100:00:31,000 –> 00:00:36,900î200:00:36,900 –> 00:00:39,040We walk by faith and not by sight300:00:39,680 –> 00:00:41,000â the question is which is more.î400:00:41,240 –> 00:00:44,360Now there’s obviously a sense in which, when we’re in the presence of God500:00:44,480 –> 00:00:48,680we’re no longer walking by faith because all things are made plain to us.600:00:48,799 –> 00:00:50,759So there is a sense in which sight is more700:00:50,880 –> 00:00:55,680but there’s also a profound sense in this life in which faith is more.800:00:55,799 –> 00:00:59,040See if I just go through life on the basis of sight900:00:59,040 –> 00:01:00,799just on what I see in this world1000:01:00,919 –> 00:01:02,619then I’m going to be the kind of person who says1100:01:02,740 –> 00:01:06,320well you know the politics are disconcerting, the violence is frightening1200:01:06,440 –> 00:01:09,620I’m looking at what I see and it’s all putting me into a panic.1300:01:09,760 –> 00:01:12,400We don’t walk by sight, we walk by faith1400:01:12,519 –> 00:01:14,959and faith sees further than sight1500:01:15,080 –> 00:01:17,720because faith lays hold of a Sovereign God1600:01:17,860 –> 00:01:21,320who works out His purposes even in a troubled world like this.1700:01:21,440 –> 00:01:22,800So that’s why we need faith1800:01:22,940 –> 00:01:25,860it takes us further, it goes where sight cannot go.1900:01:26,180 –> 00:01:29,480That’s a great phrase faith sees further than sight2000:01:29,860 –> 00:01:31,320it’s an important reminder for us2100:01:31,440 –> 00:01:34,639when we think about what the psalmist says in Psalm 1222200:01:34,760 –> 00:01:36,239and that’s where we are today2300:01:36,379 –> 00:01:37,820so I hope you’ll join us if you can2400:01:38,180 –> 00:01:40,980as we begin the message from Seeing to Believing2500:01:41,300 –> 00:01:41,919here’s Colin.2600:01:42,279 –> 00:01:46,279We are continuing our series today entitled Moving in the Right Direction2700:01:46,680 –> 00:01:50,080from the Psalms that are called Songs of Ascent2800:01:50,199 –> 00:01:53,080these are Psalms that were sung in the Old Testament2900:01:53,500 –> 00:01:55,720by believers who were making their way up to3000:01:55,839 –> 00:01:58,760Jerusalem for the great festival of worship3100:01:58,879 –> 00:02:02,019that were held in the temple in those days3200:02:02,459 –> 00:02:03,419and we saw last week3300:02:03,540 –> 00:02:05,440if you were here, you may recall3400:02:05,559 –> 00:02:08,339that Jerusalem is of great significance3500:02:08,619 –> 00:02:10,919in the Old Testament story3600:02:11,559 –> 00:02:12,820this was the place3700:02:13,080 –> 00:02:15,320where time and again we’re told in the Old Testament3800:02:15,440 –> 00:02:18,259God put his name3900:02:18,759 –> 00:02:20,080it’s a very unusual phrase4000:02:20,520 –> 00:02:23,160you find it for example in one king’s chapter 114100:02:23,279 –> 00:02:24,619and verse 364200:02:24,759 –> 00:02:31,639God describes Jerusalem as the city where I chose to put my name4300:02:32,000 –> 00:02:36,100This was the place where people could go and meet with God4400:02:36,139 –> 00:02:40,779this was why Solomon built a great temple in Jerusalem and when it was4500:02:41,059 –> 00:02:45,839Dedicated he prayed with these words from second chronicles chapter six and verse 204600:02:46,160 –> 00:02:53,960May your eyes be open towards this temple day and night this place of which you said you would put your name there4700:02:54,380 –> 00:02:58,600May you hear the prayer of yours that your servant praise towards this place?4800:02:59,039 –> 00:03:05,059Very interesting that Solomon even prayed that if a person couldn’t go to the temple in Jerusalem4900:03:05,740 –> 00:03:11,740That God would hear their prayer as they turned and prayed facing towards Jerusalem5000:03:11,740 –> 00:03:17,320This is how it was in the Old Testament you find this in second Chronicles 6 and verse 205100:03:17,619 –> 00:03:22,440This was the place that God had promised to meet with people on the earth5200:03:22,440 –> 00:03:25,979It was very specific, and you find it time and again throughout the Old Testament5300:03:26,759 –> 00:03:32,479Now this is significant for us because as we saw last time God was setting the agenda5400:03:33,320 –> 00:03:36,380God is the one who determines where he will meet with us5500:03:36,699 –> 00:03:39,179It’s not for us to determine where we will meet with God5600:03:39,199 –> 00:03:43,279It is for God to decide where he will meet with us and the whole of the Old Testament5700:03:43,320 –> 00:03:47,279The Old Testament is teaching us that God has that right, that prerogative5800:03:47,300 –> 00:03:50,860and it leads us to the central truth in the New Testament5900:03:51,380 –> 00:03:54,820that the place God has chosen to meet with men and women is6000:03:57,059 –> 00:03:58,259In Jesus Christ6100:03:58,259 –> 00:04:00,100It is not a location6200:04:00,100 –> 00:04:07,000Geographically it is a person but God has chosen to meet us in Christ in whom all of his fullness6300:04:07,619 –> 00:04:08,699lives6400:04:08,699 –> 00:04:10,699Jesus is God with us6500:04:11,339 –> 00:04:13,339so i hope that you got the picture6600:04:13,339 –> 00:04:14,580as we move through the series6700:04:14,580 –> 00:04:16,579moving on the right direction6800:04:16,579 –> 00:04:18,579these songs of ascent6900:04:18,579 –> 00:04:20,579were the songs the people sang7000:04:20,579 –> 00:04:22,339they were going to a place in which7100:04:22,339 –> 00:04:24,880they particularly met with God in the Old Testament7200:04:24,880 –> 00:04:26,380and that physical journey7300:04:26,380 –> 00:04:27,959in these songs sung by the way7400:04:27,959 –> 00:04:29,880are really a picture or an analogy7500:04:29,880 –> 00:04:31,880of the Christian life7600:04:31,880 –> 00:04:33,880our journey with Jesus7700:04:33,880 –> 00:04:35,880and our journey to Jesus7800:04:35,880 –> 00:04:37,880the meeting place7900:04:37,880 –> 00:04:39,880between a man or a woman and God8000:04:40,579 –> 00:04:41,859and we saw last time8100:04:41,859 –> 00:04:43,859how the journey begins8200:04:43,859 –> 00:04:45,859how someone came to the point8300:04:45,859 –> 00:04:47,859of saying I’ve lived8400:04:47,859 –> 00:04:49,859at a distance from God8500:04:49,859 –> 00:04:51,859from a distance from God8600:04:51,859 –> 00:04:53,859for just too long8700:04:54,579 –> 00:04:56,579and begins the journey8800:04:56,579 –> 00:04:58,579finds the help of God8900:04:59,220 –> 00:05:00,019I lift my eyes to the hills9000:05:00,019 –> 00:05:01,079where does my help come from9100:05:01,079 –> 00:05:03,079my help comes from9200:05:03,079 –> 00:05:05,079from the Lord9300:05:05,079 –> 00:05:07,079I’d like you to turn in your Bibles9400:05:07,079 –> 00:05:09,079please to Psalm 1229500:05:09,299 –> 00:05:11,299as we continue this journey9600:05:11,299 –> 00:05:13,299Psalm 1229700:05:13,399 –> 00:05:15,399and let us hear the word of God9800:05:16,579 –> 00:05:18,579notice that this one is again entitled9900:05:18,579 –> 00:05:20,579A Song Of A Sense10000:05:20,579 –> 00:05:22,579but this time we are told its written by10100:05:22,579 –> 00:05:24,579David, King David10200:05:26,579 –> 00:05:28,579I rejoiced with those who said to me10300:05:30,579 –> 00:05:32,579let us go to the house of the Lord10400:05:34,579 –> 00:05:36,579our feet are standing in your gates10500:05:36,579 –> 00:05:38,579oh Jerusalem10600:05:38,579 –> 00:05:40,579Jerusalem is built like a city10700:05:40,579 –> 00:05:42,579that is closely compacted together10800:05:44,579 –> 00:05:46,579that is where the tribes go up10900:05:46,579 –> 00:05:48,579the tribes of the Lord11000:05:48,579 –> 00:05:50,579to praise the name of the Lord11100:05:50,579 –> 00:05:52,579according to the statute11200:05:52,579 –> 00:05:54,579given to Israel11300:05:54,579 –> 00:05:56,579There the thrones11400:05:56,579 –> 00:05:58,579for judgment stand11500:05:58,579 –> 00:06:00,579the thrones of the house of David11600:06:00,579 –> 00:06:02,579prayer for11700:06:02,579 –> 00:06:04,579the peace of11800:06:04,579 –> 00:06:06,579Jerusalem11900:06:06,579 –> 00:06:08,579May those who love you be secure12000:06:08,579 –> 00:06:10,579may there be peace12100:06:10,579 –> 00:06:12,579within your walls12200:06:12,579 –> 00:06:14,579and security within your citadels12300:06:14,579 –> 00:06:16,579For the sake12400:06:16,579 –> 00:06:18,579of my brothers and friends I will say12500:06:18,579 –> 00:06:20,579peace be within you12600:06:20,579 –> 00:06:22,579for the sake of the house12700:06:22,579 –> 00:06:24,579of the Lord our God12800:06:24,579 –> 00:06:26,579I will seek your12900:06:26,579 –> 00:06:28,579prosperity13000:06:28,579 –> 00:06:30,579Now were told here13100:06:30,579 –> 00:06:32,579that this Psalm was written by13200:06:32,579 –> 00:06:34,579King David13300:06:34,579 –> 00:06:36,579and that raises a number of questions13400:06:36,579 –> 00:06:38,579because right at the beginning you’ll see there13500:06:38,579 –> 00:06:40,579it says let us go to the13600:06:40,579 –> 00:06:42,579house of the Lord13700:06:42,579 –> 00:06:44,579Now the house of the Lord is obviously13800:06:44,579 –> 00:06:46,579temple language13900:06:46,579 –> 00:06:48,579and the question that arises is14000:06:48,579 –> 00:06:50,579obviously there was no temple in Jerusalem at the time14100:06:50,579 –> 00:06:52,579of David, that wasn’t build till14200:06:52,579 –> 00:06:54,579Solomon’s time, and so14300:06:54,579 –> 00:06:56,579that has led a number of modern scholars14400:06:56,579 –> 00:06:58,579to say obviously14500:06:58,579 –> 00:07:00,579therefore David could not have written14600:07:00,579 –> 00:07:02,579the psalm and it must belong14700:07:02,579 –> 00:07:04,579to a later period14800:07:04,579 –> 00:07:06,579Now I’m going to make the14900:07:06,579 –> 00:07:08,579assumption that15000:07:08,579 –> 00:07:10,579if the original Hebrew15100:07:10,579 –> 00:07:12,579text says it’s a psalm15200:07:12,579 –> 00:07:14,579of David which it does15300:07:14,579 –> 00:07:16,579so that means that it was a psalm15400:07:16,579 –> 00:07:18,579written by David15500:07:18,579 –> 00:07:20,579and remember that15600:07:20,579 –> 00:07:22,579David was a prophet15700:07:22,579 –> 00:07:24,579that means that15800:07:24,579 –> 00:07:26,579by the spirit of God, he was at15900:07:26,579 –> 00:07:28,579times able to anticipate16000:07:28,579 –> 00:07:30,579the future as it was revealed to16100:07:30,579 –> 00:07:32,579by God. And it seems16200:07:32,579 –> 00:07:34,579to me therefore that the right way to understand16300:07:34,579 –> 00:07:36,579Psalm 12216400:07:36,579 –> 00:07:38,579is that David is speaking16500:07:38,579 –> 00:07:40,579prophetically, he is being16600:07:40,579 –> 00:07:42,579borne along by the holy spirit of God16700:07:42,579 –> 00:07:44,579and being given a glimpse16800:07:44,579 –> 00:07:46,579of what the City of God16900:07:46,579 –> 00:07:48,579will experience in the future17000:07:48,579 –> 00:07:50,579Charles Spurgeon17100:07:50,579 –> 00:07:52,579says possibly the city17200:07:52,579 –> 00:07:54,579was not all built in17300:07:54,579 –> 00:07:56,579David’s day but he17400:07:56,579 –> 00:07:58,579wrote under the spirit of prophecy17500:07:58,579 –> 00:08:00,579and spoke of it17600:08:00,579 –> 00:08:02,579as it would be in the age of17700:08:02,579 –> 00:08:04,579Solomon. Now take a moment just to17800:08:04,579 –> 00:08:06,579say that to you because its very17900:08:06,579 –> 00:08:08,579important to how we interpret18000:08:08,579 –> 00:08:10,579this Psalm18100:08:10,579 –> 00:08:12,579We’re looking at it in this way18200:08:12,579 –> 00:08:14,579that this is David’s18300:08:14,579 –> 00:08:16,579prophetic vision18400:08:16,579 –> 00:08:18,579of the future of Jerusalem18500:08:18,579 –> 00:08:20,579the great city18600:08:20,579 –> 00:08:22,579of God. And so as18700:08:22,579 –> 00:08:24,579moved by the holy spirit he18800:08:24,579 –> 00:08:26,579prophesies about its future18900:08:26,579 –> 00:08:28,579with these 2 things19000:08:28,579 –> 00:08:30,579The first is that this city will be19100:08:30,579 –> 00:08:32,580uniquely blessed. And you find19200:08:32,580 –> 00:08:34,580that in verses 1-519300:08:34,580 –> 00:08:36,580He sees that in the future crowds of people19400:08:36,580 –> 00:08:38,580will come up into this city19500:08:38,580 –> 00:08:40,580that they will come with joy. They will19600:08:40,580 –> 00:08:42,580say, let us go to the house of19700:08:42,580 –> 00:08:44,580the Lord. There will be fellowship19800:08:44,580 –> 00:08:46,580in this city. Verse 319900:08:46,580 –> 00:08:48,580the city is closely compacted20000:08:48,580 –> 00:08:50,580together20100:08:50,580 –> 00:08:52,580it will be filled with praise20200:08:52,580 –> 00:08:54,580verse 4. This is where the tribes20300:08:54,580 –> 00:08:56,580will gather to praise the name of the Lord20400:08:56,580 –> 00:08:58,580and it will be a city where there is justice20500:08:58,580 –> 00:09:00,580This is where the thrones of20600:09:00,580 –> 00:09:02,580David stand. Verse 520700:09:02,580 –> 00:09:04,580In fact, not just the thrones of David20800:09:04,580 –> 00:09:06,580but the thrones of the house of David20900:09:06,580 –> 00:09:08,580You see, he’s prophesying21000:09:08,580 –> 00:09:10,580the future line21100:09:10,580 –> 00:09:12,580So David looks to the future21200:09:12,580 –> 00:09:14,580of this city that he has21300:09:14,580 –> 00:09:16,580established as his capital21400:09:16,580 –> 00:09:18,580and he sees that it will be full21500:09:18,580 –> 00:09:20,580of the blessing of God21600:09:20,580 –> 00:09:22,580This is where God has put His name21700:09:22,580 –> 00:09:24,580This is where His people will come21800:09:24,580 –> 00:09:26,580This is where they will be uniquely21900:09:26,580 –> 00:09:28,580blessed. They will find joy22000:09:28,580 –> 00:09:30,580and they will find worship22100:09:30,580 –> 00:09:32,580But that’s not all22200:09:32,580 –> 00:09:34,580Not only does22300:09:34,580 –> 00:09:36,580David see that this city will be22400:09:36,580 –> 00:09:38,580uniquely blessed22500:09:38,580 –> 00:09:40,580but he also22600:09:40,580 –> 00:09:42,580sees that this city will be uniquely22700:09:42,580 –> 00:09:44,580troubled22800:09:44,580 –> 00:09:46,580Verse 622900:09:46,580 –> 00:09:48,580pray for the peace23000:09:48,580 –> 00:09:50,580of Jerusalem23100:09:50,580 –> 00:09:52,580Now why would he say that?23200:09:52,580 –> 00:09:54,580Obviously because23300:09:54,580 –> 00:09:56,580he sees that in the23400:09:56,580 –> 00:09:58,580future, this great city23500:09:58,580 –> 00:10:00,580will be uniquely troubled23600:10:00,580 –> 00:10:02,580The city will be under attack23700:10:02,580 –> 00:10:04,580Not only the city23800:10:04,580 –> 00:10:06,580but everyone who loves the city23900:10:06,580 –> 00:10:08,580will be under attack24000:10:08,580 –> 00:10:10,580And so he says we’re to pray24100:10:10,580 –> 00:10:12,580may those, verse 6, who24200:10:12,580 –> 00:10:14,580love you, anyone24300:10:14,580 –> 00:10:16,580who loves you, may they be24400:10:16,580 –> 00:10:18,580secure. As he looks24500:10:18,580 –> 00:10:20,580to the future, looking through the psalm24600:10:20,580 –> 00:10:22,580David sees that Jerusalem will have to be24700:10:22,580 –> 00:10:24,580a fortified city24800:10:24,580 –> 00:10:26,580May there be peace within your walls24900:10:26,580 –> 00:10:28,580Verse 725000:10:28,580 –> 00:10:30,580Now the only reason you have walls round a city is25100:10:30,580 –> 00:10:32,580to keep the enemy out25200:10:32,580 –> 00:10:34,580And so he’s seeing already25300:10:34,580 –> 00:10:36,580that in the future Jerusalem is going to25400:10:36,580 –> 00:10:38,580be a city with many enemies25500:10:38,580 –> 00:10:40,580May there be security25600:10:40,580 –> 00:10:42,580Verse 7, within your citadel25700:10:42,580 –> 00:10:44,580or your towers25800:10:44,580 –> 00:10:46,580So a city that not25900:10:46,580 –> 00:10:48,580only has walls, but it has26000:10:48,580 –> 00:10:50,580TOWERS26100:10:50,580 –> 00:10:52,580this is obviously a city that needs26200:10:52,580 –> 00:10:54,580serious defending26300:10:54,580 –> 00:10:56,580Now, David26400:10:56,580 –> 00:10:58,580wrote these words 300026500:10:58,580 –> 00:11:00,580years ago26600:11:00,580 –> 00:11:02,580But he spoke prophetically26700:11:02,580 –> 00:11:04,580of the future of this great city of26800:11:04,580 –> 00:11:06,580Jerusalem26900:11:06,580 –> 00:11:08,580And he says this is what its going to be like27000:11:08,580 –> 00:11:10,580This will be a city27100:11:10,580 –> 00:11:12,580uniquely blessed, the place of27200:11:12,580 –> 00:11:14,580God’s presence27300:11:14,580 –> 00:11:16,580it will also be a city uniquely27400:11:16,580 –> 00:11:18,580troubling27500:11:18,580 –> 00:11:20,580You are listening to Pastor Colin Smith on Open27600:11:20,580 –> 00:11:22,580The Bible and A Message Called From27700:11:22,580 –> 00:11:24,580Seeing To Believing, Part Of Our27800:11:24,580 –> 00:11:26,580Series, Moving27900:11:26,580 –> 00:11:28,580In The Right Direction, All About28000:11:28,580 –> 00:11:30,580The Psalms Of Ascension From Psalm28100:11:30,580 –> 00:11:32,580120 To 13428200:11:32,580 –> 00:11:34,580If you ever miss one of our28300:11:34,580 –> 00:11:36,580series don’t forget you can always catch up28400:11:36,580 –> 00:11:38,580or go back and listen again online28500:11:38,580 –> 00:11:40,580at our website28600:11:40,580 –> 00:11:42,580OpenTheBible.org.uk28700:11:42,580 –> 00:11:44,580Open The Bible is supported28800:11:44,580 –> 00:11:46,580by our listeners and if you already28900:11:46,580 –> 00:11:48,580give to support the work we want29000:11:48,580 –> 00:11:50,580to thank you so much. If you are29100:11:50,580 –> 00:11:52,580considering doing that in the future29200:11:52,580 –> 00:11:54,580this month if you are able to set up a new29300:11:54,580 –> 00:11:56,580direct debit to the work of Open The Bible29400:11:56,580 –> 00:11:58,580in the amount of £5 per29500:11:58,580 –> 00:12:00,580month or more or a one off gift29600:12:00,580 –> 00:12:02,580of £50 or more we’d love29700:12:02,580 –> 00:12:04,580to thank you by sending you a copy29800:12:04,580 –> 00:12:06,580of Pastor Colin’s book29900:12:06,580 –> 00:12:08,580Fly Through The Bible. The book is a30000:12:08,580 –> 00:12:10,580high levels view of the whole of the Bible30100:12:10,580 –> 00:12:12,580and it’s great for Bible30200:12:12,580 –> 00:12:14,580study for individuals and30300:12:14,580 –> 00:12:16,580one to one with an interested friend30400:12:16,580 –> 00:12:18,580or a small Bible study group30500:12:18,580 –> 00:12:20,580Full details of Fly Through The Bible30600:12:20,580 –> 00:12:22,580are on our website30700:12:22,580 –> 00:12:24,580openthebible.org.uk30800:12:24,580 –> 00:12:26,580You’ll find information30900:12:26,580 –> 00:12:28,580about the videos and the bible31000:12:28,580 –> 00:12:30,580study materials for groups31100:12:30,580 –> 00:12:32,580and individuals. Back to the31200:12:32,580 –> 00:12:34,580message now, we’re in Psalm 12231300:12:34,580 –> 00:12:36,580Here again is Colin31400:12:36,580 –> 00:12:38,580Now31500:12:38,580 –> 00:12:40,580I want you to imagine for a moment31600:12:40,580 –> 00:12:42,580that you are asked31700:12:42,580 –> 00:12:44,580to paint a picture31800:12:44,580 –> 00:12:46,580and under the31900:12:46,580 –> 00:12:48,580picture there will be the title32000:12:48,580 –> 00:12:50,580In the Presence32100:12:50,580 –> 00:12:52,580of God32200:12:52,580 –> 00:12:54,580What would you draw?32300:12:54,580 –> 00:12:56,580Think about it32400:12:56,580 –> 00:12:58,580I imagine32500:12:58,580 –> 00:13:00,580that some of us would draw32600:13:00,580 –> 00:13:02,580a beautiful sky and a meadow32700:13:02,580 –> 00:13:04,580and a river and32800:13:04,580 –> 00:13:06,580someone having a picnic32900:13:06,580 –> 00:13:08,580Because that picture of tranquility33000:13:08,580 –> 00:13:10,580is what we think of33100:13:10,580 –> 00:13:12,580When we conceive of33200:13:12,580 –> 00:13:14,580being in the presence of God33300:13:16,580 –> 00:13:18,580Others of us might33400:13:18,580 –> 00:13:20,080draw this beautiful sanctuary33500:13:20,580 –> 00:13:22,580because we come here33600:13:22,580 –> 00:13:24,580every week and we have the sense of meeting33700:13:24,580 –> 00:13:26,580with God and it’s a central33800:13:26,580 –> 00:13:28,580point in our week and in our lives33900:13:28,580 –> 00:13:30,580and we meet34000:13:30,580 –> 00:13:32,580with God in a special way here34100:13:32,580 –> 00:13:34,580and in the presence of God34200:13:34,580 –> 00:13:36,580that’s what we think of34300:13:36,580 –> 00:13:38,580Others of us might34400:13:38,580 –> 00:13:40,580stretch the imagination and attempt34500:13:40,580 –> 00:13:42,580a picture of heaven, never seen heaven34600:13:42,580 –> 00:13:44,580but may draw some streets of gold34700:13:44,580 –> 00:13:46,580and a throne and some angels34800:13:48,580 –> 00:13:50,580being in the presence of God34900:13:54,580 –> 00:13:56,580Let me say this35000:13:56,580 –> 00:13:58,580I can almost guarantee that not one35100:13:58,580 –> 00:14:00,580of us in this congregation35200:14:00,580 –> 00:14:02,580would draw a city35300:14:02,580 –> 00:14:04,580under attack35400:14:04,580 –> 00:14:06,580you wouldn’t draw35500:14:06,580 –> 00:14:08,580shells and mortars35600:14:10,580 –> 00:14:12,580you wouldn’t draw a scene35700:14:12,580 –> 00:14:14,580from the aftermath of a tsunami35800:14:16,580 –> 00:14:18,580you wouldn’t draw a child35900:14:18,580 –> 00:14:20,580in hospital36000:14:20,580 –> 00:14:22,580recovering from appalling injuries36100:14:24,580 –> 00:14:26,580And why wouldn’t any of us draw that?36200:14:26,580 –> 00:14:28,580Because we can conceive36300:14:28,580 –> 00:14:30,580of the presence of God36400:14:30,580 –> 00:14:32,580in tranquility36500:14:32,580 –> 00:14:34,580we don’t conceive of the presence of God36600:14:34,580 –> 00:14:36,580in trouble36700:14:36,580 –> 00:14:38,580And the reason for that36800:14:38,580 –> 00:14:40,580is that we have understood the first half36900:14:40,580 –> 00:14:42,580of Psalm 12237000:14:42,580 –> 00:14:44,580and we have not so easily grasped37100:14:44,580 –> 00:14:46,580the second half37200:14:48,580 –> 00:14:50,580That is why this psalm is of37300:14:50,580 –> 00:14:52,580such enormous significance37400:14:52,580 –> 00:14:54,580and importance for us37500:14:56,580 –> 00:14:58,580We see that God is present37600:14:58,580 –> 00:15:00,580where there is peace and where there37700:15:00,580 –> 00:15:02,580is justice37800:15:02,580 –> 00:15:04,580We find it much more difficult to grasp37900:15:04,580 –> 00:15:06,580how God could be present38000:15:06,580 –> 00:15:08,580where there is conflict, suffering and war38100:15:10,580 –> 00:15:12,580So when the world trade38200:15:12,580 –> 00:15:14,580center towers crumble38300:15:14,580 –> 00:15:16,580the great cry38400:15:16,580 –> 00:15:18,580that goes up from the nation38500:15:18,580 –> 00:15:20,580is where is God38600:15:20,580 –> 00:15:22,580in this?38700:15:22,580 –> 00:15:24,580When the disaster in38800:15:24,580 –> 00:15:26,580Southeast Asia has rocked the world38900:15:26,580 –> 00:15:28,580the great cry that goes up from the nation39000:15:28,580 –> 00:15:30,580is where is God in this?39100:15:30,580 –> 00:15:32,580These are huge questions39200:15:34,580 –> 00:15:36,580And I have found that Psalm 12239300:15:36,580 –> 00:15:38,580is uniquely helpful here39400:15:40,580 –> 00:15:42,580Because it reminds us that God is present39500:15:42,580 –> 00:15:44,580Not only in the place uniquely blessed39600:15:46,580 –> 00:15:48,580But also in the place uniquely troubled39700:15:52,580 –> 00:15:54,580Jerusalem, of course, down through history39800:15:54,580 –> 00:15:56,580Even since39900:15:56,580 –> 00:15:58,580Has been troubled more than any other city40000:15:58,580 –> 00:16:00,580in all of the world40100:16:00,580 –> 00:16:02,580That’s just a historical fact40200:16:02,580 –> 00:16:04,580Since the time of David40300:16:04,580 –> 00:16:06,580Jerusailm has been attacked by the king of Egypt40400:16:06,580 –> 00:16:08,580The king of Syria40500:16:08,580 –> 00:16:10,580The king of as Syria40600:16:10,580 –> 00:16:12,580The king of Babylon40700:16:12,580 –> 00:16:14,580It’s been overrun by the Roman Empire40800:16:14,580 –> 00:16:16,580Since biblical times40900:16:16,580 –> 00:16:18,580It has been seized alternately41000:16:18,580 –> 00:16:20,580On multiple occasions by Muslims and Crusaders41100:16:20,580 –> 00:16:22,580It has then been taken over by force41200:16:22,580 –> 00:16:24,580By Turkey41300:16:24,580 –> 00:16:26,580By Britain41400:16:26,580 –> 00:16:28,580And rarely does a week pass41500:16:28,580 –> 00:16:30,580On our television screens41600:16:30,580 –> 00:16:32,580We do not see some report of trouble or tragedy41700:16:32,580 –> 00:16:34,580In Jerusalem41800:16:34,580 –> 00:16:36,580The trauma goes on and on41900:16:36,580 –> 00:16:38,580Now I have no doubt42000:16:38,580 –> 00:16:40,580in my mind42100:16:40,580 –> 00:16:42,580that David saw something of this42200:16:42,580 –> 00:16:44,580in anticipation42300:16:44,580 –> 00:16:46,580As he42400:16:46,580 –> 00:16:48,580under the spirit of prophecy42500:16:48,580 –> 00:16:50,580when he wrote Psalm 12242600:16:50,580 –> 00:16:52,580Which is why he42700:16:52,580 –> 00:16:54,580says pray for the peace of Jerusalem42800:16:54,580 –> 00:16:56,580Because the city uniquely blessed42900:16:56,580 –> 00:16:58,580Will be throughout history43000:16:58,580 –> 00:17:00,580the city uniquely troubled43100:17:00,580 –> 00:17:02,580In fact there will be so much trouble43200:17:02,580 –> 00:17:04,579that many people will say43300:17:04,579 –> 00:17:06,579where is God in this43400:17:08,579 –> 00:17:10,579Of course you and I have asked that question43500:17:10,579 –> 00:17:12,579many times43600:17:12,579 –> 00:17:14,579And that is the43700:17:14,579 –> 00:17:16,579central question of Psalm 12243800:17:16,579 –> 00:17:18,579That is why I have called this43900:17:18,579 –> 00:17:20,579second reflection on these psalms44000:17:20,579 –> 00:17:22,579moving in the right44100:17:22,579 –> 00:17:24,579direction44200:17:24,579 –> 00:17:26,579from seeing44300:17:26,579 –> 00:17:28,579to believing44400:17:30,579 –> 00:17:32,579Because if you try to discern44500:17:32,579 –> 00:17:34,579the presence of God on the basis of what you44600:17:34,579 –> 00:17:36,579see in this world44700:17:36,579 –> 00:17:38,579you will always be in difficulties44800:17:38,579 –> 00:17:40,579See, we live in a world44900:17:40,579 –> 00:17:42,579a fallen world45000:17:42,579 –> 00:17:44,579where there are terrible tragedies45100:17:46,579 –> 00:17:48,579We live in a conflicted world45200:17:48,579 –> 00:17:50,579where evil powers try to subvert45300:17:50,579 –> 00:17:52,579the purpose of God45400:17:52,579 –> 00:17:54,579We live in a sinful world45500:17:54,579 –> 00:17:56,579where even the very best of people around us45600:17:56,579 –> 00:17:58,579will sometimes disappoint45700:17:58,579 –> 00:18:00,579And we live in a dying world45800:18:00,579 –> 00:18:02,579where life is given to us for a limited period45900:18:02,579 –> 00:18:04,579of time and then we pass into eternity46000:18:06,579 –> 00:18:08,579Since we live in this fallen46100:18:08,579 –> 00:18:10,579world46200:18:10,579 –> 00:18:12,579the reality for people in every place46300:18:12,579 –> 00:18:14,579and in every generation is that46400:18:14,579 –> 00:18:16,579we will see Tragedy46500:18:16,579 –> 00:18:18,579Conflict, Sin46600:18:18,579 –> 00:18:20,579and Death46700:18:20,579 –> 00:18:22,579We will see that46800:18:22,579 –> 00:18:24,579And of course we will ask the question46900:18:24,579 –> 00:18:26,579How can God be present in such a world as this47000:18:28,579 –> 00:18:30,579And in order to answer that question47100:18:30,579 –> 00:18:32,579we need to move from seeing to believing47200:18:34,579 –> 00:18:36,579What do we believe?47300:18:36,579 –> 00:18:38,579We believe that God is at work47400:18:38,579 –> 00:18:40,579in this fallen world47500:18:40,579 –> 00:18:42,579That he has not abandoned us to chaos47600:18:42,579 –> 00:18:44,579but that he is at work to redeem his people47700:18:46,579 –> 00:18:48,579He is always at work to reconcile his people47800:18:48,579 –> 00:18:50,579to himself and to each other47900:18:50,579 –> 00:18:52,579That he offers hope48000:18:52,579 –> 00:18:54,579and a future to every person48100:18:54,579 –> 00:18:56,579in his son Jesus Christ48200:18:56,579 –> 00:18:58,579and that in Christ he invites us48300:18:58,579 –> 00:19:00,579to share his own everlasting life48400:19:04,579 –> 00:19:06,579In this world48500:19:06,579 –> 00:19:08,579faith is better48600:19:08,579 –> 00:19:10,579than sight48700:19:10,579 –> 00:19:12,579see, I got that the wrong way around48800:19:12,579 –> 00:19:14,579for many years of my own thinking48900:19:14,579 –> 00:19:16,579I used to think that faith was the poor relation49000:19:16,579 –> 00:19:18,579of sight, you know49100:19:18,579 –> 00:19:20,579but we can’t see god so we just have to put up49200:19:20,579 –> 00:19:22,579with believing him49300:19:22,579 –> 00:19:24,579That’s not the way it is in this world49400:19:24,579 –> 00:19:26,579It’s the other way around49500:19:26,579 –> 00:19:28,579We live by faith, not by sight49600:19:28,579 –> 00:19:30,579Because in this world, faith is better49700:19:30,579 –> 00:19:32,579than sight49800:19:32,579 –> 00:19:34,579For this simple reason49900:19:34,579 –> 00:19:36,579sight is so incredibly limited50000:19:36,579 –> 00:19:40,579I cannot see50100:19:40,579 –> 00:19:42,579the final outcome50200:19:42,579 –> 00:19:44,579of a single event in my life50300:19:44,579 –> 00:19:46,579And neither can you50400:19:48,579 –> 00:19:50,579I cannot see the past50500:19:50,579 –> 00:19:52,579I cannot see the future50600:19:52,579 –> 00:19:54,579I cannot see eternity50700:19:54,579 –> 00:19:56,579I cannot see angels, I cannot see god50800:19:56,579 –> 00:19:58,579I can see the things50900:19:58,579 –> 00:20:00,579that go wrong, I can see trouble51000:20:00,579 –> 00:20:02,579I cannot see what god will bring from them51100:20:02,579 –> 00:20:04,579For that I have to move51200:20:04,579 –> 00:20:06,579from seeing51300:20:06,579 –> 00:20:08,579to believing51400:20:08,579 –> 00:20:10,579That’s a step forward51500:20:10,579 –> 00:20:12,579not a step back51600:20:12,579 –> 00:20:14,579You see, believing51700:20:14,579 –> 00:20:16,579Faith operates on a wider stage51800:20:16,579 –> 00:20:18,579with a larger horizon51900:20:18,579 –> 00:20:20,579than sight in this world52000:20:20,579 –> 00:20:22,579can ever encompass52100:20:24,579 –> 00:20:26,579Moving from seeing to believing52200:20:26,579 –> 00:20:28,579is moving in the right direction52300:20:28,579 –> 00:20:30,579It is moving forward52400:20:30,579 –> 00:20:32,579expanding the horizons52500:20:32,579 –> 00:20:34,579It is faith52600:20:34,579 –> 00:20:36,579that lays hold of God52700:20:36,579 –> 00:20:38,579It is faith52800:20:38,579 –> 00:20:40,579that receives the love of Christ52900:20:40,579 –> 00:20:42,579poured out at Calvary53000:20:42,579 –> 00:20:44,579It is faith that anticipates53100:20:44,579 –> 00:20:46,579the final outcome that will not be known53200:20:46,579 –> 00:20:48,579until we are in the presence of God53300:20:50,599 –> 00:20:52,599God’s people have always had to live by faith53400:20:52,599 –> 00:20:54,599and not by sight53500:20:55,599 –> 00:20:57,599Think of Jeremiah, the prophet53600:20:57,599 –> 00:20:59,599coming to the city of Jerusalem53700:21:00,599 –> 00:21:02,599Imagine him trying to sing53800:21:02,599 –> 00:21:04,599Psalm 12253900:21:06,599 –> 00:21:08,599Read the Book of Lamentations54000:21:08,599 –> 00:21:10,599and see what the city looked like54100:21:10,599 –> 00:21:12,599after Nebuchadnezzar had finished with it54200:21:12,599 –> 00:21:14,599Not one stone left on top of another54300:21:16,599 –> 00:21:18,599Jeremiah describes in the Book of Lamentations54400:21:18,599 –> 00:21:20,599what he saw54500:21:20,599 –> 00:21:22,599The dust54600:21:22,599 –> 00:21:24,599The ashes54700:21:25,400 –> 00:21:27,560The devastation of war54800:21:27,560 –> 00:21:29,560The utter destruction54900:21:30,540 –> 00:21:32,540Then he tells us what he believed55000:21:33,540 –> 00:21:35,540Your mercies are new55100:21:35,540 –> 00:21:37,540every morning55200:21:37,540 –> 00:21:39,540Great is your faith.55300:21:39,540 –> 00:21:41,540He’s moving from seeing55400:21:41,540 –> 00:21:43,540to believing55500:21:43,540 –> 00:21:45,540Seventy years later or so55600:21:45,540 –> 00:21:47,540Nehemiah comes55700:21:47,540 –> 00:21:49,540to the same site55800:21:49,540 –> 00:21:51,540of the devastated55900:21:51,540 –> 00:21:53,540city of Jerusalem56000:21:53,540 –> 00:21:55,540And what does he find?56100:21:55,540 –> 00:21:57,540The rubble that’s just been lying there all these years56200:21:58,520 –> 00:22:00,520And the walls need56300:22:00,520 –> 00:22:02,520to be rebuilt. What he sees56400:22:02,520 –> 00:22:04,520is just a massive task56500:22:04,520 –> 00:22:06,520That seems absolutely overwhelming56600:22:06,520 –> 00:22:08,520What he believes56700:22:08,520 –> 00:22:10,520is that God will bring56800:22:10,520 –> 00:22:12,520hope from the ashes56900:22:12,520 –> 00:22:14,520Faith is better57000:22:14,520 –> 00:22:16,520then sight57100:22:16,520 –> 00:22:18,520It reaches much57200:22:18,520 –> 00:22:20,520further. If you go by57300:22:20,520 –> 00:22:22,520what you see in this fallen world57400:22:22,520 –> 00:22:24,520you will live your life at the level of57500:22:24,520 –> 00:22:26,520discouragement. You’ve got to move in57600:22:26,520 –> 00:22:28,520the right direction, which is from57700:22:28,520 –> 00:22:30,520seeing to57800:22:30,520 –> 00:22:32,520believing57900:22:32,520 –> 00:22:34,520You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin58000:22:34,520 –> 00:22:36,520Smith on Open The Bible. A Message58100:22:36,520 –> 00:22:38,520Called Seeing to Believing58200:22:38,520 –> 00:22:40,520It’s part of our series, Moving In58300:22:40,520 –> 00:22:42,520the Right Direction, all about the58400:22:42,520 –> 00:22:44,520Psalms of ascent, Psalm 12058500:22:44,520 –> 00:22:46,520to 13458600:22:46,520 –> 00:22:48,520If you ever miss one of that series don’t58700:22:48,520 –> 00:22:50,520forget you can always catch up or go back58800:22:50,520 –> 00:22:52,520and listen again online at our58900:22:52,520 –> 00:22:54,520website59000:22:54,520 –> 00:22:56,520bit.org.uk59100:22:56,520 –> 00:22:58,520Open The Bible is listened to by59200:22:58,520 –> 00:23:00,520people up and down the country59300:23:00,520 –> 00:23:02,520I’m with Open The Bible’s Executive59400:23:02,520 –> 00:23:04,520Director, John Martin. John,59500:23:04,520 –> 00:23:06,520what are listeners saying when they contact you?59600:23:06,520 –> 00:23:08,520Yes, so59700:23:08,520 –> 00:23:10,520we get letters from all sorts of59800:23:10,520 –> 00:23:12,520listeners, and some of those listeners59900:23:12,520 –> 00:23:14,520are actually inmates around60000:23:14,520 –> 00:23:16,520UK prisons. and its60100:23:16,520 –> 00:23:18,520wonderful to receive the news that they’ve60200:23:18,520 –> 00:23:20,520been able to listen to the broadcast60300:23:20,520 –> 00:23:22,520and they’ve been encouraged by it60400:23:22,520 –> 00:23:24,520We’re doing a partnership with60500:23:24,520 –> 00:23:26,520Daylight Christian Prison Trust60600:23:26,520 –> 00:23:28,520They have chaplains in a number60700:23:28,520 –> 00:23:30,520of UK prisons60800:23:30,520 –> 00:23:32,520and they’re keen to use good resources60900:23:32,520 –> 00:23:34,520with those exploring faith61000:23:34,520 –> 00:23:36,520and those seeking to grow in their faith61100:23:36,520 –> 00:23:38,520so we’ve talked with them about61200:23:38,520 –> 00:23:40,520the possibility of getting the film61300:23:40,520 –> 00:23:42,520Heaven How I Got It into as many as61400:23:42,520 –> 00:23:44,520those prisons as possible, to give61500:23:44,520 –> 00:23:46,520the chaplains the discussion guide61600:23:46,520 –> 00:23:48,520to supply the chaplains with the books61700:23:48,520 –> 00:23:50,520or booklets61800:23:50,520 –> 00:23:52,520with the hope of creating a batch61900:23:52,520 –> 00:23:54,520of DVDs of the film62000:23:54,520 –> 00:23:56,520so they can easily take those in62100:23:56,520 –> 00:23:58,520and share the good news that way62200:23:58,520 –> 00:24:00,520There are a number of prisoners62300:24:00,520 –> 00:24:02,520who are keen to learn more62400:24:02,520 –> 00:24:04,520about the Christian faith62500:24:04,520 –> 00:24:06,520so if we can give them courses62600:24:06,520 –> 00:24:08,520that are accessible and appropiate62700:24:08,520 –> 00:24:10,520for their setting62800:24:10,520 –> 00:24:12,520then we are very eager to do that62900:24:12,520 –> 00:24:14,520To find out more about the work of Open the Bible63000:24:14,520 –> 00:24:16,520come to our website63100:24:17,520 –> 00:24:19,520Colin, some of our listeners63200:24:19,520 –> 00:24:21,520might be at the point where they are asking63300:24:21,520 –> 00:24:23,520where is God in all these problems63400:24:23,520 –> 00:24:25,520I’m experiencing63500:24:25,520 –> 00:24:27,520Yeah and when that questions comes63600:24:27,520 –> 00:24:29,520you need to know how to answer it63700:24:29,520 –> 00:24:31,520Here’s how Paul approached it63800:24:31,520 –> 00:24:33,520He put it this way63900:24:33,520 –> 00:24:35,520we fix our eyes not on what is seen64000:24:35,520 –> 00:24:37,520but on what is unseen64100:24:37,520 –> 00:24:39,520for what is seen is temporary64200:24:39,520 –> 00:24:41,520what is unseen is eternal64300:24:41,520 –> 00:24:43,520So you’ve got to get your eyes64400:24:43,520 –> 00:24:45,520on the unchanging reality64500:24:45,520 –> 00:24:47,520of who God is64600:24:47,520 –> 00:24:49,520that he’s for you that he is at work in your life64700:24:49,520 –> 00:24:51,520that you are secure in64800:24:51,520 –> 00:24:53,520Jesus Christ64900:24:53,520 –> 00:24:55,520and that is the rock the unchanging65000:24:55,520 –> 00:24:57,520foundation on which you can rest65100:24:57,520 –> 00:24:59,520your life in every experience65200:24:59,520 –> 00:25:01,520of life. Get your eyes65300:25:01,520 –> 00:25:03,520on what is unseen65400:25:03,520 –> 00:25:05,520and you will find strength to navigate65500:25:05,520 –> 00:25:07,520your way through what is seen even when65600:25:07,520 –> 00:25:09,520its troubling around you65700:25:09,520 –> 00:25:11,520For pastor Colin Smith I’m David Pick65800:25:11,520 –> 00:25:13,520and I hope you’ll join us again next time65900:25:13,520 –> 00:25:15,520on Open The Bible