100:00:00,480 –> 00:00:02,500what you need first200:00:03,640 –> 00:00:06,000if you’re sharing a problem with someone over300:00:06,000 –> 00:00:09,060lunch a friend you probably spend an400:00:09,060 –> 00:00:13,580hour just telling the story. So when you500:00:13,580 –> 00:00:15,660go into the presence of God don’t just600:00:15,660 –> 00:00:17,219kind of cut that out with a couple of700:00:17,219 –> 00:00:18,760lines Lord you know the problem.800:00:18,760 –> 00:00:20,719It is very important that David actually900:00:20,719 –> 00:00:22,780lays out the problem in the presence of1000:00:22,780 –> 00:00:25,780God. He’s on burdening his soul.1100:00:25,780 –> 00:00:27,780Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor1200:00:27,780 –> 00:00:29,980Colin Smith and David Pick.1300:00:30,040 –> 00:00:30,920One of the things we love1400:00:30,920 –> 00:00:32,639about the Psalms is the way David1500:00:32,639 –> 00:00:35,119unburdens his soul and today we’re1600:00:35,119 –> 00:00:36,980looking at Psalm 10 and he’s asking this1700:00:36,980 –> 00:00:38,799question which I think many of us would1800:00:38,799 –> 00:00:41,680echo which is God why is it that the1900:00:41,680 –> 00:00:43,639wicked seem to prosper when people who2000:00:43,639 –> 00:00:45,580are just trying to do the right thing to2100:00:45,580 –> 00:00:47,880honor you it seems like you’re hiding2200:00:47,880 –> 00:00:49,320your face from us.2300:00:49,320 –> 00:00:51,240Isn’t it really helpful that we’ve got a prayer in2400:00:51,240 –> 00:00:54,200the Bible in which David’s unburdening2500:00:54,200 –> 00:00:56,060himself about the with the wickedness2600:00:56,060 –> 00:00:59,380the sheer evil of the world around him2700:00:59,380 –> 00:01:00,919and guess what, the world hasn’t changed!2800:01:00,919 –> 00:01:03,340We’re going to look today at a five2900:01:03,340 –> 00:01:06,879point profile of a wicked person and3000:01:06,879 –> 00:01:08,620after I preached the message in the3100:01:08,620 –> 00:01:10,519church here I was very struck by the3200:01:10,519 –> 00:01:13,660fact that amongst many responses one3300:01:13,660 –> 00:01:15,400parent came up and said you know i’ve3400:01:15,400 –> 00:01:18,580just taken my children out of Park3500:01:18,580 –> 00:01:21,120District Soccer because every one of3600:01:21,120 –> 00:01:23,580these marks of wickedness are in the3700:01:23,580 –> 00:01:26,00011-year-old kids who are on the soccer3800:01:26,000 –> 00:01:28,059team. We live in a world in which we’re3900:01:28,059 –> 00:01:32,760surrounded by marks of wickedness that4000:01:32,760 –> 00:01:34,900burden the hearts of young people,4100:01:34,900 –> 00:01:38,400teenagers, older people and thank God4200:01:38,400 –> 00:01:41,339that we can pray in this world and we’re4300:01:41,339 –> 00:01:42,779looking at a psalm that will teach us4400:01:42,779 –> 00:01:44,900how to do that. We desperately need to4500:01:44,900 –> 00:01:47,379know how to come to God in the sheer4600:01:47,379 –> 00:01:49,099darkness of this world in which we live.4700:01:49,099 –> 00:01:50,959Well let’s not wait, let’s get right into4800:01:50,959 –> 00:01:53,900Psalm 10 as we begin the message how to4900:01:53,900 –> 00:01:56,120pray when the wicked seem to be winning5000:01:56,260 –> 00:01:56,839Here’s Colin5100:01:56,839 –> 00:02:00,000today we come to Psalm 10 and just5200:02:00,000 –> 00:02:01,440straightaway I want you to notice that5300:02:01,440 –> 00:02:03,279there are two very striking things about5400:02:03,279 –> 00:02:05,639this Psalm. If you wonder where I got the5500:02:05,639 –> 00:02:07,959title how to pray when the wicked seem5600:02:07,959 –> 00:02:09,520to be winning is just by reading the5700:02:09,520 –> 00:02:11,380Psalm it’s very obvious that the wicked5800:02:11,380 –> 00:02:13,880are the central focus and then the other5900:02:13,880 –> 00:02:16,080theme that is obvious is that God seems6000:02:16,080 –> 00:02:19,520from verse one to be very far away and6100:02:19,520 –> 00:02:21,380of course these two things go together6200:02:21,380 –> 00:02:23,639when the wicked seem to be winning God6300:02:23,740 –> 00:02:27,619seems to be far away so these are the6400:02:27,619 –> 00:02:30,399two broad themes of this Psalm that we’re6500:02:30,399 –> 00:02:32,779going to look at together today. Now6600:02:32,779 –> 00:02:34,979notice first then that David is praying6700:02:34,979 –> 00:02:39,460when the wicked seem to be winning there6800:02:39,460 –> 00:02:42,220are eighteen verses in this Psalm and6900:02:42,220 –> 00:02:45,820eleven of them are given to a sustained7000:02:45,820 –> 00:02:49,699description of the wicked so just to go7100:02:49,699 –> 00:02:52,220through that verse two in arrogance7200:02:52,619 –> 00:02:55,539the wicked hotly pursue the poor verse7300:02:55,539 –> 00:02:58,9193 for the wicked boasts of the desires7400:02:58,919 –> 00:02:59,820of his soul7500:02:59,820 –> 00:03:02,039verse four in the pride of his face the7600:03:02,039 –> 00:03:04,619wicked does not seek God7700:03:04,619 –> 00:03:07,559verse five it continues the theme his7800:03:07,559 –> 00:03:09,500ways prosper that is the wicked’s ways7900:03:09,500 –> 00:03:11,100prospers verse 68000:03:11,100 –> 00:03:12,979he says in his heart that’s the wicked8100:03:12,979 –> 00:03:15,660say in his or her heart I shall not be8200:03:15,660 –> 00:03:16,440moved8300:03:16,440 –> 00:03:19,080verse 7 his mouth is filled with cursing8400:03:19,080 –> 00:03:21,240verse 8 he sits in ambush in the8500:03:21,419 –> 00:03:24,399villages and on and on so the whole of8600:03:24,399 –> 00:03:26,839the first 11 verses is a sustained8700:03:26,839 –> 00:03:29,720description one theme it’s all about the8800:03:29,720 –> 00:03:31,779wicked so there’s no doubt what the8900:03:31,779 –> 00:03:33,479psalm is about it’s about wicked people9000:03:33,479 –> 00:03:35,880it’s about wickedness being on the rise9100:03:35,880 –> 00:03:38,839evil being on the increase it is an9200:03:38,839 –> 00:03:41,539outpouring of prayer and it is a9300:03:41,539 –> 00:03:44,320outpouring of grief and distress that9400:03:44,320 –> 00:03:48,080godly people feel when they see evil9500:03:48,619 –> 00:03:52,039rampant in the land and that is the9600:03:52,039 –> 00:03:54,460position that David the king of Israel9700:03:54,460 –> 00:03:57,399was in he saw evil multiplying and he9800:03:57,399 –> 00:04:00,800takes time to lay out the whole problem9900:04:00,800 –> 00:04:04,360before God here’s as we’re picking up10000:04:04,360 –> 00:04:06,600little lessons about prayer all the way10100:04:06,600 –> 00:04:09,399along here’s one don’t rush over the10200:04:09,399 –> 00:04:12,600problem if you’re sharing a problem with10300:04:12,600 –> 00:04:16,040someone over lunch friend you probably10400:04:16,059 –> 00:04:20,739spend an hour just telling the story so10500:04:20,739 –> 00:04:22,339when you going to the presence of God10600:04:22,339 –> 00:04:24,200don’t just gonna cut that out with a10700:04:24,200 –> 00:04:25,579couple of lines Lord you know the10800:04:25,579 –> 00:04:27,799problem it is very important that David10900:04:27,799 –> 00:04:29,679actually lays out the problem in the11000:04:29,679 –> 00:04:32,179presence of God he’s on burdening his11100:04:32,179 –> 00:04:34,940soul and he’s telling God what he’s11200:04:34,940 –> 00:04:39,399seeing happen everywhere around him now11300:04:39,399 –> 00:04:41,959in this unburdening of his soul David11400:04:41,959 –> 00:04:44,779really gives us a five-point profile of11500:04:45,140 –> 00:04:48,380a wicked person five-point profile of11600:04:48,380 –> 00:04:50,500what wickedness looks like and I want us11700:04:50,500 –> 00:04:53,839to pick this up the first point in that11800:04:53,839 –> 00:04:58,019profile is is pride verse 2 3 4 & 611900:04:58,019 –> 00:05:00,179notice that the wicked are proud verse12000:05:00,179 –> 00:05:03,4802 in arrogance the wicked pursues the12100:05:03,480 –> 00:05:04,260poor12200:05:04,260 –> 00:05:06,920verse 3 the wicked boasts their pride12300:05:06,920 –> 00:05:09,380of the desires of his soul12400:05:09,380 –> 00:05:12,059isn’t that an interesting phrase so12500:05:12,059 –> 00:05:14,720everything that are wicked person12600:05:14,720 –> 00:05:17,959wants to do is defined by that person12700:05:17,959 –> 00:05:21,720has a virtue here is a person who wants12800:05:21,720 –> 00:05:24,079to go with any inclination that they12900:05:24,079 –> 00:05:27,239find within their own soul and the13000:05:27,239 –> 00:05:30,220reason that it is wicked to boast of the13100:05:30,220 –> 00:05:32,799desires of your soul is that that is to13200:05:32,799 –> 00:05:35,480put yourself in the place of God who13300:05:35,480 –> 00:05:37,980alone is to determine what is good13400:05:37,980 –> 00:05:41,220verse 4 in the pride of his face the13500:05:41,220 –> 00:05:43,239wicked does not seek him so there’s13600:05:43,279 –> 00:05:46,019pride again verse 6 in his heart he says13700:05:46,019 –> 00:05:48,679I shall not be moved so the wicked13800:05:48,679 –> 00:05:51,179person is characteristically supremely13900:05:51,179 –> 00:05:52,359confident14000:05:52,359 –> 00:05:54,299feels that the future is with him or14100:05:54,299 –> 00:05:57,320her for six throughout all generations I14200:05:57,320 –> 00:05:59,500shall not meet with adversity so the14300:05:59,500 –> 00:06:01,600wicked person seems to be very confident14400:06:01,600 –> 00:06:04,179or at least presents him or herself is14500:06:04,179 –> 00:06:05,959very confident that there is nothing to14600:06:05,959 –> 00:06:07,600worry about so there’s the first14700:06:07,600 –> 00:06:10,899distinctive of wickedness it always14800:06:11,299 –> 00:06:14,519manifests itself in pride and whenever14900:06:14,519 –> 00:06:17,600you see pride you know the route from15000:06:17,600 –> 00:06:19,220which it comes15100:06:19,220 –> 00:06:22,660wickedness second distinguishing mark15200:06:22,660 –> 00:06:26,940first proud second foul-mouthed foul15300:06:26,940 –> 00:06:27,880mouthed15400:06:27,880 –> 00:06:31,579verse three and seven the one greedy for15500:06:31,579 –> 00:06:35,239gain curses notice that word curses15600:06:35,239 –> 00:06:37,100verse seven15700:06:37,100 –> 00:06:40,559his mouth is filled with cursing15800:06:40,559 –> 00:06:42,559as well as deceit and oppression and15900:06:42,559 –> 00:06:44,920under his tongue are mischief and16000:06:44,920 –> 00:06:48,019iniquity so whenever you have false16100:06:48,019 –> 00:06:52,799language, cursing coming either from the16200:06:52,799 –> 00:06:55,200mouth or else just erupting from the16300:06:55,200 –> 00:06:58,799heart you know the route that it comes16400:06:58,799 –> 00:07:00,459from16500:07:00,459 –> 00:07:01,320with wickedness16600:07:02,279 –> 00:07:04,420number 3 greed16700:07:04,440 –> 00:07:08,500verse 3 and in verse 9 the one greedy for16800:07:08,500 –> 00:07:14,640gain curses and renounces the Lord and16900:07:14,640 –> 00:07:17,019he lurks that he may seize the poor17000:07:17,019 –> 00:07:19,820because that’s how he gains by taking17100:07:19,820 –> 00:07:22,059advantage of the poor and it is greed17200:07:22,059 –> 00:07:23,880that is the root of this and whenever17300:07:23,880 –> 00:07:27,100you see that greed, acquisitiveness17400:07:27,100 –> 00:07:30,420gaining a foothold in the soul you know17500:07:30,420 –> 00:07:32,100what it comes from its root is17600:07:32,100 –> 00:07:36,260wickedness and then number 4 fourth17700:07:36,260 –> 00:07:38,019distinguishing mark of wickedness17800:07:38,500 –> 00:07:41,980manifestation of it is violence. Verse 917900:07:41,980 –> 00:07:44,579he lurks in ambush18000:07:44,579 –> 00:07:49,500notice the picture like a lion in the18100:07:49,500 –> 00:07:52,779thicket now a lion and the thicket of18200:07:52,779 –> 00:07:56,440course lies very very quietly and then18300:07:56,440 –> 00:07:59,619suddenly erupts and that’s the picture18400:07:59,619 –> 00:08:04,459the wicked person is volatile the wicked18500:08:04,459 –> 00:08:07,140person is given to outbreaks of rage18600:08:07,200 –> 00:08:10,059that are so destructive unpredictable18700:08:10,059 –> 00:08:12,899frightening everything seems quiet18800:08:12,899 –> 00:08:15,040quiet and normal in the home and then18900:08:15,040 –> 00:08:17,260this person suddenly springs up that’s19000:08:17,260 –> 00:08:19,260like the lion you see offloads and19100:08:19,260 –> 00:08:20,720everyone says where in the world that19200:08:20,720 –> 00:08:24,019that come from and actually when you19300:08:24,019 –> 00:08:25,619read the Psalm you realize what it came19400:08:25,619 –> 00:08:28,420from the root of it is wickedness19500:08:28,420 –> 00:08:30,880that’s what it is and this is a fourth19600:08:30,880 –> 00:08:33,700way in which it manifests itself it’s19700:08:33,700 –> 00:08:36,520terribly destructive like the lion in19800:08:36,520 –> 00:08:40,239the thicket number five fourth part of19900:08:40,239 –> 00:08:42,559the profile of a wicked person that20000:08:42,559 –> 00:08:44,200they are godless and this runs all20100:08:44,200 –> 00:08:46,619throughout the Psalm the wicked verse20200:08:46,619 –> 00:08:49,559four do not seek God verse 13 the20300:08:49,559 –> 00:08:53,619wickedities renounce God but what is20400:08:53,619 –> 00:08:57,520very fascinating to me here is that the20500:08:57,520 –> 00:09:00,000Holy Spirit has given us not only a20600:09:00,000 –> 00:09:02,820description of wickedness but actually20700:09:02,820 –> 00:09:05,799an insight into how the wicked person20800:09:06,140 –> 00:09:10,239thinks. So we have this repeated phrase20900:09:10,239 –> 00:09:13,559of what this person’s thoughts are and21000:09:13,559 –> 00:09:16,679what this person says in their heart21100:09:16,679 –> 00:09:20,119only the Holy Spirit could reveal that21200:09:20,119 –> 00:09:22,700but this is being revealed to us in the21300:09:22,700 –> 00:09:24,559Psalm. Now it comes in three places21400:09:24,559 –> 00:09:27,880verse four and eleven, and thirteen, look21500:09:27,880 –> 00:09:30,359at verse four first. In the pride of his21600:09:30,359 –> 00:09:34,380face the wicked do not seek God all his21700:09:34,900 –> 00:09:36,700thoughts so here’s the Holy Spirit21800:09:36,700 –> 00:09:39,580revealing the inner thoughts of a wicked21900:09:39,580 –> 00:09:44,859person and all his thoughts are there is22000:09:44,859 –> 00:09:48,260no God. You don’t see this of course22100:09:48,260 –> 00:09:50,619this is not immediately manifest but22200:09:50,619 –> 00:09:52,700what is going on inside the mind of a22300:09:52,700 –> 00:09:54,340wicked person the holy spirit is22400:09:54,340 –> 00:09:56,659revealing here is that he or she is22500:09:56,659 –> 00:09:59,099constantly telling him or herself there22600:09:59,099 –> 00:10:01,940is no God. It is an active pattern of22700:10:01,940 –> 00:10:04,219thought and it has to continue to be an22800:10:04,219 –> 00:10:06,099active pattern of thought to keep22900:10:06,099 –> 00:10:08,299suppressing that’s Romans chapter 1 in23000:10:08,299 –> 00:10:10,460verse 18 and following the evidence of23100:10:10,460 –> 00:10:12,099God that such a person finds in their23200:10:12,099 –> 00:10:12,940own soul23300:10:12,940 –> 00:10:16,700let alone in the world around them.’ So we23400:10:16,700 –> 00:10:17,900often speak in the church about23500:10:17,900 –> 00:10:19,659preaching the gospel to yourself every23600:10:19,659 –> 00:10:22,859day. As a Christian I want always to be23700:10:22,859 –> 00:10:25,359telling myself who I am in Christ and23800:10:25,359 –> 00:10:27,099what Jesus Christ and who Jesus Christ23900:10:27,099 –> 00:10:29,640is for me and what he has done on my24000:10:29,640 –> 00:10:33,140behalf. Constantly telling myself that so24100:10:33,239 –> 00:10:34,799will be able to live in a Christian way.24200:10:34,799 –> 00:10:37,760What happens for the wicked person is24300:10:37,760 –> 00:10:40,219that that person has to constantly be24400:10:40,219 –> 00:10:42,559telling him or herself there is no God24500:10:42,559 –> 00:10:44,200there is no God so that they can live24600:10:44,200 –> 00:10:45,940according to the desires of their flesh24700:10:45,940 –> 00:10:50,780and which they boast. Here’s the thing24800:10:50,780 –> 00:10:52,619that is absolutely fascinating24900:10:52,619 –> 00:10:57,559while constantly saying there is no God25000:10:57,559 –> 00:11:00,099all his thoughts are there is no God25100:11:01,080 –> 00:11:03,840Notice that there are other thoughts25200:11:03,840 –> 00:11:06,820that also simultaneously run in the25300:11:06,820 –> 00:11:12,479wicked person’s mind vers 11 in his heart25400:11:12,479 –> 00:11:14,840so again we’re getting a revelation of25500:11:14,840 –> 00:11:16,200what’s going on in the wicked person’s25600:11:16,200 –> 00:11:19,859heart he says in his heart God has25700:11:19,859 –> 00:11:21,880forgotten and now this is a different25800:11:21,880 –> 00:11:25,900line of argument that verse 13 why does25900:11:25,900 –> 00:11:28,500the wicked renounce God and say in his26000:11:28,619 –> 00:11:32,580heart, same phrase, you will not call to26100:11:32,580 –> 00:11:35,919account. So I want you to notice26200:11:35,919 –> 00:11:37,140something very important there’s an26300:11:37,140 –> 00:11:39,140obvious contradiction here isn’t there?26400:11:39,140 –> 00:11:42,900A contradiction that lives in the heart26500:11:42,900 –> 00:11:46,619of the wicked person. On the one hand all26600:11:46,619 –> 00:11:50,000his thoughts are, verse 4, there is no God26700:11:50,000 –> 00:11:52,359but on the other hand he’s got this26800:11:52,359 –> 00:11:54,500alternative line of thought that’s going26900:11:54,500 –> 00:11:58,020on in verse 11 that says God, I’m telling27000:11:58,020 –> 00:11:59,380myself there is no God but at the same27100:11:59,380 –> 00:12:01,700time I’m saying God has forgotten you27200:12:01,700 –> 00:12:04,140see the tension there or God will not27300:12:04,140 –> 00:12:08,940call to account, verse 13. Derrick Kidner27400:12:08,940 –> 00:12:10,520who has a wonderful commentary on the27500:12:10,520 –> 00:12:16,359Psalms calls this The Inner Dialogue of a27600:12:16,359 –> 00:12:19,080Wicked Person. Now a wicked person will27700:12:19,080 –> 00:12:21,159almost certainly not admit this to you27800:12:21,159 –> 00:12:24,640very rarely so but what the Holy Spirit27900:12:24,640 –> 00:12:26,679is telling us here is that behind what28000:12:26,719 –> 00:12:28,919you see in a person who is deeply28100:12:28,919 –> 00:12:32,359resistant to God there is invariably an28200:12:32,359 –> 00:12:36,760inner dialogue that is going on. On the28300:12:36,760 –> 00:12:38,799one hand this person is constantly28400:12:38,799 –> 00:12:40,359trying to say to himself there’s no God28500:12:40,359 –> 00:12:41,859there’s no God so I can live as I want.28600:12:41,859 –> 00:12:45,880On the other hand this person is28700:12:45,880 –> 00:12:48,340finding it very difficult to succeed in28800:12:48,340 –> 00:12:50,580completely eliminating the idea of God28900:12:50,580 –> 00:12:52,840the sense of the divine presence keeps29000:12:52,880 –> 00:12:56,840coming up in one way or another and so29100:12:56,840 –> 00:12:59,119he finds himself or she finds herself29200:12:59,119 –> 00:13:01,119saying well, you know, God’s not going to29300:13:01,119 –> 00:13:02,619bring anything to account nothing’s29400:13:02,619 –> 00:13:04,000gonna happen he never does anything29500:13:04,000 –> 00:13:08,840anyway savvy and that tension lives.29600:13:08,840 –> 00:13:10,960See here’s the thing for the wicked29700:13:10,960 –> 00:13:14,080person however often the person says and29800:13:14,080 –> 00:13:15,679there may be someone here and you’ve29900:13:15,679 –> 00:13:17,140been saying oh there is no God I’m just30000:13:17,140 –> 00:13:21,520trying to push God away but however hard30100:13:21,520 –> 00:13:23,320you try and do that’s very hard to push30200:13:23,320 –> 00:13:25,460God away because you yourself are made30300:13:25,460 –> 00:13:28,239in the image of God you can’t really get30400:13:28,239 –> 00:13:31,340away from that and the whole world in30500:13:31,340 –> 00:13:33,440which you live was created by God and30600:13:33,440 –> 00:13:35,599has manifestations of his invisible30700:13:35,599 –> 00:13:41,159glory and his divine power and so here’s30800:13:41,159 –> 00:13:43,280this inner tension that is going be30900:13:43,280 –> 00:13:46,239greatly encouraged when you are praying31000:13:46,239 –> 00:13:48,679for someone you care about who is31100:13:49,400 –> 00:13:51,659deeply resistant to God and there’s this31200:13:51,659 –> 00:13:56,280hard face and remember this there’s an31300:13:56,280 –> 00:13:58,200inner dialogue that’s going on within31400:13:58,200 –> 00:13:59,880that person they may never admit it to31500:13:59,880 –> 00:14:04,400you of course he has to keep saying to31600:14:04,400 –> 00:14:06,179himself she has to keep saying to31700:14:06,179 –> 00:14:09,099herself there is no God because that31800:14:09,099 –> 00:14:12,080own nature made in the image of God31900:14:12,080 –> 00:14:13,640led along the world in which they live32000:14:14,500 –> 00:14:18,200is always suggesting otherwise32100:14:19,520 –> 00:14:21,460You’re listening to pastor Colin Smith on Open The Bible32200:14:21,520 –> 00:14:23,200we have to pause the message just for a32300:14:23,200 –> 00:14:25,640moment here the message is called32400:14:25,640 –> 00:14:27,700How to pray when the Wicked seem to be winning32500:14:27,900 –> 00:14:28,900and it’s one of the most requested32600:14:28,900 –> 00:14:31,280messages over the past 12 months and32700:14:31,280 –> 00:14:34,179we’ve bundled all of the 10 most popular32800:14:34,179 –> 00:14:36,359messages into a series which we call32900:14:36,440 –> 00:14:39,380listener favorites 2025 and if you’ve33000:14:39,380 –> 00:14:41,159missed any of the series or if you want33100:14:41,159 –> 00:14:42,859to go back and listen again it’s easy33200:14:43,039 –> 00:14:44,460to do that by coming online to our33300:14:44,520 –> 00:14:48,119website openlybible.org.uk and there33400:14:48,140 –> 00:14:49,520you’ll find all the messages which have33500:14:49,520 –> 00:14:51,919already gone out on air you’ll also find33600:14:51,919 –> 00:14:53,739them as podcasts and those are all the33700:14:53,739 –> 00:14:55,780main podcast sites you can find them by33800:14:55,780 –> 00:14:58,619searching for Open the Bible UK or by33900:14:58,619 –> 00:15:00,539following the link from our website back34000:15:00,539 –> 00:15:03,559to the message now here again is Colin34100:15:03,559 –> 00:15:05,619so here is this five-point profile of a34200:15:05,619 –> 00:15:08,419wicked person proud foul-mouthed greedy34300:15:08,539 –> 00:15:14,419violent and goddess highly resistant to34400:15:14,419 –> 00:15:20,280God this is what wickedness looks like34500:15:20,280 –> 00:15:22,979now just before we move on what that34600:15:22,979 –> 00:15:25,400means for for us as we try and just pick34700:15:25,400 –> 00:15:27,400up all that the scripture has for us if34800:15:27,900 –> 00:15:40,080ever you see a trait of pride foul-mouthed34900:15:40,080 –> 00:15:47,219language, greed, violence or resistance to35000:15:47,219 –> 00:15:52,380God ever you see a trace of any of the35100:15:52,739 –> 00:15:55,919your own soul, deal with it35200:15:55,919 –> 00:16:00,219decisively. What I mean by that is35300:16:00,219 –> 00:16:03,599confess it to God,35400:16:03,599 –> 00:16:07,140renounce it completely,35500:16:07,140 –> 00:16:09,200ask for the cleansing power of the35600:16:09,200 –> 00:16:11,479blood of Jesus Christ to be applied to35700:16:11,479 –> 00:16:16,539this, this pride, this cursing,35800:16:16,539 –> 00:16:19,119this greed, this resistance to God,35900:16:19,119 –> 00:16:21,760this eruption that’s taking place36000:16:21,760 –> 00:16:25,840within the soul.36100:16:25,840 –> 00:16:28,039This is wickedness so don’t mess36200:16:28,039 –> 00:16:30,580with it. It is poison and if allow36300:16:30,580 –> 00:16:32,739it to take root in your soul it36400:16:32,739 –> 00:16:34,179has the power to destroy you36500:16:34,179 –> 00:16:37,539completely.36600:16:37,539 –> 00:16:40,619Now, let’s pick up a lesson from36700:16:40,619 –> 00:16:41,679the school of prayer just very36800:16:41,679 –> 00:16:44,219briefly here before we move36900:16:44,219 –> 00:16:47,700on. The very fact that David is37000:16:47,700 –> 00:16:50,919praying with this intensity about37100:16:50,960 –> 00:16:52,919wickedness, when the wicked37200:16:52,919 –> 00:16:55,460seem to be winning, indicates37300:16:55,460 –> 00:16:57,659to us that wickedness is not a37400:16:57,659 –> 00:16:59,559new phenomenon, it only takes37500:16:59,559 –> 00:17:02,859new forms.37600:17:02,859 –> 00:17:05,260Wickedness is not a new37700:17:05,260 –> 00:17:06,660phenomenon, it only takes new37800:17:06,660 –> 00:17:08,459forms. In other words it dresses37900:17:08,459 –> 00:17:10,439up in different garb. In one38000:17:10,439 –> 00:17:13,300generation wickedness is clothed38100:17:13,300 –> 00:17:15,780in hypocrisy. In another38200:17:15,780 –> 00:17:17,839generation it is clothed in38300:17:17,839 –> 00:17:20,520defiance. I think we are living38400:17:20,640 –> 00:17:21,780in a situation in our culture38500:17:21,780 –> 00:17:24,520between these two and world38600:17:24,520 –> 00:17:26,060seems to be very different.38700:17:26,060 –> 00:17:28,060What I want us to understand38800:17:28,060 –> 00:17:30,079from this psalm is root wickedness38900:17:30,079 –> 00:17:30,099that run through human nature39000:17:31,660 –> 00:17:33,160crosses cultures and cross39100:17:33,160 –> 00:17:35,160generations and there is nothing39200:17:35,160 –> 00:17:38,160very new under the sun. I have39300:17:38,160 –> 00:17:40,160been interested to pick up39400:17:40,160 –> 00:17:42,880statistics. It was always said,39500:17:42,880 –> 00:17:46,880about a third of all Americans39600:17:46,880 –> 00:17:49,880are in church on Sunday. The39700:17:49,900 –> 00:17:51,900actual number, and this has39800:17:52,900 –> 00:17:55,900been done by extensive research39900:17:55,900 –> 00:17:57,400of an actual head count as40000:17:57,400 –> 00:17:59,420opposed to estimates, there has40100:17:59,420 –> 00:18:00,540been some extensive research40200:18:00,540 –> 00:18:02,880that has led to a hard figure40300:18:02,880 –> 00:18:06,660now of about 17% only, 17% of40400:18:06,660 –> 00:18:11,160people are in church of some40500:18:11,459 –> 00:18:12,459form at least once a month40600:18:12,459 –> 00:18:15,079that’s defined as regularity.40700:18:15,079 –> 00:18:19,420Suddenly we have moved to a40800:18:20,180 –> 00:18:24,199where 83% of our population in40900:18:24,199 –> 00:18:25,660this country are outside of the41000:18:25,660 –> 00:18:26,780church with a probable41100:18:26,780 –> 00:18:28,560exception of Christmas and41200:18:28,560 –> 00:18:30,239perhaps even Easter.41300:18:33,180 –> 00:18:34,939That feels like a huge, huge41400:18:34,939 –> 00:18:36,060change that’s going on.41500:18:36,060 –> 00:18:36,979In one sense it is.41600:18:36,979 –> 00:18:39,760At the deepest level, remember41700:18:41,380 –> 00:18:43,099this, that actually the human41800:18:43,099 –> 00:18:45,380heart is exactly the same,41900:18:45,380 –> 00:18:47,540change is this, in the last42000:18:48,040 –> 00:18:49,800generation we had more people42100:18:49,800 –> 00:18:51,339sitting in church resisting42200:18:51,339 –> 00:18:51,819God.42300:18:54,500 –> 00:18:56,339Now we have people, more people42400:18:56,339 –> 00:18:57,839resisting God and not bothering42500:18:57,839 –> 00:18:58,979to show up for the event.42600:19:00,479 –> 00:19:03,780But at the heart, at the core42700:19:03,780 –> 00:19:06,939of the thing, human nature does42800:19:06,939 –> 00:19:08,260not actually change.42900:19:08,260 –> 00:19:09,660John Calvin says very, very43000:19:09,660 –> 00:19:11,119helpfully, when we tend to get43100:19:11,119 –> 00:19:13,579discouraged and our faith can43200:19:13,579 –> 00:19:15,780be shaken and we see evil on the43300:19:15,780 –> 00:19:18,020rise and Christians can even be43400:19:18,020 –> 00:19:19,260tempted towards the sin of43500:19:19,260 –> 00:19:21,599despair, he says this, it will43600:19:21,599 –> 00:19:23,199lighten our grief to remember43700:19:23,199 –> 00:19:24,920that nothing befalls us in this43800:19:24,920 –> 00:19:26,800day which the Church of God has43900:19:26,800 –> 00:19:28,880not experienced in days of old.44000:19:30,540 –> 00:19:32,140In other words, it is always the44100:19:32,140 –> 00:19:32,400same.44200:19:32,400 –> 00:19:34,219We’re dealing with the same44300:19:34,219 –> 00:19:36,619issues that David did a thousand44400:19:36,619 –> 00:19:38,119years before Christ.44500:19:40,660 –> 00:19:41,880And there will be times when the44600:19:41,880 –> 00:19:43,439wicked seem to be winning.44700:19:44,280 –> 00:19:46,920Let’s not be naive about what we44800:19:46,920 –> 00:19:48,579ourselves say that we believe in44900:19:48,579 –> 00:19:51,119regards to sin and evil and it’s45000:19:51,119 –> 00:19:51,739power.45100:19:51,739 –> 00:19:55,020As Christians, we say that we45200:19:55,020 –> 00:19:58,640believe that men and women are45300:19:58,640 –> 00:20:01,040born sinners, that it is in our45400:20:01,040 –> 00:20:02,560nature, that the default of45500:20:02,560 –> 00:20:04,239human nature is that we are45600:20:04,239 –> 00:20:05,520resistant to God, that we are45700:20:05,520 –> 00:20:06,959hostile to God.45800:20:06,959 –> 00:20:09,000Then why in all the world if we45900:20:09,000 –> 00:20:11,800actually believe that, do we so46000:20:12,719 –> 00:20:14,839often end up sounding like46100:20:14,839 –> 00:20:18,560moralists who are deeply shocked46200:20:18,560 –> 00:20:20,760when sinners demonstrate that46300:20:20,760 –> 00:20:25,000what they want to do is sin and46400:20:25,000 –> 00:20:26,560when every time a new piece of46500:20:26,560 –> 00:20:28,520technology is developed, guess46600:20:28,520 –> 00:20:31,079what – sinners find a new way46700:20:31,079 –> 00:20:34,160to captivate that for sinful46800:20:34,160 –> 00:20:35,000purposes.46900:20:35,000 –> 00:20:38,359Why should that surprise us?47000:20:38,359 –> 00:20:40,079It’s how human nature is.47100:20:40,079 –> 00:20:41,719It’s why we need to be redeemed47200:20:41,959 –> 00:20:43,239it’s why the only hope of the47300:20:43,239 –> 00:20:46,000world is in Jesus Christ and in47400:20:46,000 –> 00:20:47,160him crucified.47500:20:48,520 –> 00:20:49,319So this psalm is immensely47600:20:49,319 –> 00:20:51,439helpful, I come here and I say47700:20:51,719 –> 00:20:53,680oh what we’re experiencing with47800:20:53,680 –> 00:20:55,119this sense of wickedness on the47900:20:55,119 –> 00:20:57,199rise, it’s exactly where David48000:20:57,199 –> 00:20:58,339was a thousand years before48100:20:58,339 –> 00:20:59,439Christ, what’s new?48200:21:01,560 –> 00:21:02,839This is the world in which we48300:21:02,839 –> 00:21:03,380live.48400:21:05,160 –> 00:21:06,319This is the world in which we48500:21:06,319 –> 00:21:07,339suffer.48600:21:08,760 –> 00:21:09,959This is the world in which we48700:21:09,959 –> 00:21:11,459bear witness.48800:21:12,560 –> 00:21:14,599And the more we get off the kind48900:21:14,599 –> 00:21:16,800of naive pietism that can so49000:21:16,800 –> 00:21:20,319easily characterize us, the more49100:21:20,319 –> 00:21:21,680we will become Christians who49200:21:21,839 –> 00:21:24,319actually learn how to pray49300:21:25,359 –> 00:21:26,739because of the world in which we49400:21:26,739 –> 00:21:29,719live and the God we have and the49500:21:29,719 –> 00:21:31,000more we learn how to pray and49600:21:31,000 –> 00:21:32,160the more we learn the nature of49700:21:32,160 –> 00:21:33,839this world, the more we will49800:21:33,839 –> 00:21:37,079long for the new heaven and the49900:21:37,079 –> 00:21:40,000new earth that will be the home50000:21:40,280 –> 00:21:42,119of righteousness where sin will50100:21:42,119 –> 00:21:43,839be no more.50200:21:45,219 –> 00:21:46,439And if we don’t get it, guess50300:21:46,439 –> 00:21:46,719what?50400:21:46,719 –> 00:21:47,400We’ll be comfortable.50500:21:47,400 –> 00:21:48,660Middle-class people are saying,50600:21:48,660 –> 00:21:49,939how much can God do for me now?50700:21:50,760 –> 00:21:51,640There’s all the difference in50800:21:51,640 –> 00:21:52,040the world.50900:21:53,300 –> 00:21:55,060So this kind of praying is going51000:21:55,060 –> 00:21:56,800to change the very nature of who51100:21:56,800 –> 00:21:57,439we are.51200:21:57,699 –> 00:21:59,280And it’s precisely the kind of51300:21:59,280 –> 00:22:01,319praying we need to learn when we51400:22:01,319 –> 00:22:03,680are experiencing in fresh ways,51500:22:03,699 –> 00:22:05,660the disturbance and the51600:22:05,660 –> 00:22:08,359dislocation of sensing great51700:22:08,359 –> 00:22:10,479shifts within our own culture51800:22:10,540 –> 00:22:14,660and evil wickedness evidently on51900:22:15,540 –> 00:22:16,040the rise.52000:22:16,079 –> 00:22:19,920So pray when the wicked seem to52100:22:21,119 –> 00:22:21,660be winning.52200:22:23,280 –> 00:22:24,319You’ve been listening to Pastor52300:22:24,319 –> 00:22:25,800Colin Smith on Open the Bible52400:22:26,060 –> 00:22:27,400and a message called how to52500:22:27,400 –> 00:22:28,920pray when the wicked seem to be52600:22:28,920 –> 00:22:29,439winning.52700:22:29,959 –> 00:22:31,119And if you’ve missed any of the52800:22:31,119 –> 00:22:32,479message or if you’ve missed any52900:22:32,500 –> 00:22:33,880of the messages in our series,53000:22:34,140 –> 00:22:35,239you can always catch up or go53100:22:35,239 –> 00:22:37,079back and listen again online at53200:22:37,979 –> 00:22:40,479open the Bible dot org dot UK.53300:22:40,719 –> 00:22:42,400Open the Bible is able to stay53400:22:42,400 –> 00:22:44,079on the radio and on the internet53500:22:44,400 –> 00:22:45,880because of the very generous53600:22:45,880 –> 00:22:48,040donations made by our listeners.53700:22:48,219 –> 00:22:50,040So if you already give to support53800:22:50,040 –> 00:22:50,819Open the Bible,53900:22:51,119 –> 00:22:52,239thank you so much.54000:22:52,640 –> 00:22:53,800If that’s something that you’ve54100:22:53,800 –> 00:22:55,000been considering doing in the54200:22:55,000 –> 00:22:55,500future,54300:22:55,760 –> 00:22:57,719each month we aim to offer a54400:22:57,719 –> 00:22:59,760special gift in return for54500:22:59,760 –> 00:23:01,739setting up a new support payment54600:23:01,739 –> 00:23:02,959for Open the Bible.54700:23:03,199 –> 00:23:04,619If you’re able to set up a new54800:23:04,619 –> 00:23:06,439monthly direct debit of five54900:23:06,479 –> 00:23:08,219pounds per month or more,55000:23:08,540 –> 00:23:10,199or a one off gift of fifty55100:23:10,199 –> 00:23:11,040pounds or more,55200:23:11,319 –> 00:23:12,819we’d love to say thank you,55300:23:13,040 –> 00:23:14,579by sending you a copy of Colin55400:23:14,579 –> 00:23:15,359Smith’s book,55500:23:15,680 –> 00:23:16,819Fly Through The Bible.55600:23:17,319 –> 00:23:19,239Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda55700:23:19,239 –> 00:23:20,680Cunningham to talk about the55800:23:20,680 –> 00:23:22,699book and also about some other55900:23:22,699 –> 00:23:24,099exciting resources which are56000:23:24,099 –> 00:23:25,920free for everyone to receive.56100:23:26,119 –> 00:23:27,239Thanks David.56200:23:27,280 –> 00:23:28,199Well if you’ve been listening56300:23:28,199 –> 00:23:30,020for a while you’ll know that we56400:23:30,020 –> 00:23:32,040love to give away a free book56500:23:32,119 –> 00:23:33,800each month when you donate –56600:23:33,800 –> 00:23:35,560either a one off gift of fifty56700:23:35,560 –> 00:23:37,219pounds or more or by setting up56800:23:37,239 –> 00:23:38,920a new direct debit of at least56900:23:38,920 –> 00:23:39,800five pounds.57000:23:40,280 –> 00:23:42,119But this July and August we’re57100:23:42,119 –> 00:23:43,839doing something extra special.57200:23:44,280 –> 00:23:46,260We’ve launched a campaign full57300:23:46,260 –> 00:23:48,160of free resources to help you57400:23:48,239 –> 00:23:49,880open the Bible with others57500:23:50,239 –> 00:23:52,380because we know that can be hard57600:23:52,459 –> 00:23:53,819and we want to equip you.57700:23:54,319 –> 00:23:54,900So yes,57800:23:54,920 –> 00:23:56,619you’ll still get a free copy of57900:23:56,619 –> 00:23:57,939Fly Through The Bible when you58000:23:57,939 –> 00:23:58,579donate,58100:23:58,880 –> 00:24:01,199but anyone can now access a58200:24:01,199 –> 00:24:03,640whole set of free tools.58300:24:04,239 –> 00:24:06,020We’ve got a video series where58400:24:06,020 –> 00:24:07,939Colin Smith walks through each58500:24:07,939 –> 00:24:09,500session of the Fly Through the58600:24:09,500 –> 00:24:11,380Bible course on our website.58700:24:11,900 –> 00:24:12,880There’s a free App.58800:24:12,959 –> 00:24:14,599Just search Fly through the58900:24:14,599 –> 00:24:16,060Bible in your app store.59000:24:16,560 –> 00:24:17,800And if you’re a church leader59100:24:17,839 –> 00:24:19,239thinking you head to September.59200:24:19,520 –> 00:24:22,760Head to open the Bible.org.uk59300:24:23,000 –> 00:24:25,459forwardslash fly and download59400:24:25,459 –> 00:24:27,239our free small group discussion59500:24:27,239 –> 00:24:27,719guide.59600:24:28,180 –> 00:24:30,099We really pray these resources59700:24:30,099 –> 00:24:32,079bless you and those around you59800:24:32,180 –> 00:24:33,920as you open the Bible together.59900:24:34,400 –> 00:24:36,079And what better place to start60000:24:36,160 –> 00:24:38,359than a journey through the Bible60100:24:38,400 –> 00:24:38,839story.60200:24:38,880 –> 00:24:39,660Thanks, Amanda.60300:24:40,319 –> 00:24:41,640You can access these free60400:24:41,640 –> 00:24:44,040resources at our website60500:24:45,260 –> 00:24:46,040openthebible.ork.uk60600:24:46,359 –> 00:24:48,280and you can download the Fly60700:24:48,280 –> 00:24:50,599App at the Apple App Store or60800:24:50,699 –> 00:24:51,540Google Play.60900:24:51,959 –> 00:24:53,459Our offer to send you a copy of61000:24:53,459 –> 00:24:55,060Colin’s book Fly Through the61100:24:55,060 –> 00:24:57,040Bible is available all this61200:24:57,040 –> 00:24:59,280month full details terms and61300:24:59,280 –> 00:25:00,800conditions are on our website61400:25:00,959 –> 00:25:03,439openthebible.org.uk61500:25:03,599 –> 00:25:05,099And you can give online.61600:25:05,479 –> 00:25:06,500For Open the Bible,61700:25:06,760 –> 00:25:08,599Pastor Colin Smith I’m David61800:25:08,619 –> 00:25:10,160Pick and I hope you’ll join us61900:25:10,160 –> 00:25:11,160again next time.62000:25:17,359 –> 00:25:18,819It’s hard enough to pray when62100:25:18,819 –> 00:25:20,199the wicked seem to be winning.62200:25:20,520 –> 00:25:22,479So how can you pray when God62300:25:22,479 –> 00:25:23,640seems far away?62400:25:24,479 –> 00:25:26,040Find out next time on Open the62500:25:26,040 –> 00:25:26,560Bible.