[0:00] Let us sing to God's praise verses from Psalm 20. Psalm 20 from the beginning.
[0:11] Jehovah hear thee in the day when trouble he doth send. And let the name of Jacob's God thee from all ill defend. O let him help send from above out of his sanctuary.
[0:26] From Zion his own holy hill. Let him give strength to thee. Let him remember all thy gifts except thy sacrifice.
[0:38] Grant thee thine heart's wish and fulfil thy thoughts and counsel wise. In thy salvation we will join. In our God's name we will display out banners.
[0:50] And the Lord thy prayers all fulfil. Now know I God his King doth save you from his holy heaven. We will hear him with the saving strength.
[1:02] By his own right hand giver. In chariots some put confidence. Some horses thrust upon. But we remember will the name of our God.
[1:15] Of our Lord God alone. Verses 1 to 7 of Psalm 20. Jehovah hear thee in the day when trouble he doth send.
[1:26] Jehovah hear thee in the day when trouble he doth send.
[1:43] And let the name of Jacob's God thee from all ill defend.
[1:58] Oh let him help send. Oh let him help send. From above out of his sanctuary.
[2:14] From Zion on his own holy hill.
[2:25] Let him give strength to thee. Let him remember all thy gifts.
[2:43] Accept thy sacrifice. Grant thee thine heart's wish.
[2:57] And fulfill thy thoughts and counsel wise.
[3:08] In thy salvation we will joy.
[3:19] In our God's name we will. Tis lay out manor.
[3:31] Shant the Lord. Thy prayers all fulfill.
[3:42] Now know why God is king. Does save me from his holy hand.
[4:01] Will hear him with the saving strength. By his holy hand.
[4:12] By his holy hand. By his holy hand. By his holy hand. By his holy hand. By his holy hand. By his holy hand. In child your son could.
[4:25] Confident son. Horses trust upon.
[4:36] But we remember well. The name of our Lord God alone.
[4:53] And we return to the first book of Samuel chapter 10.
[5:05] And we're going to consider the verses that we read this evening. Verse 17 to the end of the chapter.
[5:16] As you know from our previous consideration of this person whose life has brought to our attention.
[5:34] Samuel was one of the last judges. If not the last judge in Israel. And he's also described in the book of Acts as the first of the prophets.
[5:52] Whether we can rightly call him that. I think scripture calls him that. So we must understand that that designation has a significance that marks him out in this way.
[6:11] We know that the patriarchs were from time to time bestowed with a spirit of prophecy. But Samuel is recognized as one who was sent out in that respect.
[6:29] At the very outset of the prophetic ministry that the world came to know. One of the commentators describes him as this prophet.
[6:45] But he also adds to that in his position as God's spokesperson. A spokesman to the people and to the theocratic king.
[7:01] Samuel defined the role of the prophets as guardians of the theocracy. And I suppose that is what he is shown to be.
[7:15] A guardian of the theocracy. Because at the point we're at in the life of Samuel. Samuel is appointed to bring the person of Saul into the role of king.
[7:36] And this is to be a very significant event in the history of Israel. the first king.
[7:47] The king that was going to be a figurehead in God's name. But also symbolically reminding the people of the fact that even though they were given a king.
[8:11] According to the desires of their heart. This king spoke of a greater king. And that king was Jehovah. Well we're going to get this account as we have it here.
[8:28] And just try and explain some of the things that we are presented with. We can offer explanations or we can offer speculations I suppose.
[8:44] Because there are things that appear here which have different opinion as to what is exactly contained within what is brought to our attention.
[9:02] But we take up the reading in verse 17. And Samuel called the people to Mizpah. We're not told why he did that.
[9:15] But that he did it. And the name Mizpah takes us right back to a time in the experience of Israel.
[9:27] Where Samuel himself following victory over the Philistines. He anointed a stone in their presence.
[9:39] And called that stone Ebenezer. A stone of remembrance. The Philistines. And it drew their attention to the fact that God was the one through whom they gave, through whom they gained victory.
[10:00] And they were reminded not just of that victory, but any and all victories that they had secured. And the words that featured there until...
[10:14] Ghusarigishoth, you can hear. Up until this time, the Lord has helped us. And that is probably at the heart of what the servant of God is doing.
[10:33] When he takes them to this location. It is with this purpose. To bring to their attention. God has supplied you with your heart's desire.
[10:48] God has done that. But it is God that has done that. And he is doing it against the back cloth of his own supply.
[10:59] And his own support over their lifetime and going back into history. And... I think throughout these verses, there are subtle nuances that we may overlook because they are subtle.
[11:22] But they are nevertheless there. This place is a place that Samuel deliberately took them to. With this in their mind.
[11:33] With this in their mind. That they could think about this place because of its history. Because of their history. And because of God's intervention in their lives at that point.
[11:47] A significant event. And a significant disclosure of their relationship with God. And God frequently may use this to chastise us.
[12:05] In the sense that he reminds us of how we have departed from him. And overlooked or forgotten even his willingness to be our mainstay.
[12:23] Rather than us looking elsewhere. And that was what was true of Israel at this point. And then when Samuel speaks to them.
[12:35] And when you read this. You think... He gathered them to Mizpah. And said unto the children of Israel. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel.
[12:48] I brought up Israel out of Egypt. And delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians. And out of the hand of the kingdoms. And of them that oppressed you. And verse 19.
[13:02] Reminds them again of something that he has stated to them before. Repeatedly. You have rejected me. Now... The words themselves...
[13:17] Are either words that are a quotation from the Lord on a previous occasion.
[13:29] Or they are a reiteration of the same truth. Because if you go back into the history of Israel. At a very specific...
[13:41] At a very specific time. When the Lord gave to Israel the moral law. As a preamble to their being given the moral law.
[13:55] He spoke these words. I am the Lord thy God. Which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt. Out of the house of bondage.
[14:06] Now these words... Have been said. You'll find them again in Deuteronomy chapter 5. And verse 6. Same words.
[14:18] Almost word for word. So... So... It's not that God can't use the same words twice. Or thrice. Or as many times as he likes.
[14:31] But very often when you are face to face with repetition. Or even words spoken. That are uttered for the first time.
[14:42] Bringing a truth to your attention again. Then... It is a deliberate... Attempt on the part of God.
[14:54] To remind the people of who he is. And their relationship to him. What he has done before in their past. What they have...
[15:06] Now by their actions... Overlooked or forgotten. I am the Lord. Your God. Your God. Which have brought you out of the land of Egypt. Out of the house of bondage.
[15:19] That hasn't changed. That history is written. That experience is carved in stone. And... The Lord reminds his people of the fact that they are accountable to him.
[15:35] Answerable to him. And dependent upon you. So when you read these words here. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel. I brought... Up Israel out of Egypt. And delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians.
[15:48] Out of the hand of all the kingdoms. And of them that oppressed you. This is what I have done. And you have this day rejected your God.
[15:59] Who himself saved you out of all your adversities. And your tribulations. And you have said unto him. Nay. But set a king over us. Now the fact that God is willing to do that.
[16:14] The fact that God is giving them their heart's desire. Doesn't mean that their heart's desire is a right one. And we always have to caution ourselves against believing.
[16:31] If we find... Or that we're getting our own way in anything. That the conclusion that we're ready to come to is... It must be right.
[16:43] I must be doing the right thing. God otherwise would prevent me from getting my own way. But that's not what you find in the scripture.
[16:54] Sometimes God will do exactly what he is doing here. But he is doing it and reminding them of what they had.
[17:05] And what they did not deserve. And yet God supplied their need. And he was their king. He was their champion in times of need.
[17:17] And yet that wasn't enough for them. And I think this way of communicating the truth to this people...
[17:35] Some people would say about Samuel... Well you try and get into the mind of Samuel. It's so severe what he's saying.
[17:46] Yes you're getting your way. But you're getting it. And you're forgetting what you should never forget. And... Then maybe...
[18:02] More than an element of truth in that. So when... He speaks to them...
[18:13] As God's servant... As God's prophet... Samuel is telling them what God has said. And what God has said repeatedly to them.
[18:27] Yet he then moves on... To give them what they want. And... Those who see that as I said...
[18:39] An indication that what they want was right. That is not necessarily the case. And I think the emphasis that comes to the fore... Reminds us of that.
[18:51] But... It's interesting... For me anyway... How... Having looked at the passage... Leading up to this...
[19:03] We've seen how God... Directed Samuel... To seek out... Saul... To... Anoint him...
[19:15] And to... Declare him... Privately... Albeit privately... As king. Now he is doing this same thing again... But...
[19:26] He is doing it publicly. He is presenting Saul to them... As their king. But he is doing it... And...
[19:38] The way he is doing it... He is... Telling him... He is your king... You have sought him... But I am giving you this king... And... The way in which this happens...
[19:51] Is... Quite... Unique... In many respects... But it is repeated through the history of Israel... Saul... Has already been chosen...
[20:03] By God... He has already been anointed... By Samuel... Right now... It is as if he is retracing his steps... And the choice... Of God...
[20:15] Is... Given publicity... And the fact that it is the choice of God... Is something that is brought... Forcibly to bear... Upon their thinking...
[20:27] Because... They will know that it is God's choice... That is there... Because... What they then enter into... Is...
[20:38] A process... Of... Of... Drawing lots... Now it is not described to us as that... Specifically... But that is exactly... What takes place...
[20:50] Samuel... Had caused all the tribes of Israel... To come near... And... Describes the process... The tribe of Benjamin was taken... When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin...
[21:02] To come near... By their families... The family of Matri was taken... Now... The description of it... Seems so matter of fact... And... So lacking...
[21:13] In detail... That you can't... But believe... This is something they understood... For themselves... They knew... Fine well... What was happening...
[21:25] It wasn't something that needed to be explained to them... The... The... The steps of the procedure... Did not have to be... Spelt out to them... They knew...
[21:37] That... This process... Was the process... That God had ordained... By which... His will would be made known to them... And... Throughout the history of Israel...
[21:49] This process... Is... Is shown... To reveal... The... The purposes of God... You know...
[22:00] Going back even further... Where the... The Urim... And the Thummim... Were at use... In use... To determine... To determine... The purposes of God...
[22:11] To determine... The direction... That the children of Israel... Should take on... Particular issues... So the people... Would know...
[22:23] In order to determine... The choice... Of a king... That is God's choice... This is the steps... That we will follow... And these are the steps that...
[22:35] Eventually... Took them... To... To the... Choosing... Of Saul... In the book of Proverbs... A summary...
[22:47] Of what is happening... Is... Brought... To our attention... The Lord... Is cast into the lap... But... The whole... Disposing... Thereof...
[22:58] Is of the Lord... The summation... Of... The procedure... If you like... The casting of lots... Men may be involved in that... But the actual...
[23:10] Outcome... Is God's determination... And that is the way it was... In the experience... Whenever it was called for... And the last time... You will find it...
[23:21] I think... Is in... In the book of Acts... In chapter 3... Where... Well... In the second chapter... Of Acts... Anyway... Where...
[23:32] The choice is made... Of Matthias... As a... As a... Replacement... To Judas Iscariot... It is by Lord... That... That...
[23:43] That choice is made... And... That... As far as... Divines are concerned... Is the last occasion... Where you have that...
[23:56] Mode... Of... Discovering... God's will... Because... When the spirit is poured out... Upon the church... Not only... Is the spirit...
[24:08] Is he present... In the world... In a measure... That he was not before... But... The people of God... Are...
[24:20] Are... In possession of the spirit... He is the one... Who... Is in the heart... Of the believer... Differentiating them... From...
[24:31] Those who are not his... And... The will of God... Is something... They are able to seek... With the direction... Of the spirit... And... The word that God... Has given to us...
[24:42] But here... The casting of lots... Beginning with the tribes... And their families... Eventually... Coming to the choice...
[24:55] Saul... The son of Kish... And... Then again... Come to something... And... It's... Again... Something...
[25:07] That you can... Follow others... And speculate about... The choice of Saul... Is made... Saul is called for... But there's no sign of him...
[25:20] There's no sign of him... And he's the very one... That should be present... When the Lord... Determines who the king is... Because he's already in possession...
[25:31] Of that information... He's already been told... You are the Lord's choice... He's been anointed... Samuel has told him... That this is going to be...
[25:42] His throne... And yet he's not to be found... He's hiding... And... Why he's hiding... Well... That's where the speculation...
[25:53] Comes in... I think... Matthew Henry... Offers to us... Four... Possibilities... The one that he suggests... Most of all is...
[26:05] That he was... That he felt himself... Unequal to the task... Of... Being king... And... Possibly...
[26:16] That... His humility... Kept him back from... Putting himself forward... Now... Whether you agree with that... Or not... Whether you... Would say...
[26:27] That is the case... Or not... It's not really... Explained to us... All we are told... Is that... When it came to the... To the point...
[26:39] There was no sign... Of Saul... And it was the Lord... Who again... Sought... Sought out... Who found him...
[26:50] The Lord answered... Behold... He hath hid himself... Among the stuff... They didn't find him... But God... Found him... For them...
[27:03] And why that... Why that... Is the way it is... Unless it is... Again... To emphasize this... This man... Is God's choice... This man...
[27:15] Is... The one... That you... Have sought... But... I have... Found him... For you...
[27:27] At least one of the commentators... Says... Something that... I find very interesting... He says... If you go back to the beginning of chapter... Nine... From the beginning of chapter...
[27:39] Nine... At least twelve times... You will find... A particular Hebrew word... Which says to you... That... They were...
[27:51] Seeking... Out... If you remember... When the asses... Went missing... This was... The word that described them... They could not be found...
[28:03] And again... And again... And again... This word appears... They could not be found... He could not be found... And again... At this point...
[28:15] Saul could not be found... Now maybe... There is... A danger of reading too much... Into that... But with the emphasis...
[28:27] That is in the passage... Upon the... Activity... Of the divine... King... In order to establish... Their heart's desire...
[28:40] He is giving them... What they want... Although he is giving... What they want... It doesn't necessarily... As I've said... Mean... That what they want...
[28:51] Is the right thing... But it is God... Who allows them... To get... This... That they... That...
[29:02] That they need... When we... Move on again... When the... Lot eventually... Fell upon Saul... As we saw...
[29:14] He could not be found... But... When he is found... What we are told is this... Samuel told the people... That...
[29:27] You seek him... Seek ye him... Whom the Lord hath chosen... And there is none like him... Among all the people... And all the people shouted...
[29:40] And said... God... Save the king... The emphasis... Is on God's... Doing... God's activity... See...
[29:52] Him... Whom the Lord... Has chosen... And he identifies him... As somebody... Whose head and shoulders... Above... All other people...
[30:04] And all said... God save the king... The king... And... Maybe... When we read this... We're... In danger of being...
[30:17] Confused... Because of... The material... That we already have... At our disposal... Concerning the future... Of Saul...
[30:28] And we'll think... Well... With the emphasis... Falling upon... God doing this... That... Surely... God must be... To blame... For the kind of king...
[30:39] That he has chosen... For them... But... That would be wrong... Because... God has simply... Given them... The one...
[30:50] That their heart... Longed for... And... He is... Reminding them... Of their...
[31:01] Accountability... To him... As king... And I think... That comes to the fore... Again... Because... When Samuel... Told... The people...
[31:12] The manner of the kingdom... And wrote it in a book... And laid it up... Before the Lord... What is happening then? Well... If we believe that...
[31:24] The words that were spoken... In verse 17... Verse 18... Which took them back... To the covenant... Revelation...
[31:36] Of God's... Law... Where God was speaking... To them... About his world... The centrality of it... It was a covenant...
[31:49] Relationship... That he was speaking of... His people... Were bound... To... To obey the law... As his people... You go back to...
[32:01] To these words... That echo... The original... Revelation... Of God's moral law... To the people...
[32:13] And... Then again... What does Samuel do? He... Reiterates... In a way... Their... Covenant... Obligation... To God...
[32:24] Samuel... Told the people... The manner of the kingdom... And wrote it in a book... And laid it up... Before the Lord... It is... Taken...
[32:35] Written down... And... It is placed... In the tabernacle... In the presence of the Lord... It is a... A covenant... Action...
[32:49] If you like... An action... That reminds them... Of their obligations... Their obligations... To the king... To obey the king... But also the king's...
[33:02] Obligation... To the Lord... As his... Vassal... As the one who is... Who is representative... Of him... In the world...
[33:14] This is who... The king is... He is not king... With the soul... Power... And authority... To do... What he wills...
[33:25] His role... Is to do... What God wills... All the way... Along... You are told that... Reminded of that... A legal document... Bestowed in the...
[33:38] In the tabernacle... Before the Lord... And once the formality... Is over with... They are dismissed... You would think... That it would be...
[33:49] A celebration... We are not told of any... Samuel told the people... What he did... And... He sent them away... Every man to his house...
[34:02] And then... We are told... That Saul... Took with him... Somebody... Or some people... Whose hearts... God had touched... Again...
[34:13] What the significance... Of that... Is... Other than... Even at this point... Where the first... King of Israel...
[34:25] Is... Described... As... Having those... Who are... In allegiance... With him... And then...
[34:37] At the same time... The children of Belial... Said... How shall this man... Save us... And they despised him... And brought him... No presence... But he held his peace...
[34:50] What does that... Remind you of? And I think... Matthew Henry... Does... An admirable job... Of... Putting it... In...
[35:02] In a short... A compass... As possible... He says... Thus... Differently... Are men... Affected... Exalted... Redeemer...
[35:13] God... Has... Set him... King... Upon the... Holy Hill... Of Sion... There is a remnant... That submit... To him...
[35:25] Rejoice... In him... And bring him... Presence... And follow him... Wherever he goes... And they are those... Whose heart... God has touched...
[35:37] Whom he has made willing... In a day of his power... But there are others... Who despise him... And ask... How shall this man... Save us...
[35:48] They are offended... By him... And is it not... A truly... Remarkable example... Of... The nature of scripture...
[35:59] You're not reading anything... Into the scripture... That isn't there... For you to read... This is the king... That God... Has set over...
[36:10] Israel... And yet... Typically... Represents to us... That there is... A king... Jesus... And that God...
[36:22] The same God... Has appointed him... To be king... There are those... Who will... Have their heart... In his hands... Who are...
[36:33] Captivated by him... Who... Will serve him... And follow him... And just as surely... There are those... Who were at the cross... And who are in the world today... What they say is...
[36:45] Away with him... Away with him... We will not have this man... To reign over us... Is it not really... Truly remarkable...
[36:56] How the scripture... At the very... The instigation... Of the king... Over Israel... That this is how... He is seen...
[37:07] And how... He is portrayed... So true... The scripture is... Even in these things... Well... We... Pray that God...
[37:18] Would encourage us... To reflect on these truths... And see how... How God... Works... Through his servant... And how... He brings to light...
[37:29] Certain truths... That... Are always the same... And... Remind us of... The fickleness of... Mankind... And... Remind us of...
[37:40] The wisdom... That is divine... And the sovereignty... That marks him out... As... God over all... Let us pray... O Lord of God...
[37:51] We give thanks... That your word is... The word of truth... And... While... There are always dangers... That we may see... In that word... But it's not to...
[38:04] To... To be seen in it... There are still... Truths... That should be seen... And recognized... And...
[38:15] That should be a warning to us... Or... May the word... Of the living God... Be our... Source and sustenance... For life...
[38:26] And... Help us to... Look to... That word... Always... Forgive sin... In Jesus name... Amen... Of closing Psalm...
[38:38] With Psalm 105... We're going to sing... Some verses... Psalm 106 rather... At verse 4... And verse 5... Psalm 106... In Galic...
[38:49] You can see... It's... Aria... The... Of... Of... Of... The... Of... Of...
[39:00] The... The... Of... Of... To... The... Of... The... Of... The... Of...
[39:11] In the Black optimize Gorat shouldn'töz 스 też gragflut vähän jaki nie każdy , Oh Oh
[40:47] Oh Oh Oh Oh As more and I've nashed, let I die the queen.
[41:29] As more and I've nashed, let I die the queen.
[41:49] You need an shine, you are His glory. You need an shine, you are His glory.
[42:10] Amen.