WEBVTT 00:00:00.060 --> 00:00:08.720 Now, we just finished Before the Retreat, a series on spiritual gifts, and now we're having a new series going up to Advent. 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:19.219 We're looking at 2 Samuel. Actually, it's not a new series. We started 1 Samuel back in 2022, and then we kind of took a break, and we're continuing it. 00:00:19.400 --> 00:00:23.920 The only thing is half of you weren't there, I think, so maybe you don't remember. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:32.640 We read the books in our reading plan over the summer. We looked at it a bit back in February when we did an overview of the Bible. 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:37.800 But Samuel is this really important book in a way. It's about God setting up his kingdom. 00:00:38.540 --> 00:00:48.000 God's people were waiting for life to get better, for God to set up a kingdom that they would live in a land where everything would be great. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:52.420 They could live with God in peace and harmony. And when would that be? 00:00:52.420 --> 00:00:57.539 Well, it is finally going to happen in this book because they needed a king. 00:00:58.060 --> 00:01:02.520 And while the first king saw, he wasn't really great, but then came David. 00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:05.980 I think all of us know about David, David and Goliath, right? 00:01:06.359 --> 00:01:09.680 He was God's chosen king, the man after God's heart. 00:01:10.520 --> 00:01:15.420 And under him, yeah, we will look at how great the kingdom was. 00:01:15.420 --> 00:01:21.460 And after many years, that was in one Samuel, he, you know, when he was a teenager, he was chosen. 00:01:21.460 --> 00:01:26.780 But then for many years, he was hunted down by the previous king, but he always escaped. 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:31.000 Finally, the old king died and he became the new king. 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:32.780 So that's what we're going to look at. 00:01:33.500 --> 00:01:35.120 In a moment, Ja's going to read. 00:01:35.420 --> 00:01:40.500 Just to say, this is narrative and, you know, it's a pretty long book. 00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:43.799 And so we're going to be reading a lot of scripture. 00:01:44.099 --> 00:01:46.000 We're not going to have like a one minute paragraph. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:50.180 The thing about that is that, of course, that is God's words, right? 00:01:50.740 --> 00:01:51.640 I'm just a preacher. 00:01:51.799 --> 00:01:52.359 I'm no one. 00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:55.939 But, you know, I hope we will love to hear God's word rather than me. 00:01:56.620 --> 00:02:00.000 But even then, we're not going to read everything because it's just too long. 00:02:00.659 --> 00:02:03.959 And so can I encourage you during the series, maybe read along. 00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:12.139 So when you get maybe the watermark post and it tells you that we'll look at, like next week, chapters 11 and 12. 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:14.479 We're not going to read both chapters in the service. 00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:15.360 We don't have the time. 00:02:16.099 --> 00:02:19.159 But maybe read it through during the week, right? 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:22.840 I mean, imagine reading a novel and you only read page one. 00:02:22.840 --> 00:02:26.439 And then the next day you read page five and then you read page 10. 00:02:26.979 --> 00:02:29.159 The story is not going to make much sense to you, right? 00:02:29.500 --> 00:02:34.920 So, hey, let's dive into God's word and let me share we read all of it. 00:02:35.219 --> 00:02:36.680 So let me encourage you to do that. 00:02:37.259 --> 00:02:43.379 And with that out of the way, well, why don't I pray that God would speak to us before John will come up to read. 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:49.539 Father, thank you that you are the speaking God and that we have your word here. 00:02:49.539 --> 00:02:56.539 Thank you that this book from long ago is you speaking to us now, to our hearts, encouraging us with the gospel. 00:02:56.879 --> 00:02:58.359 Pray that that would happen today. 00:02:58.659 --> 00:03:06.979 Please be with my words, with your spirit work in all of our hearts to make us see your glory, to see Jesus. 00:03:07.399 --> 00:03:08.319 In Jesus' name. 00:03:08.699 --> 00:03:08.939 Amen. 00:03:08.939 --> 00:03:09.039 Amen. 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:23.599 Today's passage is from 2 Samuel chapters 8 to 10. 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:27.899 Feel free to follow along in the bulletin or on the screen behind me. 00:03:29.139 --> 00:03:30.979 Starting in chapter 8, we read, 00:03:30.979 --> 00:04:00.959 David also defeated Hadadizur, the son of Rahab, king of Zobah. 00:04:00.979 --> 00:04:05.079 As he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:11.219 And David took from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. 00:04:12.280 --> 00:04:17.399 And David hamstrung all the chariot's horses, but left enough for 100 chariots. 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:26.120 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadizur, king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:30.600 Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus. 00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:34.300 And the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. 00:04:35.500 --> 00:04:38.680 And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:45.620 And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadizur and brought them to Jerusalem. 00:04:45.620 --> 00:04:53.500 And from Beta and from Berotai, cities of Hadadizur, king of David, king David took very much bronze. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:59.899 When Toy, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadizur, 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:05.199 Toy sent his son Joram to king David to ask about his health and to bless him. 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:08.120 Because he had fought against Hadadizur and defeated him. 00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:11.199 For Hadadizur had often been at war with Toy. 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:16.479 And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze. 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:20.079 These also king David dedicated to the Lord. 00:05:20.779 --> 00:05:25.379 Together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued. 00:05:25.939 --> 00:05:30.339 From Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, 00:05:30.339 --> 00:05:34.419 and from the spoil of Hadadizur, the son of Rahab, king of Zobah. 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:41.680 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:44.259 Then he put garrisons in Edom. 00:05:44.779 --> 00:05:46.699 Throughout all Edom he put garrisons. 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:49.699 And all the Edomites became David's servants. 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:53.339 And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:57.980 So David reigned over all Israel. 00:05:58.180 --> 00:06:01.519 And David administered justice and equity to all his people. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:05.479 Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was over the army. 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:10.479 And Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahalud, was recorder. 00:06:11.099 --> 00:06:16.680 And Zadok, the son of Ahatub, and Ahamelech, the son of Abiathar, were priests. 00:06:17.299 --> 00:06:18.899 And Zeruiah was secretary. 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:24.500 And Benaniah, the son of Jehoiada, was over the Cheritites and the Pelitites. 00:06:24.699 --> 00:06:25.879 And David's sons were priests. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:27.939 And David said, 00:06:28.459 --> 00:06:34.199 Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:38.139 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. 00:06:38.659 --> 00:06:40.060 And they called him to David. 00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:42.019 And the king said to him, 00:06:42.579 --> 00:06:43.259 Are you Ziba? 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:44.620 And he said, 00:06:44.899 --> 00:06:45.920 I am your servant. 00:06:46.699 --> 00:06:47.540 And the king said, 00:06:48.019 --> 00:06:52.659 Is there not still someone of the house of Saul that I may show the kindness of God to him? 00:06:52.660 --> 00:06:55.000 Ziba said to the king, 00:06:55.400 --> 00:06:57.360 There is still a son of Jonathan. 00:06:57.660 --> 00:06:59.140 He is crippled in his feet. 00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:01.220 The king said to him, 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:02.380 Where is he? 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:04.180 Ziba said to the king, 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:08.640 He is in the house of Micar, the son of Amiel, at Lodabar. 00:07:09.320 --> 00:07:14.260 Then king David sent and brought him from the house of Micar, the son of Amiel, at Lodabar. 00:07:15.840 --> 00:07:21.500 And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. 00:07:21.500 --> 00:07:22.800 And David said, 00:07:23.420 --> 00:07:24.980 And he answered, 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:27.139 Behold, I am your servant. 00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:28.899 And David said to him, 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:33.360 Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, 00:07:33.720 --> 00:07:36.759 and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:39.220 You shall eat at my table always. 00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:41.500 And he paid homage and said, 00:07:42.180 --> 00:07:47.060 What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I? 00:07:47.060 --> 00:07:51.920 Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:57.420 All that belong to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:03.160 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, 00:08:03.459 --> 00:08:06.040 that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. 00:08:07.220 --> 00:08:10.980 But Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, shall always eat at my table. 00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:14.740 Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:16.720 Then Ziba said to the king, 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:20.120 According to all that my lord the king commands his servants, 00:08:20.620 --> 00:08:21.920 so will your servant do. 00:08:22.939 --> 00:08:26.860 So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:30.360 And Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micah. 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:34.600 And all who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants. 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:40.139 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king's table. 00:08:40.920 --> 00:08:42.460 Now he was lame in both his feet. 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:47.680 After this, the king of the Ammonites died and... 00:08:47.680 --> 00:08:48.399 No? Okay. 00:08:50.139 --> 00:08:51.060 Just chapters eight? 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:51.480 No. Okay. 00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:52.060 Eight and nine. 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:52.399 Okay, great. 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:53.600 And this is the word of God. 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:53.980 Thanks. 00:08:56.060 --> 00:08:56.500 Thanks. 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:00.940 Thanks. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:02.180 Sorry, maybe that didn't come through. 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:03.660 Again, we can't read everything. 00:09:03.659 --> 00:09:07.439 Hopefully these two chapters, you can read chapter ten on your own. 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:09.100 Otherwise we don't have enough time. 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:11.679 But, yeah. 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:15.939 Now, last week a lot of us were at our church family retreat. 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:18.980 And I think everyone who went there had a great time. 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:20.579 Now why did we have such a great time? 00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:25.799 Partly, it's just so much better and different from normal life, isn't it? 00:09:26.199 --> 00:09:31.439 From your work, from home, from all the things we normally have to do. 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:33.120 That's why it's called a retreat. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:34.960 We kind of retreat from normal life. 00:09:36.299 --> 00:09:37.720 Actually, that's how we live, right? 00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:39.500 Many of us, we live for the weekend. 00:09:40.299 --> 00:09:41.799 Or we live for the next holiday. 00:09:42.820 --> 00:09:44.240 Some of us, we live for retirement. 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:48.179 Because basically life, normal life, just isn't what we want it to be. 00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:49.679 Normal life is hard work. 00:09:50.340 --> 00:09:51.159 It's frustrating. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:54.480 You know, my kids, they've just had a full break. 00:09:54.539 --> 00:09:56.419 And then tomorrow they're going to go back to school. 00:09:56.419 --> 00:09:58.079 So they're all kind of like this. 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:01.240 Because they just don't want to go back to their normal life, right? 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:03.579 Now, that shows something. 00:10:04.299 --> 00:10:08.099 Actually, we are made for something else, right? 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:09.819 We know there's something wrong in the world. 00:10:09.820 --> 00:10:12.280 The world is not as good as we want it to be. 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:13.860 We want something better. 00:10:14.040 --> 00:10:14.800 We want something. 00:10:15.640 --> 00:10:16.040 Yeah. 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:17.620 We want hope. 00:10:18.540 --> 00:10:20.960 And for some people, yeah, hope is the weekends and the holiday. 00:10:21.700 --> 00:10:27.460 Because I guess especially if you're here and you're not a Christian, what is your hope, right? 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:34.860 If you're just going to live and then die, then basically the weekends and holidays, that's the best thing there is. 00:10:35.060 --> 00:10:37.360 And that is what you then have to live for. 00:10:38.920 --> 00:10:39.060 Yeah. 00:10:39.540 --> 00:10:48.259 But for us as Christians, for those of us who are Christians, I guess the most wonderful thing about being a Christian is that we actually have hope. 00:10:49.060 --> 00:10:49.360 Right? 00:10:49.400 --> 00:10:55.759 No matter what life is like, no matter what happens, one day Jesus will come back. 00:10:55.759 --> 00:11:01.220 And he will set up a glorious kingdom of love and joy and rest and peace. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:04.200 And that is what we're looking forward to. 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:05.259 The end of suffering. 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:06.439 The end of frustration. 00:11:06.700 --> 00:11:07.559 The end of decay. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:10.399 The end of all the things that spoil this world. 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:11.980 That is our great hope. 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:15.659 It keeps us going in a broken, sinful, hostile world. 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:17.620 It keeps us persevering. 00:11:18.319 --> 00:11:19.500 That is what we want. 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:20.960 And we need reminding often. 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:23.580 That's why the Bible is full of reminders. 00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:25.139 I mean, we can't count the days. 00:11:25.139 --> 00:11:27.519 Maybe some of you, you're counting the days for the next holiday. 00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:30.100 Jesus didn't tell us when he would come back. 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:36.659 But at the same time, yeah, we want to have a regular reminder that there is something good coming. 00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:45.319 So anyone here who is tired, struggling, overworked, these chapters are for you, for me. 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:48.420 Now, why is this so great? 00:11:48.419 --> 00:11:51.860 Well, this is basically the high point of the books of Samuel. 00:11:52.439 --> 00:12:00.039 Because chapters 5 to 8, and we read chapter 8, are these wonderful chapters of how great it was in David's kingdom. 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:05.240 For centuries, people had been waiting for God's king to set up the kingdom. 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:07.099 And, well, here it was. 00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:10.120 And we get a picture of how good it was, right? 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:15.600 That this is the kingdom worth waiting for because the chosen king was on the throne, finally. 00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:18.120 It's a bit of a collage. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:19.700 Chapter 8 is not really a story. 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:20.879 It's just all these little bits. 00:12:21.620 --> 00:12:22.620 You know, a collage, right? 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:27.440 It gives this overall impression rather than having to go through it bit by bit. 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:32.060 But it should make you think, wow, what a wonderful kingdom. 00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:35.560 And not just something in the past. 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:38.279 I mean, it's easy to read this and think, okay, yeah, that was back then. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:41.179 And maybe the first readers read it. 00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:42.440 Okay, that was back then, right? 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:44.879 When was the book completed? 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:46.879 Probably a few hundred years after David. 00:12:47.460 --> 00:12:50.100 When the people had lost everything and they were in exile. 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:51.919 And they were reading this. 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:53.599 Okay, what did God do back then? 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:57.919 Because God has said that he will do it again. 00:12:58.819 --> 00:13:01.659 And the thing about chapter 8 is that it comes after chapter 7. 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:06.059 Now, if you were here earlier in the year, we looked a lot at chapter 7. 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:09.519 Because it has this really big promise of God. 00:13:09.599 --> 00:13:15.379 Because God promised to David, you know, one of your descendants will be deking. 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:17.139 So, what's on the screen? 00:13:17.599 --> 00:13:18.959 Chapter 7, verse 12. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:31.780 Verse 16. 00:13:31.780 --> 00:13:31.800 Verse 16. 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:43.120 David was promised that his kingdom would last forever. 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:47.039 For the Israelites, David's kingdom would last forever. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:51.379 And so, when we're in exile and there's no kingdom, well, it must come back. 00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:54.179 And when it comes back, it will last forever. 00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:55.840 That was their great hope. 00:13:57.080 --> 00:14:00.600 And actually, chapter 8, chronologically, I think it comes before chapter 7. 00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:01.919 But we get it now. 00:14:02.019 --> 00:14:06.480 After this promise, we get, hey, look at what David's kingdom is like. 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:07.120 You know? 00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:09.799 God has promised that David's kingdom would come. 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:10.879 It would last forever. 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:12.340 Look what it was like. 00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:15.360 And it's got fulfillment written all over it. 00:14:15.680 --> 00:14:17.160 Even for David himself. 00:14:17.920 --> 00:14:19.980 And so, another verse in that promise, verse 9. 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:26.500 God says to David, I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. 00:14:26.800 --> 00:14:30.180 I'll make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:32.420 And what do we see in chapter 8? 00:14:32.540 --> 00:14:32.720 Yeah. 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:35.180 God has indeed cut off all David's enemies. 00:14:35.820 --> 00:14:37.300 And 8, verse 14. 00:14:37.400 --> 00:14:40.400 And David made a name for himself. 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:40.879 Right? 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:43.579 So, we see just fulfillment. 00:14:43.819 --> 00:14:46.500 We see that this is not a photo album from long ago. 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:47.379 This is a commercial. 00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:50.059 This is kind of, this is what it's going to be like. 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:50.959 Right? 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:55.100 We always talk about, okay, God setting up his kingdom. 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:56.220 What is it going to be like? 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:58.279 Look at this great chapter. 00:14:58.959 --> 00:14:59.759 And that's for us. 00:14:59.819 --> 00:15:01.600 Because, of course, who is the son of David? 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:03.019 Well, that's Jesus. 00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:04.019 That descendant. 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:05.740 But what do we see? 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:09.840 What do we see here in, well, God's promised glorious kingdom? 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:14.620 And the first thing we see is, well, rest all around. 00:15:15.459 --> 00:15:16.600 Rest all around. 00:15:16.959 --> 00:15:22.139 Most of the chapter is basically about David fighting battles and winning. 00:15:22.459 --> 00:15:25.439 And the key word is, and sometimes it says defeated. 00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:26.980 Sometimes it says struck down. 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:28.720 It's basically the same word. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:30.340 But it's there all the time. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.079 Verse 1. 00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:33.220 After this, David struck down the Philistines. 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:33.759 Verse 2. 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:35.100 And he struck down Moab. 00:15:35.199 --> 00:15:35.720 Verse 3. 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:37.700 David also struck down Hanadezer. 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:38.940 And he struck down. 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.680 And he struck down. 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:40.560 And he struck down. 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:42.320 It's really all around. 00:15:42.680 --> 00:15:42.899 Right? 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:43.720 You look on a map. 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:45.680 And there's like the Philistines in the west. 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:48.080 And on the south, there's the Amalekites. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:49.600 And the Edomites. 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:51.300 And on the east, there's the Moabites. 00:15:51.379 --> 00:15:52.100 And the Yemenites. 00:15:52.160 --> 00:15:53.460 And in the north, there's the Syrians. 00:15:53.460 --> 00:16:00.960 And basically, all those other nations that you read about in the Bible, all of them were kind of defeated. 00:16:01.420 --> 00:16:02.940 They all became servants. 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:04.180 They all paid tribute. 00:16:04.340 --> 00:16:06.120 They were all in subjection. 00:16:08.040 --> 00:16:12.600 Now, in some way, when you read this, it's sad that there's so much violence. 00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:14.100 So much death. 00:16:14.580 --> 00:16:15.139 That's true. 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:19.120 But actually, look at the result. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:21.259 Look at what this is supposed to achieve. 00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:25.360 And look back in, well, in chapter 7, in verse 10. 00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:27.679 What did God promise for his people? 00:16:28.539 --> 00:16:37.740 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. 00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:45.220 And violent men shall afflict them no more as formerly from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. 00:16:45.560 --> 00:16:47.580 And I will give you rest from all your enemies. 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:50.919 They were disturbed no more. 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:52.700 They were afflicted no more. 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:59.200 Because, you know, back then you didn't have, like, fences and borders and guards and that kind of stuff, right? 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:01.779 It was just desert. 00:17:02.680 --> 00:17:05.779 And so what happens is that, you know, countries, they raid each other. 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:10.920 And so you're a farmer and you finally have brought in all your harvest and you stored it up for the winter. 00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:14.180 And then the Moabites come and raid it and steal it all. 00:17:14.879 --> 00:17:16.399 And there's your food for the winter is gone. 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:20.859 Or the Edomites come and they steal your kids and sell them into slavery. 00:17:21.579 --> 00:17:23.019 That is what life was like. 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:24.879 Things were not safe. 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:28.299 These enemies around you, they come and attack you and they do things. 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:30.440 But now they're all defeated. 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:32.559 So no more danger, right? 00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:34.220 Things are safe. 00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:38.019 Now, again, that doesn't really happen here in Hong Kong. 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:40.740 Imagine living in Nigeria, right? 00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:42.819 And Boko Haram. 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:47.440 Some Islamic militants, they come and they kidnap a whole school full of kids. 00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:50.600 And, you know, marry them and those kind of things. 00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:52.940 The fact that that won't happen anymore. 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:54.500 This would really speak to people. 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:57.039 Even for us. 00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:59.039 I mean, what are enemies? 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:02.839 In a way, they are just one of the curses of a broken world, right? 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:12.240 Ever since God, you know, cursed the world because when we turned away from him, all the curses in a way will be gone. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:14.140 That's the promise here, right? 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:19.160 So imagine walking outside and you never have to feel afraid anymore. 00:18:19.800 --> 00:18:20.840 No muggings. 00:18:21.520 --> 00:18:23.160 I guess Hong Kong is still pretty safe. 00:18:23.300 --> 00:18:24.259 Imagine the West, right? 00:18:24.300 --> 00:18:25.060 You don't have enemies. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:29.360 But in the West, you know, many women, they struggle to walk outside in the dark at night. 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.160 It's just not safe. 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:34.820 But then, you know, it would be safe, right? 00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:35.779 No one cheating you. 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:36.800 No one bullying you. 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:37.840 No one hurting you. 00:18:38.800 --> 00:18:41.060 No unexpected diseases. 00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:43.320 No sudden bereavements. 00:18:44.060 --> 00:18:45.220 No sudden unemployment. 00:18:46.620 --> 00:18:49.700 No, what else? 00:18:49.800 --> 00:18:52.820 Not suddenly losing all your money because the store market crashes. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:53.180 Whatever. 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:58.240 All those things that can happen, well, they wouldn't happen anymore. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:00.200 You're safe, right? 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:01.900 Don't you long for such a world? 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:04.900 Wherever you are, no more uncertainty. 00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:05.460 Rest. 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:07.099 No more affliction. 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:09.460 Isn't that what we all want? 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:12.160 Not just that. 00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:15.900 We see all the nations under God. 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:20.620 I mean, one thing you've noticed from the reading is all the gold and silver streaming in, right? 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:24.620 David, he took a lot of gold and other people gave him gold. 00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:28.579 But it's kind of, you know, that's partly how you show subjection, right? 00:19:28.619 --> 00:19:29.419 You pay taxes. 00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:32.899 You pay tribute to the nation that is the boss. 00:19:33.479 --> 00:19:34.659 But who is the real boss? 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:35.959 It's not really David, right? 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.079 Because what does David do? 00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:41.059 In verse 11, these also King David dedicated to the Lord. 00:19:42.159 --> 00:19:46.139 So in a way, the Lord is now king over the whole ancient Near East. 00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:48.759 All the nations are subject to him, right? 00:19:48.759 --> 00:20:00.140 They may have their own gods, but the fact that they pay tribute to the God of Israel, actually, in a way, the whole Near East, the ancient Near East acknowledged God is the real God. 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:03.460 The Lord is the real God, which is how things should be, right? 00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:07.900 Ever since the fall, you know, everyone has been going their own way. 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:12.660 And in a limited way, now finally everything is back under the rule of God. 00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:15.140 Isn't that what we sometimes want, right? 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:18.340 We see the world and it's a mess. 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:23.279 And don't we think, man, I wish if everyone just knew God and followed God, wouldn't it be better? 00:20:24.540 --> 00:20:29.640 Well, in a way, that was the case back then, just in language of 3,000 years ago. 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:37.840 Or if that doesn't speak to you, at the end, we get this summary of, you know, what it was like. 00:20:38.280 --> 00:20:41.600 Of course, we get a list of all the officials, the cabinet, right? 00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:44.660 Here's the army and the recorder and the secretary. 00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:54.080 But verse 15, so David reigned over all Israel and David administered justice and equity to all his people. 00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:56.840 And there was justice and fairness. 00:20:56.839 --> 00:21:04.099 There was a good government that cared about people that brought justice and uprightness. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.220 That's what people wanted. 00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:09.599 They had lots of leaders before and most of them were corrupt. 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:14.679 But they stole from the people, they just fattened themselves and the people suffered. 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:19.379 But now finally here was a king who did justice and fairness. 00:21:20.699 --> 00:21:23.220 Again, it doesn't maybe mean much for us. 00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.619 Hong Kong has a great history. 00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:28.899 There's plenty of countries where there's so much corruption, right? 00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:35.239 And it's so hard to just be an honest Christian because everyone is corrupt and you're so poor as a result. 00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:40.679 There's so many countries where the people suffer because the leaders just make themselves rich, right? 00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:44.119 That would be no longer the case. 00:21:44.179 --> 00:21:45.419 That was not the case in Israel. 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:46.619 It was so wonderful. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:47.659 Right? 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.900 Do you have that sometimes? 00:21:49.580 --> 00:21:51.759 Has your boss ever treated you unfairly? 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:55.900 Ever had some legal decision that didn't go your way wrongly? 00:21:57.019 --> 00:22:00.920 You know, do you trust all those over you to take care of you? 00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:02.700 We don't, right? 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:03.980 No. 00:22:04.340 --> 00:22:06.380 Back then there was a glorious kingdom. 00:22:06.560 --> 00:22:07.220 It was safe. 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.019 It was secure. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:09.400 There was justice. 00:22:09.620 --> 00:22:10.380 There was fairness. 00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:11.380 There was a beautiful kingdom. 00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:12.380 There was a beautiful kingdom. 00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:13.280 There was a beautiful kingdom. 00:22:14.120 --> 00:22:14.360 Right? 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.740 Don't you long to be there? 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:20.540 Whatever you're going through, man, wouldn't that be such a much better world? 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:21.340 Right? 00:22:21.760 --> 00:22:26.140 And even if your life is pretty good now, aren't you afraid of maybe a letter from the bank? 00:22:26.860 --> 00:22:28.460 A letter from the doctor? 00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:30.180 Those kind of things. 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.400 It happens, right? 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:32.780 No. 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:36.200 Here is a beautiful kingdom. 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:39.519 And again, it wasn't just back then. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.180 It's going to come again. 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.899 And it's not pie in the sky. 00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:44.639 It's absolutely certain. 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:48.139 I mean, some people, they have hope in something really uncertain. 00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:48.420 Right? 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:50.240 My hope is to win the lottery one day. 00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:52.039 That's not really hope. 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:54.480 Because it's probably not going to happen. 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.099 No. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:58.059 Christian hope is certain. 00:22:58.619 --> 00:23:01.399 And not just because of something 3,000 years ago. 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:04.720 What is the name of God's kingdom in the Bible? 00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:05.640 There's various names. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:05.860 Right? 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.780 The kingdom of God. 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:07.640 Heaven. 00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:08.519 New creation. 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:11.019 Sometimes it's called the resurrection. 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:12.420 Right? 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:14.180 And the future is called the resurrection. 00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:16.280 And will the resurrection happen? 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.060 Well, yeah, of course. 00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:18.600 Because Jesus was raised from the dead. 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:19.480 Right? 00:23:19.540 --> 00:23:23.700 Jesus, he died on the cross to make the kingdom possible, to pay for our sin. 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:25.100 But then he rose from the dead. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.860 What does that mean? 00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:28.980 It's victory over death. 00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:29.240 Right? 00:23:29.340 --> 00:23:30.540 Victory over the curse. 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:33.159 When you're raised from the dead, nothing. 00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:35.559 You're immune from all the curses and suffering. 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:35.839 Right? 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:37.440 That's what it symbolizes. 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.319 That's what it means. 00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:40.899 One day, no more suffering. 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.659 Everything will be right. 00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:46.759 And that's because, and we can see that because Jesus rose from the dead. 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:48.480 I think it's a historical fact. 00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.259 Come and talk to me. 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:51.720 If you disagree, we can talk about it. 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:53.460 But if you're a Christian. 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:56.440 When Jesus rose from the dead, you will rise from the dead. 00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.839 There will be this great kingdom. 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.420 How wonderful. 00:23:59.559 --> 00:23:59.700 Right? 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:01.380 That's what keeps you going. 00:24:01.600 --> 00:24:03.779 Life is hard, but there's a future. 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:05.980 Your misery won't last forever. 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:09.900 But, but why? 00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:11.960 This is such a great kingdom. 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:12.220 Right? 00:24:12.280 --> 00:24:13.240 And we want that. 00:24:13.780 --> 00:24:15.340 The thing is, I'm an engineer. 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.820 I want to know how things work. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:21.519 I want to, I don't like random things because I can't predict them. 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:26.840 Actually, God says there's a reason why the kingdom was so great. 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:31.579 And that will really help us see where we can find hope. 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:32.379 Right? 00:24:32.439 --> 00:24:34.339 Because why was this kingdom so great? 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:39.079 It was because the kingdom came through his godly king. 00:24:39.679 --> 00:24:41.679 Through God's godly king. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:46.779 Because chapters 9 and 10 show us David as a godly king. 00:24:47.439 --> 00:24:49.639 He is this really different king from anyone else. 00:24:49.639 --> 00:24:52.899 He's the, well, he is the king of steadfast love. 00:24:53.399 --> 00:24:53.619 Right? 00:24:53.679 --> 00:24:55.119 Which is such a great Bible word. 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:55.980 Steadfast love. 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.900 And 9 verse 1. 00:24:57.460 --> 00:25:03.440 David said, is there still anyone left of the house of Saul that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:05.779 The real word is steadfast love. 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.400 Chapter 10. 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:10.059 After this, the king of the Ammonites died. 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:12.220 And Hanun, his son, reigned in his place. 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:15.120 And David said, I will deal loyally with Hanun. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:17.319 Which again, I'll show steadfast love. 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.420 Steadfast love. 00:25:19.860 --> 00:25:21.579 We know it from the Bible, hopefully. 00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:24.240 His steadfast love endures forever. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:26.160 That's like God's main characteristic. 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:28.039 His steadfast love. 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:31.319 His undeserved, unfailing kindness. 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.759 And we see that in these chapters. 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:37.299 How amazing David is as king. 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:39.299 So first, Mephibosheth. 00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:42.159 He's a grandson of Saul. 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:46.159 And yeah, he asked, okay, is there still someone of Saul? 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.960 For Jonathan's sake. 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.200 Jonathan was Saul's son. 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:50.599 He was David's best friend. 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:54.799 And David had promised to Jonathan, okay, I'll take care of your family. 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:57.019 And he really does that, right? 00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:59.079 He asked, is there still someone from Saul? 00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:02.980 And there was this crippled guy called Mephibosheth. 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:08.220 When he was five years old, his nurse dropped him and he broke his legs. 00:26:08.639 --> 00:26:09.259 Something like that. 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.279 Disabled people. 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:12.519 People didn't think much of it those days. 00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:14.240 They were excluded from lots of things. 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:16.000 This guy was just a wretch, right? 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:19.619 And then he came from the previous king's family. 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:23.480 The family that the king who had tried to kill David. 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:29.640 Now, back then, if you were the new king, you would basically kill everyone from the family of the previous king, right? 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:32.859 That there's no one left with any claim to the throne. 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:35.180 So you can imagine. 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:37.579 David calls for Mephibosheth. 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:39.220 And he just comes trembling, right? 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.839 9 verse 6. 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:45.819 And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face. 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.379 And paid homage, right? 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:49.519 He just, what is David going to do? 00:26:50.439 --> 00:26:52.919 But look at David, verse 7. 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:56.039 And David said to him, do not fear. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:59.619 For I will show you kindness for the sake of your father, Jonathan. 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:03.839 And I will restore to you all the land of Saul, your father. 00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:07.339 And you shall eat at my table always. 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:08.720 Right? 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:10.679 And it's amazing. 00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:16.920 This wretch, this disabled guy who would deserve to die. 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:20.340 Actually, he could eat at a table. 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:22.480 All the land of Saul will be his. 00:27:23.120 --> 00:27:27.380 This guy, Teba, who was Saul's servant, now has to serve him. 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:29.240 And he was a powerful guy. 00:27:29.320 --> 00:27:31.380 We'll meet him a few more times in the rest of the book. 00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:34.140 So much kindness, right? 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:36.800 This guy despised from the wrong background. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:41.360 And yet, David loved him with all the kindness of God, he said. 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:43.200 With God's steadfast love. 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:45.680 And the same in chapter 10. 00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:50.820 Again, he wants to show steadfast love to the new king of the Ammonites. 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:53.480 The only thing is that it goes a bit differently. 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:55.140 The Ammonites don't accept it. 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:55.880 They're suspicious. 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.900 They do something wrong. 00:27:58.020 --> 00:27:58.900 They hire an army. 00:27:59.100 --> 00:27:59.700 They attack. 00:28:00.620 --> 00:28:01.460 There's a war. 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:04.260 Note that David is never the aggressor. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:04.500 Right? 00:28:04.520 --> 00:28:07.720 If you read the chapter, David, you know, he doesn't do anything. 00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:08.780 They attack him. 00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:10.840 And when they flee, he doesn't pursue them. 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:14.080 It's really, you know, David is a really good king. 00:28:14.800 --> 00:28:16.000 No bloodthirsty killers. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:18.620 The details don't matter that much. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:23.240 Basically, this is the war where next week something happens. 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:27.500 But do you see David's character from these chapters? 00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:29.620 Right after this great kingdom, what do we get? 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:33.000 We get David, the king of steadfast love. 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:35.920 And that is why it's so good, right? 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:37.559 Why David's character? 00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:39.240 Well, that's the reason for the kingdom. 00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:43.539 The kingdom is so glorious because they have a godly king. 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:47.160 If you have the right king, things are great. 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:49.579 And you have the wrong king, things are terrible. 00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.940 Just think about it, right? 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:53.940 Chapter 8, why all the victories? 00:28:54.920 --> 00:28:57.480 Well, the Lord was with David wherever he went, right? 00:28:58.019 --> 00:29:00.940 All the time, the Lord gave David victory wherever he went. 00:29:01.100 --> 00:29:02.960 Why was the Lord with David? 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:07.160 Well, because David was godly, right? 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:08.500 He was a man after God's heart. 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:11.580 I mean, Saul, he didn't trust God. 00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:12.720 He just went his own way. 00:29:13.340 --> 00:29:14.740 He brought judgment on Israel. 00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:17.059 That's what you get if you have the wrong king. 00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:20.779 If you have a godly king, there's victory and there's rest. 00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:24.720 Why was there justice and fairness for all the people? 00:29:25.919 --> 00:29:27.700 Because there was a godly king. 00:29:28.179 --> 00:29:34.700 If you have a greedy person who just likes power, things will be terrible. 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:37.559 Instead, there was a godly king. 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:43.259 And because you had a king who loved justice and fairness, he made sure the country had justice and fairness. 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:44.299 That's how it works, right? 00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:46.180 The king, he does it. 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:49.960 He stands between God and the people and he rules over the people. 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:54.319 And in both ways, you need a godly king for life to be good. 00:29:55.580 --> 00:29:57.039 I mean, think about your workplace. 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:59.299 Who has the most impact on your workplace? 00:30:00.399 --> 00:30:01.799 My guess is it's your boss, right? 00:30:01.859 --> 00:30:02.579 Or your CEO. 00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:11.159 He determines the working culture, whether that is actually support and kindness or whether that is just cutthroat. 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.119 And, right? 00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.680 That's your boss doing that. 00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:21.500 And your boss's decisions that influence the fate of the company, again, that will really impact your working life, right? 00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:24.180 Or bigger scale. 00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:25.379 Think of a country. 00:30:25.379 --> 00:30:26.599 Yeah, think of North Korea. 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:28.940 Terrible country, not just for Christians. 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.480 But why? 00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:30.940 Isn't it just the leader's fault? 00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:32.859 It's got nothing to do with those people. 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:42.519 It's just the leader who just exploits his people and who just, yeah, he falls out with the rest of the world, all the sanctions that mean so much poverty. 00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:46.319 Those people can't do anything about it. 00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:48.559 It's just the leader who determines it. 00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:52.619 And that is exactly the same here, but in a good way. 00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:54.559 Why was life so good? 00:30:54.639 --> 00:30:56.000 They had a good king. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:59.700 A king who, you know, made sure God was on their side. 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:04.460 A king who did justice and righteousness and fairness. 00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:06.980 You know, David was just so godly, right? 00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:09.059 He wasn't sinless, but he was godly. 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:13.460 David would just never take anything that didn't belong to him. 00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:16.740 David would never take someone's life unjustly. 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:24.460 David would never do some gross sin like, you know, breaking some of the Ten Commandments, bringing God's judgment on his house. 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:25.960 He would never do that, right? 00:31:26.539 --> 00:31:28.599 He was such a godly king. 00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:35.299 And again, how much more is that true of the promised son of David? 00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:41.879 What did God promise about David's descendants in chapter 7, verse 13? 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:46.480 This new descendant, he shall build a house for my name. 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.940 He will build a house for God. 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:54.059 And maybe you remember at the time God was living in a tent, which kind of shows he can move away. 00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:57.919 But no, he will build a house. 00:31:58.000 --> 00:32:00.480 He will make sure God and the people are together forever. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:03.700 That is what David's son would do. 00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:07.019 And I will be to him a father. 00:32:07.379 --> 00:32:08.659 He will be to me a son. 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:10.500 It's like father and son. 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:11.460 It's the same character. 00:32:11.659 --> 00:32:13.200 This guy will be like me. 00:32:13.659 --> 00:32:15.440 He will have my character. 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:17.200 And of course, that's Jesus, right? 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:20.000 What is the New Testament word for steadfast love? 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:20.839 Grace. 00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:24.839 Jesus is our good and gracious king, right? 00:32:24.879 --> 00:32:25.699 And we see that. 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.919 Again, look at the cross. 00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:33.399 Here is Jesus who died for his enemies and then welcomes us at the table. 00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:37.019 There's this great worship song, The Mystery of the Cross. 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:42.259 And we sing, once your enemy now seated at your table. 00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.619 Jesus, thank you. 00:32:44.139 --> 00:32:46.259 And that's really this chapter of Mephibosheth, right? 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:47.159 That's what Jesus did. 00:32:47.699 --> 00:32:50.759 He died for his enemies and welcomed us at the table. 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.059 To eat with him. 00:32:52.899 --> 00:32:54.619 He's the king of glory and we're nothing. 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:56.519 And yet, that's what he did for us. 00:32:56.919 --> 00:32:59.379 Then you know Jesus will just never harm you, right? 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:04.459 He will never do anything bad to you because he was willing to die for you. 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:05.139 You know that. 00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:10.500 And also towards God, Jesus was absolutely perfect. 00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:11.459 Right? 00:33:11.879 --> 00:33:13.159 No sin whatsoever. 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:14.839 That's why he rose from the dead. 00:33:15.639 --> 00:33:18.240 If you were here at Easter, why did Jesus rose from the dead? 00:33:18.339 --> 00:33:19.459 Well, because he had no sin. 00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:22.259 If he had sin, he should have stayed in his grave. 00:33:22.359 --> 00:33:22.879 But he didn't. 00:33:23.319 --> 00:33:27.299 And so we know this is a king who is completely on God's side, right? 00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:29.059 Someone who will never fall out. 00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:32.199 Someone who will never endanger the kingdom. 00:33:32.699 --> 00:33:34.859 If we're in him, we're fully safe. 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:36.019 We're secure. 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:38.299 God will always be on our side. 00:33:38.379 --> 00:33:39.059 Thanks to Jesus. 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:41.619 And so that is the hope, right? 00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:43.779 We, you want a perfect kingdom. 00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:45.220 You need a perfect king. 00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:47.059 And we have that in Jesus. 00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:49.160 And so that is the source of our hope. 00:33:49.879 --> 00:33:52.059 Why can we have hope? 00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:53.099 Well, because of Jesus. 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:55.259 Because of this great king. 00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:56.900 Right? 00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:59.960 If you're here, if we're here, we're not Christians. 00:34:00.120 --> 00:34:01.180 If we're not trusting Jesus. 00:34:01.800 --> 00:34:03.040 Well, where's our hope? 00:34:04.080 --> 00:34:07.640 Now, what expectation do we have for life to get better? 00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:11.500 Where can you find perfect peace? 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:15.240 I hope we see that we can't do it ourselves, right? 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:18.880 We can't do enough to actually make our life right. 00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:21.280 To make, to sort everything out. 00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:23.079 Actually, it's too much influenced by others. 00:34:23.660 --> 00:34:25.460 Think of your life as a kingdom. 00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:27.519 And who is the king? 00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:28.099 Who rules? 00:34:28.740 --> 00:34:31.039 Is it your boss who just makes your life miserable? 00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:32.900 There's not much you can do about it, right? 00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:35.380 Is it the country where you live? 00:34:35.460 --> 00:34:37.179 That's why so many people around the world, 00:34:37.300 --> 00:34:39.720 they're fleeing their country to go somewhere else. 00:34:40.300 --> 00:34:42.260 Because they know if they just stay in this country, 00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:43.360 there's nothing they can do. 00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:47.639 But would any of them give us hope? 00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:50.059 Would any of them be able to sort it out? 00:34:51.179 --> 00:34:54.639 Now, if we want life to be as we want it to be, 00:34:55.460 --> 00:34:58.179 we need a good, perfect king. 00:34:58.960 --> 00:35:00.720 And only Jesus can do that. 00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:02.079 So let me encourage us. 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.900 We need Jesus, right? 00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:05.039 And if you don't know him yet, 00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:07.179 come and talk to me. 00:35:07.240 --> 00:35:09.320 I'd love to help you, you know, know him. 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:11.720 And give your life to him. 00:35:11.880 --> 00:35:12.760 That he will be your king. 00:35:12.860 --> 00:35:14.380 And you will be with him forever. 00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:17.420 And if we have done that, if we are Christians, 00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:20.900 again, you have a reason for your hope. 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:21.900 Right? 00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:22.800 Life will be good. 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:23.579 And you know that. 00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:24.240 Why? 00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:25.360 Because you have Jesus. 00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:27.280 You have the perfect king. 00:35:27.780 --> 00:35:29.619 It means you can have joy and peace 00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:31.320 when you get bad news, 00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:33.099 when things are hard. 00:35:33.640 --> 00:35:35.220 You know it won't last forever. 00:35:35.740 --> 00:35:36.940 You know Jesus will come. 00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:39.760 Now, doesn't that give you peace? 00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:41.200 You know, this week at work, 00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:43.400 when you go back to your normal life, 00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:45.300 actually that's not your normal life. 00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:47.059 It's only temporary. 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:50.300 Your real forever life is coming. 00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:54.000 Isn't that a great hope to share as well? 00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:56.260 Look at this city. 00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:57.260 This city, yeah, 00:35:57.639 --> 00:35:59.500 many people feel everyone's let them down. 00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:02.780 But there's hope in Jesus. 00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:03.920 And we can share that. 00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:04.960 We can, you know, 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:06.360 work together as a church 00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:07.559 to bring the gospel. 00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:08.239 You know? 00:36:09.260 --> 00:36:10.599 No, it's... 00:36:10.599 --> 00:36:12.199 We're going to see what will happen to the kingdom. 00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:14.539 But what a great start, right? 00:36:14.860 --> 00:36:15.820 We have Jesus. 00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:17.019 We have the perfect king. 00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:19.000 He will bring a perfect kingdom. 00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:21.079 And that is our great hope. 00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:24.039 So why don't we pray? 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:26.519 Why don't we have a moment of reflection? 00:36:27.219 --> 00:36:27.719 I'll pray. 00:36:27.820 --> 00:36:28.900 The music team will come up. 00:36:29.860 --> 00:36:31.579 And then we're going to respond in song. 00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.360 Our Father, 00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:57.800 thank you that we have hope. 00:36:57.800 --> 00:37:00.140 Thank you that you sent your son Jesus. 00:37:01.060 --> 00:37:02.100 He's our perfect king 00:37:02.100 --> 00:37:03.500 who died for our sins, 00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:05.300 who rose again 00:37:05.300 --> 00:37:07.420 into a new and indestructible life 00:37:07.420 --> 00:37:08.720 that will be ours. 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:11.280 Father, you know what we're going through. 00:37:11.400 --> 00:37:13.720 You know how life can get us down. 00:37:13.880 --> 00:37:14.940 Thank you that there is hope. 00:37:15.160 --> 00:37:17.580 We pray that we would see that, 00:37:17.700 --> 00:37:19.260 that would give us joy, 00:37:19.340 --> 00:37:20.440 that if we just have Jesus, 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:22.220 we have everything we need 00:37:22.219 --> 00:37:25.219 to make it to that beautiful, 00:37:25.719 --> 00:37:26.879 perfect kingdom that will come. 00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:30.519 Lord, you know how we can often look at other things 00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:32.719 that we think might make life better, 00:37:32.799 --> 00:37:34.079 that we think will solve everything. 00:37:35.579 --> 00:37:36.879 Make us see that's not the case. 00:37:36.959 --> 00:37:38.059 For anyone here who, 00:37:38.059 --> 00:37:38.839 you know, 00:37:38.919 --> 00:37:40.659 who's still looking in the wrong places, 00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:43.500 help us see our need for Jesus. 00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:45.239 And, yeah, 00:37:45.939 --> 00:37:47.039 and would you not disappoint us? 00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:48.079 Would Jesus come back soon 00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:49.679 when everyone is saved, 00:37:49.739 --> 00:37:51.340 who you want to be saved? 00:37:52.420 --> 00:37:53.719 Would we keep living for you? 00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.340 In Jesus' name. 00:37:55.940 --> 00:37:56.279 Amen.