WEBVTT

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 As Tashi said, we're in the middle of a series at the moment, preaching through the book of 1 Samuel.

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 So, so far, just to fill you in if you haven't been around, Israel has made it to the promised land that God was giving to them.

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 But basically, once it got into this land, things started going badly.

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 It struggled.

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 They'd have little flashes of goodness where they'd be powerful or prosperous, but it keeps going wrong.

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 And they are asking the question when we get to the book of 1 Samuel,

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 does God still care for us?

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 And is he still with us?

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 Are we still his people?

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 So chapter 1, we had a bit of encouragement when God affirms his presence and care by blessing Hannah,

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 a barren woman, with a child that she desperately wants.

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 And we do begin to get a sense from Hannah's prayer in the beginning of chapter 2

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 that God's working in a new way through Hannah and through Israel.

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 But tonight it feels like we hit a brick wall.

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 The problems that were obviously there before, for them to be asking if God was even still around,

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 are even deeper than we might have thought.

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 And so that's what we're going to walk into tonight.

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 And I want to pray for us that God will give us ears to hear,

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 because some of the stuff we're going to talk about tonight is not the funnest stuff to talk about.

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 But I'm going to ask that God lets us hear it anyway, because it's important.

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 Father God, we want to thank you for your word.

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 And we want to thank you for the chance to gather tonight.

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 And Lord, we ask that as we reflect on what it is you have to say here,

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 that you give us soft hearts, that we would be teachable,

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 that we would be willing to recognize things that are in our lives that are wrong,

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 and that we would be thankful for the opportunity to confess those

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 and have you deal with that part of our life.

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 Amen.

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 We have a natural cynicism towards leaders in our culture.

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 We are just a week past an election,

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 and I'm sure you can reflect on conversations that you've had in the past fortnight,

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 or maybe even a bit further,

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 on the hopelessness of the various candidates that they were to vote for.

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 Clive Palmer is probably an indictment on what we think a leader is.

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 We basically get frustrated because these people get thrown up as taking responsibility for our state,

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 our nation, whatever it is, our local government area.

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 And almost always we run into stories in the media of how they've fallen,

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 whether it's morally fallen, whether it's they've just failed to keep their promises.

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 There is this kind of constant cycle of dodginess in the leadership that we have in our society today.

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 And sadly, church is not immune to that.

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 There is also a cycle of dodgy church leaders that we hear about.

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 And so there is this cycle of leadership.

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 Good leadership would tend to hang around, but there is this constant change.

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 Even in our fantastic political structure,

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 you tend to go one party for a little bit with all this hope, and then they fail.

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 So we go back to the other side for a little while, then they fail, and then we go back.

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 And there is almost a constant pattern,

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 if you look back through Australian government history,

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 of one major party, then the next.

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 Because we're not happy, they're not delivering.

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 Now the problem with that for us is,

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 when we open a passage like this,

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 we think, yep, fair enough,

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 the leaders of Israel are dodgy.

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 No big deal.

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 But, we need to stop for a second

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 and understand who it is we're looking at

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 in this passage of Scripture.

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 You've got to remember that this is Israel.

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 God picked this one nation

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 out of all of the peoples on earth.

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 At this point,

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 they are in the promised land that He led them to.

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 Spectacularly,

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 when He rescued them out of Egypt.

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 This story is at Shiloh,

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 which is like the capital city when it comes to worshipping God

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 for the people of God in the country,

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 the land that God had given them.

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 And these people that we're talking about are the priests.

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 From within this chosen people,

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 God chose a specific tribe

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 and separated them out and said,

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 you will be the priests,

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 you will be my representatives,

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 you will be the leaders

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 to serve the people

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 and we find them completely and utterly corrupt.

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 And that's even more significant

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 if you look back just a couple of verses

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 to verse 10 of chapter 2,

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 which we looked at last week,

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 where Hannah tells us in her prayer

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 that those who oppose the Lord

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 will be broken.

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 This situation should shock us.

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 Last week,

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 we celebrated that God is sovereign

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 and that God will bring low those who are full of pride

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 and He will raise up the humble

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 and then we come here

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 and His leadership in His people

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 is corrupt

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 and seems to be flourishing as they're doing it.

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 This should shock us.

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 God doesn't tolerate it.

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 God will not tolerate it.

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 If we stopped even just at verse 12,

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 if we didn't read anywhere beyond that,

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 we would have a major problem.

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 Have a look at it.

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 Verse 12,

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 Eli's sons were scoundrels.

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 They had no regard for the Lord.

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 They don't know God.

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 They're priests.

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 That means they're God's representatives.

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 They kind of stand in between God and His people

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 to make sure that this relationship can work

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 because you've got a holy God

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 and unholy people

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 and so God appoints priests as the go-between

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 and the people in the middle don't even know God.

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 They have no regard for Him.

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 He's not important to them.

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 Now, it's not that they don't know about Him.

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 Obviously, they're priests.

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 They spend all day, every day,

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 doing things that God told the people to do.

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 They've heard the stories about the parting of the sea,

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 the wandering around the desert.

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 They've heard about it,

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 but they don't know Him.

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 They don't have the relationship with Him,

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 at least not in the way that Hannah did last week

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 or two weeks ago.

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 However, their knowing about Him

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 has no impact on their life.

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 It doesn't make any difference

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 to the way they make decisions,

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 to the things that are important to them,

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 to the things that are precious.

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 And so their ignorance,

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 or maybe more accurately,

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 their rejection of God,

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 starts to flow out in their actions.

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 Have a look with me at verse 13.

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 It says,

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 Now, let's be really clear.

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 It says it's the practice,

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 but it doesn't say it's a good practice.

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 This isn't the instruction that God gave them

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 when He set this up.

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 These guys were just feeling hungry.

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 And the hopelessness of this is

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 God had actually designed this sacrificial system

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 so that people sacrificing

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 would actually keep a portion

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 to go to the priests

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 as like payment for their job.

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 So God had already designed it

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 to make sure these guys would get looked after.

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 They would have food.

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 They would be well fed.

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 They would have strength.

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 But they just decide,

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 you know what,

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 I'm a little bit hungrier.

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 And so they would strut up to you

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 while you're making your sacrifice,

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 meats they're cooking,

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 you're getting ready,

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 following the specific instructions

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 that God has given.

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 And they bring in this novelty fork

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 that's going to collect everything

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 that's in your pot

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 and wander off and go,

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 look, I've got it.

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 And in fact,

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 these priests are so lazy

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 that they send their servants to do it.

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 Not only are they being greedy,

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 they're being lazy

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 and sitting on their butts

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 and sending someone else

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 to do the dirty work.

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 But it gets even worse.

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 It says,

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 verse 15,

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 And even before the fat was burned,

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 the priest's servant would come

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 and say to the person

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 who was sacrificing,

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 give the priest some meat to roast.

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 He won't accept boiled meat from you,

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 but only raw.

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 And if the person said to him,

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 let the fat be burned first,

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 which is what God instructed them to do,

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 this is how they would respond.

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 The servant would answer,

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 no, hand it over now.

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 If you don't,

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 I'll take it by force.

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 So not only would they steal the meat

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 from the boiling pot,

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 they would come and remove

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 and steal the portion

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 that was reserved for God himself.

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 They would presume to take the place

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 of the God who had rescued them out of Egypt.

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 And then there is a significant verse there

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 in verse 17,

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 The sin of the young men

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 was very great in the Lord's sight,

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 for they were treating the Lord's offering

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 with contempt.

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 Now, the funny thing is

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 that these priests

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 are technically going through the motions.

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 They're living at the tent

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 where God has told them to live.

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 There is sacrifices happening

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 like there was supposed to be.

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 And so they're kind of presenting like priests.

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 I'm sure that Israel

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 didn't particularly like them,

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 but there was probably some sense

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 of they're the priests,

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 what can we do?

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 That's where we have to do our sacrifices.

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 But even though they're kind of

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 going through the motions,

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 the motions actually don't hold any weight.

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 Because the whole system,

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 the sacrifices, the tent,

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 this place was all about relating to God.

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 That was the whole point.

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 And these guys don't know him.

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 So it doesn't matter

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 if they were even doing

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 the correct sacrifices at this point,

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 because verse 12 tells us

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 they had no regard for the Lord.

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 There's a little warning for you there

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 that you can actually look

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 a lot like somebody

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 who is following Jesus,

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 but just be spinning the wheels.

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 Following Jesus is about

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 having a relationship with him.

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 And it's possible to look

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 exactly like a Christian,

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 but not know the God

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 who Christians follow.

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 I remember when I was younger,

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 a fair bit younger,

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 I'm a child of the 80s.

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 And in the 80s,

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 it was okay for white guys to dance.

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 Thank you, Vanilla Rice,

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 and I guess MC Hammer's

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 kind of somewhere in the middle

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 of white and black.

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 And I remember that

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 when I say it was okay,

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 not everyone could do it,

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 but it was just,

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 there was a permission.

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 And I remember my older brother

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 and my cousin,

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 who was also older,

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 took street funk dancing classes,

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 and I was so jealous.

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 There's some really embarrassing photos of them

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 with no shirts on

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 and happy pants,

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 and it's fantastic.

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 But in my absence

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 at the actual classes,

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 I still had aspirations

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 to be a dancer.

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 And so I convinced my parents

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 to get me

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 the fluoro puffy happy pants,

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 and I think I got

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 some imitation Nike high tops

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 as well and everything.

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 And I had the muscle tee,

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 which was fairly unnecessary

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 for the eight-year-old version of me.

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 But the problem was,

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 I couldn't,

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 and I still cannot,

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 dance at all.

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 If music comes on,

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 I can do the awkward shuffle thing,

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 but that's about it.

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 It's not exactly street funk.

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 I was all show and no go.

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 And look,

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 entertaining story,

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 but there is the scary possibility

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 that we could be that as Christians.

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 I've got a Bible.

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 I don't get drunk.

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 I don't swear.

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 I make sure that I get to church

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 at least two out of four Sundays.

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 But if there's not actually

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 a relationship with God,

00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:58.480
 if there's not a joy in God,

00:10:58.480 --> 00:10:59.680
 if there's not a knowledge

00:10:59.680 --> 00:11:00.980
 of the God who made you

00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:01.800
 and loves you,

00:11:02.680 --> 00:11:04.139
 could it be that you're just

00:11:04.139 --> 00:11:05.460
 going through the motions?

00:11:07.620 --> 00:11:10.159
 The sin that is great for God here

00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:13.100
 is the issue that they don't know Him.

00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:17.039
 That's what makes them so stupid

00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:18.759
 when it comes to the sacrifices.

00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:22.399
 That's what makes them so willing

00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:25.939
 to put themselves in the place of God.

00:11:27.439 --> 00:11:29.600
 It's that their heart doesn't know God.

00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:31.259
 Even though they're in the right place,

00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:32.600
 they're wearing the right clothes,

00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:34.279
 they're at the right ceremony,

00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:37.460
 but the issue in verse 12

00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:40.500
 is they have no regard for the Lord.

00:11:41.939 --> 00:11:43.000
 He's just some guy

00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.179
 they've heard stories about.

00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:45.740
 He's not their God.

00:11:45.740 --> 00:11:47.560
 He's not their Lord.

00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:49.379
 He doesn't matter to them.

00:11:50.460 --> 00:11:52.159
 But it gets worse again.

00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:54.560
 Come down with me to verse 22.

00:11:55.940 --> 00:11:57.720
 Now Eli, who was very old,

00:11:57.840 --> 00:11:58.779
 heard about everything

00:11:58.779 --> 00:12:00.620
 his sons were doing to all Israel

00:12:00.620 --> 00:12:03.519
 and how they slept with the women

00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:04.680
 who served at the entrance

00:12:04.680 --> 00:12:05.680
 to the tent of meeting.

00:12:06.180 --> 00:12:07.159
 So he said to them,

00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:09.360
 why do you do such things?

00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.279
 I hear from all the people

00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:12.980
 about these wicked deeds of yours.

00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:14.259
 Know my sons.

00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:15.740
 The report I hear spreading

00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:16.899
 among the Lord's people

00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:17.860
 is not good.

00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:20.480
 If one person sins against another,

00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:22.720
 God may mediate for the offender.

00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:25.059
 But if anyone sins against the Lord,

00:12:25.439 --> 00:12:27.179
 who will intercede for them?

00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:29.159
 See, Eli gets a little glimpse

00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:30.399
 of just how serious

00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:31.539
 what they're doing is.

00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:33.019
 This isn't just them

00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:34.600
 stealing food from other people.

00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:36.480
 This isn't just them

00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:38.120
 sleeping with women.

00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:40.159
 As bad as both of those things are,

00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:42.019
 this is a sin against God.

00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:44.799
 But the scary part comes there

00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:46.199
 at the end of verse 25.

00:12:46.899 --> 00:12:47.939
 His sons, however,

00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:50.860
 did not listen to their father's rebuke,

00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:53.139
 for it was the Lord's will

00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:55.460
 to put them to death.

00:12:58.279 --> 00:12:59.439
 Their sin

00:12:59.439 --> 00:13:02.939
 goes beyond the point of no return.

00:13:02.940 --> 00:13:07.820
 They cross a line.

00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:09.820
 And so,

00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:11.080
 it is God's will

00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:12.920
 to put them to death.

00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:15.500
 That's a scary phrase.

00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:18.620
 We don't like phrases like that.

00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:23.360
 But let's just be careful

00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:24.180
 how we read it.

00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.700
 It's not saying

00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:27.440
 that these guys didn't deserve

00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:28.500
 to be put to death.

00:13:29.100 --> 00:13:30.280
 Remember what we've just read.

00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:33.000
 They were sleeping with women

00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:33.779
 at the tent of meeting.

00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:34.899
 They didn't know God.

00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:35.799
 They were abusing

00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:36.860
 their position as priests

00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:38.379
 and threatening the people

00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:38.860
 who were coming

00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:40.419
 to try and sacrifice to God.

00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:42.000
 They're still responsible

00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.579
 for their actions.

00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:44.659
 They're still responsible

00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:45.240
 for the way

00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:46.360
 that they're treating God.

00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:49.639
 They're making a mockery

00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:51.139
 of the means

00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:52.360
 by which God has given

00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:53.039
 his people

00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:54.360
 to relate to him.

00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:56.279
 God has given them sacrifices

00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:58.120
 so that they might know

00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:59.500
 the need for forgiveness

00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:00.940
 and they are using

00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:01.940
 those sacrifices

00:14:01.940 --> 00:14:02.960
 as an opportunity

00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:04.399
 to reject him again.

00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:06.940
 They are responsible

00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:07.840
 for their sin.

00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:10.539
 Death is what they deserve.

00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:13.559
 But what God does

00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:14.779
 is confirm them

00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:16.620
 in their rejection.

00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:19.100
 I mean,

00:14:19.179 --> 00:14:20.519
 we've got to understand

00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.340
 that these guys

00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:23.179
 had front row seats

00:14:23.179 --> 00:14:25.620
 for God revealing himself.

00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:28.360
 the sacrifices

00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:29.220
 were God's way

00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:29.779
 of showing

00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:31.179
 just how holy he was.

00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:32.480
 The tent being

00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:33.240
 in one place

00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:33.899
 at one time

00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:34.779
 and the need for priests

00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:35.159
 in the middle

00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:36.560
 was all part of communicating

00:14:36.560 --> 00:14:37.879
 who God was

00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:39.060
 and his desire

00:14:39.060 --> 00:14:40.200
 to know his people.

00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:41.060
 And these guys

00:14:41.060 --> 00:14:42.440
 are front row center.

00:14:43.060 --> 00:14:43.940
 They're in the middle

00:14:43.940 --> 00:14:44.899
 of every sacrifice.

00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:46.179
 They don't go once a year

00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:47.299
 like Hannah and Elkanah

00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:47.980
 and their family.

00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:49.019
 These guys were there

00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:49.680
 every day

00:14:49.680 --> 00:14:51.519
 seeing what God was doing

00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.500
 to reveal himself

00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:54.659
 and they just refuse

00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:55.980
 to acknowledge him

00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:56.820
 as God.

00:14:58.039 --> 00:14:59.419
 They refuse to recognize

00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:00.440
 him as holy

00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:01.279
 and so God

00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:02.460
 confirms that

00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:03.220
 in their heart.

00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.860
 It's their choice

00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:07.259
 but God confirms it.

00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:08.779
 It's not dissimilar

00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:09.379
 to Pharaoh

00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:10.080
 in Egypt.

00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.240
 If you remember

00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:11.720
 the story

00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:12.820
 of the ten plagues

00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:14.799
 in the book

00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:15.440
 of Exodus

00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.620
 we hear over and over

00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.460
 how Pharaoh

00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:18.860
 hardens his own heart.

00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:20.620
 He makes a decision.

00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:21.399
 He says,

00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:22.539
 I don't know your God.

00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.980
 Your God's nothing to me.

00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:25.600
 But then we also hear

00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:26.939
 that God hardens

00:15:26.939 --> 00:15:27.779
 Pharaoh's heart.

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.299
 It's not one

00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:29.980
 or the other.

00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:31.319
 It's that Pharaoh

00:15:31.319 --> 00:15:32.679
 has rejected God

00:15:32.679 --> 00:15:33.620
 and so God

00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:34.620
 confirms him

00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.519
 in his hard

00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.679
 rejecting heart

00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:38.819
 and the possibility

00:15:38.819 --> 00:15:39.600
 of turning back

00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:40.100
 is gone.

00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.600
 Not because God

00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:43.620
 can't save him

00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:45.419
 but because

00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:46.480
 he is committed

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.460
 to his choice.

00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:50.120
 He is unrepentant.

00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.860
 He sees the choice

00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:53.320
 and he chooses

00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:54.440
 again and again

00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:56.379
 not to honour God

00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:56.980
 as God.

00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:58.419
 The same is going on

00:15:58.419 --> 00:15:59.539
 for these two guys.

00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.379
 They are absolutely

00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.860
 committed to rejecting God

00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:02.820
 that even when Eli

00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:03.779
 turns up and says

00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:04.600
 this isn't good

00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:06.120
 you shouldn't be doing this

00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:07.580
 they will not hear it.

00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:11.060
 You've got to imagine

00:16:11.060 --> 00:16:12.759
 if I was

00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:13.560
 secretly

00:16:13.560 --> 00:16:15.860
 having an affair

00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:17.440
 if I was secretly

00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:18.460
 committing adultery

00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:20.060
 the longer

00:16:20.060 --> 00:16:21.120
 that I do that

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:23.740
 the more regularly

00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:25.139
 I have to tell myself

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:26.600
 that God doesn't matter.

00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:28.320
 If I know it's wrong

00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:29.120
 each time

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.100
 that I go and meet

00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:30.780
 with this woman

00:16:30.780 --> 00:16:32.020
 I tell myself

00:16:32.020 --> 00:16:32.879
 God doesn't matter

00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:33.960
 and I become

00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:34.840
 more and more

00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.620
 calloused

00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:36.399
 more and more

00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.560
 hardened to hearing

00:16:37.560 --> 00:16:38.840
 what God has to say

00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.840
 about that situation.

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.299
 The first time

00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:42.200
 there might be a bit of

00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:42.820
 you know

00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:43.600
 to and fro

00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.279
 in my heart

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.519
 there might be a moral

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.779
 should I or shouldn't I

00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:48.600
 but the tenth time

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:50.419
 or the hundredth time

00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:51.919
 progressively

00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:52.960
 I will get harder

00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.539
 and harder

00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:54.200
 in my heart

00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:54.720
 to the point

00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:55.379
 where I could see

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:55.940
 a flashing

00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:57.399
 vision of angels

00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:58.360
 telling me to repent

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.279
 and go the other way

00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:00.759
 and I would nod,

00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:01.220
 smile

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.159
 and continue on

00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:02.700
 in my sin.

00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:05.319
 These guys

00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:06.299
 are so established

00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:07.259
 in their pattern

00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.580
 of ignoring God

00:17:08.580 --> 00:17:10.640
 they are so committed

00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:12.640
 to their rebellion

00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:14.400
 that God

00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.319
 confirms them

00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:15.740
 in it

00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:17.240
 they have crossed

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:17.700
 the line.

00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:19.880
 Now we don't know

00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:21.120
 where this line is

00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:22.660
 but the passage

00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:23.340
 warns us

00:17:23.340 --> 00:17:24.240
 God will

00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:25.279
 confirm

00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:25.819
 people

00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:26.700
 who harden

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.220
 their hearts

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:27.840
 like this.

00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.140
 Now this isn't

00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:30.000
 a license for us

00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:30.620
 to look around

00:17:30.620 --> 00:17:31.539
 at people in our lives

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:31.980
 and go they're

00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:32.620
 too far gone.

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:33.880
 That's not what

00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:34.319
 it's saying.

00:17:34.600 --> 00:17:35.120
 You don't know

00:17:35.120 --> 00:17:35.920
 where the line is.

00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:36.559
 I don't know

00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:37.240
 where the line is.

00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:38.160
 God does.

00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.860
 But at very least

00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:41.100
 this is a call to us

00:17:41.100 --> 00:17:42.220
 and a warning for us

00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:43.420
 that we need to take

00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:44.340
 sin in our lives

00:17:44.340 --> 00:17:45.000
 seriously.

00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:47.720
 It's really dangerous

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.660
 for us to just

00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:49.640
 kind of settle

00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.519
 in to sin.

00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:52.660
 Accept sin.

00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:55.120
 We need to confess

00:17:55.120 --> 00:17:55.640
 quickly

00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:56.360
 and trust

00:17:56.360 --> 00:17:57.180
 that our God

00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:58.160
 can forgive us

00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.840
 and transform us

00:17:59.840 --> 00:18:01.840
 because there is

00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:02.459
 a warning there

00:18:02.459 --> 00:18:03.459
 that if we continue

00:18:03.459 --> 00:18:04.799
 we are hardening

00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:05.519
 our hearts

00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.299
 to the majesty

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:06.959
 of Jesus.

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.199
 We are switching

00:18:09.199 --> 00:18:10.059
 ourselves off

00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:10.659
 to the offer

00:18:10.659 --> 00:18:11.299
 of forgiveness

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.720
 and we are flirting

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.459
 with the righteous

00:18:13.459 --> 00:18:14.000
 judgment

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.059
 that God will

00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:16.079
 and should bring

00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:17.639
 on his enemies.

00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:21.600
 But it's not just

00:18:21.600 --> 00:18:23.000
 Hophni and Phinehas

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.780
 who God judges

00:18:23.780 --> 00:18:24.600
 in this passage.

00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.320
 Eli cops it as well.

00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:30.160
 Now for Hophni and Phinehas

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.340
 their sin is obvious.

00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.380
 It's catalogued

00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:32.980
 for us there.

00:18:33.060 --> 00:18:33.660
 It's really easy.

00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.220
 No issues.

00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:34.920
 They were jerks.

00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:35.759
 They probably deserve

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.380
 what they got.

00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:37.700
 But what about Eli?

00:18:38.840 --> 00:18:39.660
 I find Eli

00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:40.560
 a strange character

00:18:40.560 --> 00:18:41.300
 in these first few

00:18:41.300 --> 00:18:42.320
 chapters of 1 Samuel.

00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.620
 You kind of like him

00:18:43.620 --> 00:18:44.200
 at points

00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:45.200
 and then at other points

00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:45.860
 you're not sure

00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:47.479
 and you're kind of thinking

00:18:47.479 --> 00:18:48.399
 should I be on his team

00:18:48.399 --> 00:18:49.039
 or shouldn't I?

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.579
 I mean the first episode

00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:51.679
 was him calling Hannah

00:18:51.679 --> 00:18:52.119
 a drunk

00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:53.199
 and telling her to go home

00:18:53.199 --> 00:18:54.179
 and you're thinking

00:18:54.179 --> 00:18:55.359
 dodgy.

00:18:55.979 --> 00:18:56.459
 But then

00:18:56.459 --> 00:18:58.000
 he kind of backpedals

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.439
 a little bit

00:18:58.439 --> 00:18:59.159
 prays for her

00:18:59.159 --> 00:18:59.839
 gets the answer.

00:18:59.959 --> 00:19:00.979
 There's even this little glimpse

00:19:00.979 --> 00:19:01.500
 in here

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.639
 in verse 18

00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:03.279
 through to 21

00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:03.939
 which we'll look at

00:19:03.939 --> 00:19:04.359
 in a little while

00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:05.339
 where he prays again

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:05.779
 for Hannah

00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.740
 when she comes back

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.919
 and he gets answers

00:19:07.919 --> 00:19:08.539
 to his prayer.

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.679
 Hannah gets more kids

00:19:09.679 --> 00:19:11.019
 and so you're kind of thinking

00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:12.259
 is he good

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.959
 or is he bad?

00:19:14.919 --> 00:19:15.699
 But God is

00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.980
 equally angry

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.539
 with him.

00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:19.539
 Potentially even

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.160
 angrier

00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:20.980
 with him

00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:22.059
 and he sends a messenger

00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:22.759
 to let him know

00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.759
 in verse 27.

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:24.920
 It says

00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.559
 a man of God

00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.259
 came to Eli

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:27.000
 and said to him

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:28.580
 this is what the Lord says

00:19:28.580 --> 00:19:30.120
 did I not clearly

00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:31.059
 reveal myself

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:31.900
 to your ancestors

00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:32.380
 family

00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:33.259
 when they were in Egypt

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:33.920
 under Pharaoh?

00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:35.740
 I chose your ancestor

00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.940
 out of all the tribes

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:37.340
 of Israel

00:19:37.340 --> 00:19:38.360
 to be my priest

00:19:38.360 --> 00:19:39.779
 to go up to my altar

00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.819
 to burn incense

00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.880
 and to wear an ephod

00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:42.600
 in my presence.

00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.500
 I also gave your ancestors

00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:44.960
 family

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.120
 all the food offerings

00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:47.460
 presented by the Israelites.

00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:49.579
 Why do you scorn

00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.480
 my sacrifice

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.420
 and offering

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.519
 that I prescribed

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.319
 for my dwelling?

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.460
 Why do you honour

00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:55.140
 your sons

00:19:55.140 --> 00:19:55.920
 more than me

00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:57.279
 by fattening yourselves

00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:58.279
 on the choice parts

00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:59.180
 of every offering

00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:00.319
 made by my people

00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.019
 Israel?

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.380
 Therefore

00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:03.180
 the Lord

00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:04.120
 the God of Israel

00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:04.700
 declares

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.600
 I promised

00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:06.240
 that members

00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:06.920
 of your family

00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:07.519
 would minister

00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.539
 before me forever

00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.700
 but now

00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.799
 the Lord declares

00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:12.460
 far be it from me.

00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:14.140
 Those who honour me

00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:14.860
 I will honour

00:20:14.860 --> 00:20:16.779
 but those who despise me

00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:18.059
 will be disdained.

00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.880
 The time is coming

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:21.000
 when I will cut short

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.740
 your strength

00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:22.460
 and the strength

00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:23.620
 of your priestly house

00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:25.140
 so that no one in it

00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:26.299
 will reach old age

00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.799
 and you will see distress

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.940
 in my dwelling.

00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:30.059
 Although good

00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:31.079
 will be done to Israel

00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:32.660
 no one in your family line

00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:34.180
 will ever reach old age.

00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.700
 Every one of you

00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.799
 that I do not cut off

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:38.019
 from serving at my altar

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.200
 I will spare

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:41.100
 only to destroy your sight

00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:42.359
 and sap your strength

00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:43.899
 and all your descendants

00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:44.619
 will die

00:20:44.619 --> 00:20:46.000
 in the prime of life.

00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:49.019
 Those are some

00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:50.939
 fairly serious punishments

00:20:50.939 --> 00:20:51.919
 that God is about

00:20:51.919 --> 00:20:53.240
 to pour out on Eli.

00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:55.000
 Hophni and Phinehas

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.759
 they are going to die.

00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:58.719
 Eli's entire family line

00:20:58.719 --> 00:20:59.899
 will be cut off.

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.240
 Those who aren't

00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:03.319
 will be just kept around

00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.159
 so that they can be

00:21:04.159 --> 00:21:05.240
 made a mockery of

00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:06.359
 so that they can be

00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:06.919
 distressed

00:21:06.919 --> 00:21:07.799
 at the situation

00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:08.639
 that has come

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.559
 upon them.

00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:11.619
 God chose

00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:12.359
 Eli's family

00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:13.099
 by grace

00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:16.000
 but Eli

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.819
 has taken it

00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:17.319
 for granted.

00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.720
 Now you might

00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.379
 look at this story

00:21:20.379 --> 00:21:20.720
 and think

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.279
 what more

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:21.799
 is Eli

00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.679
 supposed to do?

00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.579
 I mean he rebukes

00:21:24.579 --> 00:21:25.039
 his sons

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:25.879
 he sits them down

00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:26.539
 and he has a chat

00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:26.899
 with them

00:21:26.899 --> 00:21:31.139
 but it's half-hearted

00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:31.839
 at best

00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:34.539
 and you can tell.

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.799
 Have a look

00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:36.559
 at verse 29

00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:39.859
 why do you

00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:41.659
 scorn my sacrifice

00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:42.379
 and offering?

00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:43.659
 I don't know

00:21:43.659 --> 00:21:44.299
 about your Bible

00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:45.200
 but some of your Bibles

00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.039
 might have on that

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.359
 you

00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:47.240
 the third word

00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:47.960
 of verse 29

00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.639
 a little letter

00:21:48.639 --> 00:21:49.579
 or a little mark

00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:50.599
 and down the bottom

00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:51.179
 of your page

00:21:51.179 --> 00:21:51.659
 it will tell you

00:21:51.659 --> 00:21:52.919
 that you is plural.

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.200
 Why do yous

00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.919
 scorn

00:21:57.919 --> 00:22:00.119
 my sacrifice

00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:01.539
 and offering?

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:05.659
 Eli

00:22:05.659 --> 00:22:06.279
 has been

00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:06.859
 sharing

00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:08.599
 in the stealing

00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:10.180
 that Hophni

00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:10.700
 and Phinehas

00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.559
 has been doing.

00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.240
 Not that he's been

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.159
 sending his servant

00:22:14.159 --> 00:22:14.519
 along

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.220
 not that he's been

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.119
 doing it himself

00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:18.940
 but halfway

00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:19.619
 through the verse

00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.180
 why do you

00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:20.940
 honour your sons

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:21.680
 more than me

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.639
 by fattening

00:22:22.639 --> 00:22:23.059
 yourselves

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.720
 on the choice

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.619
 parts of every

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:25.119
 offering

00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:26.339
 made by my

00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:26.740
 people

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.559
 Israel?

00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.159
 Yeah

00:22:29.159 --> 00:22:29.940
 he said to his

00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:30.220
 sons

00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:30.680
 you guys need

00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:31.299
 to stop this

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:31.860
 it's giving us

00:22:31.860 --> 00:22:32.720
 a bad reputation

00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.660
 but at the same time

00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:34.380
 he had a mouthful

00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:34.840
 of the meat

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.240
 that had been

00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:36.500
 stolen from a sacrifice.

00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:38.880
 It's almost as if

00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:40.000
 Chris Jones

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.560
 had discovered

00:22:40.560 --> 00:22:41.060
 that Tim

00:22:41.060 --> 00:22:41.560
 was stealing

00:22:41.560 --> 00:22:42.259
 from the offertory

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.759
 as the bags

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.460
 were going around

00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:44.279
 and he said

00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:45.019
 Tim I really

00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.740
 want you to stop

00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.560
 it it's not okay

00:22:46.560 --> 00:22:47.440
 as he took

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.360
 the 50 from Tim

00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:48.840
 that was his

00:22:48.840 --> 00:22:49.539
 take for the week.

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:54.000
 It's that blatant.

00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:55.560
 He seems like

00:22:55.560 --> 00:22:56.120
 he's doing the right

00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:56.740
 thing when he says

00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.480
 sons you have to

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.100
 stop this.

00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.100
 He seems somewhat

00:22:59.100 --> 00:22:59.740
 aware that they

00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.320
 will be accountable

00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:00.819
 to God

00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.419
 but at the same

00:23:01.419 --> 00:23:01.899
 time

00:23:01.899 --> 00:23:02.939
 he doesn't

00:23:02.939 --> 00:23:03.480
 really do

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.099
 anything about

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:04.259
 it.

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.319
 He eats the

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.099
 meat that he

00:23:06.099 --> 00:23:06.539
 shouldn't be

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:06.859
 eating

00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:08.000
 and on one

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.599
 level he just

00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.439
 endorses what

00:23:09.439 --> 00:23:09.879
 they're doing.

00:23:10.899 --> 00:23:11.919
 He keeps them

00:23:11.919 --> 00:23:12.579
 as priests

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.579
 he continues

00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.460
 to supervise

00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:14.700
 them

00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:15.779
 and ultimately

00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.779
 he is responsible

00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:17.519
 for their sin

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.839
 not because

00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:19.720
 he doesn't

00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:20.379
 stop them

00:23:20.379 --> 00:23:21.139
 but because

00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:23.139
 he shares in

00:23:23.139 --> 00:23:23.679
 it as well.

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:25.740
 But maybe

00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.579
 the more scary

00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.319
 one there in

00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:27.879
 verse 29

00:23:27.880 --> 00:23:30.160
 why do you

00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:30.600
 honour your

00:23:30.600 --> 00:23:32.320
 sons more

00:23:32.320 --> 00:23:33.240
 than me?

00:23:36.340 --> 00:23:37.520
 Eli is the

00:23:37.520 --> 00:23:39.280
 priest of

00:23:39.280 --> 00:23:40.040
 God's nation

00:23:40.040 --> 00:23:42.720
 and it says

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.480
 he cares for

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.240
 his sons

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:45.480
 more than

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.180
 he cares for

00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:46.660
 his God.

00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:48.760
 He was chosen

00:23:48.760 --> 00:23:49.900
 his primary

00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:51.220
 role was to

00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:51.940
 be representative

00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:52.660
 of the people

00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.520
 towards God

00:23:53.520 --> 00:23:54.060
 and God

00:23:54.060 --> 00:23:54.600
 towards the

00:23:54.600 --> 00:23:55.340
 people and

00:23:55.340 --> 00:23:55.640
 he is

00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:56.180
 distracted

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:56.700
 by his

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.300
 relationship

00:23:57.300 --> 00:23:57.840
 with his

00:23:57.840 --> 00:23:58.280
 sons.

00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.820
 His dodgy

00:23:59.820 --> 00:24:00.580
 sons.

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.280
 It's not like

00:24:02.280 --> 00:24:02.780
 even they were

00:24:02.780 --> 00:24:03.759
 amazing kids

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:06.140
 and yet

00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:06.620
 he loves

00:24:06.620 --> 00:24:07.600
 them more

00:24:07.600 --> 00:24:07.980
 than he

00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.440
 loves his

00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:08.780
 God.

00:24:09.820 --> 00:24:10.600
 This is even

00:24:10.600 --> 00:24:11.740
 more dramatic

00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.280
 when you think

00:24:12.280 --> 00:24:12.820
 about Hannah

00:24:12.820 --> 00:24:13.380
 just a couple

00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:13.820
 of chapters

00:24:13.820 --> 00:24:14.259
 earlier.

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:15.860
 Hannah is

00:24:15.860 --> 00:24:16.400
 given her

00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:17.140
 first and

00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:17.940
 only son

00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:19.200
 after years

00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.620
 of being

00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.120
 distressed

00:24:20.120 --> 00:24:20.480
 at her

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.160
 barrenness

00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:22.020
 and what

00:24:22.020 --> 00:24:22.300
 does she

00:24:22.300 --> 00:24:22.540
 do?

00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:24.159
 She

00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:24.700
 hands him

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.259
 back to

00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:25.559
 God

00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:27.240
 because she

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.720
 loves her

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.139
 God

00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:28.859
 more.

00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.019
 It's not

00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:30.319
 that she

00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:31.019
 doesn't love

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.559
 her son

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.119
 and we'll

00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:32.559
 see in a

00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.000
 second that

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.539
 she's still

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.220
 visiting him

00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.599
 and dropping

00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.180
 off clothes

00:24:35.180 --> 00:24:35.500
 for him.

00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:35.899
 She still

00:24:35.899 --> 00:24:36.420
 cares for

00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:37.039
 him but

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.460
 she loves

00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:37.879
 her God

00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:38.500
 the most

00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.200
 and she

00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:39.819
 recognises

00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.200
 that her

00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:40.779
 son is a

00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.759
 gift for

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.180
 God.

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.039
 Whereas

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.819
 Eli the

00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.359
 priest

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:48.379
 cares more

00:24:48.379 --> 00:24:48.819
 about whether

00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.299
 or not he's

00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:49.700
 getting on

00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.099
 with his

00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:50.579
 sons.

00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:52.399
 He

00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:52.599
 doesn't

00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:52.740
 want to

00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.039
 have a

00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.519
 fight at

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:53.980
 home every

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.399
 day about

00:24:54.399 --> 00:24:54.779
 the things

00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.220
 they're doing

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:55.579
 so he

00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:55.879
 kind of

00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:56.519
 shrugs his

00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.119
 shoulders and

00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:57.799
 goes along.

00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.019
 God is

00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.879
 worthy of

00:25:00.879 --> 00:25:02.460
 undivided

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.079
 devotion.

00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:04.779
 God

00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.939
 cannot and

00:25:05.939 --> 00:25:06.779
 must not

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.539
 share his

00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:08.379
 honour with

00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:09.379
 something or

00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:10.259
 someone else.

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.359
 Hannah said

00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:11.879
 it blatantly

00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:12.559
 in chapter 2

00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:12.919
 look at it

00:25:12.919 --> 00:25:13.599
 again verse 2

00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.559
 there is no

00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.579
 one holy

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.119
 like the

00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:16.339
 Lord.

00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.000
 There is no

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.599
 one besides

00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:17.939
 you.

00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:18.419
 There is no

00:25:18.419 --> 00:25:19.480
 rock like

00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:20.179
 our God.

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:22.879
 God is

00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:23.579
 far greater

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:25.099
 and more

00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:25.879
 significant

00:25:25.879 --> 00:25:27.199
 and more

00:25:27.199 --> 00:25:28.240
 worthy than

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.319
 anything or

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.699
 person or

00:25:30.699 --> 00:25:32.199
 experience or

00:25:32.199 --> 00:25:33.119
 anything else

00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.679
 that we have

00:25:34.679 --> 00:25:35.480
 in our lives.

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:36.639
 For Eli his

00:25:36.639 --> 00:25:37.319
 sin is more

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:37.699
 subtle.

00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:38.960
 You might not

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.799
 have looked at

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.379
 him and thought

00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:40.779
 that he was

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.339
 somebody who

00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.460
 scorned his

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:42.819
 God.

00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:45.039
 But just

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.619
 because his

00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.399
 sin is subtle

00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:47.039
 doesn't mean

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.519
 it's not

00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:48.139
 serious.

00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:50.100
 sin is

00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.840
 idolatry.

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:55.640
 He's

00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:56.140
 worshipping

00:25:56.140 --> 00:25:56.980
 the relationship

00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:57.580
 he has with

00:25:57.580 --> 00:25:58.120
 his sons

00:25:58.120 --> 00:25:58.800
 instead of

00:25:58.800 --> 00:25:59.300
 worshipping

00:25:59.300 --> 00:26:00.320
 his God.

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.259
 This is

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:03.780
 almost a

00:26:03.780 --> 00:26:04.320
 summary of

00:26:04.320 --> 00:26:04.800
 what Israel

00:26:04.800 --> 00:26:05.420
 is like at

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:05.820
 this point

00:26:05.820 --> 00:26:06.360
 in history.

00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:07.720
 This priest

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.120
 is supposed

00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:08.920
 to lead the

00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.460
 people in

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:09.940
 their devotion

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.520
 to God.

00:26:10.840 --> 00:26:11.360
 He's supposed

00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:11.740
 to be at

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.100
 the front

00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:12.620
 of the pack

00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.200
 the example

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:13.600
 to be

00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:13.980
 followed

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:15.740
 but instead

00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.320
 he loves

00:26:16.320 --> 00:26:17.160
 his sons

00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:17.480
 more.

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:18.900
 Or at

00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:19.279
 least he

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:19.640
 likes the

00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:20.160
 idea of

00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.640
 keeping the

00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:21.060
 peace at

00:26:21.060 --> 00:26:21.700
 home more

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.960
 than he

00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.300
 likes the

00:26:23.300 --> 00:26:23.680
 idea of

00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.180
 loving God

00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:24.660
 and obeying

00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:24.920
 him.

00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.820
 Now again

00:26:26.820 --> 00:26:27.640
 Eli couldn't

00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:28.700
 necessarily have

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.300
 stopped them

00:26:29.300 --> 00:26:30.080
 from being

00:26:30.080 --> 00:26:30.860
 dodgy sons.

00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:32.779
 That might have

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.300
 just been who

00:26:33.300 --> 00:26:34.080
 they were but

00:26:34.080 --> 00:26:34.740
 he did have

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.380
 the power to

00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:35.960
 take them out

00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:36.220
 of the

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.720
 priesthood.

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:37.920
 He did have

00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:38.400
 the power to

00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:38.920
 remove them

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:39.279
 from their

00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.080
 place of

00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:41.460
 privilege in

00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:42.160
 God's

00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:44.759
 temple but

00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.320
 instead he

00:26:45.320 --> 00:26:46.040
 tolerates it.

00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:48.880
 Instead he

00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.540
 honours them.

00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:51.980
 Now this is a

00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:52.620
 hard thing for

00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:53.160
 us to wrestle

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.759
 with because

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.460
 in our

00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:55.420
 culture being

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.200
 tolerant is

00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:56.779
 the ultimate

00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.380
 compliment.

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.279
 Intolerance

00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:00.100
 is the worst

00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:00.720
 thing you could

00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.240
 say about

00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:01.560
 anyone.

00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.420
 Tolerance is

00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:03.920
 the highest

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.980
 virtue and

00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.560
 Christians are

00:27:05.560 --> 00:27:06.380
 renowned because

00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:07.080
 we're supposed to

00:27:07.080 --> 00:27:07.940
 be intolerant and

00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.700
 that makes us

00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.920
 ignorant and

00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:10.640
 foolish and

00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:10.980
 bigoted.

00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:12.920
 But is it

00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:13.600
 possible that

00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.440
 tolerance is not

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:14.940
 always a

00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.220
 virtue?

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:17.559
 Is it

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.360
 good to

00:27:18.360 --> 00:27:18.819
 tolerate

00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:20.740
 starvation of

00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.400
 innocent people?

00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.059
 Is it

00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.559
 good to

00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:24.539
 tolerate abuse?

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.160
 Tolerance is

00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:27.779
 not always a

00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:29.420
 good thing and

00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:30.440
 tolerance of sin

00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.279
 in other people

00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:32.600
 is often just

00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:34.019
 evidence of

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.900
 idolatry in our

00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.500
 own lives.

00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:38.000
 It often just

00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.539
 points to the

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.059
 fact that what

00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.680
 we care about

00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.339
 most is that

00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:40.860
 that person

00:27:40.860 --> 00:27:42.299
 likes me rather

00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:43.039
 than they honour

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.680
 God and I

00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.220
 honour God.

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:44.299
 God.

00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.600
 What we care

00:27:45.600 --> 00:27:46.180
 about most is

00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:46.600
 that everybody

00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:47.600
 gets along rather

00:27:47.600 --> 00:27:48.279
 than the God of

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:49.039
 heaven and earth

00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:49.960
 is treated as

00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:50.500
 the God of

00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:50.880
 heaven and

00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:51.200
 earth.

00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:52.240
 The one who

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.519
 is to be

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.259
 obeyed above

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.000
 all else.

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:55.759
 Think about

00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.460
 the last time

00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:56.980
 that someone

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:58.240
 you know was

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.100
 in an obvious

00:27:59.100 --> 00:27:59.600
 sin.

00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.779
 It won't take

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.339
 much thinking.

00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:04.620
 But think about

00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:05.259
 the conversation

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:05.880
 you had with

00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:06.259
 yourself.

00:28:06.600 --> 00:28:06.920
 Do I

00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.559
 challenge them

00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.059
 on this?

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.240
 Do I bring

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.559
 it up?

00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.120
 The number of

00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:13.700
 times that I

00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.279
 know that I

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:14.799
 have talked

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:15.519
 myself out

00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.200
 of confronting

00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.860
 a brother or

00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.380
 sister who

00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:18.039
 is in sin

00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:21.279
 because I'm

00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:21.860
 more concerned

00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:22.299
 about what

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.319
 they'll do

00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:23.779
 to me

00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.440
 afterwards.

00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.600
 How they'll

00:28:25.600 --> 00:28:26.220
 relate to me.

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:26.620
 How they'll

00:28:26.620 --> 00:28:27.420
 respond to me.

00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.160
 What about

00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:31.740
 sin in your

00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:32.299
 own life?

00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:35.700
 Do you

00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:36.420
 confess it to

00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.000
 other people

00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:38.640
 because you

00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.340
 care most

00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:40.259
 that God is

00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:40.500
 honoured?

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:42.880
 or do you

00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:43.279
 keep it a

00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:43.819
 secret and

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.259
 hope that no

00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:44.700
 one finds

00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.220
 out because

00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:45.660
 you care

00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.759
 more that

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.500
 people respect

00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:47.759
 you?

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:50.160
 That people

00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:50.660
 think you're

00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.160
 a good

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:52.339
 respectable

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:52.900
 person?

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:55.839
 We pretend

00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.920
 that these

00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.700
 conversations are

00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:58.359
 avoided out of

00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:58.660
 love.

00:28:59.059 --> 00:28:59.480
 I don't want to

00:28:59.480 --> 00:28:59.779
 hurt their

00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.180
 feelings.

00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:00.920
 I don't want

00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:01.099
 to be

00:29:01.099 --> 00:29:01.740
 judgmental.

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.140
 I'm not the

00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:03.799
 right person to

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.220
 talk to them.

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:04.759
 But really,

00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.759
 often, it's out

00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.519
 of love for us

00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:07.980
 that we don't

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.359
 have those

00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:08.920
 conversations.

00:29:09.879 --> 00:29:10.660
 It's because I

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.139
 want to protect

00:29:11.139 --> 00:29:11.639
 myself.

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.319
 When you love

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.019
 something more

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.639
 than God,

00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:17.879
 that's

00:29:17.879 --> 00:29:18.519
 idolatry.

00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:21.279
 When you love

00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:21.799
 something the

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:22.639
 same amount as

00:29:22.639 --> 00:29:24.299
 God, that's

00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:24.980
 idolatry.

00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.319
 Our God stands

00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:28.779
 alone above

00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.779
 all else and is

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.460
 to be worshipped

00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.000
 and honoured

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:32.279
 above all else.

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:35.000
 It is a gift

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.980
 of grace that he

00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:37.059
 even invites us to

00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:37.720
 know him in the

00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:38.399
 first place.

00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:39.779
 And we need to

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.659
 be careful not to

00:29:40.659 --> 00:29:41.659
 reject that gift

00:29:41.659 --> 00:29:42.500
 like Eli did.

00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:43.960
 We need to be

00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.579
 careful not to

00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:45.039
 take it for

00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:45.379
 granted.

00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:47.159
 The demand for

00:29:47.159 --> 00:29:47.919
 us as God's

00:29:47.919 --> 00:29:49.059
 people is

00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:49.879
 undivided

00:29:49.879 --> 00:29:50.740
 commitment to

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:52.159
 and passion for

00:29:52.159 --> 00:29:53.319
 God's name

00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:54.919
 above all else.

00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:58.379
 There is a

00:29:58.379 --> 00:29:59.059
 heaviness in

00:29:59.059 --> 00:29:59.740
 this passage.

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.339
 There is the

00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:02.059
 right judgment

00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:02.659
 on both

00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:03.339
 Hophni and

00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:04.099
 Phinehas and

00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:04.980
 Eli as well.

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:06.559
 But there is a

00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.419
 glimmer of hope.

00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.240
 Look back with

00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.059
 me to verse 11.

00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:14.000
 Then Elkanah

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.740
 went home to

00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:15.980
 Ramah, but the

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.779
 boy, that's

00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:17.720
 Samuel, ministered

00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.539
 before the Lord

00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.460
 under Eli the

00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:19.819
 priest.

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:21.200
 It's the first

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:21.740
 time in this

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.299
 book that the

00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:23.099
 word ministered

00:30:23.099 --> 00:30:23.960
 has been used

00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:25.720
 of anyone who

00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.079
 is at the

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:26.339
 temple.

00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:28.039
 Jump down to

00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:28.720
 verse 18.

00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:30.059
 Samuel was

00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:31.039
 ministering before

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.099
 the Lord, a

00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:32.879
 boy wearing a

00:30:32.879 --> 00:30:33.599
 linen ephod,

00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:34.179
 that's a

00:30:34.179 --> 00:30:34.980
 priest's clothes.

00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:36.160
 Each year his

00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.860
 mother made him

00:30:36.860 --> 00:30:37.440
 a little robe

00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:38.059
 and took it to

00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:38.579
 him when she

00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:39.019
 went up with

00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.740
 her husband to

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.120
 offer the

00:30:40.120 --> 00:30:41.160
 annual sacrifice.

00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.220
 Eli would

00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:43.120
 bless Elkanah and

00:30:43.120 --> 00:30:43.860
 his wife saying,

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.400
 May the Lord

00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:45.160
 give you children

00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:46.380
 by this woman to

00:30:46.380 --> 00:30:47.160
 take the place of

00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:47.660
 the one she

00:30:47.660 --> 00:30:48.420
 prayed for and

00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:48.960
 gave to the

00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:49.200
 Lord.

00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:50.079
 Then they would

00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:51.099
 go home and

00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:51.559
 the Lord was

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.180
 gracious to

00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:52.380
 Hannah.

00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.319
 She gave birth

00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:54.120
 to three sons

00:30:54.120 --> 00:30:54.980
 and two daughters.

00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:57.000
 Meanwhile, the

00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:58.079
 boy Samuel grew

00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:58.720
 up in the

00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.799
 presence of the

00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:00.099
 Lord.

00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:01.279
 And then down to

00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:02.140
 verse 26.

00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:10.640
 There is this

00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:11.740
 incredible contrast.

00:31:11.860 --> 00:31:12.420
 You could almost

00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:13.280
 miss it just for

00:31:13.280 --> 00:31:13.860
 the weight of

00:31:13.860 --> 00:31:15.160
 judgment in this

00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:15.600
 passage.

00:31:16.300 --> 00:31:16.920
 But as we hear

00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:17.380
 about the

00:31:17.380 --> 00:31:19.000
 hopelessness of

00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.460
 the current

00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.640
 priesthood, there's

00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:21.800
 this young boy that

00:31:21.800 --> 00:31:22.620
 we met in chapter

00:31:22.620 --> 00:31:24.040
 one who is

00:31:24.040 --> 00:31:24.720
 beginning his

00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.700
 life of service

00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:26.540
 to God.

00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:27.540
 With this

00:31:27.540 --> 00:31:28.960
 constant tide of

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:30.160
 faithlessness and

00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:31.700
 disobedience, there

00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.259
 is just the

00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:32.900
 verses that

00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.580
 remind us that

00:31:33.580 --> 00:31:34.279
 there was one

00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:35.640
 ministering before

00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:36.160
 the Lord.

00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:36.840
 One that we

00:31:36.840 --> 00:31:37.660
 know God

00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.500
 provided in

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.080
 spectacular

00:31:39.080 --> 00:31:40.080
 circumstances.

00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.799
 God's faithfulness

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:43.019
 to his people is

00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.420
 not dependent on

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.440
 what his people do

00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:46.180
 or don't do.

00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:47.799
 God is not

00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.640
 dependent on a

00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:49.840
 faithless priesthood.

00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:52.180
 He can make a

00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:53.000
 barren woman give

00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.600
 birth to a

00:31:53.600 --> 00:31:54.920
 replacement priest.

00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.779
 God can provide a

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:58.100
 better priest to

00:31:58.100 --> 00:32:00.680
 replace Eli, to

00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:01.500
 lead his people.

00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.519
 God can

00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:02.539
 do it.

00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.660
 There's an

00:32:03.660 --> 00:32:04.460
 incredible promise

00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:05.039
 down in the end

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.700
 of this chapter.

00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:06.900
 If you go down to

00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:07.779
 verse 35.

00:32:09.360 --> 00:32:10.360
 I will raise up for

00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:11.519
 myself a faithful

00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.720
 priest who will do

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.620
 according to what is

00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:14.580
 in my heart and

00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:14.960
 mind.

00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:16.100
 I will firmly

00:32:16.100 --> 00:32:17.019
 establish his

00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:18.340
 priestly house and

00:32:18.340 --> 00:32:19.019
 they will minister

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:20.220
 before my anointed

00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:21.680
 one always.

00:32:23.059 --> 00:32:23.840
 One of the great

00:32:23.840 --> 00:32:24.799
 things about promises

00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:25.319
 in the Old

00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:26.120
 Testament is that

00:32:26.120 --> 00:32:27.279
 often you get more

00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:27.759
 than one

00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.380
 fulfillment.

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.400
 You get little

00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:31.000
 glimmers of

00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.799
 fulfillment in the

00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:32.619
 short term but

00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:33.619
 often we're

00:32:33.619 --> 00:32:34.400
 looking forward.

00:32:35.319 --> 00:32:36.400
 This is partially

00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:37.180
 talking about

00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:37.559
 Samuel.

00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.220
 That's what all

00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:38.559
 those little

00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.240
 verses littered

00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:39.539
 through this

00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:39.940
 chapter are

00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:40.420
 trying to tell

00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:41.180
 us that Samuel

00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:41.799
 is going to be

00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.079
 better.

00:32:43.059 --> 00:32:43.940
 But if we sneak

00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:44.519
 a bit further

00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.180
 down through this

00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:45.599
 book we're going

00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:46.119
 to find out that

00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:47.279
 Samuel's sons are

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:49.019
 scarily similar to

00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:49.839
 Eli's sons.

00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.519
 They fall short

00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.420
 and they fail in

00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.359
 spite of what a

00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:54.619
 great priest and

00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:55.920
 leader Samuel is.

00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:57.299
 But this promise

00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:58.139
 points forward.

00:32:59.139 --> 00:33:00.579
 Samuel 2.26 is

00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.940
 echoed in the

00:33:01.940 --> 00:33:02.859
 Gospel of Luke

00:33:02.859 --> 00:33:04.500
 describing someone

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.000
 else.

00:33:06.399 --> 00:33:06.879
 It says,

00:33:07.639 --> 00:33:09.559
 Jesus grew in

00:33:09.559 --> 00:33:10.599
 wisdom and

00:33:10.599 --> 00:33:12.019
 stature and in

00:33:12.019 --> 00:33:13.240
 favor with God

00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:14.079
 and men.

00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:15.940
 It's not an

00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.259
 accident.

00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:18.899
 This promise was

00:33:18.899 --> 00:33:20.119
 looking forward to

00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:21.019
 the priest that

00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.720
 would actually

00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:23.259
 fulfill God's

00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:23.680
 desire.

00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:23.759
 desire.

00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.660
 There's this

00:33:25.660 --> 00:33:27.060
 amazing clue in

00:33:27.060 --> 00:33:27.940
 this passage that

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:29.580
 for me just kept

00:33:29.580 --> 00:33:30.580
 distracting me as I

00:33:30.580 --> 00:33:31.180
 read through it each

00:33:31.180 --> 00:33:31.480
 time.

00:33:31.820 --> 00:33:32.960
 When Eli's rebuking

00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:34.000
 his sons, listen to

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:34.680
 what he says.

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:36.360
 If one person sins

00:33:36.360 --> 00:33:37.519
 against another, God

00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.620
 may mediate for the

00:33:38.620 --> 00:33:39.019
 offender.

00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.560
 But if anyone sins

00:33:40.560 --> 00:33:42.200
 against the Lord, who

00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:43.259
 will intercede for

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:43.460
 them?

00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.400
 I mean if it's two

00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:47.019
 people fighting, God

00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:47.759
 can step in.

00:33:47.840 --> 00:33:48.660
 God has the power.

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.440
 But what about when

00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.380
 you offend God?

00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:52.860
 Who has the right to

00:33:52.860 --> 00:33:53.660
 stand there and

00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.920
 represent you before

00:33:54.920 --> 00:33:55.300
 God?

00:33:56.360 --> 00:33:57.400
 Eli knows that he

00:33:57.400 --> 00:33:57.779
 doesn't.

00:33:57.860 --> 00:33:58.480
 He knows that his

00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:59.100
 sons don't.

00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:00.080
 He probably even

00:34:00.080 --> 00:34:00.880
 knows that Samuel

00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:01.180
 don't.

00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:02.220
 But I don't think he

00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:03.340
 understands just how

00:34:03.340 --> 00:34:04.779
 significant his

00:34:04.779 --> 00:34:05.440
 words were.

00:34:06.060 --> 00:34:07.700
 He desired somebody

00:34:07.700 --> 00:34:09.260
 who could go between

00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:10.619
 imperfect people and

00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:12.920
 God forever.

00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:17.059
 And in Hebrews 7,

00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:20.079
 we read this amazing

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:20.559
 thing.

00:34:22.200 --> 00:34:23.039
 Hebrews 7 verse

00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:23.599
 23.

00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:25.300
 Now there have been

00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:26.119
 many of those

00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:27.480
 priests since death

00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:28.460
 prevented them from

00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:29.840
 continuing in office.

00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:31.460
 But because Jesus

00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:33.880
 lives forever, he has a

00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:35.279
 permanent priesthood.

00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:37.579
 Therefore he is able to

00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:39.739
 save completely those who

00:34:39.739 --> 00:34:40.920
 come to God through him

00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:43.039
 because he always lives to

00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:44.039
 intercede for them.

00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:46.179
 Such a high priest truly

00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:47.219
 meets our need.

00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:48.539
 One who is holy,

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:51.480
 blameless, pure, set apart

00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:53.139
 from sinners, exalted

00:34:53.139 --> 00:34:54.240
 above the heavens.

00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:55.920
 Unlike the other high

00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:57.019
 priests, he does not

00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:58.440
 need to offer sacrifices

00:34:58.440 --> 00:34:59.360
 day after day.

00:34:59.639 --> 00:35:00.920
 First for his own sins

00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:02.179
 and then for the sins

00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:02.960
 of the people.

00:35:03.860 --> 00:35:05.280
 He sacrificed for their

00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:06.960
 sins once for all

00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:09.059
 when he offered himself.

00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:12.740
 Who will intercede for

00:35:12.740 --> 00:35:14.740
 sinful people like us?

00:35:15.260 --> 00:35:17.099
 For sinful people like Eli

00:35:17.099 --> 00:35:19.819
 and all Israel when we

00:35:19.819 --> 00:35:20.779
 sin against God?

00:35:23.339 --> 00:35:24.259
 Jesus will.

00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:28.559
 Who will represent us

00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:29.960
 before God when we

00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.719
 don't deserve it?

00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:34.199
 Jesus will.

00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:36.360
 Who has the right to

00:35:36.360 --> 00:35:37.799
 stand before a holy God?

00:35:40.659 --> 00:35:43.199
 Only God's Son, Jesus.

00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:47.299
 If we acknowledge our

00:35:47.299 --> 00:35:50.059
 sin and repent, Jesus

00:35:50.059 --> 00:35:51.779
 is our great high priest.

00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:53.980
 He has offered the

00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:55.639
 sufficient once for all

00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:56.599
 time sacrifice.

00:35:56.859 --> 00:35:57.699
 He has offered his own

00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:59.239
 body and his own blood

00:35:59.239 --> 00:36:00.759
 in our place and he

00:36:00.759 --> 00:36:02.899
 lives forever to

00:36:02.899 --> 00:36:03.939
 intercede for us.

00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:06.579
 He sits in the presence

00:36:06.579 --> 00:36:07.579
 of the heavenly father

00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:08.980
 right now speaking on my

00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:10.539
 behalf as I fail time and

00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:11.099
 time again.

00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:14.739
 Jesus is God's grace to

00:36:14.739 --> 00:36:15.119
 us.

00:36:15.719 --> 00:36:16.819
 Not to be used as a

00:36:16.819 --> 00:36:17.739
 license to do whatever

00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:19.139
 we want because we've

00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:21.059
 got this free pass but to

00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:22.980
 be trusted and rejoiced in

00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:23.920
 and depended on.

00:36:27.159 --> 00:36:28.759
 I want to finish tonight by

00:36:28.759 --> 00:36:30.500
 inviting you to confess

00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:30.860
 sin.

00:36:32.759 --> 00:36:34.099
 But I want to invite you to

00:36:34.099 --> 00:36:34.900
 do it joyfully.

00:36:36.799 --> 00:36:39.219
 Sin is serious and there is

00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:40.380
 a weight of sin that we

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:41.480
 have seen in the judgment

00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:42.920
 that God pours out on his

00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:44.099
 people in this passage.

00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:47.099
 But because of Jesus we

00:36:47.099 --> 00:36:49.519
 get to confess joyfully and

00:36:49.519 --> 00:36:50.059
 confidently.

00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:53.019
 We've been warned not to

00:36:53.019 --> 00:36:55.119
 hold on to sin, not to live

00:36:55.119 --> 00:36:56.180
 in a pattern of sin.

00:36:57.640 --> 00:36:58.780
 And so tonight I want to

00:36:58.780 --> 00:37:02.640
 invite you to confess the

00:37:02.640 --> 00:37:03.780
 times that you have loved

00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:05.079
 things more than you have

00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:05.680
 loved God.

00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:07.539
 The times that you have

00:37:07.539 --> 00:37:08.740
 treated him like he doesn't

00:37:08.739 --> 00:37:09.000
 matter.

00:37:10.839 --> 00:37:12.039
 I don't know what your sin

00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:14.479
 looks like and I don't need

00:37:14.479 --> 00:37:14.839
 to know.

00:37:17.459 --> 00:37:21.439
 God does and he wants you to

00:37:21.439 --> 00:37:23.919
 confess it knowing that his

00:37:23.919 --> 00:37:25.599
 great high priest, his son

00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:28.819
 Jesus has paid for it and is

00:37:28.819 --> 00:37:32.119
 sufficient and mighty to save.

00:37:33.379 --> 00:37:34.199
 I want you to just take a

00:37:34.199 --> 00:37:34.839
 moment right now.

00:37:34.899 --> 00:37:35.759
 We're just going to sit in

00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:36.620
 quiet for a second.

00:37:36.760 --> 00:37:37.640
 I want you to reflect on

00:37:37.640 --> 00:37:38.880
 your own life and the

00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:39.780
 things you need to give to

00:37:39.780 --> 00:37:40.640
 God and I want you to give

00:37:40.640 --> 00:37:43.000
 them joyfully to a God who

00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:45.100
 loves you and can forgive you

00:37:45.100 --> 00:37:45.920
 through his son.

00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:46.920
 Amen.

00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:36.280
 Let me pray for us.

00:38:36.280 --> 00:38:46.180
 Father God, we do acknowledge that we are far too comfortable with sin in our own lives.

00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:53.720
 We want to apologize for the things that we elevate and exalt to be level with you or even above you in our affections.

00:38:55.140 --> 00:39:00.860
 And God, we want to ask that you would reveal yourself in such a way that you make those things fade.

00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:06.700
 That love for you would be an inevitable result of seeing you in your majesty and glory.

00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:17.539
 We want to thank you tonight for reminding us that in spite of our failure, in spite of all of humanity's inability to fulfill what it is to know you,

00:39:18.160 --> 00:39:21.519
 you have provided for us the perfect substitute in Jesus.

00:39:21.519 --> 00:39:30.700
 You have provided for us the forever high priest who forever intercedes for us, whoever represents us in your presence.

00:39:30.860 --> 00:39:37.980
 Father, please give us hearts that are joyful to confess our failures.

00:39:39.500 --> 00:39:45.539
 Please give us confidence that as we confess even now tonight that you forgive and that you restore

00:39:46.539 --> 00:39:53.000
 and that you work in us to change our hearts and our minds to be more and more like your son Jesus.

00:39:53.000 --> 00:40:04.219
 Father, please consume our consciousness in such a way that our whole lives are driven out of devotion for you, out of love for you.

00:40:05.219 --> 00:40:13.260
 Please daily remind us of the sacrifice of your son, that we might rejoice in the opportunity to know you

00:40:13.260 --> 00:40:15.980
 and might live lives that honor you.

00:40:18.019 --> 00:40:20.980
 Father, we thank you so much for Jesus.

00:40:22.360 --> 00:40:22.840
 Amen.