The Believer's Benefits

We're going to begin by singing to God's praise in Psalm 130, the Scottish Psalter Version, Psalm 130, page 421 of the Psalm 103.

The benefits that we have through the Lord's graciousness towards us, and one of these is seen very much so in this Psalm when we have the assurance of the forgiveness as we cry out to the Lord.

Psalm 130, Lord, from the depths to thee I cried my voice, Lord, do thou hear, and to my supplications voice give an attentive ear.

Lord, who shall stand if thou, O Lord, should mark iniquity, but yet with thee forgivenesses that feared thou mayest be?

We'll sing the whole of this psalm, the tune is Martyrdom, and we'll stand to sing.

For from the depths to thee I cried my voice, Lord, do thou hear,

Until my supplications voice give an attentive ear.

Lord, who shall stand if thou, O Lord, should mark iniquity,

A gently forgive, for forgivenesses that fear thou mayest be?

I wait for God, my soul not wait, my hope is in His fire.

More than may not for morning watch, my soul wait for the Lord.

I say, Lord, may not for morning watch, my soul wait for the Lord.

I say, Lord, may not for morning watch, the morning light to see,

Let Israel open the Lord, for with Him mercy be.

Unplenteous redemption is ever come within,

And from all His iniquities, He is the shall redeem.

Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer. Let us pray.

Lord, our gracious God, as we come, uniting our hearts in prayer at this time,

We thank you for the very great bonds that there are even in that,

That we come, not just with one or two, offering up a word of prayer,

But that together we come, offering up all our hearts' desires to you.

We come lifting up our voices to you in song,

Thankful for the great joy that there is in praising you.

The delight that there is in knowing that we can sing to you of the great blessings that are ours

Through your word and through your spirit,

Through all that we have in Christ,

That we have so much to give thanks for.

And so that that leads us in then to praise you in our prayers.

And all of us together at this time,

We can all perhaps number the benefits that are ours in Christ.

Some of them will be the same.

And for some of us, the benefits will be quite different.

And yet each of us has that great reason to rejoice in you and to give thanks to you.

And we pray that this evening we will be able to find that sense of thanksgiving,

And that encouragement that comes through hearing your word and reminding us, Lord,

Of your gracious benefits towards us.

And we pray, Lord, this evening that that sense of the power of your word will be present with us.

For we know it's not just our words that we say together,

But that we come hearing your word, your truth, speaking to us and ministering to us.

We thank you that we are reminded so much of that.

And even the psalm that we have sung, we sing there of waiting on the Lord,

Our soul waiting, because our hope is in your word.

And that is what we come to do this evening, to wait upon you in that way,

With our very souls praising you for the joy that there is in your word.

And so may you bless your word to us as we read it,

And as we come to consider it together.

We thank you that it is a word that speaks into our lives,

Not just for this time of worship,

But it is a word that goes with us even into the week ahead.

We thank you that your word is on our lips throughout each day of our lives.

For we come to read it in our own quiet times.

We come to meditate upon it in our own different ways, even during the week.

We thank you to be able to listen to others preaching your word.

We thank you to be able to listen to so much that leads us into your words,

With a variety of podcasts available for our teaching.

We thank you for so many ways that your word goes out,

Even over the radio when we think of a thought for the day each morning.

We thank you that there is still that instruction from your word in many places.

We thank you for your truth that is read at particular times,

Even in a nation that has turned away from it so much.

We look back on this past week of remembrance,

And we know that your word was read and heard in so many different places,

By so many different people.

And we thank you for all the means that there are for the word of truth to go out,

With that great promise that your word does not return empty,

But accomplishes so much for your purpose.

And we pray, Lord, that even in these days ahead,

That your word would go out with that power.

For it is your word that is able to convict and to convert

The soul that lies in sin, as the psalmist says.

And so we pray that your word will just resonate with people,

Near and far.

It doesn't take much, O Lord, for we know that even in our own experience,

How even just a sentence or even one word can be used by you.

It can stop us in our tracks.

It can challenge us.

It can remind us of our greatest need in this world.

And that we have a Lord who is Jesus Christ.

One before whom all must appear.

And give an account, whether for good or evil.

And even these words themselves, they can resonate in our ears.

And they can speak to us.

They can remind us, Lord, that although our days seem to go on as normal,

As we go into a new week, it just seems like any other week.

And yet your word reminds us that the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

And that we are to be prepared for that day.

For it could be at any moment.

We thank you that even the word eternity has such a powerful ring to it.

It reminds us that despite so many who say we live and die and that is it,

That there is an eternity for us all.

And we pray that every word that has come through you to this world, down through all the generations,

That you would use it even in these days, O Lord.

That your word would bear much fruit.

We do ask, Lord, and thank you for those who translate your word.

We marvel at the number of languages that there are in the world.

How many different tongues there are to speak.

So many we don't understand ourselves.

So many are beyond us.

And yet, O Lord, you have your people through all corners of the world.

And we thank you that there are many who are being used by you to translate the word of God into all the different languages of this world.

And we pray for that endeavor to be blessed by you and for people to receive the word with great gladness.

And we thank you that throughout the world you are building your church.

And that we have that great assurance in your word that you are one who is working to bring your kingdom power into the midst of this world.

Where there's a power beyond any other.

Even when we think of the powers of this world and the power that they seem to have at their fingertips in many ways.

And yet it is nothing compared to your power over us.

And so, Lord, look down upon us this evening.

We pray, O Lord, that you will have mercy upon us.

And as we were singing this morning from that Psalm, Psalm 67, that is our prayer again this evening.

Lord, bless and pity us.

Shine on us with your face.

We pray that even now, Lord, that you would do so.

And we ask, O Lord, that you will meet us in all our different needs at this time.

We thank you for the gathering of your people here.

We thank you for the means to broadcast through the internet as well.

We thank you for all who are tuning in at home.

And we thank you for the great way that we are able to share together around your word.

And we pray that those who would be able to be out would be encouraged to do so.

That there would be finding a fellowship with one another.

Not just in coming to sit in the pew, but in coming to sit with one another and share with one another.

Even to have a word among ourselves as we leave this place tonight.

Lord, we thank you that so often there are words of encouragement.

And even if it's just, hello, how are you?

We thank you for the bonds that exist.

That there is a care and a concern for one another.

We pray that you would bless our fellowship.

That you would help us to encourage one another.

To strengthen one another.

To love one another.

To pray for one another.

That we would find ourselves as a people having our bonds in Christ strengthened day by day.

And we ask, oh Lord, that you would go before us in all that we do as a congregation.

We think of the vacancy at this time.

And the vacancy meeting on Tuesday.

We pray for your wisdom.

For your guidance.

For your help.

For us as a congregation.

And as we're reflecting this morning for many others who are vacant congregations throughout our presbytery.

And throughout our land.

We thank you that you are Lord of the harvest.

And able to provide.

And send out laborers into the harvest field.

And we continue to pray to see your hand upon us for good in that.

We continue to pray to see your work of salvation in our midst.

As we think of another communion time soon to be with us here as a congregation.

As we come to, in a special way, remember the Lord's death till he come.

And we thank you that we can come and prepare ourselves even now for that.

And ask that there will be many who maybe have not sat at the Lord's table as yet.

Who would have their hearts touched and convicted.

And know that they have an assurance from you that you will be with them.

That that is a promise that you give.

For you say you will never leave us or forsake us.

And that is one thing that is true as we take a step in faith.

That you will be with us to uphold and to strengthen.

And so we pray Lord that we would be encouraged in all of these things.

We pray too for those who are struggling in different ways.

Remember those who are grieving.

We know that seldom a week goes by when there is not sad news for somebody within our congregation.

Sometimes it can be seen coming and other times it comes so unexpectedly.

But we know Lord that we are in your hands for these things.

And we pray that you will help those who need you in that way.

Remember those who are unwell in hospital or homes.

Or even their own homes Lord.

Surround them with your love and your grace.

And we pray Lord that you will help us to remember one another in these times.

Lord continue with us in our worship at this time.

Go before us and help us in the week ahead.

To go on in your strength.

Even the strength of the eagle as we read in your word.

That we would have it renewed within us Lord.

That you would encourage us and build us up in our faith.

And help us to be strong in the Lord.

To be courageous.

To be bold for you at all times.

And to all around us.

That you would help us to be that salt and light in this world in which we live.

So Lord bless us.

Go before us now.

Hear us in all our prayers.

Hear our confession of sin.

And you Lord as we confess that we fall short of your glory so often.

But thankful for these words that we have sung.

That yet there is forgiveness with you.

So Lord cleanse us from all our sin.

And guide us in all our thoughts now.

And in the reading of your word.

And in all we do.

May it be to your glory.

And we ask all of these things in the name of our precious saviour Jesus Christ.

For his sake and glory.

Amen.

We'll again sing to God's praise.

This time in Psalm 92.

And let's sing Psalms version.

This is Psalm 92a.

Page 122 of the Psalm books.

We're going to sing.

We're going to sing from verse 5.

Down to the end of the Psalm.

Psalm 92a.

Page 122 of verse 5.

The tune is free church.

How great are all your works.

O Lord.

Your thoughts.

How deep and grand.

The senseless one does not perceive.

Fools do not understand.

Although the wicked spring like grass.

The foolish do not see.

That all who flourish in their sin will die.

Eternally there's that warning to us there.

But then in verse 8.

But Lord you are forevermore.

Exalted very high.

We have a Lord who we look to.

Who is there over all things.

And so we pray that we may know his blessing with us in these things.

We sing from verse 5 down to the end of the Psalm.

We stand to sing to God's praise.

Amen.

The senseless one does not perceive.

Wholes do not understand.

Although the wicked spring like grass.

That foolish do not see.

That God who punishes in their sin will die eternally.

But Lord you are forevermore.

Exalted very high.

All evil who hurts will be crushed.

Your foes will surely die.

You make me strong.

That voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque voyque

The leaders flourishing, the righteous soul will be.

And planted in the house of God, will grow abundantly.

Though in old age they still bear fruit, they will stay fresh and strong.

They will proclaim the Lord his just, my all who does no wrong.

Amen.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me.

Bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Who forgives all your iniquity?

Who heals all your diseases?

Who redeems your life from the pit?

Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy?

Who satisfies you with good, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles?

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him.

As far as east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

For he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,

and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word,

obeying the voice of his word.

Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will.

Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Amen, and may God bless that reading from his word.

And before we come back to look at the beginning of this psalm, we're going to sing again to God's praise.

Psalm 128, in the Singed Psalms version, page 172.

Psalm 128, page 172.

The tune is Duke Street.

How blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk the way that he has shown.

Success and blessing will be yours.

You'll eat the fruit that you have grown.

Your wife will be a fruitful vine, and round your table will be placed.

Your children, like young olive shoots, thus he who fears the Lord is blessed.

May you behold Jerusalem's good from Zion.

May God's blessing flow.

Your children's children.

May you see, may God on Israel, peace bestow.

A short psalm, but a psalm that's filled with so many of the blessings that arose from the hand of God.

Psalm 128, and we'll sing the whole of the psalm to the tune Duke Street.

We stand to sing.

How blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk the way that he has shown.

Success and blessing will be yours.

You'll eat the fruit that you have grown.

Your wife will be a fruitful vine, and round your table will be placed.

Your children, like young olive shoots.

Thus he who rears the Lord is blessed.

May you behold Jerusalem's good from Zion.

May God's blessing flow.

Your children, may you behold Jerusalem.

May God on Israel, peace be so.

May God on Israel, peace be so.

All his benefits.

Who forgives all your iniquity.

Who heals all your diseases.

Who redeems your life from the pit.

Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.

Who satisfies you with good.

So that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

Forget not all his benefits.

And then the psalmist here goes on to list for us a number of benefits.

And it's these benefits that we're going to consider together this evening.

The psalms are always very personal for us.

And they speak to us in so many different ways.

Speak to us of day-to-day experiences that we go through.

They speak to us about so many different things that are going on around us as well.

And so we can often see the psalms speaking outwardly for us.

But as you look at the psalms as well, you find that there are also times, and I'm sure you know this,

that they speak within us as well.

They remind us of just what's going on in our hearts.

What's going on inside us.

That there is nothing hidden from the Lord.

And sometimes you see the psalmist bringing many complaints.

But before God, you see him coming to the Lord with a burden.

You see him coming, as we might say, he's coming with a bit of a moan towards God.

Psalm 13, for example.

The psalmist begins the psalm saying,

How long, O Lord?

Will you forget us forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

So the psalm, psalmist comes with a complaint to God.

And you find that occurring regular throughout the psalms.

And we can often be very thankful that that's there,

because so often that reminds us of what goes on within our own hearts as well.

How often we're coming before God,

and it is a bit of a complaining attitude towards him.

We all have days like that.

But also we see in the psalms, and here in Psalm 103,

we're given the other side of the coin, as it were, as well.

That we shouldn't always be like that.

David's own relationship with God was one where, yes, he came so often with complaints,

but more so he came recognizing his dependence on God,

and very much his thankfulness towards God.

He recognizes God's great steadfast love, as it's often called,

that covenant love that God has shown towards him.

And he comes with much thanksgiving for that,

and he comes praising God.

And that's what we see in this psalm, Psalm 103.

He's very much coming to God with a sense of thanksgiving,

the sense of praise towards God.

Bless the Lord, he says,

Oh, my soul, and all that is within me.

It's like he's coming to the Lord and saying,

Please don't just see me as someone who's always complaining.

Don't see me as someone who's just always got something to moan about.

Because I know that there are many things that I should be thankful for.

And that speaks to our hearts as well.

It certainly speaks to my own heart.

There are times when I feel all I'm doing would be complaining,

or grumbling, or moaning about something.

Even to God, just bringing complaints to him.

And I have to come and say,

Lord, please don't see me as someone who's always complaining,

who always sees the sense of almost being unthankful for life and all that it entails.

I recognize, and we should recognize, just like the psalmist,

that we have so much to remember and give thanks to God for,

and to praise his goodness towards us.

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

He goes on to say here in verse 2,

And forget not all his benefits.

Forget not all his benefits.

How easy it is for us to forget his benefits.

And yet, when we see in this psalm,

he reminds us of all the benefits that are ours

through his grace towards us.

Now, when you think of the word itself, benefits,

in our day and age, it maybe automatically takes our minds towards something like child benefit,

or support benefits when we're out of work,

that kind of help that we get in time of need,

which can often be seen in a negative sense.

But there are benefits there for the good of people in times of need.

And that's what we see here with the Lord.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

is recognizing our dependence on him.

There are times when we are struggling,

times that we are in great need,

times that we see that our strength is failing,

and yet we are reminded,

don't forget the benefits of the Lord.

So if we are feeling that sense of discouragement,

if we are feeling that sense of putting ourselves down

and just seeing ourselves as a people

who are always grumbling about something,

then we come like David and say,

but Lord, look, we have so much to be thankful for,

and we are.

And we see your benefits,

and we don't forget your benefits,

because we remind ourselves of them again and again.

And so his benefits are then outlined for us here

in verse 3 to verse 5.

And it's these benefits I want us to touch on,

just to go through them one at a time.

And there are five benefits for us here

that he outlines to us.

We see forgiveness.

We see healing.

We see redemption.

We see crowning.

And we see satisfying.

You see the word who there in verses 3 to verse 5.

And it's, and who does all of these things for us?

Who gives us these things, these benefits?

It is the Lord.

And it is the Lord that we are to be thankful for,

for all of these things.

And so it says,

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Forget not all his benefits.

And then we see the first one.

Who forgives all your iniquity.

Forgiveness is there,

almost as you would say,

top of the list.

Forgiveness.

That the Lord is the one

who is able to forgive.

And what a benefit that there is in that for us.

Even in our grumbling,

even in our moaning towards God,

he is able to forgive us in that.

And there are so many times

when we feel like poor Christians.

There are so many times when we feel overwhelmed

by different things in this world.

And as the hymn writer says,

when Satan tempts me to despair.

There are these times,

and the psalmist sees it himself in his experience.

When there are times when you feel

just that sense of despair,

when you feel at your most wretched point.

Is there a better benefit to remember than

who forgives all your iniquity?

The hymn says this,

when Satan tempts me to despair

and tells me of the guilt within.

Upward I look and see him there

who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died,

my sinful soul is counted free.

For God the just is satisfied

to look on him and pardon me.

Who forgives all your iniquity?

How there is that wonder of

how God is able to look on him,

to look on Christ and pardon me.

That there is forgiveness

in the midst of all our sin.

And David himself knows what it is

to confess sin.

He goes through his life

confessing so many different sins

in his experience.

But he also knows how precious forgiveness is.

We sang of it in Psalm 130.

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,

who could stand?

But yet there is forgiveness with you

that you may be feared.

The wonder of forgiveness.

The wonder of the one who forgives

all your iniquity.

Is there a greater benefit than that?

There was a story at the time

of Robert the Bruce,

the one who would become

the king of Scotland.

But before that,

he was so often fighting

in different battles.

And the English were often after him

to prevent him from coming

to take the crown.

And there was a time

when they were after him,

chasing him.

And he was just himself

and one of his servants with him,

running away from them.

But they were getting closer and closer.

And there was no getting away from them

because they had these hounds

that they were using

to pick up his scent

and chase him.

And so everywhere he went,

the dogs were picking up his scent.

He just couldn't get away.

And they were running

and running and running.

And eventually they came to a point

where they were stopped.

And the servants said to him,

we just can't go on.

There's no escaping these dogs.

Then Robert the Bruce remembered

that just further on,

there was a river flowing through

an area of the land

that they were running across.

And what dawned on them was

that if they could get across

or into that river

and through that river,

across the other side,

that they could possibly get away

from these dogs

that were chasing them.

And so they made their way

to the river

and they waded in

and made their way upstream

walking through the water.

And then they moved up some way

and then came out

on the other side.

And on the other side,

close by,

was a forest

which they ran into

and made their way

further into the forest.

And just as they looked back,

what they could see

was the dogs coming

to the edge of the river

and they were stopping.

And no matter how much

the English tried

to drive on the dogs

and pick up the scent,

the scent was gone.

The scent had been taken away

by the river.

There was no scent to smell.

There was no way

of finding that track to follow.

It had been washed away.

And as we think of

the one who forgives

all your iniquity

and the one who tempts us

to despair,

where do we come to

but to the cross?

That place where our sin

is forgiven,

where the blood of Jesus Christ

cleanses us from all sin.

So that even the one

who tempts us to despair,

we are beyond his reach.

We are beyond him

because he cannot touch us.

Because God looks on him

who was crucified

and pardons me.

Therefore,

we are able

to see the great benefit

that there is for us

in that,

the one who forgives

all your iniquity.

So that when there are times

when you feel

that sense of despair,

when it's like those dogs

who are just picking up

the scent,

when Satan tempts you

to despair,

you remember

that you are forgiven.

And as you believe

in the Lord Jesus,

as you put your trust

in him,

that he is able

to cleanse you

from all your sins.

The trail is broken

by the blood of Christ

that takes away

our sins.

As somebody put it like this,

the purpose of the cross

is to repair

the irreparable.

What we couldn't repair

ourselves,

the cross

takes care of

as we put our trust

in him.

we know that great benefit

that he forgives

all your iniquities.

Then secondly,

we see here

the one who heals

all your diseases.

Our bodies

are so often afflicted

by sickness

and disease.

It's part of life,

sadly.

It's part of what sin

has brought

into this world.

And we would love

to see healing

for all

our diseases.

But the reality is

that that doesn't

always happen.

We know it.

But he's not

referring here

to the sense of

all our diseases

in this life,

all the things

that cause us

great pain

and that bring death,

that they will be healed.

But he's reminding us

of the one

who heals

all your diseases

as he speaks

of the soul

here.

The soul,

the one

who is able

to restore us

not in a physical way

but in a spiritual way.

The one who is able

to heal us

in that sense

of all the damage

done by sin

in our lives.

You think of

all the things

that go on

in your heart.

The diseases

that are there.

Hate,

greed,

jealousy,

anger,

discouragement,

despair,

guilt,

doubt,

all of these things

that so often

just weigh

so heavy upon us.

And yet here

we are reminded

of the great benefit

of the one

who heals

all your diseases.

The psalm,

Psalm 23,

another psalm

we sing so often.

It reminds us

of that restoration

that he gives.

In verse 2 and 3

it says,

He makes me lie down

in green pastures.

He leads me

beside still waters.

He restores

my soul.

He leads me

in the paths

of righteousness

for his name's sake.

That wonder

of the one

who heals

all our diseases,

who restores

our soul.

What a great benefit

that there is

in that for us

as well.

The remedy

to all the diseases

of our soul

is found

with him.

And the word

is that remedy

for us.

And it's like God,

someone described it

like this,

like God is the doctor

who's on his rounds

on a daily basis.

Visiting all

his patients

and making sure

that all his patients

are being cared for,

that their soul

is being restored.

And that's

the great relationship

that we have

with God

as we come to him

on a daily basis,

as we come

to his word,

as we come to him

in prayer,

as we come to look

to him

and trust in him,

we are reminded

that daily

he graciously cares

for us.

That is what

the Psalm 23

is saying.

He leads me

beside still water.

She is with me.

He restores my soul.

He leads me

in the paths

of righteousness.

This is ongoing.

This is the shepherd's

care for his sheep.

That daily

he gives us

all these benefits.

And so,

we know

that he is with us.

But in order

to know this benefit,

we must take

our medicine.

Psalm 107

is another psalm

that speaks of

our experiences

in life.

In verse 19,

it says,

So as we cry

to the Lord,

as we hear

his word,

he is able

to heal us,

deliver them

from their destruction.

That is what

the Psalm 107

says.

But then it goes on

to say,

Let them thank

the Lord

for his steadfast love,

for his wondrous works

to the children

of men.

So as we see

God doing that

for us,

as we cry

to the Lord

in our trouble,

and as he delivers

us from distress,

as he sends out

his word

that so often

heals us,

it reminds us

that with him

we have so much

of these benefits

that our soul

that is so bitter

at times

that he is able

to make it rejoice

in him again.

So how

could we ever

forget the way

the Lord

treats us

like that

on a daily basis?

The way

he tends to us,

just like a doctor

looking after

his patients

daily,

the Lord

looks after

his people

on a daily

basis.

And for that

we can say,

bless the Lord,

oh my soul

and all

that is within me.

That we know

the great

benefit

that there is

in the Lord

who heals

our soul.

And thirdly,

we see there

in verse 4,

the one who

redeems

your life

from the pit.

Yes,

you could say

it's quite similar

to the one

who forgives

all your iniquity.

But there's

a reminder

there again

of the cost.

The one

who redeems

your life

from the pit.

The one

who has

given everything

to bring

your life,

to free

you in your life

from the consequences

of sin.

There was a great

price paid

for us

that God

has given

his son,

the redeemer,

so that our

life may be

spared

from the pit.

What a benefit

there is

there for us

as well.

The one

who gave

life,

but the one

who redeems

our life.

There was a story

of a little boy

who made

this model

boat.

He built it

himself,

he made it

himself,

and he was so

proud of this

little boat

that he'd made,

and he went

out this day

to play

with it

in the river

and tied

a bit of

string to

the boat

and let

the boat

out bit

by bit.

And there

he was,

so pleased

with what

he had made,

and he watched

this boat

just going

in the water.

But then

suddenly the wind

got up a bit

and it started

to pull

on the boat,

pull it further

away from him

and as he

tried to

pull the

boat back

in,

the string

that he

had on it

snapped.

And the river

took hold

of this boat

and took

the boat

away from him.

The boy,

he tried

to chase

this boat,

but it just

got further

and further

ahead of him.

He lost

sight of it

and the boat

was gone.

And he was

so despondent

at this.

Well,

a few weeks

later,

after having

searched

for this

boat for

so long,

he had

given up

hope until

a few weeks

later he

was walking

through the

town where

he lived

and in

the window

of a shop

he saw

this boat

and it was

his.

And he

couldn't believe

it that this

boat was

there for

sale.

And he

went into

the shop

and he

said to

the shopkeeper,

that's my

boat,

that belongs

to me.

And the

shopkeeper

said,

well,

no,

it doesn't,

it's mine

now.

And if

you want

it,

you'll

have to

pay for

it.

And the

boy,

he couldn't

believe it.

But he

said he

wanted his

boat back

and so

eventually he

paid the

price for

the boat.

And as he

was going

out of the

shop,

he was

there holding

the boat

so closely

to him,

looking at

it so

longingly,

the boat

that he

had made

and he

said,

now you're

mine twice.

First I

made you

and now

I've

bought you.

And that

is how

we are

with God.

The one

who redeems

your life

from the

pit is

the one

who made

you.

But you

were lost.

You were

lost in

this world.

And so

being lost

as we all

are,

what did

the Lord

do for

us?

He

redeemed

your life.

He made

you and

yet he

bought

you and

bought

you at

a price.

He gave

his own

son.

And so

as we

think of

this benefit,

we see

it is the

Lord who

has made

us.

It is the

Lord who

gives us

the breath

of life.

It is the

Lord who

gives us

all that

we enjoy

in this

world.

And yet

in our

lostness

we just

go our

own way.

But the

Lord has

come to

redeem us,

to buy

us back

to himself.

And when

we see

the price

of that,

that Jesus

had to

die for

our

redemption,

that it is

through faith

in him that

we are

redeemed,

we see the

gracious benefit

of God

in that.

He didn't

leave us.

He didn't

abandon us

to be

lost.

lost.

You

think of

the

Hebridean

Isles that

was in

Stornoway

this last

while and

has now

gone away

not to

come back

to Stornoway

again.

It's done

its time,

it's served

its purpose

and what

now lies

in store

for the

boat?

To be

scrapped.

Just to

be put

away,

to be

abandoned,

to be

left in

the scrap

heap.

That's

the way

the Lord

could be

with us.

That's

the way

the Lord

could be

with you

and me.

We've

done

enough

in this

world,

we've

gone

our

own

way.

The

Lord

could

just

say

the

scrap

heap.

Let

him

go,

let

her

go,

that he

served

nothing

else.

But

the

Lord

in his

grace

towards

us

doesn't

want us

just to

be

left

on

the

scrap

heap.

He

wants

to

redeem

your

life.

And

that's

the

purpose

why

he

sent

his

son.

And

so

if we

look

to

him,

we

are

redeemed.

We

are

assured

that

our

life

is

not

worthless,

but

it

is

precious

to

him,

the

one

who

gave

his

son

that

we

might

have

life

through

him

and

life

eternal.

So

there

is

the

benefit

that

we

have

in

faith

in

Christ.

He

redeems

your

life

from

the

pit.

The

fourth

thing

we

see

here

is

who

crowns

you

with

steadfast

love

and

mercy.

Who

crowns

you?

Now

we

think of

a

crown,

you

think

of

a

king

or

a

queen.

And

who

here

feels

like

a

king

or

a

queen.

And

yet

here

we

have

that's

one

benefit

that

we

receive

from

him.

He

crowns

you

with

steadfast

love

and

mercy.

He's

giving us

a share

in

his

kingdom.

He's

giving us

a part

in the

royal

family

that

belongs

to

the

Lord

as

our

king.

God

crowns

his

people

with

the

blessings

of

being

part

of

his

kingdom.

him.

He

crowns

his

people

his

children

with

steadfast

love

and

mercy.

And

these

two

things

they need

to be

unpacked

a little.

What do

we get

in this?

He

crowns

you

with

steadfast

love

and

mercy.

Steadfast

love

here

really

corresponds

to what

the

Lord

calls

grace

in the

New

Testament.

He

crowns

you

with

grace

upon

grace

always

giving

his

grace

to

you.

He

crowns

you

with

it.

And

this

is

almost

like

on

a

daily

basis

he

presents

this

on a

daily

basis

to

us.

His

faithfulness

which

is new

every

morning

it

is

his

grace

that

he

gives

again

and

again.

2

2 Corinthians 12:9

Corinthians

12

verse

9

where

it

says

to

Paul

but

he

said

to

me

my

grace

is

sufficient

for

you

for

my

power

is

made

perfect

in

weakness.

He

crowns

him

with

grace

the

grace

that

is

always

sufficient.

And

so that

is

what

we

experience

too.

He

crowns

us

with

his

steadfast

love

that

unchanging

love

that we

know

in

his

grace.

grace.

And

he

also

crowns

us

there

with

mercy.

Mercy

day

by

day.

His

mercy

that

is

always

more.

The

mercy

that

keeps

us.

The

mercy

that

is

with

us

daily.

That

he

is

there

in

this

way.

God

is

so

often

seen

in

different

ways

in

the

scripture.

we

think

of

the

Lord

is

seen

as

a

shepherd

as

we

see

in

that

psalm.

We

think

of

the

way

the

Lord

is

seen

as

a

farmer.

We

think

of

the

harvest

field,

the

harvest

which

is

plentiful.

But

as we

look

here

and

see

the

one

who

crowns

us

with

mercy,

it's

a

reminder

of

God

in

another

way,

in

a

gentle

!

way.

In

a

compassionate

way,

it's

almost

just

like

the

Lord

in

the

sense

of

a

mother

loving

her

children.

That's

what's

behind

it

here.

It's

like

the

tender

mercy

of

a

mother

towards

her

children.

There

was

a

feature

on

maybe

a few

months

ago

now

and

I

just

caught

a

little

bit

of

it

and

it

was

about

Princess

Diana

looking

back

on

her

life

and

she

was

speaking

in

this

program

about

the

importance

of

the

human

touch

and

if you

ever

saw

Princess

Diana

doing

her

charity

work

wherever

she went

she would

often be

seen

among

the

people

very

often

even

having

young

children

sitting

in

her

lap

or

playing

around

them

or

doing

something

with

them

because

she

saw

that

as

so

important

that

human

touch

it

didn't

matter

that

she

was

royalty

it

didn't

matter

that

people

would

be

afraid

maybe

of

allowing

this

to

go

ahead

but

she

just

saw

it

as

so

important

that

she

would

show

that

tender

compassion

and

care

and

concern

for

those

around

her

that

human

touch

and

that's

what's

behind

this

care

that

the

Lord

has

for

his

people

here

who

crowns

you

with

steadfast

love

and

mercy

psalm

139

speaks

of it

as well

when you

look at

that psalm

it speaks

of

wherever

you

go

in

this

world

in

verse

10

or

verse

9

if I

should

take

the

wings

!

of

dawn

and

dwell

beyond

the

sea

there

also

you

would

be

my

guide

your

right

hand

holding

me

there

is

this

tender

touch

of

God

that

he

is

always

having

this

concern

for

his

people

this

mercy

that

is

his

hand

upon

us

for

good

that

he

never

lets

us

go

and

so

we

have

that

benefit

too

he

crowns

you

with

steadfast

love

and

mercy

the

final

benefit

we

see

here

then

is

in

verse

5

the

one

who

satisfies