WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.620
 You may be seated. Isaiah 40 reminds us that the grass withers and the flower fades but the word of the Lord stands forever. Luke 1 says that no word from God shall be void of power. Let's pray.

00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:24.400
!

00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:50.960
 Lord, will you please enliven your people? Will you please shine the light of your word into our hearts? I ask, Lord, that by the ministry of your word and the living word of God applied to the hearts of Christians, that you will turn us who follow Christ into your great army, that you will raise us up, that you will sharpen your people like iron sharpens iron.

00:00:50.960 --> 00:01:01.780
 We ask, Lord, that you will be glorified, that we will always be a church under your word. We ask this for your glory. Amen.

00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:10.420
 Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, what is God's word to you?

00:01:10.420 --> 00:01:15.359
 What is God's word to you?

00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:32.920
 One of our brothers shared with me recently how he was challenged to begin reading the word of God on a regular basis at home during the week and how it's been life-changing in the years that have followed.

00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:39.920
 We know that words hold the power of life and death.

00:01:41.019 --> 00:01:43.280
 Proverbs 18.31 says this.

00:01:44.579 --> 00:01:48.480
 And those who love the word of God will eat its fruit.

00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:56.740
 If you love the word of God, you will enjoy the fruit of knowing God through his word, which is eternal life with him.

00:01:57.480 --> 00:01:58.840
 This is what Peter confessed.

00:01:59.340 --> 00:02:00.740
 Where else can we go, Lord?

00:02:00.739 --> 00:02:05.839
 You alone, Jesus Christ, you have the words of eternal life.

00:02:08.419 --> 00:02:15.539
 The reason I've picked this as our theme for today is because this is what seems to be Saul's great undoing.

00:02:16.519 --> 00:02:21.240
 The word of God was not what it ought to have been in Saul's life.

00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:24.800
 And the results are devastating for him and for the nation.

00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:30.320
 So as we read through this passage together, I hope to make four observations.

00:02:31.480 --> 00:02:32.240
 The first is this.

00:02:32.380 --> 00:02:37.240
 Because the Lord is all-powerful, his word stands forever.

00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:43.640
 See, the promises in scripture that the word of the Lord stands forever, they're attached to God himself.

00:02:44.640 --> 00:02:46.960
 It's because God is all-powerful.

00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:53.580
 He's the creator and the sustainer of everyone and everything, including his own word.

00:02:54.420 --> 00:02:58.819
 Would you look at 1 Samuel chapter 13, verse 1 with me?

00:02:58.819 --> 00:03:10.319
 If we were to do a sampling right now and take turns with everyone who had a different English translation, reading verse 1, especially the first half of it, we would have a lot of questions and problems.

00:03:11.459 --> 00:03:19.919
 If we go back to the best preserved ancient Hebrew copy that we have, the Masoretic text, it would read like this, word for word.

00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:23.280
 So Saul, this king who we've been learning about.

00:03:23.659 --> 00:03:25.119
 The next word is Ben.

00:03:26.339 --> 00:03:27.780
 We know the word Ben means son.

00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:30.079
 So Saul, son of.

00:03:30.539 --> 00:03:32.139
 Then the next word is year.

00:03:33.699 --> 00:03:36.819
 What a confusing combination of words.

00:03:37.399 --> 00:03:44.459
 It's curious even to Hebrew scholars because to refer to someone in years like that is a way of expressing their age.

00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:49.560
 It's seldom used as a reference to the length of the king's reign.

00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:54.919
 Then what comes next is says that he reigned for two years over Israel.

00:03:55.739 --> 00:03:58.039
 Well, this doesn't help bring any more clarity.

00:03:58.979 --> 00:04:05.199
 Paul in the New Testament in Acts 13, 21 says that Saul reigned for 40 years.

00:04:05.859 --> 00:04:11.739
 So what do we make of these hard Hebrew words at the very beginning of this chapter?

00:04:13.119 --> 00:04:18.339
 Remember, what I'm wanting to show you is because the Lord is all-powerful, his word stands forever.

00:04:18.339 --> 00:04:25.439
 Now, some English translations have looked at the Septuagint, the Greek translation of this old Hebrew passage.

00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:30.719
 So the NIV, the NASB, and the Legacy Standard Bible.

00:04:31.139 --> 00:04:36.719
 They've assumed that maybe the copyists left out a key word there and they've added in a number.

00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:41.560
 Like Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign and he reigned 42 years.

00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:45.420
 Assuming that maybe Paul in the Acts just rounded it down.

00:04:46.080 --> 00:04:48.660
 But that's not what these words say.

00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:51.360
 Let's pull in some light from Scripture.

00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:57.800
 This is always an important principle when we come apart a hard verse or a hard set of words in the Bible.

00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:06.740
 So we know from 2 Samuel 5, 2 that David became king when Saul died and that David was 30 years old when he became the king.

00:05:07.139 --> 00:05:15.379
 We also know that in this chapter, chapter 13, Jonathan, who was a close friend of David, was old enough to be leading an army.

00:05:15.379 --> 00:05:25.879
 We believe that not only is the Bible breathed out by God in the original language, but that God also preserved it.

00:05:26.540 --> 00:05:33.759
 Second London Confession of Faith, chapter 1, verse 8, says that God breathed out the Old Testament in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek.

00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:39.659
 And by his singular care and providence, he kept his word pure in all ages.

00:05:39.660 --> 00:05:45.939
 Therefore, what we do hold in our hands, even with some of these difficulties, we hold with confidence.

00:05:46.080 --> 00:05:48.439
 This is God's preserved word.

00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:52.820
 We can genuinely say this is the authentic word of God.

00:05:54.740 --> 00:06:02.680
 So I think the ESV, the King James and the New King James, do a good job of preserving that even into the English.

00:06:03.020 --> 00:06:07.080
 And it's helpful now, I think, to set really the theological point of this whole chapter.

00:06:07.580 --> 00:06:08.760
 Thank you for bearing with me.

00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:10.180
 This is this is important.

00:06:10.300 --> 00:06:12.659
 We can't skip over it, even though it's difficult.

00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:17.039
 So the ESV says Saul lived for one year.

00:06:17.139 --> 00:06:20.439
 The King James and the New King James say Saul reigned for one year.

00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:24.180
 And then when he had reigned two years over Israel, it goes on to explain.

00:06:24.899 --> 00:06:26.199
 Now, what we will see is this.

00:06:26.219 --> 00:06:32.500
 If we begin back in first Samuel, chapter 10, we see that there was an inauguration of Saul as king.

00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:34.759
 And then some time passed.

00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:38.879
 And then there was a second coronation of Saul before all the people.

00:06:39.860 --> 00:06:46.420
 So one way of understanding this deliberate phrasing that God preserved is this, that Saul was a son in this sense.

00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:49.100
 He was anointed and favored by God.

00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:50.879
 He was under God's authority.

00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:53.439
 He was the crown prince, you could say, for a year.

00:06:53.439 --> 00:07:06.259
 And then in verse the rest of verse one, when he had reigned over Israel, two things or two years, he began to do these kingly things.

00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:12.079
 He was inaugurated in chapter 11 and he started acting as a king.

00:07:12.159 --> 00:07:14.219
 And that's exactly what follows next.

00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:16.000
 If you look at verse two, what did he do?

00:07:16.139 --> 00:07:18.360
 Saul chose for himself.

00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:20.980
 Three thousand men of Israel.

00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:25.620
 You remember what was Samuel's warning to the people?

00:07:25.740 --> 00:07:27.959
 You want a king like all the other nations?

00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:32.800
 He will take your sons for himself as a standing army.

00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:32.840
 Right.

00:07:33.840 --> 00:07:39.319
 You're getting exactly what God sternly warned you you would get from your king.

00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:49.660
 I just want to pause for a moment to point out what I think the people of Israel need to realize as well in this point in history.

00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:51.920
 And we as God's people need to hold on to it now.

00:07:52.340 --> 00:07:59.340
 The moment we latch our hope and expectations on anything that will fade away, we will be disappointed.

00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:01.420
 So what do we put our hope in?

00:08:01.420 --> 00:08:11.259
 We put our hope not in a man from our nation, not in a personality or a charismatic leader for a congregation.

00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:17.460
 We put our hope in the word of God, specifically the living word of God, Jesus Christ.

00:08:17.819 --> 00:08:19.180
 We will never be disappointed.

00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:24.500
 One nation after another, one man after another will wither and fade away.

00:08:24.580 --> 00:08:27.759
 But the word of the Lord stands forever.

00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:35.759
 Jesus said in Matthew 24, 35, heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:38.980
 The word of the Lord stands forever.

00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:41.980
 Because the Lord is all powerful.

00:08:42.620 --> 00:08:45.259
 He preserves and sustains his people by his word.

00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:47.080
 Here's the second observation.

00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:50.100
 Only God is the king of kings.

00:08:50.560 --> 00:08:53.620
 And the words of all others fall short.

00:08:54.420 --> 00:08:56.800
 Only God is king of kings.

00:08:57.500 --> 00:09:00.600
 The words of all others fall short.

00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:04.460
 The word of God alone is pure.

00:09:05.460 --> 00:09:07.300
 I want to set up three contrasts.

00:09:07.300 --> 00:09:08.300
 And this is the first one.

00:09:08.779 --> 00:09:11.759
 The words of this king from Israel are not pure.

00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:12.840
 Look at verse two.

00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:16.360
 Saul chose for himself 30,000 men of Israel.

00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:20.980
 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash in the mountains of Bethel.

00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:25.180
 And 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin.

00:09:25.179 --> 00:09:30.759
 It's the first time Jonathan is mentioned and he's not attached to his son, to his father.

00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:33.239
 He's not referred to the son of Saul.

00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:35.439
 He's separated.

00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:41.219
 The son of someone is really what their whole identity and what they're all about represents.

00:09:42.099 --> 00:09:43.839
 And he's not called the son of Saul.

00:09:43.939 --> 00:09:44.879
 He's special.

00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:47.219
 Let's pay note of this Jonathan.

00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:53.759
 In verse three, we read that Jonathan attacked the garrison of the Philistines that was in Gibeah.

00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:56.300
 And the Philistines heard of it.

00:09:57.019 --> 00:09:58.220
 Now pay close attention here.

00:09:58.540 --> 00:09:59.259
 What does Saul do?

00:09:59.960 --> 00:10:05.560
 Saul then blew the trumpet throughout all the land saying, let the Hebrews hear.

00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:10.019
 Notice he doesn't say let them hear the truth that Jonathan did it.

00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:13.660
 But let them hear a politically charged twisting of the facts.

00:10:14.340 --> 00:10:15.620
 A grabbing of the credit.

00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:18.360
 It's calculated propaganda.

00:10:18.560 --> 00:10:23.279
 Let Israel hear that Saul attacked a garrison of the Philistines.

00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:29.980
 And that Israel also had become an abomination to the Philistines.

00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:31.820
 Literally a stench.

00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:33.879
 They've become odious.

00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:41.159
 So the Philistines are now setting up garrisons or fortified battalions in all these Jewish cities.

00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:43.840
 Israel is occupied by the Philistines.

00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:49.040
 And under Philistine rule, they're crippling the people of God inside the promised land.

00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:55.500
 Jonathan goes to this garrison in Gibeah of Benjamin.

00:10:55.620 --> 00:11:01.320
 The exact location in 1 Samuel 10 that the Lord told Saul to go and conquer.

00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:03.139
 Saul didn't do it.

00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:06.220
 And now Jonathan did what the father neglected to do.

00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:12.139
 And Saul turns around and wants the people to hear that he is the one who did it.

00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:17.300
 The words of King Saul are not pure words.

00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:23.479
 When God is the king of Israel, the people enjoy the pure word of God.

00:11:23.579 --> 00:11:28.779
 Remember, as Samuel was ministering God to the people, not a word that he spoke fell to the ground.

00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:29.740
 The Lord wouldn't let it.

00:11:29.819 --> 00:11:30.979
 The words of God were pure.

00:11:31.819 --> 00:11:35.719
 And the people could prosper and enjoy peace with God as their king.

00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:44.840
 And the second contrast is that the word of God alone can fill weak men with divine power.

00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:48.399
 Notice what Saul's trying to do.

00:11:48.560 --> 00:11:50.480
 He's trying to muster up the troops.

00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:54.040
 Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land saying,

00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:56.539
 Here's what happened, people.

00:11:57.179 --> 00:11:58.099
 Come, rise up.

00:11:58.980 --> 00:12:01.120
 And this blowing of a trumpet and calling the people.

00:12:01.559 --> 00:12:08.159
 We're told this happened also in Judges chapter 3, verses 26 and 27, by the mighty judge, Ehud.

00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:13.399
 The difference is that Ehud was doing this under God's orders, with God as the king.

00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:20.159
 And Saul, let's see whether he is able to fill these weak men with the power that God could.

00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:25.860
 He said the people were called together to Saul at Gilgal.

00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:31.600
 Well, that's where we left off, where Samuel had preached this wonderful, powerful message.

00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:33.000
 And he had pointed in Gilgal.

00:12:33.079 --> 00:12:35.860
 Here's the 12 stones from inside the Jordan River.

00:12:36.679 --> 00:12:41.279
 It's the same place as Samuel after the Lord defeated the Ammonites.

00:12:42.199 --> 00:12:44.939
 But how will it go now with Saul as the king?

00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:47.819
 We read in verse 5,

00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:51.280
 The Philistines then gathered together to fight with Israel.

00:12:52.280 --> 00:12:53.820
 30,000 chariots.

00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:57.140
 Now, the same word for thousand is regiment.

00:12:58.020 --> 00:13:01.120
 So most likely the Philistines didn't report their exact number.

00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:05.040
 It could have been exactly 30,000, or it could have been from the Israelite perspective.

00:13:05.180 --> 00:13:09.180
 Here's 30 different banners, and each one of those representing a regiment.

00:13:09.179 --> 00:13:15.120
 And the point is made really clear to us with an expression that comes next in verse 5.

00:13:15.219 --> 00:13:21.000
 The people of the Philistines were as the sand, which is on the seashore in multitude.

00:13:22.579 --> 00:13:27.919
 Well, this should also get our attention because we're in the promised land, the land that God promised to Abraham.

00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:33.439
 And God promised Abraham that his descendants would be like sand on the seashore.

00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:37.100
 But now it's the Philistines that are matching that description.

00:13:39.660 --> 00:13:46.860
 And the Philistines came up and encamped in Michmash to the east of Beth-Avon.

00:13:47.900 --> 00:13:53.280
 The Philistines have set up their line of attack in Benjamin.

00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:57.000
 This is the tribe where the king of Israel is from.

00:13:57.819 --> 00:14:00.240
 They're not beating around the bush or trying to flank.

00:14:00.339 --> 00:14:04.919
 They're going straight to the headquarters of the Israelite stronghold.

00:14:06.079 --> 00:14:09.600
 It's an aggressive stance these Philistines have now taken.

00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:20.159
 Michmash is just north of the site where Saul and his son Jonathan would be ready to go and fight.

00:14:20.839 --> 00:14:22.199
 This is their capital city.

00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:26.980
 So the Philistines are showing this is how dominant we are.

00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:28.659
 It's a very aggressive move.

00:14:28.839 --> 00:14:30.319
 They're calling Saul's bluff.

00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:34.459
 This is going to be like attacking Washington, D.C.

00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:37.879
 to just strike at the heart and bring the battle to an end.

00:14:39.319 --> 00:14:40.399
 Well, it works.

00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:42.360
 This aggressive move by the Philistines.

00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:44.459
 Look at the effect on God's people.

00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:48.659
 In verse 6, it's doomsday panic.

00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:51.480
 Which answers our question.

00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:57.680
 The word of Saul was incapable of filling God's people with power.

00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:02.799
 It's the word of God alone that can fill weak men with divine power.

00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:04.739
 And here's the third contrast.

00:15:05.339 --> 00:15:09.139
 The word of God alone can comfort the fears of his people.

00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:16.379
 The setup that we have in this passage is the same as in Joshua chapter 11, verse 4.

00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:18.379
 The enemy's armies come out.

00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:22.019
 And the language is used of the Canaanites in the book of Joshua.

00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:28.019
 As many people as the sand that is on the seashore with very many horses and chariots.

00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:32.000
 But Yahweh and Joshua says to the people,

00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:33.960
 Do not be afraid because of them.

00:15:34.319 --> 00:15:38.500
 For tomorrow, at this time, I will give all of them over to you.

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:40.519
 They will be slain before Israel.

00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:44.840
 And you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.

00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:48.399
 The word of the Lord comforts the fears of the people.

00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:53.879
 And in Joshua, that generation, they are filled with power from God.

00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:58.000
 They are confident in the Lord to give them the victory.

00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:03.699
 But notice under the leadership of Saul how this king's words fall flat.

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.000
 In verse 6,

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:19.360
 Imagine being one of these Israelites.

00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:27.259
 A cistern is where you try to pull up the water and let it sit there stale to make it through the dry months of the year.

00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.899
 And when it's dry, it's not much left in there.

00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:32.500
 You could jump in there and play hide and seek.

00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:34.899
 The people are following their king.

00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:36.960
 Remember where Saul was?

00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:37.940
 He couldn't be found anywhere.

00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:38.659
 He was hiding.

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:44.100
 They're in the promised land following the example of their king.

00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:51.799
 Imagine watching these Philistines go and take your home as you sit in a cave or a pit.

00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:56.080
 Watch your land be used by their troops.

00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:59.000
 When they see an Israelite scurrying around,

00:16:59.559 --> 00:17:02.000
 they say, oh, look at that stinky person.

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:04.200
 Odious, a stench.

00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:10.819
 They're forcing God's people to surrender in the very land God had promised to his people.

00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:14.539
 They had forgotten all of God's promises.

00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:20.200
 The people of God had no faith, no confidence, no hope.

00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:28.340
 We read in verse 7, some of the Hebrews even crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.

00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:33.440
 What a contrast we have where Joshua led the people into the promised land.

00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:38.740
 Under King Saul, the people are crossing back over the Jordan and abandoning the whole kingdom.

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:45.339
 See how the word of God alone can comfort the fears of his people.

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:49.059
 These words of King Saul fall flat.

00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:55.779
 Only God is the king of kings and the words of all others fall short.

00:17:55.779 --> 00:18:00.359
 The third observation for today from our passage is this.

00:18:01.139 --> 00:18:06.279
 Because God is Lord, his word is to be obeyed.

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:09.420
 Why should we obey God?

00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:10.940
 It's because he is Lord.

00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.779
 He's not been silent.

00:18:12.879 --> 00:18:14.119
 He's given us his word.

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:18.799
 And because he is Lord, the word of God is to be obeyed.

00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:19.759
 It's that simple.

00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:21.680
 Would you look at verse 8?

00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.720
 What happens next?

00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:31.279
 At Michmash, the headquarters of the Israelites where the Philistines are approaching to attack,

00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.099
 Jonathan stays there.

00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:36.059
 Saul then goes all the way to Gilgal.

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:40.939
 And this is where Samuel had led the people for a worship service.

00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:45.719
 And in Gilgal, these events take place in verse 8.

00:18:46.659 --> 00:18:51.980
 Saul waited there seven days, according to this time set by Samuel.

00:18:53.099 --> 00:19:00.339
 Now, a lot of time has passed between 1 Samuel chapter 10, verse 8 and 1 Samuel chapter 13.

00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:05.500
 But here are the words of God through Samuel to Saul.

00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:10.379
 Now, whether these were repeated other times, we're not given that information.

00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:15.419
 What is clear, though, is that God had spoken to Saul and he knew what he was to do.

00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:19.639
 What we are given is 1 Samuel chapter 10, verse 8.

00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.720
 You're welcome to flip there.

00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:22.919
 Samuel said,

00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:30.600
 Now, notice Samuel told Saul,

00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:33.180
 My role will be this, to be God's priest.

00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:37.900
 I will come down to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings.

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:41.180
 What's your role to do in this, King Saul?

00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:44.539
 You shall wait seven days until I come to you.

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:49.759
 And Samuel's role, not the king's role, is to be God's priest.

00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:51.379
 I will make you known.

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:58.159
 This offering on your behalf gives you access to God and then he'll be God's prophet.

00:19:58.599 --> 00:20:01.339
 I will tell you what you ought to do.

00:20:02.639 --> 00:20:05.339
 Now, we read in 1 Samuel chapter 13,

00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:10.299
 Samuel did not come to Gilgal and the people were scattered from Saul.

00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:11.460
 In verse 9,

00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.740
 So Saul said,

00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:16.000
 Bring a burnt offering and a peace offering here to me.

00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:20.099
 And Saul offered the burnt offering.

00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:22.419
 He didn't even get to the peace offering.

00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:27.279
 These offerings were additional laws.

00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:30.259
 God's law, the moral law transcendence,

00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:33.319
 the law of Romans 2 that's written on every man's heart and mind,

00:20:33.419 --> 00:20:34.220
 every man's conscience.

00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:37.200
 We know we are sinners before a holy God.

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:40.539
 But in the covenant with his people,

00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:42.799
 the Lord also gives additional laws.

00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:44.380
 In the garden, it was,

00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:47.559
 Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:51.980
 And garden keep, this garden expanded.

00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:57.700
 And the Ten Commandments and the Mount Sinai were the moral law codified for the people of God

00:20:57.700 --> 00:21:00.519
 in addition to ceremonial and civil laws.

00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:02.740
 Civil laws are laws for the kingdom.

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:07.240
 The ceremonial laws are laws foreshadowing the work of the great Lamb of God,

00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:08.120
 the sacrifice.

00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:14.039
 What Saul is breaking here is part of the ceremonial law.

00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:20.480
 The ceremonial law was for a priest to follow in Leviticus 1,

00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.940
 verses 8 and 9.

00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:22.380
 We read,

00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:41.540
 And the king of Israel was to copy down the law,

00:21:42.040 --> 00:21:44.520
 to be a king under the great king.

00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:47.500
 It was to be a king under the law.

00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:52.079
 But Israel wanted a king like all the other nations.

00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:53.779
 And that's exactly what they got.

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.900
 In the ancient Middle East,

00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:59.819
 it was common for the kings to offer sacrifices themselves.

00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:05.059
 An ancient manuscript reveals this prayer to Baal,

00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:08.740
 one of the gods that the Israelite people flirted with,

00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:12.839
 worshipped by the Canaanites as well as the Philistines.

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.119
 And the prayer was like this,

00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:17.539
 O Baal, chase the strong enemy from our gates,

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:19.659
 the mighty foe from our walls.

00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:22.079
 A bull, O Baal, we consecrate.

00:22:22.699 --> 00:22:24.259
 And then Baal will heal your prayer,

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:26.939
 and he will chase the strong enemy from your gates,

00:22:27.179 --> 00:22:29.439
 and the mighty foe from your walls.

00:22:30.699 --> 00:22:35.000
 So here is Saul doing what all the other kings of these pagan nations do,

00:22:35.679 --> 00:22:37.179
 not a man under the law.

00:22:38.219 --> 00:22:39.899
 We read in 1 Samuel 13,

00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:44.660
 Now it happened as soon as Saul had finished presenting the burnt offering,

00:22:45.360 --> 00:22:46.440
 that Samuel came.

00:22:46.780 --> 00:22:48.259
 See, he wasn't late at all.

00:22:49.040 --> 00:22:50.640
 He came as God said he would.

00:22:51.560 --> 00:22:53.420
 And Saul went out to meet him,

00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:55.140
 that he might greet him.

00:22:56.300 --> 00:22:56.900
 Verse 11,

00:22:57.080 --> 00:22:57.780
 Samuel said,

00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:58.680
 What have you done?

00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:06.320
 These are the same words in the Garden of Eden.

00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:10.860
 The Lord knows where Adam went,

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.600
 but God still asks him,

00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:14.120
 Adam, where have you gone?

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:17.680
 The Lord knew what Eve did,

00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:19.039
 but the Lord asked her,

00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:20.340
 Eve, what have you done?

00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:23.039
 You see the patient God,

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:25.140
 the same God of all the Bible.

00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:30.080
 Both God and Samuel knew exactly what Saul had just done,

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:32.780
 but the Lord ministers to him.

00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:37.640
 Well, just like Adam and Eve shifted the blame for their sin,

00:23:38.520 --> 00:23:40.000
 notice how nothing has changed.

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.180
 Saul is proud,

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:44.640
 and he shifts the blame in at least three ways.

00:23:44.780 --> 00:23:45.060
 First,

00:23:46.280 --> 00:23:49.320
 he blamed those over whom he was responsible.

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.920
 He says the troops were scattering.

00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:54.259
 He had 3,000,

00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:55.519
 left 1,000 with Jonathan,

00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:56.779
 2,000 for himself,

00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:58.920
 from 3,000 down to 600.

00:24:00.320 --> 00:24:03.039
 Well, isn't that exactly the type of army that God uses?

00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:04.720
 Think of Gideon.

00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:08.300
 The Lord intentionally whittled down the numbers of the troops.

00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:11.720
 That should not have been a reason to lose faith.

00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:13.560
 Number two,

00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:15.240
 Saul blamed God's servant.

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.980
 Samuel didn't come.

00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:19.720
 Isn't that just what we want to do?

00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:23.819
 Rather than letting the Lord humble us,

00:24:24.120 --> 00:24:24.900
 confess our sin,

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:27.980
 we want to blame anyone else.

00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.279
 And number three,

00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:30.480
 he blames the situation.

00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:35.579
 He says the Philistines gathered to strike your people,

00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:35.819
 God.

00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:37.360
 They're under imminent attack,

00:24:37.360 --> 00:24:40.980
 as if he could care more about God's people than God himself.

00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:43.180
 He says in verse 12,

00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:44.980
 I felt compelled.

00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:47.019
 If I don't do this,

00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:47.900
 no one will.

00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:47.940
 No one will.

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.480
 Remember,

00:24:55.620 --> 00:24:57.440
 would you just turn back to chapter 12?

00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:02.160
 God's word is known to Saul and to God's people.

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:04.240
 Look at chapter 12,

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:05.100
 verse 23.

00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:07.920
 The final words we have from the prophet,

00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:10.120
 the one who speaks on God's behalf.

00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:11.019
 12,

00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:11.519
 23,

00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:13.719
 Samuel says to the people,

00:25:13.719 --> 00:25:17.259
 I will teach you the good and the right way.

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.379
 Verse 24,

00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:25.379
 only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart for consider what great things he has done for you.

00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:28.840
 But if you still do wickedly,

00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:30.520
 you shall be swept away,

00:25:30.520 --> 00:25:32.380
 both you and your king.

00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:35.860
 And now in chapter 13,

00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:36.660
 verse 13,

00:25:37.280 --> 00:25:40.240
 Samuel connects the dots.

00:25:41.800 --> 00:25:44.200
 You have done foolishly.

00:25:45.060 --> 00:25:47.260
 You have not kept the commandment of the Lord,

00:25:47.320 --> 00:25:47.680
 your God,

00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.760
 which he commanded you.

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:55.940
 Proverbs 10a says that the wise in heart hear and humbly receive the commands of God.

00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:58.019
 But it's a prating fool,

00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.119
 the proud,

00:25:59.339 --> 00:25:59.680
 ignorant,

00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.839
 babbling talker.

00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:02.339
 He will fall.

00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:06.079
 Why do we listen to God's word?

00:26:06.159 --> 00:26:08.879
 And why does God expect his people to hear his word?

00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:12.299
 It's because God alone is Lord.

00:26:13.399 --> 00:26:16.059
 And the Lord deserves to be obeyed.

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:18.980
 Well,

00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:20.839
 the final observation for today is this,

00:26:20.919 --> 00:26:24.059
 that because the Lord is a covenant keeping God,

00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:26.379
 his word is binding.

00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:29.559
 Because the Lord is a covenant keeping God,

00:26:29.939 --> 00:26:30.819
 his word is binding.

00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:34.519
 Let's start at verse 13.

00:26:34.899 --> 00:26:38.919
 For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:42.139
 But you disobeyed.

00:26:44.699 --> 00:26:45.179
 Well,

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:47.519
 who would have come next in the line after Saul?

00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:51.039
 We already heard of this great accomplishment by Jonathan.

00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:52.459
 The Lord was with him.

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:55.379
 The Lord gave this garrison of the Philistines to Jonathan.

00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:59.980
 But how devastating the sin of the father now upon his own son,

00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.459
 Jonathan.

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:04.660
 The curses of sin carry over.

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:07.440
 There's already a hint.

00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:10.720
 There's an attractive inclination toward Jonathan.

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.819
 We read in verse 14,

00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:15.539
 but now your kingdom shall not continue.

00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:18.539
 He had just said in chapter 12,

00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:22.519
 that blessings are reserved only for the obedient man,

00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:24.299
 a righteous king.

00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:31.119
 So now he tells Saul that the Lord has sought for himself,

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:34.500
 a man after his own heart.

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:35.940
 See,

00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:37.039
 the Lord has sought.

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:41.319
 Saul is the king that the people had sought.

00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:44.460
 The Lord seeks.

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:46.439
 Why does he seek a different type of king?

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:48.179
 He seeks a king for himself.

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:50.000
 What will this king be like?

00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:50.159
 Well,

00:27:50.179 --> 00:27:51.559
 he will be a man.

00:27:51.639 --> 00:27:52.579
 He will be a mediator.

00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:54.519
 And what's his qualification?

00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:58.619
 He will be after God's own heart.

00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.539
 For what purpose?

00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:09.139
 It's because the Lord has commanded this man to be a commander over his people.

00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:15.160
 We know that what the people deserve because of their king's sin is banishment.

00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:17.680
 If you disobey,

00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:19.200
 you will be swept away.

00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:20.580
 That's why Samuel just told them.

00:28:20.620 --> 00:28:21.220
 And here their king,

00:28:21.300 --> 00:28:22.580
 their federal head that they chose,

00:28:22.860 --> 00:28:23.740
 has disobeyed.

00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:26.040
 Samuel is prosecuting the covenant.

00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:30.500
 And what they deserve is to not have the land and not have a king.

00:28:30.580 --> 00:28:32.660
 But what does the Lord give them in this verse?

00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.680
 In verse 14,

00:28:34.780 --> 00:28:35.060
 he says,

00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:37.160
 the Lord will give you a better king.

00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:38.259
 See,

00:28:38.320 --> 00:28:41.580
 they deserve curses and the Lord's promising blessings.

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:49.259
 I will give you a better king who will be a commander on God's behalf over his people.

00:28:49.540 --> 00:28:50.500
 It's a blessing.

00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:52.980
 See,

00:28:53.060 --> 00:28:55.740
 you have not kept the Lord's commandment,

00:28:55.840 --> 00:28:55.960
 Saul.

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:58.140
 And if you do wickedly,

00:28:58.800 --> 00:28:59.180
 you,

00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:01.500
 the king and the people will be banished.

00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:04.700
 But yet God's promise is greater than Saul.

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.820
 It's greater than this generation.

00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:10.540
 God promising right now,

00:29:11.120 --> 00:29:14.880
 a seed of the woman who will crush the serpent's head.

00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.759
 We read in verse 15,

00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:19.980
 Samuel rose up and went from Gilgal,

00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:22.740
 way down where Joshua crossed the river,

00:29:22.820 --> 00:29:23.820
 where the 12 stones are.

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:26.500
 He went all the way up to the capital where Benjamin was,

00:29:27.060 --> 00:29:28.560
 where the capital of Benjamin,

00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.080
 Gidea,

00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.779
 where Jonathan,

00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:30.540
 his son was.

00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:33.559
 That's where Samuel goes.

00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:35.819
 He's representing the word of God.

00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:36.879
 No longer with Saul.

00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:39.559
 The word of God is going to where Jonathan is.

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.839
 From Samuel's perspective,

00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:45.579
 he doesn't likely know how the Lord will unfold all of redemptive history.

00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:48.779
 I imagine Samuel maybe even grieving.

00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:52.579
 He just had to deliver this news now to Saul.

00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.220
 It won't be Jonathan.

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.659
 It can't be from your line.

00:29:56.439 --> 00:29:58.240
 And now Samuel goes back to be with Jonathan.

00:29:58.240 --> 00:30:04.859
 A brief observation for the next generations within the church.

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:11.380
 It's think of how Samuel had done his best to raise his family in the Lord,

00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:13.019
 and they were evil,

00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:13.740
 corrupt.

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:15.620
 Now think of how Saul,

00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:17.859
 a man not under God's law,

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:20.779
 is blessed with a son like Jonathan.

00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:24.420
 It's the Lord who seeks and raises up.

00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:28.160
 And if anyone of the next generation follows the Lord,

00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.339
 all glory be to God.

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.899
 No credit be to the parents.

00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:38.339
 Saul numbered the people present with him about 600.

00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:40.379
 In verse 16,

00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:40.700
 Saul,

00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:41.200
 Jonathan,

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.259
 his son,

00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:44.859
 and the people were now present,

00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:47.839
 and they remained in Gibeah of Benjamin.

00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:50.899
 But the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:57.399
 The king's disobedience has been publicly exposed and condemned.

00:30:58.119 --> 00:31:00.119
 His judgment has been pronounced.

00:31:01.699 --> 00:31:05.139
 The people deserve the curses for a fallen king.

00:31:06.699 --> 00:31:11.079
 And yet there's a promise of a king that the Lord shall raise up

00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:13.359
 and look beyond Jonathan.

00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:18.039
 Things get worse before they get better.

00:31:18.199 --> 00:31:19.099
 Look at verse 17.

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:23.179
 Then the raiders of the Philistines came out of the camp of the Philistines

00:31:23.179 --> 00:31:24.219
 in three companies.

00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:28.219
 And they're able to raid and pillage and steal from the people

00:31:28.219 --> 00:31:30.240
 because the people have no weapons.

00:31:31.179 --> 00:31:32.439
 They were already weak.

00:31:34.379 --> 00:31:37.219
 The Philistines already dominated them politically.

00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:41.139
 Now they dominate them economically and with their military.

00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:45.140
 It's a people with no hope,

00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:46.340
 made even weaker,

00:31:46.800 --> 00:31:47.840
 even more crippled.

00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:49.800
 In verse 19,

00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:53.080
 we see how the Philistines had not allowed the Israelites

00:31:53.080 --> 00:31:54.500
 to even have a blacksmith.

00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:58.320
 They could barely have enough metal tools to farm,

00:31:58.780 --> 00:32:01.300
 much less could they turn those metal tools into weapons.

00:32:03.540 --> 00:32:05.060
 We read in verse 22,

00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:07.960
 So it came about on the day of battle

00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:10.240
 that there was neither sword nor spear

00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:13.720
 found in the hand of any of the people

00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:15.659
 who were with Saul and Jonathan.

00:32:16.460 --> 00:32:18.679
 You see the stage that's been set for us.

00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:20.440
 No hope.

00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:25.159
 But then we're left with this verse.

00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:26.659
 In verse 22,

00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:29.619
 They were found with Jonathan,

00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:33.279
 Saul and Jonathan, his son.

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:35.000
 In verse 23,

00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:36.460
 And the garrison of the Philistines

00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:39.519
 went out to the pass of Michmash.

00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:43.180
 Before we see this reversal

00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:44.539
 of what the Lord's going to do

00:32:44.539 --> 00:32:46.480
 with all the odds against his people,

00:32:47.139 --> 00:32:50.299
 we're to leave this chapter with these two men.

00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.500
 There's the people of Israel.

00:32:52.839 --> 00:32:54.299
 There's the great threat of the enemy.

00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:56.559
 There's no resources available to the people,

00:32:56.660 --> 00:32:57.539
 but there is Saul

00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:59.319
 and there's his son Jonathan.

00:32:59.319 --> 00:33:03.099
 That's the lasting impression we have.

00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:07.019
 Two men put side by side.

00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:11.379
 The needs of the nation are very clear.

00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:15.359
 Saul reminds us of Adam,

00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.899
 that federal head

00:33:16.899 --> 00:33:19.419
 from whom came curses and banishment,

00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.379
 no hope.

00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:23.819
 And who does Jonathan point us to?

00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:27.919
 Remember, the name Saul means asked for.

00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:29.879
 It's exactly what the people asked for.

00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:33.539
 The name Jonathan means the Lord gives.

00:33:34.919 --> 00:33:37.859
 The name Nathan means to give.

00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:39.439
 He gave.

00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:43.099
 And Jehovah Nathan,

00:33:44.119 --> 00:33:45.339
 or sometimes it's shortened,

00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:46.879
 Yehonathan.

00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:51.160
 That means Yahweh, Jehovah, gives.

00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:57.100
 Do you see what's being hinted at right now?

00:33:58.160 --> 00:34:00.420
 The people deserve curses.

00:34:00.900 --> 00:34:03.380
 They deserve to get exactly what they asked for.

00:34:04.100 --> 00:34:07.640
 But because God is a covenant-keeping God,

00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:10.360
 he binds himself to his word.

00:34:11.220 --> 00:34:12.840
 Yahweh gives grace.

00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:16.619
 And he gives grace to those who deserve curses.

00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:19.860
 How does he give grace?

00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.780
 John 3.16.

00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:25.980
 Because God is love.

00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:28.900
 That he so gave his only son,

00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:30.960
 much greater than Jonathan.

00:34:32.640 --> 00:34:34.059
 He so loves the world,

00:34:34.140 --> 00:34:35.980
 he gave his only son, Jesus Christ,

00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:37.240
 that whosoever,

00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:40.260
 Philistine or fearful Israelite,

00:34:40.700 --> 00:34:42.960
 whoever will believe in his son, Jesus,

00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:45.140
 will have eternal life.

00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:48.119
 He's a covenant-keeping God.

00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:49.359
 Deuteronomy 7.9.

00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:51.719
 Therefore, know that the Lord your God,

00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:52.819
 he is God,

00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:54.199
 the faithful God,

00:34:54.319 --> 00:34:55.960
 who keeps covenant and mercy

00:34:55.960 --> 00:34:57.579
 for a thousand generations

00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:59.179
 with those who love him

00:34:59.179 --> 00:35:00.500
 and keep his commandments.

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:03.699
 The problem of the Israelites

00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:05.099
 is our problem under Adam.

00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:06.519
 We can't keep his commandments.

00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:08.480
 So how can we expect him

00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:10.699
 to be a covenant-keeping God to us?

00:35:11.619 --> 00:35:13.519
 And it's only because Jesus Christ

00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:15.460
 came as our federal head,

00:35:15.500 --> 00:35:16.420
 as our great king.

00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:18.619
 Jesus said in John 15.10,

00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:21.920
 I have kept my father's commandments

00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:25.360
 and I abide in his love.

00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:28.119
 So now you keep my commandments

00:35:28.119 --> 00:35:30.599
 and abide in my love.

00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:33.219
 This is good news for you and me.

00:35:34.299 --> 00:35:35.639
 In 1 John 3.24,

00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:36.380
 we're told,

00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:39.779
 By this we know that he abides in us,

00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:43.420
 by the spirit whom he has given us.

00:35:44.259 --> 00:35:46.579
 He is a covenant-keeping God.

00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:49.279
 So much so that he himself

00:35:49.279 --> 00:35:50.400
 kept the covenant

00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:52.599
 his people never could keep

00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:54.039
 so that we don't have to

00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:55.839
 flee across the Jordan

00:35:55.839 --> 00:35:58.299
 or hide in caves and caverns.

00:35:58.300 --> 00:36:00.220
 We don't have to be afraid

00:36:00.220 --> 00:36:00.960
 of the enemies

00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:02.740
 that want to wipe out

00:36:02.740 --> 00:36:04.000
 the people of God on earth.

00:36:04.580 --> 00:36:06.700
 We are secure in Jesus Christ.

00:36:07.560 --> 00:36:08.580
 He guards us.

00:36:08.900 --> 00:36:09.820
 He's our protector.

00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:11.620
 Much greater than Jonathan.

00:36:11.820 --> 00:36:12.840
 Much greater than Gideon.

00:36:13.220 --> 00:36:14.260
 Much greater than David.

00:36:15.700 --> 00:36:17.000
 God's very own son.

00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:19.740
 He's the living word of God.

00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:21.019
 We abide in him

00:36:21.019 --> 00:36:22.519
 and his word in us.

00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:24.480
 And by his spirit,

00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:26.519
 his righteousness becomes ours.

00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:28.320
 He bears the fruit

00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:30.000
 and the lives of his people.

00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:32.420
 We're going to sing a song

00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:34.219
 that helps us as the church

00:36:34.219 --> 00:36:37.719
 to relate to the people of Israel

00:36:37.719 --> 00:36:38.780
 in this life

00:36:38.780 --> 00:36:40.579
 using language from the New Testament.

00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:42.679
 May this be your prayer

00:36:42.679 --> 00:36:45.179
 if you rely on Jesus

00:36:45.179 --> 00:36:47.099
 as the covenant-keeping God

00:36:47.099 --> 00:36:49.400
 binding himself to his word.

00:36:50.300 --> 00:36:50.960
 Guide me,

00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:52.559
 O thou great Jehovah,

00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:55.099
 pilgrim through this barren land.

00:36:55.099 --> 00:36:56.360
 I am weak,

00:36:56.699 --> 00:36:57.880
 but thou art mighty.

00:36:58.279 --> 00:37:00.539
 Hold me with thy powerful hands.

00:37:01.239 --> 00:37:02.279
 Strong deliverer,

00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:04.799
 be thou still my strength and shield.

00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:07.019
 Strong deliverer,

00:37:07.019 --> 00:37:09.579
 be thou still my strength and shield.

00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:12.179
 Let's go to the Lord in prayer

00:37:12.179 --> 00:37:13.900
 and thank him for his living,

00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:16.559
 powerful, covenant-keeping word.

00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.059
 Lord.

00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:17.059


00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:17.500
 Amen.

00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:17.960
 Amen.

00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:17.960


00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:18.400
 Amen.

00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400


00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.400