WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:01.360 Well, good morning. 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:02.240 My name is Sam. 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:03.439 I'm a student pastor here. 00:00:03.520 --> 00:00:07.120 I've been serving here at Redeemer for about two, two and a half years. 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:10.720 You might be thinking, this kid looks 16, and I get that a lot. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:15.359 And so I'm surprisingly on staff here with my face, my baby face. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:16.879 But um here we are. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:17.920 So thanks for coming. 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:21.359 I'm excited to dive into this word with y'all this morning. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:26.079 Uh over the past couple weeks, we've been going phrase by phrase through Psalm 23. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:28.000 We've been going at it really slowly. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:37.920 Um and one thing we've seen is that, as many of you all know, it is maybe the most famous psalm poem and even chapter of the Bible that anybody knows. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:42.079 I mean, a lot of us have coffee mugs with it on and many other things. 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:44.719 And you might be wondering, we're still in Psalm 23? 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:47.200 Uh yes, uh, we're almost there. 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:54.079 But one thing I will say, one thing I have personally been so encouraged by and reminded of is that the Word of God is an inexhaustible will. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:59.280 Every word, phrase, and verse has a level of depth that on this side of heaven we'll never reach. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:01.039 And that's that's incredible. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:14.959 The reason is because every word, phrase, and letter is inspired and given to us by the living God of the universe, and therefore our minds cannot even comprehend the depth and beauty and riches that are in this verse. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:20.239 So we could truly be in Psalm 23 until we all pass away and we'd still never get to the bottom of it. 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:24.000 Because that's how rich and wise our God is. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:28.079 There's a lot here for us this morning, so I'm just going to pray and then we'll dive in. 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:33.599 Father, we ask that in your goodness and mercy you would open our eyes to your word this morning. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:40.239 Father, this word is not just a newspaper, it's not just any other book, but Lord, this is the inspired word come from you. 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:51.359 Uh you, Lord, have spoken this word through this man David to be for us something of encouragement, of comfort, of consolation, even of lament. 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:56.879 Uh so, Father, I pray that by your spirit you would quicken us and awaken us to hear what you have for us, Lord. 00:01:56.959 --> 00:01:59.920 Apart from your spirit, we can never understand this in its fullness. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:08.080 And so, Father, I pray that you would send your spirit in this moment, uh, not to see uh me, but to see the beauty of Jesus through this passage. 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:10.639 And Father, we ask all this in Jesus' name. 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:11.520 Amen. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:18.319 So we find ourselves today in verse 6, specifically 6a of the 23rd Psalm. 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:24.639 So far, we've wandered through this poetic uh comfort from David, and we've seen a couple themes. 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:30.400 Uh number one, we find rest and peace for our weary souls from the consolation of the shepherd. 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:36.639 The guidance, the presence of our shepherd, that is what ultimately comforts and sustains our hearts. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:47.520 Also, we're led to places of rest by this Good Shepherd, peace, but also we're led sometimes through valleys by our Good Shepherd. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:03:02.159 This verse that we read, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, is one so well known that the great poet, artist Leon Ivey Jr., aka Coolio, opens up his anthem of 1995, Gangsta's Paradise, right? 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:04.719 As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:10.080 Russ mentioned that song already, and though it is silly, there is a real point here. 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:17.280 All of us, Christian or non-Christian, endure hardship, endure suffering, disruptions. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:22.400 But David could find encouragement and peace here even in the valley. 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:23.439 Why? 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:26.879 Certainly it wasn't because David was crushing it. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:28.159 Remember, David? 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:36.719 The same David that not long after writing this psalm committed adultery, got Bathsheba pregnant, and then had her husband murdered, right? 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:39.840 This same David is secure in this valley. 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:43.599 Not because he's crushing it, but because God is there. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:47.759 And where God is, we believe is the fullness of peace. 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:51.120 Where God is, there is fullness of joy, fullness of security. 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:53.439 And David says, For you are with me. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:04:04.639 David finally lands at verse 6, for we are this morning, and says, This surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:07.520 Now, in the original language, this was written in in Hebrew. 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:09.680 This is seven words. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:11.360 Seven words in Hebrew. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:13.199 And here's my argument for us. 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:14.879 This is the whole point of this morning. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:16.079 It's kind of long. 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:19.040 But my type Airs, this is for you. 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:26.480 These seven words of Psalm 23, 6, sum up the entire covenantal love of God. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:34.560 And knowing this love of God that never gives up on his people blesses his people with an assurance that nothing else in this world can offer. 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:37.040 I'm going to read that one more time since it's long. 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:41.680 These seven words in the Hebrew sum up the entire covenantal love of God. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:50.240 And us knowing this love of God that never gives up on his people, blesses his people with an assurance that nothing else in this world can offer. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:05:04.000 This covenantal love is one that relentlessly chases after his people, that fights for the cause of his people, that separates seas for his people, that goes to the extent of sending his son to be murdered on a cross for his people. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:08.800 So, Christian, do you feel assured of your faith this morning? 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:11.920 Do you wonder if God is pleased with you? 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:15.439 Do you wonder if he looks on you with delight? 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:17.600 Maybe do you doubt that this morning? 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:21.519 Do you believe that he actually rejoices over you with song? 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:24.560 Do you wonder if maybe you're really a Christian? 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:27.680 Have you really found that assurance yet? 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:31.439 Through Christ Christian, you are spotless. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:39.040 Even if you might not feel secure in your faith, know that you are secure because God is far more committed to you than you are to him. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:43.120 So point number one this morning, based out of Psalm 23, 6a. 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:51.199 We have eternal assurance of our faith because of the attentive, watchful care of the Good Shepherd. 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:56.560 We have eternal assurance because of the attentive, watchful care of the Good Shepherd. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:04.160 This opening word here in verse 6, surely, that we hear all the time, it does not simply signify a high percent chance. 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:10.160 I've watched too many Georgia football games to know that a high percent chance is simply not good enough. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:26.399 But what I do love about the ESPN app is whenever I'm watching a game, whether it's Braves, Georgia, Falcons, whatever, there's this little ESPN line that they have in the app that shows the percent chance of the team based on the circumstances of the game. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:28.399 And it changes in real time. 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:32.639 There's this one game, every time I see this chart that comes to my mind. 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:35.439 And it happened on February 5th, 2017. 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:38.240 Luke Bryan sang the national anthem. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:41.199 And Lady Gaga did the halftime show. 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:44.720 That has nothing to do with the point of this, but I just think that's funny. 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:46.959 So the game was Super Bowl 51. 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:52.000 All right, some of us in this room have real wounds from this night, so I'm gonna spare us as much as possible. 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:53.759 The Falcons came out hot. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:54.720 Came out hot. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:59.759 We're crushing it, got up to the infamous 28-3 lead, right? 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.160 A number that Matt Ryan actually can't escape. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:06.319 He just got a football, and on that football, 2-8-3, it's a side note. 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:11.519 We got up to 28-3 with six minutes and four seconds to go in the third quarter. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:21.040 At this point, the ESPN win probability said that the Falcons had a 99.8% chance of winning this game. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:28.319 I was watching this game with some friends in Birmingham when I was at Samford, and they were like, like, Sam, dude, the Falcons have this in the bag. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:29.120 In the bag. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:30.800 And I was like, no, they don't. 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:32.000 I was like, I've been there. 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:39.279 I've watched too many Georgia football games, Falcons games, and Braves games to know that we ain't got it in the bag. 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:40.079 Right? 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:44.399 The win probability percentage is based on past statistics, right? 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:50.399 They they look back at other games that look like that game and therefore come to the conclusion of the percentage. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:52.319 So here's what's true. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:59.680 Since 2001, whenever there was an NFL game between two teams, and the score and time looked similar to this. 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:04.959 Maybe not exactly 28 to 3, maybe not exactly six minutes and four seconds, but it looks similar. 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:12.160 The teams that were in the lead, like the Falcons, won all 190 games in a row. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:15.839 Since 2001, 190 in oh. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:22.319 No one since 2001 had lost a game with this kind of lead. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:27.600 So check out this graph uh that I pulled up from the win percentage. 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:38.000 So for my non-sports people, okay, the top half is the Patriots logo, bottom half is the Falcons logo, that red line is the win percentage of each team. 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:43.039 So as it's going down, Falcons, as it's going up, up Patriots. 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:44.000 Right? 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:51.600 So as I look at this graph and as I think about 99.8, right, you see it right to the right of end third right there after halftime. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:53.759 That lowest point, 99.8%. 00:08:54.639 --> 00:09:00.879 Whenever I see 99.8%, my heart has been trained to see the point oh two, right? 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:03.039 That's what I've been trained to see. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:08.320 So David here is not giving us a 99.8% chance. 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:12.639 It's an emphatic pronouncement, one that is full of confidence. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:15.679 So, what does that mean for us this morning, Christian? 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:18.639 Your faith is not built on chance. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:21.440 Your faith is not built on chance. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:26.080 This pronouncement does not come out of either a self-righteous confidence from David. 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:34.159 It's coming out of the security he feels because he knows that his good shepherd is far more committed to him than he is to his good shepherd. 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:44.480 His good shepherd will, with attentive and watchful care, walk closely and intimately with him, even when David, when we wander. 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:50.080 We believe that every single part of the Bible, in some way or another, ultimately points us to Jesus. 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:57.840 So, because of that, we know that the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23 has been perfectly fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. 00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:02.559 In John 10, Jesus gives one of his famous seven I am statements. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:08.159 And in this, Jesus is showing these Jewish people that he is not just another good teacher. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:10.000 He's not just another good religious leader. 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:13.360 He's not going to end up like Muhammad leading a good religion of works. 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:18.159 He is God in the flesh, not created, has always been and will always be. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.799 That's the kind of stuff that got him crucified. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:26.559 So in John 10, he's telling these people that Jesus is the good shepherd. 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:29.679 Not a good shepherd, the good shepherd. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:32.720 Thus fulfilling Psalm 23 perfectly. 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:38.480 In verses 3 and 4 of John 10, Jesus says this to him the gatekeeper opens. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:43.759 The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:50.720 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:53.679 You see the intimacy here. 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:56.080 This is not a distant friendship. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:11:01.759 The shepherd has intimate knowledge of his sheep, personal knowledge, to the point of knowing their name. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:08.879 And the sheep have intimate knowledge of their shepherds, so much so that they recognize his voice compared to other potential harmful shepherds. 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:11.759 Now here's the point. 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:27.679 If David can write with such a confidence in a pre-cross world, how much more so do we, living in the shadow of the resurrection of Jesus, have assurance that our good shepherd will actively and attentively care for us? 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:29.600 Point number two. 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:34.799 We have eternal assurance because God can only ever be perfectly good. 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:40.879 We have eternal assurance because God can only ever be perfectly good. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:47.600 In our lives, if you've been around the block, you know, we constantly experience change. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:54.399 Could be a job transition, a divorce, a new church, a new city, death. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:58.960 We see it so clearly in our relationships interpersonally with each other. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:02.159 One week, everything seems great in your marriage, right? 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:05.360 Like y'all are in y'all are in tune with each other, everything's going great. 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:11.600 And in your friendships, everything seems to be going well one week with your relationship with your parents, right? 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:15.200 And then all of a sudden, it switches, right? 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:18.399 The next week that they maybe are being weird, they don't want to talk to you. 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:20.000 You might not want to talk to them. 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:21.840 Perhaps something happened. 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:26.000 Maybe you're upset at them, maybe they upset you, and maybe it's for a real reason. 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:27.600 But we see it all around us. 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:35.679 Our relationships are so complicated and easily disturbed because at the end of the day, we are pretty fragile people, whether or not we want to uh say we are. 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:38.159 We are honestly pretty easily bothered. 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:41.519 We are easily irritated, fairly easily offended. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:45.919 Anyone else ever been in a really good mood and then stub your toe? 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:46.480 Right? 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:48.320 Like that's the kind of switch, right? 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:51.840 Anyone else been in a really bad mood and then get a great phone call? 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:57.039 Like you see our hearts just ebb and flow so quickly. 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:00.639 There is a vital thing about God that we need to understand. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:05.840 God cannot change, nor does he have the potential to change. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:13.919 He will always be 100% good, 100% wise, loving, just, eternal, patient. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:21.279 If he had, if God had the potential to grow or diminish in any of these ways, he would simply not be God. 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:28.000 In James's letter in the New Testament, James, the brother of Jesus, writes this James 1.17. 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:37.519 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:39.200 God will never change. 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:44.480 What that means is that his affection for you in Christ can also never change. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:46.399 He will never betray you. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:48.480 He will never sin against you. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:50.080 Isn't that awesome? 00:13:50.559 --> 00:14:02.639 Christian, you are secure with your standing before him, not because of how well you are holding it together, but because he is always perfectly good to you, and that can never change and will never change. 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:05.519 Point number three. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:11.279 And this is maybe the most important point, because nothing else in this sermon would matter if this were not true. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:12.559 Point number three. 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:18.960 We have eternal assurance because Christ has walked through the ultimate valley of the shadow of death for us. 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:26.080 We have eternal assurance because Jesus Christ walks through the ultimate valley of the shadow of death for us. 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:34.320 So thinking back to John 10, Jesus referencing, Psalm 23, referencing this theme of the Good Shepherd. 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:40.559 He tells the people exactly the length that the Good Shepherd goes to for his people. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:43.039 John 10, 10 and 11. 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:48.240 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy Jesus. 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:52.159 I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:54.000 I am the Good Shepherd. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:55.360 Again, not a Good Shepherd. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.720 I am the Good Shepherd. 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:58.000 And what does the Good Shepherd do? 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:01.759 The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:06.799 This is what separates Christianity from every other belief system in the world. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:11.840 God is not up in heaven as an angry puppet master demanding perfection from you. 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:16.960 Rather, in an all-encompassing act of mercy, he came down to our level. 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:23.840 Went from being the center of praise of heaven and all of its glory to being born a baby. 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:27.840 So much so, needing a woman to wipe his bottom. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:32.399 Like that's the humiliation that the King of glory came down and stepped into. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:38.240 This word in Psalm 23 that's translated as mercy is the Hebrew word Hesed. 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:42.399 And this word Hesed means a lot more than just mercy. 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:52.080 If you could sum up the entire covenantal, relentless, pursuing love of God into one word, I think this would be it. 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:56.080 This word, Hesed, is the theme of the whole Bible. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:16:07.200 From Genesis to Revelation, the people of God running away from their creator, and God in relentless, aggressive pursuit, chases after them. 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:19.759 He is so committed to us, in fact, that he, the creator God of the universe, who upholds the universe by the word of his power, was nailed to a cross so that we might have right relationship with him. 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:33.360 This goodness, this mercy, which could be mean pardoning of sin, paying of debt, this is what follows the believer forever, with no uncertainty, no chance. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:37.919 I want us to close our time today with some self-reflecting together. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:46.320 There's this author named David Pallison, who passed away just a couple years ago, but he did a really interesting and creative thing with Psalm 23. 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:49.360 He wrote what he called an anti-Psalm. 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:51.919 And in doing this, he had one goal. 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:58.639 This is what it looks like and feels like to live life as your own God, to live life as your own shepherd. 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:08.000 Now, as we dissected through this series, none of us comes close, even as Christians, to being perfectly resting and growing in the grace of Jesus. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:10.079 None of us are, even close. 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:20.160 Even as followers of Christ, we are still prone to running after our own gods, to running away from Him, especially when we feel doubt or we've just sinned. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:22.480 We are so prone to run from Him. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:30.640 So as I read this anti-Psalm, my goal is not for us, again, to grovel in guilt, as we've said, but rather to reflect. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:32.720 Is there anything in this that resonates? 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:34.880 Anything that maybe convicts? 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:38.799 But again, I want to encourage you and affirm you, Christian, you are free. 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:40.640 I want to remind you of that. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:45.200 So here is David Pallison's anti-salm of Psalm 23. 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.039 I'm on my own. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:49.839 No one looks out for me or protects me. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:52.720 I experience a continual sense of need. 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:54.240 Nothing's quite right. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:55.839 I'm always restless. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:58.319 I'm easily frustrated and often disappointed. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:17:59.119 It's a jungle. 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.559 I feel overwhelmed. 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:02.559 It's a desert, I'm thirsty. 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:05.039 My soul feels broken, twisted, and stuck. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:06.240 I can't fix myself. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:08.640 I stumble down dark paths. 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:12.799 Still, I insist, I want to do what I want, when I want, how I want. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:13.920 But life's confusing. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:16.079 Why don't things ever really work out? 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:19.759 I'm haunted by emptiness and futility, the shadows of death. 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:23.519 I fear the big hurt, the final loss. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:27.839 Death is waiting for me at the end of every road, but I'd rather not think about that. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:30.160 I spend my life protecting myself. 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:32.000 Bad things can happen. 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:34.160 I find no lasting comfort. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:37.119 I'm alone, facing everything that could hurt me. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.880 Are my friends really friends? 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:41.519 Other people use me for their own ends. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:43.359 I can't really trust anyone. 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.640 No one has my back. 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:47.119 No one is really for me except me. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:50.400 And I'm so much about me, sometimes it's sickening. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:52.799 I belong to no one except myself. 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:54.799 My cup is never quite full enough. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:55.920 I'm left empty. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:59.119 Disappointment follows me all the days of my life. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:01.839 Will I just be obliterated into nothingness? 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:05.440 Will I be alone forever, homeless, free falling into void? 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.920 Sarter said, hell is other people. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:10.480 I have to add, hell is also myself. 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:12.880 It's a living death, and then I die. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:20.400 This is perhaps what it looks like and feels like to live life apart from the Good Shepherd. 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:22.720 A life without meaning. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:25.599 A life with no eternal security. 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:28.640 A life that's ultimately built on sand. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:31.599 Non-Christian or Christian. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:33.920 Perhaps this is how you feel this morning. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:41.440 Perhaps you feel the loneliness, the worthlessness, the overarching, what's the point, luring over your head. 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:48.079 But here's my invitation for you, Christian and non-Christian, you do not have to clean yourself up to come before this holy God. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:58.559 Run into the arms of this good shepherd who chases after you, knowing the true freedom and joy and peace that is waiting for you there. 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:02.319 But Christian, this story does not end with the anti-Psalm. 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:13.839 Since Christ was obedient unto death, even death on a cross, all of your past sin, present sin, and future sin was nailed to him on that cross. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:16.319 You had a debt you could never pay. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:22.720 You had a guilty sentence that no smooth-talking lawyer could get you out of. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:29.279 And the good news is none of us could ever pick ourselves up by our bootstraps and get it all together. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:31.599 Christ had to die. 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:34.480 Not for the righteous, he says, but for the sinner. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:36.880 That our sin would be placed on him. 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:51.680 And it's as he was murdered, descended to hell, conquered Satan and evil forever, then rising from the grave victorious, gave us perfection so that now, in the presence of this holy God, he doesn't see only us anymore. 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.920 The old person has died. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:21:02.720 We live in union with Christ so much so that when we stand before our holy God one day, he will see Christ in us. 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:05.440 He will see a spotless new creation. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:08.640 This is why we get to listen to him. 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:16.559 This is why Christian, we are not hearers only of the word, but we're hearers and doers because he has counted us righteous. 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:24.559 We obey what he says because we know that in his word is the actual only pathway to life, even when it's hard and not desirable. 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:30.000 That's the promise of the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for us. 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:37.920 Now, with these things in mind, let's close by reading Psalm 23 again, reflecting on the grace that permeates it throughout. 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:41.359 And notice how different it is than the anti-Psalm. 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:44.000 So Psalm 23, 1 through 6. 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:46.480 The Lord is my shepherd. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.960 I shall not want, I need not want. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:51.599 He makes me lie down in green pastures. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:54.240 He leads me beside still waters. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:56.079 He restores my soul. 00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:59.920 He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:04.799 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:06.000 Why? 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:07.599 For you are with me. 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:10.400 Your rod and your staff, they come for me. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:14.079 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.920 You anoint my head with oil. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.759 My cup overflows. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:22.160 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:24.720 And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:28.400 Christian, you are secure forever. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:31.039 You are assured forever. 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:35.039 You need not doubt whether your good shepherd is holding on to you. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:38.799 For surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:41.759 And we will ultimately dwell with God in Christ forever. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.279 Let's pray together. 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:54.400 Father, your word is a steadfast anchor, never changing, never failing, never altering. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:23:01.279 But for 2,000 years have upheld the courage and confidence of the church across all cultures and nations. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:11.359 Father, this morning we come to you, we come into this room with a lot of baggage, a lot of pain, a lot of tears, a lot of doubt, a lot of sin, a lot of anxiety. 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:15.839 So, Father, I pray that you would step into these places with us. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:18.480 Lord, we don't need to clean ourselves up. 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:22.079 We don't need to come into this room and pretend like we have it all together. 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:24.319 And Father, you meet us in those places. 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:37.519 And so I pray for the downcast, for the doubting, for the insecure, that you would help them feel secure, not in them, but Father, in you, the only good shepherd. 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:48.880 Father, I pray that as we receive communion and as we think about what you've done for us, Jesus, that we would be rested and comforted in the assurance that you will never leave us or forsake us. 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.319 God, thank you for this. 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.119 In Jesus' name. 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:51.839 Amen.