May the Lord help us now as we turn again to the portion of God's Word read. The first book of the Chronicles, chapter 17, and we'll commence reading in verse 60. 1 Chronicles 17, and commencing to read in verse 60. And David the king came and sat before the Lord and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house that thou hast brought me hither to?

And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God, for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Lord God. What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant, for thou knowest thy servant? O Lord, for thy servant's sake and according to thine own heart hast thou done all this greatness in making known all these great things. It is particularly through the 18th and 19th verses that I want to direct your attention this evening. What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? For thou knowest thy servant, O Lord, for thy servant's sake, and according to thy own heart hast thou done all this greatness in making known all these great things. David had been taken from the sheepfold and anointed by Samuel to be king over Israel. And that anointing oil, the promise, the word of the Lord, on that occasion was a trite word. The years have passed. Another king upon the throne, Saul.

But at last, God was pleased, according to his promise, to bring David and to sit him upon the throne of Israel, and at last, to give him peace from his enemies round about. And David, sitting there in his house, was given that desire, a good desire, that the Lord might have a house to dwell in. That the Ark, which had until that time been in the tent of the Tabernacle, and it had been taken by the Philistines, and been away from Israel for some time, that now it might have that permanent house to dwell in. It was a good desire. Nathan said to David, do all that is in thy heart, for God is with thee. But God had a glorious purpose for David.

It was not God's will at that time that he should have a house to dwell in. David was to prepare for the building of that temple, but he was not to build it. He was a man of blood and he had blood upon his hands. But that was to be given to Solomon, his son, to do the work. And we read how Solomon built the temple. and the glory of God filled it.

But as Nathan was sent to David to give him that news that he was not to build a house, God gave to David something far better, a promise which was found up not only in the natural seed, not only in his son Solomon, but a promise which was as Abraham's promise, a promise of grace in the seed singular, the seed of the woman. the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, David's Lord and David's Son, that David should not want a king to sit upon his throne, that he should not want a Levite to offer sacrifice. Oh, what a glorious picture it is of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who should come from David's line, the line of Judah, out of which the scepter should not depart until Shiloh come.

Oh, the response of David to that news. Oh, David, the king, came and sat before the Lord and said, Who am I, O Lord God? And what is mine house that thou hast bought me hither to? Oh, the unworthiness that David felt and the glory that he desired to give to his God.

Oh, friend, what a picture of grace. You know, if you're one of the Lord's people, if the Lord crosses your schemes, if he turns your life upside down, If you want to go one way and He tells you to go the other way, it will be evidenced in this. Grace will be evidenced in this. Oh, friends, you'll be brought in humbled and God must have all the glory. And oh, how sweet those occasions are. And perhaps you've had them in your life, where your life has been turned upside down by God. But you've had to say it is the Lord. Oh, and you would not have anything different. And oh, you only feel a full of His glory. and a desire that he might be glorified in those things.

Well we want to come particularly to this part of our prayer that we've read for a text, David's prayer, what can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant, for thou knowest thy servant. O Lord for thy servant's sake and according to thine own heart hast thou done all this greatness in making known all these great things. As the Lord would help us firstly We want to notice what the Lord does for his people. What did the Lord done for David? We read here of what the Lord had done. Thou hast done all this greatness in making known all these great things.

Then secondly, we want to notice the grounds upon which he does it. Oh, it's not upon the grounds of David. Oh, thou knowest thy servant a poor sinner, but O Lord, for thy servant's sake and according to thine own heart, thou hast done these things, the grounds upon which the Lord does great things for his people. And then finally we want to notice the response in the heart of David to those great things and realizing the grounds upon which he has received those great things. Oh, what can he say? What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant?

And so these three things, what the Lord does for his people, The grounds upon which he does them and the response they find within their soul are two of those things. Firstly, what the Lord does for his people. It is described here as greatness. The Lord has done all this greatness in making known all these great things. All this greatness. What has the Lord done to David? Friends, the Lord had given David a promise.

Confirm to him the promise that had been made in the Garden of Eden to Adam and Eve by when God spake to the serpent, I will put enmity between thy seed and the seed of the woman, and the seed of the woman shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel. That promise of grace which had been repeated to Abraham, that he would have that seed, the seed singular, the Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, that one who should come to be his saviour, to be the one to release him from the captivity of the devil, to set him free and to give him that life, that blessing in Jesus Christ. And it is that which is again made over to David here, that promise that the Lord would give him a son, that he would give him a king, that he would be his father and that he should be his son and that I will not take my mercy away from him as I took it from him that was before thee. But I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever and his throne shall be established forevermore.

Oh, this is what God is pleased to do for his people. Oh, friends, to give them a saviour, to give them a saviour. who shall save them from their sins, to give them a Saviour who is a priest, to offer sacrifice for them. Friends, who shall be established in the Lord's house, the house of the Lord forever. And oh, what a priest He's given us in His own dear Son, the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Oh, to priest forever, He said to him, after the order of Melchizedek.

And oh, there He has entered into that holy place, that place not made with hands, Whither the forerunner hath for us entered, and there he ever lives to make intercession for us. By the sacrifice that he made upon the cross at Calvary. Oh, as he offered himself that sacrifice without spot unto God through the Eternal Spirit. And now presents the merits of that sacrifice in glory above.

Oh, friends, he's given us a priest. He's given us a king. King, witch, his kingdom is established forever. As it was prophesied by Isaiah unto us, a child is born unto us, a son is given. The government shall be upon his shoulder. The increase of his government, there shall be no end. To establish and order that righteous kingdom forever. King Jesus, the one that we read of this afternoon, Hosanna to the son of David. to David's Lord, as Jesus rides into Jerusalem. Oh, the King, the King of His people, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.

Oh, this is what the Lord has done for His people. Oh, friend, He's given us a Saviour. He's given us a way of salvation, a way whereby a sinner like David, friend, what a sinner! And a sinner who sinned against light and knowledge, but pleased to make with Him, that covenant ordained in all things and sure, pleased to provide for Him a way of salvation. Just what the sinner needs, the wages of sin is there, the price must be paid. But our great High Priest stands to offer Himself, to pay that price. Jesus, the just, made sin for His people, and lays down his life for them, enters into the holy place with blood, and oh, there he ever lives to make intercession for us. Oh, friends, this evening do you need the services of a priest? No, you've been taught that your sins are separated between you and God. There is a great goal fixed. Do you need that one mediated between God and men, the man Christ Jesus?

Oh, the one that he's appointed to appear for his people in the holy place. Oh, friends, he ever lives to make a decision for us. Therefore, he's able to save unto the uttermost all them that come unto God by him. Oh, do you plead his precious blood?

Friends, can you come in with David that he has done all this greatness? Also great salvation. Friends, how can we begin to speak of these great things, the Lord has done great things for us, we are glad. Has he done great things for you this evening?

Friends, has he given you a priest, an everlasting priest, one that you know will ever live to make intercession for you? Because, yes, past sins and sins of today, but you can't promise to be any better tomorrow, but he will still be there, ever living to make intercession for you.

And that King who reigns Friends, who reigns not only to subdue our enemies, not only to conquer for us, but he reigns to reign over us, to subdue us to himself, to subdue us to himself. Friends, is that what you need this evening? One to reign in you, to subdue you to himself, to establish there his throne? Do you come and say, Rhaenorus as king accomplished thy will, and powerfully bring us forth from all ill, till falling before thee, we laud thy love name, ascribing the glory to God and the Lamb.

Ah, friends, have you got a king? Do you know his scepter this evening? Have you been bought, caused to pass under the rod, as Ezekiel speaks of it, speaking of the shepherd's scepter? I will cause thee to pass under the rod, to bring me into the covenant. Oh, friends, is the Lord your shepherd? Is Jesus your king?

He's done great things for you, hasn't He? All this greatness. Friends, we can scarce begin to put it into words. That has done all this greatness. All this greatness. In providing you a Saviour. This is what the Lord does for His people. But He doesn't stop there. David goes on and says, in making known all these great things, Oh, friends, what a mercy it is, God hasn't just done great things, but he's been pleased to make them known.

Oh, is that not the work, yes, in the Old Testament of the prophets, as Nathan had to go and make these things known unto David? But, oh, friends, the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament church, yes, in the means as the Lord sends forth his servants and endures their ministry with the Holy Ghost, that these great things may have been known unto you, that you might have heard those good tidings of the gospel, that there is a Saviour, that there is a King, there is a priest for sinners like you. Oh, friends, He's made them known, but particularly in the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Friends, no less sure than Nathan coming to David and saying to David the word of the Lord. Oh, friends, have you known the Lord making these great things known unto you. Have you got to thank Him for that this evening?

Not only that, there is a Saviour for sinners. Not only that, Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. Not only that He died upon the cross at Calvary. Not only that He now reigns. Oh, wait until His enemies be made His footstool, but He's made it known unto you. Oh, friends, He sent His Spirit. As you've read the Word of God, as you've heard it preached, The word's been applied.

Friend, you came into the Lord's house without a king, you went out with a king. You came in a lost sheep, a scattered one, but you went out gathered under the under the crook of the good shepherd. Oh, friend, you came in a poor sinner, but you went out a sinner saved by grace. Oh, you saw that fountain open for sin and for uncleanness.

You knew the application of that precious blood. It's been made known unto you. Friends, do you know these things this evening? Have they been made known unto you? Does the Holy Spirit witness with your spirit that you are among the children of God? Friends, has He revealed to you the fact that Christ Jesus came into this world to save you, that He bled upon the cross at Calvary for you? Friends, it is made known in the preaching of the Gospel and the sealing home of those things upon of the heart by the Holy Spirit. And oh, it brings us to say, oh, why did Jesus show to me the beauty of His face? Why were these things made known to me?

Oh, friends, the wonder of it! Oh, have you had to marvel at sovereign grace? Everybody else in the chapel has heard the same sermon. But it's been made known unto you, and not unto others. Oh, the wonders of it! But this is what God does for His people. He makes it known unto them. And then, friends, the third thing that we read that God does for His people, He honours His servants. What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? Friends, this is what God is pleased to do for His people. He honours them.

Oh, we read together of that honour. in the, it has sang together of that honour in your opening hymn. Oh, to be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, to be numbered among the sons of God. Oh, friends, what an honour that is. What an honour that is.

Oh, the honour that the prodigal son received when he returned to the father's house, bring forth the fatty calf, the best roll, put the ring upon his fingers, for that which he's lost is found. Ah, friends, with what honour. The father honoured the prodigal son, unworthy of that honour. He felt it, not worthy. Oh, to be thy son, take me as a hired servant, but this is the one whom the father delighteth to honour. Ah, friends, he takes his people, beggars from the dunghill, and sets them among princes. That's honour, isn't it? To take us as beggars from the dunghill, and to set us among princes. Oh, Prince, to lift us up on high.

Oh, to be pleased to name us as his brethren. Oh, the wonders of it, I and the children which thou hast given me. Oh, these are my brethren, says Jesus. Pointing to his disciples, these are my mother, my brother and my sisters. Oh, Prince, what greater honour can a poor sinner have than to be called a brother of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, a sister. of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son and Daughter of the Most High God, that the Lord is pleased to honour His people.

He honoured David, a man according to his own heart. And, my friends, He honoured him on this earth. And now, O David's justified spirit, honoured above, glorified spirit, honoured above, and O to be partners of His throne, they shall be mine, said the Lord of Hosts, in the day that I make up my jewels. to be the bride of Christ.

Oh friends, what greater honour, the honour that the world goes out after, is honour but for time, honour which is passing away, honour which can be lost, honour which we can deface. Now we hear of those who have been honoured, but they've defaced that honour, they have not lived up to it, they've had to hand their honour back, to give back the letters after their name, to give back the medallion they've been given to wear. They're not worthy of that honour.

But, oh, those in the Lord honours. Ah, friends, they can never lose that honour. But no, quickened together with Christ, raised up together with Him, to sit together with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show unto us that glory. Oh, friends, what honour to be a friend of God, to know Him, whom to know is life eternal. to be led into that secret. Now the secret of them that fear the Lord. Oh, friends, what an honour. What an honour. Oh, do you know something of that honour this evening? Has the Lord honoured you? Ah, friends, honoured you in hearing your cry. That's an honour, isn't it?

Poor and needy, but the Lord thinketh upon me. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him. I'm quite sure David counted that amongst his greatest honours. A poor sinner, but heard. of God. Man may not listen to you. You go out in the street and cry, but men may not come to your aid, but God hears you. For it is what an honour that is, that you should be one who God hears, who God listens to, and who God is pleased to answer, who God waits to be gracious towards, to whom God has eternal purpose of grace. and says, I know the thoughts I think towards you, said the Lord. Thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end.

Oh, he honours his people. What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? Oh, to be put among the Lord's people, to be counted jewels in his crown, to be given a place in his throne, to be with him forever and forever. Oh, friends, the greatest honour.

And this is what the Lord does. for his people, everything we need. He gives us a saviour, a priest and a king to do all that we require for our salvation. He's pleased to make it known to us and he's pleased to raise us up in Christ Jesus to sit with him in those heavenly places, enjoying those spiritual blessings. What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy Oh, that has done all this greatness in making known all these great things. Then, friends, secondly, he wanted to notice the grounds upon which the Lord does these things for his people. Why does the Lord save his people? Why does he honour them? Why does he make known these things unto them?

Well, friends, firstly, David was certain it wasn't because of him. For thou knowest thy servant. Thou knowest thy servant. Oh, friends, what did God know about David? He knew his down sittings and his uprisings. He understood his thoughts are far off. There was nothing hidden from God. Ah, friends, God saw David's sin. It might be covered from the world. The world did not know that David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Ah, friends, the world did not know that David had murdered Uriah, but God knew. Thou art the man. Thou art the man. Oh, thou God seest me. Friends, do you know this afternoon, this evening, that God knows all about you? There's nothing hidden from Him.

And in His sight, oh, how black and vile we appear. Utterly unworthy, from head to foot, wounds, bruises, putrefying sores. Friends, no ground in us that we should ever be saved. No ground in us that we should ever be honoured. And if you're one who the Lord has honoured, if you're one that the Lord has saved, then you will know this. It's not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name be the glory. Nothing of self. Oh, poor Sima. It will always be a marvel. Oh, why was I made to hear his voice and enter Baba's room? While thousands make a wretched choice and rather starve than come.

People that are better than you are. People that are more consistent outwardly in godliness than you are. but they know nothing of these things. Why me? Why me? Oh, friends, it's not in us. It's not because of anything in us. No. Oh, God doesn't look upon us when He bestows these blessings. I do want to emphasise that this evening.

You know, friends, He hasn't saved you because you're the greatest sinner. He hasn't saved you because you're the greatest sinner. Oh, they would seem to almost make a competition about being the greatest sinner and the most unworthy, but that doesn't qualify you for grace, you know? Oh, friends, that doesn't make God any more favourable towards you. No. No, friends.

No, it makes us only more worthy of His wrath, more worthy of that eternal judgment. Oh, the only reason why God has mercy towards any, the only reason why He saves any is because He will, not because of anything in them. Therefore we have to be brought to go just as we are. Nothing in us, but all in Him. Salvation, all of grace.

That's where David was brought to realise, Lord is not in me. Thou knowest thy servant. Thou knowest that I'm utterly unworthy of this honour. Thou knowest that I'm utterly unworthy, that thou shouldst ever save me, that thou shouldst ever have sent Nathan. to convince of sin, thou art the man, and to tell me that thou hast forgiven my sins, utterly unworthy of it, thou knowest thy servant, knowest me altogether. Lord, it's not in me, it's not in me, it's not of me.

Why is it then? Why is it that God does anything for his people? Well, he gives us two reasons here in the positive. O Lord, for thy servant's sake and according to thine own heart. for thy servant's sake. Now we need to read this verse in light of the parallel passage in the second book of Samuel, chapter seven, because we find there an alternative reading. The second book of Samuel, chapter seven, and we'll read from verse 20. And what can David say more unto thee? For thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant for thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart hast thou done all these great things to make thy servant know them. Oh, friends, I believe that really is the picture, the light that we must see of this statement in the 19th verse of our text, O Lord, for thy servant's sake.

What servant is being spoken of there? Not David. Not David. David is no longer speaking of himself. He's speaking of that glorious servant to which God says, behold my servant whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth, who is the Word, for my, the Word's sake, for thy Word's sake. Oh, friends, the Word, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Oh, friend, what is David saying here?

It's for Jesus Christ's sake. It's for Jesus Christ's sake. Oh, for the servant that God appointed. The servant that should be for His glory. Oh, the servant whose ear was opened, who was given to hear that voice taught to speak a word in season to them that were weary. The servant who would not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax. Oh, the word made fresh for Jesus Christ's sake. for Jesus Christ's sake, O Lord, for Thy servant's sake.

My friends, it pleased God to give unto His only begotten Son a people, to be His portion, to be His bride, and oh, it pleased Him, in honouring His Son, to save that people in everlasting salvation, that they should be of the glory of Jesus Christ for ever and for ever, that they should be His bride, They should be that diadem in the hand of their God, that they should be the jewels of His crown, the partner of His throne.

And therefore, in eternity past, He gave them to His Son to be His portion. Oh, friends, what a portion. Ask of me, I'll give you the heathen for thine inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth, He says to His King in Psalm 2. That's the portion. Oh, that portion as Paul speaks of it in writing to the Ephesians.

Our husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but it should be holy and without blemish. Now, friends, the portion which was blemished, the portion which had spot and wrinkles, like Jacob's portion, the ring-straight, the speckled and the spotted, but given to Christ and precious to Christ. And oh, Jesus Christ dies for them upon the cross at Calvary.

Oh, friends, he makes intercession for them and it's for his sake, for his sake, that God blesses them. It's for his sake that God honours them. Oh, that's the ground of the honour in the church. That's the ground upon which a poor sinner is received and honoured by God.

The finished work of their elder brother. Oh the finished work of their husband, the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and it's for Jesus Christ's sake. Oh you see friends David was certain of this though he saw through a glass darkly but his hope was in this seed that should come, his hope was in this son who should be a king and a priest unto him and he hoped in him like Abraham. Oh he lived by faith, by faith in Jesus Christ and it was for his word's sake. for his servant's sake, for the sake of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Now, we want to just dwell there for a moment.

What can we say about Jesus, a friend of publicans and sinners? This man received his sinners and eateth with them. He said, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners for repentance. Oh, friends, is that ground this evening for you to hope that the Lord will do great things for you, because it's not of anything in yourself. But it's the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and He came to save sinners. And He receives sinners and eats with them. And He welcomes sinners. And He says to them, come unto Me, just as you are. Come unto Me, all ye that weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Now, friends, what a gracious Saviour. Oh, full of grace. We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And of His grace of which we receive, and grace for grace. Our friends, the free unmerited favour of God, fornicing Jesus Christ for poor sinners. Those who have merit, those who are righteous, they don't need grace. Our friends, they've got a right to demand, but a poor sinner needs everything upon the grounds of grace. Nothing of themselves, but all of grace. But what did the apostles say? I was blasphemer, injurious and persecutory, but I obtained mercy. Oh, upon what ground, Paul, did you obtain mercy? The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, exceeding abundant. Oh, friends, exceeding abundant. One of Paul's superlative terms. Can't really put it in words. And abundance means there's more than enough, but it's exceeding abundance.

Oh, friends, grace for grace. O sufficiency of grace and the vilest sinner out of hell, that lifteth to fill his need, a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and the sinner's chief. O friends, this is the ground, you see, upon which the Lord does great things for his people, not upon the grounds of merit, but upon the grounds of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is exceeding abundant.

Ah, the Lord has blessed David, not because of anything in him, no. The Lord knew his servant. He knew that he was black, he knew that he was filthy. A poor, vile, wretched sinner. Nothing in him, no ground in him, no. But for thy word's sake, for thy servant's sake.

Oh, because of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's the reason. Oh, as Jesus presents his merits and says, Father, I will. Oh, that grace is wafted down to man, his faters and his foes. Ah, friends, the wonders of it, for thy servant's sake. But then a third reason, or a second positive reason, and according to thine own heart, according to thine own heart. Now, friends, David here traces up to the highest point, the point we are trying to set before you this afternoon, according to God's own heart.

That's the origin, you see, of our salvation. Why did Christ Jesus come into this world to save sinners? Because God loved them. Because God loved them with an everlasting love, therefore, with loving-kindness, He said, I draw thee. Our friends, that's the grounds of our salvation this evening. And what a wonder it is when we're brought to see it.

We quoted those words from John, chapter 16, when Jesus said that in that day, He would not ask the Father for us. Oh, but we would know that the Father loved us. Now, friends, what is he saying? In that day you shall ask him my name, and I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father himself loveth you. Oh, friends, Jesus is not saying that he will refuse to intercede for us. He's not saying that we won't need that intercession. But you see, we won't come, oh, as a poor sinner, fearing that there's no hope for us.

Oh, pleading for Jesus Christ's sake, that we'll come with the freedom and the liberty of an adopted son, because the Father loves us. Oh, friends, have you known something of that? Have you known something of that? Oh, the difference between the one that has become timidly knocking a poor sinner for Jesus Christ's sake, and our friends, the one who comes as a son in full assurance of faith, because the Father loves me. and comes and prays, My Father. Ah friends, it's not that they don't need the intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ, it's not that they don't end their prayers to Jesus Christ's sake, unfeelingly so, but they've been given an access, they've been given a window. Ah friends, they understand, they've been brought to see the origin of their salvation, the fountainhead of their salvation, and what is it?

The Father Himself loveth you. The Father Himself loveth you. Jesus says, as the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Oh friends, the love of God, the mystery of it. That's why God sent his own dear Son, for God so loved the world. He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

David saw this by faith. Now friends, it wasn't only for his servant's sake, it wasn't only for the Word's sake, but no, there was a higher origin, a higher source. of this favour, a higher source of this blessing. And what was it? It was according to thine own heart.

Ah, the heart of God, in eternity past, set upon David, set upon every one of his people, yet as he made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, chosen in Christ, offering his love with an everlasting love.

Oh, that's the reason why the Lord blesses his people, because he loved us. They loved us before we were even born. They loved us before we even sinned. Oh, friends, the wonder of it. And He still loves. He still loves. Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Now, friends, the love of God. It's always the same. I am the Lord, I change not. Therefore, these sons of Jacob are not consumed. Oh, that's the ground, isn't it, of hope for the poor, tried child of God.

Now, friends, fresh sin. But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He loved you when a wretch defiled by sin. Oh, in league with hell. Our friends arranged against him enmity with God, but loved with an everlasting love. And oh, as he loved, he still loves, and he ever will love. It is not your ground this evening of hope.

The Father has loved me. Oh, God has loved me. I can't tell why, but I know that He loved me so much that He sent His own dear Son to suffer and to bleed and to die for me. Oh, friends, can you go to the throne of grace this evening, not because you've got a mediator between, although you have, but because you're going to your Father and He loves you. Oh, it's at the ground this evening, the blessing that He's bestowed upon you. Oh, the Father loves you.

The Father loves you. and according to thine own heart, the heart of God. Oh, to love his people with everlasting love. Oh, the wonders of it. Oh, friends, this is the reason why God blesses his people, because he's loved them. Because he's bestowed upon them in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ an abundance of grace. He's given us one. Oh, two. He's given us to his son, as his portion, to redeem.

Our friends, not because of anything else, no. It never will be because of anything else. It's the hardest lesson, isn't it? Oh, friends, when we first believe, we think we change, we won't sin, but we go on and we prove we've got an old nature. And the hardest lesson is to learn that salvation is all of grace from beginning to end. Our friends, we do not doubt that we've been saved by grace, but we want to try and be better. We want to try and to be working our own salvation and meriting something. It must all be of grace, and no flesh of glory in his presence, but all of grace from beginning to end.

Oh, friends, what a hard lesson to have to, day by day, have to confess before the Lord, thou knowest thy servant. Lord, there's nothing in me. I only seem to get worse. Oh, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of sin and death?

Oh, but the same grounds that Paul had, thanks be unto God. Oh, give us a victory through the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Oh, friends, there's the ground, you see. There's the grounds of so great salvation. There's the ground of a path in this prophet, priest and king. There's the grounds of a path in the Holy Spirit's work, that he should reveal these things unto us. There's the ground for eternal honour and renown.

Oh, what shall, what can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? For thou knowest thy servant, O Lord, for thy servant's sake, and according to thy known heart hast thou done all this greatness in making known all these great things. But then, friends, finally we want to come to notice the response, the response of the Lord's people to these things. Oh, what does David say? What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant?

Oh, friends, what can we say? When these things really touch our hearts, when we're brought to realise that God has loved us with an everlasting love and loved us when we were wretchedly far by sin. When we're brought to see that our only hope is in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who loved me and gave himself for me. Oh, what can we say?

Ah, friends, do we not come, as dear Wesley puts it, lost in wonder, love and praise? Oh, friends, then we have to keep silence, don't we? What can David speak more to thee? What can David speak more to thee? Friend, what words have you got this evening to say before the Lord? Oh, what can you say? Friend, words fail to express it at times. We have no words to bring, to bring to silence.

Oh, you know how it is sometimes, perhaps as a child, you give them a surprise, you give them something perhaps that they wanted but thought that they would never get. They're silent. Oh, friends, it's sweet in many ways to see, isn't it? It's real appreciation. Oh, friends, it's real thanksgiving, but they cannot put it into words. They're lost for words. That's the expression we have, lost for words. Oh, friends, surprised by grace, surprised by the wonder of God's mercy, lost for words, got nothing to say. David says, although it concerns judgement, but I believe David could also say it regarding mercy if I know anything of it in experience.

I was dumb because thou didst it. Dumb because thou didst it. Friends, do you know anything of this in your soul? Have you been bought or lost in wonder, love and praise? Friends, you have a lot to say. A lot to say until the Lord revealed His mercy unto you and then what could you say? What could you say? Why me? Why me, O blessed God? Why such a wretch as I, who must forever lie in hell, who are not salvation-free? O friend, what can you say this evening to the wonder of His grace? What can you say to that eternal love? O friend, what can you say when you're such a wretch, such a poor sinner, but He's visited you with His salvation and done great things for you?

Oh, then, among the heathens say, that the Lord has done great things for them. Friends, did the heathen begin to talk while the Lord's people were silent? But eventually the Lord's people found their voice, didn't they? The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad. And oh, dear David, friends, he finds his voice. Yes. What happens? Friends, firstly he worships God. Oh, he must put the crown upon his head.

Oh, Lord, there is none like thee. Neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt? For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people forever, and thou, Lord, becamest their God. Friends, after silence there must come praise. There must come praise. And here you see dear David, friends, what more can he say but he must praise God. He must praise God. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Friends, here he confesses there is none like thee. He must give God the glory.

You see, if we have a part in the finished work of Jesus Christ as we were considering this afternoon, then You will know that union with him in his prayer, Father, glorify thy name. And it will be our concern to glorify him, to put the crown upon his head, to crown him Lord of all.

Is there any praise in your heart this evening? David went on to repeat, as the hymn writer says, repeat his mercies in your song. He repeats the mercies of God. He tells forth what the Lord has done for his people. not just for him personally but down through the ages as God had promised to Abraham and called him out of Ur of the Chaldees and separated Israel to be a nation for his honour and for his glory and what the Lord had done for them and what could David say of Israel oh not greater than any other nation not better than any other nation but a nation utterly unworthy but loved because God would God would love them Therefore, he must have the glory. Oh, friends, this evening, have you got praise to give? Has the Lord done a greatness for you? Done all this greatness?

Friends, words can hardly sum it up. Great things, greatness. He's continuing to do great things. Friends, when we get a sight of this, it's not just one-off greatness, but it's greatness day by day. And it's the promise of greatness tomorrow and the fullness of greatness to come in glory.

As William Gadsby says, and I think we quoted it this afternoon, consider saved by grace, silent remain. Friends, yes, when that mercy is first received, when that grace first appears. Friends, when we get a fresh sense of it, we may be silent. But we cannot remain silent, we must sing forth His praise. There must be that confession to His honour and His glory, O Lord.

There is none like Thee, neither is there any God besides Thee. This God is our God. He'll be our guide even unto death. Who is a rock save our rock? Oh, blessed be the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Now, friends, that might be the note of our praise this evening. The Lord has done great things for us.

We're awfully glad. Give him the glory. Give him the glory. Give him the praise. Now, friends, is that not why we're chiefly here today? To give him the praise for his help through another year, his mercies. lengthened out his blessings upon the word, his grace given to his servant to continue. Ah, friends, great things, don't take them for granted. We're sinners and unworthy of the least of these things.

It's only of his grace and only because of his heart, according to his heart. Therefore, may he have the praise. Ah, friends, may he have the glory. But David doesn't stop there. Oh, friends, he doesn't stop at praise, does he? He goes to prayer. Now, friends, from God's mercies he draws a petition.

Therefore, now, Lord, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as thou hast said. Let it even be established that thy name may be magnified forever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. And let the house of David, thy servant, be established before thee. For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him a house, Therefore thy servant hath founded his heart to pray before thee. And now, Lord, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant. Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever. For thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed for ever.

Now, my friends, if the Lord has given you a blessing, he's given it to you to plead at the throne of grace. If he's given you a promise, he's given it to you to plead at the throne of grace. And our friends, he's given us his own dear son to plead at the throne of grace for Jesus Christ's sake. Oh, bring you large petitions. The Lord has done greatness for us. This is a God that does great things. Therefore, come. Cast yourself upon him. Give him your petitions. Ask him to establish his promise. Ask him to do according as he has said.

Oh, what concerns us personally. Our friends, what has he said? I go to repair a place for you, and if I go to repair a place for you, I'll come again to receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Oh, friends, do you plead that promise at the throne of grace? Do you plead that He will keep you? That He'll be with you in all places, with us, wherever thou goest? That He has said, I will never, never leave thee, nor forsake thee?

Friends, the promises are there to be plead, ask the Lord this evening to establish them, to do them. Yea, they men in Jesus Christ, to fulfil that which he has spoken to you of. O David, hoped in it, did neither Lord nor prophet that which concerneth me.

Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever. And, O, then he brings those other petitions. O, let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever. For thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed for ever. Now, friends, let us seek his blessings. from his mercies to draw a plea, for his goodness over the past year to draw a plea for the coming year, that he who has helped me hitherto, oh, to believe he'll help me all my journey through and give me daily cause to raise fresh Ebenezers to his praise. Oh, for his past mercies are to be the ground for great petitions at the throne of grace.

Has the Lord done great things for you in the past? Has he done greatness for you? Ask him to continue to do greatness. Oh friends, come with your great things. Roll your burdens upon the Lord. He will sustain you. Oh friends, can He withhold anything from you? He withholdeth no good thing from them that walk uprightly. He will give grace and glory. He withholdeth no good thing from them which walk uprightly. Ask, says Jesus. Ask in my name.

Oh friends, ask because your Father loves you. Oh, your Father that is in heaven loves you. And as natural fathers know how to give their good gifts unto their children, how much more so, your heavenly Father which is in heaven. O David, see in that love, O see in the love of God towards him, according to thine own heart. Now friends, he comes as it were, and we would speak reverently, but to pull the heartstrings of God. Now friends, to plead, my Father, my Father, as thou hast loved me and given thine own dear son for me, Lord, I come with those great things that are above what I can ask or think, believing that Thou art not only able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we are able to ask or think, but Thou art willing, willing to bless Thy people, for Thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed forever. Lord, offer us to wait upon Him this evening, to be enabled upon the grounds of His mercy, upon the grounds of His grace, upon the grounds of that eternal love of the Father, upon the grounds of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, not upon the grounds of any worthiness in us, but to come and to commit ourselves into His hands, to cast ourselves alone upon Him in prayer and to believe, oh, that He will bless, for Thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed forever.

Ah, friends, do you know anything of this this evening? Do you know anything of it? Oh, do you know anything of this silence? Is this what you have to say this evening? What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? Ah, friends, there's no other honour, there's no other blessing to seek this evening. What are all the honours and the blessings of this world they're passing away?

Naked we came into this world, naked we must depart out of it. Oh, don't set your heart upon the things that are here. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. All those things shall be added unto thee. Oh, friends, seek that honour that cometh alone from him. to be a son and a daughter of God.

And oh, what ground of hope to a poor sinner this evening! David could say, ah, David, have to say, thou know'st thy servant. Lord, I am poor and wretched, weak and wounded, a sinner from head to foot. Oh, there's no ground in me to plead, but the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ exceeding abundant. This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them, and so I come. Oh, just as I am without one plea, But, Lord, that thou wouldst bless me indeed.

O, that thou wouldst give me a part in that prophet, priest and king, in his finished work. Lord, that thou wouldst reveal thy mercy unto me, and that thou wouldst honour me by putting me among the children. O, friends, what mercy, what grace! What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? For thou knowest thy servant. O, Lord, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, has so done all this greatness in making known all these great things. Amen.