[0:00] Would you take your Bibles and turn to Psalm chapter 18.! Psalm 18. I'll be reading a number of selections from this psalm.
[0:10] ! And we begin with verse 1, and we'll read through 4. and that's where we'll begin. Psalm 18, verse 1. I love you, O Lord, my strength.
[0:23] The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
[0:38] I call to the Lord who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled me. The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
[0:52] Then verse 16. He reached down from on high and took hold of me. He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes who were too strong for me.
[1:09] They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me into a spacious place. He rescued me because he delighted in me.
[1:22] Verse 27. You save the humble, but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning.
[1:34] My God turns my darkness into light. With your help, I can advance against a troop. With my God, I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect.
[1:46] The word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the rock except our God?
[1:59] It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. He enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle.
[2:11] My arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory. And your right hand sustains me. You stoop down to make me great.
[2:23] Verse 46. The Lord lives. Praise be to my rock. Exalted be God my Savior.
[2:35] He is the God who avenges me. Who subdues nations under me. Who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes. From violent men you rescued me.
[2:48] Therefore, I will praise you among the nations, O Lord. I will sing praises to your name. He gives his king great victories. He shows unfailing kindness to his anointed.
[3:00] To David and his descendants forever. I invite you to open your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 29.
[3:12] God willing, this evening and at midnight, we will step into a new year. And I wonder what the new year holds for you personally. We all have our hopes, our dreams, our plans for the coming year.
[3:27] But the fact is, we don't know what a day will bring forth, much less the whole year. Now, that doesn't sit well with people. We're people who want to know what's coming.
[3:40] And so some are looking to their horoscopes. They're looking to the stars for direction, for knowledge of the future.
[3:52] One survey said that one out of ten women, and it's not just women, but that was this survey. One out of ten women will not make a major decision without consulting their horoscope.
[4:04] Other people will visit the palm reader. Tell me, what do the lines say about my future? We want to know. We're not satisfied to be left in the dark about what's coming.
[4:19] And all of these are pagan ways of trying to pry into the unknown future. All of them forbidden by God. Now, Deuteronomy 29 and verse 29 is a verse that we would do well to remember as we come into a new year.
[4:39] It says that the secret things belong to the Lord our God. But the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
[4:54] Notice there are secret things and there are revealed things. First of all, God has secret things.
[5:05] Now, kids, you know what a secret is. It's something you know that you're not going to tell someone else about. You're going to keep it to yourself. Well, God has secrets.
[5:21] Some of them are big secrets. Like the secret decree of election. The Bible tells us that before the creation of the world, he chose out of all the hell deserving sinners, which ones he would save and which ones he would leave to go their own way.
[5:40] There is a book of life with names upon it, but he hasn't shown it to any of us. It's his secret. A big secret indeed.
[5:53] There's the big secret of when this present age will come to a screeching halt and suddenly the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout and he will return and he will judge the world in righteousness.
[6:09] But of the day and the hour. It is unknown. It's one of his secrets. Many of the why questions.
[6:19] Why this has happened. Why is this happened to me? Why did he ordain that? What devastations are yet to befall our country, our nation, our world?
[6:33] How God can be sovereign over all things and yet man be responsible of every decision he makes. These are some of the big secrets and God has many, many more things that he's chosen to keep to himself and not to reveal to us.
[6:51] Now he is omniscient and that simply means he knows everything. All that has happened in the past. None of it escaped his notice. And he knows the future as well as he knows the past because he planned it.
[7:06] And he's working everything out according to that plan. And that's why he knows the end from the beginning. He knows everything.
[7:19] And yet he has chosen to keep many things about the future secret. Now he has secrets about your life personally.
[7:32] Every one of you. He knows when you will die. And how you will die. He knows if you will marry. And when you will marry.
[7:43] And if you will have children. And how many children. And where you will live. And what you will do. And what job you will have. He even knows what you will do tomorrow.
[7:54] Tomorrow. And every day after that. But he's not told you. You don't know what a day will bring forth.
[8:04] Tomorrow is still one of God's secrets. And though he knows the secrets of our hearts. Psalm 44 21. We don't know the secrets of his heart.
[8:17] The things that he has chosen to keep to himself. Now Proverbs 25 2 says it's the glory of God. To conceal a matter.
[8:29] It's part of his glory as God. To have secrets. To keep things secret. So that he alone knows them.
[8:43] Now isn't that even true of earthly rulers? Don't earthly rulers have some things that are marked top secret? That only they and maybe a few other privileged people.
[8:54] Have knowledge of. And should that be true of earthly rulers? And would we have the great and awesome king of the universe. To be without any secrets?
[9:07] Would we demand that there be no secrets kept from us? No hidden facts. No unknown why's. That we must understand and know everything that he knows. No God's secrets are for his glory.
[9:21] It glorifies him to have these secrets. And they are for our humbling. They belong to him. The secret things belong to him. They don't belong to us.
[9:32] They're not ours to know. They're his not ours. They're not for me to know. Then let me leave them with him.
[9:44] That's what we do with secret things. We leave them to God. We let God be God. And let him have the glory of his own secrets.
[9:55] And let me keep to my place. Content not to know. Content not to pry into his secrets.
[10:06] You don't like it when somebody else pries into your secrets. Neither does God. So be content to not know. And let him be God. When my dim reason would demand.
[10:18] Why that or this thou dust ordained. By some vast deep I seem to stand. Whose secrets I must ask in vain. Isaiah says his understanding no one can fathom.
[10:32] Paul cries how unsearchable are his judgments. And his paths beyond tracing out. We can't grasp his thoughts. His plans that are secret.
[10:44] David exclaims such knowledge is too wonderful for me. Too lofty for me to attain. So the sooner we learn this lesson the better. That the secret things belong to the Lord our God.
[10:57] So what 2018 holds for you. Are some of those secret things. And we must walk into this new year then. Blind to them. And trust God with them.
[11:10] But God hasn't left us entirely in the dark. You notice in the verse God has revealed things. The secret things belong to the Lord our God.
[11:21] But the things revealed belong to us. And to our children forever. That we may follow. In all the words of this law. So we see that God hasn't kept everything a secret.
[11:33] He could have chosen to do so. But he hasn't. Instead he has revealed certain things to us. Namely. All the words of this law. Now at the time.
[11:43] That was the first five books of the law. Genesis. Exodus. Leviticus. Numbers. And Deuteronomy. Those are the revealed things. That God had made known.
[11:55] That belong to us. Now. We have all 66 books of the Bible. All the things that God has revealed. Important things.
[12:07] Critical things. Who we are. How we got here. Why we're here. How we should live. Where we're going. The judgment to come. How it will go in that day.
[12:18] Who God is. What he wants us to do. What sin is. What the only remedy for sin is. This book. May not tell us.
[12:29] And will not tell us. All that we. May wish to know. Or all that we're curious to know. But it does tell us. Every single thing that we need. To know. And that's enough.
[12:43] That's enough. For me. Everything we need. For life and godliness. It's revealed. To us. To us. Everything to get us through. This life. And to land us.
[12:54] On heaven's shore. Safely. At last. But to say it another way. Is to say that there's nothing here.
[13:05] That you can do without. Now there's a lot. That would keep you. From this book. That you can do without. I blush to think of some of the cheap substitutes.
[13:16] That I let keep me from this book. But. But I can't do without. What God has revealed. That's why he. If. If he didn't think it necessary for me.
[13:26] He wouldn't have revealed it. All scripture is God breathed. And all scripture. Is profitable. Therefore. I need.
[13:37] All. Of the scripture. Everything that he is revealed. Don't just keep reading over a half dozen books of the Bible. That are your favorites. God has given.
[13:49] And revealed. All of it to us. That we might. Read and know. And keep. It all. There's no wasted breath. And with God. If he spoke it.
[14:00] He means us. To know it. So don't spurn his gift. That he's revealed anything to us. His mercy. And grace. That he didn't keep it all secret. An infinite stoop.
[14:12] For God the creator. To communicate. With. Us. His rebellious creatures. Just. To even have God. Open his heart. And mind to us. It's an amazing.
[14:23] Condescension. That he would reveal. Things that we otherwise. Would not know. The secret thing. About what's going to happen.
[14:34] To us in 2018. That. Those things belong to him. Not us. Then let us trust him. With those things. But these revealed things. Belong to us.
[14:45] They're ours. This book is ours. It's to us. It's for us. And was revealed. For the very practical purpose. As it. As our text says.
[14:55] That we may follow. All the words. Of this law. So these are the revealed things. Hunger.
[15:07] And thirst. For them. Eat and drink them. Make room in your heart. And calendar. For them. Let the word of God. Dwell in you. Richly.
[15:18] Let it have a home. In you. Let it live. And abide in you. Let it be at work. In you. Let it have its way. With you. Let it search you.
[15:28] Let it try you. Let it shape you. Let it fashion you. Let it set the priorities. For your coming. Year. Let it renew your mind.
[15:39] And transform every aspect. Of your life. More into the image. Of Christ. Whose word. And mind. It is. Love it.
[15:52] Believe it. Obey it. Meet with God in it. Don't miss. Its central figure. The Lord Jesus. Himself. Well.
[16:03] I don't need to concern myself. Then. With the secrets. Of this coming year. But I need to give. Great attention. To the things. That are.
[16:14] Revealed. What are you going to do. In this coming year. To. To grow. In your knowledge. Of the things. That God has revealed. In his word. If you.
[16:28] Make resolutions. And surely. This ought to be. One of them. At the very top. What am I going to do. With the revealed. Things of God. In 2018. Now.
[16:40] That's my introduction. This morning. In the time remaining. I want to give you. Some truths. For 2018. But I've just told you. It's the whole book.
[16:50] Right. So I need to just. Dive in. And narrow. The scope. Of reference. I want to give you. Three truths. For 2018.
[17:02] God revealed them. To a man. Who lived. Three thousand years ago. King David. And these truths. Will remain. As true. And relevant.
[17:12] To you. In 2018. As they were. To David. When he spoke them. Because they're all truths. About our. Unchanging. God. So yes.
[17:23] Bob Dylan. The times. They are a changing. But our God. Never changes. And that's why. This word. Is relevant. To us. This morning. As much. As it was.
[17:33] To David. These three. Revealed truths. Belong to us. And our children. Forever. And they're found. In one verse. Psalm 18. And verse 30. So if you'd like. To turn over. To that.
[17:45] Passage. That was read. For us. And I want you. To see. How this. Psalm begins. Psalm 18. Begins. With this title. For the director. Of music.
[17:56] Of David. The servant. Of the Lord. He sang. To the Lord. The words. Of this song. Notice. When the Lord. Delivered him.
[18:07] From the hand. Of all his enemies. And from the hand. Of Saul. That's when he said. These things. After the Lord. Had delivered him. So what follows.
[18:17] Are not the musings. Of some ivory tower. Theologian. But the lessons learned. On the run. From Saul. In woods. And caves. In the sweat.
[18:27] Of battles. Through many dangers. Toils. And snares. We get to call. The lessons learned. By King David. Lessons that will serve us.
[18:39] Well. In all the uncertainties. Before us. In the coming year. Three truths. About God. Here they are. Verse 30. As for God.
[18:50] His way. Is perfect. The word. The Lord. Is flawless. And he is a shield. For all. Who take refuge. In him. First of all.
[19:01] His way. Is perfect. There's not much. That's perfect. In the world. Today. Is there? We saw. Last week. That there are no longer. Any perfect husbands.
[19:12] No longer. Any perfect wives. No perfect marriages. No perfect parents. No perfect children. No perfect. Jobs. Indeed.
[19:25] Our churches. Our politicians. Our heroes. Our machines. Our medical advances. Our sharpest minds. Are all marred. With imperfections.
[19:38] Imperfections. Even the so-called. Perfect Christmas gift. Lacks the staying power. To excite. Very long. If you haven't found it yet. And indeed.
[19:50] Even our best efforts. Upon further examination. Leave much. To be desired. Imperfection. Mars. The world. Below. And yet. In this imperfect world.
[20:02] There is something perfect. It is God's way. The way of the Lord. Is perfect. There is the way of his commandments. It is the very.
[20:14] Best way to live. It is the perfect way. To live. And there is the way. Of God's providence. That is his way. With each one of us. Individually.
[20:26] As he has marked. Out the way for us. In this life. And I want to speak. To that way. That way. In which he leads.
[20:36] His people. The path. That he marks out. For you. You. You. Every single one of you. That way. Of the Lord. For you. Is perfect. And being perfect.
[20:49] It simply means. It cannot be improved upon. He teaches you. What is best for you. And directs you. In the way. You should go. Because it is the best. It is the perfect way.
[21:00] Isaiah 48. 17. Now that's not the way. It is with us. You and I. Go by trial and error. And. Then we improve. Don't we. We.
[21:11] We. We do what we think is best. And. And then. Then we evaluate. And we. Oh. I need to tweak this. I need to get that wrinkle out. I need to adjust here.
[21:21] I need to change there. But not God. As for God. His way is perfect. It's perfect. The first time. It's perfect. Every time.
[21:34] And that because. It is God's mind. Who sets forth. The way for us. It was devised with perfect wisdom. Knowledge and love.
[21:45] So there's no change. Or. Thing to improve. About. The way for us. That he sets before us. Now. Now let's be clear. David is not saying.
[21:55] That God's way. Always seems perfect. To us. Or always feels. Perfect. To us. I assure you. That when David was dodging spears.
[22:05] At the dinner table. Or when he was running. For his life. Like a hunted rabbit. And fighting battle. After battle. With his enemies. He wasn't always saying.
[22:16] To himself. Isn't this just perfect? No. There were times. He was saying. How long. Oh Lord. How long. Will this way. Go on. Before relief comes.
[22:28] But listen to him now. Remember when this was. This is written. After the Lord. Has delivered him. From Saul. And all of his enemies. So now. Looking back.
[22:41] David. Is going to share with us. A lesson. That he has learned. And it's this. That. As for God. His way. Is perfect. There is nothing.
[22:52] To improve upon it. I wouldn't change. A thing. Now I've heard that.
[23:03] From people. Who have been through. Some of the most. Difficult circumstances. That men have. And women have faced. In this life. I wouldn't change. A thing. I've heard it. From Johnny Erickson.
[23:13] Tata. After over 40 years. As a quadriplegic. Living. In a wheelchair. His ways are perfect. His ways are perfect.
[23:25] I've heard Job say. He knows the way. That I take. Knows all about it. He's planned it. And when he has tried me. I will come forth. As gold. People that.
[23:38] We would say. Would they ever. Breathe those words. His way is perfect. Yes. They would. And that's what David says. There's nothing about his way.
[23:49] With me. That was unnecessary. It was all part of God's. Perfect purpose. And plan. For my good. And for his glory. So I want you to take this truth. With you. Into the new year.
[24:01] Along with. The confidence. And. Peace. And joy. That comes from believing it. That I will face nothing. In this coming year. But what God has chosen.
[24:12] For me. And is. Best for me. It is his perfect. Perfect. Way. For me. Even when it hurts. Even when it confuses me.
[24:23] Even when it disappoints. My dreams and plans. Even when his way. Leads me up the hill. Difficulty. When others around me. Are. Taking the easy way.
[24:34] Of compromise. With the world. Yes. Even when it's costing me. And when it even leads me. Into the valley. Of the shadow of death.
[24:45] His way is perfect. It will be the perfect way. For you. Now we. We will say that. Later. One day. By sight. When we.
[24:56] See him in heaven. And we. Look back. Over life's finished story. We'll say. The way of the Lord. Was perfect. But we are to say it now.
[25:08] In the way. By faith. Let's learn it from David. Who found it to be true. And he. Inspired by God. Has laid this down for us.
[25:19] Oh but wouldn't it be better. If it didn't have so many bumps in it. No it wouldn't. There are no unnecessary bumps. In the Lord's way. For you. Or for me.
[25:31] If you had God's wisdom. And saw everything. As he sees it. You too would say. I wouldn't change anything. His way is perfect.
[25:43] Thy way not mine. Oh Lord. However dark it be. Lead me by thine own hand. Choose out the path for me. Smooth let it be. Or rough. It will be still the best.
[25:55] Winding. Or straight. It leads right onward. To thy rest. The kingdom that I seek. Is thine. So let the way. That leads to it.
[26:06] Be thine. Else I must surely stray. I dare not choose my lot. I would not. If I might. Choose thou for me. My God. So shall I walk.
[26:17] All right. So. Is his way perfect. Then let's walk in it. This year. Contentedly. Contentedly. As for God.
[26:31] His way is perfect. Secondly. As for God. His word is flawless. The word of the Lord is flawless. Here's another. Perfection in this world.
[26:43] It's the word of the Lord. It is true and trustworthy. And are we surprised by that. When we realize that it is the word.
[26:54] Of the perfect flawless Lord. Who is true and trustworthy. So. Yes. His word. Is flawless. And we live in a crisis of truth.
[27:06] In the world today. It's hard to know what is true. In a. In a. A day of fake news. In a day of. Of the. The fake charges. Calling it fake news.
[27:17] Truth. Who knows. What is the truth. Indeed. That was the exasperated question of pilot. Wasn't it. What is truth. Each year.
[27:27] The Oxford English Dictionary. Selects a new word of the year. That best captures the mood. And the. Preoccupation of the culture. Two years ago. That word was post truth.
[27:39] We live in a post truth. World. Now for decades. We've been told that we're living in a post. Modern world. Where truth is relative. That there are no absolutes.
[27:50] So you have your truth. And I have my truth. And. Your truth is no better than mine. And. And they're both true. Even though they may. Be self contradictory. Truth is relative.
[28:05] But now we're told. That the truth no longer even matters. Mine or yours. That. Our post truth society. Has determined. That truth is no longer.
[28:16] Even important. To us. That all that matters. What I feel. What I think. What I want. Whatever serves my purposes.
[28:26] And everything else is irrelevant. The truth. Included. I think. This mindset. Is best encapsulated. By the. The line. Don't confuse me.
[28:37] With the facts. My mind is already made up. Truth doesn't matter. Facts don't matter. What matters is that. I believe what I. Want to believe.
[28:47] And I get what I want. To get. Now the only problem with this. Is that we live in God's world. Who is a God of truth.
[28:58] And. And whose world. In whose world. Truth matters. And society without truth. Will self destruct. But he's the God of truth. And one day. He will judge the world.
[29:09] In righteousness. And truth. According to his absolute. Truths. Now in one sense. This is nothing new.
[29:19] This is not. Oh. We've suddenly crossed a line. Into a post truth. Culture. We crossed that line. Long ago in Eden.
[29:31] When Satan. The father of lies. Questioned. Has God said. Has God said. And convinced Eve.
[29:43] To buy. Into his lie. And to deny God's word. As true. And so now. We live in a world. Where the earth. Is full of Satan's lies. And they disguise. As truth.
[29:56] If truth. Even matters. And a world. Dismissive. Of the light. Of God's truth.
[30:07] Is now. Groping in the darkness. Of their decision. And they will stumble. Into outer darkness. And it's into such a world.
[30:18] With confusing voices. That David exclaims. As for God. His word. Is flawless. His word. Is. Is tried.
[30:29] And true. And trustworthy. Now David. Had put it to the test. He's. He's not just making a claim. For God's truth. He had put it to the test. In his own life. In his worst days.
[30:40] And in those days. Of. Of running from Saul. And fighting. In battles. Out of the depths. He cried. I wait for the Lord. My soul waits. And in his word.
[30:52] I put my hope. He's telling us. That's what I was doing. In all those long days. And years. Of trial. I was putting my hope.
[31:04] In the Lord's word. And now he tells us. After that trial has passed. Those long years have passed.
[31:15] My hope was not disappointed. No. It was God's word. That restored my strength. That preserved me. That sustained me. Throughout those long trials. And now looking back.
[31:26] He says. I took God at his word. I put all my eggs. In this one basket. Of what has God said. I ventured my life. I build it all. Upon his word.
[31:37] And I have found. That God's word is flawless. This is the look back. The word of the Lord. Is flawless. All of his descriptions. Of reality.
[31:48] Satan says. That's black. And God's word says. No. It's white. Satan says. That's sweet. And God says. No. It's bitter. And David says. I have found. Every one of his.
[32:00] Descriptions of reality. To be absolutely true. And trustworthy. Every one of his. Counsels. All of his promises. They are flawlessly. True.
[32:11] Not one of the good. Promises of his word. Have failed. The word of the Lord. Is right and true. He is faithful. In all he does. Indeed. He'll say.
[32:21] In the very next chapter. That the law of the Lord. Is perfect. Reviving the soul. It revived my soul. In all of those long trials. Remember these.
[32:31] Those words. That Jesus spoke. To his heavenly father. In John 17. Your word. Is truth. Your word. Is truth. So young people.
[32:42] Older people. What is it worth. Truth. In this world. Of lies. Masquerading as truth. To have a whole book. Of truth.
[32:53] Written down. Doesn't change. It's ink on the page. It's there. It's what God has said. And it's flawless. Every word of it.
[33:05] Flawless. I wonder if we sometimes. Have just grown so. Accustomed to it. That we forget the value. Of what we have in the. The word. Of the Lord.
[33:16] Here's a lamp. To your feet. Here's a light. To your path. To make your way. Through this world. Kids you ever been in a dark. Woods. Without a lamp. At night. And it's just.
[33:27] Pitch black. You can't see the tree. You're about to bump into. Here. Your word. Is a lamp. To my feet. And this will guide you. Safely through life. With all of its pits.
[33:37] You know there. In 2018. In the dark world. That you live in. There are. Pits. That will lead you. Straight into hell. This year.
[33:48] And this is a lamp. To your feet. To make your way. Through this world. To avoid them. To walk. And make it safely. To heaven.
[33:59] At last. A word you can trust. And never be put to shame. You can build. Your whole life. Upon it. You can build. Your view.
[34:09] Of every single thing. In this created universe. Upon what God. Has said in his word. And you'll never have to go back. On it. And regret it. I've lived to regret.
[34:21] Many things I've done. But I have never once. Regretted. Having built anything. Of my life. Upon this book. Because it's flawless. One day.
[34:33] Jesus sent. Two of his disciples. Into a neighboring village. On an era. And he says. As you enter it. You'll find a colt. Tied there. Which no one has ever ridden. Untie it. Bring it here. And if anyone asks you. Why are you untying it?
[34:44] Just tell him. The Lord needs it. And the two disciples. Took him at his word. And Luke says. They went. And found it. Just as he. Had told them.
[34:56] On another day. He sent Peter and John. To make preparations. For the Passover. He says. As you enter. This city. A man carrying. A jar of water. Will meet you. Just follow him. To the house.
[35:06] That he enters. And say to the owner. Of the house. The teacher asks. Where is the guest room. Where I may eat. The Passover. With my disciples. He will show you. A large upper room. All furnished.
[35:17] Make preparations there. And Luke says. They. They left. And they found things. Just. As Jesus had told them.
[35:28] Isn't that something? The word. Of the Lord. Is flawless. Down to its last detail. And in. 2018.
[35:39] You will find. This word. To be true. And one day. You will die. And you will wake up. In a reality. That you have not yet. Observed.
[35:50] And you will find. That it is all. Just as Jesus said. It would be. No different. Isn't it wonderful? He hasn't. Kept all these things.
[36:00] Secret to us. He's revealed. These things. To us. The word of the Lord. Is flawless. Many here. Have tried. God's words. Like David. They put their whole weight.
[36:11] On these words. And they have found them. To be flawless. And let me encourage you. Younger people. As you struggle. In this world. Awash.
[36:23] With ideas. Of what truth is. And what to live for. You build your life. On the Lord's word. And you will never. Be disappointed.
[36:35] You'll never be the first one. In all of human history. To find it. Other than. Flawless. So is his word. Flawless. Then let's build our lives. And all of our hopes.
[36:45] This year. Upon. God's word. As for God. His way is perfect. His word is flawless. And lastly. He himself. Is a shield.
[36:57] He is. Himself. A shield. For all. Who take refuge. In him. You know. That David. Was a man of war. Wasn't he? A soldier.
[37:08] Who fought. Many battles. And he had seen. The value. Of a shield. What is a shield. Kids. I saw one. This.
[37:19] This week. At one of our. Christmas gatherings. Some wonder woman. Had had a shield. What's a shield. It. It. It's something. That comes. Between you. And danger.
[37:29] Isn't it? So. So. There's the enemy. Out there. With his spears. And arrows. And. And here you are. And between you. And danger. Is the shield. And it.
[37:40] It. It. Absorbs. And. Deflects. All the deadly blows. Coming at me. Well David's. Life. Was often. In danger. Wasn't it? You've. You've read the account. You know the stories.
[37:51] He's facing a lion. And a bear. As he's watching over his father's sheep. On the hills of Bethlehem. He's down in a valley. And facing a giant. That's nine feet tall. And. Would scare anyone.
[38:02] Out of his wits. He's in danger. He's running from Saul. He's dodging spears. He's got. A whole army. Seeking to find him. People.
[38:13] Being traitorous. To his cause. And turning him over. To his enemies. He's fighting countless battles. Not sitting down in Florida.
[38:25] And flying drones. Dropping bombs on the other side of the world. Hand to hand combat. Can you imagine how close David was to death? Fighting. Scores of battles.
[38:37] Hand to hand combat. So that the ladies could sing. Saul's killed his thousands. But David his tens of thousands. Death seemed to stalk him. With more close calls than he could count.
[38:50] But. Ever between him and danger. Was God himself. As his shield. And that's what. David wants us to know. The shield isn't a thing.
[39:02] It's a person. It's the living God. It's this God that he's praising. Throughout. This. This passage. Who he says in verse 46. This Lord lives.
[39:12] He's real. He's the living. God. And he is my shield. And notice.
[39:23] This is not some special dispensation. Just for David. Oh. Well. David. Yeah. King David. He has special place in God's plan. Yes. He did.
[39:34] And so do you. And. And what was true of David. Is also true of you. David. David will say. God was my shield. He says that in chapter 3.
[39:44] In verse 3. That the Lord was. Is my shield. But notice the language here. He is. A shield. To all those.
[39:55] Who take refuge in him. So what was true for me. Can be true for you. David's saying. And this is one of those things.
[40:07] That has been revealed to us. This is one of the things. That belong to us. So there's no protection. There's no security system. So sure as this. To have the almighty God himself.
[40:18] As your shield. Standing between you. And the danger. What does that mean? It means nothing can get to you. Without first passing through him. Now that's comfortable truth.
[40:32] In a dangerous world. Nothing can get to you. Without first passing through him. Nothing can touch you.
[40:42] But what he first okays. And lets through. It must pass some very rigorous tests. It must pass the Romans 828 test. Before it touches you.
[40:54] It must be something. That can be worked out. For your good. For your greater likeness to Jesus. Or it will bounce off the shield. It won't ever touch you. Nothing will ever touch you.
[41:06] That he will not work together. For your good. If you're his child. Called according to his purpose. And it must pass the first Corinthians. 1013 test.
[41:18] That you must be able to bear this. He won't allow any trial or temptation. To get through to you. But what you will be able to bear. With his way of escape.
[41:30] That you might stand up under it. No that's too much. And the trial will bounce off. It must pass the test.
[41:42] Of Psalm 138. 8. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. So here comes something. Your way. In this coming year.
[41:55] And your shield is standing there. And he's going to put that thing to this test. Is this my purpose for her? Is this my purpose for him? Let it pass. But if not.
[42:06] It will bounce off. Like an arrow off of a steel shield. Nothing. Can touch you. With your shield. Between you and danger.
[42:17] There's a lot of scary things. That could happen in this coming year. Are we not in danger. Every time we get into those things. Out in the parking lot. And get on the road. Even in dry season. Let alone the icy roads.
[42:29] Are there not people. Being killed on the highways. Are there not deadly storms. And diseases. And unseen devils. But here's a comfortable truth.
[42:42] To know that he will block. All that does not serve his good. And loving purposes for me. All else will be repelled. This is perfect safety.
[42:53] God himself is my shield. The all wise. The sovereign. Almighty God. Overruling all things for my good. Making even what Satan means for evil. To work for my good.
[43:04] Now that's a truth. I can rest in. I'm ready to go into the secrets of 2018. Knowing that. He's a shield around me. All sides. It's like a bubble.
[43:16] In some of those science fiction movies. Where you see the shield. And nothing can penetrate. This is our God. A shield. For all. Who will take refuge in him.
[43:27] Have you taken refuge in the Lord? That's the. That's the big question. That comes out of this passage. Then isn't it? He's not a shield to everyone. He's. He's only a shield to those.
[43:38] Who take refuge in him. What does that mean kids? Well when a tornado comes. And the siren is going. You take refuge in a basement. You take refuge in a shelter.
[43:48] Some place where you're safe. And protected. From the coming. Harm. And you get in as fast as you can. Have you taken shelter. In the Lord.
[44:02] You see outside of Jesus Christ. Your greatest danger. Is not tornadoes. And accidents. And diseases. Or devils. It's God himself. Because he's a holy God.
[44:15] And outside of Jesus Christ. His wrath. And anger. Is hanging over your heads. Even as you sit there. Because of your sins against him.
[44:26] You're just one breath away. From everlasting torments of hell. That's the situation. In which you. You step into. 2018. And all these dangerous scenarios.
[44:36] That surround you. You are a breath away from hell. That will never end. That's danger. When I realized the danger.
[44:48] I was in. I took refuge in Christ. I ran. And got into Christ. For safety. You say. How do you get into Jesus? How do you get into a person? By faith.
[44:59] Just as you trust. That that basement. Will protect you. From the storm. Up on top of the surface. Of the earth. You believe. That Jesus Christ. Has died for sinners. He has borne.
[45:10] The wrath of God. And you take refuge. In him. You believe him. You trust his promise. And so you run to him. You come to him. You trust in him. And he is a shield.
[45:22] To all those. Who take refuge. In him. The Lord Jesus himself. Is the one. Who stood between me. And God's wrath. He was my shield.
[45:33] There. At Calvary. Once God's wrath. Was outpoured. For my sin. Jesus stepped between. He was the shield. And he bore the wrath. That I might never have to.
[45:47] He's the shield. So now I can rest. That his banner over me. Is love. And his shield around me. Is himself.
[45:59] Don't enter 2018. Without taking refuge in him. Don't go out of this building. Exposed. To the wrath of God.
[46:10] Get into the shelter. Take refuge in him. At once. And be safe. Without a shield.
[46:20] You're exposed to God's wrath. Without a shield. In this coming year. You will be exposed. To the devil's lies. Without any help. You'll be exposed.
[46:31] To the world's temptations. And to the power. Of sin's own temptations. Within you. That indwelling sin. And all of these. Are enemies. Too strong for you. Get into Christ.
[46:42] And he will shield you. He will protect you. From all these enemies. That are too strong. For you. Believer. What is it that threatens you? What causes you worry?
[46:53] What causes you to sit up at night? Lay awake at night. And worry. See that thing. Is out there. And see yourself here.
[47:05] And see the Lord Jesus himself. As the shield. Between you. And all that is out there. For the Lord God is a sun.
[47:19] And a shield. The Lord will give grace. And glory. He will withhold no good thing. From those who walk uprightly. So is God himself a shield. Then daily take refuge in him.
[47:30] Daily refuge in him. Believer. Learn from David. What a way to enter 2018. Knowing that whatever happens.
[47:41] I can count on God's way for me. Being perfect. His word to me. Being flawless. And he himself. A shield around me. To protect me.
[47:52] Aren't you glad God didn't keep that a secret? That he revealed it to David. And through David. And the inspiration of the script. Of the Holy Spirit. He's now revealed that to us.
[48:03] For this coming year. For right now. For us. Then let's live each day. Of this new year. In the peace. And joy. In the confidence.
[48:15] Of believing. All that he has said to us. Are you ready? Clothed in Jesus Christ.
[48:27] Under his shield you are. So now to him who is able. To keep you from falling. And to present you before his glorious presence. Without fault.
[48:39] And with great joy. To the only God our Savior. The glory and majesty. Power and authority. Before all times. Now. And forevermore.
[48:49] Amen.