WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:10.519 ! Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:15.720 All right, we're in a series, right? The old, old story. 00:00:17.240 --> 00:00:19.879 It's on how God rescues and restores. 00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:23.559 And here's the thing to really keep in mind, right? 00:00:24.060 --> 00:00:28.420 Is that all the stories of the Old Testament, they're about Jesus. 00:00:29.380 --> 00:00:30.300 It's all about Him. 00:00:30.840 --> 00:00:35.500 In Luke 24, Jesus told two of His disciples that all of Scripture, 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:39.179 He was referring to the Old Testament, is about Him. 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:45.299 And so as we approach these older texts in the Old Testament, 00:00:45.859 --> 00:00:49.579 we have the benefit of looking through the cross at them. 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:54.820 And we know all the stories are about Jesus, that He is the hero in every story. 00:00:54.820 --> 00:00:59.280 And here's what we know, too, as we read these stories. 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:06.140 As followers of Jesus, we live in a world that's broken, and we do need rescue. 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:07.739 But here's the thing that we know. 00:01:07.859 --> 00:01:10.340 We know the name of the man who's going to fix, 00:01:11.219 --> 00:01:14.439 and is fixing what is wrong with the world. 00:01:14.439 --> 00:01:19.159 And He is working on what's wrong with the world. 00:01:19.219 --> 00:01:20.980 And it's usually us, right? 00:01:21.060 --> 00:01:22.340 It's what's wrong with us. 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:23.819 He's rescuing us. 00:01:24.299 --> 00:01:26.560 He's the hero in all of these stories. 00:01:27.179 --> 00:01:28.379 This is His story. 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:31.739 Every time we open God's Word, it's about Jesus. 00:01:32.739 --> 00:01:36.099 And so that's how we want to approach our text this morning, 00:01:36.819 --> 00:01:40.019 is to know that we're going to see Jesus in this text. 00:01:40.019 --> 00:01:43.719 And so we are in 1 Samuel 16. 00:01:44.579 --> 00:01:48.679 It's the story of David, how David is anointed as king. 00:01:49.579 --> 00:01:52.539 And in the storyline of everything that we're in currently, 00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:56.439 we have been seeing sort of one after another, 00:01:56.699 --> 00:02:00.140 a judge, a leader that God raises up to lead Israel. 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:04.179 And the final one that God raises up is Samuel. 00:02:04.180 --> 00:02:07.120 But in the history of Israel, 00:02:07.240 --> 00:02:10.300 this is at a point where the people of Israel, 00:02:11.180 --> 00:02:14.439 God's people have said, well, we want a king. 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:16.900 We want a king like the other nations. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:17.760 And God says, okay. 00:02:18.540 --> 00:02:22.060 And so Samuel goes and picks a king through God's leading. 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:23.460 And he picks Saul. 00:02:24.020 --> 00:02:28.840 And Saul, it turns out, at least three times recorded, 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:31.340 he dishonors God. 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:35.520 And so we are at a point where we're going to see 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:39.300 where God is going to pick another king to replace Saul. 00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:43.159 And this is the story of how that happens. 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:45.640 So this is from 1 Samuel 16. 00:02:47.099 --> 00:02:49.340 This is God's written word. 00:02:49.420 --> 00:02:50.520 So take a deep breath. 00:02:51.020 --> 00:02:52.580 You know, put your cell phones away. 00:02:54.140 --> 00:02:55.740 Let your heart slow down. 00:02:56.939 --> 00:02:59.159 Let God take care of the world. 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:02.120 Receive God's word. 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:05.840 The Lord said to Samuel, 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:08.759 how long will you grieve over Saul 00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:11.900 since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? 00:03:12.780 --> 00:03:15.020 Fill your horn with oil and go. 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:18.579 I will send you to Jesse, the Bethlehemite. 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:22.900 For I have provided for myself a king among his sons. 00:03:23.359 --> 00:03:25.900 And Samuel said, how can I go? 00:03:26.019 --> 00:03:28.300 If Saul hears it, he will kill me. 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:32.939 And the Lord said, take a heifer with you and say, 00:03:33.260 --> 00:03:35.219 I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. 00:03:35.640 --> 00:03:37.820 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice. 00:03:38.160 --> 00:03:40.520 And I will show you what you shall do. 00:03:41.020 --> 00:03:45.200 And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you. 00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:49.660 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. 00:03:50.320 --> 00:03:53.360 The elders of the city came to meet him, trembling, and said, 00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:55.280 Do you come peaceably? 00:03:55.980 --> 00:04:00.140 And he said, peaceably, I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. 00:04:00.920 --> 00:04:04.140 Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice. 00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:09.100 And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 00:04:10.140 --> 00:04:13.540 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, 00:04:13.880 --> 00:04:16.379 surely the Lord's anointed is before him. 00:04:16.379 --> 00:04:22.420 But the Lord said to Samuel, do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, 00:04:22.420 --> 00:04:24.219 because I have rejected him. 00:04:24.779 --> 00:04:27.480 For the Lord sees not as man sees. 00:04:28.339 --> 00:04:33.819 Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 00:04:34.540 --> 00:04:38.040 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. 00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:40.879 And he said, neither has the Lord chosen this one. 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:47.259 Then Jesse made Shema pass by, and he said, neither has the Lord chosen this one. 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:50.540 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. 00:04:50.659 --> 00:04:54.420 And Samuel said to Jesse, the Lord has not chosen these. 00:04:55.139 --> 00:04:58.279 Then Samuel said to Jesse, are all your sons here? 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:03.500 And he said, there remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep. 00:05:04.159 --> 00:05:09.959 And Samuel said to Jesse, send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here. 00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:12.359 And he sent and brought him in. 00:05:13.039 --> 00:05:15.879 Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. 00:05:16.599 --> 00:05:20.579 And the Lord said, arise, anoint him, for this is he. 00:05:21.180 --> 00:05:25.599 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:30.060 And the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:32.459 And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:34.759 This is the written word of God. 00:05:35.459 --> 00:05:36.459 Thanks be to God. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:39.240 Father, go before us now. 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:41.319 We know we want to see Jesus. 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:43.600 We want to see Jesus high and lifted up. 00:05:44.139 --> 00:05:52.780 Show us how these stories, these true stories, how it is we can see how you have chosen to rescue us, 00:05:53.259 --> 00:05:55.840 to rescue your people in these stories. 00:05:55.840 --> 00:05:59.840 And how we can end at the foot of the cross and to look into the face of Jesus. 00:06:00.540 --> 00:06:06.240 And find our joy and find our peace and find the true forgiveness and the true king that we long for. 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:08.840 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:06:09.280 --> 00:06:09.540 Amen. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:10.160 Amen. 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:12.840 So let me ask you this question. 00:06:12.900 --> 00:06:15.360 Because it's hard as you read Old Testament texts, right? 00:06:15.400 --> 00:06:17.079 How do they apply today? 00:06:17.480 --> 00:06:19.360 How do they apply to you right now? 00:06:20.019 --> 00:06:21.199 So let me start this way. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:25.319 In your life, as you go about your day, do you ever feel behind? 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:32.439 Like I'm not necessarily talking about feeling behind like in, you know, your bills or just, you know, things you need to do, 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:34.259 the stuff that are left undone around the house. 00:06:34.339 --> 00:06:35.779 Man, that's just like me all the time. 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:38.040 But what about something a little bit bigger? 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:42.620 Do you feel behind in who you should be by now? 00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:49.280 Do you feel behind in where you should be in life by now? 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:54.939 Oh, man, about three or four weeks ago, Derek and I were out in an afternoon. 00:06:55.220 --> 00:06:59.340 And we ended up talking to one of the servers at this place that we were at. 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:06.600 And she was telling us that her 10th year high school reunion was coming up. 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:11.980 And so, you know, I have a thing about high school reunions, and I'll tell you in a second. 00:07:12.100 --> 00:07:15.500 But she said, I asked her, I said, are you going to go to your 10th high school reunion? 00:07:15.640 --> 00:07:18.780 And she said, no, I don't, that's not my thing. 00:07:18.820 --> 00:07:19.720 I don't want to do that. 00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:23.320 And I thought, man, this is somebody I get. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:24.320 I understand that. 00:07:25.100 --> 00:07:30.700 Because how I feel about high school reunions, I think maybe the best example I can give is from the Simpsons. 00:07:33.180 --> 00:07:33.860 Homer Simpson. 00:07:33.860 --> 00:07:35.900 All right, so here's an episode. 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:38.600 Homer goes back to his high school reunion. 00:07:39.220 --> 00:07:40.460 And you know how they give awards? 00:07:41.580 --> 00:07:45.580 So he's back at his reunion, and he gets an award. 00:07:45.760 --> 00:07:46.439 He gets three of them. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:50.660 And the first of them is the one who gained the most weight since he was away from school. 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:55.260 And they asked him, they said, Homer, Homer, how did you do it? 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:59.020 And Homer said that he had discovered a meal between breakfast and brunch. 00:07:59.019 --> 00:08:07.799 The second thing, award that he won, he got an award for the most improved odor. 00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:17.939 Third thing he got, he got an award for the person who traveled the least distance to be here. 00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:21.500 Now, I love his response. 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:23.959 They said, you know, Homer, tell us. 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:25.620 And he said, what can I say? 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.899 It hasn't been easy staying in my rut. 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:33.080 Now, I don't like class reunions. 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:35.299 And this typifies exactly why I don't. 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:38.580 I've never been to any of my class reunions, and there have been a bunch of them. 00:08:38.580 --> 00:08:45.280 I don't like to go to class reunions for the same reason like Homer here, right? 00:08:46.800 --> 00:08:47.560 Because guess what? 00:08:48.040 --> 00:08:49.340 People are going to look at your appearance. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:50.920 It's superficial. 00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:54.720 They're going to wonder how you smell, right? 00:08:55.860 --> 00:08:58.540 And it's about accomplishments or the lack of accomplishments. 00:08:58.540 --> 00:08:59.560 It's exhausting. 00:09:02.680 --> 00:09:08.500 Since I knew this young lady, she was going to her 10th anniversary. 00:09:08.660 --> 00:09:09.759 I knew her age, right? 00:09:09.800 --> 00:09:10.379 I had an idea. 00:09:11.400 --> 00:09:13.160 And she lived in Huntsville all her life. 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:14.240 She went to Lee High School. 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:19.600 And she was currently living in her parents' house that she and her husband had bought from her dad. 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:24.139 And she told me something that was really sad. 00:09:24.780 --> 00:09:29.060 She said that she would love to have kids, but really can't afford it. 00:09:30.020 --> 00:09:32.080 And see, she's the age of my kids. 00:09:32.920 --> 00:09:37.040 And I know for a fact that that generation feels behind. 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:37.159 They feel behind. 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:41.860 They feel behind that they can't have the life that their parents had. 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:46.579 In fact, this is a woman who's like living in her home that she grew up in, right? 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:51.379 She's going to get the award for the least traveled for her reunion. 00:09:52.219 --> 00:09:53.319 And I could feel it. 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:55.480 I feel that. 00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:56.759 And I'm going to tell you why I feel it. 00:09:56.779 --> 00:09:59.939 Because that morning, I was at a coffee shop. 00:09:59.940 --> 00:10:03.500 I said I needed about an hour to kind of regroup and do a few things. 00:10:03.700 --> 00:10:05.440 And I sat next to two older men. 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:09.140 They're not much older than me, but they were at retirement age, you know, baby boomers. 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:12.860 And they, I promise you, the whole time. 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:15.820 And I couldn't get any work done because I sat there sort of listening. 00:10:16.340 --> 00:10:17.480 Because they were right behind me. 00:10:18.100 --> 00:10:18.900 And they're like me. 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:20.400 I'm losing my hearing, so I talk loud. 00:10:20.560 --> 00:10:21.640 They were talking really loud, too. 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:25.899 And they were talking, I promise you, the whole time. 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:31.519 It was about their 401k, how it's doing, you know, where they were drawing on it. 00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:34.379 Their social security, health insurance. 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:36.819 You know, where to invest. 00:10:36.939 --> 00:10:39.159 All the things that are going on in government stuff. 00:10:39.340 --> 00:10:40.240 Where are they going to get their money? 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:41.460 How it's going to affect them. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:48.679 And as I listened to them, I realized, man, I am really far behind on anything to do with retirement. 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:54.699 So I immediately started to feel like, yeah, just like my kids at the time. 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:57.159 And so I thought, you know, I'm a baby boomer, but I'm from the tail end. 00:10:57.219 --> 00:10:59.919 And I try to figure out, how could I feel better about this? 00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:02.779 I'm behind, but I got to figure out, how can I feel better? 00:11:03.199 --> 00:11:09.159 And I remembered hearing that there's a generation that is at the tail end of the boomers. 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:11.899 And they've re-designated them. 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:14.439 They call them the Generation Jones. 00:11:14.979 --> 00:11:16.240 And I thought, that's me. 00:11:16.459 --> 00:11:17.659 I'm in part of that generation. 00:11:17.659 --> 00:11:20.179 So maybe I can go see that generation. 00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:22.980 Maybe I can feel better about myself for a moment, right? 00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:24.279 So I look it up. 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:26.100 And there it is. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:27.199 Generation Jones. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:30.199 And they had pictures of people who were in that generation. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:37.299 Well, the first one I saw, the first one I saw was Tom Cruise was in that generation. 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:39.059 And Brad Pitt. 00:11:40.699 --> 00:11:42.740 I thought, well, I'm still really behind. 00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:47.759 I said, because they're rich. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:48.960 Strike one. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:54.340 They're highly successful in their field. 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:55.240 Strike two. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:58.100 And strike three. 00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:00.539 Now, I know what you're thinking. 00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:02.060 You're going to think, and they're handsome. 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:05.480 Shame on you. 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:09.120 I feel like I'm back in my 10th high school reunion. 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:11.519 You know, like, oh, my. 00:12:11.820 --> 00:12:17.039 No, the third thing was, yeah, handsome too, but they're, you know, famous. 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.000 So I'm behind. 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:20.399 I'm not even a good Generation Jones person. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:33.120 And see, the whole thing is, the deal is that if you look at other people's situations, you know, like at reunions, they can be really tough. 00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:36.759 Because all of that is about appearance, right? 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:40.199 And it's what's emphasized in our culture. 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:43.259 It's made to be so important. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:48.720 And it used to be that every 10 years you could feel bad about yourself. 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:54.440 Now there's a class reunion every day on social media. 00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:57.720 It's just this constant thing. 00:12:57.879 --> 00:13:00.000 We really have been ratcheted up. 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:06.480 And we fall for it so often about appearance and accomplishments and how we look. 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:07.440 All of that. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.440 It's a mess. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:16.100 And so I got to thinking, too, as that day was sort of ending, I thought, you know, this just feels like a game. 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:20.500 That the life that we're in just feels like a game so often. 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:22.860 And the other game I thought of immediately was chess. 00:13:23.180 --> 00:13:24.519 It feels like chess. 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:26.420 Because we're playing a game. 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:28.320 And in chess, you have to protect your king. 00:13:29.420 --> 00:13:33.560 And so often the things that we protect are appearance and accomplishment and all that stuff. 00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:35.159 And we're about it all the time. 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:36.580 And we have to protect it. 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:42.700 And I looked it up because I thought, I guess if you're a master chess player, how many moves ahead do you calculate? 00:13:43.900 --> 00:13:49.280 And a master chessman can calculate 10 to 15 moves ahead. 00:13:50.800 --> 00:13:52.680 And I thought, man, that's terrible. 00:13:52.900 --> 00:13:53.180 I can't. 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:54.780 But it gets even worse. 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:57.600 A grandmaster can do 20 moves ahead. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:01.180 And I thought, that's why I feel so far behind. 00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:06.100 Because part of our culture is you have to calculate all of your moves. 00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:08.560 Everything has to be thought through. 00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:09.600 All of it. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.360 And so we feel behind. 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.879 We feel behind. 00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:20.200 Not only appearance and accomplishments and success. 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:22.480 But we feel like it's a chess game. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:25.180 And we're in check. 00:14:25.920 --> 00:14:27.720 And checkmate's just around the corner. 00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:33.200 And we're supposed to be in charge of protecting whatever is king in our lives. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:36.080 Whatever is king in our lives. 00:14:36.180 --> 00:14:37.879 Appearance, money, success. 00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:41.240 And we better know 20 moves ahead. 00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:43.120 Or you're behind. 00:14:44.180 --> 00:14:47.060 And it always feels like we're in check or checkmate, right? 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:48.200 That's how it feels. 00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:50.180 And so one last little thing. 00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:52.519 I had been about that time. 00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:53.839 Had run across a meme. 00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:56.259 Now, I'm not a baby boomer. 00:14:56.319 --> 00:14:57.199 I'm a Generation Jones. 00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:58.219 I know what a meme is. 00:14:58.919 --> 00:14:59.719 Are you impressed? 00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:01.599 I mean, I do know what a meme is. 00:15:02.819 --> 00:15:04.279 And take a look at it. 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:04.759 Is it up there? 00:15:04.939 --> 00:15:05.359 There we go. 00:15:06.959 --> 00:15:08.059 It's a meme, right? 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.199 That has as it. 00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.419 It looks like it's a dad. 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.879 And he's sitting on the park bench. 00:15:12.819 --> 00:15:16.279 And when you look at it, he's got it in his thought bubble. 00:15:16.979 --> 00:15:19.419 It's probably about, you know, maybe the car he wants. 00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:20.860 Or maybe his car payments. 00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:22.899 It's about travel. 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.639 Or the lack thereof. 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:25.439 It's about money. 00:15:25.479 --> 00:15:26.919 Or the lack of money, right? 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:28.379 He's just preoccupied. 00:15:28.439 --> 00:15:29.819 I mean, the look on his face. 00:15:30.199 --> 00:15:32.819 He's just not really there. 00:15:32.819 --> 00:15:34.360 He's thinking of his thought bubble. 00:15:34.719 --> 00:15:36.219 Is full of everything else. 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:38.679 And next to him, I'm assuming it's his child. 00:15:39.579 --> 00:15:40.959 What's in their thought bubble? 00:15:41.979 --> 00:15:44.559 That child is just happy to be there. 00:15:44.699 --> 00:15:46.159 In that child's thought bubble. 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:47.059 Is that moment. 00:15:47.059 --> 00:15:48.419 He's with his dad. 00:15:48.979 --> 00:15:49.899 I'm right there. 00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:55.979 So let me ask, what's in your thought bubble? 00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:58.719 What fills your thoughts? 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:02.019 What's king in your life? 00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:03.719 Or who is king in your life? 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.519 Is it how you look? 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:06.559 Accomplishments? 00:16:06.619 --> 00:16:07.479 How you smell? 00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:08.319 Right? 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:10.279 How far away you've moved. 00:16:10.339 --> 00:16:11.339 And what you've accomplished. 00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:13.279 And all of that. 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:16.480 Or is it just the very lack of those things? 00:16:17.059 --> 00:16:19.679 Is it your ability to think 20 moves ahead? 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:21.839 Your king. 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:24.399 Of your life. 00:16:24.579 --> 00:16:26.120 And the thing that you will protect. 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:27.279 Just like a chess game. 00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:30.399 Is whatever is in your thought bubble. 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:33.480 When you have downtime. 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.720 And you're sitting there. 00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:36.720 What fills your thought bubble? 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:40.360 Your king is whatever rules your heart. 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:45.060 It's whatever are your deepest trusts. 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:46.399 Your deepest commitments. 00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:47.940 Your deepest loves. 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.860 And you know what? 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:51.700 Here's a little secret. 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:54.300 It's always you. 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:58.440 You ultimately are your own king. 00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.580 And that's part of the problem. 00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:04.519 Because it's fueling whatever's in your thought bubble. 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:09.639 And so when we talk about needing rescue from God. 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:13.059 We need rescue from ourselves. 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:16.460 We need rescue from ourselves. 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:19.220 Because we are in a current. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.440 In a world. 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:22.660 Where sin reigns. 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:26.700 And sin is making something other than God. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:28.799 Your ultimate value and worth. 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.019 Sin is filling your thought bubble. 00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:32.960 With anything else but God. 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:33.019 God. 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:38.059 Who is your ultimate value and worth. 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:39.299 In your king. 00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:41.340 That's why the first commandment is. 00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:43.700 You shall have no other thought bubbles. 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:46.180 Other than God. 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:51.279 If you are king. 00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:53.480 In your defining thought bubble. 00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:56.559 You and everyone around you suffers. 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:57.779 That's a picture. 00:17:57.880 --> 00:17:58.840 That's what that is. 00:17:58.840 --> 00:18:01.880 That child does not have his dad's full attention. 00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:03.900 Okay. 00:18:04.100 --> 00:18:04.320 So. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:05.640 In our text. 00:18:05.860 --> 00:18:06.880 In our storyline. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:09.780 Trouble began for Israel. 00:18:10.020 --> 00:18:12.180 When they wanted to be like the rest of the world. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.620 First Samuel 8. 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:14.640 Four through nine. 00:18:16.020 --> 00:18:16.500 So. 00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:18.020 We see in this passage. 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:20.580 That they forget who their king is. 00:18:20.579 --> 00:18:22.059 So. 00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:24.079 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:25.740 And came to Samuel at Ramah. 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:26.639 And said to him. 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.079 Behold. 00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:27.899 You are old. 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:29.960 And your sons do not walk in your ways. 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:31.679 We don't want another judge. 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.799 We want another king. 00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:34.619 Just like the other nations. 00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:36.399 That's what's being said in this passage. 00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:38.199 And then in verse seven. 00:18:38.199 --> 00:18:39.559 And the Lord said to Samuel. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.339 Obey the voice of the people. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:43.199 And all that they say to you. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:45.059 For they have not rejected you. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.779 But they have rejected me. 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:48.460 From being king over them. 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:50.799 So God is saying. 00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:51.120 Okay. 00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:51.940 Give him a king. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:53.279 It's almost like your parents. 00:18:53.360 --> 00:18:54.539 Catch you smoking cigarettes. 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.120 And they go. 00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:57.319 You're going to smoke the whole pack. 00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:58.620 I'm going to watch you do it. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:18:59.940 It's kind of like God saying. 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.620 Oh you want a king? 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.160 You can have a king. 00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:05.500 Maybe Israel felt behind. 00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:08.240 Maybe success for them. 00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:09.779 Started to look like other nations. 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.920 Look what they have. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.740 Look over there. 00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:12.600 Look at that. 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:14.920 They took their eyes off of God. 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:16.860 And the irony of all ironies. 00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:18.440 Is they asked their king. 00:19:19.100 --> 00:19:20.100 To give them a king. 00:19:22.340 --> 00:19:23.559 And God said. 00:19:23.840 --> 00:19:24.160 Okay. 00:19:25.340 --> 00:19:27.620 And so Samuel goes looking for a king. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:29.079 And he picked one. 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:30.779 On appearance. 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.660 It's almost like he's the. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.620 You know the party committee. 00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:34.279 At the reunion. 00:19:34.600 --> 00:19:35.799 It's all about appearance. 00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:37.299 So he picked Saul. 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.420 Because Saul was tall. 00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:39.740 Right. 00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:43.079 And the name Saul. 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:44.380 Can translate to. 00:19:44.860 --> 00:19:45.600 Asked for. 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.620 Meaning that. 00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:48.219 And he's the king. 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:49.639 The people asked for. 00:19:50.139 --> 00:19:51.099 The people's choice. 00:19:51.239 --> 00:19:52.579 And so the people chose. 00:19:52.659 --> 00:19:53.339 Who is king. 00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:54.059 God said. 00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:54.399 Okay. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:55.879 There you go. 00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:58.299 And it doesn't go well. 00:19:58.419 --> 00:19:59.759 If you go back and read the stories. 00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:00.299 You're going to see it. 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:01.419 Just doesn't go well. 00:20:02.179 --> 00:20:03.299 Saul dishonors God. 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:03.839 At least. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.439 Three times. 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:04.919 It's recorded. 00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:05.619 Three times. 00:20:06.659 --> 00:20:07.679 Now here's a point. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:08.559 Here's something to take. 00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:09.239 A little bit here. 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.539 I want you to think about it. 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:11.920 Because this is an ancient story. 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:13.599 We're looking through the cross of Christ. 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:14.900 We're trying to apply it today. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.539 We're trying to say. 00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:15.839 Well. 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:16.559 Okay. 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.460 What do we do? 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.880 So we're kind of like Samuel. 00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:23.460 We have been tasked. 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.420 Daily. 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.759 To choose a king. 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.240 Every day. 00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:28.620 We're going to choose a king. 00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:31.279 What will reign in our thought bubble? 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:32.539 What will. 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.880 What will we look to. 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:34.559 For hope. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.519 And peace. 00:20:35.899 --> 00:20:36.559 And strength. 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.659 And contentment. 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.619 Every day. 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.639 You can choose a king. 00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:41.919 First step. 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:43.419 Here's the first thing I want you to do. 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:45.099 As you're choosing your king. 00:20:45.179 --> 00:20:45.799 Every day. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:50.079 The first step to choosing a king. 00:20:50.159 --> 00:20:51.279 For your thought bubble. 00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:54.819 Is to daily resign. 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.679 As king. 00:20:58.139 --> 00:20:59.500 You need to resign. 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.319 As king. 00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.440 In your life. 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.619 Another way of saying it. 00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:05.079 Is you need to surrender all. 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:05.939 I'm going to say. 00:21:05.979 --> 00:21:06.879 May I start singing it. 00:21:07.719 --> 00:21:07.919 No. 00:21:07.979 --> 00:21:08.939 That would be a bad idea. 00:21:10.239 --> 00:21:11.179 But surrender all. 00:21:12.139 --> 00:21:13.519 You resign as king. 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:14.279 Every day. 00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:17.699 Jesus said it this way. 00:21:18.479 --> 00:21:20.179 If anyone would come after me. 00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:21.599 He must deny himself. 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:23.099 Pick up his cross. 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.519 And follow me. 00:21:24.959 --> 00:21:25.919 For whoever wants to save. 00:21:25.919 --> 00:21:26.639 Lose his life. 00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:28.079 Whoever wants to save his life. 00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:29.719 Will lose it. 00:21:30.439 --> 00:21:31.179 I think I got it backward. 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:33.519 But whoever loses life for me. 00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:35.659 And for my sake. 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:37.959 Will find your life. 00:21:37.959 --> 00:21:39.919 You will find your life. 00:21:41.719 --> 00:21:44.399 By laying down your life. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:47.299 And so. 00:21:48.159 --> 00:21:50.079 This is how we can discover. 00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:52.119 What is controlling you. 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:52.959 If you ever wonder. 00:21:53.219 --> 00:21:53.559 Why? 00:21:53.939 --> 00:21:55.059 What's controlling me? 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:56.219 What is my king? 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:59.399 Whatever you have a hard time giving up. 00:21:59.399 --> 00:22:00.319 Is your king. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:03.599 It's controlling you. 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:06.039 And so. 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:08.119 It is a battle that takes place in our hearts. 00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:09.299 For what you trust in. 00:22:09.379 --> 00:22:10.099 What you hope in. 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:11.000 Who is your king? 00:22:11.419 --> 00:22:12.939 Who fills your thought bubble? 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:13.480 So. 00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.460 We lay down our lives. 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:16.220 In order to find it in God. 00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:17.419 Now. 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.460 The next thing that you do. 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.700 After you resign as king. 00:22:20.159 --> 00:22:20.519 Daily. 00:22:20.919 --> 00:22:22.059 Choose wisely. 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:23.019 Who will be king. 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:24.079 In your life. 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.220 Now. 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.939 What does that mean? 00:22:26.600 --> 00:22:27.779 Before I can explain that. 00:22:27.860 --> 00:22:28.600 Let's set this up. 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:30.140 When it was becoming. 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:31.279 Clear. 00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:33.279 That the people's choice for king. 00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:34.080 Who was Saul. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:36.220 Was not going to work. 00:22:36.340 --> 00:22:37.220 Because Saul. 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.799 Was like the kings. 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:39.660 Of other nations. 00:22:40.820 --> 00:22:42.920 He was not living to please the Lord. 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.620 But himself. 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:46.180 You can go back and read the stories. 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:48.620 His life demonstrated what is missing. 00:22:49.080 --> 00:22:50.220 Now get this point too. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:52.240 Saul is demonstrating. 00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:54.360 What is missing in the king. 00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.620 That we need. 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:57.619 And the king that Israel needs. 00:22:58.259 --> 00:23:00.000 What was missing in his life. 00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:03.019 Was exactly the opposite of what was needed. 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:03.259 Right? 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.299 So what we need a king. 00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:05.759 That's the opposite of Saul. 00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:06.500 And here it is. 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:08.399 We need a king who obeys. 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.500 And lives for Yahweh. 00:23:10.439 --> 00:23:11.539 Who lives for the Lord. 00:23:11.979 --> 00:23:13.579 In all circumstances. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.339 That there's not some sort of circumstance. 00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:16.479 Where it will be compromised. 00:23:17.159 --> 00:23:20.079 Or a circumstance where the king will be tempted. 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:21.459 And sort of give in to it. 00:23:22.479 --> 00:23:25.099 If that king is under enormous pressure. 00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:26.139 He will never waver. 00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:29.439 And never take his eyes off of his king. 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:30.539 Yahweh. 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:33.139 That's the kind of king we need. 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:36.819 And we need a king who will rescue us. 00:23:37.179 --> 00:23:38.439 From our enemies. 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:41.399 And the primary enemy in your life. 00:23:41.439 --> 00:23:42.319 And in my life. 00:23:42.699 --> 00:23:43.740 Is me. 00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:45.219 It's you. 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:47.639 You're the primary enemy in your life. 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:49.240 Because you want to be king. 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.580 Right? 00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:55.759 You want to figure out how to be 20 moves ahead in your life. 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:59.800 And you will do anything to accomplish that. 00:24:00.600 --> 00:24:03.680 I can only say that because I've lived long enough. 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:07.160 And I go, man, that's what I've done far too often in my life. 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:09.720 That's one thing we definitely have in common. 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:13.220 And so. 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.819 And we read this. 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.200 What kind of king? 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:20.180 How do we find this king? 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.720 1 Samuel 13. 00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:24.259 Three chapters before. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:28.539 Talks about the Lord had sought out a man after his own heart. 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:32.460 So if you look at verse 13. 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:35.019 And Samuel said to Saul. 00:24:35.379 --> 00:24:36.460 You have done foolishly. 00:24:36.659 --> 00:24:39.700 You have not kept the command of the Lord your God. 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.879 In which he commanded you. 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:44.619 For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:46.700 So Saul, you've blown it. 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.659 Verse 14. 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:50.159 But now your kingdom shall not continue. 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:53.779 The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:57.079 And the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people. 00:24:57.079 --> 00:25:00.019 Because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you. 00:25:00.679 --> 00:25:01.039 And so. 00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:03.639 When we hear that phrase about. 00:25:03.939 --> 00:25:07.379 That God sought out a man after his own heart. 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:10.879 It's sort of not exactly what I've always thought it was. 00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.559 John Woodhouse. 00:25:13.659 --> 00:25:14.980 Australian theologian said. 00:25:15.159 --> 00:25:16.899 A man of God's own choosing. 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.679 Is what that means. 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.119 It says. 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:21.179 A man God has set his heart on. 00:25:21.919 --> 00:25:23.339 Is what that phrase means. 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:26.779 It is talking about the place the man has in God's heart. 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:29.259 Rather than the place God has in the man's heart. 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.119 Do you see that? 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:35.759 What that verse is saying is that God has set his heart on someone. 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.639 And that's what matters. 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:41.879 And so when we get to our passage. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:44.740 First Samuel 16. 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:46.579 We're going to notice three things. 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:49.440 That'll help us live today. 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:51.580 And fill our thought bubble. 00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.400 With God. 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.059 Okay. 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:57.140 First thing we need to notice. 00:25:58.140 --> 00:26:00.059 Is that God provides a king. 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:03.059 The Lord said to Samuel. 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:05.120 How long will you grieve over Saul? 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:07.720 Since I have rejected him from being king over Israel. 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:10.480 Fill your horn with oil and go. 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.799 I will send you to Jesse. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.840 The Bethlehemite. 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:18.279 For I have provided for myself a king among his sons. 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:25.259 So the big takeaway point for that would be that God provides our king. 00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:27.639 It is God who gives our king. 00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:29.459 We resign. 00:26:30.659 --> 00:26:33.720 And then choosing really is about receiving. 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:36.399 I'm going to receive who God has given. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:40.879 Because God has set his heart on that king. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:42.620 And that's the king for me. 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:45.040 Now the next thing to note. 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:47.480 Is that God sees rightly to the heart. 00:26:49.600 --> 00:26:51.340 It's midway through the passage. 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:52.700 In verse 7. 00:26:53.560 --> 00:26:54.640 But the Lord said to Samuel. 00:26:54.800 --> 00:26:56.160 Do not look on his appearance. 00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:58.000 Now this isn't a high school reunion. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:01.480 Don't look on his appearance. 00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:03.020 Or on the height of his stature. 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:05.020 Because I have rejected him. 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.740 For the Lord sees. 00:27:06.840 --> 00:27:08.000 Not as man sees. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:11.319 Man looks on the outward appearance. 00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:14.440 But the Lord looks on the heart. 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:18.339 And do you know this whole idea of looking on the outward appearance? 00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:20.180 This goes all the way back to the garden. 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:22.059 What was Eve doing? 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:22.700 Right? 00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:26.839 She saw that the fruit was good for food and pleasing to the eyes. 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:32.339 And so we as humanity have been cursed with walking by sight. 00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:34.139 And not by faith ever since. 00:27:36.419 --> 00:27:38.919 We have been cursed with walking by sight. 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:40.579 And not by faith ever since. 00:27:40.899 --> 00:27:42.079 And so the point would be. 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:44.179 Life is more than meets the eye. 00:27:45.459 --> 00:27:47.179 In a very famous passage. 00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:48.779 2 Corinthians 4.16. 00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:51.460 So we don't. 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:53.899 So we do not lose heart. 00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:56.700 Though our outward self is wasting away. 00:27:57.579 --> 00:27:57.940 Right? 00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:59.960 We're not going to look good at the high school reunion. 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:01.779 Things are falling apart. 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:04.099 Our circumstances don't. 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.279 They go up and down. 00:28:05.399 --> 00:28:08.000 We're in hard times and good times or medium times. 00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:09.039 There's just, you know. 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:10.160 I've accomplished something. 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.259 I can't accomplish something. 00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:13.980 There's this whole outward thing that goes on. 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:15.379 And on and on and on. 00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:18.200 But the passage is saying. 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:19.600 And I love it. 00:28:19.800 --> 00:28:22.400 And but our inner self is being renewed. 00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:24.860 There's something going on in our hearts. 00:28:25.580 --> 00:28:28.860 There's something incredible that's happening that God is doing. 00:28:29.360 --> 00:28:31.000 And again, this whole mention of heart. 00:28:31.320 --> 00:28:31.500 Right? 00:28:31.580 --> 00:28:32.520 There's something happening. 00:28:33.060 --> 00:28:34.140 God looks at the heart. 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.800 There's a heart thing here. 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:44.200 And then famously says that for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory. 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.640 That far outweighs them all. 00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:47.640 So we fix our eyes. 00:28:47.840 --> 00:28:48.860 Not on what is seen. 00:28:49.580 --> 00:28:50.819 But on what is unseen. 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:52.299 For what is seen is temporary. 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:55.380 And what is unseen is eternal. 00:28:56.400 --> 00:29:02.160 That's the beauty of how God approaches our problem of sin. 00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:04.019 He looks at the heart. 00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:14.359 And then we see that. 00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.400 Oh, yeah. 00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:19.740 Let's go to 1 Samuel. 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:21.259 Let's go to look at. 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.700 Oh, yeah. 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:25.960 Okay. 00:29:26.119 --> 00:29:27.220 I got a little lost. 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:30.420 But let me see if I can recapture this. 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:34.420 This whole notion that there's something that more than meets the eye. 00:29:35.300 --> 00:29:36.640 This is really important. 00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:38.539 Dallas Willard. 00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:41.160 He's known for his spiritual formation. 00:29:41.320 --> 00:29:46.300 The books he's written about how our hearts are transformed and become more like Christ. 00:29:47.580 --> 00:29:50.840 He was a philosopher of a high caliber. 00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:53.279 He taught at the University of Southern California. 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:55.140 He was well respected in his field. 00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:58.960 And about eight months before he died, he was in the hospital. 00:29:59.080 --> 00:30:01.160 And he was pretty sure this was going to be it. 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:07.020 And so he had called someone in, one of his students and colleagues, a guy named J.P. 00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:07.420 Moreland. 00:30:08.280 --> 00:30:15.880 And he gave to him his four concerns that relate to how to follow Jesus. 00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:19.140 And these were four things that guided his ministry through the years. 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.180 I'm only going to give you one. 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:26.539 He said this, that he championed a robust metaphysical realism. 00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:29.640 Now, you can tell he's a philosopher, right? 00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:31.120 Metaphysical realism. 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:34.539 We would talk about it's the spiritual realm. 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:45.299 That there is a spiritual realm that is, in the words of Dallas Willard, that are as real as this podium. 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:47.840 As real as what you're sitting on right now. 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:55.279 There's a metaphysical world, a spiritual world, that we are in constant battle with. 00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:58.939 Ephesians 6, 10 through 12. 00:31:00.439 --> 00:31:01.379 Verse 12. 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:07.039 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers, 00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:12.259 over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:18.960 We are continually under attack to make something other than God your ultimate value and worth. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:26.240 You are under attack, you know, spiritually to make everything about appearance and not feeling behind and being 20 moves ahead. 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:29.940 To make it in this world and to push and to push and to push. 00:31:29.940 --> 00:31:38.640 We are under attack to make something other than God to fill our thought bubble. 00:31:39.580 --> 00:31:42.080 It's a real spiritual warfare. 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:49.820 And so finally, you know, we see that God sees rightly, but God anoints his king. 00:31:50.259 --> 00:31:50.980 Verse 13. 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:56.140 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. 00:31:56.900 --> 00:32:00.039 And in the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. 00:32:00.140 --> 00:32:02.099 And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:04.860 Israel's kings don't receive a crown. 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.620 They are anointed. 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.980 They're anointed with oil. 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:14.259 And that word anointing is the word that gets, the Hebrew word gets translated Messiah. 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:16.839 And the Greek word is Christos. 00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:22.879 And so we get the word, you know, we say Jesus the Messiah or Jesus the Christ or Jesus Christ. 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:28.559 And so we know the kings of Israel are anointed. 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.939 That's how they're chosen. 00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:34.319 And God looks at their hearts and he anoints them. 00:32:35.139 --> 00:32:36.859 But he looks at his heart. 00:32:36.959 --> 00:32:38.720 It's who he has set his heart on. 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:49.319 Now, after the death of David, so if we were to keep reading on, as Israel's kings sort of proved to be false shepherds, you know, David failed, Solomon failed. 00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:51.480 All the kings that follow have failed. 00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:56.299 The expectation grew that a new king would come, a new anointed one. 00:32:56.360 --> 00:32:57.799 So they're looking for a Messiah. 00:32:57.799 --> 00:33:06.700 There's no place better to see what the Lord has in mind than in God's covenant with David. 00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:08.259 And it's in 2 Samuel 7. 00:33:10.139 --> 00:33:16.319 And so what we see in this, and especially in verse, let me just read it. 00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:17.799 Let me start in verse 14. 00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:41.500 This is God speaking to David. 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:50.920 This is this idea that there is a coming promised Messiah. 00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:53.900 And so here we are. 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.920 How then do we live? 00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:57.619 Let's go back to what we do know. 00:33:58.420 --> 00:34:00.380 Because we do know it's Jesus. 00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:04.259 We know the name of the man that God is referring to. 00:34:04.380 --> 00:34:05.680 Who is this line of David? 00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:06.819 Who is the king? 00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:08.000 Who is that? 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:09.800 And so it's Jesus. 00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:12.519 What we do every day, we daily resign as king. 00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:15.220 We lay down our lives in order to find it. 00:34:15.640 --> 00:34:19.060 We daily choose wisely who will be your king. 00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:20.920 And so what does that mean? 00:34:21.580 --> 00:34:22.700 Let me show you this slide. 00:34:23.160 --> 00:34:24.500 We're getting close to wrapping up. 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:28.280 Ah, yeah, you can see it. 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:28.880 Okay, good. 00:34:29.100 --> 00:34:29.880 I write this in. 00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:32.380 Every time I get a new journal, I write this in the front of it. 00:34:32.700 --> 00:34:33.880 It's a quote from Martin Luther. 00:34:34.640 --> 00:34:39.220 So this whole idea of resigning as king daily and then choosing wisely who is going to be your king. 00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:42.140 It can be like this. 00:34:42.260 --> 00:34:44.240 Always begin again every day. 00:34:45.620 --> 00:34:48.360 Every day embrace the love and kindness of God. 00:34:49.080 --> 00:34:52.280 And daily exercise your faith therein. 00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:55.320 Entertaining no doubt of God's love and his kindness. 00:34:55.320 --> 00:35:03.039 See, the king that we get, we choose that king, but it's even more amazing than that. 00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:05.180 God has given us that king. 00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:08.940 In the famous passage in Isaiah 9, right? 00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:12.180 Especially 6 and 7. 00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:13.900 For to us a child is born. 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:15.640 To us a son is given. 00:35:16.120 --> 00:35:17.120 We're given this son. 00:35:17.180 --> 00:35:18.160 And you go down to 7. 00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:21.659 Of the increase of his government and of the peace there will be no end. 00:35:21.899 --> 00:35:24.259 On the throne of David and over his kingdom. 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:25.699 This is the idea. 00:35:25.799 --> 00:35:29.099 The son, a king, is given to us. 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:31.679 What do we know about this king? 00:35:32.899 --> 00:35:35.839 Well, we know 2 Samuel 7.21. 00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:40.280 Because of your promise and according to your own heart. 00:35:40.340 --> 00:35:41.300 He's talking about God. 00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:42.880 Because of God's promise. 00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:43.980 Because of God's heart. 00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:47.400 You have brought about all this greatness. 00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:50.260 It's David speaking to God. 00:35:50.360 --> 00:35:51.760 Because of God's heart. 00:35:52.200 --> 00:35:53.700 Because of his heart. 00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:55.240 Is what's key. 00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:56.980 And then 1 Samuel 13.14. 00:35:56.980 --> 00:36:01.760 But now your kingdom shall not continue. 00:36:01.900 --> 00:36:05.500 The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. 00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:10.699 This is a person God has set his heart on. 00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:11.639 That's who he gives. 00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:15.579 Who has God set his heart on? 00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:19.380 There's no better passage, I suppose, than Matthew 11. 00:36:20.179 --> 00:36:20.659 Right? 00:36:20.740 --> 00:36:23.500 Where Jesus says, come to me. 00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.480 Come to me. 00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:27.300 All you who feel behind. 00:36:28.619 --> 00:36:33.760 Come to me who have gotten caught in the, about appearance. 00:36:34.340 --> 00:36:35.460 And about accomplishing. 00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:37.199 Come to me. 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:39.940 All you who feel beat down. 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:42.980 By you're not where you thought you should be by now. 00:36:44.099 --> 00:36:45.079 Come to me. 00:36:45.179 --> 00:36:47.900 All you who labor underneath that pressure. 00:36:48.559 --> 00:36:50.260 And who are just, who are weary. 00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:51.780 And I will give you rest. 00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:55.460 He said, take my yoke upon. 00:36:55.480 --> 00:36:56.619 Take my yoke upon you. 00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:58.539 And learn from me. 00:36:58.820 --> 00:37:01.139 It's this idea then that our lives, we're learning. 00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:03.559 We're going through and we're experiencing this. 00:37:03.619 --> 00:37:04.679 And he's teaching us. 00:37:05.179 --> 00:37:07.539 He wants our thought bubble to be filled with him. 00:37:08.940 --> 00:37:09.960 And we're learning. 00:37:11.240 --> 00:37:13.240 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. 00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:15.760 For I am gentle and lowly in heart. 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:17.699 Oh, that's beautiful. 00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:19.219 Jesus is gentle. 00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:21.339 And he's lowly in heart. 00:37:21.879 --> 00:37:23.359 You know, he's the, like, I mean, I don't know. 00:37:23.419 --> 00:37:24.539 This might be stretching it. 00:37:24.879 --> 00:37:25.739 But think of it this way. 00:37:26.039 --> 00:37:29.919 Jesus is the overachiever at your high school reunion that is so glad to see you. 00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:35.219 He loves, he doesn't want to know anything about your accomplishments. 00:37:35.219 --> 00:37:37.879 He has his heart set upon you. 00:37:37.939 --> 00:37:40.559 And he just wants you to come to him. 00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:47.480 See, you're in his thought bubble. 00:37:48.279 --> 00:37:49.980 He has set his heart upon you. 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:55.420 And the most amazing thing, too, is Jesus as our king, he's been anointed. 00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:57.960 And we read about his anointing when he was baptized. 00:38:00.099 --> 00:38:02.400 He is being anointed as the Messiah. 00:38:02.860 --> 00:38:09.400 And the Holy Spirit comes upon Jesus and fills him to enable him to be the king that we need. 00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:13.740 And his father is there to say, man, look at my son. 00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:16.179 I love my son. 00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:18.379 My heart is set upon him. 00:38:18.699 --> 00:38:20.919 And I love him. 00:38:23.579 --> 00:38:30.460 And the thing about anointing, and we see it in David's life, when you're anointed as that kind of king, you go and you suffer. 00:38:31.699 --> 00:38:35.119 Jesus was the king that we need because he didn't come, he didn't give in to pressure. 00:38:35.399 --> 00:38:36.839 He didn't give in to temptations. 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:44.099 His circumstances, he didn't go, well, he fully followed through and lived the life you and I should have lived. 00:38:44.819 --> 00:38:45.259 Right? 00:38:45.260 --> 00:38:49.820 And he suffered and died the death you and I should have died. 00:38:50.760 --> 00:38:52.480 And I want you to think about it this way. 00:38:52.580 --> 00:38:59.860 When Jesus was on the cross, it's as if he is looking across the room, maybe. 00:39:00.420 --> 00:39:01.780 But I know this is true. 00:39:02.340 --> 00:39:05.640 He looked at your life and my life. 00:39:05.639 --> 00:39:16.440 He saw every thought bubble you ever had and everything you've ever done and anything that you've made your ultimate value and worth other than him. 00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:18.539 He saw all of it. 00:39:18.539 --> 00:39:27.759 He saw the mess and the shame of you that happens when you're trying to stay 20 moves ahead. 00:39:27.880 --> 00:39:29.400 He saw what you did. 00:39:30.199 --> 00:39:32.719 Your whole life was before him on the cross. 00:39:32.779 --> 00:39:33.579 He could see it all. 00:39:33.579 --> 00:39:35.000 And you know what? 00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:35.860 He stayed. 00:39:36.779 --> 00:39:38.440 He stayed on the cross. 00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:42.199 Because his heart was set on you. 00:39:42.199 --> 00:39:50.799 The anointed one, king over God's people, has set his heart on you. 00:39:50.800 --> 00:39:57.340 And he rescued you as a good king does from your enemies. 00:39:58.340 --> 00:39:58.560 You. 00:39:59.140 --> 00:40:01.360 He wants to rescue you from yourself. 00:40:01.360 --> 00:40:17.019 When I feel like I'm 20 moves behind, when I feel like by now I should have fill in the blank, first thing I do is I resign as king. 00:40:17.320 --> 00:40:17.800 I surrender. 00:40:19.400 --> 00:40:29.740 And then I fight to sit quietly, to sit quietly, open God's word, read it, sometimes just being still, 00:40:29.739 --> 00:40:31.819 sometimes praying back. 00:40:33.319 --> 00:40:44.659 I fight to delight in knowing that the king who has every move figured out wants to know me because his heart is set upon me. 00:40:44.699 --> 00:40:46.199 I have to get my mind thinking right. 00:40:46.199 --> 00:40:49.439 I have to take what's in my thought bubble and put Jesus there. 00:40:49.539 --> 00:40:50.859 And I fight to do that. 00:40:51.819 --> 00:40:53.279 And I fight to be grateful. 00:40:53.280 --> 00:41:01.900 And I fight to remember for even and to be grateful for even the heart to want to put God in my thought bubble. 00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:07.940 I fight to realize what has been lavished upon me. 00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:10.440 A heart like Jesus. 00:41:11.320 --> 00:41:19.680 That delights, that Jesus delights to sit with me on the park bench while my mind is racing about all the things I haven't done. 00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:24.219 And he delights to sit with me and he wants to fill that thought bubble with himself. 00:41:26.279 --> 00:41:30.359 In my best moments, I delight in him in that time. 00:41:30.359 --> 00:41:33.480 And everything finally feels right. 00:41:34.399 --> 00:41:37.879 Because I'm with the king that loves me. 00:41:39.179 --> 00:41:40.779 I find life there. 00:41:42.199 --> 00:41:43.699 So daily resign as king. 00:41:44.440 --> 00:41:46.839 And daily choose wisely who is your king. 00:41:47.259 --> 00:41:48.460 It's King Jesus. 00:41:48.460 --> 00:41:51.500 Receive Jesus as your king. 00:41:51.639 --> 00:41:52.019 Let's pray. 00:41:52.159 --> 00:41:55.019 Father, thank you for this time. 00:41:55.460 --> 00:41:58.340 I pray, Lord, that I've taken all of us to the cross. 00:41:59.599 --> 00:42:01.740 I'm following under conviction, Lord. 00:42:01.820 --> 00:42:03.360 And I want that to be true. 00:42:04.159 --> 00:42:09.179 That if I'm having a hard time giving up something, that's controlling me. 00:42:09.440 --> 00:42:11.559 And I want to fight to resign as king. 00:42:11.900 --> 00:42:14.119 I want to fight to be in your presence. 00:42:14.460 --> 00:42:16.760 I want to fight to thank your thoughts after you. 00:42:16.760 --> 00:42:18.660 I want you to fill my thought bubble. 00:42:18.760 --> 00:42:22.020 I want you to fill all of our thought bubbles all day long. 00:42:23.200 --> 00:42:24.040 Be king. 00:42:24.280 --> 00:42:25.460 Be my king, Lord. 00:42:26.140 --> 00:42:27.700 We resign as king. 00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:28.700 Amen. 00:42:29.100 --> 00:42:29.280 Amen. 00:42:30.280 --> 00:42:33.800 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org.