WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.559 So now before our guest speaker comes this morning, a brief word of introduction. 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:10.240 We have the privilege of hearing a message from our own uh Frank Donnaruma, who's a church member here. 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:14.960 Frank is from New Jersey, grew up in Piscataway in a close-knit Italian-American family. 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:18.719 He and his wife Kathy recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:21.120 Let's congratulate them on their 50 years. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:22.960 Awesome. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:30.000 They have been blessed with three adult sons, three daughters-in-law, eight grandchildren. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.039 Frank is a veteran with the United States Air Force. 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:42.240 He spent about the last 40 years or so, though, uh serving the Wachung and Central New Jersey communities through his chiropractic practice. 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:44.640 So he's our something that's borrowed today. 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:49.920 We're going to borrow him from the professional realm and we're going to use him in the ministry context this morning. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:58.240 Frank has a long and accomplished professional life, but there's another story that he considers to be far more important, and that is his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:06.000 Frank has come to understand that Christianity is not simply about religious observance, but about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:14.640 And in recent years, he's become increasingly involved in Bible teaching, men's ministry, mentorship, discipleship, and Christian mentoring. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:22.400 One of the convictions that has shaped his ministry is the reality that conversion is just the beginning of the Christian life, not the conclusion. 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:24.719 That's really the heart of discipleship, isn't it? 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:33.760 That Jesus calls us to believe in him, but then he also calls us to follow him and to obey him and ultimately to become increasingly more like him. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:37.599 Alright, it's good to be with you here this morning and be able to share God's word. 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:39.439 What a privilege and an honor. 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:43.920 And, you know, as this is the second time I'm doing the message. 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:50.319 In the first service, I thought Dave was going to say, I was the old, but he made me the borrowed. 00:01:50.319 --> 00:01:53.040 So I really appreciate that very, very much. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:55.120 So thank you for that. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:02:02.879 You know, as you heard, this whole service is centered around Psalm 121, and that's what we're going to be discussing today. 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:07.680 It's a wonderful psalm, which I'm sure many of you, you know, are very familiar with. 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:16.159 But I'm hoping that we can dig a little deeper into this psalm today and glean something that will really bless our lives, not only now, but for the future as well. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:26.479 You know, when I started to prepare this message, I remembered an incident that happened to me and my granddaughter Kayla when she was about three or four years old. 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:28.719 She's now 20 years old. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:34.000 And the wonderful thing is, and I know you're gonna appreciate that, guess who just texted me? 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.840 Kayla just texted me and said, I'm praying for you, Poppy. 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:41.599 So, I mean, what a blessing to have grandchildren that are praying for you. 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:49.520 But I remember when she was three or four years old, um, my wife and I would often take all of our grandkids into New York City at one time or another. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:53.759 Because New York City is just a plethora of culture. 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:59.439 And so we used to like to go to the zoo, the museums, to plays, uh, just walk around Central Park. 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:04.879 We just love taking the kids into New York City, but we never drove into New York City. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:06.719 We always used to take the train. 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:10.639 And the reason we took the train is because of the crowds and the traffic and all of that. 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:23.680 But I remember this particular day when we were going into the city, um, I was holding Kayla's hand, and she's just a wee little thing, and I was holding her hand, and we were about to step on the train, but she says, Papa, you don't need to hold my hand. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:25.680 I'm I'm not an adult now, I'm old. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:28.159 I said, You're not old, I'm holding your hand. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:36.560 And wouldn't you know, just as we were about to step onto the train, you know that space between the platform and the actual car? 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:40.000 Wouldn't you know she slipped and she fell right into it? 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:48.719 And here I am, holding her by the hand, and she's dangling in that space, and I just lifted her out, set her up, and then we got on the train. 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:53.680 But I thought of that and I said, wow, what a picture of Psalm 121. 00:03:53.680 --> 00:04:04.479 I'll tell you, while I was holding her, it was a little scary, but I'll tell you this: she was my most precious possession, and there was no way I was ever gonna let her go. 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:11.439 I was holding on to her as strongly as I could because I knew I was her keeper, I was her protector. 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:14.719 And that's what Psalm 121 is all about. 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:20.079 You know, even when I was holding her, though, later on I began to think of my own journey. 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:35.199 And when I was holding her in that moment, there's probably been many times during the course of my life where I felt like I was the one slipping into that dark, unknown space, looking for either a fatherly or maybe even a grandfatherly hand just to catch me. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:39.439 So let me ask you guys today: have you ever felt that way? 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:42.639 Have you ever slipped into a health crisis? 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:45.680 Have you ever slipped into losing your job? 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:52.079 Have you ever slipped into a situation where your prodigal child is so far from home? 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:58.240 Have you ever slipped and recognized your need for a hand and reach out and catch you? 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:05.439 Well, if you have, I have great news for you today, because today that's what Psalm 121 is all about. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:18.800 My friends, Psalm 121 is a psalm for people just like you and me who need to know that we serve a God who is the one holding on to us even when we feel like we're slipping and we're falling. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:26.879 Another reason I chose Psalm 121 was because it reminded me a lot of our Heavenly Father, the God who keeps both you and me. 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:35.199 It reminded me of the God who I've entrusted my whole life to and helped me walk through life in both the good times and the bad times. 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:45.439 It reminded me of the God whose love, mercy, and grace were demonstrated through the life, death, and resurrection of his only Son, Jesus Christ. 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:47.759 My friends, I'll say it again. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:58.160 Psalm 121 is a psalm for people just like you and me who need to know this: that God is the one holding on to us, not the other way around. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:05:59.680 I'll say it again. 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:04.319 God is the one holding on to us, not the other way around. 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:07.040 So before we unpack this psalm, let's pray. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:12.639 Just add God's blessing on our day and this message and um and just commit it to Him. 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:14.000 So would you pray with me? 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:18.000 Father, I just thank you for this opportunity to be your spokesman today. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:23.439 Lord, you know that I need your anointing, your unction, your power, because by myself I am only a man. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:28.879 But when power comes from on high, Lord God, you can anoint anyone with a message. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:30.959 And so I ask you for that today. 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:43.680 But I also ask you, Lord, for those that are listening, either here or online, that you would open their hearts and minds to receive something from this message that would not only bless them, that would challenge them and would make a difference in their lives. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:47.680 Lord, you are so good, you are so glorious, and you are so faithful. 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:49.519 And I ask this all in Jesus' name. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:52.240 And God's people said, Amen. 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:57.680 You know, before I start getting into this message, I was challenged this morning. 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:07.920 Uh we have a men's prayer meeting that we do from 8 to 8:45 before every Sunday service, and the women, they do a similar one as well over in the family life building. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:13.279 And uh they're so good that they pray for all of you, but they also pray for me as well. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:22.639 And uh one of the guys in there challenged me and says, you know, if you're a really good speaker, I could pretty much give you any word and you should be able to fit it into the message. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:25.120 I said, Well, thanks, Vince. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:26.399 I really appreciate that. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:28.240 I said, What's the word? 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.160 He said, watermelon. 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:31.759 Pay attention. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:34.240 I'm gonna get it in here somehow, some way. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:36.879 I'm gonna get watermelon into this message. 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:42.800 But anyway, Psalm 121 begins with a simple but a pr very profound line. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:45.759 It says, I lift my eyes to the hills. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:47.920 Where does my help come from? 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:54.319 Now you see, this is a good line because this was part of what they call the songs of ascent, the Psalms of Ascent. 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.759 It was sung by travelers making their way to Jerusalem. 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:01.519 And the journey was long, and at times it was very dangerous. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:10.160 These hills were places where thieves hid, where wild animals lurked, and where travelers often felt extremely exposed. 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:16.879 The sun was scorching by day, and the nights were cold, and the journey was very, very uncertain at times. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:19.680 But then what does the psalmist say next? 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:24.319 He says, My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:33.440 My friends, right here, this sets up the rest of the psalm where we will discover three truths about our heavenly Father. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:40.080 And the first truth we'll see in verses one and two, and that God is our creator and our help. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:47.279 And in the verses three to six, we'll see the second truth about our heavenly father, and that God is our constant keeper. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:53.120 And lastly, in verses seven and eight, we'll see that God is our lifelong guardian. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:55.360 So, with that in mind, let's attack. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:09:02.799 Let's look at verses one and two again and see that our Heavenly Father is our God, our creator, and our help. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:07.360 The psalmist here, he looks to the hills, as I had mentioned earlier. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:11.279 These were symbols of danger, they were symbols of uncertainty and fear. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:14.960 And then he asks, Where does my help come from? 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:16.960 He doesn't deny the danger. 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:19.360 He doesn't pretend the hills aren't there. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:21.759 He simply looks higher than the hills. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.039 He looks up. 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:28.879 And here the psalmist uses the covenant word for God, the word Yahweh. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:41.679 It's the same God who revealed himself to Moses, who delivered Israel out of Egypt, who parted the Red Sea, who fed them when they were in the wilderness, who keeps his covenant with his people. 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:47.840 My friends, this is not some generic deity that the other tribes and people were worshiping. 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:51.600 This is the God who bound himself to his people. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:10:00.720 You know, I heard a story recently about a group of hikers who once attended, uh tried to uh climb a mountain in the Rockies, and the weather suddenly turned. 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:01.919 It got really violent. 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:07.279 The fog rolled in, the visibility dropped, and panic set in amongst all the hikers. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:10.639 But the guide, he remained calm through the whole ordeal. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:13.519 And one of the hikers asked him, Aren't you worried? 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:14.879 Aren't you afraid? 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:17.360 And the guide just looked at him and he said this. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:18.639 He said, You know what? 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:22.159 He says, I have climbed this mountain hundreds of times. 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:27.919 I know every rock, every turn, every nook, every cravice, every uh cliff. 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:32.399 My friends, you may not see the path, but I see the path. 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:33.759 You can trust me. 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:37.519 And that's exactly what the psalmist is saying here. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:42.080 You might not see the way, but your God does. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:43.360 Amen. 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:45.120 Your God does. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:52.399 So I ask you today, where do you look when the diagnosis comes back not as you had hoped for? 00:10:52.399 --> 00:11:02.960 When the job is uncertain, when the family is struggling, when the future feels foggy and you don't know where to turn next. 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:06.320 My friends, we need to lift our eyes up. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.559 We need to lift our eyes up. 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:11.279 Our help does not come from the hills. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:14.000 Our help does not come from the economy. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:16.720 Our help does not come from the government. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:20.399 Our help does not even come from our own strength. 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:23.519 Our help comes from the Lord God Almighty. 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:24.240 Amen? 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:28.399 That's where our help comes from, the Lord God Almighty. 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:29.360 So let's keep going. 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:38.240 Let's look at verses 3 and 6, where the psalmist will reveal the next truth that we see about our Heavenly Father, and that God is our constant keeper. 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:42.240 You see, the key word in this psalm is the word keep. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:52.559 Now, depending on what translation you have, it may appear in different English words, but the Hebrew word here is the word shamar. 00:11:52.559 --> 00:12:02.399 And the word shamar means to guard, it means to watch over, it means to protect, to preserve, uh, to attend to carefully. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:04.879 That is what this word means. 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:09.440 And my friends, this is not ordinary language that the psalmist is using. 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:11.759 This is, again, covenant language. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:15.840 God keeps his people because God keeps his promises. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:18.399 That's why we can trust God. 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:24.720 So in verse 3, the psalmist opens up with this He helps keep our feet from slipping. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:29.360 Remember, the paths that these travelers walked were rocky and they were uneven. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:34.320 I might even suggest they were probably even more dangerous than a New Jersey transit platform. 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:39.840 But for these pilgrims who traveled as families, a slip could be fatal. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:46.240 It's a real good picture of the ups and downs that we all experience in our lives and our faith walk as well. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:55.679 You see, in scripture, slipping feet symbolize some type of moral failure or spiritual instability or some type of lurking danger. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:13:00.399 But my friends, God does not promise us that we will never stumble. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:05.039 But what he does promise us is that we will never be abandoned by him. 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.080 Amen? 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:08.240 We will never be abandoned by him. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:12.240 He watches over every single step. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:21.679 You know, in the 1800s, there was a man named Charles Blondin, and he was famous because he walked across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:22.879 Can you imagine that? 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:28.879 He walked across, and thousands, thousands of people would come to watch this marvelous feat. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:34.879 Well, one day he decided I'm gonna carry a man on my back and walk all the way across. 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:40.320 Now, this was not some ordinary man or some random volunteer from the crowd. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:43.120 I mean, let's face it, who's volunteering for that? 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.159 I know I'm not. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:45.759 I'd be scared spitless. 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:50.879 I mean, I get I get dizzy and woozy when I'm watching a movie and they show you over a cliff. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:52.799 So there's no way I'm going in there. 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:55.039 But you know who he carried on his back? 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:56.559 His manager. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:59.039 He carried his manager on his back. 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:03.360 And after the walk was complete, the people asked the manager, weren't you afraid? 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:05.200 Weren't you kind of frightened? 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:06.559 He says, not really. 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:08.720 He says, Charles told me, just hold on. 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:10.480 And all I had to do was hold on. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:11.919 He did all the balancing. 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:13.679 And I just trusted him. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:16.399 He watches every step. 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:19.039 And what a picture that is for us. 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:22.720 God says, you do not have to balance your life alone. 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:25.919 I am the one that will keep your feet from slipping. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:33.360 He then says in verse 4, he says, He who watches over you will neither slumber or sleep. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:38.080 You see, in ancient times, God's were believed to sleep. 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:46.320 In fact, you know, as I was just meditating before the um the message and just listening to the music, God just put this on my heart. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:48.080 And I said, Yeah, I'll share that. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:52.000 You remember Elijah uh confronting the prophets of Baal? 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:56.080 I don't know if you're familiar with that story, but Elijah, what a character he was. 00:14:56.080 --> 00:15:00.399 When the prophets of Baal couldn't conjure up their God, he started harassing them. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.600 And he says, What's the matter? 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:02.799 You're God sleeping? 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:04.720 He says, My God doesn't sleep. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:13.679 And I think that's the picture that the psalmist is trying to show us here is the picture that we see when we see Elijah taunting those prophets, saying, What's the matter? 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:15.279 Does your God sleep? 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:18.399 But you know what made the God of Israel different? 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:20.240 Is he never dozed off. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:21.440 He never slept. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:29.840 One of the greatest comforts, I believe, for a follower of Jesus is knowing that God never takes a break from caring for his people. 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:38.159 Psalm 121.4 reminds us, indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:41.759 You see, unlike us, God never grows tired. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:43.759 He never becomes distracted. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:46.960 He never misses a moment of what's happening in our lives. 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:50.399 And when you think about this, this is really mind-boggling, isn't it? 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:56.799 When you think of a God who knows everything, I mean it's hard to comprehend the God that we serve. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:07.360 In fact, I think the average American Christian has a very, very diminished and weak view of the God that I worship and the God that's demonstrated through the Bible. 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:12.000 I think the average American Christian thinks God's only just a little smarter than them. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:14.320 But God is way smarter than you. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:16.240 God is way smarter than me. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:20.960 This is the immaterial God that transcends time, space, and matter. 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:28.559 This is the God who not only created the universe, but he created billions of universes outside our own. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:32.480 Is it too much to think that God knows the number of hairs on our head? 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:37.039 This is the God who says that he's the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end. 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:44.159 This is the God who shows love and mercy through his son, Jesus Christ, and pays the penalty so that we might be reconciled back to him. 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:45.759 That's the God that I serve. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:47.679 What's the God that you serve? 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:52.799 I want to serve that God, not the American God. 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:54.799 I want to serve the biblical God. 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:55.600 Amen? 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.799 Amen. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:01.440 You know, it is mind-boggling, but we, we're mortal. 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:02.399 We need to sleep. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:06.160 Our bodies are limited, but God is unlimited in power. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:10.799 He's unlimited in wisdom and he's unlimited in attention. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:17.119 You know, it reminds me of a story in the New Testament where Jesus and the disciples were in the boat during a massive storm. 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:24.240 And all these seasoned fishermen, they were terrified while Jesus appeared to be sleeping in the back of the boat. 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:31.519 Yet even then, the Son of God was fully aware of their situation and he was completely in control. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:40.480 In the same way, there are times in our lives when God seems silent, when he seems like he's not there, but he is never absent. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:42.000 He is never absent. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:44.640 He is constantly keeping us. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:55.599 Perhaps today you're carrying a burden that keeps you awake at night, a health concern, a family struggle, a financial need, or the uncertainty about the future. 00:17:55.599 --> 00:18:04.079 My friends, this verse reminds us that while we may lie awake worrying, God is awake watching over us. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:11.039 The one who holds the universe together is also keeping watch over all of his creation. 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:15.200 And because God never sleeps, we can rest. 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:20.640 Because God never stumbles and slumbers, we can trust. 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:29.680 Our security is not found in our ability to control circumstances, but in God's faithful care for us. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:31.440 I'll say it again. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:43.279 Our security is not found in our ability to control circumstances, but in God's faithful care for all of us. 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:58.720 It's amazing when you really think that how important it is to understand that, because we are going to go through trials, we are going to go through difficult times, but we need to reinforce the fundamentals of our faith that God is who he says he is. 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:11.839 As we continue in verse 5 and 6, the uh psalmist says, The Lord is our keeper, the Lord is our shade at our right hand, the sun shall not strike us by day, nor the moon by night. 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:18.319 In verse 5 and 6, the psalmist gives us a beautiful picture of God's personal care for his people. 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:23.119 And he uses imagery that would have really resonated with the Jewish people at that time. 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:29.119 You see, here the image of shade was especially meaningful in the hot climate of Israel. 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:35.039 You see, in some places, the average temper temperature would get over 90 to 100 degrees. 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:42.559 And travelers often journeyed under a blazing sun that could exhaust them, weaken them, and even threaten their lives. 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:47.279 You see, shade for them was not merely a comfort, it was a protection. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:53.599 And I really identified with that particular part of this verse more than anything this year. 00:19:53.599 --> 00:20:01.920 For those of you that do know me, my without any question, my biggest passion in life is following Jesus Christ. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.519 There is no question about that. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:08.880 But then I have a second passion that I have to guard against is being idle in my life, and that's golf. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:11.279 Because I like to play a lot of golf. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.640 Who have golfers in here? 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:14.640 If you're a golfer, raise your hand. 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:16.079 You're a golfer? 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:19.200 Well, we'll get, we'll connect, baby. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:19.920 We'll connect. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:23.200 So, anyway, I love to play golf, but I'm stupid. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:24.880 I'm just a stupid golfer. 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:29.839 Golfer is a game where you kind of get addicted to it and you want to play all the time. 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:34.079 And I don't know about you, but this has been one of the hottest summers on record for New Jersey. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:46.720 I mean, it has been in the hundreds, uh, the mid-100s, the teen 100s, and so stupid Frank on one of those hot 100 days, decides, I'm gonna play Warren Brook Golf Course. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:50.240 And if you've never played Warren Brook Golf Course, it's right around the corner here. 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:56.400 It's really hilly, it's really tight, and that day the heat index was 110. 00:20:56.400 --> 00:21:04.880 So my wife, who tell who cares for me very, very well, that's why we've been married 50 years, she says, Frank, you should take a cart. 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:07.440 I'm too tough for a cart. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:09.440 I'm go, I'm walking. 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:14.480 And the reason I walk is because I have a remote control cart, so I just press a button and it follows me around. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:16.559 So it's usually a really nice walk. 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:19.519 But on this day, it was not a nice walk. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:21.440 It was a horrendous walk. 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:30.960 I got through six holes and I literally was nauseous, I was uneasy, I felt like I was gonna faint, and the only thing I wanted to do was find some shade. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:35.119 I wanted to find a bench with some shade just so I can recompose myself. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:40.000 And the and it wasn't a problem because I was the only stupid one on the course that day. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.440 So I did. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:49.920 I found this bench with a nice shade, I got hydrated, and after about 10 minutes, I got my my second wind back and I finished the round. 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:54.400 But I want you to understand that was just a bunch of trees and a bench. 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:59.599 However, here the psalmist says that God Himself is our shade. 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:01.440 Some tree or bench. 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:08.000 And I want you to notice here this too that God says God doesn't merely provide shade like a tree. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:10.799 He says the Lord is our shade. 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:13.200 God is not distant from our struggle. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:15.279 He is personally present in them. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:21.599 And he stands close enough to shield us from the things that would conceivably overwhelm us. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:26.400 Now the phrase at your right hand speaks of his nearness and strength. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:30.240 In ancient times, the right hand was often associated with action. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:35.200 It was associated with power, but it was also associated with defense as well. 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:38.960 And here, God is not far away. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:47.119 After the psalmist then mentions both day and night. 00:22:47.119 --> 00:23:05.200 Now this is important because in these times the sun often represented to these people the visible pressures and hardships of life, while the moon, on the other hand, represented some of the uncertainties and dangers that we all seem to experience and that are greater in the darkness of our lives. 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:09.839 But together, they represented every circumstance that we may face. 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:16.559 Now, I want you to understand, this does not mean that followers of Jesus Christ will never experience trials. 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:24.240 Rather, what it means is that nothing can touch our lives apart from God's loving oversight. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:33.359 My friends, the heat may be intense, the night may be dark, but God remains our protector and keeper. 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:34.160 Amen. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:35.440 Amen. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:40.400 Whatever burden you may be carrying today, remember this promise. 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:42.319 God is near. 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:49.680 He is your shade in the heat of life's trials and your comfort in the darkness of uncertainty. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:56.319 The Lord who watches over you never slumbers or sleep and always stays by your side. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:58.079 And I understand this. 00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:04.799 Because about four years ago, I went to renew or get another insurance policy, life insurance policy. 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:10.000 And when you get a life insurance policy, you have to go for a physical exam and a blood test. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:11.599 And so I did what I was supposed to. 00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:17.680 I went back, and then I got the blood test results, and it said that I had high markers for my prostate. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:20.559 And I said, okay, and they recommended I see a urologist. 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:23.599 So I saw a urologist, he examined me, sent me for an MRI. 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:30.319 And since I'm a physician, I often can get to see the MRI even before the prescribing doctor gets to see it. 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:41.920 So when I got to work about two days later, I said to the girls at the front desk, I said, do me a favor, go online, see if my report's there, and then just put it on my desk because I wanted to see what the results were, you know? 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:44.720 And so they did exactly as I told them. 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:46.960 I sat down, I saw the report was there. 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:49.759 And as a doctor, and I think uh Dr. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:56.799 Williams might appreciate this if he looks at a lot of these things, there's a lot of stuff before the summary, and what they call the impressions. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.480 But I went right to the impressions. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:00.079 I didn't have to read all the other stuff. 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:02.960 I wanted to know the crux of what they found. 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:10.079 And I looked at it and I looked at it and I read it and I said, wow, Frank, you have prostate cancer. 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:13.519 What? 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:16.720 I take pretty good care of myself, Lord. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:21.839 You know, I eat pretty good, I exercise, I have prostate cancer. 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:24.799 And then I paused and I said, No, you know what? 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.640 This is a time that you pray. 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:34.000 And so I bowed my head and I remember, I can't exactly remember exactly what I prayed, but I remember the first prayer I prayed. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:40.480 I lowered my head and I said, Lord, I said, your word tells me to be thankful in all circumstances. 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:55.039 Although I don't like what I'm reading on this paper, I'm gonna thank you for this prostate cancer and I'm gonna ask you to use it for your glory because I don't know whether I'm gonna live or die from this, but I know this to live is Christ and to die is gained. 00:25:55.039 --> 00:26:00.640 And I know I am securely held in your hands, and whenever you're ready to take me, I'm ready to go. 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:02.799 And that was the gist of my prayer. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:04.799 But you want to know something? 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:24.079 At that particular point, I knew, and I've been a Christian for over 40 years, I knew that I knew that I knew that there was a God and He was protecting me and He had my life in His hands because I understood for the first time the peace that passes all understanding. 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:35.119 Now you would have thought with a diagnosis like that that I would have been afraid, that I would have been anxious, that I would have been scared, but I had the peace that passed all understanding, and I wasn't afraid to die. 00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:36.400 Amen. 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:45.440 I mean, that's the God that I serve, that's the God that I worship, that's the God that Psalm 121 is talking about. 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:59.599 The psalmist leaves us in Psalm 121 with one of the greatest promises of all of Scripture, and in here we learn that God is our lifelong companion, a lifelong guardian. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:01.519 Let's look at verse 7 and 8. 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:09.759 The Lord will keep you from all evil, he will keep your life, the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:18.640 Now, when the psalmist says the Lord will keep you from all evil, it's interesting because um, you know, I messed up the watermelon thing. 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:22.799 Gosh! Oh man, I'm so disappointed now. 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:24.000 But here it is. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:25.200 You want it or not? 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:27.119 You want the watermelon thing? 00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:31.839 So I fit it in so perfectly this morning. 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:39.680 Well, I'm sitting on that stupid bench while I was playing off with the shade over my head, and all I could think about was eating a big piece of watermelon. 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:43.440 There, it's over with, got that out of the way. 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:48.960 Anyway, so that's that's done. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:51.440 But let's again look at verse 7 and 8. 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:55.200 Uh it's amazing things that go through your head. 00:27:55.200 --> 00:28:01.839 Anyway, the Lord will keep you from all evil, he'll keep your life, the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:10.000 And so when the psalmist says the Lord will keep you from all evil, he is not saying believers will never face trouble or sickness or hardship. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:18.240 I mean, let's face it, we all know from our own experiences and reading scripture that trials do indeed come to God's people. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:28.960 But rather, what the Lord what the psalmist is saying here is the promise is that evil will never ultimately triumph over us because we belong to God. 00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:34.640 Nothing can separate us from his love and nothing can thwart his purpose for our life. 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:38.000 That's what it means that he will keep us from all evil. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:41.200 We are eternally secure in him. 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:42.559 Amen. 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:43.680 Amen. 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:50.480 Now, when he talks about he will keep your life, what a comforting truth when you think about it. 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:59.440 God is not concerned just with our circumstances like we've talked about, he's concerned with our very souls, who we are, our life. 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:06.720 And he guards us spiritually, and he strengthens us in weakness, and he preserves us for eternity. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:13.200 And then the psalmist goes on to say, the Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:29.200 And this is a Hebrew expression that means every aspect of life, whether you are leaving home or returning, whether you're beginning a journey or ending one, whether you are experiencing joy or you're walking through sorrow, God is watching over us. 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:31.839 And I want you to notice the time frame here. 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:33.279 What's the time frame? 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:37.200 Not only now, but forever, forevermore. 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:44.319 And I don't know who else needs to hear this, he needs to hear this today besides me, but God's care does not expire. 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:46.799 His protection is not temporary. 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:52.960 From this moment into eternity, the Lord remains our lifelong keeper. 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:53.839 Amen. 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.960 Amen. 00:29:54.960 --> 00:30:04.160 Well, in closing, I'm reminded of a story of a man who once sat on a plane during a very turbulent storm, and the turbulence was intense. 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:07.839 The people were gripping their seats and just holding on for dear life. 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:10.559 Have you ever been on a flight like that or been scared on a flight? 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:12.160 Yeah, I mean, I have. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:21.359 But a little girl across from the aisle from him was just calmly coloring in her coloring book, and the man looked over and asked her. 00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:24.000 He said, Aren't you afraid? 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:26.240 And she said, No. 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:30.480 She says, My daddy's the pilot and he's taking me home. 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:33.440 My friends, that's Psalm 121. 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:35.039 That's it in a nutshell. 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:38.160 If you remember that, remember anything, remember that. 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:41.200 My daddy's the pilot and he's taking me home. 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:42.000 Amen. 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:44.000 He's taking us home. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:46.960 That's the beauty of Psalm 121. 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:57.200 So, as I invite the worship team up, you know, I vividly remember that day when I was holding my granddaughter Kayla in that space. 00:30:57.200 --> 00:31:03.519 And I'll tell you, my wife and I, our grandchildren are some of our most precious possessions. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:05.519 And I was never gonna let her go. 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:07.119 I was never gonna lose her. 00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:10.559 I was gonna hold her, I'll hold on to her or go down with her. 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:17.119 I mean, that's as simple as it is, but we were never gonna let her go because we were her keeper. 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:24.559 You know, Jesus said in John chapter 10 that when we come to him, nothing can snatch us out of his hand. 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:29.519 So my question for you today, have you come to him? 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:32.160 I mean, have you really come to him? 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:35.680 My friends, the good news of the gospel is simply this. 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:46.400 Although our sin separates us from God, Jesus Christ died for our sins on that cross and he then rose from the dead, defeating both sin and death. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:57.519 And he offers forgiveness, eternal life, and reconciliation with God to everyone who would ask his forgiveness and trust in his finished work alone. 00:31:57.519 --> 00:32:03.279 If that is you, then I challenge you today to reach out and put your trust in him. 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:05.599 I'll be available at the end of the service. 00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:11.440 If you like to talk more about what it means to follow Jesus, I would love to have that conversation with you. 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:18.160 My friends, in closing, you know, we're gonna face a lot of uncertainty and troubles in this world. 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:19.200 It's evident. 00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:21.839