700:24:12,060 –> 00:24:13,239And flying through the Bible51800:24:13,239 –> 00:24:15,020is kind of cookies on the bottom shelf,51900:24:15,020 –> 00:24:17,020to change the analogy.52000:24:17,020 –> 00:24:19,300It gives an overall picture,52100:24:19,300 –> 00:24:21,239an introduction to the Scripture52200:24:21,239 –> 00:24:23,979that I hope will help and encourage people52300:24:23,979 –> 00:24:27,300to want to explore more when they get on the ground.52400:24:27,300 –> 00:24:29,920Well, we’d love to send you a copy of Colin’s book,52500:24:29,920 –> 00:24:31,140Fly Through The Bible,52600:24:31,140 –> 00:24:34,560to say thank you for setting up a new direct debit52700:24:34,560 –> 00:24:36,219to the work of Open the Bible,52800:24:36,219 –> 00:24:38,760in the amount of £5 per month or more,52900:24:38,760 –> 00:24:42,760or a one off gift of £50 or more this month.53000:24:42,760 –> 00:24:45,680Full terms and conditions are on our website53100:24:45,680 –> 00:24:49,000at openthebible.org.uk53200:24:49,000 –> 00:24:51,560and you can give online.53300:24:51,560 –> 00:24:52,579For Open The Bible53400:24:52,579 –> 00:24:55,079and Pastor Colin Smith I am David Pick,53500:24:55,079 –> 00:24:56,280and I hope you’ll join us again53600:24:56,280 –> 00:24:58,640next time on Open The Bible.53700:24:59,000 –> 00:25:02,959What do you see when you look around you?53800:25:02,959 –> 00:25:06,439Trouble, hardship, pain and toil?53900:25:06,439 –> 00:25:08,359It’s everywhere, and you can’t help54000:25:08,359 –> 00:25:11,359but wonder, where is God in all of this?54100:25:11,359 –> 00:25:13,319Find out what the Bible says54200:25:13,319 –> 00:25:16,199next time on Open The Bible.