Hello friends,
I'm Jill Morikone.
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We just welcome you to another
edition of 3ABN Sabbath School
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Panel.
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We're over halfway through our
journey of the Book of Psalms.
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We're in lesson number seven,
Your Mercy Reaches Unto the
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Heavens.
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If you want your own copy
of the quarterly, you can go to
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3ABNsabbathschoolpanel.com.
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That's
3ABNsabbathschoolpanel .com.
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Download the edition and get
ready to follow us as we have
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this exciting excursion
through the Word of God.
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Hello family, I'm Jill
Morricone and we're so glad
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that you have tuned in for
another edition of 3ABN Sabbath
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School Panel.
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We're over halfway through the
journey of the Book of Psalms
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and this is lesson number
seven, Your Mercy Reaches Unto
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the Heavens.
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Last week was a little heavy.
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If you joined us for
last week, I will arise.
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This week we have a complete
switch in the theme that we are
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looking at.
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I want to introduce my family,
your family, on the set here to
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my left, my
sister, Shelley Quinn.
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I'm excited to be here.
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I'm excited that I will be
presenting, Creating In Me a
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Clean Heart.
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Amen.
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In the middle,
Professor Daniel Perrin.
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And I too am
excited about my lesson.
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The title is on Tuesday,
If You, Lord, Should Mark
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Iniquities.
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Amen.
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To Daniel's left,
Pastor John Dinzy.
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It's a blessing to be here.
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I have Wednesday, Your Mercy,
Praise to the Majestic and
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Merciful God.
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I almost said the
title of the week.
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Well, the title is great.
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We can say it many times.
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Last but not least,
Pastor James Rafferty.
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I'm super excited
about my lesson too.
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It's Thursday's lesson.
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It's called Forget
Not All His Benefits.
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Amen.
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Thank you all for your
study of the Word of God.
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I know it takes time to prepare
for Sabbath School Panel.
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Thank you for your study and we
want to share with you at home
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our notes.
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That's right.
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If you want a copy of the notes
to help you in your own study
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of the Word of God,
email us, ssp at 3abn.org.
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That's ssp at 3abn.org and
we would love to send you our
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notes from week to week.
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Before we go any further,
we want to go to the Lord in
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prayer.
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And Daniel,
would you pray for us?
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Yes, I will.
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Our loving Heavenly Father, I
know that we have in store for
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us today the opportunity to
look straight into your heart
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of grace, mercy, and love.
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And I can't wait.
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So Lord, fill us with your
presence, your Holy Spirit, and
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guide us through your Word.
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I pray in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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These are Jill's three
points from this week that we're
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studying.
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Your mercy
reaches unto the heavens.
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Number one, we are
sinful and spiritually bereft.
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We're poor and needy.
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We are in need of
forgiveness and grace.
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Number two, our God is faithful.
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His mercy, His has said,
loving kindness, covenant love,
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endures forever.
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He is faithful to His
covenant with us, His people.
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He forgives.
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He cleanses and restores.
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He keeps covenant with His
people He is good and greatly
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to be praised.
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Number three, you and I respond
with love and forgiveness,
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repentance.
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We come before Him with
repentance and confession of
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sin, with praise and adoration
for who He is and what He has
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done for us.
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We worship Him and commit to
serve this God who has been so
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faithful to us.
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We serve Him, after
all, only out of love.
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Let's read our memory text.
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We're in Psalm 57, verses
9 and 10, Psalm 57, 9 and 10.
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I will praise you, O
Lord, among the peoples.
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I will sing to you among the
nations for your mercy reaches
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unto the heavens and
your truth unto the clouds.
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On Sunday's lesson, we look
at His mercy endures forever.
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And we're looking at in the
Psalms, they have some Psalms
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they call twin Psalms.
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And this is a twin Psalm,
Psalm 135 and 136 correspond
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they're kind of mirror Psalms
and they correspond together
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they comprise what we call the
Great Hallel, which just means
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great praise.
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If you read book five of the
Psalms, which is the last book
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of Psalms, you see that
we have the Passover Hallel.
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That would be in
Psalm 113 to 118.
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You have the final Hallel,
which is the very end of the
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book of Psalms,
Psalms 146 to 150.
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But this particular Hallel,
praise the great Hallel, Psalm
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135 and 136 reviews the history
of Israel and God's divine
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kingship.
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And we see that His mercy
truly reaches unto the heaven.
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There's kind of an
antiphonal refrain line.
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So you may say, what
in the world is that?
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Sometimes you might've heard
some music where you have a
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choir sing one piece
and then an echo comes in.
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In this particular Psalm,
we see the refrain of, for His
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mercy has said
Shelley, endures forever.
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And it happens every
single verse in the Psalm.
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So we're going
to say it together.
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We're in Psalm 136.
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And we'll see if
you all on the panel.
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When we get to that part,
the antiphonal part, the second
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part, this is the refrain we're
going to say together, for His
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mercy endures forever.
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So let's take a look at this.
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The beginning verses one
through three is really the
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introduction.
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And it just starts
out in praise to God.
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Verse one, we're in
Psalm 136, verse one.
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Oh give thanks to
the Lord for He is good
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For His mercy endures forever.
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We praise Him for who He is.
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He is good.
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We don't just praise Him
because of what He does for us,
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but He has done
incredible things for us.
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But we praise God for who He is.
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Let's read verse two.
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Oh, give thanks to the God
of gods for His mercy endures
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forever.
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We praise Him
because He is above all.
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Our God is omnipotent.
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He can do anything.
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Our God is omniscient.
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He knows everything.
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Our God is omnipresent.
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He is everywhere at once.
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Our God is eternal from
everlasting to everlasting.
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Our God is creator and redeemer.
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He can create
something out of nothing.
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I love that.
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Our God is sustainer.
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He sustains all.
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Let's read verse three.
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Oh, give thanks to Lord of
lords for His mercy endures
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forever.
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He is the God of gods
and the Lord of lords.
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It's interesting in
Hebrew, there's an idiom.
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It really means He
is the greatest God.
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Not that there are other gods,
but that He is the only God.
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We praise Him because
He is everything to us.
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There is nobody else beside Him.
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Now we get into
some of Israel's history.
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And first, goes all
the way back to creation.
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We're in verse four.
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To Him who alone does great
wonders, for His mercy endures
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forever.
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Our God can do anything.
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Verse five.
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To Him who by wisdom made the
heavens, for His mercy endures
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forever.
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To Him who laid out the earth
above the waters, for His mercy
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endures forever.
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Our God is our creator.
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Verse seven.
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To Him who made great lights,
for His mercy endures forever.
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The sun to rule by day,
for His mercy endures forever.
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The moon and stars to rule
by night, for His mercy endures
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forever.
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Our God is our sustainer.
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He made the earth
and then He filled it.
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He set in motion and
sustains it by His mighty hand.
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Now we move from creation to
the Exodus, going through the
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history of the
children of Israel.
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I like on a previous lesson,
you can go back and watch it.
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Daniel Perrin talked about the
Exodus and how you and I also
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came out of Egypt.
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We all experienced deliverance.
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And Israel's history is not
just for the Israelites, but
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it's for you and I.
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It's for Jews and Gentiles.
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It's for anybody who names the
name of Jesus because we were
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all delivered from bondage.
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We were all delivered from sin.
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We're in verse 10.
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To Him who struck Egypt in
their firstborn, for His mercy
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endures forever.
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Our God is our defender.
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Imagine being the children
of Israel and being slaves, not
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being able to help yourself,
not being able to get out from
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under bondage.
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And God arises as your defender.
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Let's read verse 11.
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And brought out Israel
from among them, for His mercy
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endures forever.
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Our God is our deliverer.
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He brings you and I out of
sin, out of darkness into this
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marvelous light.
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Verse 12.
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With a strong hand and with an
outstretched arm, for His mercy
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endures forever.
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To Him who divided the Red Sea
in two, for His mercy endures
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forever.
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And made Israel pass through
the midst of it, for His mercy
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endures forever.
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But overthrew Pharaoh and
his army in the Red Sea, for His
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mercy endures forever.
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Our God can work miracles.
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He can divide the Red Sea.
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He can cast out your
enemy from before you.
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He can bring you over on
the other side on dry ground.
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Now we move from the Exodus
to the conquest of the land.
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We're in verse 16.
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To Him who led His people
through the wilderness, for His
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mercy endures forever.
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Our God is our guide.
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He takes you and I
through the wilderness.
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There's times we don't
know where we're going.
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And He leads us and He
guides us brings us out of sin,
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brings us through sickness,
sometimes doubt, sometimes
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confusion.
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Our God is our guide.
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Verse 17.
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To Him who struck down great
kings, for His mercy endures
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forever.
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Our God fights our battles.
00:11:18.51\00:11:21.54
Oh, praise the Lord.
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Verse 18.
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And slew famous kings,
for His mercy endures forever.
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Sihon, King of the Amorites,
for His mercy endures forever.
00:11:29.38\00:11:33.25
And Og, King of Bashan,
for His mercy endures forever.
00:11:33.72\00:11:37.63
Our God judges the wicked.
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We've talked many times
throughout the study and the
00:11:41.56\00:11:44.50
Psalms, the lament.
00:11:44.53\00:11:45.87
How long, oh Lord?
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How long?
00:11:47.27\00:11:48.60
How long will the wicked
prosper and the righteous be
00:11:48.64\00:11:52.91
oppressed?
00:11:52.94\00:11:54.28
How long until
wrongs are righted?
00:11:54.31\00:11:55.64
How long until
you bring judgment?
00:11:55.68\00:11:57.91
Right here, we see
our God judges the wicked.
00:11:57.98\00:12:02.28
Verse 21.
00:12:02.85\00:12:04.19
And gave their land as a
heritage, for His mercy, endures
00:12:04.29\00:12:07.86
forever.
00:12:07.89\00:12:09.22
A heritage to Israel His
servant, for His mercy endures
00:12:09.26\00:12:12.69
forever.
00:12:12.73\00:12:14.06
Our God blesses the righteous.
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Now we switch to the last
few verses and it switches from
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Israel's history to everyone.
00:12:20.14\00:12:22.84
This is the entire world.
00:12:22.97\00:12:24.47
Verse 23.
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He remembered us in our lowly
estate, for His mercy endures
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forever.
00:12:29.98\00:12:31.31
Our God never forgets us.
00:12:31.35\00:12:32.91
He has inscribed us
on the palm of His hand.
00:12:32.95\00:12:36.15
You may feel forgotten, but
you are never forgotten by God.
00:12:36.52\00:12:40.12
Verse 24.
00:12:40.16\00:12:41.49
And rescued us from our
enemies, for His mercy, endures
00:12:41.86\00:12:45.56
forever.
00:12:45.59\00:12:46.93
Our God, your
God, can deliver you.
00:12:46.96\00:12:49.36
Verse 25.
00:12:49.40\00:12:50.73
Who gives food to all flesh,
for His mercy endures forever.
00:12:50.77\00:12:54.84
Our God provides
for us and feeds us.
00:12:55.24\00:12:58.57
And then we come to
the conclusion, verse 26.
00:12:58.61\00:13:01.88
Oh, give thanks to the God
of heaven, for His mercy endures
00:13:02.44\00:13:07.92
forever.
00:13:07.95\00:13:09.28
A couple quick takeaways.
00:13:09.32\00:13:10.85
Number one, our God,
your God, never changes.
00:13:11.32\00:13:15.32
Number two, choose to
praise Him regardless of your
00:13:15.69\00:13:20.70
circumstances.
00:13:20.73\00:13:22.06
Number three,
remember past victories.
00:13:22.33\00:13:26.60
We were encouraged to read this
Psalm, Psalm 135 and 136 many
00:13:27.10\00:13:32.14
times, even once a week.
00:13:32.17\00:13:34.44
Why?
00:13:34.48\00:13:35.81
Because we need to
remember who our God is.
00:13:35.84\00:13:37.88
We need to remember what
He did for us in the past.
00:13:38.01\00:13:41.52
That gives you and I hope
and confidence in the future and
00:13:41.68\00:13:45.92
that your God, my God,
His mercy, it endures forever.
00:13:45.95\00:13:51.89
Amen.
00:13:52.16\00:13:53.50
Beautiful opening.
00:13:53.53\00:13:54.86
Thank you for
letting us participate.
00:13:54.90\00:13:56.23
Thank you all.
00:13:56.26\00:13:57.60
It was fun.
00:13:57.63\00:13:58.97
It was fun.
00:13:59.00\00:14:00.34
I'm Shelley Quinn and Monday's
lesson is, created me a clean
00:14:00.37\00:14:03.71
heart.
00:14:03.74\00:14:05.07
If you know anything about the
Old Testament, you are probably
00:14:05.11\00:14:08.28
familiar with the story of King
David who committed adultery
00:14:08.31\00:14:13.38
with Bathsheba, then plotted to
have her husband Uriah killed.
00:14:13.42\00:14:18.85
God sent the prophet Nathan
to David to confront him because
00:14:19.35\00:14:27.46
David despised
the word of the Lord.
00:14:27.50\00:14:30.43
You know what that means to
despise the word of the Lord?
00:14:30.53\00:14:33.17
It means that you
have disobeyed God.
00:14:33.64\00:14:36.77
So Nathan pronounces
a judgment against him.
00:14:37.51\00:14:41.58
David recognizes he
sinned against the Lord.
00:14:41.88\00:14:44.41
Sin is contrary, incompatible
to God's government of love and
00:14:44.81\00:14:51.69
it violates his authority.
00:14:51.72\00:14:54.56
So actually all
sin is against God.
00:14:55.06\00:14:58.09
Now, in second Samuel 12 and
verse 13, listen to what David
00:14:58.69\00:15:05.07
says.
00:15:05.10\00:15:06.43
David tells him, you're the man.
00:15:06.47\00:15:08.04
You're the one who's
done this dirty deed.
00:15:08.20\00:15:10.24
Nathan tells him.
00:15:10.94\00:15:12.27
Nathan said this to David.
00:15:12.31\00:15:13.94
Second Samuel 12, 13, David
then responds to Nathan saying,
00:15:14.38\00:15:19.98
I have sinned against the Lord.
00:15:21.02\00:15:23.45
And Nathan said to David,
the Lord has put away your sin.
00:15:24.59\00:15:29.72
You shall not die.
00:15:29.86\00:15:31.19
Well, I heard a whole sermon
over the radio once when we
00:15:31.23\00:15:35.20
were in the car and this pastor
saying, see, you don't have to,
00:15:35.23\00:15:41.74
you don't have to repent.
00:15:41.77\00:15:43.61
When Nathan tells David,
the Lord has put away your sin.
00:15:45.81\00:15:49.64
You shall not die.
00:15:49.84\00:15:51.18
Let me assure you, this is
a very compressed, condensed
00:15:51.21\00:15:55.18
story between David recognizing
his sin and Nathan announcing
00:15:55.22\00:16:02.76
that God has put away
his sin come Psalm 51.
00:16:02.79\00:16:07.26
I'll prove that to you.
00:16:08.03\00:16:09.36
Let's look at Psalm 51.
00:16:09.40\00:16:11.13
This is one of the
seven penitential Psalms.
00:16:11.20\00:16:14.74
It's the greatest in my
estimation of confession,
00:16:14.90\00:16:18.94
repentance, and
conversion by God's grace.
00:16:19.14\00:16:21.64
So when you look at
Psalm 51, here's how it starts.
00:16:21.98\00:16:26.31
To the chief musician, a Psalm
of David when, written when,
00:16:26.85\00:16:33.66
Nathan the prophet went to him
after he'd gone to Bathsheba.
00:16:34.32\00:16:38.06
So here's what happens.
00:16:38.99\00:16:41.10
Nathan confronts David.
00:16:43.06\00:16:44.43
David then goes into
this Psalm of repentance.
00:16:45.37\00:16:48.54
Verse one, Psalm 51, one, and
oh, if you want to learn how to
00:16:49.20\00:16:53.64
repent, if you don't know
how to confess your sin, this is
00:16:53.68\00:16:56.61
such a beautiful example.
00:16:56.64\00:16:58.65
David cries out, have mercy
upon me, oh God, according to
00:16:59.15\00:17:03.52
your loving kindness.
00:17:03.55\00:17:04.89
This is that word you mentioned
Hassid, it's used 240 times
00:17:05.19\00:17:09.29
in the Old Testament.
00:17:09.32\00:17:10.66
It is my favorite Hebrew word.
00:17:10.69\00:17:13.76
It's a covenant language
word and it encapsulates such a
00:17:13.93\00:17:19.40
great meaning that Bible
translators have a hard time
00:17:19.43\00:17:22.97
figuring out what to do with it.
00:17:23.00\00:17:24.77
It can be translated grace,
kindness, loving-kindness,
00:17:25.04\00:17:29.44
faithfulness.
00:17:29.98\00:17:31.31
This is God's mercy and loyalty.
00:17:31.35\00:17:35.68
It's all
combined in that one word.
00:17:36.42\00:17:39.15
So he says, he goes on in Psalm
51, we're still in verse one,
00:17:39.72\00:17:44.26
according to the multitude
of your tender mercies, blot out
00:17:44.73\00:17:49.56
my transgressions.
00:17:49.60\00:17:51.37
David knew that there was a
book that God recorded all of
00:17:51.70\00:17:56.81
our lives, because when it
comes time for the judgment, he
00:17:56.84\00:18:03.85
wants to judge fairly according
to everyone's personal choices.
00:18:03.88\00:18:10.15
So we have to remember that
forgiveness is an extraordinary
00:18:10.79\00:18:15.92
gift of God.
00:18:15.96\00:18:17.29
It's according to the
multitude of his tender mercies.
00:18:17.33\00:18:21.86
Now listen, verse two, wash
me thoroughly from my iniquity.
00:18:22.16\00:18:26.67
Oh Lord, wash me thoroughly,
cleanse me of my sin.
00:18:27.37\00:18:30.04
I pray it like this.
00:18:30.51\00:18:31.84
Oh, wash me thoroughly in the
blood of Jesus Christ, because
00:18:31.87\00:18:35.44
the Bible tells us it's the
blood of Christ that cleanses
00:18:35.48\00:18:38.88
us.
00:18:38.91\00:18:40.25
But the word thoroughly
there in the Hebrew, it meant
00:18:40.28\00:18:43.32
multiple times.
00:18:44.02\00:18:45.35
Wash me repeatedly, Lord.
00:18:45.39\00:18:47.72
Verse three, for I
acknowledge my transgressions.
00:18:48.42\00:18:50.96
My sin is always
before me against you.
00:18:50.99\00:18:54.53
You only have I sinned and done
this evil in your sight that
00:18:54.86\00:18:59.50
you may be found just when
you speak and blameless when you
00:18:59.53\00:19:05.91
judge.
00:19:05.94\00:19:07.28
David had tragically
wronged Bathsheba and Uriah.
00:19:07.78\00:19:14.42
Yet he knew, as first John
three four tells us, sin is the
00:19:14.62\00:19:19.52
transgression of God's law.
00:19:19.55\00:19:21.72
He knew he had sinned against
the authority of God, and
00:19:22.22\00:19:25.39
that's why he is saying this.
00:19:25.43\00:19:28.36
Verse five, behold, I was
brought forth in iniquity, and
00:19:29.03\00:19:32.13
in sin, my mother conceived me.
00:19:32.17\00:19:33.94
David was not
conceived out of wedlock.
00:19:34.27\00:19:36.91
His mother was a virtuous woman.
00:19:37.27\00:19:39.94
She's even called in other
scripture a handmaiden of the
00:19:40.01\00:19:44.48
Lord.
00:19:44.51\00:19:45.85
So what does mean here?
00:19:45.88\00:19:47.22
He was born with a fallen human
nature and a propensity towards
00:19:47.58\00:19:52.22
sin.
00:19:52.25\00:19:53.59
So he says in verse six,
behold, you desire truth in the
00:19:53.62\00:19:56.76
inward parts and in the hidden
part you will make me to know
00:19:56.79\00:20:01.33
wisdom.
00:20:01.36\00:20:02.70
Oh, purge me with
hyssop, and I shall be clean.
00:20:02.73\00:20:05.77
Wash me and I shall
be whiter than snow.
00:20:06.33\00:20:09.60
In the Levitical law, only
hyssop could cleanse someone
00:20:10.21\00:20:15.41
from their defilement of
touching a corpse or if they
00:20:15.44\00:20:19.35
had leprosy.
00:20:19.38\00:20:20.72
Ah, David, you know, the lepers
were banned from God's, well,
00:20:20.82\00:20:25.12
all unclean people were
banned from God's presence.
00:20:25.19\00:20:28.52
So David recognizes the leprosy
of sin has defiled him and he
00:20:29.46\00:20:35.60
feels like he's been banned
from God's presence and he
00:20:35.63\00:20:38.97
wants to return
to God's presence.
00:20:39.00\00:20:41.04
Verse eight, make me hear joy
and gladness that the bones you
00:20:41.07\00:20:44.67
have broken, the bones that you
have crushed by the weight of
00:20:44.71\00:20:48.58
sin's guilt really may rejoice.
00:20:48.61\00:20:50.75
Hide your sins from me and
blot out all of my iniquities.
00:20:51.38\00:20:54.98
What are we promised
in first John one nine?
00:20:55.08\00:20:57.65
If we confess our sins, God is
faithful and just to forgive us
00:20:57.92\00:21:02.66
our sins and to cleanse
us of all unrighteousness.
00:21:02.69\00:21:07.03
Verse 10, I love this part.
00:21:07.06\00:21:10.23
David cries out to the Lord,
create in me a clean heart, oh
00:21:11.40\00:21:18.17
God, and renew a
steadfast spirit within me.
00:21:18.21\00:21:24.48
In the Hebrew, there are
two words for create, yatsar and
00:21:25.48\00:21:31.15
bara.
00:21:31.19\00:21:32.52
Yatsar means it describes human
actions to generate, produce or
00:21:32.55\00:21:38.79
establish something
from pre - existing elements.
00:21:38.83\00:21:43.53
Bara means to create
something out of nothing.
00:21:44.20\00:21:47.34
That's right.
00:21:47.54\00:21:48.87
And it is only used for God.
00:21:48.90\00:21:51.07
Only God can create
something out of nothing.
00:21:51.94\00:21:54.51
The interesting thing is in
verse 10, creating me a clean
00:21:54.54\00:22:00.32
heart, oh God, the
word David used is bara.
00:22:00.35\00:22:04.49
What does that say to you?
00:22:04.92\00:22:07.16
Only God can
create a clean heart.
00:22:08.06\00:22:11.76
There's nothing that you can do.
00:22:12.66\00:22:14.30
Our best acts
are like filthy rags.
00:22:15.30\00:22:18.50
Our righteousness are like
filthy rags before Him only God
00:22:18.83\00:22:23.64
can restore a clean heart.
00:22:23.67\00:22:26.14
You cannot do this on your
own, but as you submit to God's
00:22:26.37\00:22:30.35
power, you know what?
00:22:30.38\00:22:31.71
He promises second Corinthians
five 17 that he will make you a
00:22:31.75\00:22:36.62
new creation in Christ Jesus
and renew that steadfast spirit
00:22:36.65\00:22:41.39
in you as you yield to
the Holy Spirit's leading.
00:22:41.42\00:22:44.69
Verse 11, do not cast
me away from your presence.
00:22:45.19\00:22:49.20
David says, do not take
your Holy Spirit from me.
00:22:50.00\00:22:54.60
Restore to me the
joy of your salvation.
00:22:55.37\00:23:00.44
I remember probably 30 years
ago, I kind of got off track
00:23:01.54\00:23:07.08
and I forgot about the joy of
God's salvation and I remember
00:23:07.12\00:23:12.89
praying this prayer and I was
going, oh Lord, restore to me
00:23:12.92\00:23:18.39
the joy of your salvation.
00:23:18.43\00:23:20.63
We can begin to take it for
granted, but he says, uphold me
00:23:20.86\00:23:24.87
by your generous spirit.
00:23:24.90\00:23:26.23
Then I will teach
transgressors your way.
00:23:26.33\00:23:28.67
Sinners will be
converted to you.
00:23:29.14\00:23:32.94
Oh, when we understand the
joy of God's salvation, we can't
00:23:34.11\00:23:39.45
help but share when God
creates a clean heart in us.
00:23:39.48\00:23:43.28
We can't help but testify
that his mercy endures forever.
00:23:43.72\00:23:50.69
Amen.
00:23:51.73\00:23:53.06
Oh, that's powerful, Shelly.
00:23:53.09\00:23:54.43
I love that.
00:23:54.46\00:23:55.80
No matter what you've done,
there is forgiveness in Jesus.
00:23:55.83\00:23:58.33
Don't go away.
00:23:58.60\00:23:59.93
We're going to
take a short break.
00:23:59.97\00:24:01.30
We'll be right back.
00:24:01.34\00:24:02.67
Ever wish you could study
more deeply along with the 3ABN
00:24:05.67\00:24:08.74
Sabbath School Members?
00:24:08.78\00:24:10.11
Well, now you can.
00:24:10.18\00:24:11.55
Just send an email request
to ssp@3abn.org and we'll email
00:24:12.08\00:24:16.99
you the Sabbath School Panelist
notes on a weekly basis to
00:24:17.02\00:24:20.09
enhance your own
study of God's Word.
00:24:20.12\00:24:21.89
That address
again is ssp@3abn.org.
00:24:22.12\00:24:25.63
We'd love to send you their
notes just as they've prepared
00:24:25.89\00:24:28.46
them.
00:24:28.50\00:24:29.83
Thank you for watching and
thank you for being part of our
00:24:29.86\00:24:32.27
3ABN Sabbath
School Panel family.
00:24:32.30\00:24:34.44
Welcome back to lesson number
seven, Your Mercy Reaches Unto
00:24:35.90\00:24:39.57
the Heavens.
00:24:39.61\00:24:40.94
We're going to continue
with Tuesday lesson and Daniel
00:24:40.98\00:24:42.68
Perrin.
00:24:42.71\00:24:44.05
Thank you.
00:24:44.08\00:24:45.41
I'm Daniel Perrin with Tuesday
and the title is If You, Lord,
00:24:45.45\00:24:48.45
Should Mark Iniquities.
00:24:48.58\00:24:50.42
Now, I am loving this lesson
and just so you know, anybody
00:24:50.69\00:24:53.89
who should ever say to you or
if you should hear grace comes
00:24:53.92\00:24:56.93
in New Testament.
00:24:56.96\00:24:58.49
Okay, read the book of Psalms.
00:24:59.89\00:25:01.33
I tried to make a list of
forgiveness, grace, mercy in
00:25:02.26\00:25:05.67
the Psalms and there's no point
in even trying to start a list.
00:25:05.70\00:25:08.64
You just will not
get to the end of it.
00:25:08.80\00:25:10.51
The title, If You, Lord, Should
Mark Iniquities, comes from a
00:25:11.21\00:25:14.58
very short psalm, Psalm
130, just eight little verses.
00:25:14.61\00:25:19.51
It's one of the
Psalms of Ascent.
00:25:19.91\00:25:22.28
Ascent means going up one of
the pilgrimage Psalms because
00:25:22.32\00:25:26.25
when you went to Jerusalem,
Jerusalem was the city on the
00:25:26.29\00:25:29.69
hill and so you
always ascended to Jerusalem.
00:25:29.72\00:25:32.79
So, this is one of those songs
that you would sing as you are
00:25:32.86\00:25:36.00
going to the sanctuary
and at the sanctuary there is
00:25:36.03\00:25:39.97
forgiveness through the
sacrifice which is Jesus.
00:25:40.00\00:25:43.10
So, let's take that title.
00:25:43.74\00:25:45.07
If You, Lord, Should Mark
Iniquities and let me just
00:25:45.11\00:25:47.68
restate that a little bit.
00:25:47.71\00:25:49.21
If You, Lord, kept score. I
don't know if You like playing
00:25:49.64\00:25:53.72
games where You keep score.
00:25:53.75\00:25:55.08
Some people, they don't
want the stress of that.
00:25:55.12\00:25:56.58
No, no, I don't
want to keep score.
00:25:56.69\00:25:58.15
Other people, I
want to know who wins.
00:25:58.19\00:25:59.99
I want to know who loses.
00:26:00.06\00:26:01.39
Sometimes we might say this.
00:26:02.26\00:26:03.63
If You, Lord, were fair,
sometimes we demand God be
00:26:03.86\00:26:08.53
fair.
00:26:08.56\00:26:09.90
If You treated me the
way I treat You, if You mark
00:26:09.93\00:26:14.94
iniquities,
let's say it this way.
00:26:14.97\00:26:16.54
Lord, if You scrutinized me,
if You pulled out the rule book,
00:26:17.04\00:26:20.98
if You conducted an audit of
my life, if You, Lord, kept a
00:26:21.41\00:26:25.95
record of all my thoughts,
words, and actions, wait, that
00:26:25.98\00:26:31.65
is what's going on.
00:26:31.69\00:26:33.02
God is keeping a record.
00:26:33.46\00:26:35.39
As You mentioned, there is a
book and my life is recorded in
00:26:35.56\00:26:39.19
it and so that is why we
have statements like this in
00:26:39.23\00:26:41.96
Revelation 6, 17.
00:26:42.00\00:26:43.67
For the great day of His wrath
has come and who is able to
00:26:43.70\00:26:48.04
stand?
00:26:48.07\00:26:49.40
Because I know
what's written in my book.
00:26:49.44\00:26:50.87
Isaiah 6 verse 5.
00:26:51.57\00:26:53.04
Woe is me for I am undone
because I'm a man of unclean
00:26:53.38\00:26:57.98
lips and I dwell in the midst
of a people of unclean lips.
00:26:58.01\00:27:01.48
Sometimes we in this life go
boldly strutting around as if
00:27:02.32\00:27:06.22
God owes us something and we
are entitled to this life like
00:27:06.25\00:27:10.53
we are created it and we set
all the rules and we can make
00:27:10.56\00:27:14.63
demands upon God and yet
we forget a couple of pivotal
00:27:14.66\00:27:18.43
verses.
00:27:18.47\00:27:19.80
Genesis 2, 17.
00:27:19.83\00:27:21.17
Don't eat the
fruit of that tree.
00:27:21.90\00:27:23.47
On the day you eat of it, you
will surely or certainly die.
00:27:24.01\00:27:29.44
Okay?
00:27:30.58\00:27:31.91
And then Romans 6, 23.
00:27:31.95\00:27:33.28
The wages of sin is death and
I have sinned and so have you.
00:27:33.72\00:27:40.76
Think of what this means.
00:27:41.39\00:27:42.82
The slightest deviation,
just the most minuscule
00:27:43.49\00:27:47.40
infinitesimal millimeter
deviation, just a little tiny
00:27:47.43\00:27:52.93
bit off of God's perfect plan
is off of God's perfect plan
00:27:52.97\00:27:57.94
and it results in death forever
and this impresses the absolute
00:27:57.97\00:28:03.51
hopelessness of our situation
apart from God's mercy that
00:28:03.55\00:28:07.78
reaches to the heavens.
00:28:07.82\00:28:09.15
One of the criticisms that
is leveled against Christian
00:28:09.95\00:28:12.49
churches and pastors or
teachers is that they're always
00:28:12.52\00:28:16.69
telling people that
they're sinners and there's some
00:28:16.73\00:28:20.40
validity to this because we
do need to be guided by the Holy
00:28:20.43\00:28:23.23
Spirit in the way we addressed
sin and sinners but implication
00:28:23.26\00:28:26.84
of this criticism is
that I'm fine the way I am.
00:28:26.87\00:28:30.97
Don't make me feel
bad about ourself, myself.
00:28:31.21\00:28:33.68
Our culture is so wrapped up in
self-image and self-respect and
00:28:34.18\00:28:39.31
self -esteem and self-worship
that there's a pressure upon us
00:28:39.35\00:28:43.75
to affirm everybody and to only
praise them and say what's good
00:28:43.79\00:28:48.66
about them and so we inflate
our own goodness like that wise
00:28:48.69\00:28:53.13
proverb then says Proverbs
12 -15 a fool is wise in his own
00:28:53.16\00:28:58.07
eyes and if we're honest we
then sometimes accuse God of
00:28:58.10\00:29:02.40
being too judgmental of our
sins and so that's part of what
00:29:02.44\00:29:07.71
we're saying when we
say I feel like I'm okay.
00:29:07.74\00:29:10.51
Sometimes we hear a preacher
talk and he's revealing one of
00:29:11.25\00:29:14.35
those hidden habits of our life
we're like oh I don't want to
00:29:14.38\00:29:17.75
hear that yet no no I'm
not ready to stop enjoying that
00:29:17.79\00:29:21.56
just yet but give me a little
while I'll wait I'm not to be
00:29:21.59\00:29:26.29
the judge, not me I'm not the
judge of any person's life but
00:29:26.33\00:29:30.27
I got to tell you that the good
news the forgiveness of God the
00:29:30.30\00:29:34.14
good news always starts
with the bad news so Psalm 130
00:29:34.17\00:29:40.04
should be our prayer for all
of us it starts like this, verse
00:29:40.08\00:29:45.15
one out of the depths, I cry to
you Oh Lord, out of the depths I
00:29:45.18\00:29:50.99
was down at the very
bottom, no chance of escape.
00:29:51.02\00:29:54.39
This is the sinner shall die
for his sins, the wages of sin.
00:29:54.69\00:29:58.16
Out of the depths, I cried,
Lord, hear my voice, let your
00:29:58.43\00:30:02.53
ears be attentive to the
voice of my supplications.
00:30:02.56\00:30:05.37
If you Lord should mark
iniquities, oh Lord, who could
00:30:05.83\00:30:10.34
stand?
00:30:10.37\00:30:11.71
We find this idea all over
in the Psalms 25 verse 7, do not
00:30:11.74\00:30:15.74
remember the sins of my youth.
00:30:15.78\00:30:17.51
Have you ever sorrowed for your
sins or for the sins of others,
00:30:18.21\00:30:22.45
for my sins?
00:30:22.75\00:30:24.09
Sometimes we treat sin like
an academic concept that we do a
00:30:24.25\00:30:27.39
book review on,
not what it truly is.
00:30:27.42\00:30:30.09
Maybe you've spent time in a
hospital yourself or observing
00:30:30.33\00:30:34.00
others where somebody gets
bad news and they break down in
00:30:34.03\00:30:39.50
sobs and weeping uncontrollably
because of the bad news.
00:30:39.53\00:30:43.94
Have you ever cried, wept
for your sins because of what
00:30:44.37\00:30:48.24
they've done, not just because
of what they've done to you,
00:30:48.28\00:30:51.75
but because of
what they do to God?
00:30:52.08\00:30:53.92
If you Lord should mark
iniquities, in other words, if
00:30:54.85\00:30:59.25
you should make me bear
the weight of my sin, but let's
00:30:59.29\00:31:03.39
turn that around, Lord,
you did mark iniquities.
00:31:03.43\00:31:07.06
You go through my life with
a fine tooth comb looking for
00:31:07.56\00:31:12.80
every sinful thought or
priority or action or glance or
00:31:12.83\00:31:18.21
off-handed remark or
exaggeration of the truth or
00:31:18.24\00:31:21.74
selfishness no matter how small
and it's hard as we say, Lord,
00:31:21.78\00:31:25.31
mark my iniquities because
every iniquity that God marks,
00:31:25.71\00:31:29.85
He removes from us
and places on Himself.
00:31:30.09\00:31:33.59
So here, very slowly
after that verse 3, if you mark
00:31:34.69\00:31:38.86
iniquities, who can stand?
00:31:38.89\00:31:40.23
Here comes a verse 4, but there
is forgiveness with you that
00:31:40.40\00:31:45.60
you may be feared.
00:31:45.63\00:31:46.97
As a loving parent, God says
this, this is going to hurt me
00:31:47.77\00:31:52.51
more than it's going to
hurt you, but I've got to find
00:31:52.54\00:31:55.61
everything.
00:31:55.64\00:31:56.98
I've got to get it all.
00:31:57.01\00:31:58.51
Like the surgeon who says, I've
got to get every bit of that
00:31:59.11\00:32:02.82
cancer, that sickness out.
00:32:02.85\00:32:04.92
Oh, hey, hold on, can we
leave just a little bit of it?
00:32:05.15\00:32:07.52
No, I've got to get it all.
00:32:07.56\00:32:09.69
I've got to find it all.
00:32:09.79\00:32:11.13
Every sin that is a barb in
my flesh, Jesus says, that's got
00:32:11.39\00:32:15.36
to be placed in my flesh.
00:32:15.40\00:32:16.93
The Lord has laid on
Him the iniquity of a soul.
00:32:17.73\00:32:21.30
That story that
Shelley referenced, David and
00:32:22.04\00:32:24.57
Bathsheba, I cannot believe
that David was having a really
00:32:24.61\00:32:27.51
good prayer life
up until that point.
00:32:27.54\00:32:29.61
It was eating him up.
00:32:29.88\00:32:31.31
Oh, it was awful.
00:32:31.58\00:32:32.91
He didn't want to
go to the sanctuary.
00:32:32.95\00:32:34.28
He didn't want to come into
God's presence because he had
00:32:34.32\00:32:35.88
that in there.
00:32:35.92\00:32:37.25
And then 2 Samuel 12, 13, David
confessed to Nathan, I have
00:32:37.29\00:32:41.39
sinned against the Lord.
00:32:41.42\00:32:42.76
And Nathan replied, yes, but
the Lord has forgiven you and
00:32:42.79\00:32:46.43
you won't die for your sins.
00:32:46.46\00:32:48.76
I can picture David
breaking down in sobs.
00:32:49.73\00:32:52.53
I won't die.
00:32:52.70\00:32:54.14
The Lord has forgiven me.
00:32:54.47\00:32:55.80
Oh, thank you, Lord.
00:32:55.84\00:32:57.37
If you marked my iniquities,
Lord, I couldn't stand.
00:32:58.64\00:33:01.64
You have marked them and
you've taken them off of me.
00:33:02.11\00:33:04.85
This is why in Psalm 139, right
there at the end, verse 23 and
00:33:05.71\00:33:09.92
24, search me, O God, know
my heart, try me, and know my
00:33:09.95\00:33:15.79
anxieties and see if there's
any wicked way Lord, Lord,
00:33:15.82\00:33:19.09
look, I'll open up, take a look
at everything, whatever there
00:33:19.13\00:33:22.56
is, please find it all.
00:33:22.60\00:33:24.40
Mark my iniquities and
then we can sing Psalm 32.
00:33:24.43\00:33:29.57
Join me in Psalm 32.
00:33:30.21\00:33:31.61
Blessed is he whose
transgression is forgiven.
00:33:32.97\00:33:36.31
I don't know if there's a tune,
but I feel like singing, whose
00:33:36.41\00:33:38.81
sin is covered.
00:33:38.85\00:33:40.18
Blessed is the man to whom the
Lord does not impute iniquity
00:33:40.42\00:33:44.12
and in whose
spirit there is no deceit.
00:33:44.15\00:33:47.39
Paul quotes this in Romans.
00:33:47.49\00:33:49.09
Blessed is the
one who's forgiven.
00:33:49.39\00:33:51.03
When I kept
silent, my bones grew old.
00:33:51.06\00:33:54.46
This is a picture of David
waiting before he's confronted
00:33:54.53\00:33:57.53
by Nathan.
00:33:57.57\00:33:58.90
Though through my groaning all
the day long for day and night,
00:33:58.93\00:34:03.14
your hand was heavy upon me.
00:34:03.37\00:34:05.51
My vitality was turned
into the drought of summer.
00:34:05.81\00:34:09.18
I couldn't even go on.
00:34:09.44\00:34:11.21
Oh, I just,
every step was torture.
00:34:11.58\00:34:13.38
I could not get
it out of my mind.
00:34:13.62\00:34:15.55
And then verse five, I
acknowledged my sin to you.
00:34:16.25\00:34:19.99
Lord, mark my iniquities, every
one of them, and my iniquity I
00:34:20.02\00:34:24.53
have not hidden.
00:34:24.56\00:34:25.89
I said, I will confess my
transgressions to the Lord.
00:34:25.93\00:34:29.63
And you have, and you
forgave the iniquity of my sin.
00:34:29.90\00:34:33.77
This is a great Selah,
a pause, peace and rest.
00:34:34.10\00:34:38.27
If you marked iniquity, Lord,
for me to pay, then I'd have to
00:34:38.91\00:34:43.61
pay it all.
00:34:43.65\00:34:44.98
And my life would be over.
00:34:45.01\00:34:46.35
But God marks
iniquity in a different way.
00:34:46.38\00:34:48.15
Not to show it to us, to show
us what we've done wrong, but
00:34:48.18\00:34:51.32
to say, look what the Lord has
born for you so that you can be
00:34:51.35\00:34:55.49
free and you can praise
the Lord as King David did.
00:34:55.52\00:34:58.46
Amen.
00:34:59.43\00:35:00.76
Amen.
00:35:00.80\00:35:02.13
Praise the Lord.
00:35:02.16\00:35:03.50
We have been to church over and
over again as we have been in
00:35:03.53\00:35:05.03
this study.
00:35:05.07\00:35:06.40
My name is John Dinzy.
00:35:06.43\00:35:07.77
This is Wednesday's portion.
00:35:07.80\00:35:09.14
The title is praise to
the majestic and merciful God.
00:35:09.34\00:35:13.51
I love that title.
00:35:13.58\00:35:14.91
And this portion of the lesson
takes us to Psalm 113 and 123.
00:35:14.94\00:35:19.75
And we're going to take a
look at other places as well.
00:35:20.32\00:35:22.55
Psalm 113,
beginning in verse one.
00:35:23.18\00:35:25.39
Praise the Lord, praise
all servants of the Lord.
00:35:25.79\00:35:30.29
Praise the name of the Lord.
00:35:30.39\00:35:33.56
Blessed be the name of the
Lord from this time forth and
00:35:34.06\00:35:37.83
forevermore.
00:35:37.87\00:35:39.20
From the rising of the sun to
it's going down, the Lord's name
00:35:39.47\00:35:43.51
is to be praised.
00:35:43.54\00:35:44.91
I believe we do not
praise the Lord nearly enough.
00:35:45.51\00:35:48.74
And so we should take
time to consider the great and
00:35:49.64\00:35:53.48
wonderful things
he has done for us.
00:35:53.52\00:35:55.98
I remember a call
that came in one time.
00:35:56.58\00:35:58.45
It was a live program.
00:35:58.72\00:36:00.29
And Danny announced if you
have something to praise the
00:36:01.49\00:36:04.03
Lord for, give us a
phone call wright in.
00:36:04.06\00:36:07.06
And this man called and said,
what do I have to be thankful
00:36:07.43\00:36:10.27
to the Lord for?
00:36:10.30\00:36:11.63
Well, this surprised me.
00:36:11.67\00:36:13.00
And I believe the Lord
gave him a good few questions.
00:36:13.03\00:36:16.67
Well, are you in prison?
00:36:17.07\00:36:18.41
No, the man said.
00:36:18.61\00:36:19.94
Are you in jail?
00:36:20.04\00:36:21.38
Are you in the hospital?
00:36:21.41\00:36:22.74
No, the man said.
00:36:22.78\00:36:24.11
Are you in insane asylum?
00:36:24.15\00:36:25.48
No, I'm not.
00:36:25.51\00:36:26.85
Did you get to
eat anything today?
00:36:27.02\00:36:28.48
Yes, I did.
00:36:28.98\00:36:30.32
I guess I do have
things to be thankful for.
00:36:30.59\00:36:32.69
Yes, give those things
some thought, I told him.
00:36:33.39\00:36:35.32
And we do have
things to be thankful for.
00:36:35.79\00:36:38.19
Every day the Lord
brings blessings to us.
00:36:38.49\00:36:40.96
Even the very breath that we
take every moment of the day is
00:36:41.00\00:36:44.50
a gift from the Lord.
00:36:44.53\00:36:45.87
So I consider you, I invite
you to consider writing down the
00:36:46.17\00:36:50.27
things maybe that you haven't
thought of that the Lord has
00:36:50.31\00:36:52.87
been good to you.
00:36:52.91\00:36:54.48
Because it is the Lord that
gives us strength and health to
00:36:54.64\00:36:57.61
be able to even work, to
be able to put food upon our
00:36:57.65\00:37:00.75
tables.
00:37:00.78\00:37:02.12
The Lord is good
to every single one.
00:37:02.15\00:37:03.55
In Luke 17, we see a story
of Jesus going to Jerusalem.
00:37:04.65\00:37:09.69
And as he entered a village,
ten people full of leprosy came
00:37:09.72\00:37:14.30
to him.
00:37:14.33\00:37:15.66
And Lord, Jesus, the son
of David, have mercy upon us.
00:37:15.70\00:37:19.03
And Jesus said, go and
show yourself to the priest.
00:37:19.13\00:37:22.17
And on their way,
they were all healed.
00:37:22.90\00:37:25.37
And only one, only one
came and said thanks to Jesus.
00:37:25.81\00:37:30.91
And I like what it
says in Luke 17, 16.
00:37:31.31\00:37:33.78
And he fell down on his face
at his feet and gave thanks.
00:37:34.22\00:37:38.52
And he was a Samaritan.
00:37:38.55\00:37:41.19
He said this in a loud voice.
00:37:41.42\00:37:43.32
And Jesus said, well,
were there not ten cleansed?
00:37:43.93\00:37:46.09
Why is there only one?
00:37:46.13\00:37:47.53
And so if you pray to the
Lord and the Lord answers your
00:37:48.06\00:37:52.23
prayer, thank the Lord.
00:37:52.27\00:37:53.97
Thank the Lord because he
is good to you and to me and to
00:37:54.40\00:37:58.17
everyone that's within
the hearing of my voice.
00:37:58.21\00:38:00.34
Psalm 113, we now
move to verse four.
00:38:00.91\00:38:03.28
Notice the transition that
takes place here as we move
00:38:03.51\00:38:07.22
from verse four through six.
00:38:07.25\00:38:09.22
The Lord is high
above all nations.
00:38:09.25\00:38:13.66
His glory above the heavens.
00:38:14.29\00:38:16.96
Nothing can compare to our
Lord, our creator, our almighty
00:38:17.53\00:38:22.53
God.
00:38:22.56\00:38:23.90
He is high above all.
00:38:23.93\00:38:25.27
Who is like the Lord,
our God who dwells on high.
00:38:25.43\00:38:29.50
Now notice verse six, who
humbles himself to behold the
00:38:30.31\00:38:35.34
things that are in the
heavens and in the earth.
00:38:35.38\00:38:39.31
This is a question.
00:38:40.02\00:38:41.75
God humbles himself just to
even look upon us and just to
00:38:42.75\00:38:48.32
even hear our prayer.
00:38:48.36\00:38:49.96
He humbles himself because
he is our heavenly father.
00:38:50.09\00:38:53.96
He's concerned about
each and every one of us.
00:38:54.06\00:38:56.67
Many of you perhaps are married.
00:38:57.63\00:38:59.13
Have you taken time to number
the hairs of the head of your
00:38:59.53\00:39:02.24
spouse?
00:39:02.27\00:39:03.61
It might be an easy task for my
wife, but listen, we don't even
00:39:03.64\00:39:07.18
take time to look at things
that God looks into our lives.
00:39:07.21\00:39:11.01
He is concerned about every
single aspect of our lives.
00:39:11.11\00:39:14.65
Now concerning God
humbling himself, the greatest
00:39:15.48\00:39:19.45
manifestation of his
humility is found through Jesus.
00:39:19.49\00:39:23.86
And that's why I moved
to Philippians chapter two
00:39:24.29\00:39:26.49
beginning in verse five.
00:39:26.53\00:39:27.86
Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus, who
00:39:28.40\00:39:33.64
being in the form of God, did
not consider it robbery to be
00:39:33.67\00:39:38.71
equal with God, but made
himself of no reputation,
00:39:38.74\00:39:42.64
taking the form of a servant
and coming in the likeness of
00:39:43.11\00:39:48.45
men.
00:39:48.48\00:39:49.82
Imagine Jesus was high above
the angels, high as the heavens
00:39:49.85\00:39:54.49
above the angels, surpassing
anything the angels can ever
00:39:54.52\00:39:58.43
come to.
00:39:58.46\00:39:59.79
And then the Bible says in
Hebrews chapter two, that he
00:39:59.83\00:40:02.73
became lower than the
angels and became a man.
00:40:02.76\00:40:07.97
And even not only that
he become a man, we have to
00:40:08.30\00:40:11.84
consider that he became a man
after about 4,000 years of sin.
00:40:11.87\00:40:17.51
Wow!
00:40:17.98\00:40:19.31
And then it says here in
verse eight, and being found in
00:40:19.75\00:40:23.69
appearance as a man, he humbled
himself and became obedient to
00:40:23.72\00:40:28.29
the point of death,
even the death of the cross.
00:40:28.32\00:40:32.69
And you're wondering if you
should humble yourself before
00:40:33.43\00:40:36.00
God.
00:40:36.03\00:40:37.37
Consider how much Jesus humbled
himself and even to take your
00:40:37.40\00:40:42.60
sins upon him who was spotless,
holy, blameless, undefiled,
00:40:42.64\00:40:48.84
took your filthy sins,
my filthy sins upon him.
00:40:49.21\00:40:53.55
This is amazing.
00:40:54.02\00:40:55.88
This should humble us to
understand God's great love and
00:40:55.92\00:40:59.62
how much he is willing
to humble himself for us.
00:40:59.65\00:41:03.46
Psalms 113
continues in verse seven.
00:41:04.69\00:41:07.33
Notice, he raises the poor out
of the dust and lifts the needy
00:41:08.26\00:41:14.00
out of the ash heap, that he
may seat him with princess and
00:41:14.04\00:41:18.41
with the princess of his people.
00:41:18.44\00:41:20.18
He grants the barren woman
a home like a joyful mother of
00:41:20.38\00:41:24.05
children.
00:41:24.08\00:41:25.41
Praise the Lord, unto you I
lift up my eyes, all you who
00:41:25.45\00:41:29.48
dwell in the heavens.
00:41:29.52\00:41:30.85
You know, God continues
to do these types of things.
00:41:31.05\00:41:34.89
He brings people from the
ground, from the dust, and he
00:41:35.36\00:41:39.49
places them according to what
he knows is best, where they
00:41:39.53\00:41:43.43
need to be.
00:41:43.47\00:41:44.80
But our part is to humble
ourselves and serve the Lord
00:41:44.83\00:41:48.30
with all of our hearts.
00:41:48.34\00:41:49.77
We are told also to compare
Psalms 123, considering God's
00:41:50.54\00:41:57.65
merciful and
majesty and holiness.
00:41:57.68\00:42:00.85
In verse one, it says, notice,
unto you, I lift up my eyes, all
00:42:01.55\00:42:08.32
you who dwell in the heavens.
00:42:08.36\00:42:09.89
Behold, as the eyes of servants
look to the hand of their
00:42:11.09\00:42:15.33
masters, as of a maid to
the hand of her mistress, so our
00:42:15.36\00:42:21.60
eyes look to the Lord our
God until he has mercy on us.
00:42:21.64\00:42:27.24
You know, sometimes
we're pleading to the Lord for
00:42:27.84\00:42:30.38
something and we give up
so soon or too soon to see the
00:42:30.41\00:42:35.28
answer he wants to give us.
00:42:35.32\00:42:37.35
When we have a situation we're
praying to the Lord for, it's
00:42:37.99\00:42:40.99
an opportunity to get even
closer to the Lord, present our
00:42:41.02\00:42:44.99
need.
00:42:45.03\00:42:46.36
But some of us too soon give
up and too soon, I say, well,
00:42:46.39\00:42:49.66
walking away and you look for
answers where there are no good
00:42:49.76\00:42:53.57
answers.
00:42:53.60\00:42:54.94
As we move to verse three in
Psalms 123, there is a change
00:42:55.07\00:42:58.71
that takes place.
00:42:58.74\00:43:00.08
Remember, we started in verse
one where it says, unto you I
00:43:00.11\00:43:05.31
lift up my eyes.
00:43:05.35\00:43:06.68
Now notice verse
three, have mercy on us.
00:43:06.72\00:43:09.02
Now it's plural because he
is also considering his people.
00:43:09.08\00:43:13.99
And this is something that
we can take from the lesson even
00:43:14.39\00:43:17.26
of Samuel.
00:43:17.29\00:43:18.63
He says, how can I sin in
ceasing to pray for you, for
00:43:18.66\00:43:22.93
the people?
00:43:22.96\00:43:24.30
We need to identify with God's
family on this earth and not
00:43:24.33\00:43:27.67
only pray for
ourselves, our family.
00:43:27.70\00:43:30.61
We need to pray for God's
people all over the world.
00:43:30.91\00:43:33.58
Have mercy on us, O
Lord, have mercy on us.
00:43:33.91\00:43:36.21
For we are exceedingly
filled with contempt.
00:43:36.51\00:43:38.95
Our soul is exceedingly filled
with the scorn of those who are
00:43:39.71\00:43:42.95
at ease with the
contempt of the proud.
00:43:42.98\00:43:45.55
In the little time that we
have, we take a look at some of
00:43:46.12\00:43:49.02
the things here.
00:43:49.06\00:43:50.39
There is a change to the plural.
00:43:50.63\00:43:51.96
And this idea being, notice
how it says, he's exceedingly
00:43:52.83\00:43:57.03
filled with contempt, not
just filled with contempt,
00:43:57.07\00:43:59.33
exceedingly.
00:43:59.47\00:44:00.80
This is a condition where
calling upon the Lord to have
00:44:00.84\00:44:04.37
mercy, especially because
of the situation that they are
00:44:04.41\00:44:08.84
facing.
00:44:08.88\00:44:10.21
And notice how it also says,
exceedingly filled with scorn
00:44:10.65\00:44:14.15
of those who are at ease
with the contempt of the proud.
00:44:14.18\00:44:16.28
Sometimes we face situations
where we see the wicked that
00:44:16.35\00:44:19.75
seem to be
triumphing over the righteous.
00:44:19.79\00:44:22.29
And we may get discouraged
as we see this and we call upon
00:44:22.69\00:44:26.59
the Lord to help us.
00:44:26.63\00:44:28.06
And in our condition, we
must understand that Psalms 103,
00:44:28.56\00:44:33.50
verse 10 and 11, he has not
dealt with us according to our
00:44:33.74\00:44:37.97
sins nor punished us
according to our iniquities.
00:44:38.01\00:44:41.61
Whereas the heavens are high
above the earth, so great is
00:44:41.64\00:44:46.31
his mercy toward
those who fear him.
00:44:46.35\00:44:48.72
Asking the Lord for
mercy, his ears are attentive.
00:44:49.12\00:44:52.09
You're asking me for mercy
because he is a merciful God
00:44:52.12\00:44:55.59
and he understands your
situation and he will look for
00:44:55.62\00:45:00.20
ways where you cannot even
imagine to help you in your
00:45:00.23\00:45:03.73
situation and lift you up
and lift up your countenance.
00:45:03.77\00:45:07.60
But there's something that
we must remember as we're asking
00:45:07.74\00:45:11.81
for the Lord for mercy because
he will work on our behalf and
00:45:11.84\00:45:15.38
work out the best for us.
00:45:15.41\00:45:16.81
But we must remember to thank
the Lord for his goodness and
00:45:17.15\00:45:21.52
his mercy.
00:45:21.55\00:45:22.88
Amen.
00:45:22.92\00:45:24.25
Amen.
00:45:24.29\00:45:25.62
Amen.
00:45:25.65\00:45:26.99
Thank you, John.
00:45:27.02\00:45:28.36
You just picked up or left off
where I'm supposed to pick up.
00:45:28.39\00:45:29.72
Psalm 103, Psalm 103.
00:45:29.76\00:45:31.09
That's what I have
for the lesson here.
00:45:31.13\00:45:32.46
Forget not all his benefits.
00:45:32.49\00:45:33.83
My name is James Rafferty.
00:45:33.86\00:45:35.20
I really am thankful, Jill,
for you reminding us that God's
00:45:35.23\00:45:37.17
mercy endures forever and
Shelley reminding us that only
00:45:37.20\00:45:40.57
God can create a clean heart
and Daniel reminding us that
00:45:40.60\00:45:44.24
God wants every bit of our sin
cancer and John for reminding
00:45:44.27\00:45:48.48
us that God humbled
himself and took our sins.
00:45:48.51\00:45:51.65
The question is asked by the
lesson quarterly for Thursday
00:45:52.88\00:45:56.05
is how is God's mercy
portrayed here in Psalm 103?
00:45:56.08\00:45:59.65
Verse one says, Bless the
Lord, O my soul and all that is
00:46:00.26\00:46:02.79
within me.
00:46:02.82\00:46:04.16
Bless his holy name.
00:46:04.19\00:46:05.53
Bless the Lord, O my soul
and forget not all his benefits.
00:46:05.56\00:46:07.70
That's what
we're going to land on.
00:46:07.73\00:46:09.23
Forget not all his benefits.
00:46:09.26\00:46:10.60
We need to learn how to
remember all God's benefits and
00:46:10.93\00:46:14.80
the way we do
that is very practical.
00:46:14.84\00:46:17.57
Who forgives all our
iniquities, who heals all our
00:46:18.21\00:46:20.38
diseases.
00:46:20.41\00:46:21.74
Psalm 32, one and two.
00:46:21.78\00:46:23.11
Blessed is he whose
transgression is forgiven,
00:46:23.35\00:46:25.01
whose sin is covered.
00:46:25.11\00:46:26.45
Blessed is the man unto
whom the Lord imputeth, not
00:46:26.48\00:46:28.38
iniquity, and in whose
spirit there is no guile.
00:46:28.42\00:46:30.95
God imputed iniquity unto
Christ in second Corinthians
00:46:32.12\00:46:34.72
chapter five,
verses 17 through 21.
00:46:34.76\00:46:37.33
So that he could not
count our sins against us.
00:46:37.36\00:46:40.36
And this is something we see
outlined in the great chapter
00:46:40.40\00:46:44.27
of Isaiah 53.
00:46:44.30\00:46:45.63
Verse 12, we'll just
look at that one verse.
00:46:46.00\00:46:47.47
Therefore I will divide him
a portion with the great and he
00:46:47.67\00:46:50.01
shall divide the spoiled
with the strong because he has
00:46:50.04\00:46:52.37
poured out his soul unto death.
00:46:52.41\00:46:54.08
He was numbered with the
transgressors and he bear the
00:46:54.48\00:46:57.08
sin of many and
made intercession for the
00:46:57.11\00:47:00.15
transgressors.
00:47:00.18\00:47:01.52
As Shelley said, David was
praying against thee and the
00:47:01.55\00:47:04.42
only have I sinned because
according to Isaiah 53, 12,
00:47:04.45\00:47:07.59
only Jesus Christ has paid
the ultimate price for our sins.
00:47:07.99\00:47:10.89
No human being has
paid that ultimate price.
00:47:11.66\00:47:13.63
We sin against humans, but only
God has taken upon himself the
00:47:13.90\00:47:17.03
ultimate
consequence of those sins.
00:47:17.07\00:47:19.33
And so one Psalm 103 verse
four goes on to say, and I love
00:47:19.77\00:47:22.67
this, this whole
Psalm is just so powerful.
00:47:22.70\00:47:24.77
Who redeems thy life from
destruction, who crowns thee
00:47:25.17\00:47:28.54
with loving
kindness and tender mercies.
00:47:28.58\00:47:30.21
There it is.
00:47:30.45\00:47:31.78
There's the practical part.
00:47:31.81\00:47:33.15
If we're crowned with loving
kindness and tender mercies,
00:47:33.18\00:47:34.52
what's that going to
look like in our lives?
00:47:34.55\00:47:36.52
Who satisfies your mouth with
good things so that thy youth
00:47:37.19\00:47:40.66
is renewed like the egos are.
00:47:40.69\00:47:42.02
Our mouths are
satisfied with good things.
00:47:42.06\00:47:43.89
So that means nothing bad is
going to come out of our mouth
00:47:44.13\00:47:46.19
if God is satisfying
our mouth with good things.
00:47:46.23\00:47:48.43
The Lord executes righteousness
and judgment for all that are
00:47:49.20\00:47:52.20
oppressed.
00:47:52.23\00:47:53.57
So God wants to work through us
through his loving kindness to
00:47:53.60\00:47:55.77
exercise judgment and
righteousness for all those who
00:47:55.80\00:47:58.41
are oppressed.
00:47:58.44\00:47:59.77
He made known his ways
unto Moses his acts unto the
00:47:59.81\00:48:01.34
children of Israel.
00:48:01.38\00:48:02.71
The Lord is merciful and
gracious, low to anger and
00:48:02.74\00:48:05.85
plenteous in mercy.
00:48:05.88\00:48:07.22
He will not always chide.
00:48:07.25\00:48:08.58
Neither will he
keep his anger forever.
00:48:08.62\00:48:09.95
He has not dealt with us
after our sins nor awarded us
00:48:09.98\00:48:12.99
according to our iniquities.
00:48:13.02\00:48:14.49
Praise God.
00:48:14.76\00:48:16.09
He has not marked
our sins against us.
00:48:16.12\00:48:18.23
For as the heaven is high
above the earth, so is his great
00:48:18.49\00:48:20.50
mercy toward them that fear him.
00:48:20.53\00:48:22.13
As far as the East is from the
West, so far as he removed our
00:48:22.26\00:48:25.67
transgressions from us.
00:48:25.70\00:48:27.04
Like a father pities his
children, so the Lord pities
00:48:27.07\00:48:29.37
them that fear him.
00:48:29.40\00:48:30.74
For he knows our frame.
00:48:31.24\00:48:32.67
He remembers we are dust.
00:48:32.77\00:48:34.11
How many ways can this be said?
00:48:34.74\00:48:36.58
How many ways can God
communicate the Gospel to us in
00:48:36.71\00:48:40.12
the Psalms?
00:48:40.15\00:48:41.48
For as for man his days are as
grass as a flower of the field
00:48:42.45\00:48:45.59
so he flourishes.
00:48:45.62\00:48:46.96
For the wind passes over it
and it is gone and the place
00:48:46.99\00:48:49.82
thereof shall know it no more.
00:48:49.86\00:48:51.19
But the mercy of the Lord,
the mercy of the Lord, it's not
00:48:51.23\00:48:54.83
like that.
00:48:54.86\00:48:56.20
It doesn't come and go.
00:48:56.23\00:48:57.57
The mercy of the Lord is from
everlasting to everlasting upon
00:48:57.60\00:48:59.77
them that fear him and his
righteousness unto the children
00:48:59.80\00:49:04.41
of men.
00:49:04.44\00:49:05.77
The lesson says, how then
should people respond to God's
00:49:05.81\00:49:08.24
loving-kindness?
00:49:08.28\00:49:09.61
Well, first by blessing
the Lord, Psalm 103, 1 and 2.
00:49:09.64\00:49:12.61
And blessing is generally
understood as an act of
00:49:12.91\00:49:14.88
bestowing material and
spiritual benefits upon
00:49:14.92\00:49:17.29
someone, according to
Genesis 49, 25, and Psalm 512.
00:49:17.32\00:49:20.82
The lesson goes on to say that
because God is the source of
00:49:21.19\00:49:24.93
all blessings, how can
human beings bless God?
00:49:24.96\00:49:27.43
How can an inferior
bless a superior, right?
00:49:27.46\00:49:31.43
Well, we know how it
looked in David's life, right?
00:49:31.93\00:49:35.40
David wanted to bless the Lord
through his soul by forgetting
00:49:35.84\00:49:40.01
not all of his benefits.
00:49:40.04\00:49:41.38
And when we remember God's
benefits, the number one way we
00:49:41.41\00:49:45.75
remember God's benefits are
to remember God's forgiveness
00:49:45.78\00:49:49.32
toward us, right?
00:49:49.35\00:49:50.69
We see this in the life of
David in relationship to Saul.
00:49:51.22\00:49:54.12
Saul mistreated David.
00:49:54.56\00:49:55.89
He hounded him, tried
to kill him, take him out.
00:49:55.92\00:49:58.23
But David remembered all of
God's benefits, all of God's
00:49:58.59\00:50:01.70
blessings, right?
00:50:01.73\00:50:03.06
And so David said, I'm
not going to put forth my hand
00:50:03.10\00:50:04.87
against the Lord's anointed
because I'm dwelling, I'm
00:50:04.90\00:50:07.50
basking in the
benefits of the Lord, right?
00:50:07.54\00:50:10.17
And then what about Shimei?
00:50:10.24\00:50:11.57
Shimei was cursing David, you
know, oh, you bloody man, you
00:50:11.74\00:50:15.31
bloody man.
00:50:15.34\00:50:16.68
And David's men said, hey, just
say the word will take that guy
00:50:16.71\00:50:18.05
out.
00:50:18.08\00:50:19.41
No, no, no, no.
00:50:19.45\00:50:20.78
God will reward him for what
he's doing today that he's in
00:50:20.82\00:50:22.45
God's hands.
00:50:22.48\00:50:23.82
I don't want to
forget God's benefits.
00:50:23.85\00:50:25.19
I don't want to
forget God's blessings.
00:50:25.22\00:50:26.55
I don't want to forget all
that God has showered me with.
00:50:26.59\00:50:28.29
What about Absalom?
00:50:28.42\00:50:29.76
Absalom tried to kill his
own father and take the kingdom.
00:50:29.79\00:50:31.69
Oh, no, no, don't
do any hurt to the lad.
00:50:31.99\00:50:34.13
I mean, if we're going to err,
we got to err on the side of
00:50:34.53\00:50:37.37
mercy.
00:50:37.40\00:50:38.73
I think he was erring.
00:50:38.77\00:50:40.10
I think he was erring on
the side of mercy, but he was
00:50:40.14\00:50:41.47
erring, right?
00:50:41.50\00:50:42.84
He was reminded of that.
00:50:42.87\00:50:44.21
And so we see
this in David's life.
00:50:44.24\00:50:47.28
We see the way that
David remembered all of God's
00:50:47.38\00:50:50.21
benefits.
00:50:50.25\00:50:51.58
You know, in 2 Peter chapter
1, we're told about this ladder
00:50:51.61\00:50:55.48
that God wants us to climb
through his great and precious
00:50:55.52\00:50:59.45
promises, right?
00:50:59.49\00:51:00.82
Adding faith and virtue
to knowledge and knowledge to
00:51:00.92\00:51:05.23
temperance and temperance,
patience and patience,
00:51:05.26\00:51:07.00
godliness and godliness,
brotherly kindness and
00:51:07.16\00:51:09.60
brotherly kindness, kindliness,
kindliness, charity, or love,
00:51:09.63\00:51:13.54
right?
00:51:13.77\00:51:15.10
For if all these things be in
you and abound, they make that
00:51:15.14\00:51:17.24
you shall neither be barren or
unfruitful in the knowledge of
00:51:17.27\00:51:20.31
our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:51:20.34\00:51:21.68
2 Peter chapter 1, verse
8, verse 9, but he that lacks
00:51:21.71\00:51:25.15
these things is blind.
00:51:25.18\00:51:26.82
He cannot see afar
off and he has forgotten.
00:51:27.15\00:51:30.62
He has forgotten, right?
00:51:31.02\00:51:32.55
What has he forgotten?
00:51:32.59\00:51:33.92
What is it that
we're supposed to remember?
00:51:33.96\00:51:35.29
What is it that we forget?
00:51:35.32\00:51:36.66
He's forgotten that he
was purged from his old sins.
00:51:36.69\00:51:38.76
We've forgotten how
God has forgiven us.
00:51:39.16\00:51:41.13
When we get that Laodicean
blindness and feel like we're
00:51:41.33\00:51:45.17
rich and increased with goods,
we've forgotten how God...
00:51:45.20\00:51:47.57
So wherefore, verse 10 says,
wherefore the rather brethren
00:51:47.60\00:51:50.14
give diligence to make
your calling and election sure.
00:51:50.17\00:51:52.24
For if you do these
things, you will never fall.
00:51:52.31\00:51:54.41
For so an entrance shall be
ministered unto you abundantly
00:51:55.14\00:51:58.18
into the everlasting kingdom
of our Lord and Savior Jesus
00:51:58.21\00:52:00.32
Christ.
00:52:00.35\00:52:01.68
Wherefore, I will not be
negligent to put you always in
00:52:01.72\00:52:04.65
remembrance of these things,
how you were forgiven, that
00:52:04.69\00:52:07.79
though you know them, that
you may be established in the
00:52:07.82\00:52:11.33
present truth.
00:52:11.36\00:52:12.69
The only place in the Bible
that that phrase is used, the
00:52:12.73\00:52:14.60
present truth.
00:52:14.63\00:52:15.96
And here's the present truth.
00:52:16.00\00:52:17.33
We think the present
truth is all kinds of stuff.
00:52:17.37\00:52:18.70
Well, here's the present truth.
00:52:18.73\00:52:20.07
Don't forget how God has
forgiven you and you go ahead
00:52:20.10\00:52:22.97
and forgive others the
way that God has forgiven you.
00:52:23.00\00:52:24.91
That's the present truth.
00:52:25.07\00:52:26.41
Amen.
00:52:26.44\00:52:27.78
That's good.
00:52:27.81\00:52:29.14
And this beautiful picture is
summed up in the story of a man
00:52:29.18\00:52:32.35
by the name of
Stockbridge Howland.
00:52:32.38\00:52:34.25
Have you ever heard of the
story of Stockbridge Howland?
00:52:34.32\00:52:36.65
Well, let me tell you the
story of Stockbridge Howland.
00:52:37.05\00:52:39.15
Years ago, when the company of
believers in the soon coming of
00:52:39.19\00:52:41.79
Christ was very small, the
Sabbath keepers in Thompson and
00:52:41.82\00:52:45.73
May met for worship in a large
kitchen in the home of Brother
00:52:45.76\00:52:48.96
Stockbridge Howland.
00:52:49.00\00:52:50.33
One Sabbath morning,
Brother Howland was absent.
00:52:50.50\00:52:52.30
We were surprised at
this because he was always so
00:52:52.37\00:52:54.40
punctual, kind
of like me, right?
00:52:54.44\00:52:56.97
Soon he came in with his face
aglow, shining with the glory
00:52:57.37\00:53:01.24
of God.
00:53:01.28\00:53:02.61
Brethren, he
said, I have found it.
00:53:02.64\00:53:03.98
I have found that we can pursue
a course of action regarding
00:53:04.11\00:53:07.68
the which the guarantee of
God's word is, you shall never
00:53:07.72\00:53:10.69
fall.
00:53:10.72\00:53:12.05
He's quoting from 2 Peter.
00:53:12.09\00:53:13.42
You shall never fall.
00:53:13.46\00:53:14.79
And I'm going to
tell you about it.
00:53:14.82\00:53:16.16
He told us then that he
had noticed that one brother, a
00:53:16.19\00:53:18.93
poor fisherman had been
feeling that he was not as
00:53:18.96\00:53:21.06
highly respected
as he ought to be.
00:53:21.10\00:53:23.03
And the Brother Howland and
others thought themselves above
00:53:23.06\00:53:25.73
him.
00:53:25.77\00:53:27.10
Now, this was not true,
but it seemed true to him.
00:53:27.14\00:53:29.04
And for several weeks, he
had not attended the meetings.
00:53:29.07\00:53:31.41
So Brother Howland went to
his house and knelt before him
00:53:31.87\00:53:34.91
saying, my brother, forgive me.
00:53:34.94\00:53:37.85
What is it that I have done?
00:53:38.31\00:53:39.65
The man took him by the arm and
tried to raise him to his feet.
00:53:40.75\00:53:43.25
No, Brother Howland
said, what have you against me?
00:53:43.28\00:53:47.06
Oh, I have nothing against you,
but you must have said, Brother
00:53:47.59\00:53:50.43
Howland because once we could
speak to one another, but now
00:53:50.46\00:53:53.53
you do not speak to me at all.
00:53:53.56\00:53:55.30
And I want to know
what is the matter.
00:53:55.33\00:53:58.07
Get up, Brother
Howland, he said.
00:53:58.80\00:54:00.14
No, said Brother Howland.
00:54:00.47\00:54:01.80
I will not.
00:54:01.97\00:54:03.30
Then I must get down, he said.
00:54:04.64\00:54:07.08
And he fell on his knees and
confessed how childish he had
00:54:07.51\00:54:10.65
been and how many evil
surmises he had cherished.
00:54:10.68\00:54:13.15
And now he said, I
will put them all the way.
00:54:13.48\00:54:16.48
As Brother Howland told the
story, his face shone with the
00:54:16.89\00:54:19.52
glory of God.
00:54:19.55\00:54:20.89
Just as he had finished, the
fisherman and his family came
00:54:20.92\00:54:22.59
in and we had an excellent
meeting in Brother Stockbridge,
00:54:22.62\00:54:26.80
Howland's kitchen.
00:54:27.20\00:54:28.53
Now, suppose that some of
us should follow that course
00:54:28.56\00:54:30.83
pursued by Brother Howland.
00:54:30.87\00:54:32.20
If when our brethren surmise
evil, we would go to them
00:54:32.23\00:54:34.14
saying, forgive me.
00:54:34.17\00:54:35.50
If I have done anything to harm
you, we might break the spell
00:54:36.30\00:54:39.31
of Satan and set our brethren
free from their temptations.
00:54:39.34\00:54:43.14
Do not let anything interpose
between you and your brethren.
00:54:43.35\00:54:46.61
If there's anything that
you can do by sacrifice to clear
00:54:47.08\00:54:49.88
away the rubbish
of suspicion, do it.
00:54:49.92\00:54:52.19
God wants us to love
one another as brethren.
00:54:52.59\00:54:54.79
He wants us to be
pitiful and courteous.
00:54:54.89\00:54:57.33
He wants us to educate
ourselves, to believe that our
00:54:57.59\00:55:01.43
brethren love us and to believe
that Christ loves us because
00:55:01.46\00:55:05.63
love begets love.
00:55:05.67\00:55:07.74
And that's Testimony Vol.
00:55:07.77\00:55:09.10
9, page 192.
00:55:09.27\00:55:11.51
God is calling us to humble
ourselves as Christ humbled
00:55:11.54\00:55:14.74
himself, not to mark people's
iniquities against us, to let
00:55:14.78\00:55:18.61
him create in us a clean heart,
to remember his mercies that
00:55:18.65\00:55:23.65
endure forever and to remember
that in the way that we are
00:55:23.69\00:55:28.42
merciful and
gracious toward others.
00:55:28.46\00:55:30.09
Amen.
00:55:30.73\00:55:32.06
Thank you so much, Pastor James
and Pastor Johnny and Daniel
00:55:32.09\00:55:34.86
and Shelly.
00:55:34.90\00:55:36.23
What an incredible lesson.
00:55:36.26\00:55:37.60
Your mercy
reaches unto the heavens.
00:55:37.63\00:55:39.97
I want to give each one of
you an opportunity to share a
00:55:40.00\00:55:42.37
closing thought.
00:55:42.40\00:55:43.74
My closing thought is this.
00:55:44.27\00:55:45.67
Every day I tell the Lord
that I hunger and thirst for his
00:55:45.91\00:55:51.38
righteousness and
ask him to fill me.
00:55:51.41\00:55:53.82
I ask him to forgive me
of my sins, cleanse me of all
00:55:53.95\00:55:57.59
unrighteousness and I claim
Psalm 51, verse 10 and say,
00:55:57.62\00:56:03.02
Lord, I know only you can
create the clean heart in me
00:56:03.19\00:56:06.49
and I thank you that you will
complete the good work you've
00:56:06.53\00:56:10.23
begun.
00:56:10.27\00:56:11.60
Forget not all his benefits.
00:56:11.80\00:56:13.34
One of those benefits
is Psalm 51, verse 11.
00:56:13.94\00:56:17.04
Take not your
Holy Spirit from me.
00:56:17.67\00:56:19.81
God gives us the Holy Spirit
which then in turn reveals our
00:56:19.97\00:56:23.45
sin which you would think
is a bad thing but that is a
00:56:23.48\00:56:26.51
wonderful thing because
then that brings us to the God.
00:56:26.55\00:56:29.48
Psalm 86, 5.
00:56:30.05\00:56:31.39
For you, Lord, are good and
ready to forgive and abundant
00:56:31.42\00:56:36.56
in mercy to all
those who call upon you.
00:56:36.59\00:56:39.53
God's ready to forgive today.
00:56:39.56\00:56:41.03
Amen.
00:56:41.80\00:56:43.13
I also want to encourage you
to make a list of the wonderful
00:56:43.16\00:56:45.90
things God has done for
you today and also if you need
00:56:45.93\00:56:49.50
mercy I read to you
Psalms 40, verse 11.
00:56:49.54\00:56:51.91
Do not withhold your
tender mercies from me, O Lord.
00:56:52.24\00:56:55.78
Let your loving kindness and
your truth continually preserve
00:56:55.98\00:56:59.48
me.
00:56:59.51\00:57:00.85
Bring this to the
Lord and ask for his mercy.
00:57:00.88\00:57:02.75
Amen.
00:57:03.18\00:57:04.52
And if there's anyone that you
know of that could use a little
00:57:04.55\00:57:07.96
bit of that forgiveness,
that grace, that mercy that you
00:57:07.99\00:57:11.39
could reach out to that
you could even humble yourself
00:57:11.43\00:57:13.43
before grab a hold of them
and encourage them to make the
00:57:13.46\00:57:18.10
heart right to reconcile
the relationship with you if
00:57:18.13\00:57:21.84
necessary, if need be
but primarily with God.
00:57:21.87\00:57:24.54
Do it.
00:57:24.77\00:57:26.11
Pray about it and do it.
00:57:26.14\00:57:27.48
Amen.
00:57:27.51\00:57:28.84
Thank you all so much and
we thank you for joining us as
00:57:28.88\00:57:30.21
well our 3ABN
Sabbath School Panel.
00:57:30.25\00:57:32.78
We started our memory text with
Psalm 57, 10 which says your
00:57:32.81\00:57:36.52
mercy reaches onto the heavens
and your truth to the clouds.
00:57:36.55\00:57:41.39
Pastor James ended with Psalm
103 or in his lesson he talked
00:57:41.99\00:57:45.86
about who crowns you with
loving-kindness and tender
00:57:45.89\00:57:49.96
mercies.
00:57:50.00\00:57:51.33
You see God has mercy which
he imparts to us and once we are
00:57:51.37\00:57:55.80
forgiven we are to extend
that mercy to someone else.
00:57:55.84\00:58:00.84
So go out and
love on someone today.
00:58:00.88\00:58:03.75
Join us next week
Wisdom for Righteous Living.
00:58:03.81\00:58:07.02