Who is that coming out of the wilderness

Let us worship God, let us sing to his praise from Psalm 34 in Sing Psalms.

It's on page number 40 of the Blue Psalm book, verses 1 to 10, Psalm 34.

At all times I will bless the Lord, I'll praise him with my voice, because I glory in the Lord, let troubled souls rejoice.

Together let us praise the Lord, exalt his name with me. I sought the Lord, his answer came, from fear she set me free.

They look to him and shine with joy, they are not put to shame.

This suffering man cried to the Lord, from him deliverance came.

The angel of the Lord surrounds and guards continually all those who fear and honour him.

He sets his people free.

Come, taste and see, the Lord is good, who trusts in him is blessed.

O fear the Lord, you saints, with need he will not be oppressed.

Young lions may grow weak and faint and hunger for their food, but those who wait upon the Lord will not lack any good.

These stances of Psalm 34 from Sing Psalms to God's praise.

At all times I will bless the Lord.

At all times I will bless the Lord.

I'll praise him with my voice.

Because I glory in the Lord, let troubled souls rejoice.

Together let us praise the Lord, exalt his name with me.

I sought the Lord, his answer came, from fear she set me free.

They look to him and shine with joy, they are not put to shame.

This suffering man died to the Lord, from him deliverance came.

The angel of the Lord surrounds and guards continually all those who fear and honour him.

He sets his people free.

Come, taste and see, the Lord is good, who trusts in him is blessed.

O fear the Lord, you saints, with need he will not be oppressed.

Young lions may grow weak and faint and hunger for their food, but those who wait upon the Lord will not lack any good.

Now let us bow our heads in prayer.

Let us call on the Lord's name in prayer.

Lord, we thank you this evening for this wonderful privilege that is ours,

in being able to gather in this way in the courts of your house.

Give us to rejoice as the psalmist of old expressed his voice of thanksgiving when he said,

I joyed when to the house of God go up.

They said to me, Jerusalem within thy gates, our feet shall standing be.

And we find that in this particular psalm we have just been singing,

that God has so filled the psalmist's heart that he says at all times I will bless the Lord.

I'll praise him with my voice.

And give us this evening to be like the psalmist of old,

to bless the Lord,

to honour you in our minds,

and to honour you in our actions,

and to seek to magnify your great name.

You are deserving of all our adoration and praise.

And give us this evening unitedly

to praise the Lord with all of our hearts.

We thank you also, Lord,

that the psalmist was able to look back upon his life

and to relate to us

that he sought the Lord

and that he answered him.

And we praise you that that is still the case

with your people who seek you earnestly

and in truth,

that they will find you.

The Lord Jesus,

in teaching his disciples how to pray,

directed them to ask

and it would be given to them.

Seek and they would find

to knock

and that the door be opened unto them.

So may we also, Lord,

be able to call upon your name in truth this evening

in the secrecy of our hearts

or audibly.

We thank you that you're able

to hear the prayers of your people

and answer them even beyond

their askings and expectations.

We thank you this evening

for the word of God,

which we have in our possession,

the infallible and inerrant scriptures

of the Old and the New Testament.

And we thank you that this is the rule

you have given to direct us

how we may glorify and enjoy you.

And give us to have our ears opened

to what the word of God says.

And give us to have our eyes opened

to behold the glory of the Lord

as he is revealed in the scriptures.

The entrance of your words gives light

and may be so with us this evening

as we gather around your word

and as we seek to worship you.

May we not be left in darkness.

And that's the way we are by nature.

Sin has benighted us

and darkened us

in our affections

and in our thinking.

But without

your own intervention by grace,

we would remain in that

darkened and

hopeless situation.

But we thank you, Lord,

that when you speak

and you say,

let there be light.

light.

And you said that

at the beginning of creation.

And you say it still

in the experience of your people.

When you command the light

to shine out of darkness

in their experience.

And that they might see

the glory of God

in the face of Jesus Christ.

May that be true

with each one of us here

this evening.

We thank you for this congregation.

We pray for your blessing upon them.

every individual gathered here

this evening

and every home represented.

Every situation and circumstance.

All are known to you.

And we pray that you would bless

those who are in particular need.

Those who may be asking questions

and who cannot find answers.

We ask, Lord,

that you would answer their questions.

Those who are in darkness

seeking light.

That you would command

light to shine.

scattering their darkness.

Those who are weak

and heavy laden.

We ask that you would come

and lighten their burden

with a word of encouragement.

And by the hand of your Holy Spirit

upon them.

Remember the preaching of the gospel

in this congregation

and all of our congregations.

We thank you that the word of God

goes forth.

And we pray that the spirit

will accompany it.

and as it goes forth

into the minds and hearts

of our people

that will bear much fruit

even unto holiness

and the end everlasting life.

We pray for the minister

of this congregation

that you would bless him

in every aspect of his work

in the congregation.

And bless all the ministers of grace

throughout our presbytery,

throughout our land

and to the ends of the earth.

May the power of the gospel

be known.

And may the darkness

be dispelled.

And may a time of renewal

and refreshing

and revival come

into our midst

as a people.

Lord, remember our own nation.

A nation that has

to a great extent

turned its back upon the Lord

upon God's word.

We ask, Lord,

that you would have mercy upon us.

Forgive us this great sin of ours.

And come back to us, we ask.

Building up again

the walls that are broken down

and building up your church

among us as a people.

We pray for your blessing

to be upon those who are ill,

laid aside during these days.

We ask that you would heal them.

Remember those who have had

bad news

over past days and weeks.

We pray, O Lord,

that you would bless them.

And those who have

bereavements and heartbreaks

of various kinds.

We ask that you would remember

them in love

and strengthen them

in the face of all adversity.

We pray for your blessing

to be upon us

as a community

during these days coming

with the local government elections.

We ask that people would vote wisely

and that your own name

would be honoured

in everything that is to be done

in relation to local government

and national government.

That people would seek first

the kingdom of God

and his righteousness,

knowing that all other things

will then be added unto them.

We pray for your blessing

upon these parts of the world

where there is turmoil

and strife

and where there is war

and where there is bloodshed.

O Lord, we pray

that you would graciously intervene

in these situations

and that the power of evil

would be broken

and that righteousness

with peace

would be established.

We pray for your blessing now

to be upon us,

each one according to our needs.

Lead us and guide us

as we read your word

and as we meditate upon it

and as we sing your praise together

and forgive every sin we pray.

In Jesus' precious name we ask it.

Amen.

We'll now read together

from the Old Testament scriptures

and the book of Deuteronomy

and at chapter 8.

Deuteronomy and chapter 8.

I'm reading at the beginning.

The whole commandment

that I command you today

you shall be careful to do

that you may live and multiply

and go in and possess the land

that the Lord swore to give

to your fathers.

And you shall remember

the whole way

that the Lord your God

has led you

these forty years

in the wilderness

that he might humble you

testing you to know

what was in your heart

whether you would keep

his commandments or not.

And he humbled you

and let you hunger

and fed you with manna

which you did not know

nor did your fathers know

that he might make you know

that man does not live

by bread alone

but man lives

by every word

that comes from

the mouth of the Lord.

Your clothing did not

wear out on you

and your foot did not swell

these forty years.

Know then

in your heart

that as a man

disciplines his son

the Lord your God

disciplines you

so you shall keep

the commandments

of the Lord your God

by walking in his ways

and by fearing him

for the Lord your God

is bringing you

into a good land

land of brooks

of water

of fountains

and springs

flowing out

in the valleys

and hills

a land of wheat

and barley

of vines

and fig trees

and pomegranates

a land of olive trees

and honey

a land in which

you will eat bread

without scarcity

in which you will

lack nothing

a land whose stones

are iron

and out of whose hills

you can dig copper

and you shall eat

and be full

and you shall bless

the Lord your God

for the good land

he has given you.

Take care

lest you forget

the Lord your God

by not keeping

his commandments

and his rules

and his statutes

which I command you

today

lest when you have

eaten and are full

and have built

good houses

and live in them

and when your herds

and flocks

multiply

and your silver

and gold

is multiplied

and all that you have

is multiplied

then your heart

be lifted up

and you forget

the Lord your God

who brought you

out of the land

of Egypt

out of the house

of slavery

who led you

through the great

and terrifying wilderness

with its fiery serpents

and scorpions

and thirsty ground

where there was

no water

who brought you water

out of the flinty rock

who fed you

in the wilderness

with manna

that your fathers

did not know

that he might

humble you

and test you

to do you good

in the end

beware lest you say

in your heart

my power

and the might

of my hand

have gained me

this wealth

you shall remember

the Lord your God

for it is he

who gives you power

to get wealth

that he may confirm

his covenant

that he swore

to your fathers

as it is

this day

and if you forget

the Lord your God

and go after

other gods

and serve them

and worship them

I solemnly warn you

today

that you shall

surely perish

like the nations

that the Lord makes

to perish before you

so shall you perish

because you would not

obey the voice

of the Lord

your God

Amen

and may God bless

to us

that reading

from his holy word

and to his name

be all the praise

let us further praise

his name

this time

from Psalm 31

in sing Psalms

Psalm 31

and verses 1 to 8

in you I have taken

refuge Lord

you are my shelter

in distress

oh let me never

be ashamed

but save me

in your righteousness

Lord turn your ear

to hear my cry

come quickly

to deliver me

and be my rock

and firm defense

my stronghold

and security

you are my fortress

and my rock

for your namesake

be my sure guide

preserve me

from the trap

that's set

you are the refuge

where I hide

redeem me Lord

oh God of truth

my spirit

I commit

to you

I hate all those

who trust false gods

I trust the Lord

for he is true

I will rejoice

and take delight

in all the love

that you have shown

for my affliction

you have seen

to you

my soul's distress

is known

you have not

left me

to my foe

or given me

into his hand

but you have set

my feet within

a spacious place

where I may stand

these stanzas

of Psalm 31

from sing Psalms

verses 1 to 8

in you I have taken

refuge Lord

in you I have taken

refuge Lord

you are thy shelter

in distress

oh let me never

are being ashamed

but save me

in your righteousness

Lord turn good ear

to hear my cry

come quickly to deliver me

and be my rock

and firm defense

my stronghold

and security

you are my fortress

and my God

for your name

save me

my sure guide

preserve me

from the trap

that's set

you are the refuge

where I hide

redeem me

Lord

O God

O God

of truth

my spirit

I

commit

to you

I

hate

the Lord

who trust

us

God

I trust

I trust

the Lord

on me

is true

I will

rejoice

and take

delight

in all the love

that you

have shown

for my

affliction

you

have seen

to you

my soul's

distress

is old

you

have

not

let me

do

to you

my soul

forgiven

me

into

his hand

but you

have set

my feet

within

a

spacious

place

when I

miss

his hand

now as the

Lord enables

us let us

turn to the

Song of Solomon

and chapter

eight

Song of Solomon

and chapter

eight

and reading

at verse

five

this question

who is

that

coming

up

from the

wilderness

leaning

upon

her

beloved

Song of Solomon

and chapter

eight

and the

first part

of verse

five

who is

that

coming up

from the

wilderness

leaning

on her

beloved

in

Deuteronomy

chapter

eight

where we

read

together

we have

brought

before us

there

a

summary

I suppose

one could

say

of the

wilderness

experiences

of the

children of

Israel

during the

days of

Moses

and

many years

after that

Solomon

was moved

by the

Lord

to write

this particular

song

the song

of Solomon

among others

he wrote

this song

which is

the song

of songs

as it

says

at the

beginning

in other

words

it must

be the

number one

song

that Solomon

wrote

he wrote

1005 songs

and he wrote

3000 proverbs

songs

but this

seems to

be the

number one

song that

he wrote

under the

direction and

leading of the

Holy Spirit

of God

and it's a

song of

love

the word

love is

used 26

times

throughout

this

fairly short

book of the

song of Solomon

and there

are

expressions

of love

made between

a man

and a

woman

in chapter

4 for

example

at verse

1

he says

behold

you are

beautiful

my love

and in

chapter 5

verse 16

she says

that he

is altogether

lovely

and between

these

two kind

of statements

there are

expressions

of love

given

throughout

the whole

of the

song of

Solomon

now the

song of

Solomon

has been

variously

described

but

as far

as we

can understand

it

from a

scriptural

and

spiritual

point of

view

it is

an

allegory

that

brings

before

us

the

love

between

Christ

and

the

believer

Christ

and his

people

so when

we go

back to

chapter 4

verse 1

Jesus

says

behold

you are

beautiful

my love

Christ

is saying

of his

people

they are

beautiful

and then

in chapter

516

she says

you are

altogether

lovely

you are

altogether

lovely

and in

the middle

of all

of these

expressions

of love

we find

this

question

asked

in chapter

8

at verse

5

who is

that

coming up

from the

wilderness

leaning

upon

her

beloved

although

there is

this

marvelous

love

relationship

between

the

believer

and

his

or her

Lord

there is

also

a wilderness

experience

that is

mentioned

in this

verse

what does

that mean

a wilderness

experience

well when

John Bunyan

starts

writing his

marvelous book

the pilgrim's

progress

he speaks

about

him walking

in the

wilderness

of this

world

and by

that he

describes

this

fallen

world

in which

we live

a world

that has

nothing

spiritually

beneficial

for us

it is

a world

where sin

dominates

it is a

world

that has

so many

hindrances

to those

traveling to

the celestial

city

it is a

world

that's got

darkness

and animosity

and

unspirituality

and godlessness

and the

question

is asked

against

that

background

who is

that

coming up

from the

wilderness

leaning

on her

beloved

and just

like to say

two or three

things under

three headings

as this

verse I

believe

speaks

of the

believer

the church

of Christ

coming up

from the

wilderness

leaning

upon

the arm

of Christ

leaning upon

her beloved

first point

is the

church

her

location

she's

in

the

wilderness

secondly

her

heading

in other

words

what direction

is she

traveling

and it

says here

that she

is coming

up

from the

wilderness

and thirdly

her posture

as she

travels

up

out of

this

wilderness

it says

that she

is leaning

upon

her beloved

just three

things

her location

her direction

of travel

and

her posture

her location

Solomon

says

that she

is

coming up

from the

wilderness

that's where

she is

she is

in the

wilderness

when you

go back

to the

book of

Exodus

you find

that

when the

Lord

took his

people

out of

the land

of Egypt

with all

the tyranny

and slavery

they experienced

there

he led

them

into the

wilderness

and they

spent 40

years

in the

wilderness

before they

actually reached

the land

of Canaan

that was

flowing

with milk

and honey

but the

church is

in the

wilderness

and what

is the

reason for

that

why

has the

Lord

taken her

into the

wilderness

well it

says in

the prophecy

of Hosea

I will

allure her

and bring

her into

the wilderness

and here

we have

the church

in the

wilderness

because the

Lord

has taken

her there

why

well

going back

to Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8

we see

that there

are reasons

mentioned

in that

particular

chapter

for which

the Lord

brought

the church

into the

wilderness

see for

example

at

chapter 8

and verse 2

you shall

remember

the whole

way that

the Lord

your God

has led

you these

40 years

in the

wilderness

that he

might

humble

you

testing

you

to know

what was

in your

heart

whether you

would keep

his commandments

or not

and he

humbled you

and let

you hunger

and fed

you with

manna

and so on

the Lord

brought the

church

into the

wilderness

that he

might

humble

her

that she

might not

be

self-sufficient

that she

might not

be

focusing

upon

herself

and

feel that

she is

able to

make her

own way

in her

own

strength

no

she

was

in some

respects

totally

impoverished

in the

wilderness

she was

taken

to realize

that she

was totally

dependent

upon the

Lord

for everything

and those

of us

who have

come to

realize

that

we have

understood

a real

lesson

about

ourselves

we have

nothing

to commend

us

we have

no

resources

of our

own

to make

our way

through

this

wilderness

into

the

heavenly

Canaan

we are

totally

dependent

upon

the

Lord

himself

they

were

dependent

on him

for the

manna

that they

had to

go and

collect

every day

apart from

the

Sabbath

day

they were

dependent

upon him

for the

water

from the

rock

and Moses

had to

be

commanded

to strike

the rock

and the

water

gushed

forth

they were

dependent

upon the

Lord

for

directing

them

because he

gave them

a pillar

of cloud

by day

and a

pillar of

fire

by night

and they

were only

allowed to

move

when the

pillar of

cloud

moved

and stopped

when the

pillar of

cloud

stopped

they

were

humbled

into

servanthood

and

commit

themselves

to the

Lord

who was

able to

do all

things

for them

and they

were also

tested

this is

still

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 8:2

8

verse 2

that he

might humble

you

testing you

to know

what was

in your

heart

he brought

them into

that

situation

to show

them

their own

limitations

to show

them

how sinful

they were

to show

them how

unable

they were

to do

anything

to extricate

themselves

from the

many trials

and afflictions

that came

their way

in the

wilderness

journey

and

isn't

that still

true

in the

experience

of those

whom the

Lord calls

to himself

he brings

them into

a wilderness

experience

to prove

to them

how

inadequate

they

themselves

are

without

his grace

they are

humbled

so that

they come

day by

day

in prayer

begging

for grace

begging

for mercy

begging

for strength

begging

for spiritual

food

begging

for everything

because nothing

in their

hands

can they

bring

and also

not only

does he

still humble

us but he

tests us

he shows

us

the amount

of dross

that we

have

in our

lives

the impurities

of our

hearts

he shows

us

there are

so many

things

in our

secret

lives

that are

of no

consequence

that are

really

offensive

to the

Lord

when the

word of

God

shines

into our

heart

he shows

us

how impure

we are

when he

shows us

our

motives

we see

how

far

they are

from being

just

and noble

he proves

to us

that we

are sinners

day by

day by

day

we are

in a

wilderness

situation

but then

he goes

on

in chapter

8 in

Deuteronomy

at verse

15

he brings

something

else

before

us

who

led

you

through

the

great

and

terrifying

wilderness

with

its

fiery

serpents

and

scorpions

not

only

is he

dealing

with us

in the

inner

man

humbling

us

and

showing

us

how

inadequate

and

sinful

we

are

but

we

are

surrounded

by

various

dangers

like

they

were

surrounded

by

fiery

serpents

and

scorpions

physically

in the

wilderness

journey

as they

journeyed

on the

way to

the land

of

Canaan

there

are

still

fiery

serpents

Satan

is

still a

serpent

and he

will come

and his

intention

is to

sting

you

with the

sting

of death

and there

are scorpions

of various

kinds

you may

stand on

one

somewhere

you go

and something

happens

and you

are wounded

and you

are poisoned

I'm talking

about

spiritually

speaking

sin

has been

able to

enter

into your

life

because of

associations

and we

see

this is

what happens

in the

wilderness

and Solomon

is asking

who is

that

coming up

from the

wilderness

who is

that

he says

it also

in chapter

6

and I

think it's

verse 3

I'm sorry

not verse 3

chapter 3

I think it's

verse 6

I'm sorry

what is

that coming

up from the

wilderness

like

columns

of smoke

perfumed

with

myrrh

and

frankincense

with all

the fragrant

powders

of the

merchant

what is

that

he says

it's

as if

he has

another

angle

on

the

people

of

God

coming

up

from

the

wilderness

surrounded

by these

dangers

and humbled

in

themselves

nevertheless

there is

a fragrance

of them

the fragrance

of heaven

because they

have been

made fragrant

with the

powders

of the

merchant

in other

words

the Holy

Spirit

is with

them

giving

them

grace

in the

face

of every

situation

and they

are

witnesses

for God

in the

wilderness

journey

isn't

that still

the case

that the

people of

God

in the

midst of

the wilderness

experience

that I've

just

described

they

nevertheless

are

fragrant

with the

fragrance

of heaven

and when

you draw

near them

and associate

with them

you'll know

what I'm

talking about

they are

a people

heading

for glory

so that's

the first

thing I

want to

do

to mention

who is

this

coming up

from the

wilderness

the church

in that

place of

difficulty

secondly

the heading

or the

direction

of her

travel

it says

here

that she

is

coming up

from the

wilderness

she's coming

up

the Lord

has brought

her

into the

wilderness

to humble

her

to prove

her

and so

on

but as

with Israel

of old

that's not

the Lord's

final intention

for his

people

his final

plan is

to have

them brought

through the

wilderness

and at

last

into glory

he had

promised

Abraham

long before

this

that his

people would

inherit the

land of

Canaan

a land

flowing with

milk and

honey

and I

believe that's

a picture of

the glory

into which

the people

of God

are taking

at last

having passed

through this

wilderness

journey

they will

be received

into glory

and that's

why her

direction of

travel

is so

significant

it says

here

that she

is coming

up

from the

wilderness

she's not

happy

with the

best that

this world

can offer

or there

are many

people who

are happy

with that

they are

happy if

their bank

balance is

healthy

they are

happy if

they have

a lovely

home

and a roof

over their

head

they are

ultimately

happy when

they have

a family

around them

and everybody

is well

and that

means the

whole world

to them

nothing else

really matters

and all

these are

blessings

but those

whom the

Lord blesses

they aren't

really

totally

completely

satisfied

with these

things of

time and

sense

they are

seeking

something

better

and that's

why her

direction of

travel is

coming up

from the

wilderness

she has

her thoughts

and affection

set upon the

things that are

above

not on the

things that are

on the earth

she has

tasted that

the Lord is

gracious

she has

tasted of

fellowship with

him in a

day of

grace

and that

has given

her an

appetite

for the

glory that

God promises

because he

gives grace

and glory

and will

withhold no

good from

them who

live up

rightly

she's coming

up

from the

wilderness

and

a number

of things

I'd like

to highlight

here

she has

been called

with a

heavenly

calling

the Lord

from heaven

has come

into her

experience

and he

has given

her a

desire for

better things

even things

that are

good in

this world

she wants

something even

better than

that

she wants

eternal

fellowship

with the

Lord Jesus

Christ

two or

three examples

of people

who are like

the church

here

who are

coming up

from the

wilderness

remember

the account

we have

of Abraham's

call

it says

in the

book of

Acts

Acts 7 · chapter mention

chapter 7

that the

God of

glory

appeared

to Abraham

in Ur

of the

Chaldees

and he

told him

to get

out of

where he

was

to a

place

that he

would show

him

and by

faith

Abraham

responded

went out

of Ur

of the

Chaldees

not knowing

where he

was going

Bible

says that

and you

see

that is

what the

Lord does

he

calls

people

to turn

their

back

upon

the

lifestyle

they've

had

the

priorities

they may

have had

in their

lives

that may

have been

legal and

honorable

enough

nevertheless

he asks

people to

turn their

back

upon

these

things

and turn