WEBVTT

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 I'm glad to hear you're coming to Musselboro.

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 Can't guarantee you the weather will be any better than it is in Edinburgh,

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 but it's the honest tune, so you should really enjoy yourself when you come next week.

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 I noticed that it's NIV that you normally have.

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 I'm reading from the ESV, if that's okay.

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 You'll notice the opening verses are slightly different,

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 and I'll explain that just in a wee minute.

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 1 Samuel 13 is the passage.

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 And we're reading verses 1 through to 15.

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 I was first asked to preach in 1 Samuel 14, so I prepared a sermon,

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 and then I got an email through saying,

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 there's been a change, could you preach in 1 Samuel 13?

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 So I've had the great joy of studying both these chapters.

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 So there you are.

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 The person who's speaking next week is ill, you know what to do.

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 1 Samuel 13.

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 Saul lived for one year and then became king,

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 and when he had reigned for two years over Israel,

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 Saul chose 3,000 men of Israel.

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 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel,

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 and 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin.

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 The rest of the people he sent home,

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 every man to his tent.

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 Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Gibeah,

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 and the Philistines heard of it.

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 And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying,

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 Let the Hebrews hear.

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 And all Israel heard it,

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 said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines,

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 and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines.

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 And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.

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 And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel 30,000 chariots,

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 6,000 horsemen,

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 and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude.

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 They came up and encamped in Michmash,

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 to the east of Beth-Avon.

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 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble,

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 for the people were hard-pressed,

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 the people hid themselves in caves,

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 and in holes,

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 and in rocks,

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 and in tombs,

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 and in cisterns.

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 And some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan

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 to the land of Gad and Gilead.

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 Saul was still at Gilgal,

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 and all the people followed him,

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 trembling.

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 He waited seven days,

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 the time appointed by Samuel.

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 But Samuel did not come to Gilgal,

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 and the people were scattering from him.

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 So Saul said,

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 Bring the burnt offering here to me,

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 and the peace offerings.

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 And he offered the burnt offering.

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 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering,

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 behold,

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 Samuel came.

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 And Saul went out to meet him and greet him.

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 Samuel said,

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 What have you done?

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 And Saul said,

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 When I saw that the people were scattering from me,

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 and that you did not come within the days appointed,

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 and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash,

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 I said,

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 Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal,

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 and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.

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 So I forced myself,

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 and offered the burnt offering.

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 And Samuel said to Saul,

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 You have done foolishly.

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 You have not kept the command of the Lord your God,

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 with which he commanded you.

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 For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

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 But now your kingdom shall not continue.

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 The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart,

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 and the Lord has commanded him to be prince or leader over his people,

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 because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.

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 And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal.

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 The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army.

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 They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.

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 And Saul numbered the people who were present with him,

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 about six hundred men.

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 And we'll finish there at verse 15.

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 Now, if you read the commentaries,

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 you will soon find out that there are issues

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 to be discussed with regards to time,

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 dates, and numbers

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 in the opening verses of this chapter.

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 The recorded statistics in the early part of the chapter

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 apparently are not at all clear.

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 That's why there's a distinct difference

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 in IV and the ESV.

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 They're not clear in the original manuscripts available.

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 But having said that,

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 I think you'll be delighted to know

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 that we're not going to go down that route anyhow.

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 We're going to leave that important stuff,

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 and it is important stuff,

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 we'll leave it to the scholars.

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 So let me give you a brief context

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 for the content of the passage

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 that has been given to me this evening.

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 Even although in many respects

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 Israel had rejected God

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 as their king

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 at this particular point in their history,

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 God was still king.

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 He was still in control.

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 Their failure did not mean

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 that God was going to be a failure.

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 God never fails.

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 His purposes will always be fulfilled.

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 They will never be frustrated,

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 even if it is Saul who's on the throne.

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 And we need to keep that in mind.

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 He began his reign

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 as king of Israel in chapter 10,

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 I think with a degree of promise, really.

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 We know from chapter 11

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 that Saul was given a golden opportunity

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 to prove to Israel at large

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 that he could save his people

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 from any oppressors.

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 He was hugely instrumental

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 in bringing relief to the besieged city

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 of Jabesh Gilead on that occasion

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 from the Ammonites.

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 Something the men of Jabesh Gilead

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 never, ever forgot.

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 And if you go to the last few verses

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 of the last chapter of Samuel,

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 chapter 31,

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 you will see that it was the men

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 of Jabesh Gilead

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 who risked their lives

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 to bring back the remains

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 of King Saul

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 after the Philistines

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 had beheaded him

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 and then fastened his body

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 to the wall of Beth-shan

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 after they had defeated Israel

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 on Mount Gilboa.

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 So the men of Jabesh Gilead

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 never forgot what Saul did for them.

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 However,

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 in spite of what happened

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 in chapter 12,

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 by the time this incident

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 took place in chapter 13,

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 things had turned a wee bit slower.

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 Saul had become something

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 of a lame duck king.

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 At some point along the way,

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 even although he's going

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 to remain king

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 for many years to come,

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 before he will eventually

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 be replaced by David,

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 the man after God's own heart.

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 At the end of chapter 12,

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 Samuel,

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 he withdraws,

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 if you read at the end

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 of the chapter there,

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 he withdraws

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 as the theocratic leader

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 of the country.

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 Now that Saul

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 has been confirmed king,

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 Samuel takes a back step.

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 And in his farewell address,

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 he tells the king

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 and he tells the nation

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 not to be afraid,

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 not to turn away

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 from following the Lord.

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 He reminds them

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 that God will not

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 ever forsake his people.

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 If not for their sake,

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 then for his own namesake.

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 And Samuel's parting shot

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 in his retirement speech

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 at the end of the chapter

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 is to tell them

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 that he'll not be sinning

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 against God

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 by not praying for them.

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 No, he'll continue

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 to pray for them

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 and he exhorts them

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 to fear the Lord

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 and serve the Lord

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 faithfully

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 with all their heart.

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 What Samuel is doing

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 is he's reminding them

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 yet again

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 in characteristic,

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 prophetic manner

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 that it's never too late

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 to repent

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 of their wrongdoing,

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 never too late

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 to change their ways,

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 nor is it too much

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 to ask

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 or even too much

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 to expect

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 such a thing

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 from God's chosen people.

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 So Samuel takes the back step.

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 He gives his farewell speech.

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 We come into chapter 13

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 with a certain degree of hope

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 that the future,

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 however short or long,

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 might be,

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 could be,

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 ought to be,

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 brighter and better

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 than the past.

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 But I would not encourage you

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 to bet your life savings on it.

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 Chapters 13 and 14

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 actually constitute

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 one large narrative.

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 But we're confining ourselves

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 mainly to the 13th chapter,

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 the first 15 verses.

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 And as Jim Packer says,

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 we're going to let the text

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 do the talking.

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 So we want to begin,

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 first of all,

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 by examining the facts.

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 First seven verses.

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 In spite of the uncertainty

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 about the numbers

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 at the beginning

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 of the chapter,

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 it would appear

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 with closer examination

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 that whenever

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 this border incident

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 took place

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 at the beginning

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 of the chapter,

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 it was at a time

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 when the nation of Israel

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 was under Philistine domination.

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 Saul

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 had raised

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 a standing army

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 at this particular time.

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 He had a couple

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 of thousand men

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 gathered with him

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 in Michmash,

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 we're told.

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 And we're also told

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 that a thousand men

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 also gathered

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 round his son Jonathan

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 in Gibeah

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 of Benjamin.

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 These two towns,

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 I understand,

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 were only about

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 four miles apart.

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 And the chapter opens

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 in John Wayne style,

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 if you know what I mean,

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 with what is a gung-ho

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 commando raid

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 by Jonathan

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 on the Philistine garrison.

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 The rugged terrain

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 in that area,

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 so we're told,

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 provided excellent conditions

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 for guerrilla warfare.

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 And yes,

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 you could say

00:10:22.160 --> 00:10:22.960
 Jonathan's raid

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 was a successful raid.

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 You could say that.

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 But on the other hand,

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 it seems only

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 to have served

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 to rouse the anger

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 of the Philistines

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 and precipitate

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 a Philistine reprisal.

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 Those are the facts.

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 What can we learn

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 from the facts?

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 Well, we know

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 that this wasn't

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 the first or the last time

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 in the history of warfare

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 that a surprise attack

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 had taken place

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 to kick things off,

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 if I can use that expression,

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 in terms of all-out war.

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 Border incidents,

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 which is what this was.

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 Jonathan was involved in it.

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 Border incidents,

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 according to Joyce Baldwin,

00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:07.300
 are a time-honoured method

00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:09.100
 for manufacturing a war

00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:11.120
 that will both unite

00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:12.360
 and galvanise a nation.

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 And it's hoped,

00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:14.899
 at the same time,

00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:15.500
 it will lead

00:11:15.500 --> 00:11:16.960
 to territorial expansion,

00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:18.560
 as was the case,

00:11:18.660 --> 00:11:19.240
 for example,

00:11:19.899 --> 00:11:20.680
 with Italy

00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:22.620
 in her war

00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:24.379
 with Ethiopia in 1935.

00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:26.779
 The same could be said

00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:27.360
 of Germany

00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.100
 with Poland

00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:29.680
 in 1939.

00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:33.120
 First-strike attacks

00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:36.239
 against unsuspecting targets

00:11:36.239 --> 00:11:40.059
 tend to be cheap victories,

00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:41.899
 as was the case,

00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:42.539
 for example,

00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:43.659
 when the Japanese

00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:45.399
 attacked Pearl Harbor

00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:47.939
 in December 1941.

00:11:47.939 --> 00:11:49.239
 It was a great victory

00:11:49.239 --> 00:11:49.959
 for Japan

00:11:49.959 --> 00:11:51.559
 in the short term,

00:11:51.739 --> 00:11:52.839
 but what did it do?

00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:54.179
 It only served

00:11:54.179 --> 00:11:54.779
 to awaken

00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:56.079
 the sleeping giant,

00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:57.759
 the United States

00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:59.680
 of America

00:11:59.680 --> 00:12:00.620
 in the process.

00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:01.400
 And when you read

00:12:01.400 --> 00:12:02.420
 the first seven verses

00:12:02.420 --> 00:12:03.500
 of this chapter here,

00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:05.620
 the same sort of thing

00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.379
 is happening.

00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:08.320
 On this occasion,

00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:10.200
 as Jonathan

00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:11.180
 initiates

00:12:11.180 --> 00:12:12.639
 this border incident,

00:12:12.940 --> 00:12:13.920
 because the text

00:12:13.920 --> 00:12:15.000
 goes on to tell us

00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:16.400
 that Israel

00:12:16.400 --> 00:12:17.320
 began to pay

00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:18.780
 a rather heavy price

00:12:18.780 --> 00:12:20.160
 for this act

00:12:20.160 --> 00:12:20.780
 of aggression,

00:12:22.160 --> 00:12:23.100
 almost immediately

00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:23.920
 at the hands

00:12:23.920 --> 00:12:24.600
 of the Philistines.

00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:25.460
 In some respects,

00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:26.560
 on the one hand,

00:12:26.680 --> 00:12:27.460
 it did unite,

00:12:27.560 --> 00:12:28.519
 it did galvanize

00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:29.320
 the nation of Israel

00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:30.560
 as the Hebrews

00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:31.280
 were called out

00:12:31.280 --> 00:12:32.100
 to join Saul

00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:32.759
 at Gilgal,

00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:33.800
 but on the other hand,

00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:34.920
 look at what happened

00:12:34.920 --> 00:12:36.460
 in verses 5, 6, and 7

00:12:36.460 --> 00:12:37.639
 among the Philistines.

00:12:37.900 --> 00:12:38.740
 Let's read it to you.

00:12:39.460 --> 00:12:40.800
 The Philistines mustered

00:12:40.800 --> 00:12:41.960
 to fight with Israel

00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:44.340
 30,000 chariots,

00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:46.620
 6,000 horsemen,

00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:48.660
 and troops like the sand

00:12:48.660 --> 00:12:49.519
 on the seashore

00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:50.300
 in multitude.

00:12:52.180 --> 00:12:53.019
 They came up

00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:53.500
 and encamped

00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:54.139
 at Michmash

00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:54.720
 to the east

00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:55.480
 of Beth-Avon.

00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:57.720
 When the men

00:12:57.720 --> 00:12:58.040
 of Israel

00:12:58.040 --> 00:12:58.879
 saw that they

00:12:58.879 --> 00:12:59.460
 were in trouble

00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:00.139
 for the people

00:13:00.139 --> 00:13:01.259
 were hard-pressed,

00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.139
 the people hid

00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:03.340
 themselves in caves,

00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:04.100
 in holes,

00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:04.740
 in rocks,

00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:05.360
 in tombs,

00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:06.379
 and in cisterns,

00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:07.620
 and some Hebrews

00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:08.759
 actually crossed

00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:09.820
 the fords of the Jordan

00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:10.600
 to the land

00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:11.960
 of Gad and Gilead.

00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:14.259
 Saul was at Gilgal.

00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:15.519
 All the people

00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.220
 following him

00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:17.000
 are shaking

00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:17.759
 in their shoes.

00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:18.980
 They're trembling.

00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:20.820
 The Philistines

00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:21.500
 are said to be

00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:21.960
 as numerous

00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:23.360
 as the sand

00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:24.159
 on the seashore,

00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:25.779
 and they are now

00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:26.420
 on the offensive.

00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:29.279
 Saul's troops

00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:30.800
 in the army of Israel,

00:13:30.920 --> 00:13:32.240
 they're now outflanked,

00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:33.980
 outnumbered,

00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:35.440
 and as we would say,

00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:36.639
 outgunned.

00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:39.899
 It's mass panic,

00:13:41.180 --> 00:13:42.220
 total chaos.

00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:44.039
 The Israelite army

00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:45.039
 is not only deserting,

00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:46.219
 they're apostatizing.

00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:48.939
 They're abandoning

00:13:48.939 --> 00:13:49.799
 God

00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:51.240
 and the ordinary

00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:52.079
 people of Israel

00:13:52.079 --> 00:13:53.099
 by hiding

00:13:53.099 --> 00:13:54.299
 wherever they can

00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:55.419
 rather than standing up

00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:56.419
 and showing themselves

00:13:56.419 --> 00:13:58.179
 willing to fight.

00:13:59.299 --> 00:13:59.959
 They're trembling.

00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:01.579
 They're quaking

00:14:01.579 --> 00:14:02.179
 in their shoes.

00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:02.919
 You could say

00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:03.860
 that Jonathan's action

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:04.539
 comes across

00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:05.620
 as a bit of bravado

00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:06.659
 on his part,

00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:07.439
 although King Saul

00:14:07.439 --> 00:14:08.179
 gets the credit,

00:14:08.599 --> 00:14:08.980
 apparently,

00:14:09.099 --> 00:14:09.779
 for what had happened,

00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:10.639
 but it very quickly

00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.539
 leads to disaster

00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:12.740
 as far as Israel

00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:13.659
 was concerned.

00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:16.019
 What are 1,000 men

00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:17.279
 going to do

00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:19.679
 with 30,000 chariots

00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:21.439
 and 6,000 horsemen

00:14:21.439 --> 00:14:22.199
 and troops

00:14:22.199 --> 00:14:22.980
 like the sand

00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.679
 on the seashore

00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:24.360
 that haven't

00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.219
 a dog's chance?

00:14:27.939 --> 00:14:28.819
 It's a wee bit like

00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:29.419
 what happened

00:14:29.419 --> 00:14:30.799
 in the Jacobite Rebellion

00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:32.919
 in the 18th century.

00:14:33.959 --> 00:14:34.759
 Just to rake

00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:35.319
 your wee minds

00:14:35.319 --> 00:14:36.139
 a bit in history,

00:14:36.719 --> 00:14:37.699
 Bonnie Prince Charlie,

00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:39.199
 yes,

00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:40.000
 he raises

00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:41.199
 his father's standard

00:14:41.199 --> 00:14:42.319
 at Glenfinnan,

00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:44.500
 rallying the Highlanders

00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:46.000
 in August 1745

00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:46.820
 when he arrived

00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:47.660
 there from France.

00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:50.040
 Scottish army

00:14:50.040 --> 00:14:50.540
 came down

00:14:50.540 --> 00:14:51.100
 to this part

00:14:51.100 --> 00:14:51.620
 of the country

00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:52.280
 and after winning

00:14:52.280 --> 00:14:53.080
 battles at Edinburgh

00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:53.620
 and then out

00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:54.520
 at Preston Pans,

00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.940
 September 1745,

00:14:58.060 --> 00:14:58.379
 they marched

00:14:58.379 --> 00:14:59.100
 very quickly

00:14:59.100 --> 00:14:59.860
 as far south

00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.500
 as Derby

00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:01.420
 in England,

00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:02.320
 thinking victories

00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.040
 on the horizon,

00:15:03.160 --> 00:15:03.780
 but because of

00:15:03.780 --> 00:15:04.600
 lack of support

00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:06.140
 and a wrong strategy,

00:15:06.260 --> 00:15:06.940
 they turned back

00:15:06.940 --> 00:15:07.940
 only to be defeated

00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:08.600
 at Culloden

00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.700
 by the Duke

00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:10.259
 of Cumberland

00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:11.019
 on the 16th

00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:12.279
 of April 1746.

00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:12.759
 Now,

00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:13.360
 it all started

00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:13.960
 so well,

00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:15.480
 but in a few months

00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:16.680
 it was all over

00:15:16.680 --> 00:15:18.379
 in less than an hour

00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:20.220
 on the field

00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:21.060
 at Culloden.

00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.399
 And surely

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:24.379
 on this occasion,

00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:25.940
 almost

00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:30.320
 3,000 years

00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:32.000
 earlier,

00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:34.240
 you see something

00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:34.940
 similar

00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:36.279
 taking place.

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.679
 you would have

00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:38.399
 to call

00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.059
 as a result

00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:39.600
 of all this,

00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:39.860
 surely,

00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:40.539
 you would have

00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:40.980
 to call

00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:41.699
 into question

00:15:41.699 --> 00:15:43.139
 the pathetic

00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:44.059
 leadership

00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:46.000
 or lack

00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:46.579
 of leadership

00:15:46.579 --> 00:15:47.699
 of King Saul.

00:15:49.339 --> 00:15:50.220
 The cracks

00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:50.899
 are now beginning

00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:51.419
 to appear.

00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:52.159
 He doesn't seem

00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:53.339
 to have what it takes

00:15:53.339 --> 00:15:54.179
 to lead the country.

00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:55.079
 He has apparently

00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:56.159
 no clear plans

00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:56.720
 for the battle

00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.480
 against the enemy.

00:15:57.779 --> 00:15:58.500
 It's a bit of a hit

00:15:58.500 --> 00:15:59.079
 or a miss.

00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:01.740
 King Saul

00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.620
 is showing himself

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:03.199
 to be something

00:16:03.199 --> 00:16:04.279
 of a square peg

00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:06.399
 in a round hole.

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.279
 He might be

00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:08.139
 dark and handsome

00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:11.079
 and tall,

00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:13.419
 but he's lacking

00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:14.019
 in courage,

00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:15.759
 he's lacking

00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.360
 in confidence,

00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:17.659
 he's lacking

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:18.459
 in communication

00:16:18.459 --> 00:16:19.000
 skills,

00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:20.279
 and he's lacking

00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.600
 in plain common sense

00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:23.240
 when it comes

00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.339
 to the decision-making

00:16:24.339 --> 00:16:24.899
 process.

00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:26.079
 He seems

00:16:26.079 --> 00:16:26.860
 to be

00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:28.860
 causing problems

00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:30.019
 rather than

00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:30.740
 preventing them.

00:16:30.839 --> 00:16:31.279
 He's showing

00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:31.799
 himself

00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:33.299
 to be woefully

00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:34.059
 inadequate.

00:16:36.219 --> 00:16:36.959
 We'll discover

00:16:36.959 --> 00:16:37.719
 more about that

00:16:37.719 --> 00:16:38.339
 as we move on

00:16:38.339 --> 00:16:38.939
 into the chapter

00:16:38.939 --> 00:16:39.679
 just in a moment,

00:16:40.219 --> 00:16:41.019
 even more so

00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:41.439
 when you get

00:16:41.439 --> 00:16:42.500
 into chapter 14.

00:16:43.839 --> 00:16:44.299
 So having

00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:45.419
 considered the facts,

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:45.959
 if you like,

00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:46.579
 events that have

00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:47.439
 just taken place,

00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:49.539
 come to verse 8

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.879
 and on from verse 8.

00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:52.559
 Let's get

00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:53.500
 what I think

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.859
 is the main message

00:16:54.859 --> 00:16:56.019
 that God wants

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:56.859
 us to hear

00:16:56.859 --> 00:16:58.179
 from this chapter

00:16:58.179 --> 00:16:59.099
 for our own lives

00:16:59.099 --> 00:16:59.539
 tonight.

00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:01.419
 Okay,

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:02.719
 point number one,

00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.319
 I trained in the

00:17:03.319 --> 00:17:03.779
 faith mission,

00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:04.220
 so you're going

00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:04.960
 to get three points.

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.299
 Point number one,

00:17:06.899 --> 00:17:07.819
 examining the facts.

00:17:07.899 --> 00:17:08.559
 Those are the facts.

00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:09.019
 Jonathan,

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:09.619
 an incident,

00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.379
 border incident,

00:17:10.659 --> 00:17:11.539
 he wins the day

00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:12.180
 but arouses

00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:13.180
 the sleeping giant

00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:13.980
 and they find

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.440
 themselves

00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:15.500
 in a big mess.

00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:16.220
 And Saul,

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:17.019
 he's over it all.

00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:18.079
 He's messed it up.

00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:20.879
 Here's the second thing,

00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:21.940
 playing the fool.

00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:24.500
 Now,

00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:25.539
 way back in chapter 10

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.059
 verse 8,

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.639
 Samuel said to Saul,

00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:29.320
 Go down before me

00:17:29.320 --> 00:17:30.040
 to Gilgal

00:17:30.040 --> 00:17:31.980
 and behold,

00:17:32.060 --> 00:17:32.800
 I'm coming down

00:17:32.800 --> 00:17:33.160
 to you

00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:34.360
 to offer burnt offerings

00:17:34.360 --> 00:17:35.180
 and to sacrifice

00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:35.960
 peace offerings.

00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:37.900
 Seven days

00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:38.980
 you shall wait

00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:41.300
 until I come to you

00:17:41.300 --> 00:17:42.140
 and show you

00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:42.960
 what you shall do.

00:17:44.120 --> 00:17:44.780
 That's what Samuel

00:17:44.780 --> 00:17:45.440
 said to him.

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.840
 Go down before me

00:17:47.840 --> 00:17:48.460
 to Gilgal.

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.720
 I'm coming down

00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.180
 to you

00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:51.820
 to offer burnt offerings

00:17:51.820 --> 00:17:52.660
 and to sacrifice

00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:53.480
 peace offerings.

00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:54.740
 Seven days

00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.380
 you shall wait

00:17:55.380 --> 00:17:56.380
 until I come to you

00:17:56.380 --> 00:17:57.200
 and show you

00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:57.940
 what you shall do.

00:17:59.320 --> 00:17:59.700
 Now,

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.280
 whether it was

00:18:00.280 --> 00:18:00.940
 as a result

00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:02.180
 of what was said

00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:02.960
 on that occasion

00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.720
 or from another occasion

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.780
 that we know nothing about,

00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:07.340
 we pick things up here

00:18:07.340 --> 00:18:08.460
 at chapter 13

00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.220
 verse 8

00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:10.120
 with these words.

00:18:10.800 --> 00:18:11.560
 He waited

00:18:11.560 --> 00:18:13.580
 seven days,

00:18:14.780 --> 00:18:15.940
 the time appointed

00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:16.620
 by Samuel,

00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:18.240
 but Samuel

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.080
 did not come

00:18:19.080 --> 00:18:19.820
 to Gilgal

00:18:19.820 --> 00:18:22.560
 and the people

00:18:22.560 --> 00:18:23.380
 were scattering

00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:24.500
 from him.

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.299
 So Saul said,

00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:26.779
 bring the burnt offering

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.500
 here to me

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.299
 and the peace offering.

00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.519
 And he offers

00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.319
 the burnt offering

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:32.140
 and as soon as he'd

00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:32.839
 finished offering

00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:33.599
 the burnt offering,

00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:34.740
 lo and behold,

00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:36.059
 who lands on his doorstep?

00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:38.059
 Samuel.

00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.019
 Now,

00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:42.339
 the text tells us

00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:43.579
 that Saul,

00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.119
 the king,

00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.240
 went out to meet

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:46.640
 Samuel,

00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.119
 the prophet,

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:49.019
 and to greet him

00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.680
 as if nothing

00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:50.759
 of a serious nature

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.339
 has happened.

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:54.679
 Saul's pretty good

00:18:54.679 --> 00:18:55.079
 at that.

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:56.899
 Samuel,

00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.299
 however,

00:18:57.419 --> 00:18:58.159
 wastes no time

00:18:58.159 --> 00:18:58.759
 in beating about

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.179
 the bush.

00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:00.579
 He said to Saul,

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.319
 what have you done?

00:19:05.919 --> 00:19:07.019
 And Saul said,

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.619
 when I saw

00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:09.199
 that the people

00:19:09.199 --> 00:19:09.799
 were scattering

00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.439
 from me

00:19:10.439 --> 00:19:12.019
 and that you

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.740
 didn't come

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.539
 within the days

00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.000
 appointed

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:16.259
 and that the Philistines

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.220
 had mustered

00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:18.179
 at Michmash,

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.099
 I said,

00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:21.299
 now the Philistines

00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:21.939
 will come down

00:19:21.939 --> 00:19:22.480
 against me

00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:22.980
 at Gilgal

00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.679
 and I have not

00:19:23.679 --> 00:19:24.299
 sought the favor

00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:24.779
 of the Lord.

00:19:24.939 --> 00:19:26.159
 So I forced myself

00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:27.859
 and offered

00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:28.559
 the burnt offering.

00:19:30.699 --> 00:19:31.279
 What's Saul

00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:31.980
 trying to do here?

00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.459
 He's trying to

00:19:32.459 --> 00:19:33.219
 shift the blame

00:19:33.219 --> 00:19:35.000
 onto Samuel's shoulders.

00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:35.859
 He blames Samuel

00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:36.480
 for what

00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:38.259
 took place

00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.319
 by appearing

00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:41.959
 late.

00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:43.839
 And yet,

00:19:43.879 --> 00:19:44.579
 at the same time,

00:19:44.659 --> 00:19:45.240
 Saul admits

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.399
 that he hadn't

00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:46.959
 really sought

00:19:46.959 --> 00:19:47.919
 the favor of the Lord

00:19:47.919 --> 00:19:48.879
 for what he had done.

00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:51.279
 He makes it clear

00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:51.879
 to Saul,

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:54.099
 you've done foolishly.

00:19:55.659 --> 00:19:56.439
 Now the agreement

00:19:56.439 --> 00:19:56.919
 was clear.

00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.579
 Seven days,

00:19:57.659 --> 00:19:57.919
 remember?

00:19:58.419 --> 00:19:59.079
 Shall you wait

00:19:59.079 --> 00:19:59.759
 and when I come

00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.379
 I will tell you

00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:00.839
 what to do.

00:20:01.179 --> 00:20:01.779
 Samuel said

00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.259
 he would be there

00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.079
 within seven days

00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:03.740
 to do the needful

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.279
 but time

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.039
 was beginning

00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:06.159
 to run out.

00:20:06.719 --> 00:20:07.319
 Saul's beginning

00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:08.699
 to feel the pressure.

00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:09.559
 What we need

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.740
 to note is that

00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:12.159
 although they were

00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:13.519
 well into the seventh day,

00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:14.439
 the seventh day

00:20:14.439 --> 00:20:16.079
 hadn't finished.

00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:17.839
 The seven days

00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:19.099
 were not completely over

00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:20.319
 when Saul makes

00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:20.819
 his move.

00:20:20.879 --> 00:20:21.519
 He panics.

00:20:21.939 --> 00:20:22.819
 He makes his move.

00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:23.899
 The clock hadn't

00:20:23.899 --> 00:20:24.599
 struck midnight

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.779
 but Saul couldn't wait

00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:26.219
 and instead

00:20:26.219 --> 00:20:26.959
 he takes the law

00:20:26.959 --> 00:20:27.779
 into his own hands

00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:29.219
 and he offers

00:20:29.219 --> 00:20:30.059
 the sacrifice

00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.839
 late,

00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:31.639
 very late,

00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.119
 no doubt,

00:20:32.199 --> 00:20:33.119
 on the seventh day

00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:34.539
 but before the seventh day

00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.699
 had fully run its course.

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.240
 No sooner had he done so,

00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:40.859
 Samuel arrives

00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:44.719
 and he's on Saul's doorstep.

00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:46.539
 Now in some ways

00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.339
 you can sympathize

00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:47.799
 with Saul

00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:49.079
 as he sees things

00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:49.879
 coming apart

00:20:49.879 --> 00:20:50.599
 and as he sees

00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:51.579
 the clock ticking

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:53.339
 and as he sees

00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:54.439
 as far as his army

00:20:54.439 --> 00:20:55.079
 is concerned

00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:55.799
 that they're fleeing

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.039
 here,

00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:56.740
 there and yonder

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:58.279
 and as he knows

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:59.399
 that time is really,

00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.500
 really running out

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:02.240
 and Samuel's nowhere

00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:02.959
 to be seen.

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:08.259
 when the ferocious beast

00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:10.360
 of impatience,

00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:12.900
 as John Calvin called it,

00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:13.920
 took over

00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:16.720
 in the life of Saul.

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:17.299
 It could have been

00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:18.039
 so different.

00:21:19.840 --> 00:21:20.500
 George Swinock,

00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.120
 the Puritan,

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:21.759
 once said,

00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:22.519
 if we would only

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.600
 lengthen our patience

00:21:23.600 --> 00:21:24.840
 we would shorten

00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:25.500
 our troubles.

00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.519
 Now what Saul did

00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:31.680
 may be understandable.

00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:32.779
 How would you

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.660
 have fared

00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:34.579
 if you were standing

00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.339
 in his shoes

00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:36.200
 seven days?

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:36.859
 He said he would come

00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:37.539
 in seven days.

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.819
 We're getting near midnight

00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:39.859
 and he's not arrived yet.

00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:42.759
 What he did

00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.740
 may be understandable

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:45.599
 but it's also

00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.339
 unforgivable.

00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.799
 It may have been plausible

00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.819
 but it's not pleasing

00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.480
 to the Lord.

00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:51.639
 God's word is

00:21:51.639 --> 00:21:53.200
 indispensable

00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:54.819
 and he always keeps it.

00:21:54.899 --> 00:21:55.759
 He's never late

00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.859
 in fulfilling

00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:58.299
 his covenant engagements.

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.440
 He's never in a hurry.

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.819
 He's always in time.

00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.619
 At the eleventh hour

00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:03.959
 or at a couple of minutes

00:22:03.959 --> 00:22:04.500
 to midnight

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.259
 so to speak

00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:06.379
 Saul runs out

00:22:06.379 --> 00:22:07.019
 of patience

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:08.599
 as he tries to put

00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:09.279
 sacrifice

00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.659
 before obedience

00:22:10.659 --> 00:22:12.139
 and ritual

00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:14.239
 before revelation.

00:22:14.899 --> 00:22:15.219
 They have been

00:22:15.219 --> 00:22:15.959
 for the first time

00:22:15.959 --> 00:22:16.739
 but it wasn't going to be

00:22:16.739 --> 00:22:17.539
 for the last time.

00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:18.299
 Wait till you get

00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.279
 to chapter 15.

00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:21.159
 On this occasion

00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:21.919
 it's bad enough.

00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:22.639
 He would receive

00:22:22.639 --> 00:22:23.619
 immediate admonition

00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:24.219
 from the Lord

00:22:24.219 --> 00:22:24.799
 through Samuel

00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.699
 for doing so

00:22:25.699 --> 00:22:26.739
 but on the next occasion

00:22:26.739 --> 00:22:28.359
 when you get to chapter 15

00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:29.159
 it's going to be

00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:30.019
 a whole lot worse.

00:22:30.340 --> 00:22:30.759
 It's going to be

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.440
 a rejection

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.519
 by God

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.120
 and not just

00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:33.820
 admonition.

00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:36.180
 Saul said to him

00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:37.340
 on this occasion

00:22:37.340 --> 00:22:38.980
 what have you done?

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.360
 Do you know that

00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:43.340
 just about sums it up

00:22:43.340 --> 00:22:44.000
 brothers and sisters?

00:22:44.800 --> 00:22:45.460
 That's the message.

00:22:48.300 --> 00:22:49.600
 What have you done?

00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:53.100
 How often

00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:54.660
 that probing question

00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:56.640
 is asked

00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.860
 of different people

00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:58.720
 in the Bible?

00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:01.360
 And here it is

00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:02.120
 before us

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:04.300
 in this chapter

00:23:04.300 --> 00:23:05.360
 again tonight.

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.519
 Let me rake

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.519
 your memory a wee bit.

00:23:08.100 --> 00:23:09.600
 Was that not

00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:10.300
 the question

00:23:10.300 --> 00:23:12.160
 the Lord asked Eve

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:14.560
 in Genesis chapter 3

00:23:14.560 --> 00:23:15.560
 when she disobeyed

00:23:15.560 --> 00:23:15.960
 the Lord?

00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:19.560
 Did he not say to her

00:23:19.560 --> 00:23:21.700
 what have you done?

00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:24.539
 It was exactly

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.380
 the same question

00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:26.180
 the Lord asked

00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:26.799
 of Cain

00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:28.779
 in Genesis chapter 4

00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:29.460
 after he killed

00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.340
 his brother Abel.

00:23:30.620 --> 00:23:31.860
 What have you done?

00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:35.000
 Later on

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.819
 in the book of Joshua

00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.680
 chapter 7

00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:38.140
 it's the same question

00:23:38.140 --> 00:23:39.140
 asked of Achan

00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:40.059
 when he coveted

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:40.559
 and stole

00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:41.080
 and then hid

00:23:41.080 --> 00:23:42.120
 the Babylonian garment

00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:43.640
 along with some shekels.

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:45.420
 What have you done?

00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.539
 You know

00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.319
 throughout history

00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.679
 the Lord is asking

00:23:51.679 --> 00:23:52.720
 the same question

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:55.019
 of so many

00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.779
 different people.

00:23:57.639 --> 00:23:58.659
 What have you done?

00:23:59.179 --> 00:23:59.799
 And I wonder

00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:01.899
 we're all here tonight

00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:04.019
 you're not here

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.759
 to listen to me

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:06.299
 we're here to listen

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.059
 to what God

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.659
 has to say.

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.599
 He's asking

00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.480
 of all of us

00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.759
 that question

00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:12.179
 tonight.

00:24:13.639 --> 00:24:14.700
 What have you done?

00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:20.680
 Have you deliberately

00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:21.880
 done

00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:23.140
 something

00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:24.140
 anything

00:24:24.140 --> 00:24:25.900
 that you know

00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.880
 you should not have done?

00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.440
 Have I?

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.840
 God had spoken

00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:35.880
 have we trampled

00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:37.580
 underfoot

00:24:37.580 --> 00:24:38.340
 his word?

00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:40.980
 How many times

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.500
 are we guilty

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:41.920
 of doing

00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.360
 what we

00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:43.980
 shouldn't have done?

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:46.079
 so often

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:46.480
 we're guilty

00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.180
 of disobeying

00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.680
 his word

00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:48.000
 and it's

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.500
 by jumping

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.000
 the gun.

00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.480
 We find it

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:51.880
 difficult

00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:52.400
 to wait

00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.240
 for God's time

00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:53.700
 so often

00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.259
 we don't wait

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:54.500
 for him

00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.019
 to fulfill

00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:55.480
 the word

00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:55.920
 that he has

00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.599
 so clearly

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.720
 spoken to us

00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.740
 even kings

00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.519
 can be impatient

00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.019
 that's what

00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.460
 we're learning

00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:00.819
 here.

00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:02.720
 Samuel didn't

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.680
 fail Saul

00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.120
 he didn't

00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:04.460
 come on

00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:04.920
 the eighth

00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:05.259
 day

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:05.960
 he came

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.279
 late

00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:06.640
 on the

00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.000
 seventh

00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.420
 day.

00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:12.539
 it was a

00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.279
 testing time

00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:13.580
 for him

00:25:13.580 --> 00:25:14.019
 that's for

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.420
 sure

00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.000
 but all

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.420
 of a sudden

00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:16.060
 his patience

00:25:16.060 --> 00:25:17.820
 ran out

00:25:17.820 --> 00:25:18.259
 and he

00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:19.019
 assumes

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.120
 the role

00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:20.880
 of prophet

00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:22.000
 and priest

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.700
 as well

00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.140
 as king.

00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.539
 We're not

00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.240
 good at waiting

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:31.060
 are we?

00:25:32.560 --> 00:25:33.380
 I think we

00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:34.539
 I'm speaking

00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:35.200
 about myself

00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:36.059
 we need

00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:36.559
 to take

00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.059
 a leaf

00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:37.920
 out of

00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:38.099
 the

00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:38.500
 psalmist

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:38.819
 book

00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:39.500
 psalm 40

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.220
 I waited

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.659
 for the

00:25:40.659 --> 00:25:41.099
 Lord my

00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.399
 God

00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:41.859
 metrical

00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.279
 version

00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:43.599
 and patiently

00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.180
 did bear

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.559
 did bear

00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:46.000
 at length

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.460
 to me

00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.399
 he did

00:25:47.399 --> 00:25:47.799
 incline

00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:48.480
 my voice

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.079
 and cry

00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:49.639
 to hear.

00:25:50.899 --> 00:25:51.440
 How long

00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:51.859
 did Abraham

00:25:51.859 --> 00:25:52.579
 wait for the

00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:53.159
 child God

00:25:53.159 --> 00:25:53.879
 promised him?

00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.399
 Decades.

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:57.980
 How long

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.440
 did Moses

00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.159
 have to wait

00:25:59.159 --> 00:25:59.639
 until he's

00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.059
 ready to

00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:00.359
 lead the

00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:00.879
 people out

00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:01.559
 of Egypt?

00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:03.559
 Several

00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.159
 decades.

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.019
 How long

00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.599
 did David

00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:07.460
 have to

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:07.960
 wait before

00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.299
 he would

00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:08.879
 eventually be

00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.339
 crowned king

00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:09.659
 of all

00:26:09.659 --> 00:26:09.960
 Israel?

00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.759
 It was a

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.440
 long time.

00:26:15.379 --> 00:26:15.720
 Saul had

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.139
 only to

00:26:16.139 --> 00:26:16.960
 wait seven

00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:17.480
 days

00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:19.960
 and if

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.819
 Saul had

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.700
 only waited

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.500
 a few

00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.399
 more minutes

00:26:23.399 --> 00:26:25.039
 on this

00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.420
 occasion

00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:26.079
 that's all

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:27.059
 things would

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.319
 have been

00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:27.859
 a-okay.

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.500
 Three

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.099
 thousand years

00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:31.559
 have passed

00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:32.079
 since then

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:33.539
 but those

00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:34.059
 three thousand

00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.500
 years I

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:34.919
 don't think

00:26:34.919 --> 00:26:35.639
 haven't

00:26:35.639 --> 00:26:36.259
 changed

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.659
 anything.

00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.079
 In one

00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.440
 sense you

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:37.740
 could say

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.159
 well everything

00:26:38.159 --> 00:26:38.879
 has changed

00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.799
 with the

00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.319
 passing of

00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:40.879
 the millennia

00:26:40.879 --> 00:26:41.220
 but in

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:41.779
 another sense

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.159
 you can say

00:26:42.159 --> 00:26:42.740
 nothing has

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.259
 changed.

00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.419
 God hasn't

00:26:44.419 --> 00:26:44.980
 changed has

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.079
 he?

00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:45.440
 He's the

00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:45.700
 same.

00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:49.759
 Humanity is

00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.240
 the same.

00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:51.659
 Aren't we

00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:52.079
 just the

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.359
 same?

00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:54.500
 Sin's the

00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:54.740
 same.

00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:55.460
 Salvation's

00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:55.799
 the same.

00:26:55.899 --> 00:26:56.299
 If anything

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:56.859
 we're probably

00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:57.619
 less patient

00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:57.960
 in the

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.839
 21st century

00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.539
 than those

00:26:59.539 --> 00:26:59.899
 who lived

00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:00.159
 in the

00:27:00.159 --> 00:27:00.940
 centuries BC

00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:01.580
 because this

00:27:01.580 --> 00:27:02.220
 is so

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:02.600
 we're told

00:27:02.600 --> 00:27:03.220
 the instant

00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:03.900
 generation

00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:04.860
 our problem

00:27:04.860 --> 00:27:05.360
 is that we

00:27:05.360 --> 00:27:05.960
 want whatever

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.559
 it is

00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.660
 now.

00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.900
 But slowness

00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:12.940
 is so very

00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.620
 often God's

00:27:13.620 --> 00:27:14.680
 preferred method

00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.200
 of working.

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.400
 He's not

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.340
 cold, God's

00:27:18.340 --> 00:27:19.080
 not cold, he's

00:27:19.080 --> 00:27:20.220
 not cruel, he's

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:22.019
 not callous but

00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.720
 he keeps us

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.680
 waiting sometimes

00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:25.320
 to the last

00:27:25.320 --> 00:27:26.320
 minute in

00:27:26.320 --> 00:27:26.940
 order to do

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.700
 his deepest

00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:28.640
 work in our

00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:29.140
 hearts.

00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:32.540
 You read

00:27:32.540 --> 00:27:32.960
 on means

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.460
 Saul went

00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.000
 on to blame

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.680
 anybody and

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.320
 everybody for

00:27:35.320 --> 00:27:35.860
 what happened

00:27:35.860 --> 00:27:36.580
 except himself

00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.080
 of course.

00:27:38.580 --> 00:27:39.280
 No sign of

00:27:39.280 --> 00:27:39.900
 him owning up

00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.540
 to his sin,

00:27:40.580 --> 00:27:41.060
 there's no sign

00:27:41.060 --> 00:27:41.800
 of him repenting

00:27:41.800 --> 00:27:42.280
 but Samuel

00:27:42.280 --> 00:27:42.759
 the prophet,

00:27:43.040 --> 00:27:43.759
 he didn't

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.440
 stop when he

00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:44.820
 asked the

00:27:44.820 --> 00:27:45.480
 question of

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:45.900
 Saul the

00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:46.660
 king, what

00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:47.020
 have you

00:27:47.020 --> 00:27:47.259
 done?

00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:47.880
 No, he

00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.340
 then went

00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:49.880
 on to tell

00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:50.440
 Saul what

00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:50.880
 he'd done.

00:27:51.340 --> 00:27:52.480
 You have

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:54.320
 done foolishly,

00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:54.920
 he said.

00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:55.840
 You have

00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.660
 not kept

00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.300
 the command

00:27:57.300 --> 00:27:57.860
 of the Lord

00:27:57.860 --> 00:27:58.460
 your God

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.440
 which he

00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.100
 commanded

00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:00.500
 you.

00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:01.539
 And the

00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.019
 same thing

00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.319
 is going

00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:02.559
 to be

00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:03.220
 repeated in

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.799
 1 Samuel

00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:04.779
 chapter 15

00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.559
 when he

00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.420
 eventually at

00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:06.900
 the end of

00:28:06.900 --> 00:28:07.360
 the chapter,

00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.140
 chapter 15,

00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:09.120
 he admits,

00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:09.819
 I've played

00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.980
 the fool and

00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.660
 I've erred

00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:12.500
 exceedingly.

00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:15.440
 Now we need

00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.000
 to be careful.

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.799
 What exactly

00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.340
 does it mean

00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:18.039
 to be a fool

00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:19.480
 in the Bible?

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.380
 It's not

00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:21.860
 referring to

00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:22.299
 someone who

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.240
 lacks intelligence.

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.640
 A fool in the

00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:26.140
 Bible is not

00:28:26.140 --> 00:28:26.620
 an idiot.

00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:29.399
 He's not

00:28:29.399 --> 00:28:30.059
 a fool here

00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.539
 in the sense

00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:30.799
 that he's

00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:31.079
 got no

00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:31.379
 sense

00:28:31.379 --> 00:28:31.859
 whatsoever.

00:28:33.199 --> 00:28:33.579
 A fool

00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:34.059
 in biblical

00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:34.699
 parlance

00:28:34.699 --> 00:28:35.199
 might be

00:28:35.199 --> 00:28:36.079
 very,

00:28:36.219 --> 00:28:36.839
 very clever,

00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.779
 but it's

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.199
 nothing to

00:28:39.199 --> 00:28:39.459
 do with

00:28:39.459 --> 00:28:39.979
 a person's

00:28:39.979 --> 00:28:40.339
 IQ.

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.299
 In the

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:41.659
 Word of

00:28:41.659 --> 00:28:41.899
 God,

00:28:41.979 --> 00:28:42.299
 a fool

00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:42.779
 is someone

00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.319
 who at

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:43.599
 that

00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:44.139
 particular

00:28:44.139 --> 00:28:44.559
 time,

00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:45.559
 that specific

00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.119
 moment in

00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:46.459
 his life,

00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:47.419
 he's believing

00:28:47.419 --> 00:28:48.299
 or behaving

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:48.879
 as if there

00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:49.179
 is no

00:28:49.179 --> 00:28:49.479
 God.

00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.219
 That's what

00:28:53.219 --> 00:28:53.699
 meant in

00:28:53.699 --> 00:28:54.079
 the Bible

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:54.459
 when it

00:28:54.459 --> 00:28:54.899
 speaks of

00:28:54.899 --> 00:28:55.739
 someone playing

00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:56.180
 the fool.

00:28:57.880 --> 00:28:58.319
 The psalmist

00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:58.660
 says in

00:28:58.660 --> 00:28:59.339
 Psalm 14,

00:28:59.559 --> 00:28:59.980
 the fool

00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:00.480
 has said

00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:00.779
 in his

00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.120
 heart,

00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:01.740
 there is

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.519
 no God.

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.200
 That's what's

00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:03.579
 meant when

00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:04.079
 someone is

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:04.460
 said to

00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:05.480
 behave like

00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:05.720
 a fool.

00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.120
 They've

00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:06.940
 become a

00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:07.460
 practical

00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:08.220
 atheist,

00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:10.160
 if not an

00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:10.940
 intellectual and

00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:11.559
 philosophical

00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.259
 atheist.

00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:14.759
 In the

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.319
 Sermon on the

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:15.620
 Mount,

00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.440
 remember how

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:16.759
 the Lord

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.380
 Jesus drew

00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:18.299
 everything to

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:18.680
 a final

00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:20.039
 conclusion by

00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:20.620
 telling us,

00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.079
 telling the

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:21.420
 people who

00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:21.759
 were listening

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.000
 to him,

00:29:22.059 --> 00:29:22.279
 that the

00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:22.539
 difference

00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.039
 between the

00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.700
 wise man

00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:24.460
 who built

00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.039
 his house

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:25.460
 on the

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:25.840
 rock and

00:29:25.840 --> 00:29:26.299
 the foolish

00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:27.080
 man who

00:29:27.080 --> 00:29:27.539
 built his

00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.000
 house on

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.340
 the sand,

00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.400
 rested on

00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:30.220
 this very

00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:31.600
 point of

00:29:31.600 --> 00:29:32.620
 obedience with

00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:33.259
 regards to

00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:33.740
 what God

00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.200
 had said.

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:34.559
 It's as

00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:35.180
 simple as

00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:35.440
 that.

00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:36.039
 You don't

00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.779
 need to be

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.539
 somebody with

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.140
 a BD or

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:38.980
 a PhD to

00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:39.279
 come to

00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:39.779
 terms with

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.019
 this.

00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:40.799
 What was

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.360
 the clear

00:29:41.360 --> 00:29:42.299
 unmistakable

00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:43.000
 difference between

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.740
 the two men

00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.480
 in Matthew

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.259
 chapter 7?

00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:46.080
 They were the

00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:47.059
 same in the

00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:47.680
 sense that they

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:49.100
 both heard the

00:29:49.100 --> 00:29:49.900
 word of God.

00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.740
 No question

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.340
 about that.

00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:51.920
 It's not that one

00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:52.480
 of them heard

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.080
 and the other

00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:53.380
 didn't.

00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:53.900
 They both

00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.360
 heard the

00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:54.920
 word spoken

00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.279
 by the

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.440
 Lord.

00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:55.980
 But the

00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:56.480
 difference is

00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.180
 seen in

00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:57.420
 that the

00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:57.920
 wise man

00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:58.160
 is the

00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:58.779
 one who

00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.300
 puts it

00:29:59.300 --> 00:30:00.100
 into practice

00:30:00.100 --> 00:30:00.680
 what he

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.039
 hears,

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.660
 whereas the

00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.120
 foolish man,

00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:02.720
 he doesn't

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.220
 put it

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.259
 into practice.

00:30:04.840 --> 00:30:05.840
 Saul knew

00:30:05.840 --> 00:30:06.680
 what Samuel

00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:08.480
 said as he

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:08.940
 spoke the

00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.500
 word of God

00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.259
 earlier to

00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:10.800
 him, but

00:30:10.800 --> 00:30:11.400
 Saul did

00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:12.140
 not obey

00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:13.259
 what Samuel

00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:13.640
 said.

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.080
 He didn't

00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:14.620
 do what he

00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:15.180
 was told to

00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:15.380
 do.

00:30:15.600 --> 00:30:15.920
 He went

00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:16.420
 out and he

00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:16.800
 did his

00:30:16.800 --> 00:30:17.680
 own thing

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:19.160
 when time

00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:19.560
 was running

00:30:19.560 --> 00:30:19.880
 out.

00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.700
 And I

00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.080
 think that's

00:30:23.080 --> 00:30:23.360
 where so

00:30:23.360 --> 00:30:23.740
 many of

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.120
 us fall

00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:24.560
 down when

00:30:24.560 --> 00:30:24.920
 it comes

00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:25.220
 to the

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:25.580
 issue,

00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:26.080
 well,

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.860
 many issues.

00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.320
 Fellowship

00:30:28.320 --> 00:30:28.720
 with other

00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.200
 Christians,

00:30:29.380 --> 00:30:29.900
 membership of

00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.300
 a church,

00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:30.800
 personal

00:30:30.800 --> 00:30:31.400
 relationships

00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:32.120
 with others,

00:30:32.620 --> 00:30:33.440
 aspiring to

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:34.380
 discipleship,

00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:34.940
 and so on

00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:35.600
 and so forth.

00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:37.080
 So often,

00:30:37.820 --> 00:30:38.900
 we do our

00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:39.980
 own thing at

00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.400
 the end of

00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:40.720
 the day,

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:41.860
 and we do

00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:42.860
 it in our

00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:45.240
 time scale.

00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:45.279
 people.

00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.000
 It's so

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.299
 easy.

00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:50.480
 Do you

00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:50.920
 not think,

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.640
 thinking coming

00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.059
 along in

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:53.440
 the car,

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.819
 so easy to

00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.160
 be a

00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:55.579
 hearer,

00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:57.620
 but not a

00:30:57.620 --> 00:30:58.180
 doer of the

00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:58.519
 word of

00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:58.880
 God, and

00:30:58.880 --> 00:30:59.240
 that was

00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.299
 King Saul's

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:01.740
 downfall.

00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:03.900
 Sometimes

00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:04.799
 kings and

00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.240
 people in

00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:05.700
 authority,

00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:06.400
 they think

00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:07.559
 they're in a

00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.319
 different category

00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:08.819
 to other

00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.099
 people.

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:09.900
 Maybe pastors

00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:11.079
 think they're

00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:11.539
 in a different

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.339
 category to

00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:13.019
 other people

00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:14.299
 in their

00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:14.700
 pride and

00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.240
 presumption.

00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.000
 They forget

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:19.019
 there's another

00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:19.519
 pastor,

00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:23.019
 there's another

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:25.079
 king, to

00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:25.399
 whom we're

00:31:25.399 --> 00:31:26.019
 all accountable,

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:27.259
 including them

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:27.799
 in the latter

00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:28.399
 part of the

00:31:28.399 --> 00:31:29.319
 16th century

00:31:29.319 --> 00:31:30.299
 before he

00:31:30.299 --> 00:31:31.000
 became James

00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:31.759
 I of England.

00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:32.759
 James VI of

00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:34.180
 Scotland was

00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:35.819
 notoriously rude

00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:37.059
 when attending

00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:38.059
 worship services.

00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:38.519
 I don't know

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.039
 whether you know

00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:39.619
 that or not,

00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.539
 but Ralph Davis,

00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:41.559
 Dale Ralph Davis

00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.440
 draws our attention

00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:42.980
 to this.

00:31:43.419 --> 00:31:43.799
 On one

00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.240
 occasion,

00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:45.619
 he was seated

00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:46.519
 in the gallery

00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:47.500
 James VI

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:49.359
 with several

00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:50.079
 courtiers

00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.779
 when Robert

00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.200
 Bruce,

00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:51.899
 not Robert

00:31:51.899 --> 00:31:52.299
 the Bruce,

00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.000
 but Robert

00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.419
 Bruce,

00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:54.659
 a faithful

00:31:54.659 --> 00:31:55.299
 minister of

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:55.619
 the Word

00:31:55.619 --> 00:31:56.180
 of God,

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.539
 got up to

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.000
 preach.

00:31:59.379 --> 00:31:59.720
 In his

00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:00.440
 usual form,

00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:01.240
 James VI

00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:01.859
 began to

00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:03.099
 talk to

00:32:03.099 --> 00:32:03.680
 those around

00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:04.200
 him during

00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:04.839
 the sermon.

00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:08.039
 On hearing

00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:08.579
 the chatter,

00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:09.139
 Bruce the

00:32:09.139 --> 00:32:09.460
 minister,

00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:10.059
 he's in the

00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:10.359
 pulpit,

00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:11.139
 he paused.

00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:12.700
 He went

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.240
 silent.

00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:14.680
 And as he

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.039
 did so,

00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:15.759
 James VI

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.599
 suddenly fell

00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:17.460
 silent in the

00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:17.779
 gallery.

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:20.019
 Bruce resumed

00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:20.559
 speaking,

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.599
 but as he

00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.159
 resumed to

00:32:22.159 --> 00:32:22.480
 speak,

00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.159
 so did

00:32:23.159 --> 00:32:23.919
 James VI.

00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:26.720
 Bruce ceased

00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:27.579
 speaking a second

00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:27.899
 time,

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.359
 and so did

00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:29.079
 James VI.

00:32:30.899 --> 00:32:31.619
 Bruce began

00:32:31.619 --> 00:32:32.279
 to speak again,

00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.240
 but when James VI

00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.059
 committed the third

00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.539
 offence,

00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:36.000
 by starting to

00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.680
 speak all over

00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:36.980
 again,

00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:39.079
 Bruce turned

00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:39.960
 and he

00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:40.480
 looked at the

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:40.859
 king and

00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.480
 he addressed

00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:42.399
 James VI

00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:43.819
 personally and

00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:44.579
 directly with

00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.259
 these words,

00:32:45.699 --> 00:32:46.279
 and I quote,

00:32:46.859 --> 00:32:48.179
 It is said to

00:32:48.179 --> 00:32:48.779
 have been an

00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:50.079
 expression of

00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:51.079
 the wisest of

00:32:51.079 --> 00:32:52.460
 kings that

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.279
 when the lion

00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:54.960
 roars, all the

00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:55.599
 beasts of the

00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.439
 field are quiet.

00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.639
 The lion of the

00:32:58.639 --> 00:32:59.679
 tribe of Judah is

00:32:59.679 --> 00:33:01.599
 now roaring in

00:33:01.599 --> 00:33:02.379
 the voice of his

00:33:02.379 --> 00:33:03.480
 gospel, and it

00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:04.859
 becomes all the

00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:05.919
 petty kings of

00:33:05.919 --> 00:33:07.299
 the earth to be

00:33:07.299 --> 00:33:07.720
 silent.

00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:10.160
 I'd love to

00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:10.559
 have been a

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:11.039
 fly on the

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:13.839
 wall, see the

00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:14.740
 expression on the

00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:15.900
 face of James VI.

00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:18.120
 But the truth of

00:33:18.120 --> 00:33:18.839
 the matter is,

00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:20.500
 even kings can

00:33:20.500 --> 00:33:22.420
 forget that they

00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:23.440
 are but subjects

00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:25.279
 of a greater

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:25.640
 king.

00:33:26.600 --> 00:33:27.600
 In fact, do we

00:33:27.600 --> 00:33:28.299
 not read in

00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:29.980
 Isaiah that we

00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:31.160
 are all grasshoppers?

00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:32.940
 So what is a

00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:33.240
 judge?

00:33:33.339 --> 00:33:34.240
 He's a grasshopper

00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:34.920
 with a wig on.

00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:36.420
 And what is a

00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:36.620
 king?

00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:38.299
 Well, he's just a

00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:39.179
 grasshopper with a

00:33:39.179 --> 00:33:39.619
 crown on.

00:33:40.959 --> 00:33:41.719
 He's nothing more

00:33:41.719 --> 00:33:42.199
 than that.

00:33:42.419 --> 00:33:43.500
 Kings can ignore the

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.259
 king of kings'

00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:45.239
 decrees and

00:33:45.239 --> 00:33:46.179
 commands and laws,

00:33:46.579 --> 00:33:47.559
 either obnoxiously

00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:48.459
 and blatantly like

00:33:48.459 --> 00:33:49.699
 James VI, or

00:33:49.699 --> 00:33:50.659
 quietly and subtly

00:33:50.659 --> 00:33:51.259
 like Saul.

00:33:52.699 --> 00:33:53.759
 In any case,

00:33:53.979 --> 00:33:54.959
 Samuel primarily

00:33:54.959 --> 00:33:56.979
 charged Saul with

00:33:56.979 --> 00:33:58.359
 disobeying the

00:33:58.359 --> 00:33:59.919
 word of God.

00:34:00.099 --> 00:34:00.839
 Saul had

00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:03.059
 behaved like a

00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:03.359
 fool.

00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:05.319
 he behaved as

00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:06.000
 though God had

00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.740
 not spoken.

00:34:07.379 --> 00:34:08.639
 He behaved as

00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.460
 though God did

00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:10.279
 not exist.

00:34:11.819 --> 00:34:12.559
 That's what he

00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:12.819
 did.

00:34:14.779 --> 00:34:15.839
 So what have we

00:34:15.839 --> 00:34:16.599
 been trying to do

00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:16.880
 here?

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:17.960
 Examining the facts,

00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.679
 the first seven

00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:19.519
 verses or so,

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.940
 what was going on,

00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:21.739
 that skirmish.

00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:22.920
 And then we've

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.440
 been looking at

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.259
 Saul playing the

00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:25.239
 fool what he did

00:34:25.239 --> 00:34:26.460
 in the light of

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:26.900
 all that was

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.900
 happening and

00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:28.799
 time running out.

00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:30.940
 But time doesn't

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:31.620
 stand still.

00:34:32.640 --> 00:34:33.360
 Just one final

00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:33.660
 thing.

00:34:34.200 --> 00:34:34.920
 Examining the

00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:36.820
 facts, playing

00:34:36.820 --> 00:34:38.320
 the fool, now

00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:39.000
 facing the

00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:39.280
 future.

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.900
 The punishment

00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:42.620
 was severe.

00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:43.880
 Read the

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.160
 chapter.

00:34:45.240 --> 00:34:45.960
 There are several

00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:46.580
 things to be

00:34:46.580 --> 00:34:47.840
 noted as we

00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:48.620
 bring all this to

00:34:48.620 --> 00:34:49.140
 a speedy

00:34:49.140 --> 00:34:49.640
 conclusion.

00:34:50.539 --> 00:34:51.200
 In the first

00:34:51.200 --> 00:34:52.539
 instance, Saul's

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:55.039
 dynasty will not

00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:55.820
 continue in the

00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:56.140
 future.

00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:57.720
 He's told that.

00:34:57.719 --> 00:34:58.619
 He would not

00:34:58.619 --> 00:35:00.239
 enjoy an ongoing

00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:00.959
 dynasty.

00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:02.319
 His children would

00:35:02.319 --> 00:35:03.359
 not succeed him in

00:35:03.359 --> 00:35:04.480
 terms of sitting on

00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.000
 the throne of

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:05.279
 Israel.

00:35:05.439 --> 00:35:06.339
 Verse 14 makes

00:35:06.339 --> 00:35:06.799
 that clear.

00:35:07.699 --> 00:35:08.859
 All that privilege

00:35:08.859 --> 00:35:09.719
 would be taken from

00:35:09.719 --> 00:35:10.659
 him because we

00:35:10.659 --> 00:35:11.559
 know that God had

00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:12.779
 already chosen, even

00:35:12.779 --> 00:35:13.919
 at this time, his

00:35:13.919 --> 00:35:14.799
 successor in the

00:35:14.799 --> 00:35:15.699
 person of David, the

00:35:15.699 --> 00:35:16.739
 son of Jesse, who

00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:17.599
 is said to be a man

00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:18.459
 after God's own

00:35:18.459 --> 00:35:18.779
 heart.

00:35:18.859 --> 00:35:19.759
 At least he was

00:35:19.759 --> 00:35:20.439
 most of this time.

00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.579
 David will be

00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:23.239
 someone who is

00:35:23.239 --> 00:35:24.799
 prepared to let God's

00:35:24.799 --> 00:35:26.219
 will, as spoken by

00:35:26.219 --> 00:35:27.379
 God's prophet at the

00:35:27.379 --> 00:35:27.699
 time, to be a

00:35:27.699 --> 00:35:28.779
 guide.

00:35:30.279 --> 00:35:33.199
 At least, most of

00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:33.559
 the time.

00:35:35.279 --> 00:35:36.500
 It may sound, as

00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:37.159
 you read this, it

00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:38.439
 may sound a stern

00:35:38.439 --> 00:35:39.539
 judgment on King

00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:39.960
 Saul.

00:35:41.179 --> 00:35:42.500
 No dynasty to come.

00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:43.359
 That may sound

00:35:43.359 --> 00:35:44.379
 rather severe.

00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.039
 And it would be

00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:45.859
 easy to think that

00:35:45.859 --> 00:35:47.819
 Samuel has overreacted

00:35:47.819 --> 00:35:49.259
 to events that have

00:35:49.259 --> 00:35:49.939
 just happened.

00:35:50.359 --> 00:35:51.779
 After all, Saul did

00:35:51.779 --> 00:35:52.739
 wait, let's face it,

00:35:52.779 --> 00:35:53.960
 he did wait for the

00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:54.599
 seventh day.

00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:58.420
 But the point being

00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:59.960
 made is that Samuel is

00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:01.380
 at pains to establish

00:36:01.380 --> 00:36:03.159
 and underline once and

00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:04.619
 for all that Israel's

00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.940
 monarchy, of all

00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:07.380
 monarchies, is

00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:08.619
 radically different from

00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:10.559
 every other monarchy

00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:12.440
 on planet earth.

00:36:13.339 --> 00:36:14.519
 The God of Israel is a

00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.219
 precisionist.

00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:17.279
 If he says through his

00:36:17.279 --> 00:36:20.639
 prophet, I'll be down in

00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:23.319
 seven days to offer a

00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:24.120
 sacrifice, he'll be

00:36:24.120 --> 00:36:24.400
 there.

00:36:25.780 --> 00:36:26.680
 You may have to wait

00:36:26.680 --> 00:36:27.920
 until two minutes to

00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:28.840
 midnight, but he'll be

00:36:28.840 --> 00:36:29.100
 there.

00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:32.280
 In the nation of Israel,

00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:34.860
 the Lord is king above

00:36:34.860 --> 00:36:36.900
 any earthly king on the

00:36:36.900 --> 00:36:38.059
 throne of Israel, and

00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:39.480
 obedience to him is

00:36:39.480 --> 00:36:40.160
 paramount.

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:41.500
 Not just when it comes

00:36:41.500 --> 00:36:42.800
 to time, but when it

00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:43.860
 comes to practice.

00:36:46.360 --> 00:36:47.360
 And that's what was

00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:48.519
 lacking in King Saul.

00:36:49.720 --> 00:36:51.700
 God's king should not

00:36:51.699 --> 00:36:53.319
 function independent of

00:36:53.319 --> 00:36:55.699
 God's word, independent

00:36:55.699 --> 00:36:57.699
 of God's prophet, and

00:36:57.699 --> 00:36:59.719
 even independent of God

00:36:59.719 --> 00:37:00.259
 himself.

00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:01.759
 Another thing that Saul

00:37:01.759 --> 00:37:02.779
 would have to live with

00:37:02.779 --> 00:37:04.119
 in the future is the

00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:05.539
 fact that his troops,

00:37:06.179 --> 00:37:07.199
 read the passage when

00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:08.559
 you go on, they're

00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:10.259
 demoralized, they're

00:37:10.259 --> 00:37:11.879
 depleted, there's only a

00:37:11.879 --> 00:37:12.939
 few hundred of them left

00:37:12.939 --> 00:37:13.419
 standing.

00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:15.480
 They hide themselves in

00:37:15.480 --> 00:37:17.199
 caves and holes and rocks

00:37:17.199 --> 00:37:19.179
 and tombs and systems in

00:37:19.179 --> 00:37:20.379
 order to save their skins.

00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:21.579
 Not only did those who

00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:23.500
 followed Saul begin to

00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:24.860
 tremble, but as an army

00:37:24.860 --> 00:37:25.720
 they're completely

00:37:25.720 --> 00:37:27.380
 demilitarized and

00:37:27.380 --> 00:37:28.700
 completely demoralized.

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:29.760
 If you read on, I know

00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:30.660
 I'm not supposed to do

00:37:30.660 --> 00:37:31.640
 this, but towards the

00:37:31.640 --> 00:37:32.940
 end of the 13th chapter,

00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:34.119
 this is for next week, if

00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:35.400
 you read on, the only

00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:36.920
 people left who were

00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:38.460
 found to have a sword or

00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:39.640
 a spear in their hands

00:37:39.640 --> 00:37:40.619
 were Saul and Jonathan.

00:37:41.260 --> 00:37:42.200
 The others didn't have

00:37:42.200 --> 00:37:44.320
 any military weapons at

00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:44.720
 all.

00:37:46.099 --> 00:37:47.160
 And the picture is

00:37:47.160 --> 00:37:48.119
 painted of an Israel

00:37:48.119 --> 00:37:49.219
 that hadn't even a

00:37:49.219 --> 00:37:50.539
 blacksmith within its

00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:50.960
 borders.

00:37:51.819 --> 00:37:53.119
 The people working on

00:37:53.119 --> 00:37:54.359
 the land had to go down

00:37:54.359 --> 00:37:55.619
 to the Philistines in

00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:57.239
 humiliation in order to

00:37:57.239 --> 00:37:58.259
 ask to have their

00:37:58.259 --> 00:38:00.039
 agricultural implements,

00:38:00.319 --> 00:38:01.279
 their plowshares, their

00:38:01.279 --> 00:38:02.900
 mattocks, their pickaxes,

00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:04.099
 their axes and their

00:38:04.099 --> 00:38:05.159
 sickles, get them all

00:38:05.159 --> 00:38:05.659
 sharpened.

00:38:05.819 --> 00:38:06.819
 It was Philistine

00:38:06.819 --> 00:38:10.119
 domination ratcheted up

00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:13.500
 all over the country and

00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:15.019
 total humiliation for the

00:38:15.019 --> 00:38:15.739
 nation of Israel.

00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:18.820
 But by far the greatest

00:38:18.820 --> 00:38:20.059
 tragedy is there in verse

00:38:20.059 --> 00:38:22.280
 15, where he is of

00:38:22.280 --> 00:38:25.259
 Samuel leaving Saul, note

00:38:25.259 --> 00:38:27.320
 that, going up to Gilgal,

00:38:27.780 --> 00:38:28.800
 while the rest of the

00:38:28.800 --> 00:38:31.460
 people following Saul are

00:38:31.460 --> 00:38:32.900
 said to be going after

00:38:32.900 --> 00:38:36.099
 Saul, away from Gilgal to

00:38:36.099 --> 00:38:37.099
 Gibeah of Benjamin.

00:38:37.300 --> 00:38:38.320
 What's that telling us?

00:38:39.920 --> 00:38:44.099
 From that day on, Saul is on

00:38:44.099 --> 00:38:44.440
 his own.

00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:48.279
 He's deprived of the

00:38:48.279 --> 00:38:48.880
 word of God.

00:38:50.119 --> 00:38:51.819
 He's no longer in the

00:38:51.819 --> 00:38:53.960
 close company of God's

00:38:53.960 --> 00:38:54.480
 spokesman.

00:38:59.319 --> 00:39:00.980
 There's no word from God

00:39:00.980 --> 00:39:02.500
 being spoken in his ears.

00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:05.719
 He's without the guidance

00:39:05.719 --> 00:39:06.279
 of God.

00:39:08.759 --> 00:39:10.279
 He's without the presence of

00:39:10.279 --> 00:39:10.579
 God.

00:39:10.940 --> 00:39:11.880
 He's without the provision

00:39:11.880 --> 00:39:12.259
 of God.

00:39:12.339 --> 00:39:13.299
 He's without the protection

00:39:13.300 --> 00:39:13.780
 of God.

00:39:14.160 --> 00:39:14.960
 Now, it's one thing for

00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:16.539
 someone to be distressed.

00:39:17.760 --> 00:39:19.100
 It's another thing to be

00:39:19.100 --> 00:39:21.500
 all alone in that

00:39:21.500 --> 00:39:22.860
 distress and to have no

00:39:22.860 --> 00:39:24.260
 anchor that will hold

00:39:24.260 --> 00:39:26.100
 when the storm comes.

00:39:26.240 --> 00:39:26.980
 That's Saul.

00:39:28.720 --> 00:39:30.080
 You read the text, you can

00:39:30.080 --> 00:39:31.180
 sense there's an air of

00:39:31.180 --> 00:39:32.400
 hopelessness around, the

00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:34.740
 despair over everything and

00:39:34.740 --> 00:39:35.100
 everyone.

00:39:35.240 --> 00:39:36.120
 And yet, there is a

00:39:36.120 --> 00:39:37.180
 rainbow of hope for the

00:39:37.180 --> 00:39:37.820
 nation of Israel.

00:39:37.920 --> 00:39:38.640
 In spite of all that's

00:39:38.640 --> 00:39:39.680
 happening here, and it's in

00:39:39.680 --> 00:39:40.460
 black and white, it's in

00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:41.340
 pen and ink, it's in the

00:39:41.340 --> 00:39:41.600
 Bible.

00:39:42.140 --> 00:39:43.280
 There is a ray of hope.

00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:45.220
 The future doesn't look too

00:39:45.220 --> 00:39:46.360
 good on the ground at the

00:39:46.360 --> 00:39:47.800
 present time here, but there

00:39:47.800 --> 00:39:49.019
 are still the promises and

00:39:49.019 --> 00:39:50.240
 there are still the plans and

00:39:50.240 --> 00:39:51.260
 there are still the purposes

00:39:51.260 --> 00:39:52.860
 of a God who is sovereign.

00:39:53.320 --> 00:39:55.900
 The God, this God, has already

00:39:55.900 --> 00:39:57.579
 chosen a king after his own

00:39:57.579 --> 00:39:59.460
 heart to reign in the person

00:39:59.460 --> 00:40:01.079
 of David, the son of Jesse, and

00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:03.140
 his day will surely come in

00:40:03.140 --> 00:40:05.640
 God's time, with God entering

00:40:05.640 --> 00:40:06.980
 into a covenant with him to

00:40:06.980 --> 00:40:08.219
 establish a kingdom that will

00:40:08.219 --> 00:40:09.420
 last, how long?

00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:10.960
 Forever.

00:40:12.500 --> 00:40:13.639
 And a way beyond that, of

00:40:13.639 --> 00:40:14.760
 course, a thousand years or

00:40:14.760 --> 00:40:15.800
 so later, there's the

00:40:15.800 --> 00:40:17.199
 fulfilling of that promise in

00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:18.480
 the coming of great David's

00:40:18.480 --> 00:40:19.960
 greater son in the fullness

00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:20.960
 of the times.

00:40:21.179 --> 00:40:22.679
 The faithful, obedient king,

00:40:22.780 --> 00:40:23.559
 the king of kings.

00:40:23.800 --> 00:40:25.280
 He'll be born in Bethlehem

00:40:25.280 --> 00:40:28.420
 and at precisely the right

00:40:28.420 --> 00:40:28.820
 moment.

00:40:29.400 --> 00:40:30.619
 God is a precisionist.

00:40:31.159 --> 00:40:32.380
 When his public ministry

00:40:32.380 --> 00:40:33.619
 begins, he'll announce that

00:40:33.619 --> 00:40:34.760
 the kingdom of God is at

00:40:34.760 --> 00:40:34.980
 hand.

00:40:34.980 --> 00:40:36.039
 He will set up an

00:40:36.039 --> 00:40:37.159
 everlasting kingdom that

00:40:37.159 --> 00:40:38.019
 will never be shaken.

00:40:38.460 --> 00:40:40.119
 He will be the fulfillment of

00:40:40.119 --> 00:40:41.500
 all the promises, all the

00:40:41.500 --> 00:40:42.699
 types, all the shadows of the

00:40:42.699 --> 00:40:43.119
 Old Testament.

00:40:43.340 --> 00:40:44.300
 And he would then go on to

00:40:44.300 --> 00:40:45.659
 accomplish all that had been

00:40:45.659 --> 00:40:46.820
 agreed in the councils of

00:40:46.820 --> 00:40:48.679
 eternity by the God who is

00:40:48.679 --> 00:40:49.940
 one in three and three in one.

00:40:50.800 --> 00:40:52.059
 He'll destroy the works of the

00:40:52.059 --> 00:40:52.260
 devil.

00:40:52.920 --> 00:40:54.039
 He'll be given the name Jesus.

00:40:54.340 --> 00:40:55.440
 He'll save his people from

00:40:55.440 --> 00:40:56.079
 their sins.

00:40:56.800 --> 00:40:58.119
 He'll live a perfect life and

00:40:58.119 --> 00:40:59.240
 then he'll conquer death.

00:41:00.059 --> 00:41:01.260
 He'll be raised on the third

00:41:01.260 --> 00:41:02.340
 day and he'll show himself

00:41:02.340 --> 00:41:03.840
 alive by many infallible

00:41:03.840 --> 00:41:04.380
 proofs.

00:41:04.380 --> 00:41:05.920
 He'll ascend to the glory

00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:08.500
 from whence he had come and

00:41:08.500 --> 00:41:09.640
 he will send the Holy Spirit

00:41:09.640 --> 00:41:11.019
 to indwell his people.

00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:13.079
 He'll make a promise that one

00:41:13.079 --> 00:41:15.220
 day he'll personally return

00:41:15.220 --> 00:41:17.280
 in power and great glory to

00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:19.180
 consummate all things and bring

00:41:19.180 --> 00:41:20.579
 in his kingdom in all its

00:41:20.579 --> 00:41:20.860
 fullness.

00:41:21.220 --> 00:41:22.920
 What you and I have been

00:41:22.920 --> 00:41:24.539
 looking at tonight, if I can

00:41:24.539 --> 00:41:25.519
 put it to you just in

00:41:25.519 --> 00:41:27.800
 conclusion, is just a tiny little

00:41:27.800 --> 00:41:30.320
 slice of history.

00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:31.320
 history.

00:41:31.320 --> 00:41:31.820
 His story.

00:41:31.820 --> 00:41:31.920
 History.

00:41:31.920 --> 00:41:32.920
 History.

00:41:36.059 --> 00:41:37.300
 And here we are.

00:41:39.240 --> 00:41:43.059
 And we're called to play our

00:41:43.059 --> 00:41:46.320
 part in his story.

00:41:46.320 --> 00:41:50.019
 I think the dominating message that

00:41:50.019 --> 00:41:53.200
 we need to take away with us is

00:41:53.200 --> 00:41:54.280
 found in those words.

00:41:54.420 --> 00:41:55.660
 Just let the Lord search your

00:41:55.660 --> 00:41:57.680
 heart as he needs to search

00:41:57.680 --> 00:41:57.900
 mine.

00:41:58.580 --> 00:41:59.559
 What have you done?

00:41:59.700 --> 00:42:01.240
 Are any of us in this building

00:42:01.240 --> 00:42:02.640
 tonight, is there even one person

00:42:02.640 --> 00:42:05.240
 you've done something and you know

00:42:05.240 --> 00:42:07.780
 you should never have done it?

00:42:08.720 --> 00:42:09.400
 There's hope.

00:42:09.640 --> 00:42:10.280
 There's repentance.

00:42:10.620 --> 00:42:12.900
 Seek the Lord and you'll know his

00:42:12.900 --> 00:42:13.300
 forgiveness.

00:42:13.300 --> 00:42:15.200
 The other thing I want to just

00:42:15.200 --> 00:42:16.260
 leave with you is this.

00:42:18.480 --> 00:42:21.240
 Saul's failure, yes, and David's

00:42:21.240 --> 00:42:22.640
 failure because he's going to fail

00:42:22.640 --> 00:42:24.620
 as well, and everybody else's

00:42:24.620 --> 00:42:26.060
 failure, including yours and mine,

00:42:26.720 --> 00:42:30.420
 will never mean that God's a

00:42:30.420 --> 00:42:35.180
 failure because his plans will be

00:42:35.180 --> 00:42:35.720
 fulfilled.

00:42:36.380 --> 00:42:38.620
 They will never be frustrating.

00:42:39.080 --> 00:42:40.680
 So we're at a wee bit in history.

00:42:40.680 --> 00:42:42.100
 Just there's the timeline.

00:42:43.300 --> 00:42:44.480
 Here's Saul.

00:42:45.019 --> 00:42:45.740
 Here's David.

00:42:46.280 --> 00:42:46.760
 Here are we.

00:42:46.920 --> 00:42:47.720
 We're along here.

00:42:48.180 --> 00:42:49.740
 What's God requiring of us?

00:42:50.660 --> 00:42:52.380
 The same as he required of them.

00:42:52.900 --> 00:42:56.080
 When I speak to you, do what I say,

00:42:57.280 --> 00:42:59.740
 and my blessing will be your portion.

00:43:01.820 --> 00:43:03.500
 Father, thank you for the Bible.

00:43:04.980 --> 00:43:06.660
 Thank you for these historical

00:43:06.660 --> 00:43:07.200
 sections.

00:43:07.380 --> 00:43:08.980
 Sometimes they're quite difficult to

00:43:08.980 --> 00:43:11.140
 unpack and unravel, but there's so

00:43:11.139 --> 00:43:13.799
 many valuable lessons to learn from

00:43:13.799 --> 00:43:14.000
 them.

00:43:15.259 --> 00:43:19.199
 We just ask that you'll help us to be

00:43:19.199 --> 00:43:21.759
 wise men and wise women.

00:43:22.539 --> 00:43:23.400
 We've heard.

00:43:24.480 --> 00:43:26.319
 Don't let it go in one ear and out the

00:43:26.319 --> 00:43:26.539
 other.

00:43:27.759 --> 00:43:29.859
 Help us to be the kind of people who put

00:43:29.859 --> 00:43:32.779
 it into practice so that when the

00:43:32.779 --> 00:43:37.199
 storms come, we know you'll be there.

00:43:37.199 --> 00:43:39.980
 And we pray in Jesus' name.

00:43:41.480 --> 00:43:41.839
 Amen.