WEBVTT

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 So as Fiona's mentioned, the passage that we're going to be reading this evening is quite long.

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 It's just shy of two chapters.

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 And so I thought it would be good to give you a few things to look out for,

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 just so we keep our attention as we go through these passages.

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 But before we get into that, I just want to caveat this sermon and say

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 that there are tons and tons of details in this passage.

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 And I cannot go into all of them.

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 We cannot think about all of them.

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 But if you take a note of them, I would love to speak to you afterwards about it,

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 because it's such a marvelous passage of God's word.

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 But just two things to look out for.

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 So as we read through this passage, there is a contrast between two people.

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 We have the person of faith.

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 I'm not going to tell you who that is.

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 I'm going to let you guess that.

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 And then you have the person of folly or the person who is foolish.

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 So those are the two things to look out for.

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 If you want to make a little mark in your Bible or on a separate piece of paper,

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 look out for signs of faith and signs of foolishness.

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 I'm just going to hand over to Corrie, who's going to come and read God's word to us.

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 Just as we take our seats, let's pray together.

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 Father, as we turn to your word this evening,

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 as we ponder its significance for our life,

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 as we think about what it says,

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 we do ask that the words of our mouths

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 and the meditations of our hearts

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 would be pleasing in your sight,

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 O Lord, our rock

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 and our redeemer.

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 Amen.

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 Have you ever sat down

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 and pondered what the world seems,

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 deems as foolish?

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 So I had a quick look this week,

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 a quick Google,

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 and I found that the world thinks that certain things are foolish.

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 For example,

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 not flushing the toilet to save on the water bill is foolish.

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 Not investing your money early on in life apparently is foolish.

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 Not doing something because it sounds too good to be true is foolish.

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 And apparently,

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 not forgiving yourself,

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 no matter what you do,

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 is foolish.

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 And the world says that the opposite of foolishness is wisdom.

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 And a person's wisdom is determined by their IQ,

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 by their state of mind,

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 and by their actions.

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 And so,

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 the world says that a wise person

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 apparently knows who they are as an individual.

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 They accept that only they have the power and authority

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 to change their own lives.

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 They live for their own success,

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 and they do everything they can

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 to get what they want.

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 This is the world we live in, folks.

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 This is what the world says is foolish

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 and what is not foolish.

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 What a shallow view of foolishness

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 and of wisdom.

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 But the Bible has a much greater story

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 and a simpler story.

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 See,

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 the definition of folly or foolishness

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 in the Bible

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 isn't referring to intellectual ability.

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 But when the word of God speaks of someone as a fool,

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 it's referring to someone who is living

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 as if God doesn't exist.

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 The fool says in his heart,

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 there is no God.

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 And therefore,

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 the opposite of foolishness,

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 according to the Bible,

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 is actually faith.

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 And the Bible's definition of someone marked by faith

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 is someone who fears the Lord

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 and who trusts in him,

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 in his word,

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 and in his promises.

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 And so the question I want us to keep

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 in the back of our minds

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 as we walk through these chapters

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 in 1 Samuel together

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 is,

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 are we people of faith

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 or folly?

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 1 Samuel 13 and 14

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 were read to us

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 and you would have seen,

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 hopefully,

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 the contrast

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 between these two characters,

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 Jonathan and Saul.

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 And as we walk through,

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 I want you to keep that question

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 in the back of your mind.

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 Are we people of faith

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 or folly?

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 And as we dive into these chapters,

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 I think there are two things

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 that we see this evening.

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 And the first is

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 a faithful soldier.

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 Chapter 13,

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 verse 16 to 14,

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 23.

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 A faithful soldier.

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 So when we rejoin the story,

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 the nation of Israel

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 and the beginnings of Saul reign,

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 we enter into a hopeless situation.

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 Saul and his army

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 are camped out at Gibeah

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 and the Philistines

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 are just a few miles away

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 over some cliffs.

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 And Saul was sitting

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 with an army

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 of around 600 men.

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 And as he sits there,

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 raiding parties

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 are going throughout

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 his whole kingdom,

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 wreaking havoc.

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 So why is this so devastating?

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 Why do I say it's hopeless?

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 Well, look at verses 19 to 22.

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 In the whole ranks

00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:14.759
 of the Israelite army,

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 there were two swords.

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 So here we have

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 a small army

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 that's surrounded

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 by a vast Philistine army

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 described in the beginning

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 of chapter 13,

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 as numerous as the sand

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 on the seashore.

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 And they have two swords.

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 This is not the kind of story

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 that you want to be remembered

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 for the rest of time

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 by your nation.

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 This is not the situation

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 that you can just walk into,

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 wing it,

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 and see what happens.

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 The only options

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 that seem to be

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 before this small army

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 are to fight and die

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 or to run away and die.

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 This situation is terrible.

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 So Saul and the nation of Israel,

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 it seems,

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 are a hopeless case.

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 Lost.

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 But now we see

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 the first contrast

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 that runs through

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 these chapters.

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 Look at Jonathan

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 in chapter 14,

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 verse 1,

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 and Saul

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 in chapter 14,

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 verse 2.

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 What is the difference

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 that you see?

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 Jonathan comes up

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 with a plan

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 and Saul

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 is relaxing

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 under a tree.

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 And throughout

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 these chapters,

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 these two are being

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 contrasted.

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 Jonathan is a

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 faithful soldier

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 and Saul

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 is a self-centered

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 leader.

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 But in this first section,

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 the main focus

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 is on Jonathan.

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 So in verse 1,

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 he makes a plan

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 to go and attack

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 the Philistine outpost

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 that had departed

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 from their camp

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 in Michmash.

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 But notice

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 that he doesn't

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 tell his father.

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 Why?

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 Well,

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 we don't actually

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 know why,

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 but just looking

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 at the details

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 that are mentioned

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 in verses 2

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 and 3,

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 Saul doesn't

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 necessarily seem

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 in a hurry

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 to actually do

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 anything about

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 his enemy's presence

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 in his land.

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 He's sitting

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 under a tree

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 having the time

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 of his life

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 with his friends.

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 One of whom

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 is a descendant

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 of Eli's son,

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 who God

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 actually cut off

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 and said would

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 never be a priest

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 again in 1 Samuel

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 chapter 2.

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 And yet,

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 here he sits

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 in an ephod,

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 a gown reserved

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 only for the priests.

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 So Saul

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 seems to have

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 reinstituted

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 what God

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 had condemned.

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 And so under

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 this pomegranate tree,

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 we see a king

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 who has been

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 rejected

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 by God,

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 and we saw

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 that last week

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 in chapter 13

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 verse 14.

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 And he's sitting

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 with a priesthood

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 that's been rejected

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 way back in chapter 2.

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 Things aren't

00:07:48.780 --> 00:07:49.420
 looking good.

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 And so Jonathan

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 doesn't tell his dad

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 and his king,

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 but he goes to see

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 what's going on

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 in the outpost.

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 And in verse 4,

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 we see,

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 for Jonathan

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 to get to this outpost,

00:08:02.660 --> 00:08:03.400
 he must climb

00:08:03.400 --> 00:08:04.520
 over two cliffs.

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 And their names,

00:08:06.340 --> 00:08:07.100
 we're giving them there,

00:08:07.520 --> 00:08:08.280
 they don't really

00:08:08.280 --> 00:08:09.460
 fill us with confidence

00:08:09.460 --> 00:08:10.460
 when they're translated.

00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:12.560
 These cliffs

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 are roughly translated

00:08:13.580 --> 00:08:14.860
 as slippery

00:08:14.860 --> 00:08:16.420
 and thorny.

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 doesn't really

00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:19.879
 fill you with confidence,

00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:20.460
 does it?

00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:22.580
 This isn't going to be

00:08:22.580 --> 00:08:23.780
 an easy skip up

00:08:23.780 --> 00:08:24.400
 Arthur's seat

00:08:24.400 --> 00:08:25.020
 on a lovely

00:08:25.020 --> 00:08:26.580
 sunny Saturday morning.

00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:28.379
 Jonathan

00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:30.120
 and his armor bearer

00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:30.660
 are going to have

00:08:30.660 --> 00:08:31.920
 to climb over

00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:32.519
 these cliffs

00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:33.340
 on their hands

00:08:33.340 --> 00:08:33.759
 and knees,

00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:34.940
 cuts and bruises

00:08:34.940 --> 00:08:35.399
 and all.

00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:37.039
 And then when they

00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:37.860
 get to the top,

00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:39.100
 when they get over them,

00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:40.300
 they're going to

00:08:40.300 --> 00:08:40.980
 have to fight.

00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:42.420
 Again,

00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:43.519
 a hopeless

00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:44.779
 situation.

00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:46.559
 But look at

00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:47.600
 this man's faith

00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:48.819
 in verse 6,

00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:50.500
 where he says,

00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:52.059
 perhaps the Lord

00:08:52.059 --> 00:08:52.759
 will act

00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:54.299
 in our behalf.

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 Nothing,

00:08:55.839 --> 00:08:56.559
 nothing

00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:57.699
 can hinder

00:08:57.699 --> 00:08:58.139
 the Lord

00:08:58.139 --> 00:08:59.000
 from saving,

00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:00.419
 whether by many

00:09:00.419 --> 00:09:02.139
 or by few.

00:09:04.059 --> 00:09:04.959
 Here we have

00:09:04.959 --> 00:09:06.100
 a man whose confidence

00:09:06.100 --> 00:09:06.959
 is not in his own

00:09:06.959 --> 00:09:07.959
 skill in battle,

00:09:08.319 --> 00:09:09.459
 not in his own

00:09:09.459 --> 00:09:10.439
 physical ability

00:09:10.439 --> 00:09:11.459
 and not in his

00:09:11.459 --> 00:09:12.199
 own king,

00:09:12.200 --> 00:09:14.720
 but his confidence

00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:15.540
 is solely

00:09:15.540 --> 00:09:17.259
 based on the

00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:18.080
 mighty deeds

00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:18.580
 and will

00:09:18.580 --> 00:09:19.680
 of his God.

00:09:21.520 --> 00:09:22.240
 These are the

00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:23.460
 actions of a man

00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:24.020
 who listened

00:09:24.020 --> 00:09:25.259
 to Samuel's words

00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:26.520
 in chapter 12,

00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:27.259
 verse 24,

00:09:27.379 --> 00:09:28.020
 if you can turn

00:09:28.020 --> 00:09:28.920
 back there if you want,

00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:30.660
 where he's standing

00:09:30.660 --> 00:09:31.460
 and he warns

00:09:31.460 --> 00:09:32.400
 the nation of Israel,

00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:33.939
 but be sure

00:09:33.939 --> 00:09:35.059
 to fear the Lord

00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:35.919
 and serve him

00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:36.679
 faithfully

00:09:36.679 --> 00:09:38.100
 with all your

00:09:38.100 --> 00:09:38.679
 heart

00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:40.539
 and consider

00:09:40.539 --> 00:09:42.000
 what great

00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:42.919
 things he has

00:09:42.919 --> 00:09:44.159
 done for you.

00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:46.620
 You see,

00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:47.439
 Jonathan knows

00:09:47.439 --> 00:09:47.959
 who's on his

00:09:47.959 --> 00:09:48.319
 side.

00:09:50.179 --> 00:09:51.059
 He knows

00:09:51.059 --> 00:09:51.600
 that the battle

00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:52.340
 will be won

00:09:52.340 --> 00:09:53.120
 and we see

00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:53.659
 a hint of

00:09:53.659 --> 00:09:55.659
 why in verse 6.

00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:57.379
 Jonathan calls

00:09:57.379 --> 00:09:58.159
 the Philistines

00:09:58.159 --> 00:09:59.799
 uncircumcised

00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:00.319
 men.

00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:02.680
 He's pointing

00:10:02.680 --> 00:10:03.140
 out the

00:10:03.140 --> 00:10:03.560
 fundamental

00:10:03.560 --> 00:10:04.360
 difference

00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:05.340
 between Israel

00:10:05.340 --> 00:10:05.740
 and the

00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:06.379
 Philistines.

00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:07.760
 The Israelites

00:10:07.760 --> 00:10:08.680
 are the chosen

00:10:08.680 --> 00:10:09.480
 people of God

00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:10.140
 set apart

00:10:10.140 --> 00:10:11.120
 by him

00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:12.100
 and for him

00:10:12.100 --> 00:10:13.520
 and so they

00:10:13.520 --> 00:10:14.020
 will be under

00:10:14.020 --> 00:10:14.820
 his protection

00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:15.300
 and his

00:10:15.300 --> 00:10:15.920
 deliverance

00:10:15.920 --> 00:10:16.360
 from their

00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:16.840
 enemies.

00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:18.960
 And the

00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:19.540
 Philistines

00:10:19.540 --> 00:10:20.140
 are the people

00:10:20.140 --> 00:10:20.820
 who are opposed

00:10:20.820 --> 00:10:21.280
 to God.

00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:24.760
 They worship

00:10:24.760 --> 00:10:25.820
 man-made gods.

00:10:25.920 --> 00:10:26.540
 Israel are a

00:10:26.540 --> 00:10:27.160
 people who are

00:10:27.160 --> 00:10:27.740
 called to be

00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:28.200
 holy,

00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:29.900
 God's people,

00:10:30.180 --> 00:10:30.820
 recipients of

00:10:30.820 --> 00:10:31.400
 his promise

00:10:31.400 --> 00:10:32.140
 and the

00:10:32.140 --> 00:10:32.620
 Philistines

00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:33.020
 are not

00:10:33.020 --> 00:10:33.360
 holy.

00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:35.920
 They are not

00:10:35.920 --> 00:10:36.500
 walking in

00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:37.120
 line with God.

00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:37.960
 They are enemies

00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:38.700
 of God and

00:10:38.700 --> 00:10:39.379
 enemies of

00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:39.980
 his people.

00:10:40.640 --> 00:10:41.120
 And Jonathan

00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:41.940
 draws that out

00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:42.620
 here and we'll

00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:43.300
 hear more about

00:10:43.300 --> 00:10:44.020
 that next week

00:10:44.020 --> 00:10:45.080
 in chapter 15.

00:10:45.980 --> 00:10:46.940
 But in all of

00:10:46.940 --> 00:10:47.160
 this,

00:10:47.280 --> 00:10:48.540
 Jonathan is not

00:10:48.540 --> 00:10:49.060
 a fool.

00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:50.540
 He knows

00:10:50.540 --> 00:10:51.040
 that as he

00:10:51.040 --> 00:10:51.600
 scales,

00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:52.400
 he knows that

00:10:52.400 --> 00:10:53.180
 the scales are

00:10:53.180 --> 00:10:54.340
 tipped against

00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:54.680
 him.

00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:56.559
 And do you

00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:57.079
 see how he

00:10:57.079 --> 00:10:57.479
 leaves the

00:10:57.479 --> 00:10:58.079
 decision in

00:10:58.079 --> 00:10:58.739
 God's hands?

00:10:59.779 --> 00:11:00.359
 When they

00:11:00.359 --> 00:11:01.019
 show themselves

00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:01.399
 to the

00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:02.199
 Philistines and

00:11:02.199 --> 00:11:02.559
 they say,

00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:03.179
 wait there,

00:11:03.239 --> 00:11:03.579
 then they

00:11:03.579 --> 00:11:03.879
 will.

00:11:05.339 --> 00:11:06.099
 But if they

00:11:06.099 --> 00:11:06.399
 say,

00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:07.159
 come up,

00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:07.939
 then they

00:11:07.939 --> 00:11:08.339
 will know

00:11:08.339 --> 00:11:08.819
 that God

00:11:08.819 --> 00:11:09.439
 has delivered

00:11:09.439 --> 00:11:10.339
 them into

00:11:10.339 --> 00:11:11.120
 their hands.

00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:12.599
 So even

00:11:12.599 --> 00:11:12.979
 now,

00:11:13.099 --> 00:11:14.199
 just before

00:11:14.199 --> 00:11:14.879
 a fight,

00:11:15.359 --> 00:11:15.819
 as the

00:11:15.819 --> 00:11:16.739
 adrenaline is

00:11:16.739 --> 00:11:17.399
 pumping through

00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.059
 Jonathan's

00:11:18.059 --> 00:11:18.419
 veins,

00:11:18.699 --> 00:11:19.159
 as he's

00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:19.740
 tired from

00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:20.379
 just climbing

00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:20.979
 over two

00:11:20.979 --> 00:11:21.299
 cliffs,

00:11:21.359 --> 00:11:22.000
 he still

00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:23.079
 leaves the

00:11:23.079 --> 00:11:23.599
 decision in

00:11:23.599 --> 00:11:24.039
 the hands

00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:24.399
 of the

00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:24.779
 God who's

00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:25.240
 in control

00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:25.539
 of the

00:11:25.539 --> 00:11:25.860
 world.

00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:29.259
 And what

00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:29.599
 does God

00:11:29.599 --> 00:11:29.860
 do?

00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:30.219
 Well,

00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:30.679
 he fights

00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:31.099
 for them.

00:11:32.319 --> 00:11:32.759
 They are

00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:33.319
 called up to

00:11:33.319 --> 00:11:34.059
 the outpost,

00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:35.139
 apparently to

00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:35.719
 be taught a

00:11:35.719 --> 00:11:36.039
 lesson,

00:11:36.860 --> 00:11:38.099
 and they

00:11:38.099 --> 00:11:38.539
 manage to

00:11:38.539 --> 00:11:39.299
 kill 20

00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:39.679
 men.

00:11:40.419 --> 00:11:40.980
 And remember

00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:41.339
 that they

00:11:41.339 --> 00:11:41.860
 only had

00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:42.659
 one sword

00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:43.959
 against 20

00:11:43.959 --> 00:11:44.599
 soldiers who

00:11:44.599 --> 00:11:45.360
 presumably had

00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:45.699
 a sword

00:11:45.699 --> 00:11:46.039
 each.

00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:47.919
 This was

00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:48.659
 no act of

00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:49.059
 man,

00:11:49.559 --> 00:11:50.079
 but it was

00:11:50.079 --> 00:11:50.620
 an act of

00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:50.980
 God.

00:11:52.579 --> 00:11:53.379
 This was

00:11:53.379 --> 00:11:54.919
 God fighting

00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:55.679
 for his

00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:56.159
 faithful

00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:56.759
 servant,

00:11:56.899 --> 00:11:57.600
 God working

00:11:57.600 --> 00:11:58.159
 out his

00:11:58.159 --> 00:11:58.799
 extraordinary

00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:00.039
 will through

00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:00.539
 the means

00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:01.100
 of ordinary

00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:01.500
 people.

00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:01.960
 He made

00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:02.840
 the impossible

00:12:02.840 --> 00:12:04.159
 possible.

00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:06.879
 George

00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:07.700
 Muller ran

00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:08.399
 an orphanage

00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:08.899
 in Bristol,

00:12:08.899 --> 00:12:09.419
 and on one

00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:10.419
 occasion he

00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:10.919
 woke up,

00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:11.779
 he had 300

00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:12.960
 orphans in

00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:13.559
 his care,

00:12:13.779 --> 00:12:14.279
 and they

00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:14.779
 had no

00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:15.179
 food.

00:12:16.539 --> 00:12:17.200
 The house

00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:17.799
 mother came

00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:18.240
 and asked

00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:18.720
 him what they

00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:19.179
 should do.

00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:20.259
 it was an

00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:20.679
 impossible

00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:21.299
 task to

00:12:21.299 --> 00:12:22.019
 feed 300

00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:23.039
 children when

00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:23.479
 there's not a

00:12:23.479 --> 00:12:24.019
 crumb in

00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:24.479
 the building.

00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:26.359
 And he

00:12:26.359 --> 00:12:26.579
 said,

00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:26.939
 get the

00:12:26.939 --> 00:12:27.779
 children ready,

00:12:28.659 --> 00:12:29.019
 seat them

00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:29.299
 at the

00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:29.879
 table as

00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:30.259
 if we're

00:12:30.259 --> 00:12:30.859
 just about

00:12:30.859 --> 00:12:31.399
 to eat and

00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:31.859
 start the

00:12:31.859 --> 00:12:32.399
 day normally.

00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.120
 So they

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:34.399
 did.

00:12:35.199 --> 00:12:35.839
 Muller walks

00:12:35.839 --> 00:12:36.399
 in and he

00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:37.000
 gives thanks

00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:37.579
 to God for

00:12:37.579 --> 00:12:38.139
 the food that

00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:38.379
 they were

00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:38.759
 about to

00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:39.079
 receive,

00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:39.519
 which was

00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:39.899
 at this

00:12:39.899 --> 00:12:40.099
 point

00:12:40.099 --> 00:12:40.899
 non-existent,

00:12:41.579 --> 00:12:42.819
 and he

00:12:42.819 --> 00:12:43.259
 waited.

00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:45.599
 Belly's

00:12:45.599 --> 00:12:45.939
 rumbling.

00:12:47.219 --> 00:12:47.740
 And within

00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:48.340
 minutes,

00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:49.139
 a baker

00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:49.840
 walked in

00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:50.139
 and said

00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:50.360
 that he

00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:50.620
 couldn't

00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:51.100
 sleep the

00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:51.560
 night before

00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:51.960
 because he

00:12:51.960 --> 00:12:52.279
 knew the

00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:52.799
 children would

00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:53.279
 have no

00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:53.560
 food,

00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:53.960
 and so he

00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:54.500
 stayed up

00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:55.159
 to bake

00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:56.519
 three batches

00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:57.080
 of bread for

00:12:57.080 --> 00:12:57.360
 them for

00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:57.680
 free.

00:12:58.879 --> 00:12:59.440
 So they

00:12:59.440 --> 00:12:59.960
 had food.

00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:01.440
 And then

00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:02.220
 seconds later,

00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:02.899
 in runs the

00:13:02.899 --> 00:13:03.980
 milkman whose

00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:04.899
 cart wheel had

00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:05.480
 just come off

00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:05.960
 his cart,

00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:07.639
 and he

00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:08.060
 gave them

00:13:08.060 --> 00:13:09.740
 ten big

00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:10.440
 old tubs

00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:11.399
 of milk

00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.600
 because the

00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:12.919
 milk would

00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:13.460
 go off by

00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:13.980
 the time the

00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:14.419
 wheel was

00:13:14.419 --> 00:13:14.779
 repaired.

00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:15.259
 And he

00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:15.399
 said,

00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:15.820
 take it

00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:16.240
 for free.

00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:18.080
 They

00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:18.659
 started with

00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:19.220
 nothing in

00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:19.740
 an impossible

00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:20.419
 situation,

00:13:20.419 --> 00:13:21.019
 and then they

00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:21.680
 ended with

00:13:21.680 --> 00:13:22.659
 too much.

00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:24.299
 God made

00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:25.159
 the impossible

00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:26.399
 possible.

00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:29.000
 Nothing is

00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:29.879
 impossible for

00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:30.440
 our great

00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:30.820
 God.

00:13:32.560 --> 00:13:33.000
 And so what

00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:33.600
 happens in

00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:34.100
 this hopeless

00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:34.899
 situation that

00:13:34.899 --> 00:13:35.659
 we started off

00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:35.860
 in?

00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:36.799
 Well, in

00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:37.500
 verse 15,

00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:37.919
 God is

00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:38.620
 fighting for

00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.180
 the Israelites

00:13:39.180 --> 00:13:39.860
 and he sends

00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:41.080
 a panic on

00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:41.600
 the army.

00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:43.100
 Israel are

00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:44.320
 not alone.

00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:46.100
 Despite their

00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:46.919
 rebellion and

00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:47.699
 rejection of

00:13:47.699 --> 00:13:48.219
 God, he

00:13:48.219 --> 00:13:49.599
 still amazingly,

00:13:50.479 --> 00:13:51.500
 lovingly cares

00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:52.019
 for and

00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:53.120
 delivers his

00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:53.539
 people.

00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:55.439
 Do you see

00:13:55.439 --> 00:13:56.479
 God's goodness

00:13:56.479 --> 00:13:57.299
 in this?

00:13:58.939 --> 00:13:59.759
 He could have

00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:00.519
 walked away from

00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:01.219
 his rebellious

00:14:01.219 --> 00:14:02.139
 people and

00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:02.959
 their disobedient

00:14:02.959 --> 00:14:03.579
 king and we

00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:03.939
 would have

00:14:03.939 --> 00:14:04.519
 thought, yep,

00:14:04.579 --> 00:14:05.279
 you've got all

00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:05.759
 the right to

00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:06.139
 do that.

00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:07.959
 But instead,

00:14:08.719 --> 00:14:09.759
 he is acting on

00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:10.259
 their behalf,

00:14:10.339 --> 00:14:10.939
 not because of

00:14:10.939 --> 00:14:11.620
 who they are,

00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:12.899
 not because of

00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:13.439
 what they have

00:14:13.439 --> 00:14:14.099
 done, but he

00:14:14.099 --> 00:14:14.819
 is acting on

00:14:14.819 --> 00:14:15.559
 their behalf and

00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:16.359
 fighting for

00:14:16.359 --> 00:14:17.059
 them because

00:14:17.059 --> 00:14:17.859
 of who he

00:14:17.859 --> 00:14:18.219
 is.

00:14:21.339 --> 00:14:21.899
 And then

00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:22.500
 Saul does a

00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.219
 roll call and

00:14:23.219 --> 00:14:23.939
 realizes that

00:14:23.939 --> 00:14:24.639
 his son and

00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:25.359
 armor bearer

00:14:25.359 --> 00:14:25.839
 were missing

00:14:25.839 --> 00:14:27.459
 and he turns

00:14:27.459 --> 00:14:28.339
 to his priest

00:14:28.339 --> 00:14:29.859
 in verses 18

00:14:29.859 --> 00:14:30.699
 and 19 for

00:14:30.699 --> 00:14:31.199
 advice.

00:14:32.059 --> 00:14:32.699
 He calls for

00:14:32.699 --> 00:14:33.219
 the ark of

00:14:33.219 --> 00:14:34.139
 the Lord to

00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:34.659
 be brought,

00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:35.679
 probably because

00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:36.199
 he wanted to

00:14:36.199 --> 00:14:36.759
 hear God's

00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:37.099
 voice.

00:14:39.359 --> 00:14:39.639
 And so

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.500
 Saul had

00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.339
 been sitting

00:14:41.339 --> 00:14:42.299
 and waiting

00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:42.879
 for something

00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:43.599
 to happen

00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:44.860
 when he

00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:45.139
 should have

00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:45.759
 been acting.

00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.720
 And now

00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:49.360
 he should be

00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.060
 listening to

00:14:50.060 --> 00:14:50.740
 guidance, but

00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.500
 in verse 20

00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:52.019
 we see that

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.540
 he brushes

00:14:52.540 --> 00:14:53.159
 it off.

00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:55.040
 He quickly

00:14:55.040 --> 00:14:55.840
 changes his

00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:56.279
 mind and

00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:56.779
 instead of

00:14:56.779 --> 00:14:57.460
 focusing on

00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:58.879
 God, he

00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.600
 focuses on

00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:01.139
 himself and

00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:01.500
 says, no,

00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:02.279
 forget about

00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:02.940
 the ark, I'm

00:15:02.940 --> 00:15:03.639
 going to war.

00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:07.460
 All of

00:15:07.460 --> 00:15:08.120
 Israel come

00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:08.820
 out to help

00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:09.279
 and in verse

00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:10.220
 23, the

00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:11.240
 amazing truth

00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:12.320
 that despite

00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:12.920
 all of this

00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:14.559
 rebellion, the

00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:15.879
 Lord saved

00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:16.699
 Israel.

00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:18.839
 This was not

00:15:18.839 --> 00:15:19.559
 the act of a

00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:20.399
 mighty king who

00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:21.019
 trusted in

00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:22.799
 God, nor was

00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:23.399
 it the act of

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:24.240
 a faithful servant

00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.419
 who served the

00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.399
 Lord selflessly,

00:15:26.579 --> 00:15:27.319
 but this was the

00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:28.240
 act of an

00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:29.259
 almighty God

00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:30.139
 working for the

00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:31.279
 good of his

00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:31.819
 people.

00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:35.159
 But why are we

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:36.139
 given this story?

00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:37.579
 Why are there

00:15:37.579 --> 00:15:38.959
 so many details in

00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:39.919
 these two chapters

00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:40.480
 that we can't

00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.199
 even get to?

00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:43.820
 Well, this

00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:44.660
 story shows us

00:15:44.660 --> 00:15:45.560
 the reactions of

00:15:45.560 --> 00:15:46.100
 people in

00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:46.900
 relation to God.

00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:47.540
 There is either

00:15:47.540 --> 00:15:49.300
 faith or

00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:49.800
 folly.

00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:51.920
 Jonathan was

00:15:51.920 --> 00:15:52.460
 wise.

00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:54.440
 He listened to

00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:55.280
 Samuel's warning

00:15:55.280 --> 00:15:56.180
 and he remembered

00:15:56.180 --> 00:15:57.460
 who was on his

00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:57.980
 side.

00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:00.740
 Saul was foolish

00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.500
 and he sat

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.020
 when he should

00:16:02.020 --> 00:16:02.640
 have fought and

00:16:02.640 --> 00:16:03.440
 he acted when

00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:03.820
 he should have

00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:04.180
 listened.

00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:07.180
 One man guided

00:16:07.180 --> 00:16:08.120
 by the counsel

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.480
 of God and had

00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:10.560
 confidence in him

00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:11.339
 whilst the other

00:16:11.339 --> 00:16:12.939
 was guided by his

00:16:12.939 --> 00:16:13.599
 own selfish

00:16:13.599 --> 00:16:14.119
 ambition.

00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:17.639
 Isn't this true

00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:18.239
 for our own

00:16:18.239 --> 00:16:19.319
 fallen, broken

00:16:19.319 --> 00:16:19.919
 hearts?

00:16:22.099 --> 00:16:23.099
 Are we people

00:16:23.099 --> 00:16:25.059
 of faith or

00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:25.459
 folly?

00:16:26.859 --> 00:16:28.000
 How often do we

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.279
 face a difficult

00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:30.439
 situation in life

00:16:30.439 --> 00:16:31.119
 and rely on

00:16:31.119 --> 00:16:33.479
 ourselves, on

00:16:33.479 --> 00:16:34.419
 our own intuition

00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.939
 and we sit under

00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:36.979
 the pomegranate

00:16:36.979 --> 00:16:37.879
 tree as it were?

00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:37.960
 God.

00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:40.539
 But wouldn't it

00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.379
 be far better

00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:42.299
 if we acted

00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:43.259
 in confidence,

00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.639
 in the knowledge

00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.759
 of who is on

00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:46.559
 our side, who

00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.159
 we are living

00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:48.419
 for and serving

00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:50.019
 and in full

00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:50.840
 dependence on

00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:51.120
 him?

00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:53.799
 And I'm not

00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:54.360
 saying that we

00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.120
 should let go

00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:55.879
 and let God

00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:57.080
 because that can

00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:58.059
 be dangerous if

00:16:58.059 --> 00:16:58.799
 we follow it to

00:16:58.799 --> 00:16:59.600
 its full conclusion

00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.600
 but I am saying

00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:01.460
 that we should

00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:02.419
 take the example

00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:03.460
 of Jonathan and

00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.660
 trust God and

00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.279
 get going.

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:08.299
 think about

00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:08.819
 that little

00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:10.259
 church that

00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:11.139
 about 51

00:17:11.139 --> 00:17:11.839
 years ago

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.779
 stepped out in

00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.599
 faith and

00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:14.279
 bought the very

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:14.960
 building that we

00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:15.539
 sit in this

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:15.819
 evening.

00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:18.839
 Did they sit

00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:19.779
 under a pomegranate

00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:20.059
 tree?

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:21.980
 Absolutely not.

00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:24.440
 They stepped

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.619
 out in faith and

00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:26.680
 they trusted that

00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:27.480
 this was God's

00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:28.700
 plan, that he

00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:29.440
 would build his

00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.399
 church and

00:17:30.399 --> 00:17:31.160
 nothing would

00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.139
 prevail against

00:17:32.139 --> 00:17:32.460
 it.

00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:34.340
 And what's

00:17:34.340 --> 00:17:34.799
 the result?

00:17:36.140 --> 00:17:36.840
 Well 51

00:17:36.840 --> 00:17:38.000
 years later we

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:38.759
 sit here this

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.039
 evening.

00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:41.180
 The community

00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:42.500
 has been blessed

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.319
 through ministries

00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:44.019
 that the church

00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:44.799
 runs.

00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:46.440
 The church has

00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:47.299
 grown in number

00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:48.200
 but more

00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:50.039
 importantly people

00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:50.779
 have come to

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.340
 know Jesus

00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:52.200
 Christ as their

00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:52.720
 Lord and

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.180
 Saviour.

00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:55.519
 People trusted

00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.200
 in God and

00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:56.720
 they acted.

00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.440
 God has given

00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.880
 us all the

00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:01.680
 revelation that we

00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:03.940
 need about his

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:05.240
 will for our

00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:05.960
 lives in this

00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:06.420
 book that we

00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:06.940
 hold in our

00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:07.320
 hands.

00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.660
 We are called

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.860
 to live distinct

00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:12.080
 lives, radical

00:18:12.080 --> 00:18:13.160
 lives of faith

00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:14.360
 lived out in the

00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:15.420
 ordinary tasks of

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.960
 everyday life.

00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:19.180
 And in all the

00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:20.160
 difficulties that

00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:21.860
 come with life we

00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:22.519
 are to throw

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.420
 ourselves on the

00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:24.440
 power and strength

00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.180
 of an almighty

00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:26.580
 God to uphold us

00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:28.120
 and to guide us.

00:18:29.120 --> 00:18:30.480
 Listen to God's

00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:30.680
 word.

00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:31.980
 trust in him

00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:35.340
 and let your

00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:36.320
 life be marked

00:18:36.320 --> 00:18:37.220
 by faith in

00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:37.500
 him.

00:18:38.080 --> 00:18:39.080
 That is how you

00:18:39.080 --> 00:18:39.799
 become a person

00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:41.080
 of faith and

00:18:41.080 --> 00:18:41.860
 not a person of

00:18:41.860 --> 00:18:42.160
 folly.

00:18:45.320 --> 00:18:46.380
 The second thing

00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:47.200
 that we see in

00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:48.200
 these chapters is a

00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:49.240
 self-centered leader.

00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:50.620
 In chapter 14

00:18:50.620 --> 00:18:52.720
 verse 24 to 52

00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.259
 a self-centered

00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:54.960
 leader.

00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:58.240
 Verse 23 ends on

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:58.960
 such a good

00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.259
 note.

00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:01.059
 That God saved

00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:02.160
 Israel that day

00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:03.620
 and so we'd

00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:04.779
 expect rejoicing

00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:06.140
 and celebration

00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:06.720
 after that

00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.160
 wouldn't we?

00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.259
 But instead we

00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.180
 see the sheer

00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:12.299
 folly of a leader

00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:12.779
 who's more

00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.720
 preoccupied with

00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:15.240
 himself and his

00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:16.680
 own glory than he

00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:17.539
 is with God's.

00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:20.380
 Verse 24

00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:21.480
 Israel was in

00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:23.099
 distress that day.

00:19:23.099 --> 00:19:23.740
 Why?

00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.359
 Well because in

00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:26.519
 Saul's haste,

00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.240
 the haste that we

00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:28.159
 got a glimpse of in

00:19:28.159 --> 00:19:29.480
 verses 19 and 20,

00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:30.759
 he seems to have

00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:32.339
 put an oath over

00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:34.399
 Israel saying,

00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:36.279
 cursed be anyone who

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.279
 eats food before

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.059
 evening comes,

00:19:38.159 --> 00:19:39.959
 before I have

00:19:39.959 --> 00:19:41.699
 avenged myself on

00:19:41.699 --> 00:19:43.099
 my enemies.

00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:45.779
 Do you see Saul's

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.099
 problem?

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.359
 The man who

00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:49.259
 didn't obey God

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:49.740
 at the beginning

00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.839
 of chapter 13

00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:52.159
 now makes no

00:19:52.159 --> 00:19:53.159
 reference to God

00:19:53.159 --> 00:19:53.779
 at all.

00:19:54.219 --> 00:19:55.579
 No expression of

00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.599
 faith or confidence

00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:57.359
 in him,

00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.959
 but he is obsessed

00:19:58.959 --> 00:20:00.219
 with avenging himself

00:20:00.219 --> 00:20:01.079
 on his enemies

00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:02.379
 and he's coercing

00:20:02.379 --> 00:20:03.819
 his people into

00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:04.779
 doing it for him.

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.379
 And this oath and

00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:09.859
 curse is such a

00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:10.519
 contrast to

00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:11.439
 Jonathan's words in

00:20:11.439 --> 00:20:12.719
 chapter 14 verse 6,

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.200
 isn't it?

00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:16.140
 Perhaps the Lord

00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:16.960
 will act on our

00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.480
 behalf.

00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.660
 Nothing can hinder

00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.620
 the Lord from

00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:20.559
 saving whether by

00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:22.120
 many or by few.

00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.579
 Now we're not

00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.920
 sure why Saul made

00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:27.480
 this oath,

00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:29.220
 but in verse 24

00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:29.880
 we're given an

00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:30.839
 indication as to

00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.700
 Saul's motives.

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.819
 He was serving

00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.680
 his own purposes.

00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.400
 He might have

00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.339
 thought that his

00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:39.480
 reputation was at

00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:41.380
 stake because he's

00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:42.200
 the king of Israel

00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.940
 after all.

00:20:44.100 --> 00:20:45.080
 And so he does

00:20:45.080 --> 00:20:46.140
 everything he can

00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:46.860
 and puts an oath

00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:48.000
 on a people to

00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.840
 fight until the

00:20:48.840 --> 00:20:49.519
 end of the day.

00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.160
 But Saul would

00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:52.860
 have known that if

00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:54.259
 victory happened on

00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.160
 the battlefield then

00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:56.319
 people scattered.

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.080
 And what followed

00:20:58.080 --> 00:20:59.400
 was hours and hours

00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:00.620
 of chasing down the

00:21:00.620 --> 00:21:02.539
 fleeing enemy to

00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.779
 complete the victory.

00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:05.500
 Hours of running up

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.880
 and down over and

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.580
 around hills,

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.779
 searching high and

00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:09.779
 low for enemies that

00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.559
 may be lurking.

00:21:11.639 --> 00:21:12.420
 And these men would

00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.440
 already be tired from

00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:16.220
 the emotional distress

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.460
 of not knowing what

00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:18.139
 was happening at the

00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:18.799
 beginning of the day.

00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:19.379
 They would be

00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:19.839
 starving.

00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:23.139
 But Saul focuses on

00:21:23.139 --> 00:21:23.960
 his own reputation

00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:24.899
 instead of his men

00:21:24.899 --> 00:21:26.480
 and instead of God.

00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.480
 And do you see how in

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:31.599
 verse 24 the focus is

00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.759
 very much on himself?

00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:35.519
 I have avenged myself

00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.660
 on my enemies.

00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:38.400
 Saul, wake up.

00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:41.960
 Do you not see that it

00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:43.079
 is God who is fighting

00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:43.980
 on Israel's behalf?

00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:47.240
 Do you not see that God

00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:48.240
 should be your focus

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.319
 because it is ultimately

00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.640
 his people that you are

00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:50.960
 leading?

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.019
 No.

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:55.279
 In his foolishness he

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.480
 puts them under a vow

00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.480
 and weakens them.

00:21:58.819 --> 00:21:59.940
 Now Jonathan, his own

00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:01.500
 son, hadn't heard this

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.599
 vow and so in his

00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:03.880
 tired and hungry state

00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:04.880
 he eats some honey.

00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:07.380
 And he is warned

00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:08.259
 about the vow in

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:10.380
 verse 29 to 30 and

00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:11.259
 he points out the

00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:12.099
 foolishness of his

00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:12.740
 own father.

00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.380
 Saul has made

00:22:15.380 --> 00:22:16.940
 trouble for the

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:17.380
 country.

00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.599
 Now why did this

00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:20.119
 bring trouble?

00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.759
 Well there are two

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.240
 reasons.

00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.880
 One, it meant

00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:25.240
 practically that they

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:26.160
 were weak and they

00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:26.720
 were tired.

00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:29.799
 But two, because of

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.619
 what it led to in

00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:32.319
 verses 31 and 32.

00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:35.000
 Once the oath was no

00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:36.019
 longer upon them,

00:22:36.419 --> 00:22:37.299
 notice the language

00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:38.679
 that the author uses.

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:40.639
 They pounced on the

00:22:40.639 --> 00:22:41.799
 plunder and butchered

00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.699
 the animals on the

00:22:42.699 --> 00:22:43.759
 ground and ate the

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.759
 meat together with the

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.059
 blood.

00:22:47.659 --> 00:22:48.739
 This is the language

00:22:48.739 --> 00:22:49.819
 that we'd expect of a

00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.639
 pack of wolves.

00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:52.419
 They've been roaming the

00:22:52.419 --> 00:22:53.599
 forest for days with no

00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:55.219
 food but then they

00:22:55.219 --> 00:22:57.619
 catch their prey and

00:22:57.619 --> 00:22:58.419
 then they devour.

00:22:58.420 --> 00:23:01.519
 But sadly this is not

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.680
 speaking about a pack

00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.460
 of wild animals.

00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.720
 This is speaking of

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:07.120
 God's chosen people.

00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:10.000
 Who are acting like

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:12.259
 wild animals and who

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.560
 are acting as if there

00:23:13.560 --> 00:23:14.259
 is no law.

00:23:15.860 --> 00:23:16.880
 The Israelites were not

00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:17.880
 allowed under the law

00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:19.539
 to consume blood and

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.360
 you can look that up

00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:21.500
 later on in Deuteronomy

00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:23.600
 12 verses 23 to 24.

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:26.619
 But in their hunger and

00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:28.039
 desperation for food,

00:23:28.399 --> 00:23:29.439
 all of their thoughts

00:23:29.439 --> 00:23:30.519
 about God and about

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.659
 living according to his

00:23:31.659 --> 00:23:32.579
 law have gone out the

00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:32.919
 window.

00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:35.659
 Obedience to a self-centered

00:23:35.659 --> 00:23:37.980
 foolish oath led to

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:39.799
 the disobedience to a

00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:41.419
 good God and his law.

00:23:43.939 --> 00:23:45.539
 Saul sees this problem

00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:46.759
 and he jumps immediately

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:48.959
 to problem solving as

00:23:48.959 --> 00:23:49.839
 opposed to getting to

00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.599
 the source of the

00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:50.939
 problem.

00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:53.240
 Don't we do that all

00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:53.600
 the time?

00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:56.799
 He doesn't ask why this

00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:58.019
 has happened which would

00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:59.980
 reveal his own sin but

00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:01.720
 instead he asks how he

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.420
 can fix it.

00:24:03.660 --> 00:24:05.000
 And he assumes again the

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:06.059
 role of a priest and

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:07.720
 builds an altar in verse

00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:08.240
 35.

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.200
 And we've seen this

00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:10.039
 before in the beginning

00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:11.180
 of chapter 13.

00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.920
 Saul, when are you going

00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.660
 to learn your lesson?

00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:17.160
 And in this whole

00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:18.680
 situation it seems as if

00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:20.019
 Saul is trying to do the

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:20.480
 impossible.

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:23.340
 It's as if he's trying to

00:24:23.340 --> 00:24:25.279
 earn back the favour of

00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:25.620
 God.

00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.680
 But there is nothing,

00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:30.460
 absolutely nothing that

00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:32.540
 any human being can ever

00:24:32.540 --> 00:24:34.779
 do that will earn them

00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:35.900
 God's favour.

00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:39.920
 Saul is trying to work

00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:41.380
 himself into a right

00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:42.840
 relationship with God.

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:44.839
 That is not possible.

00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:46.519
 God is the one who

00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.679
 gifts faith.

00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:48.839
 God is the one who

00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:50.240
 reveals himself to his

00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:50.619
 people.

00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:52.919
 God is the one who

00:24:52.919 --> 00:24:54.119
 makes people right with

00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:54.379
 him.

00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:58.019
 No human effort can

00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:59.079
 make a person right

00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.459
 with God.

00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:01.019
 That is a miracle that

00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:02.419
 God works in people's

00:25:02.419 --> 00:25:02.959
 lives.

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:07.500
 And in verse 36 again

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:09.159
 we see Saul's foolishness

00:25:09.159 --> 00:25:10.199
 because he thinks that

00:25:10.199 --> 00:25:11.159
 he sorted it out.

00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:13.160
 God is the one who

00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:14.480
 wants to keep pursuing

00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.240
 the Philistines.

00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:16.860
 Again, no reference of

00:25:16.860 --> 00:25:18.860
 God, no expression of

00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.660
 faith in him.

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.360
 And it's only when the

00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:23.620
 priest says, should we

00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:24.740
 maybe ask God what he

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.840
 thinks about all this?

00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:28.000
 Does he say, oh yeah, I

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.779
 forgot about that.

00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:31.580
 And he thinks to inquire as

00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.700
 to whether this is God's

00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:33.220
 will or not.

00:25:34.040 --> 00:25:36.160
 And so we ask God in

00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:38.240
 verse 37 and at the end

00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.720
 of the verse we see the

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:42.519
 devastating state of

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.500
 Saul and Israel.

00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:46.279
 God did not speak to

00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:46.519
 him.

00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:49.579
 God was withholding his

00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:51.120
 voice from Saul.

00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:54.440
 This silence from God

00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:56.299
 led Saul to conclude the

00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:57.299
 sin was in his camp.

00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:01.099
 And so he calls all the

00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:02.099
 people together and they

00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:03.720
 cast lots to see who is at

00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.059
 fault.

00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:06.839
 And in verse 39, Paul

00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:08.259
 says, Saul says that

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.659
 whoever is found guilty

00:26:09.659 --> 00:26:11.039
 will die.

00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:14.119
 So lots are cast.

00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:16.379
 And it turns out that

00:26:16.379 --> 00:26:18.139
 Jonathan had broken the

00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:19.500
 oath and took some honey.

00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:20.779
 And do you see the

00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:22.000
 foolishness of this king?

00:26:22.679 --> 00:26:24.279
 His priority is for him

00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:25.399
 to do everything and

00:26:25.399 --> 00:26:26.679
 anything he can to get

00:26:26.679 --> 00:26:28.480
 back in God's good books

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:30.480
 that he says in verse 44,

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:32.559
 may God deal with me be

00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:34.259
 it ever so severely if

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:35.220
 you do not die,

00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:35.640
 Jonathan.

00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:41.099
 Saul was so eager to

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.279
 make himself right with

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:43.640
 God and gain his favor

00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.920
 that he was determined to

00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:46.480
 even kill his own son.

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:49.700
 And the irony of this

00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:51.539
 whole situation is that

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.799
 Jonathan was the one who's

00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.180
 faithful.

00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:56.200
 He was the one who took

00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:57.180
 matters into his own

00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:58.640
 hands and trusted God to

00:26:58.640 --> 00:26:59.740
 work on his behalf.

00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:02.259
 Jonathan was a man of

00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:04.380
 faith and Saul is the man

00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:04.860
 of folly.

00:27:06.620 --> 00:27:08.120
 Saul was putting his oath

00:27:08.120 --> 00:27:09.880
 on par with the commands

00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:10.460
 of God.

00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:14.099
 But I was thinking this

00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:15.059
 week, why didn't God

00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:16.000
 change the lot?

00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:18.599
 And why didn't he make

00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:19.799
 Saul out to be the guilty

00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.140
 one?

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.360
 Because the passage is

00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:24.460
 portraying him as the man

00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.759
 who's not walking in the

00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:26.380
 will of God.

00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:28.160
 So why did God let

00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:29.099
 Jonathan be picked?

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:33.039
 Well, as we look on,

00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:34.160
 we see that the people

00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:35.539
 of Israel rally around

00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:37.000
 Jonathan to protect him.

00:27:37.860 --> 00:27:38.740
 And they're now not

00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.579
 listening to Saul's

00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.079
 commands.

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:43.079
 Saul, the king who

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:45.319
 sets himself up as this

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.720
 mighty and strong one of

00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:48.539
 Israel, is being brought

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.059
 to his knees.

00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:49.940
 He's being humbled.

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:52.500
 Whilst the humble one who

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:54.740
 is faithful and serving God

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.880
 is protected.

00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.960
 This episode results in the

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:01.559
 people of Israel recognizing

00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:02.460
 God's work.

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:05.420
 And they say in verse 45

00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:06.940
 that Jonathan's deeds were

00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:08.539
 the acts of a man who was

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:10.319
 being helped by God.

00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:13.420
 See, they're starting to lose

00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.559
 confidence in their king.

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.819
 Maybe they were starting to

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:19.839
 realize that God was right

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.599
 after all.

00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:21.879
 What a surprise.

00:28:23.459 --> 00:28:24.899
 And that this earthly king

00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:26.199
 that they cried out for

00:28:26.199 --> 00:28:27.699
 wasn't actually what was

00:28:27.699 --> 00:28:28.439
 best for them.

00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:33.439
 But Saul continued to reign

00:28:33.439 --> 00:28:34.959
 as king and he continues to

00:28:34.959 --> 00:28:36.079
 live in his folly and we'll

00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.199
 see that as we go on.

00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:41.000
 And we see his lack of

00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:42.659
 confidence and faith in God

00:28:42.659 --> 00:28:43.639
 and we get a hint of that

00:28:43.639 --> 00:28:46.279
 again at the end in verse 52.

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:49.759
 Whenever Saul saw a mighty

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:51.319
 or brave man he took him

00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:52.519
 into his service.

00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:55.759
 Saul is basing his confidence

00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.639
 in himself.

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:59.200
 In his own strength and in

00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.559
 his own army.

00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:03.660
 This is a self-centered leader

00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:06.480
 whose life is marked by

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.019
 folly.

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:11.639
 Are we people of faith or

00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:12.059
 folly?

00:29:13.619 --> 00:29:15.779
 Saul was trying so hard to be

00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:17.019
 made right with God again.

00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:18.359
 He was thinking that he

00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:19.119
 could do that.

00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:22.399
 And it looked as if that was

00:29:22.399 --> 00:29:23.279
 his main goal.

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:26.960
 But the reasoning behind that

00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.440
 was not God's glory.

00:29:29.639 --> 00:29:31.460
 His reasoning for that was

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.379
 himself.

00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.920
 And the tragic thing about

00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:37.299
 Saul's story and the reason

00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.680
 that as we read this we can

00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:40.180
 kind of feel sorry for him

00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:40.660
 can't we?

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:43.379
 Is because the tragedy that he

00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:45.840
 faces that leads to his

00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:47.860
 foolishness is the same

00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:49.300
 tragedy that affects every

00:29:49.300 --> 00:29:50.640
 single human heart in this

00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.940
 world.

00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:53.920
 Saul's problem was that he

00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:55.320
 forgot God.

00:29:57.300 --> 00:29:58.940
 Isn't that the case and the

00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.860
 danger for everyone?

00:30:01.540 --> 00:30:03.160
 There are thousands of people

00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:04.540
 walking around Edinburgh this

00:30:04.540 --> 00:30:04.900
 evening.

00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:07.880
 Millions of people in the world

00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:10.480
 who are living lives marked by

00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:10.960
 folly.

00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:14.500
 Living as if God doesn't exist.

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:16.700
 Refusing to acknowledge who he

00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:18.940
 is and his will for their lives.

00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:22.039
 Millions of people are living

00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:24.440
 under the false assumption that

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:27.960
 they can make themselves right with

00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.299
 God.

00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:31.299
 if they live good lives.

00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:33.659
 If they treat people well.

00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:34.759
 If they're kind to others.

00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:36.200
 If they don't hurt anybody.

00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:38.639
 Then surely they'll be good enough

00:30:38.639 --> 00:30:40.220
 to reach this place that they call

00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:40.619
 heaven.

00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:43.599
 And do you know what that means?

00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:47.319
 That means that millions of people

00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:49.019
 are dying and walking into an

00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:51.639
 eternity without God with a false

00:30:51.639 --> 00:30:52.419
 sense of hope.

00:30:54.899 --> 00:30:57.240
 God alone is the one who can save.

00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:59.740
 God alone is the one who can make

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:01.019
 people right with him.

00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:03.259
 God alone is the one who takes

00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:05.220
 people from being marked by folly

00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:07.279
 to being marked by faith.

00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:11.500
 If that is you this evening.

00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:16.180
 If you are trying your best to reach

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:19.480
 God please stop because your efforts

00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:20.059
 are in vain.

00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:24.440
 But instead obey God's word.

00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:27.259
 trust in his ways and have faith in

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:29.400
 him because only then can you be

00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:30.259
 made right with him.

00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:32.400
 God makes the first move.

00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:38.420
 Let us not be like Saul.

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.660
 Let's not forget God.

00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:41.240
 Let's be people who are marked by

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.640
 faith not by folly.

00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:45.259
 Let's start living as if God exists

00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:47.340
 and is alive because my friends he is.

00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:53.159
 And as we draw to a close I want to

00:31:53.159 --> 00:31:54.759
 say that this story is not just to

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:56.379
 tell us about two different reactions

00:31:56.379 --> 00:31:57.019
 to God.

00:31:57.679 --> 00:31:59.579
 It isn't just there to teach us about

00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:02.259
 godly leadership but it is there to

00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.759
 teach us a much greater story.

00:32:05.159 --> 00:32:06.919
 You see in Jonathan we see a man of

00:32:06.919 --> 00:32:07.279
 faith.

00:32:08.159 --> 00:32:09.939
 We see the qualities of a leader.

00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:11.759
 One who knows God's power.

00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:13.019
 Knows God's wisdom.

00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.599
 Knows God's goodness.

00:32:14.599 --> 00:32:16.579
 And one who trusts God completely.

00:32:18.939 --> 00:32:21.199
 But in comparison to Jesus Christ

00:32:21.199 --> 00:32:23.359
 Jonathan is nothing but a faint shadow.

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:27.799
 See Jesus didn't climb over cliffs and

00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:29.240
 kill 20 enemies.

00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:32.839
 He didn't spend hours chasing enemies

00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:34.559
 down to defeat an army that would

00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:37.519
 ultimately come back again in the

00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:37.899
 future.

00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:38.719
 No.

00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:41.579
 Jesus went into the wilderness by the

00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:43.339
 spirit and was tempted by Satan.

00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:44.899
 He was beaten.

00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:46.000
 He was whipped.

00:32:46.379 --> 00:32:47.480
 He was mocked.

00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:50.220
 And yet he remained silent.

00:32:51.919 --> 00:32:54.240
 And he walked up a hill with a cross

00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:56.539
 on his back and was nailed to the tree

00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:59.779
 in perfect obedience to the will of God

00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:00.319
 the Father.

00:33:00.619 --> 00:33:03.419
 And he died a horrible death.

00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:09.000
 But in the process of his agony he defeated

00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.060
 sin.

00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:14.200
 Our true and lasting enemy that sets us on

00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:17.160
 the path of an eternity of God's judgment.

00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:21.860
 Jesus took the death that we deserve and he

00:33:21.860 --> 00:33:24.140
 rose again defeating not only the powers of

00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:27.320
 sin and Satan but he defeated death itself.

00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:31.579
 And that's why later on in the New Testament

00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:33.939
 in 1st Corinthians Paul the writer of the

00:33:33.939 --> 00:33:35.099
 letter can say this.

00:33:35.879 --> 00:33:38.799
 Death has been swallowed up in victory.

00:33:40.159 --> 00:33:42.000
 Where oh death is your victory?

00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:43.939
 Where oh death is your sting?

00:33:43.939 --> 00:33:47.139
 The sting of death is sin and the power of

00:33:47.139 --> 00:33:49.579
 sin is the law but thanks be to God.

00:33:50.659 --> 00:33:52.679
 He gives us the victory through who?

00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:55.259
 Through our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:55.420
 Christ.

00:33:57.099 --> 00:33:59.240
 This is the leader that we follow.

00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:03.039
 This is the man whose life was marked by

00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:06.879
 unfaltering obedience and trust in the will

00:34:06.879 --> 00:34:08.019
 and goodness of God.

00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:12.559
 And this is the one in whom and through whom

00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:14.300
 we can be made right with God.

00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:17.079
 Jesus is the only answer.

00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:22.099
 Are we people marked by faith or are we

00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:23.380
 people marked by folly?

00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:28.059
 Think back to what the world deems to be

00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:30.280
 foolish and what the world deems to be wise.

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:34.720
 See the opinion of the world regarding these

00:34:34.720 --> 00:34:35.760
 things is worthless.

00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:41.860
 The only opinion that matters as we stand

00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:45.640
 before God on that final day is God's and

00:34:45.640 --> 00:34:47.099
 God's opinion of who we are.

00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:50.699
 And my prayer is that every single person in this

00:34:50.699 --> 00:34:55.299
 room tonight can say that our actions, our speech and

00:34:55.299 --> 00:34:58.000
 our thoughts are characterized by a living faith in

00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:00.139
 the one triune God.

00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:04.500
 The God who set the great plan of salvation for the world

00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.239
 into motion.

00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:10.019
 The son who carried out that plan obediently died on a

00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:11.980
 cross and rose again triumphantly.

00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:17.139
 The Holy Spirit who dwells within every Christian and he was

00:35:17.139 --> 00:35:19.639
 making us more into the image of Jesus Christ.

00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:24.079
 If we trust in Jesus and if we live by the power of his

00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:28.719
 spirit, then we are people of faith set apart by God and for

00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:29.119
 God.

00:35:30.679 --> 00:35:35.359
 But if we reject Jesus and we walk away from him, then we are

00:35:35.359 --> 00:35:35.699
 foolish.

00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:39.679
 Which path will you choose this evening?

00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:44.379
 Are we going to be a people of faith or a folly?

00:35:44.380 --> 00:35:46.380
 Let's pray.

00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:46.920
 Let's pray.

00:35:51.380 --> 00:35:55.579
 And just in the silence of our own hearts for a moment, let's

00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:59.940
 reflect on our stance before the almighty God.

00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:18.340
 O our great God and our redeemer, forgive us for the times that

00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:22.400
 we have walked away from you and our lives have been marked by

00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:23.179
 foolishness.

00:36:23.179 --> 00:36:30.059
 Thank you that through your son and his atoning death on the cross,

00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:37.279
 we can know 100% that we are part of your family, a privilege that

00:36:37.279 --> 00:36:38.480
 we do not deserve.

00:36:39.339 --> 00:36:44.980
 And yet in your goodness, in your faithfulness, you chose to set us

00:36:44.980 --> 00:36:48.879
 free from the sin and the judgment that we deserve.

00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:55.900
 Father, I pray this evening that our lives would be marked by a faith

00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:59.240
 in you, the only one who deserves our lives.

00:37:02.059 --> 00:37:06.300
 Help us live lives for your glory, for your honor and your fame.

00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:09.320
 We ask this in your son's name.

00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:10.180
 Amen.