Introduction

Good morning, everyone. This week, I'll be sharing a particularly good Psalm with you, Psalm 25. What makes it so good? "Who is the man that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose." This sentiment is also found in the Book of Proverbs, but it's important to note that Psalm 25 isn't as well-known as Psalms 16, 23, or even the first Psalm.

So, this week, we're delving into a less famous but profoundly good and important Psalm. Why? Because it confronts that self-satisfied feeling of thinking we're doing well. Lately, many people feel quite good about themselves, very self-assured. But as they go along, things start to go wrong. The truth is, thinking too highly of oneself is a disaster.

I tell you, life is a series of choices. At many crossroads, we must decide whether to go left or right, forward or backward. As we journey, we arrive at the present moment. Looking up, we realize we're not so young anymore. "How did I end up like this?" I often wonder. Isn't it the result of the path you've chosen?

I ask you, if one doesn't study diligently in Primary One, can one advance to Primary Two? If one doesn't study well in Primary Two, can one progress to Primary Three? And if one doesn't do well in primary school, how can one succeed in secondary school? Sitting there, everyone else understands, but he understands nothing. It's like listening to the teacher speak in tongues for years, and then he graduates from junior high. Junior high is compulsory education, so that's that. But high school isn't compulsory, is it? In the end, he graduates, clueless. Why? Simply because he didn't get it right from the start.

So, we must never say, "Why am I like this?" Being deceived often starts with a little greed. Someone says, "Give me a million, and by the end of the year, I'll give you three million." But by the end of the year, you get nothing, not even thirty thousand, not even three thousand, and your million is gone. Back then, you were only thinking about the three million, weren't you? Or you lose everything in the stock market.

Many people have been devastated by the stock market, all making choices with hopeful expectations, but the results are tragic. Life is filled with regret. Yet, every choice seemed perfectly correct at the time. Why is this? Because there was no divine guidance. A life without God's guidance is like a navigation system without a GPS signal. The navigation system loses its GPS signal and leads you into the ocean. You drive into the sea, thinking it's the road.

Without God, man is like a navigation system without a signal, blindly guiding. God is in heaven, we are on earth. God knows the future, we do not. "Who is the man that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose." Ah! Saying this makes me a little proud. I tell you, when it comes to fearing the Lord, I do have a little bit of it. I wouldn't dare say I fear Him completely, would I? Fearing God is a miraculous topic.

After reading Psalm 25, I realized that David provides us with a good explanation and demonstration. What does it mean to fear God? Do you want to know what it means to fear God? Listen carefully to Psalm 25. You might say, "Hey, Psalm 25 is right there in the Bible in black and white. I can read it myself." You should read it yourself.

A sister encountered something that didn't align with her expectations. What was it? She was teaching a child, but the child was slow. "When I was studying, it wasn't this difficult. How could I have such a slow child?" Saying that will only make the child slower, not smarter.

"Oh God, I fear you so much, why did you give me such a child?" Is that fear? Compared to David, it's not fear. Many people often ask, "In America, there was a non-pastor who was speaking, and suddenly, a peanut was shot at him, a peanut. But it was an iron peanut, and he died from being hit by it." Many Christians ask why, why can't we ask? Don't ask why. Can't God control it? Doesn't God reign in this world? Isn't man's life and death in God's hands? Yes, they are. Don't ask. For example, the Bible tells us that Cain killed Abel. There are many things in this world that are unclear, aren't there? Then people say Abel was killed because he was cursed. Listen to that. Of course, Abel was also a sinner. So, when we compare ourselves to David, we know what it means to fear God.

Last week, we talked about David. This week, we continue to talk about David. He killed Uriah and took his wife, committing a sin. He was sorrowful and contrite. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Yes, you killed someone's husband and took his wife. If you're not sorrowful and contrite, who would be? It's normal, normal.

But what's the issue? If David hadn't done anything wrong, if he had done a good job, had good achievements, good performance, strong abilities, and was good at dealing with people and things, but his boss, who was his king, wanted to kill him, wanted his life. Does that require confession? What do you all think? David confessed, repented, and called out for God's mercy. What is that called? That's called fear.

He didn't argue with God. "Look, I'm doing a good job, why is my boss treating me like this?" My goodness, David didn't do that. If you do that, it's a bit deadly. When life throws you something, you know whether a person fears God. If you encounter some things, and you fear God, God will guide you, God will show you the way you should choose, a path filled with God's glory.

The things we encounter in life can be roughly divided into two types: natural disasters and man-made disasters. Natural disasters are beyond our control. What are man-made disasters? Man-made disasters are self-inflicted. If you sign up for insurance, insurance doesn't cover natural disasters. Do you know that insurance doesn't cover natural disasters? The English term for natural disaster is "Act of God."

But one thing we can control is our reaction when we encounter natural or man-made disasters. David faced thirteen years of being hunted, and later, he was overthrown by Absalom. He probably spent about eighteen years in hiding and fleeing. Joseph also encountered a natural disaster. It's not like he wanted to go to Egypt, so he had himself bound, sent to Egypt, and sold as a slave so he could experience God there. It's not like that.

Don't imitate Joseph in that way, thinking, "I want to go to the most difficult place in China to train my faith." That's not how it works. With your faith, I think you should practice in a good place. If you can't practice in a good place, I'm afraid you'll wear out your slave clothes if you're sold to Egypt, right?

So, whether you accept what God sends down or not, there's not much choice. Besides fearing God, what else can you do? Besides confessing and repenting, knowing that you were born a sinner, what else can you do? At this time, besides asking for God's mercy, what else can you ask for? There's no way.

So, David is an extraordinary person. He didn't do anything wrong, but he was wronged, hunted, hiding, and wandering, without enough to eat. I tell you, those days were not easy. Can you all feel that? Suddenly, it's thirteen years. Thirteen years! Brothers and sisters, don't blame heaven or earth, just blame yourself for being a sinner. Why? Because it all comes from God.

You must know that our God reigns in the world. Who are you going to blame? Right? Blame yourself for being born a sinner. It's not that we did something wrong, killed Uriah, and took his wife, causing sorrow and pain. We should be doing that all the time. Because we really are sinners. Isn't everything we encounter deserved?

Don't think I'm gloating when I say this. I hope God will show you the way you should choose. If it's a natural disaster, it's God doing a wonderful work in you. I hope you can one day become the prime minister of Egypt, the king of Israel. Right? Ah! I think a lot of it is deserved. But we can't control what we deserve, so let's seek God well. God will surely lead you on a new path of life, and you will see God's glory. I learn from David, and you should all learn from David. Besides fearing God, what else can you do? Only in this way will God greatly shorten the days of suffering. These days of suffering will finally pass. Remember, God will greatly shorten the days of suffering. If Joseph and David hadn't feared God, those thirteen years might have become twenty-six years, and twenty-six years might have become fifty-two years. Fifty-two years would become one hundred and four years, and that would be terrible, right? You'd wear out the prison floor and become a slave through and through. What else is there besides fear?

Many people do wrong things and still think they're right. "I may not have merit, but I have worked hard." But hard work doesn't count. If you mess things up while working, wasting materials, I haven't even blamed you yet. David felt he was a sinner, but many earthlings are foolish because they think they're good, they don't seem to be sinners, they shouldn't encounter anything, and when they do, they feel wronged, that God is unfair. God has no justice, and they complain about God privately and publicly. "Why is this happening?"

I once met a sister who was a preacher. Later, she got cancer, and her stomach was swollen like a big bag, very scary. We often say, "A stomach full of bad water," and still think you're good. She said, "I put in effort, I love God so much." Look at what she's saying, "I fear God so much, I love God so much, why is this happening?" In the end, she died miserably, always living in "why?" This is a very bad habit that invites disaster. This situation is also called ignorance.

Her daughter is still among us. She said, "Seeing my mother like this, I understand very clearly." It's really just this path, not fearing God. Even with cancer, she doesn't realize she's made a mistake, blaming heaven and earth, but not blaming herself. That's full of religious pretense, pretending badly. Pretending to what extent? When the brothers and sisters in the church come to see her, she perks up. She gives the brothers and sisters a beautiful testimony, talking about this and that, but it's all fake. Isn't that terrible?

What I'm talking about doesn't have much of a storyline, but it's hard-core truth. "I love God very much, I strive to love God, I fear God very much," it's all self-righteous. If God doesn't think so, it's deadly. Start learning from David. He didn't do anything wrong, but he encountered unfair treatment, was wronged and hunted, but still repented and confessed. How good is that? Seek God's mercy, seek God's grace. Unlike some people, they don't do their job well, they make mistakes, they're skilled at making mistakes, and when you say something, they still feel wronged. How different is that? David confessed when he didn't do anything wrong, but they don't confess when they do wrong. Isn't that a world of difference?

Back then, when I built the church, I contributed money and effort, and I thought I was good. Later, I found out I wasn't. Man-made disaster struck, and I lost my good job. I was unemployed. Ah, back then, I still thought I was good. I didn't dare say I was Job. Listen to that, still thinking I was good. Later, I realized that even Job wasn't that great. Even if you're a Job, it's not that great. You can't think you're good.

Later, I confessed, repented, and sought God's mercy, learning the lesson of fearing God, not letting complaints come out of my mouth. I didn't ask God why. If I asked, thirteen years would turn into twenty-six years. If I asked again, twenty-six years would turn into fifty-two years. If I asked again, fifty-two years would turn into death. Back then, I called out to God every day. Although I didn't have money, I had time, time to call out to God, asking Him to show me the choices I should make. Now that I think about it, how did I get so smart back then? Thank God, this wasn't my choice, it was God's choice. God led me out on a path full of God's grace and mercy. I want to praise my God, it is He who rescued me from sinners, it is He who led me on the way I should choose. We should work out our salvation with fear and trembling, so not fearing God is really not okay. In the past few years of service, being offended, blamed, wronged, and contradicted is actually common.

Today, I am not praising myself, but speaking of the fear of God. I must tell everyone that my fear is insufficient. But even with insufficient fear, when faced with these matters, I know that I must serve each of the sheep God has entrusted to me with all my heart, because that is what God has entrusted to me.

What do I seek? I do not complain. I do not allow complaints to come out of my mouth. I do not blame heaven or earth, but only blame myself for being a sinner, for not fearing God enough. I do not want to argue with God. To be honest, an arm cannot twist a thigh, but my thigh cannot twist God's little finger either. Do you understand? An arm cannot twist a thigh, and my thigh cannot twist God's little finger. So what am I twisting for? I do not contend with God. God, I thank and praise You.

I will surely see the glory of God, and I will surely come before my God to receive His grace. I long for the day when I stand before God and He can say to me, "Well done, good and faithful servant." That is all I desire, just that one affirmation; I want nothing else, only that.

It is very hard, brothers and sisters, do you know that? It is truly very hard. David was very hard-pressed, with many struggles, many dangers, many enemies, and much sorrow. At times, he was very lonely in body and mind. But David said, "I will look to God," and that is called fear of God. Without having done anything wrong, he confessed his sins and repented. Do you not think that is great? What kind of person is this? This is a remarkable person.

Scripture

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. Guard my life, and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. (Psalm 25:1-22)

Prayer

God, our brothers and sisters are in this difficult environment, just like David was. Please give them a heart like David's, so that they can emulate David and repent of their sins. Because our sins are great, we ask you to forgive our sins. May you look upon our affliction, look upon our difficulties, and forgive all our sins. May the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ cover our transgressions, so that we can once again lift up our faces before You. Let us triumph over our enemies. Let us receive grace and mercy from You. Let us be preserved by You before You, so that we can walk the path of righteousness. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Scripture Background

Actually, this passage was not written when he was being pursued by Saul, but when he was being pursued by his son Absalom. How can this be reconciled? I will tell you that when David was being pursued by Saul, he was a very young child, a teenager of seventeen or eighteen years old. When David was being pursued by Absalom, he said: "Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions." When was that? It was after David killed Uriah and took Bathsheba, which was after Absalom rebelled and usurped the throne. Another place shows that, "Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me." This must have been after he had been king for many years. Because Absalom usurped the throne, those who had been punished by David all hated David intensely.

Think about it, when you are king, you must offend many people. So I guess this was during David's pursuit by Absalom, when the entire army and military power of Israel were in Absalom's hands, and David fled with only a few bodyguards. Was that environment difficult? Yes, it was very difficult.

Let me describe how difficult it was for you. Everyone can imagine, which of the surrounding countries could he go to? All of them had been defeated by David, and he had become the enemy of all the surrounding countries. All the countries were defeated by David, and he became the enemy of these countries. Could he go? No, he could not go. Could he stay in the land of Israel? He could not stay in the land of Israel either, because it all belonged to Absalom. So where could he go? If you were in David's situation, where could you go? There was nowhere to go. Where could you go?

God, please show me Your way, teach me Your path, because I do not know where to go. Right? If you take a crooked path, "Oh God, may integrity and uprightness preserve me," you cannot take a crooked path, and at the same time you do not know where to go. The surrounding countries have all been defeated by him, and they are all his enemies. They submit on the surface because they have been disciplined by him. Now that your son has usurped the throne, and you flee to me, I will not kill you. Is that not the case?

People also get old, and David was also a bit old at this time, and the people who followed him were also old. I ask you, what hope is there? Despair, it is so difficult. So he said: "Oh, I am lonely and afflicted, and my troubles are enlarged." He asked God to save him from his distresses, which were truly distresses. It was truly unknown when the guards around him would cut off his head and offer it to Absalom, because Absalom was offering a large reward for David's head.

Sometimes he suspected this guard and suspected that guard, and after suspecting them, he was very sad and could not sleep soundly. God, please look upon my affliction and my trouble. Please consider my foes, for they are many, and with what violent hatred they hate me. Please guard my life and deliver me. Where is the road to take?

After praying, where is the road? Where is the future? Except for fearing God, seeking God, praying to God, confessing sins to God, repenting, and asking for His grace and mercy. Perhaps God sees my suffering and has mercy on me. This sentence was what he said to his subordinates when Absalom usurped the throne and he fled. Perhaps God sees the suffering I have suffered, the humiliation I have suffered, and perhaps God will care for me and have mercy on me.

Fortunately, David was such a person. Later, Absalom was killed, and he returned to be the king of Israel. I really think David was too smart, too smart. Who can have such wisdom? Only those who fear God have such wisdom. This is the background of this passage.

O God, I Trust in You

If you have always trusted in God, then how could you fall into this situation? Actually, even if you have always trusted in God, you may encounter this situation, but this situation can really show whether you fear God. God, I have always trusted in You. Why did You let this happen to me? David did not do this. If you ask God, "I have always trusted in You, why did You do this?" you are finished, and Jehovah will not be able to guide you on the road ahead.

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. (Psalm 25:1-2)

This sentence is not saying, "God, please explain to me why You treat me this way? Why do You treat me this way?" If you think this way, it is bad. That is not called trusting, nor is it called looking up. Looking up is looking up to see God, knowing that God is in control of everything. These things come upon us, and we deserve it. O Lord, I lift up my soul to You. My future is in Your hands. O my God, I have always trusted in You. Please do not let me be put to shame.

O God, I Trust in You

Never ask why again, never point your finger at God and ask why. There is no why, it is just testing you to see if you will say such a thing. If you say such a thing, I will show you a ridiculous path and let you go down it. This is not thirteen years, nor twenty-six years, nor fifty-two years. This is letting you go until you die.

So many Christians I have met do not know that this sentence cannot be said. For example, there is a preacher who got cancer in his thirties and went to the hospital to see a doctor. He likes to ask why, without David's wisdom. Oh, why? Then the doctor said, "I have a medicine here that has a 60% success rate. It is effective in six out of ten people." After using the medicine, he borrowed money to use the medicine. God, why am I in that 40%? Is it hard?

Later, the doctor said, "I have an even more expensive medicine here, which is more expensive and has a 90% success rate." After using it, the money was spent. He was in that 10%. Why? Because he asked why? The first time he asked why he got this disease, he fell into the 40%. In the 40%, he asked why again, and he fell into the 10%. Why? Then he died.

So brothers and sisters, whether you do right or wrong has nothing to do with this, it has to do with one thing, whether you are willing to complain and blame God. Do not come to brothers and sisters like a god, that is useless. It is better to be a person who pleases God before God.

If something happens to you and me, think about this sermon, never think that you are a good person, but know that you are just a sinner. I think this is too wise, and I hope that when everyone encounters things, they can develop this new habit, which is called emulating David.

O God, Please Show Me Your Way

I was thinking, when David fled from Saul, he could still go to Achish, the king of Gath, to hang out. Where can he go now? Where can you go? Oh, there is no way, no way.

God, please show me Your way, teach me Your path, please guide me with Your truth, teach me, do you understand this word? Teaching is teaching and rebuking. Because You are the God who saves me, I wait for You all day long. When there is no way to go, now I see. Oh, what to do, there is no why. God is my way, God is my future, God is my truth, God is the God who saves me. Remember not to blame God, only blame yourself.

So I tell you, when we are at the end of our rope, if it looks like everything is dark and we cannot see anything, and we do not know what the future will be like, then God is your future. When I established the church back then, I still think it was hard. I kept thinking, thinking. Oh, it was too hard, there was nothing at that time. I tell you, there was such a little cleverness in my heart, I knew that God was my future.

Kneeling there in prayer, tears streaming down, I was in the dark, unable to see the future, unsure when I would emerge. But thank God, He did not give me thirteen years, nor twenty-six. God gave me only six years, and after those six years, I emerged from this calamity and saw the glory of God.

In healing and deliverance, we have established a biblical theory of healing and deliverance. In Bible study, we have established a Mingding Doctrine method of Bible study. On the path of trusting in the Lord and building the church, we founded Mingding Doctrine, a theology for a church filled with God's glory. I am truly grateful to God for leading me through a difficult path. In that difficult situation, I did not know where the future lay, but God is our future. Perhaps the situation you are facing is dire, but you must know that God is your future, and our God still reigns over us. These natural and man-made disasters require repentance, both the man-made ones and the natural ones.

Everything God does in us is to examine us, test us, and refine us by fire, so that we may walk in His righteous path. Like the prophet told me, you will see the glory of God. In these dark days, what is most needed is God. God can perform miracles; without God, all is lost.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:4-5)

I am not an impatient person. In that difficult environment, I was not impatient. If you are impatient and always want to get rich quick, I think you're in trouble. In those years, I studied the Bible book by book. I had a dream in my heart: even if my life is not long, I have a hope to study the Bible book by book. After finishing the Old Testament, I would study the New Testament. In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed, and we have studied most of the books of the Bible, some even more than once. We have studied Genesis five times. Impressive, right? I am a little satisfied.

Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love.

Our God is a God of grace, mercy, and love. No matter what situation we are in, always know that God is not a God who messes with us. Do not ask God, "God, why are you messing with me like this?" Instead, know that God, we ask you to remember your mercy and love.

Some people say, "Teacher, didn't you say we shouldn't ask God?" I tell you, what should we ask God for? Ask for God's grace, ask for God's mercy. Do you understand? Ask God to show us His ways. Ask God to help us, not to remember our sins, not to remember our transgressions. Ask God to look upon our affliction, not to ask God to heal us. Healing comes from casting out demons, because Jesus Christ later set an example for us.

Our God is full of grace, mercy, and love. The grace, mercy, and love of God are of such abundant glory. No matter what situation we are in, know that God has abundant grace and mercy. He will surely have mercy on us. Why? Because these man-made disasters we suffer are brought upon ourselves.

There was an old pastor who was particularly endearing. At the time, I didn't quite understand him, but later I realized that his words were particularly good. He sat on a small stool, "Oh, God have mercy," all morning, "Oh, God have mercy," all afternoon, "Oh, God have mercy," all night. The next morning, he got up and said, "Oh, God have mercy," another morning. "Oh, God have mercy," another afternoon. "Teacher, you don't need to say anymore, I know, another day." At first, I didn't quite understand, but later I realized this is wisdom, this is cleverness.

Of course, the Chinese Mingding Doctrine that we later developed is a theology of victorious warfare. That theology of victorious warfare is in the spiritual realm, relying on our God, we can constantly plunder the enemy. That is speaking to the demons. But turning back to God, it is, "God, in the face of man-made disasters, whether they come from you or are of my own making, I begin to ask for God's remembrance, mercy, and love."

Do you understand? God especially likes us to say this. "God! You are a God full of grace, full of mercy, full of love." God super likes this sentence, because God really is like that. If we recognize God in this way, God will be pleased with us.

Remember not my sins of my youth.

Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. (Psalm 25:7)

For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. (Psalm 25:11)

Never think that the sins you committed in the past have no impact on the present. They certainly will. But God still forgives our sins for His name's sake, doesn't He? Our sins are great, the weight of sin is on us. How can we be qualified to think we are good? No, no one should think they are good. Once you think you are good, it's over, you're going to cause some man-made disaster again. Our transgressions are too many. If it weren't for God's mercy on us, how could we have survived until now, right? So never think you are good again. We are born in sin, and our sin is always before us. We accidentally follow it, and once we follow it, we are deceived. After being deceived, we suffer losses, and then we encounter really heavy discipline from God.

Look on my affliction and my distress and forgive all my sins. (Psalm 25:18)

Do you understand? What kind of person is this? Usurped by his son, hunted down, when he was at his wit's end, he still confessed and repented. He did nothing wrong, but he still chose to ask God not to remember his transgressions, and to forgive all his sins, because his sin was great. Too clever. What our God wants is this kind of humble and contrite heart. Don't ask God why, why did you let me encounter these things? It's over, thirteen years. Why? It's over, twenty-six years. Why? Fifty-two years. So be clever, be wise.

Consider my affliction.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. Look on my affliction and my distress and forgive all my sins. (Psalm 25:16-18)

This was written when Absalom was pursuing David, because at this time, David left Jerusalem and encountered Shimei cursing him. His men said, "Let me kill him." David said to his men, "Don't." David had quite a few strong warriors under him, and he said, "Don't kill him. Perhaps God will see my affliction and have mercy on me." Does that fit? It certainly fits. "Look on my affliction."

So when we are in affliction, I tell you, God also feels pain with you. Do you think God doesn't have mercy on us? Does God not feel our pain? He feels it. We are His children. God feels our suffering with us, and our affliction is also on Him. God has abundant grace and mercy, God has abundant love, which is to forgive our transgressions. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Can everyone understand? This sentence is too good.

I super love my God. If it weren't for my God, how many calamities would I have encountered? I might not be alive. If it weren't for God looking upon my affliction, looking upon what I encountered, how could I have come this far? So brothers and sisters, even if you contradict me a little, argue with me a little, although my heart is bitter, it is also grace. God sees what I have suffered, forgives all my transgressions, and guides me to walk the path He wants me to walk. It's not because I'm contradicted that I'm going to do something, it's because I fear God that I don't do anything.

I don't want to argue my point. I only hope that everyone can run with me, walk this joyful path of eternal life. Occasionally experiencing some affliction, sorrow, and hardship, our spirit will prosper, our spirit will be awakened. Even if there are many enemies, what does it matter? I think there are quite a few brothers and sisters who have experienced being in affliction recently. This sermon is for you. May God have mercy, look upon our affliction, the sorrow in our hearts. May God's mercy come upon us again.

Guard my life.

See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. (Psalm 25:19-20)

I ask you, were there people around David who wanted to cut off his head? Yes. Following him, seeing that there was no future, "Oh, my career is going to end in David's hands. I think I'll take David's head and go work for that young Absalom." Were there any? I tell you, there certainly were.

David fled, fled, fled, but he had this faith. His men may not have had this faith. Do you understand? "Oh, David is old. Look, his son Absalom has usurped the throne. Look how well he's doing with Absalom, isn't Absalom very cunning? Isn't Absalom managing Israel very well?" Late at night, David lay down and fell asleep. At that time, it was Saul who was asleep, and David was standing beside him, right? Cutting off Saul's head would have been the end of it. Now David is in the most danger, and his men are beside him, holding a knife. "Oh my God," David woke up and saw, "What are you doing? What are you doing?" "I want to protect you." "Is that how you protect me? Is that how you protect me?" Tell me, is that scary or not?

God, protect me. You know who was holding the knife to cut off David's head. I'm just guessing, do you think there was anyone? There certainly was. Why was David so troubled? He didn't know who to trust and who not to trust. Who can a king trust? He can't trust anyone. It's very difficult, especially when his head can bring a lifetime of wealth and glory. Does everyone feel that way? Following David, is there still a future?

Of course, David was very good at releasing faith: "God will save us, don't worry, don't worry, God will definitely save us." But people didn't believe that, right? I tell you, that guard walked up to David and found that David was protected by an invisible force. He couldn't get close; he couldn't leave. As soon as he got close, he was bounced back by an invisible force. That's one possibility. Another possibility is that as soon as he got close, he found angels and heavenly hosts encamped around him. "Oh, I can't move, this kid is too powerful, he really has God." He had to follow David wholeheartedly, maybe he could get a position, these are all stories.

Teach me the right path.

This is our conclusion. Where is our path? What seems like a path to people is not the path. What doesn't seem like a path is the path that God guides us on. Jesus leads us, and He also leads us to constantly fear God, until God reigns over us. Know that we are people, and He is God. Know that our future is in His hands, know that He has the way of life, He has the truth. In Him there is a future, not only a future, but also a glorious future. May God bless us, so that we can walk according to His path all our lives. May God bless everyone, Amen!