2025 Sept 28 John Morrison Psalm 73

Well, thank you for your welcome. It is great to be with you. I have heard great things about by Sade. That's if it seems, she will plan to, but I never had the chance to visit my son dies as a pastor or we talked about doing other things. So I haven't had the chance to visit until today, but it's great to be with you. Actually, I'm going to get a triple blessing because I'll be here for the next Sunday, the next two Sundays as well. Well, I hope you think you get a triple play?

Steve asked me to do a short mini series of sermons during these three weeks of holidays. And I was certainly pleased to get the opportunity to do that. I've decided to preach a swig from the sums the sums. As you know, we're written out of real life situations and I deal with real life situations, I think that's one of the main reasons why we love them sign option and return to the night over and over again. And that's it. Maybe cuz I don't think I'm speaking just on my own behalf or die, that was many centuries ago. That I still relied to the issues and experiences that we Feist even today. In preaching, and in Bible study, we usually take an individual some, that way, we think about who wrote it and why, and under what circumstances, and then consider the wise in which it relates to our lives. And that can be extremely helpful by thank you. It's also helpful to remember that. It's the book of Psalms and study it is a book. It's much more than a random collection of individual unrelated, Psalms five books or collections within the book itself. These would have been compiled a different times, but then Amalgamated into the one book that we call the Psalms that I took place, within a couple of centuries of these relaxed returning from Exile in Babylon and rebuilding their Temple. The content of the book was virtually as we have it today a couple of centuries before Jesus time. Because this is the the introductory a sermon to this mini-series. I want to do something a little different. I want to give you an overview of the whole book of Psalms and then just refer to a few different times. Now obviously, I want be able to do that in any great detail, just some very broad brushstrokes, although, I do want to look at 1, some some 73 in a little more detail. One, very influential writer on the sums was an American called Walter Brueggemann. He was a scholar and theologian who died actually. Just a couple of months ago. I 92 hero diver 100 books, including the message of the Psalms and the Psalms and the life of fight. And he talked about three different types of Psalms. Where am I supposed to point that to is anywhere in particular?

Turn it on. That's always a good start, isn't it? And then I just signed it anyway. Oh, there we go. Thank you for those instructions. I should have asked before hand.

So he talked about three different parts of Psalms, a festival sums of orientation, diaper, try a world, which is ordered stable, nice and neat, and tidy predictable, with, without any tension, they describe life as it's meant to be and is we might hope it is often, there is reference to the created order and to God as Creator off. And I are looking back and recording, God's faithfulness in the past. How do I express confidence and Trust? Though, to some extent. It's a simple static naive, kind of confidence. Things are just just that way. And that's the way it is with God. If someone is an example of very first song, it's often referred to as a wisdom, some because it sounds very much like what we have in Proverbs the wise person, the lights in the lore of the Lord, the Torah and meditates on it died. And not this person, beautiful area, buys the commands in the lore of the Lord, And what's the result? Inova. Do you prosper like a tree planted by streams of water? Yielding. Abundant fruit. At just the right time. But there's a contrast in someone. The wicked do not Prosper, but perish, like chaff in the Wind. Now, there's a second Brigham and talks about a second type of some sums of disorientation. Now they say, Yes, but things aren't always the way they're supposed to be liking. Someone even venture to ask. What if it's all true? And these sums give voice to death. tie rods from situations of distress, where the status quo has been upset with the old Givens, a Christian where old understandings may even be considered as flawed or fraud Raven, you'll find plenty of Despair in the sums. And this may surprise you or mine of you'll find even anger and resentment toward who has ever caused the disorientation that sometimes that in anger and resentment is directed to enemies. It's sometimes even to God, that include what are often called sums of Lament? Some food chain is a good example. Let me read the first three verses how long Lord? We need to get me forever. How long will you hide your face from me? How long will I wrestle with my thoughts and died after that? I have sorrow in my heart is Rafael. Put that up, beautiful. I wouldn't How long will my enemy Triumph out of the may look on me an answer. Lord my God. Give blood to my eyes or I will sleep in days. Search. Psalms Express a desire to return to the good old days or Express a longing for better days to come in the future.

Usually there is a Winner's eventually that things can't be as they were and that there is a time for moving on. In other words, realization that a new orientation is possible. The Brick Oven saves beasts. Human Experience includes that is dangerous and difficult times of dislocation and disorientation when the sky does full. And the will doesn't come to an end. The figure of disorientation might be taken psychological and sociological e. It includes all facets of a common life and experience the times of disorientation about is when persons are driven to the extremities of emotions of integrating capacity and of language in the company of Isaiah, we are I'm done. And he does a little light as a society's. Human persons are not meant for situations of disorientation. They will struggle against such situations with all our Energies. Insofar as person's a hopeful and healthy. They may grow and work through to a new orientation.

I conducted a funeral on Thursday and the chapel was full of people who were disoriented The status quo had been upset. They was great. They are celebrating a lot, but underneath there was still that grief and disorientation. We can't leave in that spice but too long, Grace needs to be resolved. That eventually however that happens. The disorientation needs to be either. Come so that brings us to Psalms of reorientation. These include Psalms of Thanksgiving and praise to God. They differ from the Psalms of orientation that I talked about, at the beginning nut, because they recognize that the new reality is a gift. God is giving something new the storm results in deeper Roots, the fire brings you gross. The fly brings for tile soil. In re are in Tyson Grace. Shines through already celebrated Grace this morning as we were laid in a time of worship and it's so true. It is God in God's grace, who makes things new. And this is a course for praise and celebration such as we find in the last him, in the Book of Psalms him, 150 verses 1 and 2. Praise the Lord, praise God, in his Sanctuary, praise him. In his mighty Heavens, praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his passing brightness. Brigham. And I use the phase. I am movement in the Book of Psalms from orientation in someone, at the beginning, disorientation in, for example, in Psalm 13 To reorientation Example, The Last some in the book. Now, that's not his diagram, it's his thought that I'm just taking that off the internet, someone's diagrammatically, tried to put all that together. Now, there's no accident in that progression from someone to Psalm 150, the Psalms were collected and preserved in that. Why on the God's hand precisely? Because I give voice to the real life situations and experiences of the ordinary is rely. Bottle. So, I've been to decide the Thai Express are real concerns and issues and experiences to Now, there is also, as well as this movement from orientation, to disorientation to reorientation in the Book of Psalms, the results of this movement within many individual songs. For example, let's have a look at some 73 with the bruggemans framework of orientation disorientation, real orientation in mod. For this sum, in particular, I want to change the terms, a little bit to Creed confusion, and communion, not communities, in the Lord's Supper, but Community intimate connection and relationship with God.

Diet lace seemed more appropriate Woods to my mind, but if you find it confusing to stop thinking about all the times and feel free, just to keep thinking of bruggemans times, 2. Psalm 73 is a sahm of access its approximately halfway through the book of Psalms and it's the first time that we find in book free.

now, I'm not just Degrassi for little, my Manchester, a short, digression to point out, how we know that this is the start of a new book book 3, The lost, some of each books of each book of Psalms ends with a similar benediction of praise to God. So the song before Psalm 73. So the end of Psalm 72, I ends in this white, praise to the Lord, God the god of Israel who alone does my. For today's praise be to his glorious name forever. My the whole earth be filled with his glory mean and mean, and you get something similar at the end of each of the other books of the Psalms. But in this case, it's followed by the last verse of Psalm 72, which is obviously a comment from the Kampala or the editor. This concludes the prayers of David, Son of Jesse. And then we have some 73 is the start of a new bull anyway.

Let's get back on track some some 73. It begins like this. Surely God is good to Israel to those who are pure in heart. He's the statement of belief, the orientation, or the word that I'm using his, he has the Creed. God is good to those who are pure in. Heart God exists, God is good. God will be good to the upright and pure to those who follow God's commands, all that's implied in that very first first, the implication or assumption that the psalmist is making is I will be blessed if I keep the Torah. It's someone. Will I ever again? Isn't it? It's already in tyshun. It's order. Its cause and effect. Nice neat and tidy. But notice the first word of verse 2. Bot. Bass.

It's the first word of confusion, or disorientation. It's not working out the way that it's supposed to. I'm the one who's struggling, and it's the wicked who are prospering. But as for me, my feet hurt on my sleep. I had nearly lost my phone call for. I envied The Arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. I have no struggles. Their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens. They are not plagued by human life. The Samus continues on with the, with the same complied. Just look at some of these selected verses from the Somme. This is what the week of the lot. Always free of K. I got one of messing will surely in vain. I have kept my heart pure. What a thing to find in the Bible. In Vine, I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence all day long. I have been Afflicted and every morning brings new punishments. When I try to understand all this, it troubles me deeply. Can you hear that cry of confusion? Notice that the previous certainty of this wine has has disappeared. It's evaporated. The person has kept a heart pure but they are suffering from the time that I get up in the morning and all through the day everyday. Meanwhile, the wicked a carefree and what's more, they're even a messing with in their wickedness. But now there's another crucial transition word, and it's the word teal, or in some translations. It's until Till I entered the sanctuary of God, then I understood their final Destiny, surely you place them on slippery ground, you cast them down to ruin the Israelite. The the sanctuary of the temple was a place of solidarity with other Israelites, but it was the place of God's presence, the place of worship the place of communion with God. Here it is. That the Samus confusion is lifted and he comes to a new understanding. Yes, I am always with you. You hold me in your right hand.

You guide me with your counsel and afterward you will take me into Glory. Thomas is talking about true communion here now and Hereafter and he's precious to the Summers because of all else. Whom have I in heaven, but you and this has nothing. I desire besides you.

Just let that sink in for a moment and compare the desire expressed in that verse with the desire expressed in verse 3. Which was for a desire for material Prosperity. Like the wicked. Let me just remind you for I envied The Arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked but now the desire. Is for God. The presence of God to be with God forever, quite a change. Isn't it quite a transition from the beginning to the end of this song? The song ends with a, a further expression of the goodness of communion with God, my flesh and my heart, my file but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. But as for me it is good to be near God. I have my The Sovereign Lord my refuge. He is the reorientation, 90 grumbling about the prosperity of the wicked because there's an awareness that I will perish the spot. They will instead There is the triumphant rejoicing in the realization of communion with the Lord God.

The Book of Psalms describes a journey. It's an epic 101. Rachel bus will most likely need to face many times not just once It's a journey that move the song from slavish, adherence to a simple formula or Creed that spice than on on action consequence. In other words, a simplistic belated. My obedience will lead to God. Prospering me and always that kind of thinking leads all too easily to a form of Prosperity Gospel. The journey will often. Tyga's fruit confusing experiences. times when we are totally disoriented in our understanding and life in general, the disorientation could be caused by any number of things. Diagnosis of a serious disease, a car accident, a relationship breakdown loss of employment and and the financial stress that can result. The sudden death. Of a beloved husband or wife or other family member. I could go on simony disorienting experiences that we go through in a lot you can think of your unexampled as well as I can because she's been through them or perhaps going through them right now.

But this way, the songs are so helpful, and, and why we turn to them because I remind us that the journey doesn't need to end in confusion and disorientation. The Psalms offer hope and assurance. The journey can continue on to a new reorientation, a new and better orientation. It can lead to. Communion With God, all to the joy of that communion and two celebrating that communion in praise and thanksgiving. The ending point is so different to the starting point. I because we are different through having brain on that Journey. There is growth and transformation along the way to spot the disorienting experience, and maybe even perhaps because of it. I pray that your experience might be that of essays who was able to say in verse 26 of the sound, My Flesh and my heart, my file, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Before I close, though, let me tell you a little story that involves that thus, couple of years ago. I preached on this some, and someone came up to me afterwards, quite excited. She rolled up his sleeve and showed me a tattoo on her arm. I asked her if it was okay, if I took a photo and if I used it and she agreed I did say that, but I wouldn't breathe the old her name or the full circumstances but he's the Tad. If you can't breathe it, I'm not sure what you went to the best tattoos.

Akashic outrageous says, my heart, my file, but God is my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

no, I'm not a big fan of tattoos but I guess if you're going to get one, that's a good one, the game and particularly that verse meant, a great deal to her As a result of something that she had experienced in her a lot. She shared the verse with her sister and her sister's husband when he was about to die. And I found great comfort in. It, it was after that that she decided to get the tattoo on her arm. My heart, my file, But God is my portion forever. So as I close I just want to say that you too can have that communion with God forever through Jesus as you Journey Through the different seasons of your life in even including the confusing ones, be assured, that God is your maker, who loves you and cares so much for you. Now I do have a benediction and a blessing for you. This is probably not the time to give it that. Is it okay? If I closed off at the end after the final song? Or did you have something in mind? I'd love to bless you with a benediction before we go out to refreshments.