WEBVTT 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:09.820 So if you want to look in one of the pew Bibles, that is page 233. 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:25.460 So 1 Samuel chapter 11, we're going through this book in our evening service. 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:32.840 The first seven chapters have shown us how God raised up Samuel in a dark time in the history of Israel 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:37.600 to preach God's word and to shine light on the people's path. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:45.060 And this next section, chapter 8 through 15, focuses on King Saul, the first king. 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:48.780 And there's a bit of a rise and then a fall. 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:55.700 We're still in, we're actually at the high point tonight, sort of the high point of Saul's life. 00:00:57.439 --> 00:00:58.520 And we'll see that. 00:00:59.020 --> 00:01:02.579 But let's read the passage and then go further into it. 00:01:03.480 --> 00:01:06.939 1 Samuel 11, beginning at the whole chapter. 00:01:06.939 --> 00:01:13.859 Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:18.739 And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, make a treaty with us and we will serve you. 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:24.079 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, on this condition, I will make a treaty with you that 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:29.560 I gouge out all your right eyes and thus bring disgrace on all Israel. 00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:34.879 The elders of Jabesh said to him, give us seven days respite that we may send messengers through 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:36.259 all the territory of Israel. 00:01:36.399 --> 00:01:40.079 Then if there's no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you. 00:01:41.079 --> 00:01:44.679 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the 00:01:44.679 --> 00:01:46.959 people and all the people wept aloud. 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:51.319 Now behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. 00:01:52.060 --> 00:01:54.620 And Saul said, what is wrong with the people that they are weeping? 00:01:55.419 --> 00:01:57.859 So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:02.519 And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words and his anger was greatly 00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:03.039 kindled. 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:07.899 He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory 00:02:07.899 --> 00:02:12.699 of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:14.460 so shall it be done to his oxen. 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:18.979 Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people and they came out as one man. 00:02:19.579 --> 00:02:24.800 When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel numbered were 300,000 and the men of 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:25.800 Judah 30,000. 00:02:25.800 --> 00:02:30.939 And they said to the messengers who had come, thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, 00:02:31.600 --> 00:02:36.300 tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have salvation. 00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:39.960 When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. 00:02:40.820 --> 00:02:44.340 Therefore, the men of Jabesh said, tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you and you may 00:02:44.340 --> 00:02:45.980 do to us whatever seems good to you. 00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:50.640 And the next day Saul put the people in three companies and they came to the midst of the 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:54.339 camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. 00:02:54.839 --> 00:02:57.899 And those who survived were scattered so that no two of them were left together. 00:02:59.379 --> 00:03:03.779 Then the people said to Samuel, who is it that said, shall Saul reign over us? 00:03:04.439 --> 00:03:06.279 Bring the men that we may put them to death. 00:03:07.179 --> 00:03:09.779 But Saul said, not a man shall be put to death this day. 00:03:10.079 --> 00:03:14.359 For today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel. 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:18.779 Then Samuel said to the people, come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom. 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:24.560 So all the people went to Gilgal and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:30.300 There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord and there Saul and all the men of 00:03:30.300 --> 00:03:32.139 Israel rejoiced greatly. 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:36.420 So we'll look at this story in three parts. 00:03:37.139 --> 00:03:38.539 First, the people are attacked. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:40.379 Then they're saved. 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:42.039 And finally, they're rejoicing. 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:43.740 Those are the three parts. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:44.780 So first, attacked. 00:03:44.780 --> 00:03:49.400 I wonder, have you ever felt like you are spiritually under attack? 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:57.199 Now, I don't necessarily mean having a sort of freaky experience with ghosts or demons 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:01.639 or dark forces, though perhaps that's been your experience at a time. 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:06.080 But I wonder, have you ever faced what seems like a constant onslaught of temptation? 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:12.560 Maybe it's the cravings of an addiction that wants to take over your life. 00:04:13.580 --> 00:04:17.400 Maybe it's a feeling of depression and despair that threatens to paralyze you. 00:04:18.379 --> 00:04:24.680 Maybe it's a constant pull toward a particular sin that you're vulnerable to, like explosive 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:32.180 anger or unforgiving bitterness or raging lust or frantic anxiety. 00:04:32.180 --> 00:04:39.340 Maybe you've been part of a community that's been under attack, where it seems like you're 00:04:39.340 --> 00:04:45.360 constantly being pressured to conform to other people's standards or beaten down and discouraged 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:49.120 and caught by surprise, and it just doesn't seem to let up. 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:55.560 Well, that's the situation the Israelites found themselves in at the beginning of this passage. 00:04:56.500 --> 00:05:00.120 They were attacked by a fierce enemy, by Nahash the Ammonite. 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:01.959 His name actually means serpent. 00:05:03.300 --> 00:05:09.660 He besieged Jabesh Gilead, which was a fortified city east of the Jordan River, sort of on the 00:05:09.660 --> 00:05:12.100 east side of Israel, and he offered the people a bad deal. 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:20.040 He says, I'll make a treaty with you as long as I can gouge out all your right eyes, which 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:27.139 basically would not only shame them, but would also permanently disable them and make them never 00:05:27.139 --> 00:05:28.139 able to fight again. 00:05:28.139 --> 00:05:33.279 They actually would, some scholars, there's some evidence that they would actually hold 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:34.959 their shields up in front of their left eye. 00:05:35.399 --> 00:05:39.180 So if their right eye couldn't work, they wouldn't be able to fight at all. 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:46.079 And some evidence indicates that he didn't just come against this one city, but he was sort 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:51.419 of on a rampage through several cities east of the Jordan, gouging out people's eyes, 00:05:51.420 --> 00:05:54.319 pressuring the people, taking over their cities. 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:59.960 And then the Israelites also had the Philistines on the west. 00:06:00.020 --> 00:06:03.500 So they were sort of caught between a rock and a hard place, between the Philistines on 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:04.980 the west and the Ammonites on the east. 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:08.500 They were under attack. 00:06:09.540 --> 00:06:13.660 Now at this time, the nation of Israel wasn't under a central government. 00:06:14.780 --> 00:06:16.879 So they didn't have a standing army. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:20.220 It was an association of tribes and independent cities. 00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:25.980 So we actually see the leaders here of this one city who were making their negotiations for 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:27.700 a treaty with a foreign nation on their own. 00:06:27.699 --> 00:06:33.420 But on the other hand, even though each city had its own leaders, there were close bonds 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:35.899 between all the Israelite tribes and cities. 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:42.740 So verse 2, we see that when this guy Nahash is attacking Jabesh Gilead, he's not just attacking 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:43.439 this one city. 00:06:43.539 --> 00:06:46.060 He says, I want to bring disgrace on all Israel. 00:06:47.599 --> 00:06:52.560 And verse 3, the elders of Jabesh, they didn't try to face their attackers alone. 00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:54.379 They reached out for help. 00:06:54.379 --> 00:07:01.079 They sent messengers through all the cities of Israel to see if anyone could save them 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:03.540 when they couldn't save themselves. 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:11.480 Now, interestingly, in many ways, the relationship between Jabesh Gilead and all the other cities 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:18.540 of Israel is similar to our relationship as a local church with other local churches today. 00:07:18.540 --> 00:07:26.240 You know, particularly as a Baptist church, we're not under a sort of central government 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:33.620 somewhere else that runs our church from some office in the capital of Connecticut or in D.C. 00:07:33.640 --> 00:07:34.100 or anywhere. 00:07:34.960 --> 00:07:40.840 Our local congregation is responsible for the decisions that we make, the members of our church. 00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:49.219 And so whether that's when we bought this building nine years ago or hiring staff or choosing 00:07:49.219 --> 00:07:54.019 leaders, choosing elders and deacons and other leaders in the church, as a church, we do that 00:07:54.019 --> 00:07:54.439 together. 00:07:55.500 --> 00:07:56.919 Nobody else does that for us. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:08:02.839 But on the other hand, being independent shouldn't mean being alone. 00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:09.179 And so we really value our relationships with other local churches, even though we don't 00:08:09.179 --> 00:08:13.019 run them and they don't run us, but we're brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:08:13.179 --> 00:08:18.139 And so as one of the pastors, I've spent some time over the last few years getting to know 00:08:18.139 --> 00:08:22.479 some of the other pastors in town, getting to know some of the other churches in this 00:08:22.479 --> 00:08:22.859 area. 00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:27.239 And that's something that we value and invest time into and look into how can we support 00:08:27.239 --> 00:08:27.679 one another? 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:32.799 How can we get to know one another so that if somebody's having a real hard time, we can 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:35.279 actually be there for each other because we know each other? 00:08:35.659 --> 00:08:39.759 If you don't even know each other exists, then you're never going to know when somebody 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:41.519 else is facing a really hard time. 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:46.720 So we want to do that. 00:08:47.139 --> 00:08:49.220 Sometimes we pray for other churches by name. 00:08:49.659 --> 00:08:51.539 We spend time with each other. 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:56.440 The same principle applies to our relationships, one with another as believers. 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:02.879 You know, when we stand before God on Judgment Day, each of us are going to be responsible 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:06.239 before God for our own actions, for our own lives. 00:09:07.359 --> 00:09:12.079 But we're not meant to fight our battles alone, right? 00:09:12.139 --> 00:09:17.239 We're called together as a community so we can know each other, so we can love each other, 00:09:17.299 --> 00:09:18.699 so we can be there for each other. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:23.959 You know, but if you don't know the people, if you don't even know the people sitting in 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:29.300 the row in front of you, you're not going to be able to be there for them or even know 00:09:29.300 --> 00:09:34.120 if they're fighting a hard battle spiritually. 00:09:35.560 --> 00:09:40.680 So one of the things we do in this church is we have small groups and we encourage people. 00:09:41.160 --> 00:09:46.440 Find a small group either here at Trinity or maybe if you live on a college campus with 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:50.020 some of your friends on campus or in another place. 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:55.200 Find some small group of Christian believers that you can pray with regularly, that you 00:09:55.200 --> 00:10:00.700 can study the Bible with, that you can encourage one another and stand with each other. 00:10:01.680 --> 00:10:04.720 So let me encourage you, if you haven't already done that, do that. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:06.340 Somehow or other. 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:10.880 And there's a whole bunch of small groups on the back of the bulletin if you want to look 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:13.919 into the ones that we organize as a church. 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:22.799 You know, when we're spiritually under attack, the answer is not to run away and sort of collapse 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:25.820 in on ourselves and feel ashamed and defeated. 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:35.919 Rather, or worse, to make a bad deal with the enemy of our souls, like the people of Jabba 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:37.599 Gilead were offered. 00:10:39.419 --> 00:10:41.139 But we should do what they did here. 00:10:41.719 --> 00:10:42.479 Send for help. 00:10:42.599 --> 00:10:43.279 Call for help. 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:45.299 They called out for help. 00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:49.659 They sent messengers everywhere throughout all Israel and said, come help us. 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:51.419 We're being attacked. 00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:55.299 So if you're being attacked, ask for prayer. 00:10:56.579 --> 00:11:04.099 Ask somebody to pray for you, a friend, a pastor, your parents, whoever it is. 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:06.560 Call out for help. 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:08.620 Or ask for accountability. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:11.800 I'm going to give a couple specific examples. 00:11:11.940 --> 00:11:17.519 If you're tempted by pornography on the internet, don't just try to fight that battle alone. 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:23.259 Sign up for one of the programs like Covenant Eyes that sends a report of all the websites 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:25.540 you go to to your accountability partner every week. 00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:27.800 And it makes you think twice. 00:11:27.799 --> 00:11:34.699 Because you realize it's not just me who's in this battle, but there's someone who's agreed 00:11:34.699 --> 00:11:35.639 to fight it with me. 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:44.439 Or if you're tempted to spend your money impulsively and end up in debt with nothing left to give 00:11:44.439 --> 00:11:45.399 or save. 00:11:46.319 --> 00:11:52.879 Go to someone else before you totally collapse financially and say, you know, I'm struggling 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:53.799 with managing my money. 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:58.479 This is completely countercultural, by the way, especially with money, right? 00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:03.620 Nobody goes for help with money until they're up to their eyeballs in credit card debt and 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:06.199 completely sunk and facing bankruptcy. 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:16.099 But as Christians, we should, we have the opportunity to go to one another, whatever our issue might 00:12:16.099 --> 00:12:16.419 be. 00:12:16.419 --> 00:12:24.799 If you're tempted to just become despairing and discouraged, just ask someone, say, you 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:27.379 know, man, this time of year is hard for me. 00:12:27.959 --> 00:12:31.019 February, it's the shortest month, but it's the hardest month. 00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:33.199 I think that's true, at least. 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:35.319 Pray for me. 00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:41.519 Like, and you know, if you know someone, if you know a friend who's discouraged, send them 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:47.899 encouraging scripture verses, or just write them an email and say, I prayed for you today. 00:12:49.439 --> 00:12:52.059 That's one of the things that Paul does in his letters frequently. 00:12:52.199 --> 00:12:54.439 He says, this is what I pray for you. 00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:58.600 And he basically tells them what he's praying for them to encourage them. 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:01.240 I'm praying for you, lifting you up before God. 00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:02.579 You're not alone. 00:13:03.579 --> 00:13:04.939 And you don't have to be alone. 00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:12.560 So sometimes we need to say that to each other, to say, I can't fight this battle all by myself. 00:13:13.540 --> 00:13:14.600 Can you come and help? 00:13:15.680 --> 00:13:17.160 And send some reinforcements. 00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:19.240 So that's how the story starts. 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:21.480 The people are attacked, and they send for help. 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:24.220 Second part, they're rescued. 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:25.300 They're saved. 00:13:27.520 --> 00:13:32.340 Now, there's a story here, so we'll go through it and see how that happens. 00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:43.480 So verse 4, they send messengers out, and the people in Gibeah hear their report, and they start weeping. 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:48.660 Now, in one sense, that's good, because it shows they care. 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.980 They're not totally indifferent. 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:55.580 They're sympathetic to the plight of their brothers and sisters. 00:13:55.580 --> 00:14:00.860 But on the other hand, I think it's not, it's also an insufficient response. 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:13.879 Because if the people just wept and did nothing else, then seven days would pass, and the people of Jabba's Gilead would be in the same situation. 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:30.620 You know, if someone comes to you and says, I really need some help, the first step might be to weep with them and give them a hug and comfort them. 00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:32.580 But you know what? 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:38.220 If you stop there, you're not actually going to make progress beyond that. 00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:43.740 And what we see Saul do, so that's a good first step, but it's not the only step. 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:50.639 What Saul does, verse 5 and 6, he hears the report, and he's not just sympathetic, but he's indignant. 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:57.540 It says his anger was kindled within him by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:58.680 --> 00:14:59.920 You might think that's sort of interesting. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:01.160 The Holy Spirit makes you angry. 00:15:02.540 --> 00:15:03.660 Most of us don't think that. 00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:09.480 But he's angry, he's indignant, he's saying this must not happen. 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:11.500 These are our brothers and sisters. 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:19.740 God has called us together as a people, and they're about to be totally disgraced. 00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:22.199 Totally put to shame. 00:15:22.339 --> 00:15:25.600 Totally defeated by their enemies. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.259 And he says we must not let this happen. 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:36.319 He said we must band together and come around them and fight for them and fight with them. 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:39.620 So verse 7, he does something unusual. 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:45.220 There's lots of unusual things in the Old Testament, but we can understand them. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:48.159 So that's why we're doing the Old Testament here. 00:15:48.939 --> 00:15:53.100 All right, he took a yoke of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel. 00:15:53.100 --> 00:16:01.019 Now basically that was a way of saying, if you don't come and help, may you become like this. 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:04.019 Because you know what? 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:07.920 If they didn't come and help, you know what was going to happen to their whole country? 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:13.600 It was going to be cut up in pieces gradually by their encroaching enemies. 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:24.879 What he's saying is, if you don't stand up for your brothers and sisters who are facing temptation, 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:32.259 who are facing spiritual attack, you're treating them as if they're an enemy. 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:40.580 If you just remain passive and do nothing, he says, it's as good as handing them over. 00:16:40.580 --> 00:16:47.960 He says, you can't just be neutral and do nothing and say, it's not my problem. 00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:54.120 Because then you're basically saying, because then basically what you're doing is you're treating them as if they're not your family. 00:16:55.420 --> 00:17:03.220 And the New Testament says over and over, the most common way it refers to Christians is as brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:07.759 It says through Jesus, we're part of the same family. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:09.680 And we're not alone. 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:12.579 And we're called to be there for each other. 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:17.660 Winston Churchill had the same idea long ago. 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:21.920 He said, all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:25.140 Now the people got the message. 00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:30.680 Verse 7 says, the dread of the Lord fell upon the people and they came out as one man. 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:41.880 Now I imagine they were probably afraid of going into battle against this Nahash the Ammonite who was on a rampage 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:47.039 and had taken down a few cities along the way. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:57.399 But they were more fearful of the prospect of doing nothing and letting their brothers and sisters perish. 00:17:58.700 --> 00:18:01.259 And then facing the Lord. 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:05.759 You know, when we're spiritually attacked, it's very normal to feel fear. 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:08.700 It's very normal. 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:13.400 But the question is, who or what do we fear most? 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:22.059 Do we fear the difficulty and inconvenience of helping our brothers and sisters in need? 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:26.860 Do we fear our own pride being wounded when we ask for help? 00:18:26.859 --> 00:18:31.439 Or do we fear the Lord? 00:18:32.699 --> 00:18:39.939 The Lord of the armies of heaven, who's loved us and called us into his family through his son Jesus Christ 00:18:39.939 --> 00:18:42.119 and bound us together with each other. 00:18:44.459 --> 00:18:45.859 Which one do we fear more? 00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:49.159 Which one do we care about more? 00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:50.879 Our own pride? 00:18:52.899 --> 00:18:54.359 Our own inconvenience? 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:54.439 Our own mercy. 00:18:55.639 --> 00:18:56.039 Our own mercy. 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.359 Our own mercy. 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:56.699 Our own mercy. 00:18:56.699 --> 00:18:57.359 Our own mercy. 00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:57.399 Our own mercy. 00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:59.339 In his love. 00:18:59.919 --> 00:19:00.759 In his grace. 00:19:01.179 --> 00:19:01.919 In his mercy. 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.859 In his strength. 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:06.659 Well, the people feared the Lord most of all. 00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.299 So they came out as a great army. 00:19:08.419 --> 00:19:08.839 Verse 8. 00:19:09.219 --> 00:19:12.119 There were 300,000 from Israel and 30,000 from Judah. 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:17.079 Now just as a side note, if you're sort of raising your eyebrows and thinking, 00:19:17.959 --> 00:19:20.479 do that many people even exist in the ancient world? 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:26.539 If you wonder how did they round up that many people in less than seven days? 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:34.140 The word thousand doesn't always mean, it could mean 999 plus one. 00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:44.799 It's also a word that referred often to a military unit or a contingent of various sizes. 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:50.279 So it wasn't necessarily three times the current population of New Haven, 00:19:50.779 --> 00:20:00.299 but it was a united army of 300 contingents from the north and 30 from the south. 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:06.079 If you have questions about that, we can talk about that later. 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:11.240 That's a minor point, but just a question that you, a question I had as I went along, 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.000 maybe you have too. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.980 All right, verse 9, moving on. 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:21.079 So they said, tomorrow, by noontime, you'll have salvation. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.720 They said, we won't let you be overcome. 00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:25.859 You've asked for help and you'll get it. 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:29.220 And the men of Jabesh, it says they were encouraged, they were glad. 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:34.420 You know, when you're besieged, when you're under attack by a persistent temptation, 00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:45.820 whatever it is, an addiction, depression, despair, binging on food or drink, whatever it might be, 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:52.220 and you know that you have a band of brothers and sisters on your side who will fight with you 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:56.840 and fight for you and encourage you and who won't let you alone, 00:20:56.839 --> 00:21:00.079 man, that can bring joy like nothing else. 00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:05.279 Because when you look at your own life and you're like, man, I don't think I can stand up under this. 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:06.939 I don't know where my life is going. 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:11.980 If this fails, I don't have much of a future. 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:14.980 And you have somebody else who says, I'm going to be there with you. 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:23.559 And they might even say, I haven't been where you are, but I'm going to walk with you through this by the grace of God. 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:28.420 You know, sometimes we're called to walk with people and you haven't been where they are. 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:33.180 And sometimes our tendency is to say, I, you know, I feel your pain. 00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:35.140 I understand what you're going through. 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:39.420 And sometimes, honestly, the best thing to do is say, I haven't been there. 00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:46.440 So I don't understand completely, but I'm committed to you and I care about you. 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:52.860 And with God's help, we're going to walk through this together. 00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:55.200 And we're going to pray together. 00:21:56.740 --> 00:22:00.120 And we're going to trust the Lord together. 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.380 And go forward. 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:11.480 So, Saul responded with indignation, loyalty to God, loyalty to his brothers and sisters. 00:22:11.580 --> 00:22:12.840 The army followed his lead. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:18.540 And what we see here is God raising up Saul in the same pattern as he raised up many of the judges. 00:22:19.060 --> 00:22:27.660 If you read the book of Judges, and then you read this chapter, you'll notice there's a lot of similar phrases that are used. 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:29.380 Like the spirit rushed upon him. 00:22:29.600 --> 00:22:30.700 Like with Samson. 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:34.680 Or he mustered an army and multiples of three, like Gideon. 00:22:35.100 --> 00:22:39.539 Or like Jephthah, he came against the Ammonites, who were attacking Israel. 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:50.400 He also attacked, he also, as sort of in his role as a deliverer, he acted according to God's word and in sync with the prophet Samuel. 00:22:51.580 --> 00:22:53.299 Verse 7, it's interesting. 00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:56.380 He doesn't just say, whoever doesn't come out after me. 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:59.860 He says, whoever doesn't come out after Saul and Samuel. 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:10.720 So, he puts himself, he sort of describes his position as leading alongside Samuel. 00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:12.860 Samuel was the prophet who was speaking God's word. 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:17.840 Saul was the military leader slash judge slash king. 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:21.819 But he was, they were working together. 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:27.899 And verse 12 to 14, you see Saul and Samuel working closely together as a team. 00:23:28.179 --> 00:23:31.519 This is really the high point of the story of Saul. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:39.180 Where we see God using Saul powerfully to save the people of Israel from their enemies who were attacking them. 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:45.379 And in fact, if you go all the way back to the story of the Garden of Eden. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:48.779 And think about Adam and Eve back then. 00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:55.059 What Saul did here in this chapter is exactly what Adam should have done and didn't. 00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:58.319 So, God put Adam and Eve in the garden. 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:03.740 And he said, I put you here to cultivate it and to guard it. 00:24:04.919 --> 00:24:08.659 In other words, to guard it against encroaching invaders. 00:24:10.179 --> 00:24:11.740 The same word. 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:18.059 And when Adam and Eve encountered the serpent, who was trying to make a bad deal with them. 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:21.859 And said, hey, you should listen to me. 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:23.879 And don't listen to what God said. 00:24:24.679 --> 00:24:25.899 What about this tree? 00:24:26.899 --> 00:24:28.099 Doesn't this tree look good? 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.720 Shouldn't we make a deal? 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.980 You trust me, don't you? 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:35.119 Take the fruit. 00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:38.619 And it'll go well with you. 00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:43.940 What they should have done was to rise up like Saul did. 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:45.899 And exercise their God-given authority. 00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:47.700 And kick that serpent out of the garden. 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:49.899 And say, you don't belong here. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:51.980 And we have the authority to kick you out. 00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:56.559 That's what Adam and Eve should have done to the devil. 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:59.119 When he came as a serpent. 00:24:59.879 --> 00:25:02.279 What they did instead was to go along with him. 00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:03.700 And make a bad deal. 00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:07.899 And they got entangled in sin and death. 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:11.639 And could never get out of it by themselves. 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:14.859 But here Saul rose up against the serpent. 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.879 Again, Nahash means serpent. 00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:18.640 Not a coincidence. 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:21.560 He led the whole army of God's people. 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:24.260 And he said, you don't belong here. 00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:24.820 You are. 00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:27.340 And he kicked him out. 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:33.260 So it almost seems like Saul would be this new Adam. 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:35.940 Who would crush the serpent's head. 00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:39.140 Like Genesis 3 promised. 00:25:39.320 --> 00:25:42.300 There would be a new human being. 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.460 A man who would arise. 00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:46.119 And who would defeat that serpent once and for all. 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:48.220 Now unfortunately. 00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:51.200 As we'll see in the next couple of weeks. 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:53.480 Saul doesn't continue in this pattern. 00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:58.859 And he makes a shift. 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:01.599 Just like Adam. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:04.339 And instead of listening to Samuel. 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:07.799 And working side by side with Samuel. 00:26:08.199 --> 00:26:09.939 And submitting to God's word. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.500 What we'll see later on. 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:14.579 Is he decides to lead on his own. 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:17.139 And to ignore what Samuel says. 00:26:18.679 --> 00:26:20.779 And he decides to act on his own. 00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:25.299 As if God isn't there for him. 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:27.440 That's the tragedy. 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:28.519 We'll look at that later. 00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:30.319 So eventually God has to bring him down. 00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:32.279 But here's the high point. 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:35.339 Saul's being used by God to save the people. 00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.319 And of course. 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.559 There's a glimpse. 00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:40.000 In this story. 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:42.259 Of an even greater savior to come. 00:26:43.639 --> 00:26:43.799 Right. 00:26:43.879 --> 00:26:46.319 Saul's used to save the people by God's power. 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:48.119 To save them from their enemies. 00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:49.839 Who are attacking them at one time. 00:26:49.899 --> 00:26:51.000 And at one place in history. 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.279 In one city in Israel. 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:55.460 But one day God would send an even greater savior. 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:57.740 His own son. 00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:58.240 Jesus. 00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:00.099 The new Adam. 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:04.460 Who would deliver us decisively. 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:06.539 And forever from our greatest enemies. 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:07.259 From sin. 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.440 From death. 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.660 And from the devil himself. 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.819 That's what Jesus did. 00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:14.539 That's what he came to do. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:18.480 To deliver us from our sin. 00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:20.259 From the death. 00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.519 That we deserved. 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.599 Because of our sin. 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.400 And from the devil. 00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:26.619 The very tempter himself. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:30.139 And he took that sin upon himself. 00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:32.019 And he died in our place on the cross. 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:33.119 And he rose again. 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:34.379 Victorious in his resurrection. 00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.519 And defeated it. 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.960 And he stood firm. 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:41.960 You know. 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:42.680 There's a. 00:27:43.139 --> 00:27:44.200 John chapter 11. 00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.420 Jesus goes. 00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:46.960 His. 00:27:47.139 --> 00:27:48.579 Jesus' friend Lazarus has died. 00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:49.960 He goes to the tomb. 00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:51.640 And the first thing he does. 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.200 Is he wept. 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:54.160 Like all the people did here. 00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:56.140 He wept with his friends. 00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.279 To show. 00:27:58.380 --> 00:27:58.740 He's a. 00:27:59.140 --> 00:27:59.620 Sympathetic. 00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:00.539 Savior. 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:02.500 Who cares for us. 00:28:02.840 --> 00:28:03.920 And who feels our pain. 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:05.000 But then. 00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:06.019 The next thing it says. 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:06.620 It says he was. 00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.360 Troubled. 00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.259 In spirit. 00:28:08.340 --> 00:28:09.860 Or deeply moved in spirit. 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:10.420 John 11. 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.680 33 and 38. 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.100 I think. 00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:14.579 And that word. 00:28:14.919 --> 00:28:15.359 Actually. 00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:18.139 Is probably better translated. 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.599 That he was indignant. 00:28:20.919 --> 00:28:21.799 With anger. 00:28:23.199 --> 00:28:25.079 It's a word that's most commonly translated. 00:28:25.199 --> 00:28:26.219 Indignant with anger. 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.199 That Jesus was. 00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:30.359 Indignant when he saw. 00:28:31.939 --> 00:28:34.319 The ravages of sin and death in the world. 00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:38.500 And how death had claimed the life of his close friend. 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:41.500 And he's indignant. 00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:43.000 Like Saul was here. 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:43.460 And he says. 00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:46.819 This must not continue. 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:51.480 I will raise Lazarus to life. 00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:52.619 And he does. 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.700 But then you know what? 00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.920 The next thing the people do. 00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:59.140 The leaders get jealous of him. 00:28:59.180 --> 00:28:59.559 And they say. 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:01.000 Since he's raised this guy to life. 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.900 We've got to get rid of him. 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.680 We've got to kill him. 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.859 It's the next thing that happens. 00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:08.399 So Jesus raises Lazarus to life. 00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:10.839 But he knows that he's going to have to die. 00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:13.939 As a result. 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.679 That he was so. 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.839 Passionately committed. 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:22.059 To rescuing us from sin and death. 00:29:22.119 --> 00:29:22.439 That he would. 00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:24.099 Pay that price himself. 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.299 That's the savior. 00:29:26.699 --> 00:29:27.839 That we have. 00:29:28.119 --> 00:29:28.519 In Jesus. 00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:31.959 So. 00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:33.680 Finally. 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:35.380 We've seen the people attacked. 00:29:35.860 --> 00:29:36.279 Saved. 00:29:36.600 --> 00:29:36.880 Third. 00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:37.660 Rejoicing. 00:29:41.840 --> 00:29:45.680 When we experience God's salvation. 00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:46.840 We've got a reason to rejoice. 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:49.440 And that's exactly what the people do here. 00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:51.380 Verse 12 and 13. 00:29:51.860 --> 00:29:53.340 We see that they forgive each other. 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:55.240 At the end of chapter 10. 00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:56.279 Some people had questioned. 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.400 Saul's leadership. 00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:59.299 And said. 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:00.940 How can this man save the people? 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:02.320 Well the answer was. 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:03.960 By the power of the Holy Spirit of God. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:06.420 Now Saul had earned the people's trust. 00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.360 He had gained their loyalty. 00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.400 Some people wanted to. 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.720 Punish those people. 00:30:09.820 --> 00:30:11.299 Actually to get rid of them. 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:13.120 Who had questioned Saul's leadership. 00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:14.180 In the first place. 00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:15.380 But he wisely said no. 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:18.320 He gave credit where credit was due. 00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:18.640 He said. 00:30:18.820 --> 00:30:20.140 It's not just about me. 00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:21.200 He said. 00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.019 Verse 13. 00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:24.000 The Lord has worked salvation in Israel. 00:30:24.620 --> 00:30:24.900 He says. 00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:26.140 It's the Lord who's delivered you. 00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.259 It's not me. 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.140 It's not about me. 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:33.280 Saul led the people in fighting off. 00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:35.759 Their true spiritual enemies. 00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:37.740 But then he also had to deal with people. 00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:40.160 Who wanted to treat each other like enemies. 00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:41.480 You know. 00:30:41.560 --> 00:30:42.740 Sometimes the reason. 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:44.240 Why Christians. 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:46.340 Lose our spiritual battles. 00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:49.720 Is that we spend our energy fighting each other. 00:30:50.320 --> 00:30:51.980 Instead of helping each other. 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:55.220 And Paul says this. 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.380 He warns against this. 00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:57.279 In Galatians 5. 00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:57.640 He says. 00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.400 Through love. 00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.920 Serve one another. 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:01.539 And then he says. 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:03.480 If you bite and devour one another. 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.539 Watch out. 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.799 Or you'll eat each other up. 00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:07.880 So he says. 00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:09.400 Let us not be conceited. 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:11.620 Provoking and envying. 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:12.539 One another. 00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.460 You know. 00:31:13.579 --> 00:31:13.940 Envy. 00:31:14.339 --> 00:31:14.779 Pride. 00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:16.180 Cutting each other down. 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:18.299 Can be just as powerful an enemy. 00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:21.559 As anything else from the outside. 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:24.919 That can be just as powerful an enemy. 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:27.039 Within a Christian community. 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:29.519 As anything that comes from the outside. 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.659 So Paul reminds us. 00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.220 Many times. 00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:32.440 He says. 00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:33.119 Be kind. 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.680 Compassionate to one another. 00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:36.000 Forgiving each other. 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:36.759 As in Christ. 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:38.139 God forgave you. 00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:38.240 You. 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:44.399 Your brother or sister in Christ. 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:46.680 Even if they've questioned. 00:31:47.340 --> 00:31:48.300 In the past. 00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:49.400 Whether you should be a leader. 00:31:50.800 --> 00:31:52.120 Even if they've seemed to. 00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:53.120 Oppose you. 00:31:53.360 --> 00:31:54.080 In some ways. 00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:55.400 Or disagreed with you. 00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:56.600 They're not your enemy. 00:31:58.060 --> 00:31:58.840 They're still. 00:31:59.120 --> 00:32:00.680 Your brother or sister in Christ. 00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:03.120 And so don't. 00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:04.500 You know. 00:32:04.560 --> 00:32:04.900 One of the. 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:06.040 I think one of the marks. 00:32:06.560 --> 00:32:07.780 Of Christian maturity. 00:32:07.780 --> 00:32:09.680 Is being able to work closely. 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:10.380 With people. 00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:13.220 With whom you've had disagreements. 00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:14.220 Disagreements. 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.460 And personality conflicts. 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.360 Instead of simply. 00:32:16.360 --> 00:32:17.319 Writing each other off. 00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:18.100 And having nothing more. 00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:18.839 To do with each other. 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:21.440 And you may have disagreements. 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:23.920 Like Paul and. 00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:26.259 Barnabas did. 00:32:26.380 --> 00:32:27.360 In Acts chapter 15. 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.440 That may lead you to. 00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:29.980 Work separately from each other. 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:30.600 For a time. 00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:30.819 Or. 00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:32.920 There may be a time of that. 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:35.880 Paul and Barnabas actually. 00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:37.279 Went different directions. 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:38.019 At one point. 00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:40.259 Over disagreement. 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.019 That they had. 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:41.779 But you know. 00:32:41.860 --> 00:32:42.400 Later on. 00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:44.600 Paul speaks of Barnabas. 00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.800 In terms of affection. 00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:46.960 He speaks of John Mark. 00:32:47.580 --> 00:32:49.180 Who was the cause of the disagreement. 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.340 As a. 00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:52.580 Brother who we value. 00:32:55.080 --> 00:32:55.580 That's a. 00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:55.960 You know. 00:32:56.040 --> 00:32:56.900 It's a beautiful thing. 00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.820 When you see it happen. 00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:59.420 Because it rarely happens. 00:32:59.600 --> 00:33:00.240 In the world. 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:01.560 Right. 00:33:02.120 --> 00:33:02.500 And. 00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:03.320 And sometimes. 00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:04.600 It might seem like it rarely happens. 00:33:04.600 --> 00:33:05.120 In the church. 00:33:05.820 --> 00:33:06.780 But it's a beautiful thing. 00:33:06.840 --> 00:33:07.300 When you see. 00:33:07.600 --> 00:33:08.940 Christians who disagreed. 00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:10.320 About something. 00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:11.740 And in the end. 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:12.299 They still. 00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:13.179 Love each other. 00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:14.339 Through it. 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.559 And beyond it. 00:33:21.139 --> 00:33:22.419 So the last thing they do. 00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:24.559 Verse 14. 00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:25.659 They go to Gilgal. 00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:26.619 Which is. 00:33:26.919 --> 00:33:27.700 They renew the kingdom. 00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:28.679 They sort of renew their. 00:33:28.919 --> 00:33:29.879 Commitment to God. 00:33:29.939 --> 00:33:30.619 As their king. 00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:31.659 And secondarily. 00:33:31.659 --> 00:33:32.299 To Saul. 00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:33.359 As the instrument. 00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:34.799 Of God's kingship. 00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:35.559 Finally. 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.180 Verse 15. 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:36.480 It says. 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.019 They sacrifice. 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:37.819 Peace offerings. 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:38.500 Before the Lord. 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.379 And rejoice greatly. 00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:40.339 That basically means. 00:33:40.399 --> 00:33:41.079 They had a big party. 00:33:42.119 --> 00:33:43.099 When you sacrifice. 00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:43.839 Peace offerings. 00:33:44.139 --> 00:33:44.859 Back then. 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:45.599 Basically. 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:46.119 What you did. 00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:46.539 Is you. 00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:49.159 Kill an animal. 00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:50.980 And you thank God. 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.379 For it. 00:33:51.879 --> 00:33:53.099 And then you eat it together. 00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:54.159 You get to eat. 00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:54.720 The whole thing. 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:57.019 There were some other kinds. 00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.440 Of offerings. 00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:58.519 That went different ways. 00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:58.779 And you. 00:33:58.940 --> 00:33:59.200 Some of them. 00:33:59.279 --> 00:33:59.839 You didn't eat at all. 00:33:59.919 --> 00:34:00.759 But actually. 00:34:00.899 --> 00:34:01.460 A peace offering. 00:34:01.460 --> 00:34:01.700 Was. 00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:03.500 A celebration. 00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:05.180 It was a big party. 00:34:06.859 --> 00:34:08.199 And when we stand together. 00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:09.280 When we fight together. 00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:10.960 Against our temptations. 00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:12.460 Against our addictions. 00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:13.420 Against our struggles. 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:15.980 When we drive back the enemy. 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:17.320 And the power of the spirit of God. 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:18.460 We have a reason to celebrate. 00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:20.579 You know. 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:20.880 I mean. 00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:21.179 Tonight. 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:22.719 Lots of people are going to be celebrating. 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:23.579 Tonight. 00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:25.000 Lots of people are already celebrating. 00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:26.579 Okay. 00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:26.920 I mean. 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:28.320 Hey. 00:34:29.260 --> 00:34:29.840 You know. 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:30.960 It's a little sparse. 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.519 Compared to our usual Sunday night crowd. 00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:33.000 But hey. 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:34.599 I'm thankful that you all came out. 00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:36.500 You know. 00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:36.699 I don't. 00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:39.139 It's better than preaching to a totally empty room. 00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:42.440 But you know. 00:34:42.539 --> 00:34:44.599 We have an even better reason to rejoice. 00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:46.760 Than. 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:48.940 Everyone else who's celebrating tonight. 00:34:49.900 --> 00:34:50.519 Even if. 00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:52.179 Your team wins. 00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:54.300 We have. 00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:56.159 Such a reason to celebrate. 00:34:56.280 --> 00:34:56.719 And rejoice. 00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:57.079 Because. 00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:58.960 Jesus has won the victory for us. 00:34:59.320 --> 00:35:00.679 He's won the greatest victory. 00:35:00.679 --> 00:35:00.759 Victory. 00:35:01.399 --> 00:35:01.980 And you know. 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:03.699 Every time we win a little victory. 00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:06.519 Every time you face a little temptation. 00:35:07.419 --> 00:35:08.519 To let bitterness. 00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:10.159 Crowd into your life. 00:35:10.259 --> 00:35:11.299 And you resist that. 00:35:11.399 --> 00:35:13.079 By the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:35:13.879 --> 00:35:15.119 By the help of other. 00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.000 Believers. 00:35:17.179 --> 00:35:18.819 Every time you win a little battle. 00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:20.339 There's a reason to celebrate. 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.359 Remember. 00:35:22.419 --> 00:35:23.699 The biggest battle has been won. 00:35:23.699 --> 00:35:25.480 And every little battle. 00:35:25.559 --> 00:35:26.500 You have a reason to rejoice. 00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:30.419 So that's what we're here to do tonight. 00:35:30.899 --> 00:35:31.799 Is to look back. 00:35:31.899 --> 00:35:33.539 And rejoice in the greatest victory of all. 00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:34.839 What Jesus has done for us. 00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:36.460 Through his death and resurrection. 00:35:37.480 --> 00:35:38.399 And to come together. 00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:41.659 And whatever battle you're facing right now. 00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:43.460 Be encouraged. 00:35:44.199 --> 00:35:45.199 Let's stand together. 00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:47.539 Be indignant. 00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:48.899 By the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:35:49.279 --> 00:35:50.059 Don't just let it. 00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:52.259 Don't just be resigned to it. 00:35:52.260 --> 00:35:55.360 But rejoice. 00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:57.920 And we can look forward to a day. 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:59.760 When the last enemy of death. 00:36:00.580 --> 00:36:02.640 Will one day be destroyed. 00:36:02.760 --> 00:36:03.680 When Jesus comes again. 00:36:04.680 --> 00:36:05.940 And he raises us from the dead. 00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:08.020 And we see him face to face. 00:36:09.660 --> 00:36:10.560 And that'll be. 00:36:11.140 --> 00:36:12.700 An even more glorious day. 00:36:14.260 --> 00:36:15.740 So that's what we have to look forward to. 00:36:16.620 --> 00:36:18.080 Tonight we're going to celebrate communion. 00:36:19.640 --> 00:36:21.360 It's exactly what we're talking about. 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:22.480 It reminds us. 00:36:22.620 --> 00:36:24.280 Of what Jesus has done in the past. 00:36:25.220 --> 00:36:27.079 The victory that Christ won for us. 00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:29.320 It reminds us what it cost for him to do so. 00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:31.780 And it gives us strength. 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:34.360 To face the daily battles we're fighting now. 00:36:35.480 --> 00:36:36.400 And it's a reminder. 00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:37.860 We're in this together as a team. 00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:37.960 And. 00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:38.940 You know. 00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:47.940 You know. 00:36:48.840 --> 00:36:50.260 One of the things about communion. 00:36:51.159 --> 00:36:53.679 Is you can't take communion all by yourself at home. 00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:55.639 You shouldn't. 00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:56.380 Okay. 00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:58.260 Maybe some people have tried. 00:36:59.119 --> 00:37:00.780 But that's not how it's meant to be. 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:02.960 It's meant to be something we do together. 00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:03.039 There. 00:37:05.179 --> 00:37:05.780 So if. 00:37:06.820 --> 00:37:07.539 If Jesus. 00:37:08.220 --> 00:37:09.099 Is your savior. 00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:10.099 And your king. 00:37:11.079 --> 00:37:13.240 If you believe that he died on the cross. 00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:15.599 And rose from the dead on the third day. 00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:17.720 And you said yes Jesus. 00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:19.420 I believe in you. 00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:21.579 I want to belong to you. 00:37:23.240 --> 00:37:23.820 You're welcome. 00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:25.079 Take the bread and the cup. 00:37:25.159 --> 00:37:26.539 We're going to pass them out in just a minute. 00:37:26.539 --> 00:37:29.199 But remember that we're in this together. 00:37:29.320 --> 00:37:30.480 As you take a piece of bread. 00:37:31.159 --> 00:37:33.320 As you take one of the little cups. 00:37:33.880 --> 00:37:35.219 Look at the person next to you. 00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:36.639 Or in front of you. 00:37:37.699 --> 00:37:38.340 Pray for them. 00:37:39.400 --> 00:37:39.659 Remember. 00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:42.219 We're brothers and sisters in Christ together. 00:37:43.759 --> 00:37:44.980 Remember that you're not alone. 00:37:46.259 --> 00:37:48.360 And that we're eating this bread. 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:49.920 And drinking this cup together. 00:37:50.239 --> 00:37:51.840 As brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:37:52.820 --> 00:37:53.440 If you're. 00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:55.420 If you don't believe in Jesus. 00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:56.820 If you're still. 00:37:58.180 --> 00:37:58.619 Just. 00:37:59.139 --> 00:37:59.900 Here to learn. 00:38:00.220 --> 00:38:01.440 And seeking. 00:38:01.720 --> 00:38:01.800 But. 00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:03.820 But you haven't come to that place of commitment. 00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:05.599 Encourage you. 00:38:05.780 --> 00:38:07.480 Instead of taking the bread and the cup. 00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:10.300 To just use this time to. 00:38:10.940 --> 00:38:11.780 Pray and reflect. 00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:13.460 On where you are. 00:38:14.320 --> 00:38:15.980 Where you stand in relation to Jesus. 00:38:17.579 --> 00:38:18.019 So. 00:38:18.680 --> 00:38:19.360 If that's you. 00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:20.519 We're glad you're here tonight as well. 00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:24.079 Elizabeth and Tyrone. 00:38:24.159 --> 00:38:24.400 Would you. 00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:25.599 Come here. 00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:26.720 Come to the front. 00:38:27.820 --> 00:38:29.460 And musicians can come up as well. 00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:32.579 So we're going to pass out the bread. 00:38:34.300 --> 00:38:34.920 And then. 00:38:35.280 --> 00:38:35.639 We'll. 00:38:36.119 --> 00:38:36.720 Pass out the. 00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:37.400 And eat it. 00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:38.200 Then we'll eat it together. 00:38:38.680 --> 00:38:40.280 And then we'll pass out the cup afterwards. 00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:41.800 And you can take one. 00:38:41.880 --> 00:38:42.599 We'll share that together. 00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:44.119 So. 00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:44.220 So.