Psalm

[0:00] Part 2 of Hymn 87, Hymn 87, Part 2, Tune, Deep Harmony, 869.

[0:23] Second part of 87. O the mysterious depths of grace, who shall thy wandering mazes trace, surpassing human thought to know, where this oblique of love shall flow, twas hid in God's eternal breast, all his sons in Jesus blessed, whose mystic members from of old were in the book of life enrolled.

[0:50] Hymn 87, part 2. O the mysterious depths of grace, who shall thy wandering mazes trace, surpassing human thought to know, where this oblique of love shall be found.

[1:24] O the mysterious depths of grace, who shall have found.

[1:42] O the mysterious depths of grace, who shall have found. O the mysterious depths of grace, who shall have found. O the mysterious depths of grace, who shall have found. O the mysterious depths of grace, who shall have found. O the mysterious depths of grace, who shall have found.

[1:56] O the mysterious depths of grace, who shall have found. O the mysterious depths of grace, who shall have found. O the mysterious depths of grace, who shall have found.

[2:08] O the reckless depths of grace, who shall have found. Thank you.

[2:41] Thank you.

[3:11] Thank you. Thank you.

[4:11] Thank you. Thank you.

[5:11] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[5:45] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[5:57] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[6:09] Thank you. Thank you. Ahí monitore qué qué qué qué qué Thank you.

[6:54] Thank you.

[7:24] Thank you. Amen. Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Amen.

[7:38] It may be that quite a number of people might accept this glorious truth as part of their creed.

[7:49] It is quite a different thing when the people of God, led by God himself, walk in the pathway and prove again and again the truth, the stability of the words before us.

[8:08] Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. We are changeable creatures and therefore very often we are unreliable.

[8:24] But God himself does not change. The word he has spoken shall surely prevail.

[8:35] And we come into all sorts of trials and temptations at times. And at times we find that the hymns and those that wrote them pick up a point here and there which is divine truth.

[8:58] Those were, that verse in the well-known hymn, 320 in our book, God Moves in a Mysterious Way, has this verse.

[9:11] That, that ye, hungry, weary souls, fresh curries take the clouds, ye, ye, so much dread, are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head.

[9:28] And if that is applied by the power of God to your soul, you will not give up hope.

[9:40] Though you cannot see how things can develop, yet nevertheless, God's way, since though God's ways are past finding out, in the end, they will always bring food, satisfaction, and a growth in grace as God leads.

[10:06] Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. It will be a mercy for us this evening, and certainly a benefit to the church of God that is formed amongst us, if we can say forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven, not just because the word of God says so, but because we are witnesses to the truth of it.

[10:35] Time and again, in trials of every shape and name, we have proved that God's word has not been altered one iota.

[10:49] Reference has already been made in the hymns that we have sung to the covenant of God. And God's covenant was made with Adam in the first place, that he should not take of a certain tree in the garden.

[11:09] We are not told just how long, but it would appear that it wasn't very long before Adam broke his part of the covenant, with the resulting solemn judgment that accompanied it.

[11:28] Another covenant was made with Israel as they were passing through the wilderness, having come out of the land of Egypt.

[11:45] And they broke that covenant. But God had already secured the certainty of a covenant made before the sinner fell.

[11:59] And that covenant was by the purpose and will of God the Father, and the Holy Son agreed to make that covenant a reality.

[12:13] That is, that covenant which assured the people of God of their salvation. And whatever happened, then it would still stand.

[12:30] To most people, if not all people, if what happened in the Garden of Eden had come along would have meant that they would have to revise all of their plans because they had overlooked one thing, the possibility of failure.

[12:54] But with God, the covenant was not made with man because the importance of salvation was so great. So, God made the covenant with his son.

[13:10] And this was ratified in the presence of the Holy Spirit. So, a threefold cord is not easily broken.

[13:21] So it has proved, so it ever will prove, and certainly in regard to this, for ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

[13:35] In order to drink deeply into the truth of this word, essentially we must pass through varying, trying situations. Sometimes we may wonder why they come.

[13:52] But there is a purpose, and one of the purposes is that the trial of our faith should be tried indeed.

[14:04] We have the Apostle Peter speaking of this in his first epistle. Now, let us just stop here for a moment.

[14:26] Is this where you are now? I cannot know, of course, what goes on in your soul. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, and be assured, if God says need be, it does need to be.

[14:44] Ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. God now tells us a purpose. He, so to speak, causes us to see this far-reaching effect that is to be brought about by this strange pathway in which we now tread.

[15:02] that the trial of your faith be much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire. And do remember, dear friends, that the trial of faith is not just something which has under it a very small flame.

[15:24] You will remember, no doubt, the case of the three Hebrew children that stood. They would not bow down to the image that Nebuchadnezzar raised up.

[15:40] They stood. They would not worship that image. and this brought them into the trial of their faith.

[15:53] I will not say brought them into trouble. It brought them to the trial of their faith. And their confession of faith certainly is very wonderful and very much to be admired.

[16:11] So we find that the witness of God is described to us in the second chapter of Daniel. And so the king spoke of those things which were to be I'm sorry, it's the third chapter of Daniel.

[16:39] Which were to be brought about in order that the people should be started out. Now do remember, dear friends, that the time is still with us when God's people are started out.

[16:55] Just to look at this particular account there then and Harold cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that at what time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimo, and all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image that never could nether.

[17:26] the king hath set up. And whoso falleth not down and worshipeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

[17:41] And we have three who entered into a great trial of faith. if need be, was it necessary?

[17:54] Well, it was necessary in this way that a standard had to be made and a remarkable revelation was to be given to the king.

[18:08] And there were certain Jews who have sent over the affairs of the province of Babylon and so on. They serve not thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

[18:22] Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadak, Meshach, and Abednego. They brought them before the king.

[18:33] It is interesting to notice what the king said. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true my word has been cast to one side?

[18:52] Can it be true that anyone should have the audacity to say they're not going to do what I have commanded? Well, it was true.

[19:06] It was true. And Shadak, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

[19:19] If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

[19:32] but, if not, if not, do we come to this point in the trial of our faith. If not, if we are not delivered, be it no unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

[19:53] And the king commanded that they should be cast into the burning fiery furnace which was to be heated seven times hotter than it was usual to be.

[20:09] Now, now, God's word was to be substantiated and so we read, then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste and spake and said unto his counsellors, did not be cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?

[20:32] They answered and said unto him, unto the king, true, O king. He answered and said, no, I see four men loosed. Do you think that you'll be loosed in the midst of some of your bitter trials?

[20:47] Well, so it was when these three men walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt.

[20:58] Is it in the fire that your bonds are burnt through and broken and the form of the fourth is like unto the son of God?

[21:11] And that which is written aforetime is written for our learning that we through comfort and patience of the scriptures might have hope. so though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

[21:30] And how much is evidenced in the case of those three that were cast into the burning fire and subsequently well I will not go into the end of the whole matter sufficient has been said to make the point that is in my mind.

[21:49] nevertheless what we may read in this case in the book of Daniel in a spiritual way is to be found is to be found in the experience of God's people.

[22:05] They may not be cast into a burning fire and fairness literally but sometimes they are spiritually and God brings them into such circumstances that there are enemies that rise up and there are enemies that have no reservation when they say that you'll suffer for this oh what are we going to do?

[22:38] Do we say God will deliver us? But do we add supposing he doesn't we'll still trust in God we'll still hope in God now it was when they trusted in God when God didn't deliver them to all intents and purposes they had to go through the fire but then it was that the Lord Jesus was walking with them in the fire liberating them and surely bringing peace into their hearts and furthermore the result that was intended was nullified and brought to nothing by the presence of Jesus Christ now it may be that some of you might be able to look upon your spiritual pathway and remember that there were times when Satan seemed to be raising up every point that he could to bring you into distress and to cast you into the fire and to burn up your religion and to bring you to the place where you say well

[23:50] I've had enough I shall give up my religion now oh yes this is going a bit too far but if God is with you and in your heart you will stand remember that we have the words in Ephesians 6 concerning the armor and having done all to stand all then I do not know what will be before any of us in the coming week but shall we be called upon to stand and with all the efforts on our hand having done all to stand and how do the people of God stand they stand by the almighty God working in them to will and to do of his good pleasure forever oh Lord thy word is settled in heaven and the word is settled in heaven because there is the assurance from many passages of the scripture that ye shall be overcoming overcomers wherever we might turn in the scriptures in the old testament or new we shall find this that the people of

[25:03] God always overcame and if you should any of you should be tempted this evening you will be afraid that you will be overcome and it may appear to be so but you must overcome because God has certified it in his own precious word and we rejoice today forever oh Lord thy word is settled in heaven now let us take a simple word from the scriptures to demonstrate the point in the thought 43rd chapter of Isaiah we read but now thus saith the Lord that created thee oh Jacob and he that formed thee oh Israel fear not for I have redeemed thee I have called it by thy name thou art mine a wonderful declaration of truth and shall we accept it well faith will sometimes accept it but God will not leave any of his children merely to accept what is written it has so to speak to be written with an iron pen in a rock and so the next verse says when thou passest through the waters

[26:32] I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire they shall not be burned neither shall the flame kindle upon thee so this emanates from this first verse in the first verse we have a great promise from God and in the second verse God says now I'm going to seal this in your heart I'm going to make you feel that this is absolutely true so that you need not fear I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine so then forever oh Lord thy word is written in heaven is settled in heaven we know by these things that God's word is settled you know it is a great mystery to us perhaps but God will always substantiate his word by proving it in the pathway that is appointed to it to it to his people and we this is why sometimes the people of God are called upon to walk through tribulation indeed much of our life is in tribulation and what does that really mean it means that all that is of the flesh is being burnt up all that religion that we pile on so to speak and look at it and admire it and say how wonderful it is it all has to be burnt up in the day of tribulation and in this particular forever oh God thy word is settled in heaven but in the chapter in the gospel of

[28:27] John it refers to there is another word and do constantly look at the whole verse that which shall God join together let not man put asunder in the world he shall have tribulation and the tribulation may be so acute that you will think that you and fear that you will be consumed but we have good cheer I have overcome the world whatever oh Lord thy word is settled in heaven it is settled in heaven because the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners and what is more he gained the victory he gained the victory over sin over death over hell over the grave over Satan himself and God said he would oh the Lord said he would the words which were spoken to the devil early on was a settled word in heaven and the

[29:36] Lord spoke to the serpent and notice he did speak to the serpent and he did not speak to Adam and Eve this word and the Lord God said unto the serpent because thou hast done this thou art cursed above all cattle and above every beast of the field upon thy belly shall thou go and dust shall thou eat all the days of thy life and I will put enmity between thee and the woman between thy seed and her seed and it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel now let us remember that the great battle of salvation was not between you and the devil or me and the devil but it was between Christ everlasting head who fought the great battle and gained the victory and wonderful it is for us to read of the well known words it is finished and remember that this was so to speak an important point which is unbeligned as it were forever

[30:54] O Lord thy word is settled in heaven God's word is a tried word and the words that are written in the prophets concerning the cover of our Lord Jesus Christ evidently were tried very very severely in the life of Jesus Christ and what enemies rose up to try and destroy Christ while she was here upon this earth indeed even as a babe Herod was moved to slay all the children up to a certain age in order that Christ being his king that was going to be a rival he could finish him he would gain the day this Christ out of the way but instead of that thy word forever O Lord thy word is written in heaven and in the babe of

[31:57] Bethlehem God's word was enshrined God's word was to be fulfilled God's word was to bring forth judgment unto victory and therefore forever O Lord thy word is written in heaven as God may give us an understanding to look at these words in connection with many events in the scriptures then will not our faith be benefited thy word it is a word which can never be broken a word that can never be resolved a word which even the devil can't destroy the enemy has said I will destroy but no God blew with his wind and the

[32:59] Egyptians were killed and drowned in the sea forever O Lord looking in the past looking in the present looking in the future thy word is settled in heaven we have a word in the 46th Psalm God is our refuge and strength a very present help in time of trouble and it is God to be a present help in time of trouble that is so necessary to us God is our refuge and our strength and also a very present help and what was the result of that the truth there conveyed was surely encompassed round with these words forever O Lord thy word is settled in heaven and therefore it is written and maybe sometimes we can answer the devil and the only way that the

[34:10] Lord Jesus used when he was in temptation tower he said it is written the world that is unalterable therefore will not we fear though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea though the waters thereof fall and be troubled though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof Selah something to think about and then what follows there is a river the streams whereof shall make land the city of God the holy place and the tabernacle of the most high God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her and that right early we may read these verses sometimes and then we come to a path in our life when we are in great distress and in great need and the words of the scripture come alive come alive and in mine it is

[35:15] I've been to say with all that are taught of God that this word God is our refuge and strength is wonderful but then we come into a trial and the words become alive and our living words and if they are living words then we may reflect upon it the words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life and a very present help in trouble whatever our trouble may be and you will know what your trouble is at the moment it's you want present help some of us with our best intentions would say well I never decided for you I wish I could help today but I can't today in a few days time I shall be free and I can give you some help and encouragement but that's not so with God for ever

[36:18] O Lord thy word is settled in heaven that when you need help it is there now now now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation it might be an interesting and profitable exercise for you to run down the concordance and see how many times this word now is mentioned I do not know myself off hand but now there are a few times in the scriptures now is a day appointed time now is a day of salvation and if you are you'll send if you are persecuted by Satan if he says with all your profession you're finished now it was all fancy it was all imaginary yet now the very present help now is the day of salvation a very present help in trouble

[37:21] I do know forever O Lord thy word is settled in heaven though Satan may arise though enemies may arise of all sorts of kinds you will stand you will stand there is one of the hymns we're going to love and sing number 77 in our hymn book brethren would you know your stay what he said support you still why thou tempted every day yet you stand and stand you will long before our birth nay before Jehovah laid the foundations of the earth we were chosen in our head God's election is the ground of our hope to persevere on this rock your building found and preserved your title clear infidels may laugh

[38:21] Pharisees gain sand rail here's your tenure keep it safe God's elect can never fail and whatever suggestions Satan may speak into your soul you'll fail you'll never last out this is the trial which is going to overthrow you no God's elect can never fail so we have the proof in the word of God and I may add the words of our text forever oh Lord thy word is settled in heaven the righteous shall hold on his way and he that hath cleaned down at the hands shall wax stronger and stronger you may on the maid of temptations be tossed your sorrows may swell as the sea but none of the ransomed shall ever be lost the righteous shall hold on his way now that's a wonderful word there are many things that might be debated here and there but when you come to the end of everything you have this sounding in your ear none of the righteous shall ever be lost and they won't and whatever you might think if your name is written in heaven if you are being led by the spirit of

[39:47] God and taught by the spirit of God and granted the love of Christ in your soul just now and again and the grace of God being performed in your heart every day then forever O Lord thy word is written in heaven say to the righteous it shall be well with him and to the wicked it shall be ill with him so you see God's word is powerful in both directions forever O Lord thy word is settled in heaven now a few words about thy word thy word God's word is different from everyone else's word the first point I would make is this it's a living word many words that are spoken have no real life in them at all they have no future but since

[40:49] God's word is a living word it will be a word with a future have we had a word from God which has been a living word and if it has been a living word and it's dropped into your soul he confirms you in this that you have got a living soul as well the dead know not anything but the living know certain things if you have heard the voice of God if God has spoken to you what shall I say arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee so there will be a resulting obedience in your own soul lo glad I come and the blessed lamb shall take thee to thee as I am yes forever oh Lord thy word is settled in heaven so

[41:52] God's word is a living word and also it is a faithful word faithful is he who call it you who also will do it a faithful word and what is the faithfulness based on the faithfulness of God is based upon his own character certainly it is God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you're able but will with every temptation make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it God is faithful who calls us out of darkness into light have we been in darkness has God promised that we shall come out some of you I don't know of course but some of you may be in darkness at the moment but be assured that you will come out into the light if you're God's children and and by having such an experience you will be able to add your amen to the fullness of these words forever oh

[42:57] Lord thy word is settled in heaven you have made all the changes scenes of life thy word is settled it is a faithful word and therefore it is a word upon which you can rely some of God's promises may appear to be unusual it is possible for God to lay a word from the scriptures on our spirit and we wonder what it means and we do not understand what it means be assured that you will understand as time goes on but you will also understand this that whatever it means might fill your hearts with fear it also means this I am with thee Israel passing through the fire and thus thy word is settled in heaven so it is a living word it is a faithful word and in consequence it is an encouraging word have we been encouraged by the word of the scripture there are many passages of scripture which speak to us of encouragement there are two words in the first chapter of

[44:30] Deuteronomy just two words encourage him I shall never forget the occasion I was at a certain chapel and the minister gave out his text encourage him and the next day we were my deacon and myself were to see our old friend Philip Ellis who was very much afflicted in his soul and this word came into my soul encourage him forever oh lord thy word is written in heaven I shall not go into the details this evening because of the time about one thing I did prove God spoke to me encouraging him and that was what I had to do so you see there are some people who think that they've got to sort people out and they've got to discourage them as much as they can that's not in the word of God but this is in the word of God encourage him and who needs encouragement it is the people that may be downcast it is the people who can only look to Jesus firm and strong mercy join with power forever oh lord thy word is resettled in heaven so is it a word that you say well I can't remember what the word is there are times when the word will be so small that it will be very difficult to forget it encourage him encourage her go go in the strength of the lord god this was the determination of a psalmist

[46:22] I will go in the strength of the lord god and will make mention of his righteousness even of his only and thy word is settled in heaven perhaps you may say well I wonder how I shall be able to make mention of his righteousness his word is settled in heaven and if what is now spoken I will go in the strength of the lord god remember it's not it does not say the psalmist did not say I will go in my own strength he said I will go in the strength of the lord god and what has the lord god said I will help thee I will be with thee I will deliver thee I will stand by thee I will make mention of his righteousness and of his only sometimes you know people have been greatly troubled their love to the lord jesus christ is moving in their hearts and they feel they would like to tell to sinners round but a dear saviour they have found but oh dear oh dear there seems to be mountains in the way is there a word go in this thy might which has spoken to gideon and that might was his total dependence upon god and whatever may be in your mind or in your thinking or in your life itself today and you may feel absolute weakness this is the time when god is going to demonstrate his great strength and you are going to find forever oh lord thy word is settled in heaven the lord is my strength oh yes and god is able to give strength and surely it is a good desire if we seek to have say all the glory all the glory is thine must be thine it cannot be my glory but if thou has helped me through the lord has helped many of god's people through many trials over a long period and what can you say forever oh lord thy word is settled in heaven in the experience of it in the testimony of it in the walking out of it and it is a faithful word it is a living word and furthermore it is a word that can be tested and it is a word an encouraging word which will enable us to go forth in the strength of the lord god and not in our own strength we if we go in our own strength some of us perhaps approved the unsatisfactory end of that but if we go leaning upon our beloved you remember those words in the scripture who is this coming out of the wilderness leaning upon our beloved casting all her care upon him he came up out of the wilderness what for to be more closely associated with the lord jesus christ and his word whose word is faithful and this word is also a word that will be not only an encouraging word but a support a supporting word we think of those words in deuteronomy the eternal god is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms thy

[50:23] word forever oh lord thy word is settled in heaven we felt underneath are the everlasting arms sometimes i think of the lines in our hymn book when lower and lower i every day fell he stretched forth his power and stretched me from hell so then thy word is is upholding word and will not fail it is i might go on to say an unfailing word it cannot fail god's word can never fail so is it not a wonderful benefit to us if we are the people of god as it will be to be able to endorse what the psalmist says here forever o lord thy word is settled in heaven another word which is surely supporting and strengthening is that i have loved thee i will not forsake thee and what was the proof of that experience in the apostle soul he says having obtained help of god i continue to this day and how did he continue undoubtedly he continued and was strengthened by the words that god spoke to him sometimes the occasion was very extreme and there was a time when the boat in which paul was was was shortly to be a ship wrecked and god spoke to paul on that occasion in a most remarkable way and he says if i can cast my eye upon it and after long abstinence paul stood forth through the midst of the and said sir she should have hearkened unto me and not have loosed concrete and have gained this harm and loss and now i exhalt you to be of good cheer for there shall no loss of any man's life among you but of the ship was this stretching out a false line no in the next word we have this for there stood by me this night the angel of god whose i am and whom i serve saying fear not paul thou must be brought before caesar and lo god hath given thee of all them that sail with thee wherefore sails be of good cheer for i believe god that it shall be even as it was told me now we cannot believe even god unless we are assured that it is the truth and we are seekers after truth if we are the people of god and we are confirmed in the truth of god when we discover in the experience of it forever the lord thy word is settled in heaven and the lord will not let his people go he will hold them on to the end we come to think of the feelings of some when

[54:18] I shall be landed on yonder peaceful shore oh we shall hope to be there if we are called by the grace of god if we have faith in god if we trust in the power of god we trust in the love of god then when we come to the end of our journey then the lord will will be there to receive us I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice and your joy no man taketh from you have you had a few moments joy in prospect that the lord will come and receive you unto himself that where he is there he may be also then god's words can never fail and here you will have written in your heart a further testimony forever oh lord thy word is settled in heaven of course there is much to be said on a text like this but may that which has been said be sealed upon your hearts and laid in your spirit so that you may meditate upon these things if there be any virtue if there be any praise think on these things amen we close with hymn 969 to the tune

[55:59] Rangely 393 hymn 969 my song shall bless the lord of all my praise shall climb to his abode the saviour by that name I call the great supreme the mighty god without beginning or decline object of faith not of sense eternal ages saw him shine he shines eternal ages hence hymn 969 He AirPods Hai Van ET Any İyi in syncachi

[57:00] They see this in yourxit home.

[57:10] In your shadowice I pray for you to give azure sea.

[57:25] We are our day, Christmas Eve, Lord, in run.

[57:37] Low is our day that long goes then.

[57:49] to the angels of allوي thank you Because my father willすごい nou oh O Lord, Son-Jay, whoas forever beamingly,

[58:55] In the power and yet more of it 있었ly's joy, O hope it comes to our great Alton and the Lord for his name.

[60:04] And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Father's love and the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit be with us now and evermore.

[60:24] Amen.