we're going to continue our study through this psalm. I've really enjoyed taking our time with this psalm like we do with other psalms every now and then and thinking about what it's saying. I like looking at a whole psalm also, but it's just wonderful to really dig in deep and think about with what all is being said here. And something jumped out at me in the next verse, and I'm excited to show it to you because it's so true. I hope and pray that the Lord will let me convey what he really laid on my heart. This is just so true. Let's begin reading in verse one. Psalm 85 verse 1, it says, Lord, thou hast been favorable unto thy land. Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people. Thou hast covered all their sin. Thou has taken away all thy wrath. Thou hast turned Thyself from the fierceness of Thine anger. Turn us, O God, of our salvation, and cause Thine anger toward us to cease. Wilt Thou be angry with us forever? Wilt Thou draw out Thine anger to all generations? Wilt Thou not revive us again that Thy people may rejoice in Thee? Show us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation. That's what we have looked at so far. Tonight, we'll pick up with verse eight. It says, I will hear what God the Lord will speak. The moment that I read that, this thought popped into my mind. That is what happens when salvation comes. The moment I read this, that's what popped into my mind. I came to Psalm 85, it was my intention to continue on. I knew verse eight is where we left off. And I read that one line, and as soon as I read that one line, I thought, that is what happens when salvation comes. We start out in this world naturally hearing what our parents speak, and what our grandparents speak. And we hear what our teachers in school speak and our professors in college speak. And then this man writes a book and we hear what he speaks and that man writes a book and we hear what he speaks. And then there comes some point where we get interested in religion and we hear what this denomination speaks and we hear what that theology speaks. But salvation comes when a sinner's heart is made to say, I will hear what God the Lord will speak. When the Spirit of God moves on one of God's own, that sinner will say, that sinner will say every time. That sinner will say, wait a minute, let's cut all of this other mess out. Let's cut everything else out. What does God say? Have you ever had a moment like that? Let's just cut all that mess out. What does God say? Do you remember that moment when it clicked with you? If you're a child of God, you had a moment where you said, I need to get in this word and find out what God has to say. You ever had a moment like that? Wait a minute. Let me get in this word and find out what God has to say. You listen to people say, you know, well, my preacher says, oh yeah, well, my preacher says. Spurgeon tells the story of asking a man one time, what do you believe? And he said, I believe what my pastor believes. And he said, well, what does your pastor believe? He said, well, he believes what I believe. And he said, well, what do you and your pastor believe? He said, same thing. We believe the same thing. That's pretty accurate, isn't it? That's pretty accurate. The question comes up. It'll come up. From somebody, from yourself, the question will come up. What do you believe about election? All right, I've heard this and I've heard that. What do you believe about God's election? What do you believe about election? What do you believe about man's free will? Does man have a free will? Because I see it on church signs. What does a sinner have to do to be saved? I hear what this one's saying and I hear what that one's saying. What do I have to do to be saved? Whose choice is it? Whose decision is it? Whose will is it? Whose work is it? Because this one's saying this, and that one's saying that. Let me tell you what happens when wisdom comes. When wisdom comes. This is what happens when God's Holy Spirit comes. A sinner will say, this is a precious moment. This is a precious thing. A sinner will say, you know what? I will hear what God the Lord will speak. What does God have to say about election? Have you ever run those references? What does God have to say about election? What does God have to say about man's free will? What does God have to say about salvation, about whose will salvation is and whose work salvation is? What does God have to say? God's people say, I think it's time I hear what God the Lord will speak. I've said this to people so many times over the years, and I mean it. I mean what I'm saying here. Somebody will come to me and they will say, I can't tell you how many times I've had this conversation. Somebody will come and they'll say, all right, well, you're saying this, but they're telling me that. I've grown up And they've been telling me that all my life, all right? Every time I respond by saying, don't listen to me. Every time. Don't listen to me. And don't listen to them. Listen to God. Listen to the Lord God. If I am repeating what God said, I didn't say it. God did. And if I'm not repeating what God said, don't listen to me. It's that simple. And then, you know, apply that same rule to them. Don't listen to us. I titled this God the Lord. I probably should have titled this don't listen to me. Would have gotten a lot of attention. Don't listen to us. Don't listen to us, only listen to God the Lord. Eternity's on the line. Eternity is on the line. Our lives depend on it. May God teach us to really say, I will hear what God the Lord will speak. I'm not interested in what anyone else speaks. I'm serious, I'm not interested in what I speak. I am not interested in what I speak. Just tell me what God the Lord has to say. Turn with me over to Job 40. Job 40, your Bible may be like this, it may not be like this. If your Bible's like mine, we have headings at the top of our pages. And a few pages back from Job 40, if you look at just above Job 35, my Bible says, Elihu rebuketh Job for his presumption and impiety. That means irreverence. Job was spouting off a little bit. And this man Elihu rebuked him for presuming, you know, not, you know, just talking off the top of his head in his irreverence. And then if you look at the next page over, it says, God is just in his ways, his works to be magnified. Your Bible may not say that, but it's the summary of what is on that page. God is just in His ways. His works are to be magnified. And then on the next page in my Bible, it says, God's wisdom is unsearchable. And it says, God challenges Job. And then the next page says, God convinces Job of ignorance and imbecility. He convinced him he was an imbecile. He was an ignorant imbecile. And the next page says that God convinced Job of man's weakness and ignorance and God's mighty works. All right, and then in chapter 40, Job chapter 40, verse one, moreover the Lord answered Job and said, shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? He that reproveth God, let him answer him. Verse three, then Job answered the Lord and said, behold, I am vile. What shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken, but I will not answer. Yea, twice, but I will proceed no further. Job said, I think it's time to hear what God the Lord will speak. I think it's time for me to stop talking. That's what we need. That's what men and women need in this world. Men and women need to stop talking and hear the word of the Lord. hear what God the Lord will speak. That's what happens to all of God's people. They fear, they hear, they believe, they bow. The arresting word of God Almighty, it pierces the heart. And that makes every mouth be stopped. Every mouth that God is pleased in his mercy and in his kindness to stop. For every ear that he's pleased to open, this is what he says to them. Thus saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord. Hear the word of the Lord. What is that word? What is the word of the Lord? Turn with me over to Isaiah 40. Isaiah chapter 40. What is the word of the Lord? What word does God the Lord speak? All right, look at Isaiah 40, verse six. The voice said, cry. And he said, what shall I cry? All flesh is grass. And all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it. Surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever. God's people hear that, do you know what they say? Amen. You know what they say? I will hear what God the Lord will speak. All flesh is grass. Yep, I'll hear that. Amen. Verse 9, O Zion that bring us good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain. O Jerusalem that bring us good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid, say unto the cities of Judah, behold your God. Behold the Lord God will come with strong hand. And here's the gospel. His arm shall rule for him. That's the good news. Behold, his reward is with him and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd. He shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young. That's what God the Lord has to say. He said, I have a work before me. It's a work of redemption for a bunch of unworthy blades of grass that are just worthy to be burned in the furnace. Sinners who have been made to be sheep, sheep that I intend to feed and gather and carry and lead and keep. Look right here at Isaiah chapter 41, Isaiah 41 verse 10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Where did he do that? Where did he uphold us with the right hand of his righteousness? Where did he strengthen us? Where did he help us? The cross. the cross of Calvary. And because he said that then, he says this now, look at verse 13. For I, the Lord thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not, I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm, Jacob. Anybody interested in hearing that? Fear not, thou worm, Jacob, and you men of Israel, I will help thee, saith the Lord. in thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." Every time God's sinful, needy, weak, helpless people hear that, they say, I believe I'd like to hear what God the Lord will speak. Let's go to the service tonight, what do you want to hear? I think I want to hear what God the Lord will speak. Look at Isaiah 42. Verse 1, behold my servant whom I uphold, mine elect. What does God have to say about election? Behold, my servant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my soul delighteth, I put my spirit upon him, he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. What does God have to say about salvation? What does God have to say about whose will it was in salvation and whose work it was in salvation? Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, yes, he has an elect people in him. Verse two, he shall not cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench. He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for his law. Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens and stretched them out, he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it, he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein. I, the Lord, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. What did God the Lord say? Jesus Christ will be the one to deliver his people from their sins. Salvation is in his hands. Salvation is by his blood alone. Salvation is through his death alone. God's people say, I'll hear what God the Lord will speak. Look at Isaiah 43. Verse one, but now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, fear not. For I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name, thou art mine. When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee. And through the rivers, they shall not overthrow thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned. Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior, I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Sheba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable and I've loved thee. Therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy life. Fear not, for I'm with thee. I will bring thy seed from the east and gather thee from the west. I'll say to the north, give up, and to the south, keep not back. Bring my sons from far and my daughters from the ends of the earth, even every one that is called by my name. For I have created him for my glory. I have formed him, yea, I have made him. You know what all of this is, everything that we've read here, everything that he is saying, you know what all this is? It's peace. That's what it is, it's peace. Go back to Psalm 85. Psalm 85 verse 8 says, I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace. unto his people. He will speak peace. I will hear what God the Lord will speak. You know, everything he says is peace to his people. Does he speak peace to everybody? No. But he speaks it to his people. He has chosen every soul that he sacrificed himself for. He speaks it to every soul that he walked through the fire of God's wrath. For we were just reading Isaiah, and I had this thought in the moment, you know, 120 seconds ago. I wonder if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were reading Isaiah. Daniel comes after Isaiah. They realized they were going to leave captivity because Daniel was reading the book of Isaiah. You think that they were holding on to that verse of scripture? When you walk through the fire, you're not going to be burned. I'm gonna be with you. And they said, Nebuchadnezzar, we're putting our stock right there. We're gonna hear what God the Lord will speak. He speaks peace to his saints. Verse eight says, I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace unto his people and to his saints. those that have been sanctified in the blood of Christ. It says, but let them not turn again to folly. Let them not turn again to folly. What is folly? Folly is where we started. Folly is where we started this message. Folly is anything other than what God the Lord speaks. If it's other than what God the Lord has spoken, it's folly. Well, now, you know, this man says this, it's folly. Well, I just kinda think, you ever heard anybody say that? Well, you know, I just kinda, it's folly. That's folly. And we're not gonna, by God's grace, we're not gonna return to folly. Let God be true and every man be folly. There is so much noise in folly. That's one of the hard things maybe about my job is I get the privilege of hearing a lot of folly, a lot of doctrine, a lot of, there's just so much noise. There's so much noise in man, in man's false religion, noise in what every fool is saying in his folly. And look, I'm a fool. We're all fools in the flesh. But I love how when the Lord opened that deaf man's ear in Mark chapter 7, he did it by sticking his fingers in that man. The man couldn't hear. So what the Lord did to heal him is he stuck his fingers in his ears, which, you know, you would think that would stop a man or a woman from hearing. And you would be right. When the Lord opens deaf ears to hear his voice in his word, he does it by stopping all the noise of all this folly. It's what he does. And then in a still small voice, he speaks peace to his child. He says, I am. I am God. I am the way, I am the truth, I am the light. Look unto me and be ye saved. Come unto me, I'll give you rest. If God the Lord has given us a desire for his word, to hear his word, then let's, we're going to end this message here with this promise. Turn with me over to Isaiah 55. Isaiah 55, verse 9. It says, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For you shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace. The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree, and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." What he's saying is, if I said it, it'll be done. If I said it, it will be done. So shall my word be. So shall my promise be. That promise that God's people are so happy to hear. So happy to believe. So happy to bow to. He said, so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto be void. It shall accomplish. It will accomplish all the way to the end. All the way to glory. Isaiah 40 says, the grass withereth and the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever. It'll stand forever. That's good news to every redeemed soul who has been given ears to hear. Ears to hear what God the Lord will speak. Every soul who says we are here to hear. Speak, Lord, thy servant heareth. Remember that from Samuel? Speak, thy servant heareth. May the Lord do that for us. Give us an ear to hear, give us a heart to hear. Never let us turn again to folly. Lord, please don't let us go back to ourselves. By his grace, we will hear what God the Lord will speak. For he will speak peace to us. For Christ's sake. Amen.