WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:21.019 Well, friends, I wonder if you've ever been in a situation or in a relationship. 00:00:21.019 --> 00:00:22.379 Look at that. 00:00:25.379 --> 00:00:29.600 They don't teach you these things in seminary, how to work music stands. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.399 There we go. 00:00:33.219 --> 00:00:38.880 Friends, I wonder if you've ever been in a relationship or in a situation where you feel like you've totally blown it. 00:00:42.019 --> 00:00:46.200 Well, if so, then this text is for you and it's for me tonight. 00:00:46.920 --> 00:00:49.460 We're looking at 1 Samuel chapter 12. 00:00:51.579 --> 00:00:53.159 1 Samuel chapter 12. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:56.299 You can follow along in the Pew Bible. 00:00:56.299 --> 00:01:02.140 Well, Samuel's, the books of 1 and 2 Samuel are a little ways into the Old Testament. 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:02.879 You can find them there. 00:01:02.959 --> 00:01:04.039 The page number's in the bulletin. 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:05.560 We're going to have it on the screens too. 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:09.799 1 Samuel chapter 12. 00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:11.140 Let me read this chapter for us. 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:11.840 It's not a long one. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:15.260 And Samuel said to all Israel, 00:01:15.260 --> 00:01:20.960 Behold, I have obeyed your voice and all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. 00:01:21.160 --> 00:01:25.020 And now behold, the king walks before you and I am old and gray and behold, my sons are with you. 00:01:25.600 --> 00:01:27.719 I've walked before you from my youth until this day. 00:01:27.820 --> 00:01:28.240 Here I am. 00:01:28.380 --> 00:01:30.859 Testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:34.960 Whose ox have I taken or whose donkey have I taken or whom have I defrauded? 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:41.340 Whom have I oppressed or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:44.400 And he said, Testify against me and I will restore it to you. 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:49.520 They said, You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand. 00:01:49.579 --> 00:01:56.060 And he said to them, The Lord is witness against you and his anointed is witness this day that you have not found anything against, 00:01:56.600 --> 00:01:58.280 not found anything in my hand. 00:01:58.780 --> 00:02:00.280 And they said, He is witness. 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:03.700 And Samuel said to the people, 00:02:04.340 --> 00:02:08.219 The Lord is witness who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 00:02:08.219 --> 00:02:15.400 Now, therefore, stand still that I might plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers. 00:02:16.139 --> 00:02:18.860 When Jacob went into Egypt and the Egyptians oppressed them, 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:25.620 then your fathers cried out to the Lord and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. 00:02:26.620 --> 00:02:27.939 But they forgot the Lord their God. 00:02:28.819 --> 00:02:32.240 And he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, 00:02:32.500 --> 00:02:35.900 and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab. 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:37.460 And they fought against them. 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:43.939 And they cried out to the Lord and said, We have sinned because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:47.400 But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies that we may serve you. 00:02:48.460 --> 00:02:54.919 And the Lord sent Jeroboam and Barak and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:56.520 And you lived in safety. 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:01.259 And when you saw that Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, came against you, you said to me, 00:03:01.259 --> 00:03:06.060 No, but a king shall reign over us when the Lord your God was your king. 00:03:06.060 --> 00:03:10.140 And now behold, the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked. 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:12.520 Behold, the Lord has set a king over you. 00:03:13.699 --> 00:03:17.840 If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, 00:03:17.900 --> 00:03:22.140 and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. 00:03:23.060 --> 00:03:26.920 But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:29.599 then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:36.259 Now, therefore, stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. 00:03:37.419 --> 00:03:39.439 Is it not wheat harvest today? 00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:42.519 I will call upon the Lord that he may send thunder and rain, 00:03:42.599 --> 00:03:45.039 and you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:49.000 which you have done in the sight of the Lord in asking for yourselves a king. 00:03:50.079 --> 00:03:54.159 So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:57.240 and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. 00:03:57.240 --> 00:03:59.640 And all the people said to Samuel, 00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:03.520 Pray for your servants to the Lord your God that we may not die, 00:04:03.600 --> 00:04:07.900 for we have added to all our sins this evil to ask for ourselves a king. 00:04:08.920 --> 00:04:10.159 Samuel said to the people, 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:11.820 Do not be afraid. 00:04:12.860 --> 00:04:18.040 You have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:20.379 but serve the Lord with all your heart. 00:04:21.379 --> 00:04:25.699 And do not turn aside to empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:30.899 For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, 00:04:31.560 --> 00:04:34.659 because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. 00:04:35.719 --> 00:04:40.180 Moreover, as for me, far be it for me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, 00:04:40.379 --> 00:04:42.919 and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:46.500 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart, 00:04:46.579 --> 00:04:48.980 for consider what great things he has done for you. 00:04:48.980 --> 00:04:57.180 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king. 00:04:57.180 --> 00:05:05.459 Well, in this chapter, the people of Israel had really blown it. 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:10.900 We've been following their story in 1 Samuel for the last number of weeks, 00:05:10.980 --> 00:05:16.259 and at this point in the story, an enemy had arisen against Israel named Nahash the Ammonite. 00:05:16.379 --> 00:05:17.879 Greg talked about him last week. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:22.720 And in the face of that threat, instead of the people turning to the Lord as their king, 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:26.380 to be their rescuer, as they had done for generations and generations, 00:05:26.580 --> 00:05:29.900 instead, they turned to Samuel and they asked him for a human king. 00:05:31.260 --> 00:05:35.720 And as we saw a few chapters ago in chapter 8, they did so for all the wrong reasons. 00:05:36.420 --> 00:05:39.500 At the core, what was their heart motivation for wanting a king? 00:05:40.260 --> 00:05:45.140 Well, it says that they wanted to be like all the other nations around them. 00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:49.000 In other words, Israel, instead of following God's call, 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:53.779 and following him and being in a relationship with him and being distinct from all their neighbors, 00:05:53.899 --> 00:05:56.720 and so being salt and light to them as this distinct people, 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:58.480 the people turn to Samuel and say, 00:05:58.600 --> 00:06:00.319 No, we don't want to be distinct from our neighbors. 00:06:00.459 --> 00:06:02.199 We want to actually be just like our neighbors. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:03.439 We want to conform to them. 00:06:04.060 --> 00:06:05.579 And we want a king just like them. 00:06:07.459 --> 00:06:10.259 So they asked for a king so that they could be just like the other nations. 00:06:10.259 --> 00:06:18.779 And here, Samuel, the prophet and judge, gives his last major speech to the nation as their leader. 00:06:19.599 --> 00:06:23.500 You see, the era of the judges in this chapter is coming to an end. 00:06:23.959 --> 00:06:28.959 The judges were those leaders that God rose up periodically throughout history to deliver Israel from her enemies. 00:06:29.459 --> 00:06:33.719 This era is ending, and this new era, the era of the kingship, is beginning. 00:06:34.659 --> 00:06:36.319 Saul now is on the throne. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:40.459 At the end of chapter 11, he's coronated, and they're ready to go. 00:06:42.139 --> 00:06:45.759 And here is Samuel addressing the nation one last time as their leader. 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:48.699 And we see in the first half of this chapter, he does two things. 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:52.719 First thing that Samuel does, very interestingly, is that he reaffirms, 00:06:52.779 --> 00:06:55.259 he sort of renews the people's covenant with God. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:56.800 That's verses 1 through 15. 00:06:58.180 --> 00:06:59.519 He sort of renews their covenant. 00:06:59.659 --> 00:07:01.339 And then in verses 16 through 18, 00:07:01.719 --> 00:07:05.319 he brings before them the reality and the gravity of their sin. 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:09.079 Now, all this might seem a little strange to us, 00:07:09.159 --> 00:07:12.219 but do you remember how, if you've read through some of the Old Testament, 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:14.920 do you remember what happens at the end of the book of Deuteronomy? 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:18.000 And some of you are thinking, I tried reading through the Bible once, 00:07:18.159 --> 00:07:20.100 I got through to Leviticus, and then I quit. 00:07:20.180 --> 00:07:22.079 So no, I don't know what happens at the end of Deuteronomy. 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:23.860 Well, this is what happens at the end of Deuteronomy. 00:07:25.259 --> 00:07:28.379 Moses is standing before this wilderness generation, 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:30.959 this second generation of people who have come out of Egypt, 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:34.060 and they're on the verge of entering into the promised land. 00:07:34.060 --> 00:07:36.519 And what Moses does with that new generation, 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:38.759 he basically takes them and he says, 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:42.420 we're going to renew the covenant between the people and your God. 00:07:43.019 --> 00:07:44.420 Now, a covenant, what's a covenant? 00:07:44.540 --> 00:07:50.220 A covenant is a binding, deep, committed relationship between two parties. 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:53.139 It's a deep, binding commitment or relationship. 00:07:53.620 --> 00:07:57.279 And at the heart of this deep, bound-together relationship 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:59.040 that Israel had with the Lord, 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:00.980 basically could be summed up in this phrase 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:02.819 that happens over and over and over again in the Old Testament. 00:08:03.200 --> 00:08:06.340 I will be your God, and you will be my people. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:11.720 So Moses takes this new generation and reaffirms all that. 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:14.580 And interestingly, as you follow the biblical storyline, 00:08:14.939 --> 00:08:17.160 those kind of covenant reaffirmations happen again and again. 00:08:17.580 --> 00:08:18.780 It happens at the end of Joshua, 00:08:18.780 --> 00:08:21.879 after this generation comes in and they occupy the land, 00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:23.700 now they're sort of at a new phase of its history. 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:24.600 And what does Joshua do? 00:08:24.660 --> 00:08:26.140 He reaffirms the covenant with them. 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:28.720 So that's what's happening here in 1 Samuel 12. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:29.800 Samuel's doing the same thing. 00:08:29.880 --> 00:08:33.700 The people of Israel standing on the verge of a new era of their history. 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:35.300 And Samuel says, 00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:39.379 it's time to come back to your charter of existence, 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:41.740 this covenant that you have between you and God. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:45.960 In fact, what's very interesting is if you scan over 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:48.560 the first, like, 15 verses of this chapter, 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:52.379 it's actually kind of structured like old covenant treaties. 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:55.200 Verses 1 through 5, Samuel's bringing out all the witnesses. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:57.680 He's sort of proving that he's, you know, 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:01.320 a worthwhile spokesman for God. 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:02.740 And he brings out all these witnesses. 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:04.680 That's how covenants usually started. 00:09:04.780 --> 00:09:05.759 They sort of called on the witnesses. 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:07.600 Then he tells the history of the people. 00:09:08.180 --> 00:09:10.220 That's how covenants usually took off. 00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:12.660 You tell the history of the relationship between the two people, 00:09:12.820 --> 00:09:14.160 how they came together. 00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:15.879 And then you give the stipulations. 00:09:16.040 --> 00:09:17.920 This is what it means for you to be in this relationship. 00:09:18.160 --> 00:09:19.980 This is what it means for you to be in this relationship. 00:09:20.140 --> 00:09:21.560 That's verses 14 and 15. 00:09:21.559 --> 00:09:24.979 So this is what Samuel's doing. 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:27.099 But then something really interesting happens. 00:09:27.979 --> 00:09:31.019 After that, in verses 16 through 18, 00:09:31.199 --> 00:09:34.739 Samuel brings before the people's eyes the reality 00:09:34.739 --> 00:09:36.659 and the gravity of their sin. 00:09:37.839 --> 00:09:40.419 And as thunder booms across the sky, 00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:43.739 it's as if the people's hearts are finally shaken awake 00:09:43.739 --> 00:09:47.159 to see how foolish and how sinful they had been. 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:51.699 God was and had been so faithful to them. 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:53.719 He was even now renewing his covenant with them. 00:09:53.839 --> 00:09:56.059 And yet, in their recent history, 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:58.100 they had just been throwing it back in his face, 00:09:58.620 --> 00:10:02.399 asking and crying out for a different king, 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:03.860 for a replacement king. 00:10:04.319 --> 00:10:06.059 Instead of saying, God, we trust you, 00:10:06.219 --> 00:10:07.459 and you're a good king to us, 00:10:07.459 --> 00:10:09.799 they said, we actually want a different king. 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:10.679 No thanks. 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:14.679 And isn't that the nature of all of our sin, 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:17.819 that we ask for a substitute king? 00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:22.899 And Israel finally wakes up to this sort of giant act 00:10:22.899 --> 00:10:26.659 of cosmic treason that they had been committing. 00:10:26.659 --> 00:10:31.519 So at this point in the story, 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:33.860 the people finally see they blow it. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:35.860 Look again at verse 19. 00:10:36.719 --> 00:10:38.059 And all the people said to Samuel, 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:41.559 pray for your servants to the Lord your God, 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:43.259 that we may not die, 00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:46.079 for we have added to all our sins this evil 00:10:46.079 --> 00:10:47.779 to ask for ourselves a king. 00:10:50.339 --> 00:10:51.639 So pause for a moment. 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:56.059 I wonder if you've ever been there, 00:10:57.159 --> 00:10:59.279 standing in Israel's shoes, 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:05.360 suddenly realizing that you have royally messed it up, 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:06.740 spiritually speaking. 00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:09.939 That though God has been faithful to you, 00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:12.080 you have turned away from him. 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:16.679 Maybe you got into a relationship 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:19.439 that you know wasn't good for you, 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:21.120 wasn't honoring to the Lord, 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:23.519 and yet you got into it anyway. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:25.000 Maybe it went too far. 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:26.960 Maybe it caused all sorts of heartbreak. 00:11:28.860 --> 00:11:30.580 Maybe it was something that you did in secret. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:32.419 Maybe it was a sin no one else saw, 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:34.679 and yet it still weighs heavy on your heart, 00:11:34.779 --> 00:11:36.320 and it doesn't seem to go away. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:41.779 Maybe you just stopped caring much about God 00:11:41.779 --> 00:11:45.720 and started just pursuing success on the world's terms. 00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:47.620 You didn't really sort of out and out reject God, 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:52.560 but you didn't exactly keep your relationship with him front and center in your life. 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:54.279 You sort of let your heart grow cold to him 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:58.759 and chased after achievement and wealth and reputation and success. 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:03.939 And then you woke up one day to realize that you were far away. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:11.620 Whatever it is, maybe you, like me, have stood there in their shoes knowing that you've blown it. 00:12:11.819 --> 00:12:15.840 And you don't need thunder and rain pounding overhead 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:20.560 because inside your conscience is pounding just as loud as any storm. 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:26.340 And you wonder, like Israel, like Israel must have been wondering here, 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:29.019 is God going to take me back? 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:31.740 Or is God just going to cast me off? 00:12:31.780 --> 00:12:33.220 Isn't it very interesting that they say, 00:12:33.780 --> 00:12:35.660 pray to the Lord, you are God, Samuel. 00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:38.360 Samuel just renewed the covenant with them, 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:40.100 and suddenly they're thinking, 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:42.039 is he even our God anymore? 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:44.519 And we can think that. 00:12:44.580 --> 00:12:45.500 Am I a lost cause? 00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:47.019 Is there no way back for me? 00:12:49.180 --> 00:12:51.720 Well, I think this issue 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:54.840 is right where this passage speaks to us 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:56.159 right now and right today. 00:12:57.659 --> 00:12:58.960 In the rest of this chapter, 00:12:59.180 --> 00:13:01.220 Samuel speaks right to this need 00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:03.220 to people who've totally blown it. 00:13:04.800 --> 00:13:05.940 Here's what the Lord says. 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:07.879 So I'm going to spend just the rest of our time together 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:09.840 just looking at verses 20 through 25 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:12.279 and hearing what God is saying to us 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:13.860 through Samuel. 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:16.279 Let's start with verse 20. 00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:17.740 Samuel said to the people, 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:19.279 don't be afraid. 00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:21.620 You have done all this evil, 00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:25.100 yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:27.639 but serve the Lord with all your heart. 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:30.220 Isn't it amazing that Samuel's first word is, 00:13:30.580 --> 00:13:31.779 don't be afraid. 00:13:33.299 --> 00:13:35.440 You're scared maybe God will never take you back. 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:37.200 Maybe your spiritual life is over, 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:38.320 but no, 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:38.940 Samuel says, 00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:40.540 it's not the end of the story. 00:13:41.900 --> 00:13:44.280 And notice that we need not fear, 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:47.740 not because our sin isn't really so bad after all. 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:50.980 Isn't that often how we try to sort of make sense of things 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:52.259 and deal with our spiritual failures? 00:13:52.420 --> 00:13:53.440 Eh, it wasn't that bad. 00:13:53.780 --> 00:13:53.980 You know, 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:55.340 other people have done a lot worse. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:57.840 We sort of try to make excuses and justify it. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:58.620 I was tired. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:00.240 I was caught off guard. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:00.940 But no, 00:14:01.060 --> 00:14:02.519 Samuel doesn't minimize it at all. 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:02.919 He says, 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:03.720 don't be afraid. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:05.200 You have done all this evil. 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:07.460 Yes, 00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:09.000 your sin is great, 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:11.820 but you can admit it 00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:14.940 and not turn away from it. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:18.360 You don't have to run away from reality 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:20.159 by pretending it's not so bad after all, 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:20.340 which, 00:14:20.680 --> 00:14:21.320 as you know, 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:23.360 that strategy never really works 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.700 in the long run, 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:26.539 just sort of denying it 00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:28.240 and turning away from reality. 00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:30.840 Instead, 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:31.860 what does Samuel say? 00:14:32.680 --> 00:14:33.980 You have done all this evil, 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:38.220 yet serve the Lord with all your heart. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:40.360 So you see, 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:41.240 right at the start, 00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:43.480 Samuel is saying something 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:45.240 is possible 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:48.060 that in our mindset, 00:14:48.060 --> 00:14:49.000 when we mess up, 00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:50.100 we think it's impossible. 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:53.379 He's sort of opening up a horizon for us. 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:53.720 He's saying, 00:14:53.800 --> 00:14:54.580 you think you've blown it, 00:14:54.800 --> 00:14:56.120 you think there's no going back, 00:14:56.180 --> 00:14:56.960 but you're wrong. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:58.840 There's still a place for you 00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.440 with the Lord. 00:14:59.700 --> 00:15:00.540 So come, 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:01.940 come serve the Lord 00:15:01.940 --> 00:15:02.540 with all your heart. 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:02.779 You see, 00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:03.600 what Samuel's doing here 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:05.620 is he's actually fighting against 00:15:05.620 --> 00:15:07.060 one of the most pernicious things 00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:07.980 that can happen to us 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:08.860 when we stumble 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.659 and when we sin. 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:12.080 And that most pernicious thing 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:13.800 isn't actually spiritual pride. 00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:17.320 It's actually self-pity 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:18.420 and shame. 00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:22.240 When we screw up, 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:23.420 it's that voice that says, 00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:24.519 I'm a loser. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:25.980 I'm a goner. 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:27.500 No one loves me. 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:28.540 Not even the Lord. 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:29.460 But Samuel comes 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:30.899 and stops that voice 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:32.180 right in its tracks 00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:32.620 and says, 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.399 no, 00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:35.500 there is a place for you here. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:38.220 The Lord still wants your heart. 00:15:40.300 --> 00:15:42.580 And he's calling you now 00:15:42.580 --> 00:15:43.899 to give it to him. 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:46.480 You see, 00:15:46.579 --> 00:15:47.419 I think self-pity 00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:49.399 is kind of like a dark room 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:51.439 with all the curtains closed. 00:15:52.459 --> 00:15:53.480 And we don't think 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:54.220 there's a way out 00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:55.279 or any way to change 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.500 and we just sort of sit there 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.059 in the darkness. 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.259 But here comes Samuel 00:15:58.259 --> 00:15:59.500 marching in, 00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:01.299 throwing open the curtains, 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:03.840 letting the sun come shining in, 00:16:04.079 --> 00:16:04.279 saying, 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.340 look out the window. 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:06.980 Don't you see 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:08.019 the fields 00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:08.679 and the mountains 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:09.679 and the streams 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:11.139 and the fresh air. 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:12.259 Come on. 00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:13.419 Let's go. 00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:14.579 Don't wallow here. 00:16:15.599 --> 00:16:16.739 The Lord is calling you 00:16:16.739 --> 00:16:17.579 to come join him 00:16:17.579 --> 00:16:18.359 on the heights. 00:16:21.199 --> 00:16:22.239 So right off the bat, 00:16:22.339 --> 00:16:22.799 Samuel says, 00:16:22.979 --> 00:16:23.939 don't minimize your sin, 00:16:24.459 --> 00:16:25.459 but don't fall prey 00:16:25.459 --> 00:16:26.179 to self-pity. 00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:26.719 Yes, 00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:27.500 your sin is bad, 00:16:27.579 --> 00:16:28.419 but it's a new day. 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:31.179 Today is a new day. 00:16:31.699 --> 00:16:32.739 The curtains are open 00:16:32.739 --> 00:16:34.779 and you're being called forth. 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.579 And next he says this. 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:41.279 And do not turn aside 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:43.059 after empty things 00:16:43.059 --> 00:16:44.539 that cannot profit 00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:45.199 or deliver 00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:46.819 for they're empty. 00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:49.000 You see, 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.699 the Bible helps us 00:16:49.699 --> 00:16:50.979 understand our hearts, 00:16:51.099 --> 00:16:51.500 I think, 00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:52.799 better than anything else. 00:16:53.739 --> 00:16:54.439 And this verse 00:16:54.439 --> 00:16:55.059 is showing us 00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:57.120 that our hearts 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.019 will actually 00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:59.859 never really be neutral. 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:01.879 The human heart 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:03.059 was created to worship 00:17:03.059 --> 00:17:04.839 and worship it will. 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:06.200 And it will either 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:07.759 worship God the creator 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.759 or it will worship 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.779 something else, 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:10.920 some created thing. 00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:13.359 There's no sort of Switzerland 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:14.539 in the geography 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.700 of the human heart. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.619 There's no neutral territory 00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:19.519 in your spiritual makeup. 00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.160 And here in verse 21, 00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:22.759 Samuel says, 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.220 look, 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:25.079 if you don't turn 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:25.680 to the Lord, 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:27.400 you're going to turn aside 00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:28.339 to empty things. 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.500 Things, 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:30.920 he says, 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:31.859 that cannot profit 00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:33.099 or deliver. 00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:34.299 In other words, 00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:35.500 things that can't 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:36.740 make your life good 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:38.859 and things that can't 00:17:38.859 --> 00:17:40.379 stop making your life bad. 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:41.200 They can't profit 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.539 and they can't deliver. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.720 I think that's such an 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:47.019 insightful and helpful phrase. 00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:48.019 I think I've been meditating 00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:48.799 on that all week 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:49.960 as I thought about this passage. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:50.639 You know, 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.619 do you want to know 00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:52.659 what's actually competing 00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:53.480 for God's place 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.079 in your heart? 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.119 Do you want to shine 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:55.740 some light on that? 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:56.500 Do you want to know 00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.720 what you're worshiping 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:58.339 instead of God? 00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.500 Ask yourself this question. 00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:01.339 What do I think I need 00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.720 in order to make 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.839 my life truly good? 00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:07.579 How would you fill 00:18:07.579 --> 00:18:08.159 in that blank? 00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:12.139 If I had this, 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.619 then my life 00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:14.680 would be really good. 00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:17.399 Or you can ask 00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:17.919 this question. 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:20.180 What do I think 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:21.899 would stop my life 00:18:21.899 --> 00:18:23.019 being bad? 00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:26.419 If only this, 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:28.039 then my life 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:28.919 wouldn't be so miserable, 00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:30.019 then I'd be free. 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:34.379 friends. 00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:34.900 The reality is 00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:35.639 if we answer 00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:36.799 either of those questions 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.480 with anything other than 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:40.440 the Lord God himself, 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:43.759 then you can already 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.440 start to see 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.599 what competing gods 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.099 and kings 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:46.720 are vying 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:47.740 for your heart's affection. 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.839 Some of those things 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:50.759 might not be wrong 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.379 or bad 00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:52.379 in and of themselves, 00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:54.639 but your heart 00:18:54.639 --> 00:18:55.740 is still trying 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.639 to get out of them 00:18:56.639 --> 00:18:57.700 what Samuel calls 00:18:57.700 --> 00:18:58.440 profit, 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:00.059 that is lasting happiness, 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:02.160 or deliverance, 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.640 lasting freedom. 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:08.600 You've made this good thing 00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:10.200 ironically 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:12.039 into an empty thing. 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:14.539 Now, 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:15.680 why is this so important? 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.279 Why does Samuel 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:17.440 want us to hear this 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.700 when we've spiritually 00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:19.399 blown it, 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.079 when we're down 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:20.940 in the dumps? 00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:23.440 Because at those moments, 00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:24.980 those moments 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:25.599 are when we are 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.940 so susceptible 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:28.899 to keep turning 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:29.839 away from the Lord 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:32.159 to those other things. 00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:34.619 In our self-pity, 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:36.000 in our fear, 00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:37.180 in our guilt, 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.299 and in our shame, 00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.559 we end up 00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:40.980 latching our hearts 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:41.779 onto something 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:43.099 that only brings us 00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:44.160 more heartache. 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.099 And then we go 00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:46.559 in this downward spiral. 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.160 One sin leads 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:49.059 to guilt and shame, 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:49.660 and then thinking 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.259 that God will never 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:50.779 take us back, 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:52.400 we latch onto something else 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:53.360 to dull the pain 00:19:53.360 --> 00:19:53.839 and comfort us, 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:54.860 and that just sends us 00:19:54.860 --> 00:19:56.059 spiraling further down. 00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.019 Isn't that how 00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.740 so many of us 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:00.640 get caught up 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:01.339 in the sinful 00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.420 and destructive patterns 00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:02.940 and habits 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.519 and addictions? 00:20:06.620 --> 00:20:07.579 So in some sense, 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.519 Samuel is doing something 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:10.039 that's very insightful here. 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:11.480 He's really helping us 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:13.059 get our spiritual bearings 00:20:13.059 --> 00:20:13.720 to sort of look 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.159 under the hood 00:20:14.159 --> 00:20:14.720 of our hearts 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.680 and see what's really 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.359 going on 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:16.960 when we're down 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.159 in the dumps. 00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:18.619 He's saying, 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.420 you're going to be tempted 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:20.000 to turn aside 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.700 to empty things. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.960 Don't travel down 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.500 that road. 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:23.659 Instead, 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:26.079 come serve the Lord. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:27.920 Come home. 00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:32.680 And then Samuel 00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.220 comes really 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:33.819 to the heart 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.920 of the whole paragraph. 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.619 I thought about 00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:37.119 maybe preaching 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:37.559 the whole sermon 00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:38.319 on this one verse, 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.480 but I thought 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:39.799 that wouldn't 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.519 really do it justice. 00:20:41.659 --> 00:20:41.960 You know, 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.439 he's been kind of 00:20:42.439 --> 00:20:43.379 clearing the ground 00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:43.919 so far. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.759 Don't be afraid. 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.019 Don't go after 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.759 empty things. 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:47.819 Now he kind of 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:49.000 comes to the central 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.960 driving knife's edge 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.639 of the whole paragraph. 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:54.939 Here comes the central message 00:20:54.939 --> 00:20:56.079 for those who've blown it. 00:20:56.139 --> 00:20:56.759 Verse 22, 00:20:57.639 --> 00:20:58.119 for the Lord 00:20:58.119 --> 00:20:59.099 will not forsake 00:20:59.099 --> 00:20:59.619 his people 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:02.579 for his great namesake, 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:04.779 because it has pleased 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.319 the Lord 00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:06.599 to make you 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:06.960 a people 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:07.639 for himself. 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:10.119 You see, 00:21:10.179 --> 00:21:10.500 at the end, 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:11.319 Samuel points us 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:11.879 right back 00:21:11.879 --> 00:21:12.679 to God himself. 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:14.939 The Lord, 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.579 he says, 00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:17.179 will not 00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:18.480 forsake you. 00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:21.079 He won't abandon you 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:21.879 or renounce you 00:21:21.879 --> 00:21:22.700 or cast you off. 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.240 And then, 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.359 he gives the reason. 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.579 And shockingly, 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.339 this reason 00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:26.919 has nothing 00:21:26.919 --> 00:21:27.679 to do with us. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:29.939 It's for 00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:31.119 his great namesake, 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:31.779 he says. 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:34.759 How did you think 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.480 Samuel would answer 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.059 that question? 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.619 Or answer that, 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.839 sort of finish that line? 00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:40.859 The Lord will not 00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:41.680 forsake his people 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:43.119 because 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:45.799 you're really good 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.399 after all. 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.139 You're so lovely. 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:47.539 No, 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.460 for his great namesake. 00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:50.920 You know, 00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:51.960 when we botch things up 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.379 spiritually, 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:53.740 we often end up 00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.779 looking at ourselves 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.839 and then saying, 00:21:55.899 --> 00:21:56.480 God will never 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.200 bring me back. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.339 And then, 00:21:58.399 --> 00:21:58.819 what we do is 00:21:58.819 --> 00:21:59.799 we look up at God 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:01.279 and we think that God 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:02.899 is also looking at us 00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:04.339 and sizing us up 00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:05.119 and considering 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:05.779 all of our good 00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:06.539 and bad deeds 00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.039 and measuring 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.799 and scrutinying us 00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:08.299 to see whether 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.799 he's actually 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.639 going to take us back. 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:11.119 So we're looking 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:11.659 at ourselves 00:22:11.659 --> 00:22:12.299 and then we think 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:13.460 God's looking at us. 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:16.319 But actually, 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.419 who's God 00:22:18.419 --> 00:22:19.220 really looking at? 00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:22.359 He's not looking at us. 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:25.419 He's looking at himself. 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:28.819 He's not asking, 00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:30.799 what I need to do. 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.919 He's not sitting up there 00:22:34.919 --> 00:22:35.399 saying, 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.240 hmm, 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.379 what should I do 00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:38.379 based on who 00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:39.379 they are? 00:22:40.679 --> 00:22:41.240 He's saying, 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:41.980 what am I going to do 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:43.119 based on who I am? 00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:48.259 In other words, 00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:49.500 God's not going to act 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:51.240 for our great namesake. 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.099 God's going to act 00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:55.240 for his great namesake. 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:59.140 the Lord won't forsake you. 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:00.500 Why? 00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.940 Because God is God. 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.519 And what Samuel 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:06.940 just told Israel 00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:08.140 as he renewed 00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:09.180 the covenant with them 00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:10.299 is that the Lord 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:11.420 is faithful 00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:13.019 and he's never 00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:14.059 forsaken his people 00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:15.140 no matter what 00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:16.039 they've fallen into 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:17.640 and God continues 00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:19.120 to be faithful to them. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.380 And you know, 00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:21.940 the next verse 00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:22.579 is actually sort of 00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.240 an extension 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:24.680 of God's faithfulness. 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.180 As Samuel says, 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.539 moreover, 00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:26.060 as for me, 00:23:26.320 --> 00:23:26.880 far be it from me 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.539 that I should sin 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.019 against the Lord 00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:29.200 by ceasing to pray for you 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.320 and I'll instruct you 00:23:30.320 --> 00:23:31.120 in the good and right way. 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:31.360 You see, 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:32.140 as an expression 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:32.740 of the Lord's 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.740 enduring faithfulness 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.279 to his people, 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.480 Samuel's going to keep 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.240 doing what God 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:36.880 tells him to do, 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:37.720 to pray for them 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.440 and to teach them. 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:39.500 He's not going to 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.140 give up on them. 00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:42.620 And God keeps 00:23:42.620 --> 00:23:43.259 doing that today. 00:23:43.360 --> 00:23:44.080 He raises up 00:23:44.080 --> 00:23:44.960 leaders in the church 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.000 and he raises up 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:46.940 faithful friends 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.759 in our lives 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:49.120 who will pray for us 00:23:49.120 --> 00:23:49.960 and who will keep 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:51.060 pointing us back 00:23:51.060 --> 00:23:51.660 to God's 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.940 gracious living word. 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:54.460 You know, 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:54.840 it's interesting, 00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:55.720 we often tend to 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:57.100 shut people out 00:23:57.100 --> 00:23:58.120 when we feel like 00:23:58.120 --> 00:23:58.539 we've kind of 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.580 spiritually blown it. 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.160 But don't you see 00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:01.940 what Samuel's saying here? 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.240 He's saying, 00:24:02.360 --> 00:24:02.660 actually, 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:04.140 God's using those people 00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:05.340 to extend 00:24:05.340 --> 00:24:06.660 his own message 00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:07.900 of faithfulness 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:09.100 and mercy to you. 00:24:10.580 --> 00:24:11.259 Samuel was going 00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.160 to keep on 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.220 praying for them 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.220 and teach them 00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:15.019 and that would be 00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:15.680 a gift 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.400 of God's 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:17.360 continuing love 00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:17.820 to them. 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:20.700 the love 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.439 that comes 00:24:21.439 --> 00:24:22.539 for his great 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.240 namesake. 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:26.759 You see, 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.200 I think there's 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:27.579 sort of a 00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.240 Copernican 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.259 revolution 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.919 that needs 00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:31.419 to happen 00:24:31.419 --> 00:24:32.159 in our 00:24:32.159 --> 00:24:32.980 spiritual life. 00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:34.799 And when it 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.379 happens, 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:36.879 it does sort of 00:24:36.879 --> 00:24:37.519 two things 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.039 that seem 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.759 very strange 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.599 and not related 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.079 to one another 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:40.599 at first. 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:42.240 On the one hand, 00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:42.879 when this revolution 00:24:42.879 --> 00:24:43.299 happens, 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:43.980 it brings the most 00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:44.859 complete humility 00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:46.639 and at the same 00:24:46.639 --> 00:24:46.859 time, 00:24:46.899 --> 00:24:47.599 it brings the most 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.639 complete security. 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.899 And that shift, 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.659 what that revolution 00:24:53.659 --> 00:24:54.299 is, 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:55.339 is to realize 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.599 that God 00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.899 does what 00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:58.799 he does, 00:24:59.259 --> 00:25:00.399 not ultimately, 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.819 not ultimately 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:04.619 for our sake, 00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:06.479 but for his sake. 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:10.000 And what I mean 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.359 is this, 00:25:10.419 --> 00:25:11.219 God does 00:25:11.219 --> 00:25:12.839 what he does, 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:15.199 not ultimately 00:25:15.199 --> 00:25:15.919 because he thinks 00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:16.639 I'm so great 00:25:16.639 --> 00:25:17.079 and he wants 00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:17.699 to make much 00:25:17.699 --> 00:25:18.139 of me. 00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:21.299 God does 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:21.720 what he does 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:23.259 because God 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:25.059 himself is great 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:26.339 and he wants 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:27.159 to display 00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:28.199 that greatness 00:25:28.199 --> 00:25:29.759 for everyone 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.759 to see and enjoy. 00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:35.039 And of course, 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:35.959 that brings humility, 00:25:36.159 --> 00:25:36.579 doesn't it? 00:25:36.699 --> 00:25:37.399 Because finally, 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.220 I realize, 00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:39.480 lo and behold, 00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.919 that I'm not the 00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:42.059 center of the universe. 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.699 that it's not 00:25:43.699 --> 00:25:44.299 about me. 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:47.019 But don't you see 00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.459 that it also 00:25:47.459 --> 00:25:48.459 brings security 00:25:48.459 --> 00:25:49.839 at the same time? 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.159 Because if it all 00:25:52.159 --> 00:25:53.779 depends on God 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:55.699 and not actually 00:25:55.699 --> 00:25:56.220 on me, 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.459 as humbling 00:25:57.459 --> 00:25:58.119 as that is, 00:25:59.119 --> 00:25:59.839 if it all 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:00.740 depends on him, 00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:03.399 then there's no way 00:26:03.399 --> 00:26:05.000 that it could fail. 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:08.519 if the Lord says 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.359 he's not going 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:10.079 to forsake you 00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:10.880 for his great 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.660 name's sake, 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.640 there's no way 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:15.039 you're going 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.660 to be forsaken. 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:19.720 I was trying 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.079 to come up 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:20.359 with a good 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:21.279 illustration of this 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:22.339 and instead 00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:22.799 I came up 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.299 with a measly 00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.079 illustration of it, 00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:24.359 but I'm going 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:24.839 to give it to you 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:25.119 anyway. 00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:26.420 So imagine 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:26.799 there's this 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.839 great magnet. 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:28.779 When I was 00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:30.000 in middle school, 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:30.880 my teacher 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:31.740 had this sweet 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.359 magnet that we 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:32.759 always loved 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.119 playing with. 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:33.579 Imagine there's 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.379 this massive, 00:26:34.659 --> 00:26:35.299 powerful, 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.079 strong magnet 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:36.859 and a little 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:38.259 nail and you 00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:38.719 sort of let go 00:26:38.719 --> 00:26:39.199 of the nail 00:26:39.199 --> 00:26:39.599 and what does 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:39.799 it do? 00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:40.559 It just wham 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:41.000 right into the 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:41.279 magnet. 00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:42.079 It doesn't go 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:42.359 anywhere. 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.339 Now imagine 00:26:45.339 --> 00:26:47.159 that that nail 00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:48.059 could sort of 00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:48.639 bend itself 00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:49.299 into all sorts 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:49.639 of different 00:26:49.639 --> 00:26:50.019 shapes. 00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.659 Would that 00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:53.559 have any effect 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:55.159 of the magnet's 00:26:55.159 --> 00:26:56.739 hold on that 00:26:56.739 --> 00:26:57.239 little nail? 00:26:58.219 --> 00:26:58.659 No. 00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:00.719 Imagine the nail 00:27:00.719 --> 00:27:01.139 could sort of 00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:02.039 change all colors. 00:27:02.199 --> 00:27:02.759 Imagine it paints 00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.579 itself red and 00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:04.160 blue and purple 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:04.700 and green. 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:06.379 Does that 00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:07.099 change the 00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:08.400 fact that 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:09.619 it's gripped 00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:11.700 tightly by 00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.480 that giant 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:12.940 magnet? 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:14.980 Of course 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.299 not. 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:16.480 Why? 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.579 Because the 00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:19.220 thing that is 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:20.879 keeping that 00:27:20.879 --> 00:27:21.680 little speck 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.539 attached to 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.200 that great 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.279 thing surging 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:24.859 with energy 00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.359 isn't the 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:26.180 shape or the 00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:27.019 color or the 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.000 history or the 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.779 deeds of that 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:31.779 nail, but the 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.460 energy of that 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:32.980 magnet. 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.440 Friends, that's 00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:37.039 how it is with 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.440 us in the 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:37.779 Lord. 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:40.259 It's because of 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.920 who he is 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:44.619 and the great 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.660 energy of his 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:47.259 glory and 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:48.700 majesty and 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:50.019 holiness and 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:52.500 love that he's 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:52.920 not going to 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:53.639 forsake us. 00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:55.259 no matter how 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.420 bent or 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.020 twisted you 00:27:57.020 --> 00:27:57.680 might think 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.280 you are. 00:28:02.040 --> 00:28:02.620 Look at 00:28:02.620 --> 00:28:03.380 verse 24. 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:05.640 Only fear the 00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:06.860 Lord and serve 00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.680 him faithfully with 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.420 all your heart, 00:28:08.580 --> 00:28:09.400 for consider what 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.480 great things he's 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.360 done for you. 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:13.120 Again, Samuel 00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:14.240 reissues this 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.620 call. 00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:16.220 Come back to 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:16.580 God. 00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:17.759 Fear the Lord. 00:28:17.820 --> 00:28:18.740 That is, live in all 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:20.059 of him and not 00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:20.700 all these lesser 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.299 things. 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:22.900 Serve him 00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:23.480 faithfully with 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:25.000 all your heart. 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.980 Sink your life 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:29.059 into this one 00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:30.519 who alone can 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:31.700 profit and 00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:32.140 deliver. 00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:33.759 Sink your life 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.759 into this one 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.900 who can bring 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:37.460 true happiness 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.900 and lasting 00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:39.420 freedom. 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:42.180 And then he 00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:42.779 adds this, 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:44.900 verse 25, 00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:47.900 but if you 00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.340 still do 00:28:48.340 --> 00:28:48.840 wickedly, 00:28:49.320 --> 00:28:50.400 you shall be 00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:51.060 swept away, 00:28:52.060 --> 00:28:52.620 both you and 00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.040 your king. 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.420 Now what are we 00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:57.100 to make of that? 00:28:59.120 --> 00:28:59.780 Is Samuel 00:28:59.780 --> 00:29:00.440 suddenly sort of 00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:01.200 pulling the rug 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:01.860 out of everything 00:29:01.860 --> 00:29:02.660 he just said? 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:03.580 I thought the 00:29:03.580 --> 00:29:04.080 Lord wasn't going 00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:04.640 to forsake us 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:05.040 because of his 00:29:05.040 --> 00:29:05.560 great name. 00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:06.019 Now it looks 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:06.360 like we're going 00:29:06.360 --> 00:29:06.720 to get swept 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.240 away because of 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.019 our great wickedness 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:09.200 if we don't 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:09.480 obey. 00:29:09.620 --> 00:29:10.140 What is going 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:10.600 on? 00:29:11.560 --> 00:29:12.000 Is Samuel 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.620 contradicting 00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:13.080 himself? 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:15.940 Well friends, 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.380 in order to 00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:17.340 understand this 00:29:17.340 --> 00:29:18.060 verse, 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:19.680 we have to 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.560 understand the 00:29:20.560 --> 00:29:21.000 story. 00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:24.460 We said earlier 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.280 that Samuel was 00:29:25.280 --> 00:29:26.400 reaffirming the 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:27.060 covenant between 00:29:27.060 --> 00:29:28.060 Israel and God 00:29:28.060 --> 00:29:29.080 in this chapter. 00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:30.540 And this last 00:29:30.540 --> 00:29:30.780 verse, 00:29:30.860 --> 00:29:31.360 verse 25, 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.100 is actually an 00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:33.600 echo of a 00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:34.380 more ancient 00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:35.220 warning that was 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:35.640 part of the 00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:36.120 covenant in 00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:37.240 Deuteronomy 28. 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.600 Deuteronomy 28 00:29:38.600 --> 00:29:39.580 lists all these 00:29:39.580 --> 00:29:40.440 sort of ways in 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:41.040 which the people 00:29:41.040 --> 00:29:41.500 of God will 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.220 disintegrate and 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:43.360 fall apart if 00:29:43.360 --> 00:29:43.640 they're not 00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:44.460 faithful to him. 00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.259 And the 00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:46.240 climax of all 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:46.759 those covenant 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.920 curses is 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:48.600 exile. 00:29:50.300 --> 00:29:51.160 That if people 00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:51.840 continue to 00:29:51.840 --> 00:29:52.720 reject God and 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.120 choose other 00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:53.820 lords and kings, 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.320 that people will 00:29:54.320 --> 00:29:55.160 be swept out of 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:56.840 their land and 00:29:56.840 --> 00:29:57.680 taken captive by 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.300 foreign nations. 00:29:58.400 --> 00:29:58.680 God will 00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.840 basically deconstruct 00:29:59.840 --> 00:30:00.500 the nation to the 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.240 core and send it 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.540 away. 00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:04.980 And what Samuel 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:06.280 is saying here at 00:30:06.280 --> 00:30:07.140 this moment in 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:07.900 their history is 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:08.680 that the appointment 00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:09.540 of the king 00:30:09.540 --> 00:30:10.980 doesn't change 00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:11.640 that warning. 00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:14.000 Of course the 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.380 king is now 00:30:14.380 --> 00:30:14.860 going to have a 00:30:14.860 --> 00:30:16.480 big influence on 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:17.100 the direction of 00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:17.940 the nation, but 00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:19.060 if the people 00:30:19.060 --> 00:30:19.880 continue to turn 00:30:19.880 --> 00:30:20.640 away from God, 00:30:21.120 --> 00:30:21.940 exile will still 00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:23.180 come and it 00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:24.400 will come both 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.759 on you and 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.240 your king. 00:30:29.040 --> 00:30:29.900 One writer put it 00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.360 this way, 00:30:30.780 --> 00:30:32.600 Israel wanted a 00:30:32.600 --> 00:30:33.580 king to fight 00:30:33.580 --> 00:30:34.259 their battles, 00:30:34.800 --> 00:30:36.500 but no king 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.680 will be able to 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:39.259 defend them from 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:40.000 God's judgment. 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:46.460 That is, until 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:48.599 one day, hundreds 00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.420 of years later, 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.099 after all that 00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:52.039 Samuel had already 00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:53.279 said actually came 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:54.879 true, the people 00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.680 had continued in 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:56.960 their idolatry and 00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:57.700 wickedness, God had 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.339 sent them away to 00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:58.980 exile, God had 00:30:58.980 --> 00:30:59.900 even brought back a 00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:00.619 group of survivors 00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:01.359 to begin living in 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:01.980 the land again and 00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:02.279 they started 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.839 rebuilding their 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.759 sort of nationhood. 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:06.400 After all that, 00:31:07.619 --> 00:31:08.500 hundreds of years 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.240 later, the 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:11.140 king comes. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.160 And this king was 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:15.539 unlike any that 00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:16.359 Israel had seen 00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:16.799 before. 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:18.359 He didn't spend 00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:19.140 most of his time 00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:19.859 with the people who 00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:20.500 looked like they 00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:21.279 had it all together 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.180 spiritually speaking. 00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:24.200 He wasn't hanging 00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:24.799 out with the 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:26.680 powerful and the 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:27.779 very pristine and 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.099 pure. 00:31:29.619 --> 00:31:30.240 Shockingly, he 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.140 spent most of his 00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:32.000 time with spiritual 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:33.160 failures and 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:34.200 misfits, the tax 00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:34.900 collectors and the 00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:36.099 prostitutes and the 00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:36.599 people who had 00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.720 seemingly blown it. 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:39.279 that's where this 00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.140 king spent most of 00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:41.960 his time and that 00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.460 was the sort of 00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.120 people who gathered 00:31:43.120 --> 00:31:43.759 around him. 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:47.140 And that wasn't 00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:47.839 like any king they 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.500 had seen before. 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.339 And yet, this king 00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:51.019 was also different in 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:51.759 another way. 00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.360 You see, all of 00:31:54.360 --> 00:31:55.380 Israel's kings, if you 00:31:55.380 --> 00:31:56.079 start reading the rest 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.700 of the story, you 00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:57.700 know are deeply 00:31:57.700 --> 00:31:58.200 flawed. 00:31:58.400 --> 00:32:00.019 Next chapter, Saul is 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:00.900 going to come crashing 00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:01.740 to the ground with a 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.120 thud. 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.779 And then David's going 00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:04.920 to appear and we're 00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:05.839 going to find that he's 00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:07.179 a man after God's 00:32:07.179 --> 00:32:07.699 own heart and yet 00:32:07.699 --> 00:32:09.379 he too is still 00:32:09.379 --> 00:32:10.599 deeply flawed. 00:32:12.679 --> 00:32:13.919 But this king who 00:32:13.919 --> 00:32:15.139 comes so many years 00:32:15.139 --> 00:32:16.799 later is nothing 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.379 like that. 00:32:17.459 --> 00:32:18.399 No matter how often 00:32:18.399 --> 00:32:19.359 his enemies try to 00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:20.059 trap him in his 00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:20.759 words, he always 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.980 responds with the 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:22.980 wisdom of God and 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.579 the love of God. 00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.819 He's always without 00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:26.000 flaw, heeding God's 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.299 law, keeping the 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:28.740 covenant, loving those 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.159 around him. 00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:31.099 Finally, here is 00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:33.179 actually a king and a 00:32:33.179 --> 00:32:34.079 true Israelite who 00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:35.179 does what God says and 00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:35.799 keeps the covenant. 00:32:36.080 --> 00:32:36.799 Here he is. 00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.880 But then in the end, 00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:42.960 the greatest difference 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:45.039 of all, though this 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:45.820 king had lived under 00:32:45.820 --> 00:32:46.920 God's law perfectly, 00:32:49.600 --> 00:32:50.600 he's sentenced to 00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:52.560 death and rejected by 00:32:52.560 --> 00:32:53.799 the people, forsaken by 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:55.580 the very people that he 00:32:55.580 --> 00:32:57.060 came to lead and to 00:32:57.060 --> 00:32:57.460 love. 00:32:59.560 --> 00:33:00.400 And yet that's not 00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:01.120 actually the most 00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:02.140 shocking part of his 00:33:02.140 --> 00:33:02.519 death. 00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:04.220 God's law perfectly 00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:05.859 and he calls out to 00:33:05.859 --> 00:33:06.859 the people that he 00:33:06.859 --> 00:33:06.879 calls out to the God 00:33:06.879 --> 00:33:08.259 on an implement of 00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:09.619 Roman execution, a 00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:10.119 cross. 00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:11.660 He calls out, my God, 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:14.359 my God, why have you 00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:15.599 forsaken me? 00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:19.960 He calls out to the God 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:21.200 who says he'll never 00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:22.119 forsake his people. 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:25.440 And in this moment, God 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:27.700 is silent and does not 00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.200 reply. 00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:31.400 And though he was the 00:33:31.400 --> 00:33:33.460 perfect son, the father 00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:34.420 forsakes him on the 00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:34.799 cross. 00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:38.559 And you see, friends, 00:33:38.620 --> 00:33:39.880 when that happened, 00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:43.140 Jesus Christ was bringing 00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:45.759 to a climax and a 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:47.580 resolution the greatest 00:33:47.580 --> 00:33:49.240 problem in all of 00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:49.640 history. 00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:52.620 You see, the justice of 00:33:52.620 --> 00:33:55.140 God required that this 00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:57.060 covenant-breaking people 00:33:57.060 --> 00:33:57.700 be judged. 00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:00.860 And yet the steadfast 00:34:00.860 --> 00:34:02.360 love of God required 00:34:02.360 --> 00:34:03.700 that these same people 00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:04.820 never be forsaken. 00:34:06.360 --> 00:34:07.680 How could he do both? 00:34:08.760 --> 00:34:09.920 How could this God of 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:11.920 perfect justice and 00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.860 holiness and perfect 00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:14.740 love and faithfulness 00:34:14.740 --> 00:34:17.000 ever be in relationship 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:17.760 with his people? 00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:21.000 How is it that God will 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:22.559 not forsake those who 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.700 deserve to be forsaken? 00:34:23.699 --> 00:34:24.939 Isn't that the tension 00:34:24.939 --> 00:34:26.519 that you feel when you 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:27.559 actually blow it? 00:34:28.799 --> 00:34:29.879 That deep down you kind 00:34:29.879 --> 00:34:31.179 of know that you ought to 00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:31.859 be forsaken. 00:34:32.359 --> 00:34:33.319 And yet God comes and 00:34:33.319 --> 00:34:34.319 says, I won't forsake 00:34:34.319 --> 00:34:34.519 you. 00:34:34.859 --> 00:34:35.219 How? 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:39.239 Well, now you see how. 00:34:40.339 --> 00:34:42.179 Because Jesus Christ stood 00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:44.179 in our place and was 00:34:44.179 --> 00:34:45.439 forsaken so that we would 00:34:45.439 --> 00:34:46.439 never have to be. 00:34:49.339 --> 00:34:50.699 You see, verse 25 forces 00:34:51.359 --> 00:34:51.679 us. 00:34:51.759 --> 00:34:53.480 It just pushes us to read 00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:54.380 the rest of the story. 00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:55.780 And when we keep reading, 00:34:55.860 --> 00:34:57.099 we follow it all the way 00:34:57.099 --> 00:34:58.559 to Jesus, the true king 00:34:58.559 --> 00:35:00.639 who was swept away for 00:35:00.639 --> 00:35:01.519 our wickedness. 00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:03.159 But this was the one king 00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:04.820 who could actually save us 00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.559 from God's judgment. 00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:08.260 He was swept away for our 00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:09.300 wickedness so that we could 00:35:09.300 --> 00:35:10.980 be welcomed home by his 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.500 righteousness. 00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:16.179 And that means, friends, 00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:17.139 we need not fear. 00:35:17.139 --> 00:35:19.980 though we have sinned, 00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:24.079 we can turn again and serve 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:26.420 the Lord with all our hearts. 00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:30.019 The Lord Jesus rose again on 00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:30.659 the third day as a 00:35:30.659 --> 00:35:32.319 demonstration that the entire 00:35:32.319 --> 00:35:34.179 debt of sin had been paid. 00:35:35.759 --> 00:35:38.339 That sin couldn't actually hold 00:35:38.339 --> 00:35:39.699 him because sin had been 00:35:39.699 --> 00:35:41.039 completely swallowed. 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:44.300 every sin that you think has 00:35:44.300 --> 00:35:45.800 utterly blown it between you 00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:46.340 and God. 00:35:46.860 --> 00:35:48.000 And friends, every sin that 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:49.099 you're actually going to 00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:50.579 commend that you think will 00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:51.619 blow it between you and God, 00:35:51.659 --> 00:35:52.759 if you've placed your trust in 00:35:52.759 --> 00:35:54.659 him, has been dealt with 00:35:54.659 --> 00:35:55.579 through his death and 00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:56.000 resurrection. 00:35:58.340 --> 00:35:59.259 So tonight, 00:35:59.259 --> 00:36:01.599 if you've blown it, 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:03.880 look to the cross and the 00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:04.920 resurrection of Jesus. 00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:08.119 Turn and give him your heart 00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:11.820 and know that he'll not 00:36:11.820 --> 00:36:12.599 forsake you. 00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:15.960 Begin again tonight. 00:36:17.500 --> 00:36:19.559 You know, if Samuel could tell 00:36:19.559 --> 00:36:22.180 Israel not to fear and to 00:36:22.180 --> 00:36:23.760 serve the Lord with all their 00:36:23.760 --> 00:36:26.059 heart, knowing what he knew of 00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:27.039 God's love and faithfulness 00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:32.000 then, how much more should that 00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:33.159 be true of us today? 00:36:33.159 --> 00:36:34.960 Knowing what we know now 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.039 through Jesus. 00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:40.119 The full flowering of God's 00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:42.879 faithful love has come to be 00:36:42.879 --> 00:36:44.679 displayed through Christ. 00:36:45.739 --> 00:36:47.759 How much more can we say 00:36:47.759 --> 00:36:50.039 he'll not forsake us? 00:36:50.059 --> 00:36:51.579 How much more can we consider 00:36:51.579 --> 00:36:53.599 the great things that he's done? 00:36:54.539 --> 00:36:56.159 How much more ought we to serve 00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:57.440 the Lord with all our hearts? 00:36:59.239 --> 00:37:00.059 Let's pray. 00:37:03.159 --> 00:37:09.039 Lord Jesus, it is right for our 00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:11.579 sin to feel weighty and 00:37:11.579 --> 00:37:12.079 grievous. 00:37:12.920 --> 00:37:14.960 Lord, not just because of the 00:37:14.960 --> 00:37:16.420 consequences that it brings, 00:37:17.259 --> 00:37:19.539 but because of what it means 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:22.139 about you, the way in which it 00:37:22.139 --> 00:37:23.059 dishonors you. 00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:27.139 And yet, Lord, we hear such good 00:37:27.139 --> 00:37:29.519 gospel news in this passage that 00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.799 you won't forsake us. 00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:32.800 Lord, I pray for my friends here 00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:35.380 tonight who might be weighed down 00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:37.480 with a heavy load of sin and shame 00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:38.100 and regret. 00:37:38.900 --> 00:37:40.019 Jesus, I pray that they would be 00:37:40.019 --> 00:37:43.720 looking to you and see in you the 00:37:43.720 --> 00:37:46.300 one who lifts their burdens and 00:37:46.300 --> 00:37:47.360 welcomes them home. 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:52.360 Father, help us to live in the world 00:37:52.360 --> 00:37:56.120 as people who have found the one who 00:37:56.119 --> 00:37:59.079 will never forsake us and who is our 00:37:59.079 --> 00:38:01.239 true prophet and our true 00:38:01.239 --> 00:38:02.059 deliverance. 00:38:02.859 --> 00:38:04.539 Lord, in you that there is happiness 00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:06.699 and there is freedom forevermore. 00:38:06.779 --> 00:38:08.099 Help us to live that way by your 00:38:08.099 --> 00:38:09.219 spirit, Father, we pray. 00:38:10.219 --> 00:38:10.500 Amen. 00:38:14.099 --> 00:38:15.719 Well, friends, we're going to close 00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:18.259 by singing one more song. 00:38:18.339 --> 00:38:20.000 And let's sing this song together as a 00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:21.259 way of praying and meditating.