[0:00] We can resume the public worship of God by singing to his praise from Psalm 99.
[0:11] Psalm 99 and from the beginning down to verse 7. The Eternal Lord doth reign as King.
[0:26] Let all the people quake. He sits between the cherubims. Let the earth be moved and shake. The Lord in Zion great and high above all people is.
[0:39] Thy great and dreadful name for it is holy. Let them bless. The King strength also judgment loves. Thou settlest equity. Just judgment thou dost execute in Jacob righteously.
[0:53] The Lord our God exalt on high and reverently do ye. Before his foots do worship him. The Holy One is he. Moses and Aaron among his priests.
[1:06] Samuel with them that call upon his name. These called on God. And he them answered all. Within the pillar of the cloud he unto them did speak.
[1:18] The testimonies he them taught. And laws they did not break. And so on. These verses 1 to 7. Psalm 99.
[1:28] The Eternal Lord doth reign as King. Let all the people quake. Peaces between the cherubims.
[2:05] Let the earth be moved and shake. The Lord in Zion great and high above all people is.
[2:31] Thy great and dreadful name for it is holy land and blessed.
[2:50] The King strength also. The King strength also. The God's man loves.
[3:01] The Sabbath's day with thee. The Lord our God exalt.
[3:12] The Lord our God exalt. The Lord our God exalt.
[3:23] The Lord our God exalt. The Lord our God exalt. The Lord our God exalt.
[3:37] The Lord our God exalt. The Lord our God exalt. The Lord our God exalt. The Lord exalt. The Lord exalt.
[3:48] State and hundredth. The Holy sixii. The Lord exalt. Anthony hear, and holy one is he.
[4:08] Moses and Aaron among his priests, Samuel with them that called upon his name.
[4:32] He's called on God and he answered all within the pillar of the cloud.
[4:57] He answered them, He will speak that testimonies be them taught and lost it is not great.
[5:23] Let us join together in prayer. Let us pray. Oh Lord, oh God, as we have been reminded again in your word, you are a God who sits upon the throne of the universe.
[5:47] You reign as king and your reign is without end. We contemplate from time to time the cessation of the reign of earthly queens and kings.
[6:07] However long lived they may be, however much they may endure, they will all, for one reason or another, come to an end.
[6:19] But your reign is a reign that will continue. And we give thanks that those who honour and worship you as their king will know the continuation of that.
[6:39] There will be no interruption into their experience rather a perfection of that which they already enjoy in this world.
[6:56] That is something that is difficult for a man with this puny mental faculties to understand.
[7:08] but it is the truth nevertheless. And we acknowledge that there is that provision made within your word that speaks to us of the abiding, enduring nature of the kingdom of God.
[7:30] we give thanks for it and we pray that you would add to the number of those who would stand within it and who would be the subject of the only king that is eternal.
[7:49] We pray for your blessing upon your word to that end wherever it is preached or proclaimed this evening may it yield fruit even in this place a word that has previously fallen and lain dormant in the soil of our heart may it be quickened by the hand of your spirit so that it would produce in us that acknowledgement of being subject to you and being made willing in a day of your power to serve wholeheartedly.
[8:35] We give thanks for the opportunity to meet together in this place opportunity that many have availed themselves of during their lifetime and they envisage that that will be true of them as long as they have breath in their body and yet it is true of us that at some point that privilege will be denied us through the frailties of the flesh as many have discovered for themselves while they can understand the joy of going to be with God's people in the house that bears your name that experience is no longer theirs however much they have these longings and however much their mind gravitates towards this place that bears your name they are no longer permitted to attend physically although we believe that even at this moment we are sustained by their prayers and that they call upon your name on our behalf that preacher and hearer alike would receive good from your hand we bless you for your people those present those unable to be present many housebound hospitalized being cared for within the care homes of our communities we give thanks for the care that they receive and in their frailty that they can trust in those who are given that responsibility to be mindful of their needs whatever it may be temporal even spiritual we pray for the community at large and all that have a number of needs some known to us many hidden from sight but not from the sight of the all seeing eye of
[10:58] God we pray for those who are in need of your own help in regard to their medical condition whatever it may be we pray for them and ask that you would provide it for them as the physician that you are as we also remember their spiritual need we do not want to let one take the place of the other because so often our thoughts are more interested in the things that affect our body or our mind and there is little thought given to the needs of our soul to not allow us to succumb to such temptations but rather to put matters in the proper order knowing that in your wisdom you have to decree that whatever happens to the body that there is provision made for the soul remember then your people the world over those who suffer from temptation guard them from the enemies enemies that are bound even under the tutelage of the enemy of our soul we pray for those who are suffering persecution and we remember them to you and ask that you would surround them even with a garrison of angels thwarting the enmity that is in this world against them we pray
[12:49] Lord the blessing upon the proclamation of truth seeking your blessing upon your servants who so proclaim it and we remember before you any of that number who may be unwell at this time we know that there are times when the body may fail at other times there are those who succumb to the pressures that are placed upon the mind and we know that there are some who are in that very predicament whatever their need is you are mindful of it because you're the one who has called them and sent them and equipped them and you're the one who will bless their labours and it'll be a great day coming when that which is wrought by them in your name will ultimately redound to your glory whatever their crown may be they will take pleasure in casting it at your feet and so it is for all your servants the world over remember the proclamation of Jesus
[14:02] Christ and him crucified may have souls for his hire and may he delight in seeing young and old alike bowing the knee to Christ and availing themselves of the salvation that he has made provision of people we pray for this nation of ours that is sin secret is our nation we are required to pray for it pray for our king and his family pray for the various parliaments that represent the people whether it is in Holyrood or in Westminster pray for our first minister and prime minister and the various office bearers that serve the country on our behalf we often find ourselves downcast when we search amongst them for those who would demonstrate a wholehearted concern for the spiritual well-being of the nation rather than the temporal good of the nation whatever is to be said for the wealth of a nation if it is not spiritually rich then the day will come when their poverty will be exposed we pray
[15:36] Lord for your grace and for the outpouring of your spirit to that end make your people a praying people and that they may surround and strengthen those who would be those who serve you in fear remember the nations of the earth we think again of Ukraine and the hostilities that are carried out in that region as every other region of the world where there is war and we pray Lord for those bound up in it for the destruction wrought by the hand of man against his fellow we pray for mercy and for the overturn of the of the powers of evil that are responsible for it we pray that your blessing upon our time together under the sound of your word may we be given receptive hearts and an interest in the things that concern our spiritual well-being forgive us our sins in Jesus name
[16:52] Amen we'll continue to sing to God's praise this time from Psalm 31 Psalm 31 from verse 19 to the end how great's the goodness thou for them that fear thee keepst in stone and wrought for them that trust in thee the sons of men before in secret of thy presence thou will hide them from man's pride from strife of tongues though closely shalt as in a tent and white all praise and thanks be to the Lord for he hath magnified his wondrous love to me within a city fortified for from thine eyes cut off my hand I in my haste had said my voice yet heard though when to thee with cries my moan my maid O love the
[17:54] Lord all ye who have seen because the Lord has guard the faithful and he plenteously proud doers doth reward be of good courage and his strength unto your heart shall send all ye whose hope and confidence doth on the Lord depend let let us sing these verses psalm 31 from verse 19 to the end how great the goodness thou for them that fear thee keepst in store how great the goodness thou for them that fear thee keep in store and cross for them that trust in thee the sons of men before in secret of thy presence thou child hide them from man strife from strife of chance thou close they shall as sin attend them high all praise and thanks be to the
[19:46] Lord for he have magnified his wondrous love to me within a city fortified for from thy night good all I am I in my head have said my voice voice yet hurts the wind to thee with cries my mom
[20:47] I made O love the Lord for he is his saints because the Lord doth guard the faithful and he plenteously proud to he shall reward be of good courage and his threat and to you heart shall sing all ye who is hope and confidence death on the
[22:00] Lord depends like guys to turn for reading this evening to the Old Testament scriptures the first book of Samuel chapter 15 first book of Samuel chapter 15 we'll read the whole chapter 1 Samuel chapter 15 Samuel also said unto Saul the Lord sent me to be king over 6 chapter 16 11 12 13 14 15 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 17 18 19 18 19 20 20 20 21 20 21 22 22 man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
[23:27] And Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in Telai, two hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came to a city of Amalek and laid wait in the valley.
[23:42] And Saul said unto the Canaanites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with him.
[23:53] For you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. So the Canaanites departed from among the Amalekites.
[24:04] And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur. That is, over against Egypt. And he took Agag, the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
[24:22] But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the factlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy this.
[24:37] But everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king.
[24:53] For he has turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel, and he cried unto the Lord all night.
[25:06] And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set him up a place, and has gone about and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
[25:23] And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
[25:44] And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites. For the people spared the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God.
[25:57] And the rest we have utterly destroyed. Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night.
[26:09] And he said unto him, Say on. And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, was thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel?
[26:21] And the Lord anointed thee king over Israel, and the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against thee, until they be consumed.
[26:37] Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord? But didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord? And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agath the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
[27:04] But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgore.
[27:18] And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
[27:30] Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fact of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
[27:46] Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned.
[27:57] For I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.
[28:15] And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee, for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord. And the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
[28:28] And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
[28:51] And also the strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man that he should repent. Then he said, I have sinned.
[29:02] Yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.
[29:13] So Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshipped the Lord. Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agak the king of the Amalekites.
[29:25] And Agak came unto him delicately. And Agak said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made woman childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women.
[29:43] And Samuel hewed Agak in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
[29:57] And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless, Samuel mourned for Saul. And the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
[30:15] Amen. May the Lord add his blessing to the reading of his word. And his name be the praise. We can sing now Psalm 87.
[30:28] Psalm 87. We can sing the whole psalm. Upon the hills of holiness, he his foundation sets.
[30:40] God more than Jacob's dwellings all delights in science gates. Things glorious are said of thee, thou city of the Lord. Rahab and Babel, I to those that know me will record.
[30:54] Behold, even Titus, and with it the land of Palestine. And likewise Ethiopia, this man was born therein.
[31:06] And it of Zion shall be said, this man and that man there was born. And he that is most high himself shall establish it. When God the people writes, he'll count that this man born was there.
[31:21] There be that sing and play, and all my wellsprings in thee are. Let us sing the whole of Psalm 87 to the praise of God.
[31:33] Upon the hills of holiness, he his foundation sets. Upon the hills of holiness, he his foundation sets.
[31:59] God more than Jacob's dwellings all delights in science gates.
[32:17] Things glorious are said of thee, The city of the Lord.
[32:35] Rehob and Babel, I to those that know me will record.
[32:52] Behold, in Titus, and with it the land of Palestine.
[33:10] Titus, and with it the land of Palestine. And likewise he did, O Peah, this man was born therein.
[33:30] Titus, and with it was born therein. Titus, and with it the land of Palestine. Titus, And with it the land of Jerusalem. Titus, and with it the land of Palestine. Titus, and with it the land of Palestine. Titus, and with it the land of Spain.
[33:41] Titus, and with it the land of Palestine. Titus, and with it the land of Palestine. Titus, Poufus, and by the land ofower Titus, and with it the land of Palestine. Titus, and with it the land of Palestine. Titus, and tweeteth Intel.
[33:52] Titus, and with it the land of Palestine. Titus, and with it the land of Zion. Titus, and it the land of Israel And it the land of Israel shall be said. This man and that man there was born and Burke. Most high himself shall stop the fire.
[34:08] When God the people prides in kind.
[34:19] That this man born was there. There be a sing and play and go.
[34:37] My well strings in the air. And we turn for a short while to a passage that we read together.
[34:54] The first book of Samuel chapter 15. And we can read again at verse 27. And as Samuel turned about to go away.
[35:11] He laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle. And it went. And Samuel said unto him. The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day.
[35:23] And hath given it to a neighbour of thine. That is better than thou. And also the strength of Israel will not lie nor repent. For he is not a man that he should repent.
[35:38] Then he said I have sinned. Yet honoured me now I pray thee before the elders of my people and before Israel. And turn again with me that I may worship the Lord thy God.
[35:54] So Samuel turned again after Saul. And Saul worshipped the Lord. When we read the scriptures.
[36:12] We are sometimes confronted with. With. A lot of things that we cannot really make sense of.
[36:24] Sometimes it is. The way God takes. People to himself.
[36:37] And gives them. A favoured. Exposure to his goodness. And his grace. They enjoy.
[36:49] The privilege of. Having a face to face encounter as it were. With the Lord. And. Hearing from his own mouth.
[37:03] The instruction. That would benefit. Their lives. That wouldn't be a surprise. I don't think.
[37:15] The surprise is. When those who have such. A close exposure. To God. And such a favoured. Experience.
[37:27] Of his grace. That they would. Turn away from God. And that they would. Follow a path. That is.
[37:38] Decidedly. Dishonouring. To God. And there are. Men. And indeed. Women. Who. Recorded.
[37:49] For us. Within the scripture. Who. May be listed. As. Being of such a number. We don't have an answer.
[38:02] To it. And we don't have. A sufficient. Knowledge. Of. Of. Why. God. God.
[38:12] Would. Permit. Such. Such a. A declension. But. A declension. It is.
[38:24] And we see here. In this chapter. The chapters. Preceding it. We see. Someone. That is. Clearly. Raised up.
[38:36] By God's. Hand. To a position. Of power. In Israel. Someone. Who receives. Favored. Attention.
[38:48] And is. Given. Many. Successes. Under God's. Hand. And yet. His.
[38:59] Life. Descends. Into. What can only. Be considered. Apostasy. Not everybody. Believes. That. Saul. Was apostate.
[39:12] And that. That's a. Difficulty. I suppose. In many. Respects. That. The God. Of heaven. Is a God. Of mercy.
[39:24] The God. Of heaven. Is a God. Who. Endows. Grace. In. A. Favorite.
[39:36] Corpious. Amount. Upon. Those. Who. Are. Undeserving. Of. Nobody. Deserves. The. Mercy. Of God. Nobody. Deserves. To be. The. Beneficiary.
[39:47] Of. God's. Grace. And. Yet. When. We. Look. At. The. Likes. Of. Saul. There.
[39:58] Are. Many. Things. About. Him. That. Would. Suspect. That. Despite. The. Attention. That. God. Gives. To. Him. He.
[40:08] Has. Not. Really. Known. The. Lord. As. His. God. Now. As I said. That's. Not. Everybody's. Understanding. Of. Saul.
[40:21] We. Believe. That. He. May. Appear. In. Some. Way. To. To. Be. Someone. Who. Is. Backslidden. And.
[40:33] Who. Will. In. Some. Way. Experience. Restoration. At. God's. Hand. But. There's. No. I. Can't. Say. See. Any.
[40:43] Evidence. For. That. We. Know. That. Looking. At. Saul. There. Are. Many. Things. That.
[40:54] That. Concern. As. To. His. Behaviours. Behaviours. That. If. They. Were. Not. There. Would.
[41:05] Probably. Make. Us. Ignorant. Of. The. Kind. Of. Person. That. He. Was. But. Because. They. Are. There. Because. They. Are. Recorded. For. Us. It.
[41:16] Puts. Him. In. A. Spotlight. That. Suggest. To. Us. That. Not. Everything. Was. As. It. Should. Have. Been. But. Israel.
[41:28] Wanted. A. King. And. God. Gave. Them. Saul. As. Their. King. That's. Where. The. Mystery. I. Suppose. Lies. Not. That. We. Have. Somebody.
[41:40] Who. Who. Goes. Away. From. God. That's. Not. A. Mystery. It's. In. Our. Nature. To. Go. Away.
[41:50] From. God. God. It's. In. Our. Heart. To. Go. Away. From. God. The. Mystery. Is. That. God. Would. Keep. Anyone. In.
[42:00] A. Relationship. With. Himself. And. Sustain. That. Relationship. That's. Probably. Said. It. Many.
[42:11] Times. Before. But. I've. Heard. Christians. Mature. Christians. Say. That. Their. Wonder. Is. At. The. End. Of. Their. Christian.
[42:21] Life. Not. So. Much. That. They. Ever. Came. To. Know. The. Lord. But. That. The. Lord. Sustained. Them. The. Length. And.
[42:32] Breadth. Of. Their. Life. In. A. Relationship. With. Himself. That. He. That. He. Preserved. Their. Faith.
[42:43] That. He. Kept. Them. All. Their. Days. And. That's. The. Wonder. For. Them. Although. I'm. Not. Saying. That. They. They. They. They. Are. Not. Thankful.
[42:54] For. The. For. The. Way. That. They. Came. To. Know. The. Lord. Jesus. Christ. As. I. Say. But. If. Anything. Fills. Their. Heart. With. Oh. It.
[43:04] Is. The. Fact. That. In. Spite. Of. Themselves. That. God. Is.
[43:17] And. That. Is. A. Miracle. Of. God's. Grace. Israel. Wanted. To. Be. Like. Everybody. Else.
[43:27] All. The. Nations. That. Surrounded. Them. And. How. Quickly. They. Forgot. What. The. Other. Nations. That. Surrounded. Them. Were. Like. That.
[43:38] Didn't. Matter. They. Wanted. What. Other. People. Had. That. Just. A. Simple. Thing. But. You. Apply.
[43:48] It. To. Yourself. If. You. Look. Admiringly. At. What. Others. Have. In. The. World. What. The. World. Has. In. The. World.
[43:59] And. If. You. Are. A. Believer. And. You. Want. What. They. Have. Without. Weighing. Up. The. Cost. Of. Having. What. They. Have. Then.
[44:10] You. Opening. A. Relative. Can. Of. Worms. Every. Christian. Should. Always. Be. Aware. Of. The. Fact. That.
[44:21] Simply. Because. The. Majority. Of. Those. Around. About. Them. Possess. Something. That. May. Be. Attractive. That. They. May. Admire. That.
[44:31] They. Should. Have. It. For. Themselves. And. It. Would. Cause. Them. Any. Problems. The. Reality. Of. Of. The. Matter. Is. That. More. Bother. Than. Not. If.
[44:42] It. It. It. Is. What. The. World. Has. It. It. Will. Cost. Far. More. Than. You. Want. To. Pay. For. It. Israel.
[44:55] Wanted. A. King. They. Thought. It. Right. To. Have. A. King. That. Was. Back. In. Their. Lives. In. The. Book. Of. Judges. They.
[45:06] Wanted. Gideon. To. Be. Their. Gideon. Was. A. Judge. He. Was. Ruled. Over. Them. But. They. Wanted. More. Than. That. And. He. Says. I. Will. Not. Rule. Over. You.
[45:17] Neither. Shall. My. Son. Rule. Over. You. The. Lord. Shall. Rule. Over. You. The. Wisdom. Of. God. Servant. Fair. Goes.
[45:28] Without. Say. But. Then. Again. We. Find. The. Same. Request. Come. To. Samuel. In.
[45:39] Chapter. Eight. Samuel. Himself. Is. Offered. That. The.
[45:52] Thing. Displeased. Samuel. When they. Said. Give us. A. King. To. Judges. And. Samuel. Prayed. Unto. The. Lord. And. The. Lord. Said. To. Samuel. Hearken. Unto. The. Voice.
[46:02] Of. The. People. In. All. That. They. Say. Unto. The. For. They. Have. Not. Rejected. The. They. Have. Rejected. Me. That. I. Should. Reign. Not. Reign. Over. Them. According.
[46:13] To. All. The. Works. Which. They. Have. Done. Since. The. Day. That. I. Brought. Them. Out. Of. Of. Egypt. Even. Unto. This. Day. Wherewith. They. Have. Forsaken. Me. And. Served. Other. God. So. Do. They. Also.
[46:24] Unto. The. Now. Therefore. Hearken. Into. Their. Voice. How. Be it. Yet. Protest. Solemnly. Unto. Them. And. Show. Them. The. Manor. Of. The. King. That.
[46:34] Shall. Reign. Over. Them. Samuel. Had. No. Designs. To. Be. A. King. Perhaps. The. People. Had. No. Desire. To. Have. Samuel. Reign.
[46:45] Over. Them. But. They. Wanted. A. King. Nevertheless. And. Yet. There. Again. We. Have. A. Mystery. God. Acquiesces.
[46:57] God. Gives. Them. What. They. Want. There. You. Are. Another. Thing. For. You. To. Think. Think.
[47:07] Of. If. God. Gives. You. What. You. Want. Does. That. Make. What. You. Want. What. If. There. Is. Some. Burning.
[47:18] Desire. That. You. Have. And. You. Have. Persuaded. Yourself. That. If. You. Are. Given. This. Then. You. Will. Benefit. From. It. And. Of. Course. The.
[47:28] Lord's. Cause. Will. Benefit. From. It. You. Watch. You. Read. Down. This. Passage. Very. Carefully. How.
[47:39] Often. That. Kind. Of. Thinking. Comes. Through. In. The. Way. That. Saul. Presents. His. Argument. Before. The. Lord. He.
[47:50] Has. Persuaded. Himself. That. What. He. Has. Done. It. Is. For. The. Good. Of. The. Lord. It. Is. For. The. Good. Of. The. Cause. Of. God. And.
[48:00] In. His. Selfish. Desire. Nothing. Could. Be. Further. From. The. Truth. We. Might. Want. Something. From. God. And. We. Will. Persuade. Ourselves. That.
[48:10] When. We. Get. It. God. Will. Be. The. Beneficiary. His. Cause. Will. Will. Be. Enriched. Because. Of. It. And.
[48:22] Then. God. Will. Give. Us. Our. Desire. God. Will. Supply. Us. With. What. We. Sought. And.
[48:33] We. Will. Then. Support. That. God. Means. For. Good. That. God. Means. Us. To.
[48:44] Benefit. From. It. Well. That. Was. Not. The. Case. Here. That. Was. Not. The. Case. Here.
[48:54] God. Knew. Perfectly. Well. That. What. Was. Sought. By. The. People. That. It. Was. Not. Going. To. End.
[49:05] Up. Well. But. He. Gives. Him. What. They. Wanted. And. You. Would. Imagine. When. You. Read. Back. Into. These. Chapters. And. You.
[49:15] Discover. The. Kind. Of. Person. That. God. Permitted. To. Be. Selected. To. Reign. Over. Them. That. You.
[49:25] Couldn't. Ask. For. A. Better. Candidate. There. Was. A. Man. Of. Benjamin. Whose. Name. Was. Kish. A.
[49:37] A. Benjamin. A. Mighty. Man. Of. Power. The. Pedigree. Was. There. And. He. Had. A. Son. Whose. Name. Was. Saul. A. Choice. Young. Man.
[49:47] A. Goodly. There. Was. Not. Among. The. Children. Of. Israel. A. Goodlier. Person. Than. He. From. His. Shoulders. And. Upward. Upward. He. Was. Higher. Than.
[49:58] Any. Of. The. People. That's. The. Expression. I. Remember. From. Childhood. From. School. Days. We. Had. A. Teacher. I. Mentioned.
[50:08] Her. Often. But. She. She. Told. Us. These. Bible. Stories. And. This. Was. One. Of. Them. And. Saul. The. Son. Of. Kish. She. Said. Was. Head. And. Shoulders.
[50:19] Above. Every. Man. That. Was. In. Israel. At. The. Tie. I. Always. Remember. The. The. Phrase. Head. And. Shoulders. Above. Every. Man. I.
[50:30] Was. Wondering. What. Was. That. Like. Was. He. Seven. Foot. Tall. Because. When. You. You. You. Hear. These. Descriptions. And. You. Wondering. What. Was. Met. By. Them. But.
[50:42] We. Have. A. Picture. A. Description. Of. This. Person. We. Also. Told. Something. That. Is. Rather. Confusing. We.
[50:53] Are. Told. That. He. Was. Given. Another. Heart. And. That. The. Spirit. Of. The. Lord. Was. Upon. Him. Now.
[51:04] There. You. Have. A. Predicament. Somebody. And. He. Is. Given. Another. Heart. And. The. Spirit. Of. The. Lord. Was. Upon.
[51:14] Go. Back. To. Chapter. 10. And. There. The. Description. Is. Given. To. Us. What. Are. We. To. Make. Of. It. Surely. These.
[51:24] Words. Mean. To. Us. That. This. Man. Chosen. By. God. Was. Elect. Was. The. Choice. Son. Of.
[51:35] God. Was. Someone. Who. Had. The. Spirit. Of. God. Someone. Who. Would. Normally. Be. Identified. As. A. Convert. To.
[51:45] The. Lord. And. That's. Where. Some. Believe. That. That.
[51:57] Well. I'm. Sure. You've. Heard. The. Description. Before. Of. The. Understanding. That. There. Are. Different. Categories. Of. Christians. Some. Some. Who. Are. Christians.
[52:09] Indeed. Some. Who. Are. Less. So. That. They. Are. They. They. Are. Described. As. Carnal. Christians. I. Don't. Think. There's. A. Place. For. That. In. The. Scripture. Based. On.
[52:19] The. Word. Of. God. In. Fact. Some. Of. You. Will. Know. The. W. W. Pink. And.
[52:29] He. Is. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Strong. On. This. Point. As. Far. As. Saul. Is. Concern. He. Says. The. Holy. Spirit.
[52:40] Had. Never. Been. Given. To. Saul. As. The. Spirit. Of. Regeneration. And. Sanctification. But. He. Had. Been. Given. To. Him. As. A.
[52:50] Spirit. Of. Prophecy. And. Wisdom. For. Temporal. Rule. In. Like. Manner. When. We. Read. That. God. Gave. Him. Another. Heart. This.
[53:00] Must. Not. Be. Confirmed. With. A. Newhart. I. Don't. Know. If. You. Agree. With. A. W. Pink. In. His. In. His.
[53:10] Estimate. But. Certainly. What. The. Reason. For. His. Conclusion. Must.
[53:22] Be. On. The. Basis. Of. The. Behavior. Of. Saul. And. The. Outcome. Of.
[53:32] His. Life. It's. Not. Perhaps. Easy. To. See. Outwardly. Until.
[53:42] You. See. A. Person. Behave. What. That. Behavior. Suggests. To. And. The. More. The. Closer. You. Look.
[53:52] At. This. Passage. The. More. Suspicious. That. You. Become. About. The. Reality. Of. The. Relationship. That. Existed. Between. This.
[54:03] Man. Who. Was. King. Over. Israel. And. The. God. Of. Israel. And.
[54:13] That's. What. You. Discover. In. This. Chapter. First. Of. All. When. You. Look. At. The. Chapter. You. Have. To. Understand. Who. The. Person. That. Is. The. Focal. Point.
[54:23] Of. The. Chapter. Is. Is. And. Then. You. Have. To. Try. And. Make. Sense. Of. Why. He. Behaves. The. Way. He. Did. He. Was. King. He. Was.
[54:34] The. Choice. Of. God. Or. The. Choice. Of. The. People. Under. God's. Superintendence. He. Was. The. Choice. Of. Samuel. Samuel.
[54:44] Was. Distraught. When. Saul. Went. The. Way. That. He. Did. He. Loved. Him. Dearly. And. He. He. He. Invested. A. Lot. Of. Himself. Into. The. Reign.
[54:54] Of. Saul. And. It's. Not. A. Surprise. It. Would. Be. Wrong. If. Samuel. Was. Unmoved. By. What. Saul. Did. But. He. Was. Murdered. By. It. But.
[55:08] What. Do. We. See. In. The. Way. That. Saul. Behaves. In. This. Chapter. Well. We. See. Somebody. Who. Is.
[55:19] Tested. At. A. Most. Important. Point. At. All. Out. Relationships. With. God. He. Tests. It. If. We. A.
[55:29] Christian. Whoever. We. Are. Our. Christianity. Will. Be. Tested. And. Usually. Our. Test. Will. Be. On.
[55:39] This. Point. Whether. We. Are. Obedient. To. The. Will. Of. God. Or. Not. What. God. Reveals. To.
[55:49] Us. As. Will. His. Will. For. Us. If. We. Are. Obedient. To. It. Or. Not. And. Very. Often. We.
[55:59] Find. Ourselves. In. A. Situation. Where. That. Is. The. Very. Thing. That. Is. Being. Tested. What. We. Know. That. We. Should. Do. Whether.
[56:10] We. Do. It. As. We. Ought. Or. Not. Very. Often. We. Hold. Our. Hands. Up. And. Say. No. I. Didn't. I. Failed. Miserably. At. This. Point.
[56:24] Saul. Was. Given. Clear. Instructions. And. You know. A. Person. Reached. This. Chapter. Is. Well. I. Have. Issues. With. God. I.
[56:35] Think. This. Chapter. Is. Bruchter. I. Think. This. Chapter. Describes. A. God. That. I. Want. Nothing. To. Do. With. Because. What.
[56:46] He. Intends. Saul. To. Do. Is. To. Destroy. Aris. He. Wants. Them. To. Be. Removed.
[56:57] From. The. Scene. Of. Time. Completely. And. The. Conclusion. Of. The. Chapter. Probably. Deepens. That. Conviction. But.
[57:10] God. Is. A. God. Of. Grace. And. A. God. Of. Mercy. And. A. God. Who. Surveys. The. Scene. Of. Time. And.
[57:20] What. He. Sees. He. Understands. Why. Should. Things. Be. The. Way. They. Are. We. Are. Alerted. Here. To.
[57:30] The. Fact. That. When. Israel. Left. Egypt. And. You. Remember. What. They. Were. Like. When. They. Left. Egypt. And. What. They. Were. Like. After. A. After.
[57:41] A. Journey. In. The. Wilderness. They. Were. Not. Equipped. To. War. They. Were. Not. Equipped. To. Deal. With. The.
[57:51] Marauding. Hordes. That. Surrounded. Them. And. Yet. That. That. Is. The. Very. Thing. That. They. Met. With. They. Met.
[58:02] With. A. People. Intent. On. Their. Destruction. Amalek. Or. The. Amalekites. They. Went. Out. Of. Their. Way. To. Destroy.
[58:12] Israel. Young. And. Old. And. They. Were. Intent. On. Doing. That. But. God. Doesn't. Overlook. That. God.
[58:24] Doesn't. Pretend. It. Didn't. Happen. And. The. Instruction. Given. To. Saul. Is. To. Deal. With. This.
[58:34] People. Not. After. A. Vengeful. Vengeful. Spirit. But. Because. If. The. Amalekites.
[58:45] Are. Allowed. To. Go. On. Then. There. Will. Be. A. Thorn. In. Their. Side. For. Forever. Not. Just. A. Thorn. You. Know. The. Amalekites.
[58:56] Intend. To. Destroy. Israel. That's. The. Bottom. Line. God. Gives. This. Command. To. Saul. And. He. Is. To. Obey. Now.
[59:07] We. May. Have. Difficulty. With. That. We. May. Be. So. Sensitive. To. What. God. Is. Doing. At. Any. Moment. And. Say. It's. Not.
[59:17] Right. A. Good. God. Wouldn't. Behave. Like. That. A. Holy. God. Wouldn't. Demonstrate. His. Justice. His. Lengefulness. In.
[59:28] That. Way. Wot. He. Not. On. What. Do. You. Base. Your. Conclusions. What. Kind. Of. God. Would. You. Have. Be. A.
[59:40] God. Who. Sits. On. The. Boundary. On. The. Periphery. With. No. Interest. In. What. Man. Is. Doing. What. Men. Are. Doing. To. Each. Other. Maybe.
[59:53] That's. The. Kind. Of. God. That. You. Want. Somebody. Who. Is. Neutered. Somebody. Who. Is. Powerless. Somebody. Who. Is. Impotent. Somebody.
[60:04] Who. Is. Carefree. About. What. Goes. On. In. The. World. But. That's. Not. The. God. Of. The. Scripture. And. The. God. Of. The. Scripture.
[60:14] Tells. Saul. What. He. Is. To. Do. And. He. Tells. Him. Why. He. Is. To. Do. It. Go. And. Smite. Amalek. Utterly.
[60:24] Destroy. All. They. Have. Spare. Them. Not. And. Every. Occasion. You. Find. In. The. Scripture. Where. Happens.
[60:38] Is. That. Those. Who. Are. Spared. Come. Back. To. Do. The. Very. Thing. That. They. Are. Being. Dealt. With. For. The.
[60:49] Vengeful. Spirit. That. Is. In. The. Heart. Of. The. Parents. Pass. Down. To. Their. Children. And. They. Will. Rise. Up. And. Be. Thorn.
[61:00] In. Their. Side. And. God. Understands. That. Hence. The. Command. Agree. With. It. If. You. Will. Disagree. With. It. If. You. Will. That. Is. The. Way. It.
[61:10] Is. Here. Now. You. Might. Have. Sympathy. With. Saul. If. He. Is. Of. The. Same. Mind. As. You. And.
[61:21] You. Saying. To. Yourself. Well. That's. Not. My. God. That's. Not. The. Way. I. Expect. My. God. To. Behave. And. Saul. If. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You.
[61:31] You. I. Have. Every. Sympathy. With. You. But. That's. Not. We. Have. Saul. Is. All. Out. For. Himself. And.
[61:42] He. Doesn't. Spare. The. Men. And. The. Women. And. The. Children. But. He. Spares. The. Beasts. He. Spares. The. Cattle. And.
[61:52] The. Sheep. Because. That's. What. Is. Interesting. Is. Him. And. He. Doesn't. Do. What. God. Commands. And.
[62:03] He. Doesn't. Survive. The. Test. That. Is. Placed. Upon. And. Samuel. The.
[62:14] Prophet. Of. God. Is. Is. Informed. As. To. That. And. He. Is. Grieved. By. It. One.
[62:27] Of. The. Commentators. Says. About. Saul. That. There. Was. A. Lurking. In. Prudence.
[62:39] But. Also. A. Lurking. Disobedience. He. Wasn't. Smart. But. That. Wasn't.
[62:49] Enough. Integrally. He. Was. Disobedient. Now. You. Can't. Have. A. Relationship. With. God.
[63:00] That. In. In. Deciding. For. Yourself. What. Do. I. Do. If. God. Tells. You. What. To. Do. There.
[63:11] Is. No. If. Or. But. There. Is. No. Either. Or. It. Either. Do. What. God. Says. Or. Don't. Do. What. God. Says. Suffer.
[63:22] The. Consequences. If. That's. What. It. Is. How. Was. His. Disobedience. Exposed. Well. We. See. How.
[63:32] Saul. Offered. A. Sacrifice. To. God. When. You. Take. One. Step. Of. Disobedience. What. Happens. It's.
[63:43] Usually. Followed. By. Another. His. Disobedience. In the first instance. Was. Not. To. Do. What. God. Said. But. Then. His. Disobedience.
[63:53] Was. Followed. By. Another. What. Was. That. He. Sacrificed. Animals. He. He. Had. Had. No. Right. To. That. He. Was. King. But. He. Was. Not. A. Priest. It.
[64:04] Was. The. Priest. It. Was. The. Role. Of. The. Priesthood. To. Offer. Sacrifice. It's. Not. The. Role. Of. The. King. And. Yet. He. Did. It. And. He. Went. Away. And. Celebrated.
[64:15] His. Victory. Over. The. Amalekites. He. Raised. A. Statue. To. Himself. That's. What. These. Words. Mean. That. He. Went. Away. And. He.
[64:27] He. Marked. The. Victory. Not. The. Victory. God. Gave. To. Him. But. The. Victory. That. He. Got. For. Himself. And.
[64:39] Samuel. Knew. Exactly. The. Spirit. Samuel. Explains. To. Us. What. That. Was.
[64:52] Chapter. Thirteen. Find. There. Describing. To. Us. How. He. Interprets. The.
[65:03] Behavior. Of. God's. Servant. That's. What. He. Was. Supposed. To. Be. Verse. Thirteen. Samuel. Said. To.
[65:13] Saul. You. Have. Done. Foolishly. You. Have. Not. Kept. The. Commandment. Of. The. Lord. Thy. God. Which. He. Commanded. The. For. Now. The. Lord. Have. Established.
[65:23] Your. Kingdom. Upon. Israel. Forever. But. Now. Your. Kingdom. Shall. Not. Continue. The. Lord. Has. Sought. Him. A. Man. After. His. Own. Heart.
[65:34] And. The. Lord. Have. Commanded. Him. To. Be. Captain. Over. His. People. Because. There. Has. Not. Kept. That. Which. The. Lord. Commanded. The. He.
[65:45] Understood. What. Samuel. Had. Done. What. Saul. Had. Done. And. Why. He. Had. Done. It. We.
[65:56] Understand. Again. And. Again. From. The. Word. Of. God. What. God. Considers. Those. Who. Are. Gauge. In. False. Worship. We. Give. It. The. Name. Of.
[66:06] Worship. But. It. Is. Not. It. Is. Something. That. We. Engage. In. To. Satisfy. Our. Own. Fleshly. Lusts. We. Find. Nadab. And.
[66:16] Abi. Who. And. Korah. And. Dothan. And. People. Who. Had. The. Fire. Of. Heaven. Brought. Down. Upon. Their. Hearts. Because. They. Followed. Their. Own. Instincts.
[66:27] Rather. Than. The. Worship. That. God. Required. From. Them. Saul. Shows. God. Disrespect. In.
[66:37] This. Way. And. Throughout. We. See. This. Downward. Spiral. One. One.
[66:48] Step. Of. Disobedience. Followed. By. Another. Try. And. Remember. That. Try. And. Understand. It. It. Is. Something. That. We. Expose.
[66:59] Ourselves. To. If. We. Take. One. Step. Away. From. God. It. Is. Surely. To. Be. Followed. By. Another. And.
[67:12] We. Give. God. The. Offense. And. So. To. I. Am. Not. Sure. When. We. Read. This. Whether. When.
[67:22] We. Are. Confident. With. Somebody. Is. Blindly. Ignorant. About. What. He. Has. Done. You know. In. Some. Ways. You. Think. That's. What. It. Is. You.
[67:33] Think. That. Saul. Has. Hasn't. Realized. What. He. Done. But. Then. On. The. Other. Hand. He. I. I. Think. He. Knows. All. Too. Well. What. He. Has. Done. But.
[67:46] We. Have. A. Habit. Of. Persuading. Ourselves. That. What. We. Done. Is. What. God. Would. Have. Us. Do. Even. When. The. Error. Of. His. Ways. Is. Pointed.
[67:57] Down. To. Him. The. Excuses. Come. Thick. And. Fast. Who. Was. King. Saul. Was. King. Who. Who.
[68:07] Took. The. Animals. Against. God's. Explicit. Command. The. People. Did. Who. Said. The. People. Did. Saul. Said. When. He. Was. Confronted.
[68:17] With. The. Error. Of. His. Ways. He. Blamed. Others. It's. Always. An. Excuse. Always. A. Reason. For. The. Wrong. That. Is. Done. And.
[68:28] That. Is. What. Is. True. There. Is. A. Deliberate. Violation. Of. The. Sacrifice. That. Is. A. Denial. Of. God's. Authority. And.
[68:41] When. You. Follow. It. On. Time. Is. Gone. Really. But. When. You. Look. At. What. Saul. Is. Saying. There. You. Know. He.
[68:52] He. He. A. Pathetic. Figure. Because. You. Know. He. Wants. Samuel. To. Maintain. This. Relationship. With. Himself. You.
[69:04] Know. In. Verse. 30. He. Said. I. Have. Sinned. I. Have. Sinned. But. How. Conscious. Is. He. Of. That. Sin.
[69:15] Because. He. Says. To. Samuel. Yet. Honored. Me. Now. I. Pray. The. Before. The. Elders. Of. My. People. And. Before. Israel. And. Turn. Again. With. Me.
[69:25] That. I. May. Worship. The. Lord. Thy. God. What. Is. He. Saying. Don't. Embarrass. Me. Before. The. People. Don't.
[69:36] Show. God's. Displeasure. By. Turning. Your. Back. On. Me. Come. With. Me. Make. Out. That. You. Favor. What. I. Have. Done. That. Is. At.
[69:46] The. Heart. Of. It. Is. There. Any. Thought. Of. God. In. That.
[69:58] Any. Thought. Of. What. God. Think. What. The. People. Think. What. Do. My. Neighbors. Think. What. Do. My. My. My. Subjects.
[70:08] Think. Don't. Let. Them. Think. That. I. A. Failure. Don't. Let. Them. See. How. I. Have. Gone. Wrong. That. What. Concerns. Them. I.
[70:20] Don't. Think. There. There. A. Misprint. Here. Turn. Again. With. Me. That. I. May. Worship. The. Lord. Thy. God.
[70:31] Thy. God. Not. My. God. Or. Our. God. But. Thy. God. Why. Has. He. Why. Has. He. Said. That. Why.
[70:42] Has. He. Gone. So. Far. Away. That. He. Can't. At. This. Moment. Acknowledge. The. God. Who. Is. His. God. As. His. God. Unless.
[70:53] It. Is. In. His. Head. In. His. Mind. In. His. Heart. That. He. Has. Gone. Away. From. And. He. Understand. That. The.
[71:06] Old. Divine. Matthew. Henry. Says. That. Saul. Lost. The. Kingdom. For.
[71:17] Want. Of. Two. To. Three. Our. Patience. You. Might. Understand. Where. He's. Coming. From. That.
[71:28] If. Saul. Had. Done. What. God. Had. Said. And. Waited. Upon. The. God. Of. Heaven. To. Do. What. God. Does. Then. He. Would. Have. Had. His. Will.
[71:39] He. Would. Have. Had. His. Way. He. Would. Have. Had. The. Kingdom. Given. To. By. God. But. He. Didn't. But. There. Is. Clearly. A.
[71:50] Downward. Spiral. Concluding. In. The. Loss. Of. His. Name. The. Loss. Of. His.
[72:00] Relationship. With. God. It. Repenteth. Me. That. I. Have. Set. Up. Saul. To. Be. King. For.
[72:11] He. Has. Turned. Back. From. Following. Me. And. Has. Not. Performed. My. Commandments. Is.
[72:22] That. Not. Sad. That. God. Would. Say. That. About. Anyone. That. Would. Be. His. Servant. I.
[72:32] Feel. Sorry. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I.
[72:43] I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I.
[72:59] I. I. I.
[73:10] I. that Saul regrets and that what was done by Saul is something that the nation of Israel will regret it's not because it was done ignorantly without God knowing what would be the outcome that could not be but it is not something it is not an outcome that he would want, it's not an outcome that he would own and honor as his own as it were but it is a lesson that he is able to direct us to where the disobedience of one can lead into so many so many sorrowful circumstances and situations Puragak do you feel sorry for him Samuel executes him sober hardly
[74:15] I'm sure you feel sorry for him but the very one had no sympathy to the nation of Israel and many like him even today have no sympathy for the nation that God has chosen as his own the same spirit lives in this world God God is a God of grace and a God of mercy and the person who repents and turns to him they will be received by him had Agag repented genuinely had he turned from his evil ways it would have that God would have received him but like every other enemy of God it is on their terms not on God's but Saul had to learn and his faith is sealed as you go on to discover how he ended his days not as a celebrated king of Israel but one who went into the darkness of of of oblivion knowing
[75:33] God's disflavor but may God encourage us to think long and hard about these things the word of God never lies it doesn't hide anything from us it requires us to understand that there are there are ways in which we go that will always lead to grief and the longer we're in them the greater the grief the more accepted they are and the more perilous the outcome and may God encourage us to his water and then he says thanks to me Lord our God we give thanks that there are lighthouses in your world as there are beacons in your world warning us from the rocky outcrops that that mark the shoreline of our of our experience here in this world and if we are not weary of these threats then we will surely make shipwreck of our faith keep us safe we pray until we arrive in the safe haven of your own provision cleanse from sin in Jesus name
[76:49] Amen our closing psalm is psalm 27 and the last four verses of the psalm psalm 27 verse 11 O Lord instruct me in thy way to me a leader be in a plain path because of those that hatred bear to me give me not to mine enemies will for witnesses that lie against me risen are and such as breathe out cruelty we will sing to the end of the psalm O Lord instruct me in thy way O Lord instruct me in thy way to me a leader be in the plain path because of those that hatred bear for me give me not to my enemies will forgiveness them be because therefters me and catch the people and them could blind them be här ou perhaps other things that hum
[78:47] Blessed I, blessed I, really is my mercy.
[79:00] The Lord's own goodness in the land of the love living be.
[79:18] Wake on the Lord and be the strong and he shall set the fort until thy heart get away.
[79:47] I say upon the Lord. May we grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit rest and abide with you in all love and allness.
[80:03] Amen.