1 Samuel chapter 10.
1 Samuel said to all the people,
1 Samuel,
And all of the people shouted, Long live the king.
Then Samuel told the people the rights and the duties of a kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord.
Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his own home.
Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched.
But some of the worthless fellows said, How can this man save us?
And they despised him and brought him no present, but he held his peace.
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God. You may be seated.
Would you pray with me?
Lord, you know your people.
You know what's in the heart of every person.
And I ask, Lord, that because you are our good and gracious king, please minister, Father, as I do my best to interpret and apply your word, this passage that Ralph just read for us.
In such a way, Lord, that brings you glory and you alone, and that builds up your people.
That we can present everyone mature within your kingdom by your power.
We thank you, Lord, that we have King Jesus so clearly given to us in all of Scripture.
And we thank you, Lord, that the light of King Jesus shines back on ancient passages like this.
And it becomes useful even for our instruction and for our building up.
But only if you will do this, Lord, by your power.
And so that's what we ask for your glory and our good.
Amen.
Well, picture yourself in London.
Someone gave you tickets to watch the national football or soccer team at Wembley Stadium.
70,000 people packing the stadium, wearing the jersey that has the three lions on the chest.
and here come the best athletes from the whole nation
and they line up.
And then you just hear like one voice,
all the people singing,
long live our noble king.
Scatter his enemies and make them fall.
Confound their politics.
Frustrate their knavish tricks.
Send him victorious, happy and glorious.
Long to reign over us.
God save the king.
That British national anthem was written in 1740s.
I looked it up.
When was the first international soccer match played?
Not till about 130 years later, 1870s.
So these national anthems of countries like ours
and of England, of around the world,
they were not written for sports.
They're written for war,
to expand the empire,
to provide security for the nation.
Did you catch that line in our passage today?
Would you look at chapter 10, verse 24?
We're given this very detailed account of how Saul is finally put in front of the people
and the response of the nation is,
Long live the king.
Or may the king live forever.
And ancient Israel is just like our country today.
This doesn't change.
What people want from their leaders, from their government,
is stability and security.
And it's very easy,
when we don't have those things,
to put our hopes in a man,
a ruler, a king,
who could maybe bring that to us.
And that's what's going on in this story today.
Because what that phrase says is this,
as long as this king lives,
the kingdom will continue like this, secure.
So may the king live forever.
May the way it's going now be locked in forever.
May the king never die.
Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I want to show you,
with this longing for security,
what all it takes for a kingdom to enjoy that.
More specifically for us,
in Christ's kingdom,
what does it take for you and I to enjoy security?
Well first, it's this,
for God's people to enjoy security,
God must grant a king federal headship
over his own kingdom.
For God's people to enjoy security,
God must grant a king federal headship
over his kingdom.
When evil men tried to grab power for themselves
in the book of Judges,
it failed.
The Lord wouldn't put up with it.
When evil men tried to bring in idols
into God's kingdom,
God would destroy them.
Even Samuel,
who loved the Lord and feared him,
when he tried to set up nepotism,
that his own sons would become the next judges,
it failed.
God is showing his people,
I'm the one who must grant authority.
And we see that the Lord granted to Saul
everything he needed
to fulfill this charge
that God had put on him.
I see and saw
all that it would take
for a man to be a representative,
a federal head,
one figurehead over the entire kingdom.
A shadow of all the offices
God would give to the one man,
Jesus Christ.
First, the Lord took Saul.
If you remember last week, chapter 9,
Saul is embarrassingly unqualified,
and God elevated him.
Would you look even at the very end
of chapter 9?
Notice how every time Saul is moving,
and toward the end of the chapter,
he's going upward.
He goes up to Ramah.
Then he goes up to the feast.
And then at the very end,
he even goes up on top of the house.
The Lord is elevating Saul
out of nothing,
bringing him up.
And that's symbolic
to what God is about to do
in chapter 10.
Now in verse 1 of chapter 10,
Samuel took a flask of oil
and poured it over Saul's head
and kissed him and said,
this is not because the Lord has,
is this not because the Lord
has anointed you commander?
Now he reminds him
over his inheritance.
So who is Saul to rule over?
God's inheritance.
It's God's kingdom.
God's the one who has to appoint
and delegate this authority
to a man,
a federal head,
over God's own kingdom.
What a scene this would be.
We're on the top
of these mountain peaks.
And here's a giant of a man
between LeBron James
and Shaquille O'Neal most likely.
And here's old Samuel.
He's a Nazarite,
so he's got long hair
and beard never cut.
This man likely kneels down.
They're going to do
a private anointing ceremony
following God's instruction.
Pours the oil over him.
Says this is because
the Lord is anointing you
to rule over God's inheritance.
Picture the weight of that charge
on this man.
Well next,
the Lord took this anointed man
and notice what he does.
In verses 3 and 4,
there are these men
going up to God,
going up to worship.
And notice the three things
that these people are carrying.
goats,
bread,
and wine.
And it's the bread
of the communion
that they're going to give
to Saul.
What are you going to do
with the goats
when you go up
to worship God?
There's your blood sacrifice.
And after a blood sacrifice,
you're going to enjoy
the peace,
the peace sacrifice,
where you're going to have,
you get to eat the meat now.
The sins have been atoned for.
The burnt sacrifice is done.
Now we get to enjoy
this delicious feast with God.
There's meat and there's bread
and there's the fruit of the vine.
But they,
he says,
these men are going to give you
the bread.
Well,
in the ceremonial law
in Leviticus,
the bread is set apart
for the priests.
But,
there's also in the law
provision where
it can be legally shared.
Remember when David comes
and the priest gives him bread.
And it was legal.
And the Lord even reminds
the law keepers of this.
And so,
here's this man
anointed to be king.
There's the kingly office.
being given the bread,
the portion of the priest.
There's the priestly office.
Shadowy symbolized there.
Well,
what about the office of prophet?
The Lord took this anointed king
with the priestly bread.
And in verse 6,
look at what he says.
The spirit of the Lord
will come upon you
and you will prophesy
with them.
And you will be turned
into another man.
All three offices
put onto Saul,
this one man,
king,
priest,
prophet,
the anointing.
This is God's inheritance.
You're the federal head.
Lift it up.
Will this man be able
to bear under the weight
of this charge?
Will he be able to do
what is required
to secure the peace
and the kingdom?
I know I sure wouldn't.
I would crumble under that.
Now,
when it says
the spirit will be upon you,
that doesn't necessarily mean
Saul gets a new heart
of regeneration
to believe and follow the Lord.
Because the spirit of God
also made a donkey prophesy.
The spirit of God
made Nebuchadnezzar prophesy.
The spirit of God
takes creatures
and does whatever
God wants to do.
And so that's
important for us to realize
because Saul
is a complex character.
He doesn't stay flat
through all these chapters.
That's all we need to say
about that for now.
The Holy Spirit
operated differently
in the Old Testament
than now
in the church.
Well, next the Lord
took this anointed king
associated with
the priestly rite of bread
who prophesied
speaking God's word
to the people.
What do we mean by prophecy?
It's that.
It's one who speaks
God's word to the people.
And he made him able
to obey.
Look at verse 9.
So it was
when he had turned
his back from Samuel
that God gave him
another heart.
Again,
in this context
for these reasons,
I believe this means
that he had the inward
ability
to do what God
expected of him
as king.
He had a special
God-given ability
to fulfill this office
for which God
anointed him.
I don't necessarily
think it should mean
or we should read
into it
that he's regenerated
or saved
or got a new heart
savingly.
But that God
is not giving him
any excuse
or the people
any excuse
to say that the Lord
sabotaged
the thing they wanted.
God will allow him
to be able to govern.
All right.
So for God's people
to enjoy security,
do you see how
God must grant
a man
federal headship
to represent
God's people,
God's kingdom?
Let's remember this,
that if you and I
have enjoyed
any level of security
in this state
or in this nation,
it's because God
has granted peace.
God steers the hearts
of rulers
like the streams.
God lifts up
and God throws down.
He can do that.
The reason we're to pray
for all civil magistrates
in every state,
no matter what their views are,
even the views that
disagree with God's kingdom,
we still pray for them
because God put them there
in his providence
and his big plan.
Now,
with God's moral law
inside his people,
we should not like laws
that contradict
God's moral law.
We can't.
Not if the Holy Spirit
lives in us.
But we can still pray
for these rulers
who are dark.
They're in darkness.
They're deceived
by the enemy
and we need to pray
that God will
give us peace
despite those laws.
Well,
the second observation
about how
God secures
peace
in his kingdom
for his people
is this.
In order for God's people
to enjoy security,
the king
must not just be
selected and appointed
and given authority.
He must do something
with it.
Specifically,
I see two things here.
The king must purify
God's kingdom
and second,
the king must care
for God's kingdom
on earth.
Purify
and care for it.
first,
for God's people
to enjoy security,
look at what Saul
needs to do
in verse 5.
We read,
after you shall come
to the hill
of God.
Some translations
just have it
the high place,
but we're told
this is where
the worship
is happening.
This is the hill
where God
will receive
the offerings
and the sacrifices
of his people
and meet them.
And there
is a Philistine
garrison.
This is not
Philistine territory.
This is God's
territory.
It's part of the
geographic boundaries
of God's kingdom
on earth
during this time.
This is God's land
and it's God's hill.
And on this hill,
this village,
the Philistines
have put an outpost
of the Philistine empire.
Now the Philistines
hate the true God.
They want to worship
the idols
and the pagan gods.
And yet here
on this holy
hill of the Lord,
they're being allowed
to live there
with their soldiers
in this outpost.
The hill of the Lord
is not being kept pure
of those who blaspheme
and contradict
the sovereign rule
of God in the land.
One commentator put,
a blaspheming army
of God
in the hill of God.
Pagans
been permitted here
to build a fortified
stronghold
on God's property.
Enemy troops
oppressing God's people
from God's own hill.
What should a king
do about that?
Now the instructions
to Saul
are very clear.
It will be
after all these signs,
look at verse 6,
the spirit will come
upon you
and you will prophesy.
So listen for that
in the story.
Samuel says,
when that happens,
when you prophesy,
look at what he says
next in verse 7.
Let it be
when those signs
come to you
that you do
as the occasion
demands.
Some translations say,
do what your hand
finds to do.
And in Judges chapter 9,
we saw this in Sunday school,
verses 32 and 34.
That phrase
in this context,
do what your hand
finds to do,
it means you're the king.
You're the man
anointed by God,
given power.
You're to go
and drive them out,
slay them,
cleanse the hill of God
from idolatry.
And it's given
that further reinforcement.
Look at verse 7,
the very end.
Do what your hand
finds to do,
drive out the enemy,
for God is with you.
What more could you need?
These are marching orders.
Get at it.
In verse 13,
when he had finished
prophesying,
let's see whether
Saul does this.
The Lord is with you,
Saul.
We simply read
in verse 13
that Saul went
to a high place.
He goes to talk
to his uncle.
I think because
the command was so clear,
the signs were so clear,
you will prophesy.
All these things happened,
he prophesied.
People are shocked.
Even Saul,
he's not the son
of a prophet.
What's going on?
And instead of obeying,
he does the same sin
of Adam.
It's God's temple,
God's kingdom.
And you're allowing
the serpent
to be right here
in the holy
consecrated land.
He sinned
by neglecting
to drive them out.
It's a sin
of omission.
And that's the first sin
we see for this man
anointed to be
the king
and the federal head.
He did not purify
the kingdom of God.
I think the reason
Saul did not purify
the kingdom of God
is because he did not
care about
or care for
the kingdom of God.
Why didn't he do it?
We only care for
what we care about.
Look at verse 14.
He goes up
to talk to his uncle.
We know one of
Saul's uncles
was Abner
who was associated
with the kingdom
and the army,
a great general.
And his uncle says,
where did you go?
Saul, super open-ended,
catching up with you.
You can take this conversation
anywhere you want.
Where did you go?
And look at what Saul says
of all the things
he had to report
to look for the donkeys.
And when we saw
they were nowhere
to be found,
we went to Samuel.
Okay, we're developing
this conversation,
taking it in the direction
of God's man,
the man of God
who speaks for God.
And then verse 15,
Saul's uncle said,
please tell me
what Samuel said to you.
It's emphatic.
Tell me, please.
What did Samuel say to you?
That's what I'm interested in.
So in the conversation,
this is how it goes.
One person shows interest
in going this direction.
I want to hear
about the man of God.
What did he have to say?
He's specific
and he's very interested.
But look at Saul.
He told us plainly
that the donkeys
had been found.
Now, we could interpret this
as him being humble
and keeping it private,
but I think that
the narrator right here
of this same passage.
He doesn't want us
to miss this point.
Look at verse 16.
He teaches us
how to interpret this.
Verse 16,
but about the matter
of the kingdom,
Saul did not tell
his uncle
what this man of God
had said.
Well,
we can't read more
into Saul
in this chapter
than that.
That's what it says.
What we do know,
though,
is that for God's people,
you and me,
to enjoy security,
we need a greater king,
a great king
who cares for God's kingdom,
who brings the kingdom
of heaven to earth,
who purifies it.
This is what we need.
If you're here
and you belong
to the kingdom of God
through Jesus Christ,
Jesus is your king.
Know that he cares
about you
and he will purify
his kingdom.
If you're in his kingdom,
he will continue
to purify you
and me.
And he will continue
to care about
demolishing and pushing
out those strongholds
of the enemy
because you're in
his kingdom
and he's a king
who cares
and he's a king
who is active
and he uses
the power of his spirit
to cleanse
and purify his people
always.
Anything brought
into the domain
and the rule
of the special kingdom
of heaven.
If you're in the church,
it means you're being
cleansed more and more
and more and more
because we have
such a king
in Jesus Christ.
Well, third,
for God's people
to enjoy security,
the king must
lead the people
back to God.
For God's people
to enjoy security,
we need a king
who understands
all the layers
of authority.
If you want a king
like all the other nations,
he's going to lead you
in the path
of all the other nations
which is more power
for yourselves,
more glory for yourselves
and in the end
it's destruction
from the hand of God.
But if you want a king
who understands
true authority,
it's a king
who will lead his people
to the highest ruler
of all,
God the creator.
Samuel sets the stage
for Saul.
Look at verse 17.
Samuel next calls
all the people
together
to the Lord
at Mizpah.
Here's the man of God
who proclaims
the word of God
calling all the people,
representative heads
from the whole nation,
to the Lord.
The Lord's going to
meet with you
and the place
is Mizpah.
Do you remember Mizpah?
You can turn back
to chapter 7
if it helps you remember.
Mizpah is the place
where the Lord
gave his nation
the great victory
as they worshiped
the Lord
and they had this
wonderful worship ceremony
and the burnt offering
is going up
and the Philistines
are approaching
and the Lord
blasts the enemy
from heaven
with thunder
and lightning.
This is where God
gathers his people
and back in chapter 7
remember what
what the people did
when they were gathered
to the Lord
at this place.
Chapter 7 verse 6
so they gathered
at Mizpah
and what they did
is they drew water
and they poured it out
before the Lord
and they fasted
and they prayed
and they said
Lord we have sinned
against you
and Samuel judged
the children of Israel
at Mizpah.
Everyone should know
what the right response is.
We're being gathered
to the same place.
This is our only response
to God.
It's to repent
to pour out our hearts again.
But there's no such
pouring out of their hearts
like water.
There's no repentance
no fasting
no prayers
this time around.
Imagine being Samuel.
How do you prepare
to speak next
to these people?
Many of you
have had to get up
and give a talk
you know for your business
or your job
and speak to your audience
and you know the stakes
are high
you feel that pressure.
What is the message
that God's going to have
Samuel give his people
in this moment?
How do you prepare?
Well let's see what he says.
Look at chapter 10
verse 18.
Samuel stands up
and says
thus says
the Lord God of Israel
I brought up Israel
out of Egypt
and delivered you
from the hand
of the Egyptians
and from the hand
of the kingdoms
of those who oppressed you
but you have today
rejected your God
who himself saved you
from all your adversaries
and your tribulations.
You have said to him
no
set a king over us.
Now therefore
present yourselves
before the Lord
by your tribes
and by your clans.
He's calling them
to judgment.
When you notice
what he's preaching though
is the same thing
he already preached
to them.
Turn back to chapter 8
and look at verse 7.
In chapter 8 verse 7
Samuel stands
before the people.
He gives them
God's word.
Then he goes back
and talks to the Lord
and the Lord says
Samuel
they have not rejected you
they have rejected me
that I should not
reign over them
according to all
the works
which they have done
since that day
when I brought them
out of Egypt
even to this day
with which they have
forsaken me
and served other gods
so they do now.
And in chapter 8
Samuel turns around
and preaches this
to the people.
It's the exact
same message
from the exact
same person
to the exact
same audience.
God's word
is relentless.
God's word
chases his people
down
and when the people
reject the Lord
he could easily
walk away
become cold
and distant
but instead
he pursues
his people
he brings
his same
word
back to his people.
His message
does not change.
What needs to change
is the hearts
of his people.
This has been true
in all of
redemptive history.
Martin Luther
made this comment
the Bible
is alive
it speaks to me
it has feet
it runs after me
it has hands
it lays hold of me
God's truth
through his word
chases us down
doesn't it?
And he's so
gracious
it's the same
message
to his people.
Praise the Lord
if it's coming
from a different
mouth
a different person
even a different
century
it's the same
message
from the same
God
to his people.
God is lovingly
relentless
in his word
just like our
hearts often
are
God
is faithful
when his people
are faithless.
He's relentless
but still in Israel
there's no
repentance.
Well who is it now?
This story cries out
for someone
who will
lead the people
by example
repent
turn back to God.
wouldn't it be
amazing to have
a king
a representative
who will do
that
who will stand
up and come
forward to the
Lord and be the
first one to pour
out his heart
like water.
I think it's a
wonderful pattern
in churches that
want to be
biblical
when those
the congregation
has set aside
for an office
elder or deacon
to lead by that
that prayer of
confession of sin
Lord search me
you know my heart
show me Lord
those ways that are
not right in my
heart and that's
what it means to
have spiritual
leadership in a
relationship in a
family in a
congregation.
It's to be
like in Psalm 51
a broken hearted
evangelist.
Lord you you know
my faults
help me to now
turn around and
proclaim the
goodness of God
who washed me
clean to those
who need to know
this wonderful
good news.
Well now what
what happens next
is that no one
stands up
voluntarily
and that wasn't
the purpose
except to expose
their lack of
repentance.
The purpose is
really that God
is going to give
them the king
that they want
to be like all
the other nations
but it'll be God
who will do it
just as God
anointed him in
private God's
going to announce
him now in
public and God
does this by using
lots.
There were
different forms
of casting lots
and most likely
it's each tribe
brings a stone
marked with their
tribe and you
bring it forward
and then the
stones will be
selected so it's
like a blind
test where you
just you let
luck or chance
as the pagans
would view it
decide which stone
is going to be
chosen.
Well in this
case we know
that there's no
such thing as
chance or luck
in all of this
creation.
Everything happens
through God
and by his
will and if you
thought it was
a high view of
God to let him
make Saul chase
the donkeys for
three days and
then go down the
hill and arrive at
the gate just as
Samuel's going up
what about this
for a view of
God's providence.
The Lord controls
and he shows the
people this is my
choice.
This is how I will
rule my people
with a high
providence over you
my high sovereignty
on my people.
So the family of
Matri is chosen
from the tribe of
Benjamin down to
Kish and then
which of Kish's
sons and it will
be Saul.
we read in
verse 22
they looked around
and he couldn't
find him and so
they said well has
this man come here
yet?
See here's the
irony at this
point in the story
is these elders of
Israel who want a
king like all the
other nations
these wayward men
they can't even
find Saul the man
God put forward
for them just as
Saul couldn't find
those wayward
donkeys.
Well you know
what the Lord did
with the donkeys
is first he found
those donkeys for
the king and now
he's going to find
the king for these
wayward men.
God answered there
he is hidden among
the equipment.
How could Saul be
a king that would
draw the people
back to God?
He neglected to
draw near to God
himself and instead
he went into hiding.
The people should be
seeing all these
red flags.
They should be
hearing the message
loud and clear from
the Lord.
Don't you see?
I am your king.
But instead look at
verse 23 the people
ran.
They're still eager to
have their way and
they brought Saul from
there from behind the
equipment.
And then Saul stands
up among the people
and everyone can now
see with their eyes.
He's taller than any
of the people from
his shoulders upward.
The tallest head came
up to Saul's shoulders.
In verse 24 Samuel
said to all the people
do you see him whom
the Lord has chosen
that there is no one
like him among all
the people?
Look at verse 24 one
more time.
I don't know what
Samuel's tone would
have been here but it
could be read a few
different ways right?
There's no one like
Saul.
Well first of all we're
not told of anyone
else hiding.
There's no one like
that here.
And these men who are
eager to have their
king there's no one
tall like him.
He does look like the
giant we want.
The great champion that
could give our nation
that fighting chance.
Samuel says see there's
no one like him among
all the people.
And now instead of
repenting and fasting
and pouring their
hearts out look what the
people do.
In verse 24 all the
people shouted and
said long live the
king.
May the king this man
who moments ago was
hiding may he live
forever.
As long as this king
is alive the kingdom
of God God's
inheritance inheritance
it will continue as it
is.
So what the people are
really saying is we like
the kingdom just like
this.
We don't want it to
change.
They're going to learn
the lesson as goes the
king so goes the
kingdom.
How is it going for
Saul up to this point?
Not good.
Not leading anyone back
to God.
Not stepping up and
purifying the kingdom
from the obvious
enemies that have taken
the hill of God.
That's how it's going to
go with Israel.
Is this the king that
you want to live
forever?
And the people
shouted long live
the king.
The sad reality of
sin their sin my sin
and yours is this.
When when sin has a
grip or a foothold.
You know the sin is
not good.
Paul says in Romans
7 I actually hate it.
But you pray
and you see like this
sin in my life it
needs to be someone
stronger than me to
set me free from it.
And until the Lord
himself by power sets
you free and purges
and cleanses his
kingdom which is you.
You're his temple.
His life.
It's your life.
Until the Lord
does it.
It's like that
Philistine garrison
on the hill of the
Lord.
You're powerless
just like Saul.
And I'm powerless.
We're probably
worse than Saul.
And the Holy Spirit
inside God's people
he wants to show you
how foolish this is.
See you're saying
to this idol
may you live
like this in my life
forever.
I like my life
exactly how it is now.
I don't want the
Lord to come and
disrupt it.
God came
in King Jesus
to show you
and me
there is a better
kingdom.
There's a better
life.
And where you fail
where you're too weak
the Lord
will cleanse you.
Now there's also
I think an application
from Saul.
He's chosen
by God.
He's put into
this position.
Maybe like Esther
she's reluctant
and doesn't know
what to do
or even if she
wants all this
responsibility.
But for such a time
as this the Lord
has placed you
where he's placed you.
And when the Lord
gives you a position
of influence
it could be influence
over one person
in your family.
Maybe a younger sibling.
Maybe a friend
that you're back
in touch with now.
You have a chance
to influence them.
You want to use
that position
of influence
and point them
to the Lord.
Lead them back
to God.
Do what Saul
failed to do.
Show them look
I'm the first one
to confess my sin
and repent
and come with me
because God
is a good
and gracious king.
Lead your friend.
Lead those people
God is entrusted
to your care
back to his kingdom.
And you do it
soli deo gloria
for the glory
of God alone.
Well that's the last
of this passage
and we see
as it ends
that not only
did Saul fail
to lead the people
in repentance
and he failed
to declare
the Lord of armies
to this rebellious people.
He failed
to point them
back to the true king
God on high
who's been their help
who delivered them
out of slavery.
And what's more
by neglecting
and being passive
Saul actually
becomes the object
of their idolatry.
Well you and I
we want security
just as badly
as these ancient Israelites.
And our hearts
can just as easily
set our hopes
on lesser things
on idols
that are just as foolish.
And none of those things
can secure
our future
or provide the stability
that we want.
So I want to leave you
with this word of hope.
Even in the shadows
of this passage
of chapter 10
in the work of God
ordaining every event
that happens
we see signs
that are given
very clearly
to mark out the king.
What sign
does God give
in this story
that can help us
as God's people
to recognize
our true king?
See in literature
an archetype
is a pattern
that repeats itself
in multiple stories
to highlight
a motif
or a theme.
The theme
of this chapter
obviously
is the kingdom
of God.
And it's being
administered
on earth
by a man.
It's this English
theologian
named Alistair Roberts
who helped me
to see this.
Look at the signs.
Go back to chapter 10
verse 3.
Do you remember
those men
that Samuel told him
would be bringing
goats
loaves of bread
a skin of wine
and then there
would be followed
by music.
You remember
those signs?
And then we read
in verse 9
Saul's heart
would change
even though
it would be
temporarily
and it wouldn't
affect the whole
nation.
It would be
a sign.
These are signs
of the kingdom
but they're only
an archetype.
They're only signs
we can trace out
if they show up
in other stories.
Would you turn
next to 1 Samuel
chapter 16.
Look at 1 Samuel
16 19
just a few
pages forward.
Let's see if we
find those same
signs
and develop
an archetype here.
Are these pointing
to the king
to the kingdom?
Well the next king
after Saul
is going to be David.
Look at this
amazing description.
Saul says
send me your son
David
who is with
the sheep.
Then Jesse
took a donkey
there's a donkey
loaded with bread
and skins of wine
and a young goat.
They're all there.
And he sent him
with his son
David to Saul.
David plays music
in the court
of the king
and we're told
that Saul's heart
changes.
Exact same events.
The donkey
the goats
the bread
the wine
music
and a changed heart.
Well now we got
to look at
the New Testament.
Would you turn
to Luke chapter 19?
Luke chapter 19.
Remember we're listening
for a donkey
a blood sacrifice
bread
wine
music.
Luke chapter 19
verse 30.
Jesus tells his disciples
as you enter the village
you will find a colt tied there
now in Luke chapter 19
look at verse 45
where Saul neglected to drive out
the Philistines in the garrison
of the holy hill of God
Jesus Christ
drives out
those who are buying and selling
in the holy temple
this is God's domain
now if you keep going in Luke
look at Luke chapter 22
verse 10
what about the goat
the blood sacrifice
the bread
the wine and the music
Luke 22 chapter 10
behold
he tells his disciples
when you enter the city
a man carrying a pitcher of water
you'll see him coming down
follow him into a house
he'll show you to the upper room
and there make ready
the Passover
what do you do to make ready
the Passover
you take
a blood sacrifice
a lamb
you prepare the bread
you prepare all the utensils
you leave the wine and the cups
ready to be served
when the Lord administers
the Lord's Supper
we read this every single week
they ate the blood sacrifice
he says
I'm your Passover lamb
he gives him the bread
he gives him the fruit
of the vine
and then they sing a song
and then they departed
where Saul is set
to go wait for seven days
after Christ's work is done
which we'll celebrate
with Good Friday and Easter
he tells the church
go and wait
the Holy Spirit
is poured out on the church
in Acts 2
their hearts are changed
but now it's not just
a temporary change
it's the whole nation of God
everyone who will believe
will have a changed heart
so those are the signs
and there's the fulfillment
from the shadows
the substance
Jesus Christ
he shows up
and those who know the Bible
they know to look for him
the true king
and this is one small way
one small shadow
every chapter of the Old Testament
points to Christ
in so many different glorious ways
our lifetimes are too short
to study all of it
behold King Jesus
that's the takeaway
from 1 Samuel chapter 5
you need a greater king
and behold in Jesus Christ
he has come
there are a few contrasts
that we can draw here as well
see Saul's heart
was never perfectly aligned
to God
on earth
we need a king
whose heart
will be unbending
always
consummately
in every way
aligned
to the will of God
in heaven
we're told at the end
of chapter 10
of 1 Samuel
that a few valiant men
went with Saul
whose hearts
God had touched
and now because
the Holy Spirit
has been poured out
on his church
all those
whose hearts
the Holy Spirit touches
they follow King Jesus
to be a Christian
is to be one of those
valiant men
that God himself
has said
follow this king
and you do it
in chapter 10
of 1 Samuel
verse 16
we're told
that sad
insight
in talking with his uncle
that of the kingdom
of God
Saul said
nothing
and when all the people
are gathered at Mizpah
Saul called no one
to repent
he led no one
back to God
but behold
King Jesus
in Mark 1
14 and 15
he came preaching
the gospel
of the kingdom
of God
and saying
the time is fulfilled
the kingdom of God
is at hand
repent
and believe
in the gospel
calling everyone
whosoever will
to go to God
turn back to him
the kingdom of God
is at hand
in Jesus Christ
in 1 Samuel
chapter 10
verse 21
we are told
that Saul
the son of Kish
was chosen
and when they
sought him
they could not
find him
well behold
in King Jesus
the son of God
God the son
he was chosen
to accomplish
God's eternal plan
and because he succeeded
he calls everyone
whosoever will
to come to God
in him
and come to God
while he may be found
Christ is here
to extend grace
and draw everyone
to the father
who will believe
in him
for you and me
as God's people
to enjoy security
the king must be
the one to lead
the people
back to God
and behold
King Jesus
he has done this
in Saul
the Lord Jesus
in Saul
God took
an embarrassingly
unqualified man
and elevated him
the contrast is
Jesus Christ
is the only qualified man
already elevated
at the right hand
of God
and yet he descended
he took on a body
Hebrews 10 says
a body you have
prepared for me
and I have come
to do your will
God anointed Saul
with oil
to please sinners
but because he's
well pleased
in his son
God the father
anointed King Jesus
with his Holy Spirit
so that he would
save sinners
like you and like me
in John 14 6
Jesus says
I am the way
to the father
no one comes
to the father
except through me
so come to me
all you who are
weary and heavy laden
I'll take you
to the father
I'm the only one
who can
Jesus hides
from no one
he's lifted up
so all the world
can see him
for you and me
to enjoy security
as God's people
the king must purify
and care for
his kingdom
on earth
we read in
Revelation 1
King Jesus
is the one
who loved us
and washed us
from our sins
with his own blood
so that we can
enjoy communion
with God
just like every nation
or every kingdom
has an anthem
all of those
who belong
to King Jesus
and his kingdom
we have an anthem
as well
it's a glorious anthem
even though there's
many melodies to it
many lyrics
many different languages
it tells one
great story
and it's that God
saves sinners
by his amazing grace
through Jesus Christ
the king
and the lord of all
so we join our voices
like we will
in a moment
we say amazing grace
how sweet the sound
that saves a wretch
like me
I once was lost
but now I'm found
I was blind
but now I see
we sing this together
one voice
changed hearts
I love the line also
reminds us
the lord has promised
good to me
his word
my hope
secures
he will
my shield
and my portion
be
as long
as life
endures
king Jesus
has done
all
that is required
for the kingdom
of heaven
to come
to earth
make sure
Jesus Christ
is your king
today
and then enjoy
security
with all his people
in his kingdom
would you pray
respond in this way
to the lord
voy forbade