January 21, 2018 - JANUARY PSALMS - Psalm 73 - John Hall preaching, (John gone)

Good morning. We on awesome. Good morning everybody. My name is John. It's a privilege and honor a weighty thing but a joyful thing to be able to share God's word with you all this morning. So I'm 73 this morning. We can continue our January series and the Psalms love how Pastor John does that every every year as I was reading and studying this song became very evident to me that I need to live in the Psalms. No book in the Bible quite touches the heart the mind of the Saints then the book of Psalms dozen studying Psalm 73 has been a joy convicting a couple of weeks in my life. So the title of the sermon today is from the valley of NV to the mountain of exaltation. Play some 73 so invite you to turn there in the Bible's and your Bible to Bible in front of you if you don't have one.

Psalm 73 a Psalm of asaph truly God is good to Israel to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled my steps at nearly slept as envious of the Arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked do they have no pangs until death their bodies are fat and Sleek. They're not in trouble as others. Are there not stricken like the rest of mankind there for Pride Hazard necklace violence covers them as a garment their eyes swell out through fatness the heart overfloweth Follies, they scoff and speak with malice loftily. They threatened oppression is that their mouths against the heaven and their tongue thrust through the Earth there for his people turn back to them and find no fault in them. And they say how can God know is their knowledge in the most high? Behold, these are the wicked always at ease the increase in riches all in vain. I have kept my heart clean and wash my hands and in a sense for all day long. I've been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said I will speak to us. I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this it seemed to me a wearisome task until I went to the sanctuary of God then I just sitting there and truly you set them in Slippery places. You make them fall to ruin how they're destroyed in the moments What's way utterly by Tears like a dream when one awake so Lord when you Rouse yourself you despise them as Phantoms when my soul was embittered when I was pricked in heart. I was brutish and ignorant. I was like a beast or Nevertheless I am continually with you. You hold my right hand you guide me with your counsel and afterwards you'll receive me to Glory who have I in heaven, but you and there's nothing on Earth that I desire besides you my flesh and my heart May Fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever for behold those who are far from You Shall Perish you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me is good to be near God. I have made the Lord God my refuge that I made tell of all your works. This is God's holy word. Let's pray.

Spirit of the Living God unless you move this morning everything we do is pointless.

So can I plead with you I pray with you like the song that Lord we need you every hour Lord. We need you. Would you speak to your people today? Would you use me as weak as I Am Lord to communicate your truth? Help us. Oh God. We want to see Christ. We want to know Christ want the light and Christ. You want to follow Christ. And would you allow us to do that by your spirit? God help us in Christ name, we pray. Amen. All right, you may be wondering why I titled this tournament from the valley of NV to the mountain that begs. I'll Tatian you can probably see where I got the words envy and exaltation from but valley and mountain. It isn't clear in the text this title suggested Journey moving from one place to another the song that uses phrases like my feet had almost stumbled my steps had nearly slipped a picture of movement begin to take place, but we aren't talking about physical movement. The song isn't literally moving from one place to another and likewise. I'm not talking about a literal Valley or amount and this isn't Psalm 23 or he says though, I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. This text does not talk about a little Valley or Mountain. But what we are talking about is a spiritual journey from a low place to a high place. We've all been there Psalm 73 shows us a SAS Journey. He descends quickly into the valley into a low place if you a lot like the picture on the bulletin Except this place were talking about in Psalm 73 isn't peaceful. It's a place of spiritual danger. He's in a crisis would be more appropriate to picture ASAP the song mess with a pile of brick tied around his feet sinking rapidly to the bottom of that Lake on the bulletin. Is in a dangerous place. Then we see the journey take a turn something happens. He's rescued Alchemist place of danger in crisis. It does if someone drove into the water Cut the Rope of envy that was quickly bring him to ruin and pull them to the surface yet. Again. There's a turning point. It's as if right one Asaf realize that he's about to die before he breathed his last breath. He looked up and saw hope upon his rescue. He quickly without hesitation runs up. The mountain top inn is filled with a joyful adoration exaltation of the one who rescued him. Everything's clear again. You seem right Lee everything is brought back into the right perspective in from his new vantage point. He looks back and sees the crisis that he was truly in. I'm using figurative language, as you can see that the story of the lake the valley the mountain is nowhere to be found in Psalm 73, but what the story does is capture the very real spiritual truth that is seen in this song. It sets the stage it gets the mood, right? investigate Psalm 73 There are three parts of this song three stages that ASAP walks through to get to a place of exaltation yet. Again. The first stage is the crisis the second stage of the turning point something happens when he goes from being and missed low place and then something happens is a turning point. And then the third stage the third place in this song. We're going to see a staff return to place of worship yet again. Cell part 1 what is the crisis? There are two parts of this crisis of Faith. There's a plain statement found in verse 3. I was envious of the arrogant and then we seeing versus 1314 ASAP observe the lights out of the wicked and then Compares their lies to his own. So there's an observation of the wicked and then there's a comparison and together this creates a heart of Envy a heart that's in a bad place. Spiritually this creates this crisis. Just look at the first part of this crisis verse 3 froze envious of the Arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. When I say I saw the prosperity of the wicked became envious or jealous. This is the valley of envy. the word Prosperity means peace success or welfare Asaf was jealous of the Arrogant because you looked at their lives and he stopped peace and success who wouldn't want that. No, sin Verses 4 through 12 what the wicked look like what their lives are verse for they are healthy. They have no paint until death their bodies are fat and Sleek verse 5. They're not in trouble as others are there not stricken like the rest of mankind vs 6 their prideful and their violent they flaunt their violence in their pride verse 8, they speak carelessly and harmful if I pay no attention to bridling their tongue. verse 9 speak out blatantly against God A truly Wicked they don't give a rip about sanctification a Holiness or trying to do what's right in the eyes of God. They're simply doing whatever they desire. Verse 12 is a summary of the prosperity of the wicked behold. These are the wicked always at is the increase in Riches of a group of people. Don't care about anything holy and they seem to have an easy life a good life a life where they continually grow and riches. Keep in mind that ASAP didn't desire to be Wicked that wasn't what he was envious about what he was envious about was the prosperity of the wicked. He too wanted a life of Ease comfort and increasing riches. So that's the first side of the coin right? He's observing their Lifestyles and he's envious of their prosperity. Now the second side of the coin and of this crisis phone and verses 13 and 14. He Compares their life to his And I will see what else has heart is really like all in vain. He says these are dangerous words reminder for the preacher in Ecclesiastes. Vanity of vanities. All is vanity. It's a private disheartened saint. Hope has been this man is diminished and he cries out all is vain. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and wash my hands in innocence. What a tragic thing to say is that look upon the prosperity of the wicked. I didn't look at his own life and concluded. Little life live in pursuit of righteousness and Holiness was completely vain. We've all been there. We work day after day to crucify her sinful desires. Rest Paul says, we we put to death the Deeds of the body. And yet we find ourselves in the position that seems to be worse off. Then the rest of the world who could care less about holiness. We love Jesus. So we keep his Commandments what we find their lights on going the way we would like them to or tempted to say like ASAP all is vain.

You make choices at work everyday to be honest and full of integrity and you don't get that promotion or or worse. You can't perform or don't perform at the level your company needs because you refused to manipulate or try and get ahead by selfish ways and they let you go because you can't perform at a certain level you raise your kids the best way, you know, how they go wayward. You pray and pray and pray for your loved one to stop destroying themselves by the addiction their suffering yet to get drunk again.

You tell the truth about something going on behind closed doors. You lose friends.

You stay up all night studying for that test. You know, you're going to nail it to get in a car accident on the way to the test. And you fail the list could go on and on you desire children can't get pregnant. Meanwhile, there's thousands of people murdering their unborn babies everyday.

Jealous of the prosperity of the wicked. I'm trying so hard and nothing's going my way all his name. We've all been there. I know and if you haven't been you will be

just one thing after another. Verse for teenage that says all day long. I've been restriction and rebuked every morning. I've kept my heart clean. I followed your Commandments wash my hands and in a sense, what do I get in return suffering Affliction rebuke?

Well wake her up doing whatever their sinful desires desires, please they're always at he's getting richer and richer. Just feel the bitterness if you look hard hardness of ASAP, essentially, he's saying God owes me. I tried so hard. Why aren't you giving me the life I want.

You have to repay me.

We see this all the time does tragic come to Jesus. They stay in your life will be easy. Or worse if you aren't healthy wealthy and prospering you don't have enough Faith as horrendous. Our Lord himself said if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself take up his cross and follow me.

Enter by the narrow gate for wide is the gate and he's he's away with Lisa destruction. That will men who go in by it. But you enter by the narrow gate. Difficult is the way. Which least life will be a few who find it? We try. To make up in our own minds. That's a life following the crucified Christ will be a life of ease and comfort McGraw Better.

The good news of the Gospel is not an easier life. The good news of the Gospel is that Christ also suffered once for sins the righteous for the unrighteous that he might bring us to God. 1st Peter 3:18 we get. not an easy life

We might have seasons of an easy life. But the joy the supreme goal the ultimate goodness of the Gospel is we get God we have peace with God.

Yet when our hearts are turn towards Envy who say that God isn't enough to satisfy our desires.

I used to live in Florida. I work at a rehab in my shift will go late into the evening. And at remember one day is about 1 in the morning. I was coming home to work and I need a gas. I stopped at a gas station. I was tired and Delirious. I didn't realize that the gas station was closed. So I'm trying to pump gas and it's not working on there for longer than I should have been obviously and and I don't know where it's going behind me. All the gas stations closed but there's one right at the street that's open. You should have no problems there. I turn around there's a homeless gentleman. And he's on his bike again. He came out of nowhere. Maybe I was just delirious and tired and wasn't paying any attention, but he had a basket on the front of his bike and a backpack on clearly. This was all the possessions that he had. Hey, by the way, do you have something to eat or something to drink? I could have her a buck or two. And me and my cause the great time to share the gospel with this guy and some like do you know do you know Jesus? It's not as nothing. It's almost as if he melted his eyes swelled up with tears of joy. This is why I know him. is all I have is all I have where would I be without Jesus?

I've made a mess of my life as you can see his blood covers my sins. Be hopeless without Jesus.

He understood the gospel.

And he proceeded for the next 20 minutes to encourage me to exhort me to minister to meet this man. And I'm humbled here. I am proud and arrogant thinking that I'm going to share with this man something and my goodness he knew Jesus and he knew the hope that we have in Christ. He knew that the day he breathed his last breath.

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we get God. We get God. Last week in this section vs15r we have good reminder in a warning to us. Look at what a sad says in verse 15. If I said I will speak thus I would have betrayed the generation of your children if ASAP would have spoken probably about his crisis. And what is the current view of God was betrayed all those were under him you have given them a wrong impression of who God is and his goodness. When things don't go our way, the issue is not God is infinitely wise and everything that he does the issue lies with how slow our hearts are to grasp the goodness and wisdom of God in and through all things. We may never understand why God does all that he does but we can rest our souls on the fact that he is good and all that. He doesn't and nothing is a mistake. The crisis is clear. Is house heart is in a better place life isn't going the way he wanted to he's looking at the goddess and seeing their prosperity and he's jealous. I thought God would be amazed what he really wanted, which is a comfortable life.

Raise the point to the turning point. They called the turning point in this song wouldn't be looking at verses 16 through 20 to hear he moves from complaining to contemplation from comparison to consideration. Something happens that awakens ASAP to his condition and he's rescued from a sinking state ASAP is bitter and angry he tries to understand. Why does it the wicked and arrogant have a good life while he suffers? It's the old question why bad things happen to good people?

Sound doesn't answer that question.

It shows us if that's the wrong question.

The Bible doesn't only give us answers to our questions but a guy's our hearts and minds and shows us that so often work. We're asking the wrong questions all together. No Scrubs I'll keep that in mind as a navigate life and are seeking for wisdom. The more he thought how to understand his dilemma the more wearisome the task became the burn did not lighten the more he tried to figure it out. It only grew heavier and heavier verse 16, but when I saw how to understand that the same to me a wearisome task is that perspective was that of him at the center of his reasoning he was the main character in his story ASAP assumed that life was supposed to go all the way he wanted to go for himself because his way is the best way.

When we began to look at life with ourselves at the center with everything relating back to us and our perspectives only and we don't see things through the lens of what God has said the result is bitterness wearisomeness and anger. Essentially we're telling God what is bass and trying to give him counsel who has known the mind of the Lord. And who can be his counselor? All Aspen Romans 11 the obvious answer is nobody yet when we complain. And when were envious or jealous or essentially telling God that we know what's better trying to be his counselor? RN in life should not to be to push forward what it is we want but prayerfully carefully seeking what God's will for our lives are and I'm pleading with him to change our hearts to desire his plan for us for his ways are higher than our ways. In the process of trying to figure out why the wicked are prospering and as he's growing more and more weary asaph goes into the sanctuary. Until I went into the sanctuary of God, then I discern to their end verse 17 at this point everything changed. This is no longer a wearisome task the burden began to lighten and understanding can be discerned the end of the wicked. He saw Things From A New Perspective what happens when they died he shifted to an eternal perspective. When ASAP went into the sanctuary, he realize the greater truth about the life of the wicked. Verse 18 truly you set them in Slippery places you make them fall to ruin verse 19 there destroyed in a moment verse 20 Like a dream one awakens. Oh Lord, when you Rouse yourself you despise them as Phantoms. The sin of the wickedness will not be forgotten.

here at Calvary We believe that everyone who is not covered by the blood of Jesus. In the end will suffer in Everlasting conscious punishment in hell. There will be no getting away with wickedness. theater on the cross of Christ or eternal torment Be unapologetically believe that and a staff came to understand that the psalm 73. The wicked appear to have a good life now. Imogen whatever they pleased to gain riches Builder Empires, but in the end they're going to realize they've been building Empires on frozen lakes.

Will all come Crashing Down.

Is afternoon didn't only discern the end of the wicked, but he also realize the condition of his own heart verse 21. When my soul was in better when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant. I was like a beast towards you. ASAP came to the right conclusion that his heart condition was no better off than the wicked. He desired the same things the wicked desire. His own state with that of the same of the wicked.

Think about this. He's like a beast horse God.

Is essentially was a worship leader for the nation of Israel. It was his job ordained by God to lead his people and songs of joy and yet he's confessing here. I was like a beast or a god. a wild beast completely out of control snarling growling like a foolish Beast towards the almighty God his creator.

The question we have to ask ourselves is this what happened in the sanctuary? That help ASAP see the right perspective. He isn't complaining anymore, but rather confessing. What happened? The text doesn't give us a clearer answer different commentator say different things. However, the vast majority agreed that it must have been the sacrifices that took place regular in the sanctuary last week Pastor John was talking about day after day sacrifice after sacrifices will take place in the temple SF goes into the temple the sanctuary of God and he sees the sacrifices listen to how Robert Godfrey explains. It's in his book learning to love the Psalms quote. Why did the song is come to understand the Doom that awaited the wicked in the temple? What did he see when he entered the course of the temple in front of the Holy place. He would have seen the Altar for burnt offerings. It must have been a remarkable site pictures that reconstruct the temple almost invariably misrepresent the scene as very clean and tidy. In fact, the altar must have been a rather horrible sight of blood and charred remains. It was surrounded with orders of blood burnt Flash and death Flies probably swarmed around with a Samus saw was what God intended his worshippers to see that the wages of sin is death and all its horror. The altar testified that sin leads to destruction and the only way to avoid the just consequences of sin is to find a substitute and a sacrifice the Elder testified that the blood of a spotless substitute was necessary for sin to be forgiven. television on your mind blood chart flash flies swarming around sin is ugly in the wages of sin is death.

in the sanctuary of God ASAP came to three crucial realizations Number one the wages of sin is death the wicked will pay for their sin. Number to if he was no better off than the wicked he too deserved to die. And number three God has graciously and mercifully made a sacrifice and a substitute for ham. When a staff realize his own sinful condition that God has made a substitute for him and has to pay the price for his and he quickly moves to place of confession repentance and then praise. The only difference between a SAS and us today is that we don't look too animal sacrifice. We don't go to the temple to have a priest offer for us an animal day after day.

We see that the sacrificial system pointed to a true and better sacrifice and substitute a sacrifice that was once and for all we don't look too animals day after day. We look to the perfect spotless Lamb of God who took away our sins. We look to the Cross where they see the Son of God bleeding paying the price for us.

He is our true and better sacrifice and substitute. We two are like ASAP. We're like wild beasts. But God in his great Mercy has sent his son to Bear the wrath of God that is due to us. We look to Jesus Christ the perfect and better and final sacrifice.

princess the part 3 restored to a place of worship I was like a beast towards you. I'm continually with you. But that thinking I was a beast. I'm continually always never changing with you.

ASAP now moves from a place of realizing his own condition to coming to grips with the infinite grace and kindness of gods towards him. Romans 2 chapter 4 Romans chapter 2 verse 4 says God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance. We see this taking place in a SAS life.

I was abusive towards you nevertheless. I am continually with you. I was a beast towards you. Never the less you hold my right hand. I was a beast towards you. Have the less you guide me with your counsel. I was a beast towards you never the less. You will receive me to Glory that's love folks that's amazing grace and mercy a beef doesn't deserve anything a beast deserves. 3 cast out forgotten about locked up a voided

Yet God looks at his people and says you're mine. My son paid the price and you're mine.

Look out ASAP response to the kindness and grace of God whom have I in heaven, but you there's nothing on Earth. I desire besides you my flesh and my heart May Fail My Flesh and my heart they do fail every day. But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever when a person comes to grips with the undeserving favor of God towards them that because of what Christ has done. God will never leave you nor forsake you we can't help but respond the same way that ASAP has immediately we come to see that nothing else matters in comparison to him. Dudley God becomes an end of all of our affection. He becomes a why to everything that we do he is plays again in his rightful place in our hearts. We see this in ASAP. Has the good news drawing style in your hearts? Is Christ life death and Resurrection just another historical fact?

Christ purchased God's favor towards you Christian. This is amazing. Especially when we realize our own sinful conditions. Is that is driven to a place of worship? He's brought by the hand to the mountain of exaltation yet again his summary verse 28 It is good to be near God. I have made the Lord God my refuge my place of safety and comfort not an easy life filled with increasing rest riches, but God himself is a refuge I hide in

I'm this place of worship and ASAP again. Cuz of all God's good works sharing the beauty of God with others is a natural response to a heart of praise and worship compare that

to when he would have betrayed the generation of their children if you would have spoken. Is again restored to a place of right thinking right worship and he can again praise God name and tell people about him. so how to respond to this How does the spiritual journey of a sass help us and our pilgrimage to Glory?

There are seven to give me practical stuff that I see that can help us fight for praise more in the valley. If you don't catch em all there in the bulletin, don't worry. number one have a handful of unwavering Rock Solid truths about who got is that you can always rest your soul on verse 1 truly. God is good to Israel. Is that starts this song by affirming a truth about God that does not change when his circumstances change. His heart might not be there, but he knows what is true. We must have a handful of his truth about God. If we are to fight effectively we need to know who God is God is good. God is perfectly wise God is Sovereign and he does all that. He pleases the name a few that help me time and time again.

number two Let's be honest and quick to admit. We are struggling with the leaving these truths about God and we're in a dangerous place spiritually. Verse to but as for me my feet had almost stumbled. My staff had nearly slipped ASAP wasn't pretending that he was in a good place. He wasn't pretending that he was believing in his heart that God is good. He was brutally honest with himself and his own condition. We're so thrown to I think it's specially Minnesota. How you doing? All good?

dying inside You know.

Let's be honest with ourselves. There will be no restoration if we pretend to be where we're not. It must go through the valley in order to get to the mountain yet again. Number 3 use wisdom with who you confessed to. This is huge verse 15. If I if I said I will speak that I would have betrayed the generation of your children. There is a difference between accountability which is good and needed find a group of people a small group of people where you can share anything with And then sharing you're saying there's a difference between that and then sharing your sin in such a way that will bring harm and danger to other people spiritual growth. It's not wise to confess your disbelief to a brand new fresh and perhaps or your children or what-have-you if it would bring harm to them use wisdom. Don't go. Proclaiming how you don't believe God is good. People can't handle that. number for Don't ever stop trying to worship. Even when your heart isn't there ASAP continue to go to the place of worship. He went into the sanctuary of God, even though he's always van. It didn't stop. Don't stop praying. Don't stop reading don't stop gathering with other Saints. Don't quit and try to figure it out on your own that will lead you to ruin. God will use the means of spiritual disciplines trying to worship to Kindle again that fire that has Brown doll. Don't stop trying number 5 realize that our heart condition is not a situation issue, but rather a gospel issue. ASAP came to realize that he truly had all he needed when he realized the grace and mercy of God towards him. As Christians off and I love how in in Romans Paul says that we don't know how to pray as we ought. So often we pray for situations to change. I went with my heart's better when I'm in a bad place. It's a disbelief issue not a situation issue. I don't believe the goodness and mercy of God and then through all things. I don't believe God perfect Infinite Wisdom.

The real eyes come to grips with the fact that whatever like the song We Sing whatever my lot. He's taught me to say it is. Well it Is Well with My Soul that's the aim of being a Christian whatever our lot is a gospel issue as Christians. We need to continually Look Back To The Cross and come to grips with all that Christ did for us number 6 develop an eternal perspective verse 17. I discerned the end of the wicked SSS realize that death is a guarantee for everyone out of 10. People are going to be their last. And at that point there to outcomes either we die on be with Christ and everlasting increasing Joy or we die or destroyed and eternal torment. develop an eternal perspective on life this changes the decisions that we make Here and Now number 7 continually remind yourself learn to appreciate yourself every day. all the Christ purchase for you Verses 23 and 24 ASAP remind self that God is continually with him God is holding his right hand God is guiding him with his counsel. And God is going to receive him into Glory when Christ shed his blood on the cross. He effectively purchased these gifts for the Christian. We don't have to earn everything that price aren't for us. He paid the price so that we could always enjoy these gifts of God.

Preach this to yourself every day were so quick to forget the interesting in one of Paul's letter to Timothy. He reminds Timothy remember Jesus Christ. Since obvious, but that just goes to show you how quick where to forget.

When you feel far from God remember the truth of God is with you twice purchased that. When you feel lost in life remember that God is guiding you price purchased that when you feel enslaved to your sin remember that crisis severed the power of sin in your life. I bled and died for that. Ultimately is Christ in us will bring us back to a place of worship. But let's be a people like Paul says in Philippians chapter 2 verses 12 and 13 who works out our own salvation with fear and trembling because it's God who is at work in and through us.

List of people who learn how to fight. Well who learn how to not be well well,

Become a fact of mountain climbers on our way back to a place of praise and exaltation. Our life as a Christian is out of ups and downs in this life will face many many trials and valleys. Some days will be on the Mountaintop and the next find yourself deep in the valley yet again. But that's not where the story ends ever for the Christian. God Is With Us Christ is sufficient. He is enough to satisfy our souls he purchased our souls and he will not let them go. He will hold us fast. As a song they were about to sing says when I fear my faith will fail Christ will hold me fast when the temperature would Prevail he will hold me fast. I could never keep my hold through life fearful path for my love is often called. He must hold me fast. He will hold me fast. He will hold me fast for my savior loves me. So he will hold me fast. Let's pray.

Our Father

would you please give us a Blessed assurance? Would you please oh God no matter the situation help us to Delight in you to cherish you to find our joy in you no matter the circumstance. Holy Spirit, would you move in are the hearts apart from you. We can do nothing. So Lord. Would you give us the grace to praise your name yet again as we close and worship for your name sake and For Your Glory pray that you would do that in Christ name. Amen.