WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.200 Would you pray with me? 00:00:09.460 --> 00:00:17.440 Lord, I pray that you would bless your word and teach us tonight that every bit of it has truth for our edification. 00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:22.859 And that you are speaking to it, through it, to us even now. 00:00:24.179 --> 00:00:28.480 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord. 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:29.719 Amen. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.000 Amen. 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:43.340 Long live Dagon, the God of the Philistines and conquerors of our enemies. 00:00:43.899 --> 00:00:47.000 Long live Dagon, God of the Philistines. 00:00:47.120 --> 00:00:54.359 For Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our enemy, is defeated. 00:00:54.359 --> 00:01:05.079 And the body of his servant Saul, stripped of its armor, its dignity, and its very head adorns our walls. 00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:09.359 Long live Dagon, God of the Philistines. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:17.400 These, perhaps, were some of the chants of the Philistine warriors in their hall of rejoicing, 00:01:17.900 --> 00:01:26.359 returned from the fresh destruction of Israel, the people who claim to be the beloved children of the one true God. 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:33.959 But where was their God yesterday when they fled as cowards before Philistine swords? 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:43.739 The ones who remained behind were the dead, whose souls the Philistines stole from their bodies yesterday, 00:01:44.179 --> 00:01:49.299 and whose jewels, armor, weapons, and clothing the Philistines stole today. 00:01:49.299 --> 00:01:52.359 And among them, Saul. 00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:59.060 The people of God are bloodied, horrified, defeated. 00:01:59.260 --> 00:02:00.819 Their God made them promises. 00:02:01.260 --> 00:02:04.159 And what a mockery those promises are. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:20.020 How did we get here, to this hall, where Philistine wine is poured out today in celebration as freely as Israelite blood was spilled out yesterday in their defeat? 00:02:20.020 --> 00:02:24.760 That story is found in our passage for tonight. 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:29.640 Turn with me, if you will, to 1 Samuel chapter 31. 00:02:32.480 --> 00:02:33.620 Let's read it together. 00:02:34.900 --> 00:02:38.860 Now, the Philistines were fighting against Israel. 00:02:39.620 --> 00:02:45.160 And the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:49.879 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons. 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:59.579 And the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malkishua, the sons of Saul. 00:02:59.580 --> 00:03:03.500 The battle pressed hard against Saul. 00:03:03.820 --> 00:03:07.300 And the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:10.400 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, 00:03:10.920 --> 00:03:13.720 Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, 00:03:14.200 --> 00:03:19.740 lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and mistreat me. 00:03:19.740 --> 00:03:23.480 But his armor-bearer would not, 00:03:23.920 --> 00:03:25.820 for he feared greatly. 00:03:26.340 --> 00:03:30.100 Therefore, Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:34.140 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, 00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:38.420 he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 00:03:40.340 --> 00:03:42.960 Thus, Saul died. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:46.159 And his three sons. 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:49.219 And his armor-bearer. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:52.340 And all his men. 00:03:53.659 --> 00:03:55.480 On the same day. 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:57.040 Together. 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:02.560 And when the men of Israel, who were on the other side of the valley, 00:04:02.980 --> 00:04:04.280 and those beyond the Jordan, 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:06.439 saw that the men of Israel had fled, 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:09.159 and that Saul and his sons were dead, 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:12.040 they abandoned their cities and fled. 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:15.620 And the Philistines came and lived in them. 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:21.040 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, 00:04:21.180 --> 00:04:25.000 they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 00:04:25.660 --> 00:04:28.139 So, they cut off his head, 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:30.920 and stripped off his armor, 00:04:31.340 --> 00:04:34.000 and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:38.740 to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 00:04:38.740 --> 00:04:43.780 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:47.660 and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 00:04:47.660 --> 00:04:54.200 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 00:04:54.880 --> 00:04:57.040 all the valiant men arose, 00:04:57.220 --> 00:04:58.300 and went all night, 00:04:58.420 --> 00:05:02.720 and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, 00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:04.840 and they came to Jabesh, 00:05:05.100 --> 00:05:06.580 and burned them there. 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:13.479 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:16.479 and fasted seven days. 00:05:19.579 --> 00:05:22.099 This is a weighty passage. 00:05:22.100 --> 00:05:26.360 And I hope as we look together at it tonight, 00:05:26.520 --> 00:05:28.620 we can learn from it three things. 00:05:29.820 --> 00:05:30.760 Number one, 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:32.840 the word of God, 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:35.320 even when it speaks terrible things, 00:05:35.980 --> 00:05:37.960 does not speak in vain. 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:40.420 Number two, 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:43.560 the people of God have enemies 00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:47.520 who hate him and who rejoice in the destruction of God's people. 00:05:49.100 --> 00:05:50.100 Number three, 00:05:50.100 --> 00:05:56.000 through every defeat of the people of God, 00:05:57.240 --> 00:05:59.879 God is working a greater salvation. 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:02.680 First, 00:06:03.080 --> 00:06:04.260 the word of God, 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:06.600 even when it speaks terrible things, 00:06:07.140 --> 00:06:08.320 does not speak in vain. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:12.960 We saw this chapter coming. 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:15.900 For the last several months here at Trinity, 00:06:16.060 --> 00:06:18.760 we have been looking at the book of 1 Samuel. 00:06:18.759 --> 00:06:22.879 Because we believe here that the Bible has one coherent, 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:24.480 unifying narrative, 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:27.680 every bit of which is useful for building up the church, 00:06:28.099 --> 00:06:30.860 we have looked chapter by chapter at this book. 00:06:31.599 --> 00:06:33.240 And as we have looked at it, 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:36.000 we have seen that Saul 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:39.219 grows more and more desperate. 00:06:39.220 --> 00:06:44.740 He began this chapter as the Lord's anointed one. 00:06:44.880 --> 00:06:49.040 Everyone in Israel rejoiced to see him leading their nation, 00:06:49.440 --> 00:06:53.960 going in and out to war and winning great victories for the people of God. 00:06:53.959 --> 00:06:57.359 But no political leader, 00:06:57.859 --> 00:06:58.879 then or now, 00:06:58.979 --> 00:07:02.159 can live up to expectations so messianic. 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:04.779 And Saul was no exception. 00:07:06.459 --> 00:07:08.079 He disobeyed God 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:11.159 by offering sacrifices unlawfully 00:07:11.159 --> 00:07:14.240 in an attempt to force God to support him. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:19.420 And Samuel informed him that God had taken the kingdom from him 00:07:19.420 --> 00:07:21.060 and given it to another. 00:07:23.620 --> 00:07:26.540 Saul was, from that point forward, 00:07:26.660 --> 00:07:27.540 a man accursed. 00:07:30.400 --> 00:07:31.680 But was he really? 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:35.199 After all, that message from Samuel 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:37.980 came all the way back in chapter 13. 00:07:37.980 --> 00:07:41.060 And here we are now in chapter 31. 00:07:41.460 --> 00:07:42.860 And up until this chapter, 00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:45.500 Saul still reigns. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:49.680 Saul still spent his days 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:50.900 sitting in the royal palace 00:07:50.900 --> 00:07:52.400 on the throne over all Israel. 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:53.860 Hundreds, if not thousands, 00:07:54.020 --> 00:07:55.700 of armed men at his beck and call. 00:07:56.400 --> 00:07:57.560 He spent his nights 00:07:57.560 --> 00:07:58.960 in a palace bed 00:07:58.960 --> 00:08:00.800 while David, the one he hated, 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:01.980 his arch enemy, 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:03.259 slept in caves, 00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:04.900 fearful for his life. 00:08:06.420 --> 00:08:07.520 By all accounts, 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:09.079 it seemed that the word from the Lord 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:10.419 against Saul 00:08:10.419 --> 00:08:11.819 was in vain 00:08:11.819 --> 00:08:13.799 for 17 chapters. 00:08:16.039 --> 00:08:17.259 Saul, the wicked one, 00:08:17.359 --> 00:08:17.919 prospered 00:08:17.919 --> 00:08:19.839 while the man after God's own heart 00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:22.000 was forced into a meager existence 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:23.120 of exile, 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:26.039 laying his head night by night 00:08:26.039 --> 00:08:27.719 on rocks in caves, 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:29.939 far from the palace, 00:08:30.339 --> 00:08:31.879 far from what we might expect 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:33.100 of the Lord's anointed one. 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:37.879 And Saul here even had the confidence 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:39.320 to go out into battle 00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:40.860 against this Philistine army. 00:08:41.560 --> 00:08:43.300 Because he had defeated this army 00:08:43.300 --> 00:08:44.580 over and over, 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:46.180 and why should this battle 00:08:46.180 --> 00:08:47.320 be any different? 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:50.720 Well, this battle was different 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:51.379 this time, 00:08:51.500 --> 00:08:53.300 not because of the number of troops 00:08:53.300 --> 00:08:54.320 that Saul commanded, 00:08:54.800 --> 00:08:56.240 but because of the word of the Lord. 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:59.960 A few chapters earlier, 00:09:00.180 --> 00:09:02.480 in a mad attempt to receive some guidance, 00:09:02.700 --> 00:09:04.240 Saul invoked a witch 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:06.840 to summon Samuel from the dead. 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:09.220 His message to Saul was bleak. 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:11.580 Moreover, he says, 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:14.879 the Lord will give Israel also with you 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:17.139 into the hand of the Philistines, 00:09:17.139 --> 00:09:20.360 and tomorrow you and your sons 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:21.460 shall be with me. 00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:22.399 That is, dead. 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:26.539 The Lord will give the army of Israel 00:09:26.539 --> 00:09:29.019 also into the hand of the Philistines. 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:33.639 Yet Saul went to battle anyway. 00:09:35.659 --> 00:09:37.360 Hadn't this Samuel been threatening 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:39.100 such things for a while now? 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:42.259 And surely Saul had plenty of time 00:09:42.259 --> 00:09:44.460 to find some way out of his predicament. 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:46.539 After all, on more than one occasion, 00:09:46.539 --> 00:09:47.860 David could have killed him, 00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:49.199 but he didn't. 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:52.360 And after these incursions, 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:54.219 Saul would make some weak attempt 00:09:54.219 --> 00:09:55.500 at repentance each time. 00:09:55.539 --> 00:09:56.799 Oh, David, I'm so sorry. 00:09:56.899 --> 00:09:57.819 Please come back. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.039 And then a few weeks later, 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:02.299 he was back on the hunt for David 00:10:02.299 --> 00:10:05.860 with no repercussions whatsoever. 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:10.000 Surely this time would be no different. 00:10:10.779 --> 00:10:13.579 Samuel must have been exaggerating. 00:10:16.539 --> 00:10:19.039 But the word of God to Saul did not fail. 00:10:20.719 --> 00:10:22.759 For the word of God never fails. 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:25.779 In this chapter, 00:10:25.959 --> 00:10:29.059 all things fall out precisely the way Samuel, 00:10:29.259 --> 00:10:30.599 speaking on behalf of God, 00:10:30.939 --> 00:10:32.360 predicts they would. 00:10:33.199 --> 00:10:35.939 The word of God does not fail. 00:10:35.940 --> 00:10:42.280 And so it is also now. 00:10:45.280 --> 00:10:48.020 God has spoken to his people. 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:50.660 This is one of the central claims 00:10:50.660 --> 00:10:51.680 of the Christian faith. 00:10:52.400 --> 00:10:54.420 And he has done it in his word. 00:10:55.380 --> 00:10:58.300 And that word contains both warnings 00:10:58.300 --> 00:11:00.440 and promises. 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:05.160 Do we, the people of God, 00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:07.860 who trust that God's promises are unshakable, 00:11:08.160 --> 00:11:12.120 think that his warnings are somehow less unshakable? 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:15.120 That they are witty banter? 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:18.380 Or so much bluster and empty threats, 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:21.040 as Saul perhaps did of the words of the Lord 00:11:21.040 --> 00:11:23.480 and Samuel for 17 chapters, 00:11:23.740 --> 00:11:25.480 without any repentance whatsoever? 00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:31.060 Do we emulate Saul in this way? 00:11:32.420 --> 00:11:35.180 Do you put off holiness until tomorrow 00:11:35.180 --> 00:11:38.039 and tomorrow and tomorrow? 00:11:40.940 --> 00:11:43.360 Or perhaps you are not of the faith yet. 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:45.560 You have flirted with Christianity, 00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:47.180 coming to church every so often, 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:48.320 being intrigued by it, 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:50.259 and planning that one day perhaps, 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.440 perhaps at the end of your life 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:53.600 when you have little else to do, 00:11:53.800 --> 00:11:55.100 less fun to have, 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:58.899 you too shall bow the knee to God, 00:11:59.259 --> 00:12:01.060 but not yet, 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:03.899 for there shall always be tomorrow 00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:06.519 and tomorrow and tomorrow. 00:12:09.659 --> 00:12:12.180 But my brother, my sister, 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:14.340 let the blood of Saul 00:12:14.340 --> 00:12:16.860 cry out to you in warning 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:20.700 not to presume upon the mercy of God. 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:21.700 flee to Jesus. 00:12:21.700 --> 00:12:25.800 Flee to Jesus. 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:28.200 When you hear the warnings 00:12:28.200 --> 00:12:30.520 spoken to you in Scripture, 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:32.440 flee to Jesus. 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:36.400 Take shelter in Him, 00:12:36.520 --> 00:12:39.580 the one who bore away God's wrath 00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:43.080 for all who would believe in and follow Him. 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:48.740 Psalm 711 says, 00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:51.000 God is a righteous judge 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:54.680 and a God who feels indignation every day. 00:12:54.780 --> 00:12:55.840 Some translations say, 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:58.120 He's angry every day. 00:12:58.860 --> 00:13:01.920 This is not a popular conception of God. 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:05.639 But when you look at Saul's corpse 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:08.479 on that wall of the Philistine fortress 00:13:08.479 --> 00:13:11.439 and think that he was put there 00:13:11.439 --> 00:13:12.879 because of the judgment of God, 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:16.000 can you think anything other than this verse? 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:20.139 That God feels anger every day against sin? 00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:23.860 And it is precisely because he is righteous 00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:25.259 that he feels that anger? 00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:32.360 If you are not in Christ, 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:36.340 if you have not believed in Christ 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:38.340 and clung to Him in faith, 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:43.919 then God's indignation burns against you 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:46.919 no less than it did against Saul. 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:50.179 This is the warning for us 00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:51.719 in this difficult passage. 00:13:55.079 --> 00:13:56.500 And the response, 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:58.679 though it would come only thousands, 00:13:58.939 --> 00:14:00.279 hundreds of years later, 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:01.379 is this. 00:14:02.479 --> 00:14:03.659 Flee to Christ. 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:05.959 Flee to Him. 00:14:06.719 --> 00:14:08.599 He is full of mercy, 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:11.759 rich in love for you 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:13.559 if you would come to Him. 00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:17.359 As the old hymn says, 00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:20.119 let us love and sing in wonder. 00:14:20.419 --> 00:14:22.539 Let us praise the Savior's love. 00:14:23.119 --> 00:14:26.199 He has hushed the law's loud thunder. 00:14:26.859 --> 00:14:30.500 He has quenched Mount Sinai's flame. 00:14:31.079 --> 00:14:31.979 Mount Sinai, 00:14:32.059 --> 00:14:34.419 that flame that threatened to consume 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:36.879 any who would approach it unworthily, 00:14:37.719 --> 00:14:40.359 can be quenched by the blood of Jesus. 00:14:41.739 --> 00:14:42.439 Flee to Him. 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:46.840 When you gaze upon the naked, 00:14:47.340 --> 00:14:48.960 beheaded body of Saul 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:51.460 on the wall of that Philistine fortress, 00:14:52.540 --> 00:14:52.980 rejoice 00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:55.200 that such a judgment 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:57.380 is not for you 00:14:57.380 --> 00:14:59.600 if you are in Christ. 00:15:00.680 --> 00:15:01.320 Therefore, 00:15:02.400 --> 00:15:03.180 flee to Christ. 00:15:05.680 --> 00:15:07.580 Flee to Him and live. 00:15:07.780 --> 00:15:09.260 For the Word of God, 00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:11.319 when it issues its warnings 00:15:11.319 --> 00:15:12.360 as well as its promises, 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:13.539 are not in vain. 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:18.740 Yet perhaps it seems to you 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.580 that God is tarrying. 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:22.340 As it did for Saul 00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:23.700 from chapter 13 00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:24.799 until chapter 30 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:25.500 of this book. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:26.700 Perhaps you think 00:15:26.700 --> 00:15:27.319 he tarries. 00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:28.779 Perhaps he is slow 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:30.240 to keep his promises. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:33.580 And when we look at the world, 00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:36.100 it does seem that God appears to tarry. 00:15:37.060 --> 00:15:38.159 But even then, 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:40.680 not without reason. 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:43.680 Every day 00:15:43.680 --> 00:15:45.740 that passes 00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:46.700 without God 00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:47.639 bringing judgment 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.600 upon the sin 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:49.779 that He so hates, 00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:52.519 He is doing one of two things. 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:54.419 He is either 00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:55.360 giving the wicked 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:56.620 opportunity 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.840 to repent. 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:01.779 Or He is amassing 00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:03.199 greater and greater 00:16:03.199 --> 00:16:03.980 evidence 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:06.059 for His final work 00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:06.980 of judgment 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:08.860 on the evildoers. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:14.600 So if you are not in Christ, 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:16.439 flee to Him. 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:19.580 And if you are in Christ, 00:16:20.180 --> 00:16:21.320 but find yourself 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:22.560 to be in a condition 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:23.540 of being oppressed, 00:16:24.540 --> 00:16:26.600 know that God 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:27.960 will vindicate you. 00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:30.120 Either by 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:32.140 converting your oppressor, 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:33.500 as He did with 00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:35.320 Saul in the New Testament, 00:16:36.020 --> 00:16:36.920 turned Paul, 00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:38.060 that persecutor 00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:38.800 of God's people 00:16:38.800 --> 00:16:39.520 who then became 00:16:39.520 --> 00:16:40.820 a famous evangelist 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:41.940 for God's gospel. 00:16:45.160 --> 00:16:46.420 Or God will vindicate 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:47.559 you by condemning 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.399 your oppressor, 00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:50.039 as He does 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:51.519 here with Saul 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:52.459 in the Old Testament. 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:54.879 The Word of God, 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:56.000 when it offers 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.659 its threats 00:16:56.659 --> 00:16:57.959 and its promises, 00:16:59.199 --> 00:17:00.120 does not fail. 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:05.319 The second point 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:06.259 I hope we can see tonight. 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:07.980 The people of God 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:08.480 have enemies 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.059 who hate Him 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:09.659 and who rejoice 00:17:09.659 --> 00:17:10.240 in the destruction 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:10.940 of God's people. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.139 In this chapter, 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.119 we see a tragic, 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:15.940 ironic reversal. 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.620 Throughout the book 00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:18.360 of 1 Samuel, 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:19.620 Israel and the Philistines 00:17:19.620 --> 00:17:20.380 have been at war 00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:20.960 constantly, 00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:21.539 perpetually, 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.880 almost boringly. 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.620 Perhaps the most 00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:25.300 famous battle 00:17:25.300 --> 00:17:25.759 in that war 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.539 that you can think of 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.320 is the battle 00:17:27.320 --> 00:17:28.100 between David 00:17:28.100 --> 00:17:29.100 and Goliath. 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:29.480 David, 00:17:29.580 --> 00:17:30.019 the champion 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.360 of the people 00:17:30.360 --> 00:17:30.860 of Israel, 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:31.759 Goliath, 00:17:31.840 --> 00:17:32.340 the champion 00:17:32.340 --> 00:17:33.200 of the people 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.320 of the Philistines. 00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:36.759 As David 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:38.100 charged the giant 00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:38.779 in that battle, 00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:40.039 he declared to him 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.680 this, 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:42.920 you come to me 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:43.700 with a sword 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:44.420 and a spear 00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:45.259 and a javelin, 00:17:45.320 --> 00:17:46.279 but I come to you 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.000 in the name 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.720 of the Lord 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.420 of hosts, 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.600 the God 00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:50.519 of the armies 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:51.259 of Israel, 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:52.960 whom you have 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.120 defied. 00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:55.080 This day, 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:55.620 the Lord 00:17:55.620 --> 00:17:56.400 will deliver you 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:57.299 into my hand 00:17:57.299 --> 00:17:58.400 and I will strike 00:17:58.400 --> 00:17:59.220 you down 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:00.580 and cut off 00:18:00.580 --> 00:18:01.180 your head. 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:03.060 And I will give 00:18:03.060 --> 00:18:03.980 the dead bodies 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.620 of the host 00:18:04.620 --> 00:18:05.420 of the Philistines 00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:06.039 this day 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:06.840 to the birds 00:18:06.840 --> 00:18:07.500 of the air 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.279 and to the wild 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.460 beasts of the earth 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.940 that all the earth 00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:11.840 may know 00:18:11.840 --> 00:18:13.299 there is a God 00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.060 in Israel. 00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:15.860 For David, 00:18:16.060 --> 00:18:16.759 the battle 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.519 between him 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.299 and Goliath 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.420 had theological 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.140 significance. 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.580 It was not only 00:18:21.580 --> 00:18:22.600 a shepherd boy 00:18:22.600 --> 00:18:23.480 against a giant, 00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:24.480 it was the God 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.180 of Israel 00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:26.120 against the God 00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:27.100 of the Philistines. 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:28.640 And David's claim 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:30.200 was that his victory 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:31.660 would vindicate 00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:32.720 that God. 00:18:33.340 --> 00:18:34.180 All the earth 00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:34.740 will know 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.519 there is a God 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.100 in Israel 00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:37.319 because I will 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:37.900 defeat you. 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.420 And that's precisely 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:41.940 what happened. 00:18:43.100 --> 00:18:44.380 David was victorious, 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.279 which meant 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:45.900 that the God 00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:46.340 of Israel 00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:46.940 was victorious 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.620 over the God 00:18:47.620 --> 00:18:48.319 of the Philistines. 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.100 This battle 00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:50.120 had theological 00:18:50.120 --> 00:18:50.900 significance. 00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:52.559 David cut off 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.160 the head 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:53.980 of the champion 00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:55.039 of the Philistines, 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:56.080 stripped him 00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:57.059 of his armor 00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:58.259 and sent word 00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:59.059 throughout the land 00:18:59.059 --> 00:18:59.980 that Yahweh, 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.599 the God 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:01.400 of Israel, 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.539 reigns. 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.480 And he sent 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.299 back Goliath's 00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:06.180 head to Jerusalem, 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.880 the city of God, 00:19:08.120 --> 00:19:09.380 as an enduring 00:19:09.380 --> 00:19:10.799 reminder that Yahweh 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.120 had conquered. 00:19:14.620 --> 00:19:15.500 Do you see 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.039 the reversal 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:16.599 of that 00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:18.079 in this passage? 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.799 The Philistines 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:21.799 have done to Saul 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:23.440 precisely what David, 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.480 who was then 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.200 in that battle 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:26.140 acting as an agent 00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:26.799 of Saul, 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.360 did to Goliath. 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:30.199 1 Chronicles 10 00:19:30.199 --> 00:19:30.839 says that 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:31.319 when they 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:31.959 fastened 00:19:31.959 --> 00:19:34.279 the body 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:34.959 of Saul 00:19:34.959 --> 00:19:35.539 into the 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.619 Philistine fortress, 00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:37.339 they took 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:37.899 the head 00:19:37.899 --> 00:19:38.740 of Saul 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.319 into the 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:39.740 temple 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.859 of Dagon. 00:19:42.199 --> 00:19:42.939 They took 00:19:42.939 --> 00:19:43.559 the champion 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.299 of Yahweh 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:45.379 into the house 00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:45.959 of the idol, 00:19:46.699 --> 00:19:47.819 for Yahweh 00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:48.559 was defeated. 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.619 Look here, 00:19:51.699 --> 00:19:52.439 even in this chapter 00:19:52.439 --> 00:19:53.399 at verse 9, 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.700 when they 00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:55.259 discover the 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.019 body of Saul, 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:56.860 they cut 00:19:56.860 --> 00:19:57.740 off his head 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.280 and strip 00:19:58.280 --> 00:19:59.100 off his armor 00:19:59.100 --> 00:19:59.700 and send 00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.200 messengers 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:00.680 throughout the 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:01.100 land of the 00:20:01.100 --> 00:20:01.600 Philistines 00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:02.860 to carry 00:20:02.860 --> 00:20:04.120 the good news 00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:05.500 to the house 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.160 of their idols 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:07.300 and to the 00:20:07.300 --> 00:20:07.580 people. 00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:09.580 This word, 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.300 good news, 00:20:11.120 --> 00:20:12.460 it's the exact 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.460 same word 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.780 that is often, 00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:15.200 in fact, 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:15.860 I think everywhere 00:20:15.860 --> 00:20:16.340 else, 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.160 translated 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:18.140 gospel. 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.280 The Philistines 00:20:20.280 --> 00:20:21.340 have a gospel. 00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:22.740 The enemies 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.279 of God 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.259 have a gospel 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.720 and it is 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.619 the champion 00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:27.419 of Yahweh. 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:27.859 Indeed, 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.819 Yahweh himself 00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:29.639 is defeated. 00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:30.659 His people 00:20:30.659 --> 00:20:32.799 are defeated. 00:20:34.639 --> 00:20:35.399 You see, 00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:35.959 we, 00:20:36.159 --> 00:20:36.779 reading this book, 00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:37.579 realize what's 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.139 going on. 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:38.879 God is taking 00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:39.459 the throne 00:20:39.459 --> 00:20:40.259 away from Saul 00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:40.980 and giving it 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:41.659 to David, 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.399 but the Philistines 00:20:42.399 --> 00:20:43.459 know nothing of this. 00:20:43.919 --> 00:20:44.799 All they know 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.240 is they have 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:45.959 killed the king, 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.939 the royal family, 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:48.199 and the whole army 00:20:48.199 --> 00:20:48.799 that came out 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:49.659 to meet them 00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:50.859 and their response 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:51.679 is to spread 00:20:51.679 --> 00:20:52.839 this gospel around. 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.319 If David, 00:20:54.459 --> 00:20:54.979 when he cut off 00:20:54.979 --> 00:20:55.859 the head of Goliath, 00:20:55.959 --> 00:20:56.240 says, 00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:57.339 all men will know 00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:58.119 that there is a God 00:20:58.119 --> 00:20:58.639 in Israel, 00:20:58.879 --> 00:21:00.000 now the Philistines 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.419 can say, 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.519 all men will know 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.399 there is a God 00:21:02.399 --> 00:21:03.439 of the Philistines. 00:21:07.219 --> 00:21:07.899 That's the way 00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:08.519 I began this, 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:09.519 that's why I began 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:09.959 the sermon 00:21:09.959 --> 00:21:10.639 the way I did. 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:12.599 With the Philistines 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:15.059 praising Dagon 00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:15.819 for the destruction 00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.419 of Israel, 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.779 that blasphemy 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.639 that they would 00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:19.539 have dared to utter. 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:21.799 But with good reason, 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.299 it seems. 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.279 This battle 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:25.240 had all the theological 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:26.059 significance for them 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:26.939 that David and Goliath 00:21:26.939 --> 00:21:27.659 had for Israel. 00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:28.819 It was for them 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:30.119 a sign that Yahweh 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:31.259 had failed, 00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:32.459 and the enemies 00:21:32.459 --> 00:21:33.099 of God 00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:33.959 rejoice. 00:21:36.719 --> 00:21:37.599 Do the enemies 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.019 of God 00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:38.779 still rejoice? 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.079 I contend 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:43.599 that they do. 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:48.379 And we ourselves 00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:49.159 can give the enemies 00:21:49.159 --> 00:21:49.500 of God 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:50.400 reason to rejoice. 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.819 Consider this. 00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:55.960 Satan 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.279 said to God 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.140 that Job 00:21:58.140 --> 00:21:59.240 only loved him 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.339 because God 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:01.420 was kind to him 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.240 and blessed him. 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.799 So God 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.640 took away 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:06.240 that kindness 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:06.920 temporarily, 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.200 took away 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.000 that blessing, 00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:10.119 and let Satan 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:11.259 torment him. 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.500 Now, 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:14.259 what would have 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.660 happened 00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:15.940 if Job, 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:16.779 after Satan 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.559 afflicted him, 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.159 would have 00:22:18.159 --> 00:22:19.200 taken his wife's 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.139 advice to curse 00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:20.799 God and die, 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:21.359 what would have 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:21.639 happened? 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:24.399 Could you imagine 00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:25.940 how terrible 00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:26.799 it would be 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:28.500 to hear Satan 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:30.200 gloating of his 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.859 victory over God? 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:34.220 I told you, 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:34.919 Yahweh, 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:36.480 I told you. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:40.700 God 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.400 yet, 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.339 how do we know 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:42.880 that heaven 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:43.759 is not paying 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.779 attention to our 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.640 affairs as well? 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:50.519 How do we know 00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:51.200 that we, 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:52.299 when we choose 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.440 the pleasures of sin 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.120 over the pleasures 00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:54.759 of Christ, 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:56.860 do not give 00:22:56.860 --> 00:22:58.099 equal opportunity 00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:59.200 for the enemies 00:22:59.200 --> 00:22:59.660 of God 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.259 to rejoice 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.200 and gloat over him? 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.799 Would we do that? 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:08.759 would we caress 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:10.460 our favorite sin 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:12.079 and give the enemies 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.579 of the Lord 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:14.000 opportunity this week 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.279 to gloat over our 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.519 King who loves us? 00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:19.000 Brothers and sisters, 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:20.319 let us encourage 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.279 one another 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:23.399 that we ought to 00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:23.899 fight 00:23:23.899 --> 00:23:25.700 to allow our 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.180 enemies, 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.319 the enemies of God, 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.180 no reason 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.200 to gloat of their 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.319 victory over our 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:30.599 King. 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:30.659 Amen. 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.980 Let us cling 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:36.659 to Christ, 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.779 love him, 00:23:37.899 --> 00:23:38.940 and love like him 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.659 so that the 00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:40.539 opponents of God 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:41.779 can be put to shame 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:43.440 because Saul 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.059 gave them 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.539 opportunity 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.419 to rejoice. 00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:48.940 Do you notice 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:49.440 in this story 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.119 also that the 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:50.480 Bible 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:52.099 is not at all 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:53.159 rosy-eyed 00:23:53.159 --> 00:23:54.200 about the evils 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:54.919 of this world? 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:56.500 This is not 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.799 some farcical 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.859 fantasy book 00:23:58.859 --> 00:24:00.220 out of touch 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.879 with the 00:24:00.879 --> 00:24:01.759 difficulties, 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.759 the evils 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.299 of life. 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:04.639 Think of the 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.399 gruesomeness 00:24:05.399 --> 00:24:06.200 of this scene. 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:10.059 But we need 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:11.220 a book like this 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:14.240 because the 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.180 world around us 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:16.119 is just as 00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:16.579 gruesome. 00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:18.059 You can watch 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:18.720 it on YouTube 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.480 tonight. 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:22.159 The Bible 00:24:22.159 --> 00:24:23.159 must contain 00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:23.759 these harsh 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:25.019 messages if it's 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.599 going to speak 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:27.059 to us in a 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.799 harsh world. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.960 The Bible 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:33.019 would have us 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.619 be sober, 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:34.379 serious, 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.539 and well aware 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.019 of the fact 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:36.559 that God 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:37.279 has enemies 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.339 and those 00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:38.639 who would 00:24:38.639 --> 00:24:39.480 ally themselves 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.960 with the 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.420 one true 00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:40.779 God 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.420 make for 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:41.920 themselves 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.839 powerful, 00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:44.759 powerful enemies. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.319 We have 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:49.839 seen those 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.579 enemies at work 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:51.039 this week. 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:54.099 Most especially 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:55.059 and vividly 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:56.259 and proximally 00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:57.720 in Charleston, 00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:58.519 South Carolina 00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.339 where a white 00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:00.299 supremacist gunman 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:00.900 walked into the 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.740 house of God 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:03.220 and murdered 00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:03.660 the people 00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:04.099 of God. 00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:06.839 We know 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.460 this because 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:09.500 he had a deep 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.599 hatred for blacks, 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:11.900 a racism 00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:13.299 pervasive and 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:13.880 deep, a racism 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:14.740 that has no 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:15.640 place among 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.259 the people of 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:16.559 God. 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.700 This story 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:21.019 rightly breaks 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:21.559 our hearts. 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.460 We wonder 00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.460 rightly where 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.380 God was, 00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:26.599 especially 00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.240 because this 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:28.380 racial hatred 00:25:28.380 --> 00:25:28.920 has taken 00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.819 center stage in 00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.240 our country 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.700 this year, 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.599 time and 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:32.019 again, 00:25:32.659 --> 00:25:33.299 even though 00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:33.899 it was prevalent 00:25:33.899 --> 00:25:34.460 in this country 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.419 for centuries 00:25:35.419 --> 00:25:36.119 and it seems 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:37.119 tragically still 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:37.700 is. 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:39.879 This time 00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:40.240 the target 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.019 was a church, 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:42.259 a church 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:43.200 with a long 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:43.939 history of 00:25:43.939 --> 00:25:44.939 preaching the 00:25:44.939 --> 00:25:45.899 implication of 00:25:45.899 --> 00:25:46.439 the gospel, 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.720 that in Christ 00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.460 there is no 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.299 longer Jew 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:50.039 or Greek, 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.240 that Christ 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:51.939 has broken 00:25:51.939 --> 00:25:52.559 down the 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.480 dividing wall 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.500 between all 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.099 races and 00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:55.720 ethnicities, 00:25:55.939 --> 00:25:56.799 and therefore 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:58.200 hatred between 00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:59.000 whites and 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:00.160 blacks cannot 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:00.920 stand. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.120 This was the 00:26:02.120 --> 00:26:02.819 message this 00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.580 church preached 00:26:03.580 --> 00:26:05.799 and that man 00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:06.759 hated that 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.200 message, 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.559 so he killed 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:08.799 them. 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.420 These are our 00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:14.539 brothers who 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.160 were murdered. 00:26:16.600 --> 00:26:17.440 These are our 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.100 sisters whose 00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:19.380 blood splattered 00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:20.480 the ground where 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.340 they once knelt 00:26:21.340 --> 00:26:22.799 to pray only 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.600 minutes before. 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:26.819 has the Bible 00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:27.659 anything to say 00:26:27.659 --> 00:26:28.119 to this? 00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:30.819 I think the 00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:31.539 gruesomeness of 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.199 this passage 00:26:32.199 --> 00:26:33.019 shows us that 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.619 it does. 00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.599 The enemies of 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:37.059 God have 00:26:37.059 --> 00:26:38.000 another gospel 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.179 that they 00:26:39.179 --> 00:26:39.859 proclaim, 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.299 that they try 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:42.119 to advance, 00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.579 that is advanced 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.379 by the people 00:26:44.379 --> 00:26:45.319 of God being 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:46.000 destroyed. 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:48.759 The hour is 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.159 coming, 00:26:49.399 --> 00:26:50.000 Jesus says, 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.000 that whoever 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:51.939 kills you will 00:26:51.939 --> 00:26:52.399 think he is 00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:53.139 offering service 00:26:53.140 --> 00:26:53.620 to God. 00:26:56.060 --> 00:26:57.380 So mourn for 00:26:57.380 --> 00:27:00.120 Charleston and 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:01.100 have conversations 00:27:01.100 --> 00:27:02.100 and pray and 00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:03.540 fast among 00:27:03.540 --> 00:27:04.259 your friends 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.820 about how we 00:27:05.820 --> 00:27:06.920 individually and 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.440 as a church 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.340 might continue to 00:27:08.340 --> 00:27:08.980 show God's 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:10.140 love, his 00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:10.980 message of 00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:11.640 reconciliation 00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:14.100 instead of 00:27:14.100 --> 00:27:14.800 violence and 00:27:14.800 --> 00:27:15.140 hatred. 00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:18.400 And all the 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.280 while, remember 00:27:19.280 --> 00:27:21.600 that it was not 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:22.440 only Charleston 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:23.200 that saw the 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.720 blood of 00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:24.620 Christians shed 00:27:24.620 --> 00:27:25.340 this week. 00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:28.940 We have been 00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.700 killed this very 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.580 week in Nigeria 00:27:30.580 --> 00:27:31.700 by Boko Haram. 00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:34.100 We have been 00:27:34.100 --> 00:27:35.000 killed this very 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.620 week in the 00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:36.799 Middle East 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.400 by ISIS. 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:39.420 We have been 00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:40.200 killed this very 00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:41.039 week in dozens 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.860 of other places 00:27:41.860 --> 00:27:42.559 around the world 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.259 that we do not 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:44.220 know about and 00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:44.920 will not know 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:46.120 about until we 00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:47.039 see the martyrs 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.500 in heaven. 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:52.559 Pray that the 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.119 faith of the 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:53.799 people of God 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.339 persecuted 00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:54.940 throughout the 00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.960 world would 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.460 stand. 00:27:57.639 --> 00:27:58.460 Pray that the 00:27:58.460 --> 00:28:00.279 false gospel of 00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:00.920 the enemy of the 00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:01.619 people of God 00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:03.000 would be exposed 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:04.519 as false gospel. 00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:07.420 And pray that the 00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.099 Lord would come. 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:12.139 for God has 00:28:12.139 --> 00:28:14.699 enemies, bitter 00:28:14.699 --> 00:28:16.919 enemies, with an 00:28:16.919 --> 00:28:17.500 evil gospel. 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.139 Third and 00:28:21.139 --> 00:28:21.779 finally tonight, I 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.299 hope we can see 00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.119 that through every 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:23.819 victory of the 00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:25.319 people of God, God 00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.740 is working a 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:28.000 greater salvation. 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:29.279 Through every 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:29.899 defeat of the 00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:30.919 people of God, God 00:28:30.919 --> 00:28:31.919 is working a 00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:32.919 greater salvation. 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:37.420 How foolish was 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:38.440 it for these 00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:39.560 Philistines to 00:28:39.560 --> 00:28:42.300 rejoice, to bring 00:28:42.300 --> 00:28:43.279 their praise and 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:44.019 worship before their 00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:45.000 gods, for where 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:46.100 are the worshippers 00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:47.460 of Dagon now? 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:51.600 Indeed, all 00:28:51.600 --> 00:28:53.440 rejoicing by the 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:57.240 enemies of God is a 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:58.700 false rejoicing. 00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:01.019 It is a sham 00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.740 rejoicing. 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:04.620 For all rejoicing 00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:06.080 outside of Christ 00:29:06.080 --> 00:29:07.279 is merely an 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:09.120 illusion that one 00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:09.640 day will be 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:11.420 exposed tragically, 00:29:11.840 --> 00:29:12.900 cataclysmically. 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.960 And this Philistine 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:16.000 gospel is no 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.500 exception. 00:29:18.080 --> 00:29:19.220 For when they 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.940 think they have 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:20.700 slain the 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:21.460 anointed one of 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:24.920 God, David is 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:25.960 far away. 00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.519 Somewhere else, 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.039 you see. 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.420 This is an 00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:31.080 amazing progression 00:29:31.080 --> 00:29:31.580 of events. 00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:31.980 You see what 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.320 happens? 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:33.839 David is forced 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:34.859 into exile a few 00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.500 chapters earlier 00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.500 by Saul and his 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:36.819 hatred. 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.059 And the one 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:39.240 place he knows he 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:40.259 can go to receive 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:41.559 some small amount 00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:42.779 of peace is to go 00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.759 to the Philistines. 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:46.019 And then David 00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:47.399 goes out on raids 00:29:47.399 --> 00:29:48.259 against the enemies 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:48.839 of Israel. 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:50.079 And the king of 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:51.019 the Philistines asks 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.759 David, where have you 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.259 gone today? 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:52.899 And he says, I've 00:29:52.899 --> 00:29:53.599 gone out against the 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.159 enemies of the 00:29:54.159 --> 00:29:54.779 Philistines. 00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.980 He's playing the 00:29:56.980 --> 00:29:59.059 Philistines here so 00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:00.659 that he can wait in 00:30:00.659 --> 00:30:02.559 waiting for the 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:04.240 kingship to be his. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.639 He has proven over 00:30:05.639 --> 00:30:06.539 and over that he 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.960 himself will not lift 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:08.819 a hand against the 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.339 Lord's anointed. 00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:11.440 But now there's a 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:11.759 difficulty. 00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:13.519 Because the army of 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.359 the Philistines to 00:30:14.359 --> 00:30:15.000 which he has sworn 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:16.379 allegiance is now 00:30:16.379 --> 00:30:18.139 going against the 00:30:18.139 --> 00:30:19.000 anointed one of 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:20.399 Israel, Saul and his 00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:20.700 army. 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:23.740 He's in stuck between 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.539 these two things. 00:30:24.679 --> 00:30:25.460 How is he going to 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:26.240 get out of this 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:26.799 situation? 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.319 Some of the 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.120 Philistine commanders 00:30:29.120 --> 00:30:30.039 see him among the 00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.440 ranks. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.200 They go to the 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:31.980 Philistine king and 00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:33.400 say, we don't trust 00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.059 him here. 00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:35.620 Can you tell him 00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:36.960 politely to sit this 00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:37.660 battle out? 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.980 And so he does. 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.819 David is off raiding 00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:44.079 other enemies of God, 00:30:45.120 --> 00:30:46.920 amassing treasure, 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.559 amassing more 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.900 resources that will be 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:51.180 brought into the 00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:51.900 storehouse of the 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.980 living God one day, 00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:54.319 while the Philistines 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.599 are off fighting with 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:55.920 Saul. 00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:58.480 God has fought this 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.880 battle for David. 00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:02.400 And when the 00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:04.440 Philistines rejoice over 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:05.279 the death of Saul, 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.980 little do they know 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:09.120 what David will bring. 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:12.440 Saul has slain his 00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:13.640 thousands, but David 00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.759 his ten thousands. 00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:16.339 So sang the people of 00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:17.339 Israel a few chapters 00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:17.740 back. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:20.640 The Philistines ain't 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:22.660 seen nothing yet of the 00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:24.019 great victory that God 00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:25.400 will work for his people 00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:26.400 through David. 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:27.040 David. 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:30.500 So in spite of this 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:33.560 small defeat, God is 00:31:33.560 --> 00:31:35.040 working for his people a 00:31:35.040 --> 00:31:36.060 greater salvation. 00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:42.860 To the Philistine eye, it 00:31:42.860 --> 00:31:44.340 seems that Yahweh is dead, 00:31:45.340 --> 00:31:46.320 that he has failed. 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:50.139 yet the Christian knows 00:31:50.139 --> 00:31:52.720 that after the death of God 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:55.980 comes the resurrection of God. 00:31:57.980 --> 00:32:00.960 And this defeat on the way 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.980 to the establishment of the 00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:05.359 kingdom only serves to advance 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:08.220 the Lord's plan to put on the 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:10.279 throne of Israel David, 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:14.119 from whose house will come 00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:16.339 one whose kingdom never 00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:19.779 ends, Jesus himself. 00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:23.399 The Philistines knew nothing of 00:32:23.399 --> 00:32:25.359 this when they rejoiced over 00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:27.160 Saul's body, but God did. 00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:30.879 God was looking through the 00:32:30.879 --> 00:32:34.299 defeat of Israel to Christ on 00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:35.000 the other end. 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:39.819 And to have the mind and the 00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:42.500 eyes of God is to look 00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:45.640 through our defeats, to see on 00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:47.960 the other end, Jesus. 00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:51.900 The one our hearts yearn for. 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:57.059 The one that every defeat is in 00:32:57.059 --> 00:33:00.299 some majestically unknowable way 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:03.519 bringing to bear in this world 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.980 and in our hearts. 00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:08.819 Is not that message embedded 00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:10.139 into the nature of the 00:33:10.139 --> 00:33:10.899 Christian gospel? 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:13.619 That our God, in order to save 00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.819 us, had to die? 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:18.319 Had to endure this defeat on 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:19.700 the road to final victory? 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:24.039 He emptied himself, Philippians 2 00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:24.440 said. 00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:27.220 He lowered himself and took upon 00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.759 himself the form of a servant. 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:32.220 Therefore, God highly exalted him. 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:35.799 This is the pattern of the 00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:36.519 Christian life. 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:39.660 Through humiliation, through 00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:42.000 defeats, exaltation. 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:45.900 Because the cross comes before 00:33:45.900 --> 00:33:46.359 the crown. 00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:49.079 And there is no way to the crown 00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:51.099 except through the cross. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:54.420 Take it up and bear it, Christ 00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:54.839 says. 00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:56.819 Which sounds to us a difficult 00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:57.379 message. 00:33:57.380 --> 00:34:00.000 But he then reminds us that his 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:02.420 burden is easy and his yoke 00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:03.500 is light. 00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:09.519 Saul did not experience this 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:10.440 rejoicing. 00:34:11.140 --> 00:34:11.860 This hope. 00:34:13.140 --> 00:34:14.079 Will you? 00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:19.539 Will you look to the heir of David? 00:34:20.240 --> 00:34:22.320 The one who has come to establish 00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:23.039 God's kingdom. 00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:26.840 Will you look to him and live? 00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:30.559 If you've not done so, I pray that 00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.259 you would tonight. 00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:34.519 I pray that you would confess to the 00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:35.539 Lord your sins. 00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:39.219 And place your faith in him as the 00:34:39.219 --> 00:34:40.619 only savior of the world. 00:34:41.779 --> 00:34:43.759 If you're interested more in this, I 00:34:43.759 --> 00:34:45.679 urge you to come talk to me or to 00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:46.340 Pastor Greg. 00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:48.039 We would love to talk to you about 00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:48.300 that. 00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:52.140 Let the gruesomeness of Saul 00:34:52.140 --> 00:34:56.360 and the final eventual rejoicing of 00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:56.680 David 00:34:56.680 --> 00:34:59.120 be both a stick 00:34:59.120 --> 00:35:00.400 and a carrot 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:02.820 to spur you on 00:35:02.820 --> 00:35:04.320 to love of God 00:35:04.320 --> 00:35:06.100 and citizenship 00:35:06.100 --> 00:35:07.740 in the heavenly kingdom 00:35:07.740 --> 00:35:09.340 under the great 00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:11.160 heir 00:35:11.160 --> 00:35:13.360 of the heir of the 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:14.740 great kingdom 00:35:14.740 --> 00:35:15.680 of the heir 00:35:15.680 --> 00:35:16.500 of David, 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.860 Christ himself. 00:35:19.719 --> 00:35:20.340 Let's pray. 00:35:24.059 --> 00:35:25.699 Lord, I thank you that you have 00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:28.059 loved us enough to speak to us 00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:29.219 these harsh warnings. 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:31.480 I thank you that you have not 00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:33.800 sugar-coated reality for us. 00:35:34.260 --> 00:35:35.780 I thank you that you have not 00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:37.280 given us mere platitudes 00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:39.059 and wishful thinking to resort to, 00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:39.960 but you have given us 00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:42.099 firm and solid truths. 00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:43.780 You have spoken to us 00:35:43.780 --> 00:35:46.280 clearly about both the dangers 00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:47.640 of sin 00:35:47.640 --> 00:35:48.860 and rebellion against you 00:35:48.860 --> 00:35:52.640 and of the rock-solid assurance 00:35:52.640 --> 00:35:53.840 that your kingdom 00:35:53.840 --> 00:35:54.780 will go forth 00:35:54.780 --> 00:35:56.140 through every defeat. 00:35:57.080 --> 00:35:58.740 We trust that no Philistine 00:35:58.740 --> 00:35:59.660 can stand in the way 00:35:59.660 --> 00:36:00.200 of your kingdom, 00:36:00.640 --> 00:36:01.940 neither then nor now. 00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:04.280 We do pray for those 00:36:04.280 --> 00:36:05.019 in Charleston, 00:36:05.660 --> 00:36:06.620 in the Middle East, 00:36:07.200 --> 00:36:07.940 in Nigeria, 00:36:08.540 --> 00:36:09.519 in North Korea, 00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:10.580 in China, 00:36:10.740 --> 00:36:11.100 wherever 00:36:11.100 --> 00:36:13.320 the blood of your saints 00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:15.380 cries out for justice. 00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:17.440 We thank you 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.760 that your blood 00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:20.420 cries out for mercy. 00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.140 And so we pray, 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:23.940 come Lord Jesus, 00:36:25.140 --> 00:36:26.260 in whose name we pray tonight. 00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:27.579 Amen.