service this evening by singing together hymn 1105 the tune is brookfield 310 jesus engrave it on my heart that thou are the one thing needful art i could from all things parted be but never never lord from thee hymn 1105 tune brookfield 310.

Let us read together from the Holy Word of God in Psalms 16 and 17. Psalms 16 and 17.

Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord. My goodness extendeth not to thee, but to the saints that are in the earth. and to the excellent in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied, that hasten after another God. Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup, thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places. Yea, I have a goodly heritage. Oh, bless the Lord who hath given me counsel. My reins also instruct me in the night season. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad. and my glory rejoiceth, my flesh shall rest in hope. Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life. In thy presence is fullness of joy. At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Hear the right, O Lord, Attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer that goeth not out of faint lips. Let my sentence come forth from thy presence. Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal, that thou hast proved mine heart. Thou hast visited me in the night. Thou hast tried me and shalt find nothing. I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God. Incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Show thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, for the wicked that oppress me, from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies who compass me about. They are enclosed in their own fat. With their mouth they speak proudly. They have now compassed us in our steps. They have set their eyes bowing down to the earth like as a lion that is greedy of his prey and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places

Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down, deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword, from men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy head treasure, that they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.

May the Lord bless the reading of his own precious word and grant unto us a spirit of real prayer. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which he is an art and art to come, we bow before thy glorious majesty, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and we desire to worship thee, the one and true Lord Jehovah, in whom is everlasting strength.

And we pray that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God our Father and the sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit may rest and abide upon us as we gather together around thy word at this evening hour. We read our Lord in thy word at quite a number of occasions when thou didst meet with thine ancient people at the time of the evening sacrifice.

and we pray that it may be so here as we gather together around thy word at this evening time of the day and grant that that wonderful grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may reach into our hearts and the power of it and the efficacy of it may be known and felt and experienced in our souls and may we know those divine leadings of the Holy Ghost, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God, and we pray that we may be led of the Spirit and guided and directed by Thee.

And we pray that we may know those divine drawings of our Heavenly Father, drawing us unto His best Beloved and all-glorious Son for none come. accept the father draw may we know those sacred divine drawings may we know that divine guidance in thy word may thy word be a living word a powerful word applied by the spirit of god into our hearts planted there seed that is sown that shall take root downward and bear fruit upward Lord, do hear us, we pray thee, and grant that the word of the Lord may have free course, and that thy name may be honoured and glorified, and that we may see your lovely man, that we may see that scene of matchless grace, tis Jesus in the sinner's place, heaven's brightest glory sunk in shame.

Lord, we do pray, that we may behold the man, the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, that we may behold him as our prophet, priest, and king, that we may behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world, that we may behold him as our great high priest. And as thy word declares, behold my servant, mine elect, Oh, we do pray that we may behold our Lord Jesus Christ, that we may see your lovely man, that we may worship at Emmanuel's feet, and that his name may be exalted, set forth in all its suitability for poor, needy, guilty sinners, that they may be enabled to come and to look and to watch and to wait

We think of those precious words, look unto me, all ye ends of the earth and be ye saved, for I am God and there is none else. We pray that thou wouldst grant that our heart and our affections may be set upon things above, that we may be delivered from a wandering mind and from the imaginations of our own hearts and that we may be delivered from the subtle temptations of the enemy.

We read in thy word, O Lord, of thy servant Joshua in the house of the Lord, and to be anointed as a high priest, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. We pray, most gracious Lord, that thou wouldst deliver us then from temptation, deliver us from the power and the dominion of sin, that deliver us from that inward corruption of our hearts and graciously bring us into union and communion with Jesus Christ and his precious blood to wash away all our sin, all our unrighteousness. Oh, to hear us, Lord, we pray thee, grant that we may be clothed upon with that glorious everlasting robe of the righteousness of Jesus Christ that we may enter in by faith into the wonderful glory of his person and his power and his grace and his love. Oh, do hear us, Lord, we humbly pray thee.

We pray that thou would come and graciously bless us this evening hour. Open thee deaf ears, open the blind eyes, and graciously cause the tongue of the dumb to speak, Lord, they are able to do abundantly more than we can even ask or think. And thou hast said in thy word, I will work, and who shall let it? Grant that there may be a pulling down of the stronghold of Satan, and the setting up of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus in the hearts of sinners. Grant that the glory, light, and power of gospel truth may shine into this village, and that thou wouldst graciously grant an in-gathering from the village and the surrounding villages and hamlets. And we plead with thee that thou wouldst bring our sons from far and our daughters from the ends of the earth and they shall come from the north and from the south and from the east and from the west. Lord, we wait for thy appearing. We wait to see the ingathering and the building up and we wait for that reviving power of the Holy Ghost personally in our own souls to make us more spiritually minded to set our affections on things above. Oh, do hear us, Lord, and graciously work.

We do pray, most gracious Lord, that thou in thy precious mercy would show us thy ways and grant that thy word may be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Remember thee, young of the flock, The little ones are children. O, do grant them thy rich blessing. Do grant that the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, may be placed in their hearts, that thou wouldst graciously guide them. O thou great Jehovah, make them pilgrims in this barren land. We are weak, but thou art mighty. hold us with thy powerful hand. We do pray that thou wouldst give them a spiritual appetite for the bread and water of life, for that reviving wine of the kingdom. Lord, do hear us. Thou hast said, blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

And we pray that Thou wouldst graciously work effectually in our midst, and remember our young friends and graciously bless them, guide them, lead them, undertake for them, help them to continually look to Thee and cleave to Thee. We do humbly beseech Thee. We pray, most gracious God, that Thou in Thy great mercy wouldst Remember them in all life's journey, but above all, bless them with those rich spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, and bring them to living faith in him, and that they may become true followers of thee, and of those who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises. Do so bless them, Lord. We humbly beseech thee, let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. Lord, remember that wonderful promise that we plead before thee, instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. O Lord, thou art able to do abundantly more than we can even ask or think. Remember all in the midst of the journey of life, undertake for them, those bearing the heat and the burden of the day, graciously help them to cast all their cares upon thee and to watch unto prayer.

Lord, we pray that thou would remember the prodigals who wander from thee and that we pray that thou would stretch out thy almighty arm, that thou would cause them to be in want, that thou would cause them to return

Lord, thou art able to abundantly more than we can even ask or think. O let thy work appear unto thy servants and thy glory unto their children, O Lord, we do beseech thee.

We pray, most gracious God, to remember those of us that are in the evening time of life's journey. Remember us with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people, visit us with thy great salvation. And as thy servant Jacob was coming down to the end of his days, he said, I've waited for thy salvation, O Lord. Oh, we do pray that we may be able to wait upon thee and look to thee and cleave to thee in our day, in our generation, and at the appointed time. and was grant an abundant entrance into thy heavenly kingdom.

Help us, Lord, to lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset us, and to run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Lord, we do pray that thou wouldst cause the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, and those that feel to be so far off make them nigh or let thy work appear, let thy power be known, let thy grace be manifested.

Lord we pray for all thy servants as they labour in word and doctrine upon the walls of Zion that thou would set them free and set them at liberty, help them to preach the word to be instant in season and out of season, and to watch unto prayer. Thy word declares the husbandman hath long patience, and we pray that thou wouldst grant us that patience, and that patience may have her perfect work.

Lord, we do pray that thou in thy precious mercy wouldst yet send forth true labourers, to stand upon the walls of Zion, to preach the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, to set forth our Lord Jesus in all his beauty, in all his loveliness, in all his glory, as a prince and as a saviour. Grant us that gracious determination to know nothing among men, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. Lord, do so. Bless us, we humbly beseech thee, and come and open thy word to our heart and to our understanding.

Lord, we do pray for those that are expecting to commence probationary periods as pastors in the coming year. We pray that thou wouldst go before them, that thou wouldst make a way perhaps where there seems no way, that thou wilt unfold thy will and thy purposes concerning thy people. Do hear us in heaven, thy holy and thy blessed dwelling place.

And when thou hearest, O Lord, forgive. Accept the praise of our lips for the abundance of thy mercy. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

Oh Lord, we do thank Thee for our great God and for His great mercies and for His great love wherewith He has loved us. We thank Thee for the unspeakable gift, our Lord Jesus Christ, that wonderful glory of the incarnation of the Son of God and the holy life He lived under the law. fulfilling and magnifying Thy holy righteous law, bringing in everlasting righteousness for His people. Oh, we do thank Thee then for the glory of our Lord Jesus in that holy life, in the everlasting robe of His righteousness. We thank Thee for the holy, precious sacrifice of Calvary, where the Lamb was slain, where sin was put away, where divine justice was satisfied, where God and sinners are reconciled, where peace is made between God and man.

We thank Thee for that precious blood that He has shed, the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, that cleanseth from all sin. Oh, we do thank Thee that He died for our sins and rose again for our justification. and is bodily ascended into heaven, and sitteth at thy right hand, that we have indeed a great high priest, who is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God.

Be with us now, Lord, as we turn to thy holy word. Come and open thy word to our heart and to our understanding. Come and touch one's lips with a live coal from off the heavenly altar. For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Let us now sing together hymn number 706. The tune is Arthur 443.

Gracious God, thy children keep,

Jesus guide thy silly sheep,

fix, O fix our fickle souls,

Lord direct us, we are fools.

Hymn 706, tune Arthur 443.

I am greatly feeling to need the Lord's gracious help. I would direct your attention to the Psalm 16, and we'll read verse 8 for our text.

Psalm 16, reading verse 8 for our text. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

This psalm is a beautiful expression of faith. True, living faith in Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ is the object of faith, Jesus Christ is a magnet to faith and it's by faith that we believe in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith is the gift of God. It's a wonderful precious gift of the Holy Ghost and that he works it in the hearts of each one of his children. Just as we read of the Lord's servant Jacob, he found him. It's wonderful mercy, you know, friends. If you and I know that in an experimental way, he found him. And that happens to every single one of the Lord's living family. He finds them.

We read of it so clearly in the book of Deuteronomy in chapter 32 where we read of the call of Jacob and how the Lord found him. And the great thing for us, my beloved friends, is has he found us? So we read in Deuteronomy 32 and verse 10, he found him, that is Jacob, in a desert land and in the waste howling wilderness. He led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them Beareth them on her wings, so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange God with him. See, the Lord alone did lead him.

We read in the Psalm 107, and he led them forth by the right way unto a city of habitation. We read in Romans chapter eight, as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. The evidence that we are one of the sons or daughters of the Lord God Almighty is that the Lord leads us, guides us, directs us, and we desire to be led and guided when the Lord, by His grace, makes us willing and we desire to be following him, to be serving him in our day and in our generation.

So as every child of God feels the need in this wilderness journey, it begins in this psalm, preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust. There's that felt need of the Lord's preserving mercies. as that felt need of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust. And that, to put your trust in the Lord, is an act of faith. That faith which works by love faith of the Lord's children.

You know when we read of that faith which works by love, it means it's not just some cold intellectual thing. I understand this, I understand that, I've read his word, I've heard the gospel preached and I know about Jesus Christ. It's not just an intellectual thing. Faith is something that is It's with the heart, which is the seat of our affections. It's with the heart that man believeth unto righteousness. The act of believing is the exercise of faith. And that faith is in Jesus Christ. And that faith always leads us to Jesus Christ. And always leads us to look to Jesus Christ.

Preserve me. Why? Because we live in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Because we have a heart of our own that is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. And therefore we need preserving from ourselves, from the wicked inclinations of our own heart. Preserve me, O God, for in thee Do I put my trust?

We read here in the book of Psalms, trust in Him all times ye people wait patiently for Him. You see, O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, thou art my Lord, my goodness extended not to thee but to the saints that are in the earth. You see, faith that worketh by love to the saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight.

You know we read of the disciples and that when they were persecuted by the authorities after our Lord had ascended up on high and that they let them go, the authorities let them go and they went unto their own people. They joined with their own people. The hymn writer says, doesn't he, no more a stranger or a guest, but like a child at home. I dwell among mine own people, the saints. the Lord's people, I love to meet among them now, before thy gracious feet to bow, thou vilest of them all.

You see, do you feel a union? You think of that lovely word that we have, I often quote it in the first epistle of John, we know that we are passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. Do we have that love to the brethren? It says here in verse three, but to the saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight. Is all my delight. We're exhorted to delight in the Lord and to wait patiently for him. delight thyself also in the Lord. And when, you know, the blessed spirit work in faith in the heart and bring in a poor ruined sinner unto Jesus Christ and they fall in love. Why? Because of that wonderful word again in the first epistle of John, we love him because he first loved us.

when that love of Christ is shed abroad in your heart and you feel that warmth and love to him and equally you feel that warmth and love to his people to his ways to his truth and this is the meaning here in the word but to the saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight we delight ourselves in Jesus Christ.

We have brethren and sisters in Christ who we love. We love them for the truth's sake. We love them for Christ's sake. We love them because Christ loves them.

You know, some of the Lord's people, I mean this now naturally, they can be very crooked sticks. My late pastor, Mr. Joppe, he often used to say that. some of the Lord's people are cruddy sticks but they're still the Lord's people. They may have a difficult disposition, they can sometimes be quite cantankerous, but when you see the Spirit of God, when they speak of being brought into union with Christ, you know I knew the late Mrs Humberstone quite well, we were neighbors together for about three years.

And when she come to the end of her days in Brighton, Bethesda, I used to visit her about once a week. And you could tell, as soon as you walked in her room, what sort of mood she was in. If she was in her own spirit, then she could be very, very judgmental of other people talk about other people and get really worked up about things. But if the Lord had been made precious to her, it was completely different. You can almost tell as soon as you walked in the room because all she wanted to talk about then was Christ and the loveliness of Christ and the glory of Christ. It was so pointed, so clear. You see, you feel that love, that union, that communion.

And then we think of that word, love covereth a multitude of sins, and that's what happens. You know, we all have our faults and we all have our failings. But love covers a multitude of sins. It does. And faults are failings.

You see, but to the saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all mighty life. And then of course, and this is true of every true child of God, in verse four, their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God. The true child of God hates idolatry. He says, their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance. See the Lord, there's only one true God. There's only one almighty, there's only one omnipotent. He's the creator of the heavens and the earth. He upholds all things by the word of his power. He controls all things. He understands all things. He sees all things. He knows all things. His knowledge, it says in Psalm 145, I think it is, his understanding is infinite. You can't measure. God knows everything that's going on throughout the whole of this earth. He knows the thoughts of every person on the earth. It's beyond our comprehension, isn't it?

And not only that, he worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup thou maintain'st my lot. and maintain this my Lord. You see, Dave, isn't there, it is, I think it's in Malachi, isn't it? It is of the Lord's mercy. No, it's in Lamentations. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance. You know, an inheritance cannot be worked for, cannot be purchased, it's freely given. It's freely given. And grace cannot be worked for, it's freely given. By grace are ye saved, not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

St Peter he speaks of that beautiful word of being kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed and he says to an inheritance incorruptible and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed at the last day. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and my cup Now maintain this, my Lord. You see, the Lord will not fail. We fail him, but he will never fail you.

I love that word, and that beautiful word in Isaiah chapter 42, where he says, behold my servant, mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. That's the glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ. And it goes on to say, he will not fail. We fail, but he never fails. He'll never fail you. No, he will not fail the Lord. He changes not. That's what it means, you know, Jacob was the supplanter, the deceiver. That's what his character was. We see it as you read through the man's life. And yet he was a child of God. A child of God. And that's why it says there, I the Lord change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

His eternal purpose is of salvation stand. He will chastise his people. Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. But he will never forsake them. There's a lovely word in Psalm 89, nevertheless. Nevertheless is a beautiful word. Three words in one, nevertheless. His covenant will not fail. His everlasting love can never fail. in spite of all our failings, in spite of all our wanderings, in spite of all our backsliders, in spite of all our changeableness, sometimes hot, sometimes cold. But the Lord, he remains the same. Thou maintainest, my Lord.

Now, this is the language of faith. Verse six, the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places. Yea, I have a goodly heritage. This is a child of God brought into union with Jesus Christ. Brought in and among the Lord's people. It's an unspeakable blessing to be brought in and among the Lord's living family in a spiritual way. The lines are falling onto me. In pleasant places, yea, I have a goodly heritage, and it produces this spirit of praise. I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel. The prayer of David, wasn't it? Let thy word be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. We find the counsel of the Lord in the word of the Lord, and his counsel shall stand forever.

I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel, my reins also instruct me in the night season. We do have those night seasons. I do not believe it literally means the night time but it's speaking of experience. We have those times when we come into darkness, that's what the night time means. Darkness, we cannot see our way by reason of darkness. And when we come into darkness, there can be many things that trouble us, many temptations, many trials. My rains also instruct me in the night seasons. Just as there is day and night in the natural world, which we're all very familiar with, that's the natural order of things, day and night. So it is spiritually. There's day and there's night. There are times when the Son of Righteousness arises with healing in His wings. The daytime comes. Son of Righteousness is our Lord Jesus Christ. And the healing in His wings to heal us.

It's a lovely hymn, isn't it? Heal us, Emmanuel. Here we are, waiting to feel thy touch. Deep wounded souls, to thee repair and save you. We are saved.

So we have our text, I've set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Again, this is a confession of faith. I've set the Lord always before me. What a mercy, if by the grace of God, those things are always before us. and that we think on these things and that we meditate on these things and we consider these things.

I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand. I shall not be moved. He is at my right hand to help, to assist, You think of that word, you see, he is at my right hand. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, world without end. And then we have in Isaiah, fear not, I am with thee. Be not dismayed, I am thy God, I will help thee, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

I've set the Lord always before me. because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Mercy, when we have that confidence of faith, the Lord is there.

I shall never forget a time in Eastbourne Hospital, in a time of great affliction, great bodily weakness, mental weakness, and my wife brought in the Zion's Witness. there was a sermon in there by J. W. Tobit of the Tabernacle at Hastings, beautiful sermon, and it was on those words in Malachi, he sits as a refiner to purify the sons of Levi. And how that dear man of God opened up, he sits as a refiner.

And as I read through that sermon, He said this, on that bed of affliction, child of God, the Lord Jesus is sitting and watching and waiting. And do you know, friends, it was so palpable, it was just as if the Lord Jesus was sitting in the chair next to my bed.

And he explained that the refiner He puts the gold or the silver into the crucible and onto the furnace and it melts. The refiner's practice eye can tell when it's refined. Then he takes it off the heat. And then he said, of course, this is our Lord Jesus Christ. He sits in that furnace of affliction. He says, does he, in Isaiah, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

He sits, he watches, he waits until the fire has done its work, the refining process, and then he takes off the heat. He doesn't leave. You see, even sometimes in those great times of affliction and temptation and trial, we fear that the Lord has left us, the Lord has deserted us. No, he sits as a refiner. He sits and watches and waits.

when you're in the furnace of affliction. It waits till the furnace has done its work, till the refining work is done. There's a lot of refining work. You know friends, it's in those great trials and those perplexing circumstances that the Lord burns up fleshly religion. And as we go on, in the experience, Christian experience, we gather a lot of fleshly carnal religion. What we look upon as being real, when you come into those furnace times, when there's a burning up, a refining, we have to lose a lot.

Apostle Paul, he speaks of it, doesn't he? No chastening, for the present seemed as joyous but grievous, but nevertheless afterwards, nevertheless afterwards. You won't always be in that furnace of affliction. There's going to be an afterwards, when the fire has done its work, when we have to lose a lot of our religion and a lot of false hopes and false desires They're burnt up.

Sometimes as you read through the book of Psalms and you can tell the Psalmist, he wonders where the scene will end. And maybe that's where we get sometimes, we wonder where the scene will end.

I think it's in the Word of God. Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death? Of course the Lord won't do that, but the Lord trieth the righteous. The trial of your faith being much more precious than a gold or silver that perishes. Much more precious. It's necessary. It's needful.

I remember preaching from that word once at the Dicker Chapel. I preach from it in the book of Proverbs chapter three. About the Lord's chastening, whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. And in that service, actually didn't fit feel to get on that well and but in that service there was a man there who had prospered greatly in business in London and he retired down to the Decker Chapel when he'd finished in business and it always greatly tried him because he said that he saw the Lord's people they had trials and troubles but he said I prospered

But apparently under that service, as I went into the inward trials of the living child of God, the temptations, et cetera, he said the Lord showed him so clearly that that had been his trial. It was the inward, the lack of assurance that he had of spiritual things and the temptations that he'd had to pass through, and he saw so clearly It was the Lord's love and that's how the Lord had chastised him. It wasn't in an outward way where everyone could see, it was inwardly, spiritually.

And under that sermon he was brought into gospel liberty and within a few weeks he passed away. You see, not everyone's trials and perplexities can be seen by anyone else. Sometimes they're completely hidden. So let us not judge another, but let us consider one another and provoke one another unto love and unto good works.

I've set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand. I shall not be moved, cast in all your care. upon him for he careth for you, the Lord Jesus does.

Then of course from this verse through to the end of the chapter it is of course the glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ that is in this portion of scripture and especially verse 10 which is quoted on a number of occasions by the apostles in the New Testament. Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

You see, therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoicing. My flesh also shall rest in hope. These are the words of Jesus. And of course they are the words of the child of God that is in Jesus. They rest in hope. They will not leave my soul in hell, just as that is said of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And the word hell there comes from the word which is called Hades, which means the grave. They will not leave my soul in the grave, in death. Why? Because he would rise again. Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

His physical body, though he lay in the grave for three days and nights, it never corrupted. Thou wilt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. That sinless body of our Lord Jesus never corrupted. He entered into death. He lay in death for three days and three nights. On the third day, he rose again. As it says here, verse 11, thou wilt show me the path of life. In thy presence is fullness of joy. At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. This is the glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ, And it is his church, his people in him. They can speak this language. Why? Because they're in Christ. And because they're in Christ, you are complete in him. We are accepted in the beloved, in Christ. And the living child of God, when faith and exercise in the heart, that will not leave my soul in hell. They die in hope of eternal life, eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, because I live, ye shall live also.

Thou wilt show me the path of life in thy presence. This is the path of life, and then in thy presence is fullness of joy. At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. evermore. Eternal pleasures, eternal glory, eternal happiness. Where? In Jesus Christ. You know, in heaven, thou wilt show me the path of life. In thy presence is fullness of joy. At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

The bride eyes not her garments, but her dear bridegroom's face. I will not gaze on glory, but on my King of grace. Not on the crown he giveth, but on those pierced hands where glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel's land. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoicing, my flesh also shall rest in hope." That's resting in the grave, resting in hope of eternal life, resting in hope of that resurrection from the dead.

Doesn't the Apostle in the Epistle to the Thessalonians, he speaks so beautifully, doesn't he? Of that rest of the children of God in our Lord Jesus Christ. He says, But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain of the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.

I've set the Lord all before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiced, my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell that's in death, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life in thy presence's fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. It says in the last verse of that Psalm 17 that we read, as for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness, I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness. You see, resting in hope, the believer dies in hope of eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. He swallowed up death in victory. So when the believer dies, they die in hope of eternal life, of everlasting happiness and glory, to be forever with the Lord.

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

May the Lord Let us now sing together hymn number 486. The tune is Westcliff, 932. See from the dungeon of the dead, our great deliverer rise, while conquest wreathe his heavenly head and glory glads his eyes. Hymn 486, tune Westcliff, 932.

Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God the Father, the sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us each both now and forevermore. Amen.