WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.700 Am I on, Andrew? 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:10.560 There I am. 00:00:10.620 --> 00:00:11.240 Yeah, great. 00:00:11.820 --> 00:00:14.439 I'm going to tighten up this stand so it doesn't fall over mid-sermon. 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:16.920 That would be embarrassing. 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:24.199 Hey, if you started attending Trinity ten years ago, you were here at the beginning of our 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:25.160 1 Samuel series. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:26.780 Just kidding. 00:00:27.100 --> 00:00:28.500 We've been in 1 Samuel for a while. 00:00:28.500 --> 00:00:30.320 We've been doing the whole book, which has been exciting. 00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:32.880 We're in 1 Samuel 29 tonight. 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:33.980 We're nearing the end. 00:00:34.579 --> 00:00:36.820 That's page 251 in the Pew Bible. 00:00:36.939 --> 00:00:40.620 And actually, if you're used to just looking at it on the screens, let me encourage you 00:00:40.620 --> 00:00:43.560 to pick up the Pew Bible and turn there because we're going to do a little bit of flipping 00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:50.039 to get the context of our chapter tonight to sort of see what God wants us to see in this 00:00:50.039 --> 00:00:50.379 text. 00:00:50.379 --> 00:00:54.280 So, 1 Samuel 29. 00:00:54.280 --> 00:00:59.980 Let me read this for us. 00:00:59.979 --> 00:01:07.120 Now, the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. 00:01:08.039 --> 00:01:11.259 And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:16.140 As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and 00:01:16.140 --> 00:01:21.599 his men were passing on in the rear with Akish, the commanders of the Philistines said, what 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:23.199 are these Hebrews doing here? 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:28.820 And Akish said to the commanders of the Philistines, is this not David, the servant of Saul, king 00:01:28.820 --> 00:01:31.540 of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years? 00:01:32.100 --> 00:01:36.740 And since he deserted to me, I found no fault in him to this day. 00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:39.859 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. 00:01:40.460 --> 00:01:44.320 And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, send the man back that he may return 00:01:44.320 --> 00:01:45.840 to the place to which you have assigned him. 00:01:46.260 --> 00:01:48.180 He shall not go down with us to battle. 00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:51.160 So less in the battle, he become an adversary to us. 00:01:51.440 --> 00:01:53.920 For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his Lord? 00:01:54.440 --> 00:01:56.180 Would it not be with the heads of the men here? 00:01:57.100 --> 00:01:59.820 Is not this David of whom they sing to one another in dances? 00:02:00.360 --> 00:02:04.080 Saul has struck down his thousands and David his ten thousands. 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:10.379 Then Akish called David and said to him, as the Lord lives, you have been honest. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:15.420 And to me, it seems right that you should march out with me in this campaign. 00:02:15.419 --> 00:02:19.879 For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. 00:02:20.659 --> 00:02:22.619 Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 00:02:22.679 --> 00:02:27.439 So go back now and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines. 00:02:28.439 --> 00:02:31.519 And David said to Akish, but what have I done? 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:35.299 What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, 00:02:35.339 --> 00:02:37.959 that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king? 00:02:39.019 --> 00:02:44.719 And Akish answered David and said, I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:45.099 of God. 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:50.280 Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, he shall not go up with us to the 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:50.580 battle. 00:02:51.479 --> 00:02:57.439 Now then, rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you and 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:00.539 start early in the morning and depart as soon as you have light. 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:06.560 So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. 00:03:07.300 --> 00:03:09.360 But the Philistines went up to Jezreel. 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:11.840 So let's pray. 00:03:12.420 --> 00:03:13.800 God, we thank you for your word. 00:03:14.480 --> 00:03:20.400 We thank you that each part of it is inspired and is useful, Lord, for our growth and grace. 00:03:21.040 --> 00:03:23.640 So help us tonight to understand this passage. 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:27.200 And Lord, speak to us so that we might grow in our knowledge and love of you. 00:03:27.720 --> 00:03:28.880 We pray this in Christ's name. 00:03:28.940 --> 00:03:29.140 Amen. 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:33.680 Well, so chapter 29 of 1 Samuel. 00:03:33.740 --> 00:03:34.960 What is this chapter about? 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:40.820 Well, it's really the story of how God rescues David from going to war against his own people. 00:03:41.820 --> 00:03:45.120 That's what's kind of going on here in this chapter. 00:03:45.740 --> 00:03:54.740 And what we see here are some of the unlikely means that God is willing and able to use in 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:59.640 order to extend his undeserved mercy to David and to his people. 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:05.459 Some of the unlikely means God uses to extend his undeserved mercy to his people. 00:04:07.139 --> 00:04:11.799 Now, to understand our chapter tonight and what it means for us today, we have to understand the context. 00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:16.379 If this is your first time here at Trinity and you're jumping right in, you probably think, 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:18.379 what in the world is this chapter about? 00:04:18.459 --> 00:04:19.919 So let's set some of the stage. 00:04:20.620 --> 00:04:22.219 Turn back to chapter 27. 00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:25.279 Back in chapter 27, what happened? 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:30.839 David had fled from Saul and taken refuge among the Philistines. 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:35.579 Look at verses 1 and 2 of chapter 27. 00:04:35.719 --> 00:04:37.059 Then David said in his heart, 00:04:37.219 --> 00:04:39.839 Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. 00:04:39.919 --> 00:04:41.559 Remember, Saul is hunting David down. 00:04:42.119 --> 00:04:45.099 There's nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. 00:04:45.619 --> 00:04:48.799 Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, 00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:50.379 and I shall escape out of his hand. 00:04:50.379 --> 00:04:57.199 So David arose and went over, he and the 600 men who were with him, to Achish, the son of Maok, king of Gath, 00:04:57.259 --> 00:04:59.319 which is one of the great cities of the Philistines. 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:02.639 So he's one of the sort of head chief Philistine commanders. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:07.639 And the Philistines, obviously, at this point in Israelite history, are their sort of like primary enemy, 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:09.399 the Philistines and the Israelites. 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:12.860 So David flees to the land of the Philistines. 00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:15.379 And for the moment, the plan seems to work, right? 00:05:15.420 --> 00:05:16.800 Look at verse 4 of chapter 27. 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:20.879 And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him. 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:22.160 Great. 00:05:22.259 --> 00:05:23.240 Mission accomplished, right? 00:05:24.420 --> 00:05:27.220 But there was a price. 00:05:28.699 --> 00:05:34.160 After all, how would David convince Achish, his Philistine host, to let him stay? 00:05:36.180 --> 00:05:41.019 After all, David had tried hiding out in Gath once before, and it backfired. 00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:42.819 Do you remember that? 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:46.019 Turn back a few more pages to chapter 21. 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:51.319 Chapter 21 is when David is first on the run from Saul. 00:05:53.139 --> 00:05:55.259 Look down at verse 10 in chapter 21. 00:05:56.199 --> 00:06:00.139 And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish, the king of Gath. 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:01.500 And the servants of Achish said to him, 00:06:01.960 --> 00:06:03.660 Is not this David the king of the land? 00:06:03.780 --> 00:06:06.600 Did they not sing to one another of him in dances? 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:11.620 Saul has struck down his thousands and David his ten thousands. 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:19.439 That song must have been a total earworm because everyone in, like, the surrounding regions knew of it. 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:21.879 It was like Taylor Swift. 00:06:22.040 --> 00:06:26.060 Everyone was singing it in their heads on the way back and forth to the grocery store. 00:06:26.060 --> 00:06:30.160 In other words, what are Achish's servants telling him? 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:32.959 They're saying, look, you've got to be crazy to let this guy stay here. 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:35.459 He's the one who massacred all of our troops. 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:36.740 What are you doing? 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:37.639 He's got to go. 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:40.959 And if you remember what happens, how does David get himself out of that jam? 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:42.759 He pretends to be crazy. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:44.840 He pretends to be mad. 00:06:44.839 --> 00:06:48.239 And Achish says, look, I've got enough madmen to take care of. 00:06:48.339 --> 00:06:49.079 Get him out of here. 00:06:49.539 --> 00:06:51.819 And David barely makes it out alive. 00:06:53.779 --> 00:06:57.699 So now here we are in chapter 27 and 29, a few years later. 00:06:57.959 --> 00:07:02.839 How is it that David's going to convince Achish that he and all his 600 men that have now gathered around him, 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:04.719 this sort of mercenary fighting force, 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:07.819 how is he going to convince him that he and his men aren't a threat? 00:07:09.659 --> 00:07:12.199 How is he going to keep his cover among the Philistines? 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:16.899 Well, in verses 8 through 12 of chapter 27, we see how. 00:07:18.339 --> 00:07:19.819 David and his men go out. 00:07:20.939 --> 00:07:25.879 They raid some of the Gentile tribes sort of to the south of the Philistine country. 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:35.279 Then they come back and lie to Achish and say that they were raiding the cities of Judah and some of their allies. 00:07:37.039 --> 00:07:40.060 You see, they make Achish think that they've defected, 00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:42.300 that they've deserted Israel and Saul. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:44.740 They've just sort of given up on that once and for all. 00:07:44.780 --> 00:07:46.459 And now they've sort of come over to the other side. 00:07:48.860 --> 00:07:51.980 And David's scheme, again, seems to work. 00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:53.500 Look at verse 12. 00:07:54.340 --> 00:07:59.959 And Achish trusted David, thinking he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel. 00:08:00.100 --> 00:08:01.899 Therefore, he shall always be my servant. 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:07.540 David's scheme seems to work. 00:08:07.540 --> 00:08:10.980 But at what cost? 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:19.680 You know, the sense of these verses in chapter 27 is that David goes out again and again. 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:25.400 And he ends up going deeper and deeper into deception and lies. 00:08:26.420 --> 00:08:32.120 And in order to do that, he has to descend further and further into brutality and violence. 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:39.580 After all, he can't leave any witnesses of what he's actually doing because it will blow his cover, right? 00:08:40.539 --> 00:08:48.080 So when David and his men raid these Gentile tribes to the south, they end up killing all the men and women, leaving none of them alive. 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:54.659 Which was not, by the way, common sort of tribal raiding practices in the ancient Near East. 00:08:54.899 --> 00:08:57.700 He usually just sort of got the stuff and got out and let the people alone. 00:08:57.700 --> 00:09:05.860 So you see, David figures out how to stay safe in the land of the Philistines. 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:12.700 But only at the cost of more and more lies and more and more violence. 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:20.020 And what's interesting is that the narrator of 1 Samuel, 1 Samuel, is completely silent. 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:25.620 He doesn't make a moral statement about David's actions here. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:30.360 The text doesn't come right out and say, oh, and by the way, this was really despicable of David. 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:37.919 But, you know, I think the narrator doesn't do that because he doesn't have to. 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:43.539 I think we're meant to see David's actions as wrong here. 00:09:46.060 --> 00:09:50.980 And I think we see something even more in this episode in David's life. 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:57.620 Notice how, in David's life here, one sin leads to another. 00:09:59.420 --> 00:10:02.240 How it sucks him in deeper and deeper. 00:10:03.420 --> 00:10:09.440 It's like quicksand that every move he tries to make just sends him down faster and faster. 00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:11.779 Look at it. 00:10:11.820 --> 00:10:15.800 He stops trusting God to protect him and he flees to the land of the Philistines. 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:18.840 And once he flees to the land of the Philistines, he has to start lying. 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:21.500 And in order to keep up the lie, he has to start killing. 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:26.600 And, of course, you and I might think, whoa, I'd never do anything like that. 00:10:27.660 --> 00:10:28.660 Okay, fair enough. 00:10:31.420 --> 00:10:38.440 But I think that's just because you and I underestimate just how quickly and how powerfully sin can grow. 00:10:38.540 --> 00:10:40.800 No, you and I might not end up murdering anyone. 00:10:42.540 --> 00:10:46.639 But we underestimate how quickly sin can take control in our lives. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:52.220 You see, sin always grows in compound interest. 00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:58.779 That lustful glance here and there becomes, over time, a seemingly unstoppable pornography addiction. 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:05.960 The bitter root of unforgiveness when someone hurt you years ago that you never really take care of 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:09.980 takes root until you can barely have any relationship at all 00:11:09.980 --> 00:11:13.639 without constantly getting angry and hurt and burning all your bridges. 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:20.899 The little tinge of self-pity gets nursed and nursed 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:24.639 until eventually you see yourself as utterly worthless and unloved 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:27.699 and you start to wonder whether life is worth living at all. 00:11:31.100 --> 00:11:33.659 You see, no matter what the sin is, 00:11:34.059 --> 00:11:37.080 it always takes you farther than you want to go. 00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:46.120 And sin, it seems, can strike at any time, too. 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:50.980 We're never immune or off limits from its attack. 00:11:51.139 --> 00:11:52.920 That's another thing I think we see here. 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:57.580 The shocking thing about chapter 27 is that it comes right after chapter 26. 00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:02.300 In chapter 26, David has this great moment of obedience and trust in the Lord, right? 00:12:02.299 --> 00:12:08.679 I spent a whole sermon talking about how David was a great model for how to fight sin and temptation in chapter 26. 00:12:08.959 --> 00:12:10.459 And what happens in chapter 27? 00:12:11.059 --> 00:12:11.459 Boop! 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:13.179 Total opposite direction. 00:12:15.959 --> 00:12:19.699 Remember in chapter 26, David has the opportunity to kill Saul and all his troubles, 00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:21.199 and he refuses to do it. 00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:23.819 He obeys God and doesn't lay a hand on the king's anointed. 00:12:24.939 --> 00:12:27.139 And in that chapter, ironically, David even says, 00:12:27.219 --> 00:12:28.879 Saul, you know why what you're doing is so bad? 00:12:28.899 --> 00:12:30.399 Because it's forcing me to leave the land. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:33.000 I can't stay in the land if you keep coming after me like this. 00:12:33.539 --> 00:12:34.779 That's why this is so bad. 00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:39.319 And I say that's ironic because, look, when chapter 27 begins, David's like, 00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:40.000 okay, I'm out. 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:40.720 I'm leaving. 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:46.120 He stops trusting God will protect him and runs to the land of the Philistines. 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:47.779 And I think the lesson for us is this, 00:12:48.439 --> 00:12:53.240 is that there's never a time when we can put our guard down. 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:57.220 David has this great spiritual victory. 00:12:57.220 --> 00:13:01.259 And the next moment, a downward spiral. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:04.000 Even after great moments of trust and obedience, 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:07.340 we can still succumb to moral failures, both small and great. 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:08.180 You know, it's very interesting. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:14.480 One of the very first sort of pictorial images of sin that the Bible gives 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:20.259 is of a crouching predator ready to overtake its prey. 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:23.399 Do you remember what God told Cain? 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:28.720 Sin is crouching at your door. 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:34.980 We need to always be vigilant to fight and to flee. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:38.899 There's never a time when sin can't strike. 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:46.879 The old Puritan theologian John Owen once wrote what I think is probably the best big idea in a sermon ever written. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:51.100 He wrote, be killing sin, or sin will be killing you. 00:13:56.039 --> 00:14:00.220 But not only does sin grow exponentially, and not only does it strike at any time, 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:04.559 but do you see here how sin also begins to steal control? 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:10.299 In chapter 27, David is playing an incredibly dangerous game. 00:14:10.979 --> 00:14:12.619 Trying to win Akisha's favor, 00:14:12.959 --> 00:14:16.500 while at the same time trying to not do any harm to his own people back in Israel. 00:14:16.719 --> 00:14:18.739 And for a while, it looks like he can keep it together, right? 00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:20.259 It looks like he can stay in control. 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:23.219 It looks like he can keep manipulating the situation to his advantage. 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:28.439 But then the day comes when David is in too deep. 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:34.240 And he finally gets stuck in an impossible situation. 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:37.340 Look at the beginning of chapter 28. 00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:45.220 In those days, the Philistines gathered their forces for war to fight against Israel. 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:48.060 And Akish said to David, 00:14:48.880 --> 00:14:52.600 Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army. 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:55.320 David said to Akish, 00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:57.100 Very well. 00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:59.800 You shall know what your servant can do. 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:02.440 And Akish said to David, 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:02.940 Very well. 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:04.920 I will make you my bodyguard for life. 00:15:07.420 --> 00:15:12.180 The day finally comes when the Philistine forces are going to march out to war against Israel. 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:15.440 You know, this is the day that David was probably hoping would never come, 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:18.180 but any outside observer knew it was bound to happen. 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:22.540 He'd been feigning allegiance to Akish, 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:25.480 against Israel for almost a year and a half at this point. 00:15:25.560 --> 00:15:26.860 So, of course, Akish is going to say, 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:28.320 Okay, David, you're coming with me. 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:34.080 And then David gives this incredibly politically vague answer in verse 2. 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:34.779 Very well. 00:15:35.300 --> 00:15:37.360 You shall know what your servant can do. 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:41.560 David knows he's in trouble. 00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:44.879 After all, if he tells Akish he can't go to war, 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:46.960 he risks blowing his cover, right? 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:48.220 Not a very good idea. 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:51.899 When you and your 600 men are surrounded by Philistines, 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:56.699 you've got nowhere to hide because you've been living in broad daylight with them for the last year. 00:15:57.459 --> 00:15:58.559 Oh, by the way, Akish, 00:15:58.699 --> 00:16:00.779 I've actually been lying to you for the last year and a half, 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:02.439 and there's no chance I'm going with you to war. 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:09.819 But, of course, if David actually goes into battle with the Philistines, 00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:12.960 he'd be fighting against his own people, 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:20.760 shedding the blood of his brothers and his cousins and his friends. 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:27.020 And besides David not wanting to do that for the obvious reasons that they're his own people, 00:16:27.920 --> 00:16:34.020 such a move would functionally destroy any chance that David had of becoming Israel's king. 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:39.759 After all, who would follow a king who goes to war against his own people 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:42.379 in the ranks of their sworn enemy? 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:47.539 In fact, even if David were to get into that situation 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:50.519 and then sort of become a fifth column in the midst of the battle, 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:52.500 the damage will have already been done. 00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:54.799 The men will have seen him marching in, 00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:57.519 and his hopes of kingship will be dashed. 00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:02.799 David's foolishness, his lack of trust, 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:04.940 his blatant sin have backed him 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:06.680 straight into a corner 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:09.119 with seemingly no way out. 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:13.900 That's what's going on when chapter 29 begins. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:18.279 With the ranks of the Philistines 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:20.920 assembling for battle by the hundreds and by the thousands, 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:22.859 you can see them sort of marching in. 00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:25.900 There's David. 00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:29.440 His face is probably stone cold, 00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:34.120 but inside his heart is probably anxiously pounding 00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:36.220 and his mind racing, 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:40.400 wondering whether everything that he had been holding out for 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.440 for these long years in the wilderness, 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:44.360 everything that he had been promised, 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:46.360 the kingdom, the crown, 00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:49.940 whether all of that was about to be thrown away 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:53.420 because of his foolish move of fleeing to death. 00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:59.660 But as David draws near to the gathering armies, 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:02.759 the Philistine commanders see David and his men, 00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:05.160 and they ask rightly, 00:18:05.860 --> 00:18:08.380 what are these Hebrews doing here? 00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:13.440 And Akish, ironically, 00:18:13.820 --> 00:18:15.120 stands up and defends David. 00:18:16.020 --> 00:18:16.640 And of course, 00:18:16.860 --> 00:18:18.940 we as readers know way better than Akish. 00:18:19.040 --> 00:18:21.180 We know that David's been lying to him this whole time. 00:18:23.260 --> 00:18:25.520 But Akish can't convince the Philistine commanders. 00:18:26.340 --> 00:18:28.460 Those commanders, too, remember that same song. 00:18:28.600 --> 00:18:29.880 Saul has struck down his thousands, 00:18:30.060 --> 00:18:31.080 and David his ten thousands, 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:33.179 and they force Akish to send David away 00:18:33.179 --> 00:18:35.139 with all of his men. 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:38.480 And then Akish comes to deliver the news to David, 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:40.279 and again, the irony is thick. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:43.139 Akish just is sort of bowing over backwards 00:18:43.139 --> 00:18:45.079 to sort of declare David's innocence 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:46.799 in verses 6 and verse 9. 00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:53.319 And David will even fake disappointment in verse 8. 00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:57.159 And of course, his language there is just as ambiguous 00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:59.679 as it was back in the beginning of chapter 28, wasn't it? 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:00.660 Look at what he says there. 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.820 He says, look, why can't I go 00:19:01.820 --> 00:19:04.420 and fight against the enemies of my lord the king? 00:19:05.820 --> 00:19:08.820 Who exactly is David referring to as my lord the king? 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.460 Akish? 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:11.380 Saul? 00:19:12.120 --> 00:19:12.560 God? 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:16.360 Who exactly is the enemy that David thinks he's going to fight? 00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:18.400 It was a pretty shrewd thing to say in that moment. 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.160 But either way, 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:27.460 when morning comes, 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:32.220 David is released from his duty to the Philistines. 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:36.079 And he's delivered from the dilemma, 00:19:36.600 --> 00:19:39.640 from the catch-22 that his own foolish and sinful decisions 00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:40.299 had put him in. 00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:44.880 You can imagine the relief of David 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:48.759 as he and his men marched away from the battle lines, 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:51.180 seeing the sun break over the hills, 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:53.400 knowing that he'd been rescued 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:55.720 from his own stupidity and wickedness. 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:01.780 But how does the author of 1 Samuel 00:20:01.780 --> 00:20:02.900 want us to understand 00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:04.720 what happens in chapter 29? 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:07.320 Again, very interestingly, 00:20:07.540 --> 00:20:09.900 the narrator is completely silent almost. 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.980 There is very little 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:14.019 theologizing going on 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:15.720 in this chapter, right? 00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:17.420 In fact, the only time 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:19.400 that God's name is even mentioned 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:22.320 is when Achish is praising David 00:20:22.320 --> 00:20:24.700 for being so honest and so blameless. 00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:29.160 But of course, 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.180 this is another instance 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:32.380 where the narrator doesn't say anything 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:34.040 because he doesn't have to. 00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:38.000 It wasn't luck 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.819 that rescued David that day. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:42.440 It wasn't the fact 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:44.420 that that song was so incredibly catchy. 00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:48.099 No, it was God 00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:50.339 who rescued David on that day. 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:56.079 God working his undeserved mercy to David, 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:59.259 working through the unlikeliest of means, 00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:01.319 the Philistine commanders. 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:05.519 That's what this chapter 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.819 is really here to show us. 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:09.339 That God can use even his enemies 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:10.259 to do his will 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:12.119 and that God's will 00:21:12.119 --> 00:21:14.639 is one of unmerited favor, 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:16.799 of completely undeserved mercy. 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:21.220 When David had boxed himself in 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:22.899 and caught himself in a trap 00:21:22.899 --> 00:21:23.819 of his own making, 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:26.519 God's quiet, sovereign hand 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:28.379 did what seemed impossible 00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:30.220 and rescued him. 00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:36.539 So what's the practical application 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.279 for us today? 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.740 Of course, 00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:41.159 the application for us today 00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:41.899 is not 00:21:41.899 --> 00:21:43.839 that we should just go ahead 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:45.200 and sin ourselves into the corner 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:47.099 and trust that God's going to bail us out 00:21:47.099 --> 00:21:48.019 at the last minute, right? 00:21:48.399 --> 00:21:49.859 That would be a poor application 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:52.299 of 1 Samuel chapter 29. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:53.539 And in a way, 00:21:53.619 --> 00:21:54.279 Paul addresses that 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.119 in the book of Romans, right? 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:56.339 Shall we go on sinning 00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:57.179 that grace may abound? 00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:57.519 He asked, 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.359 by no means. 00:21:58.359 --> 00:21:59.579 If you're alive with Christ, 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:01.019 you've died to sin. 00:22:02.219 --> 00:22:03.579 So this chapter in 1 Samuel 00:22:03.579 --> 00:22:05.359 isn't giving us some license to sin. 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:06.819 And the text actually, 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:07.859 in addition to that, 00:22:07.959 --> 00:22:09.159 isn't promising us 00:22:09.159 --> 00:22:10.759 that we'll never experience 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.859 the earthly consequences 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.539 of our sin. 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.339 In fact, 00:22:14.459 --> 00:22:17.240 sometimes God definitely allows us 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:19.379 to undergo the earthly 00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:21.459 and natural consequences 00:22:21.459 --> 00:22:22.579 of our sinful choices 00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:24.619 in order to teach us 00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:27.419 eternal spiritual lessons. 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:29.960 In other words, 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:31.199 sometimes getting busted 00:22:31.199 --> 00:22:32.399 and getting found out 00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:33.199 is the best thing 00:22:33.199 --> 00:22:34.220 that can happen for us, 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:35.119 spiritually speaking. 00:22:36.699 --> 00:22:38.759 Because we finally can come clean. 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:40.559 Because in that moment, 00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:41.399 we can finally 00:22:41.399 --> 00:22:44.000 see sin for what it is. 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:47.179 And often it's the times 00:22:47.179 --> 00:22:47.859 when we've been busted 00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:48.519 and found out 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.839 that we run back to God. 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:53.839 So if this chapter 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:54.799 is not a license to sin, 00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.459 it's not a promise 00:22:55.459 --> 00:22:56.439 that we'll never experience 00:22:56.439 --> 00:22:57.179 the consequences 00:22:57.179 --> 00:22:58.379 of our sinful actions, 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.559 1 Samuel 29 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:03.500 is still 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:05.799 a massive 00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:07.019 display 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:08.319 and reminder 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:10.480 of God's relentless 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:12.240 and persistent 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:14.240 and undeserved mercy. 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:18.859 some of us know 00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:19.740 what it's like 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:21.180 to make 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.359 a total mess 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:23.000 of things. 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.940 Through our own 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.599 cleverness 00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:27.259 or through our own 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.180 selfishness, 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.599 thinking that we can 00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:30.660 control things 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:32.039 and work things out 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:32.920 in our own way 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.940 apart from God, 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:35.019 we know what it's like 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:36.039 to try that 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.900 and in the end 00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:38.380 to make a total disaster 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:39.440 for ourselves 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.240 and for others. 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.880 And this passage 00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:42.559 is saying that 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:44.140 even then, 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:45.259 even when 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.319 your mercy 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:47.339 would have withered 00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:48.079 and run dry, 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:48.920 even when you 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:49.660 would have given up 00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:50.160 on you, 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.120 even then, 00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.120 God's mercy 00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:53.279 isn't done with you. 00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:55.339 That God's mercy 00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.000 is an ocean 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.819 whose waves 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.640 don't stop 00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:58.620 pounding the shore. 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.620 God's mercy 00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:04.480 is like the sun 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.079 whose beams 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:05.980 don't stop 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.859 shining down. 00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.980 And that same mercy 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:11.579 is pursuing you. 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:14.799 even out 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.879 into the country 00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:17.099 of the Philistines 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:17.699 where you've 00:24:17.699 --> 00:24:18.740 buried yourself. 00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:21.799 Even there, 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:22.819 God's mercy 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.480 is coming 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:24.500 after you. 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.519 Even tonight, 00:24:27.419 --> 00:24:28.399 beckoning you 00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:29.939 and barging 00:24:29.939 --> 00:24:30.819 in on you 00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:32.480 using the most 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:34.079 unlikely means 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:34.919 if necessary, 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.019 the foolishness 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.379 of preaching 00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:38.400 even. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.000 All in order 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.740 to get you 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.340 to see 00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:45.260 that the morning 00:24:45.260 --> 00:24:46.800 is about to dawn 00:24:46.800 --> 00:24:48.500 and it's time 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.360 to come home. 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.000 And you know, 00:24:54.060 --> 00:24:54.680 you and I, 00:24:55.080 --> 00:24:56.720 we aren't David, 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.300 right? 00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.480 You and I 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.140 are not 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:00.820 God's 00:25:00.820 --> 00:25:01.380 special 00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:02.160 anointed king. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:05.980 But why did 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.519 God save 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.060 David here? 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.259 You know, 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.740 it was more 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.400 than just a mere 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.000 example 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:11.560 of his mercy. 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:12.960 No, 00:25:13.040 --> 00:25:13.800 in saving 00:25:13.800 --> 00:25:14.600 David 00:25:14.600 --> 00:25:15.900 from David's 00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:16.900 self-imposed 00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:17.519 ruin, 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.680 God was 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.259 actually 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.259 carrying out 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.000 and carrying 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.600 forward his 00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:23.160 plan 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:24.300 to save 00:25:24.300 --> 00:25:24.779 us all. 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.660 Because it 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:29.000 was through 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.560 David's 00:25:29.560 --> 00:25:30.340 line, 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:30.860 you see, 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:33.139 that an 00:25:33.139 --> 00:25:33.659 even greater 00:25:33.659 --> 00:25:34.159 David would 00:25:34.159 --> 00:25:34.500 come, 00:25:35.159 --> 00:25:35.519 the Lord 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.339 Jesus Christ. 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.240 God 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.159 rescues 00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:39.859 David 00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:41.059 to keep 00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.659 his great 00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:42.459 rescue plan 00:25:42.459 --> 00:25:43.000 for all 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.639 of creation 00:25:43.639 --> 00:25:44.459 moving forward. 00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:48.439 And in 00:25:48.439 --> 00:25:49.199 that plan, 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.259 and in 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:50.939 that one 00:25:50.939 --> 00:25:51.819 Jesus Christ, 00:25:51.979 --> 00:25:52.379 God's 00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:52.859 persistent 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.439 mercy has 00:25:53.439 --> 00:25:53.899 come after 00:25:53.899 --> 00:25:54.699 all of us. 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.919 No matter 00:25:56.919 --> 00:25:57.939 how deep 00:25:57.939 --> 00:25:58.879 you're in 00:25:58.879 --> 00:25:59.119 it, 00:25:59.419 --> 00:25:59.779 no matter 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.559 how stuck 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.139 or trapped 00:26:01.139 --> 00:26:01.539 you feel, 00:26:01.639 --> 00:26:02.119 Jesus has 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:02.500 come to 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.059 fulfill 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:03.859 God's 00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:04.500 mission, 00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.299 to be 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:05.819 the king 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:06.419 who gives 00:26:06.419 --> 00:26:06.859 his life 00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.139 so that 00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:07.500 you might 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:07.899 live, 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:08.819 to be 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.240 the king 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.359 who lives 00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:11.639 and reigns 00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.740 as a 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.159 rightful 00:26:13.159 --> 00:26:13.539 Lord of 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:13.859 all, 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:14.919 the one 00:26:14.919 --> 00:26:15.359 who says, 00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:16.399 come taste 00:26:16.399 --> 00:26:16.759 and see 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.079 that the 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:17.419 Lord is 00:26:17.419 --> 00:26:17.799 good. 00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.019 And if 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:23.480 you trust 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:23.779 him for 00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.319 his grace 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:24.599 and if 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.059 you bow 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.539 your life 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:25.940 to him, 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:26.679 know 00:26:26.679 --> 00:26:27.440 all your 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:27.879 problems 00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:28.139 won't 00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:28.619 instantly 00:26:28.619 --> 00:26:29.179 go away. 00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:30.240 some of 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.960 the consequences 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.400 of sin 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:31.980 will remain 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.700 but the 00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:33.380 condemnation 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:33.860 of sin, 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.840 the guilt 00:26:34.840 --> 00:26:35.360 of sin, 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.200 that will 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.759 be washed 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.160 away. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:40.560 And his 00:26:40.560 --> 00:26:41.100 spirit will 00:26:41.100 --> 00:26:41.480 begin to 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.440 work a 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.140 change in 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:43.860 your heart 00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:44.560 that will 00:26:44.560 --> 00:26:45.019 affect 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.720 everything. 00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:51.120 This Sunday 00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:51.680 is the first 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:52.140 Sunday of the 00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:53.240 month and 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.580 on those 00:26:53.580 --> 00:26:55.279 Sundays we 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:55.600 go to the 00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:55.880 Lord's 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.100 Supper. 00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:59.179 and when 00:26:59.179 --> 00:26:59.500 we come 00:26:59.500 --> 00:26:59.759 to the 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.339 table we're 00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:00.980 remembering 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:02.339 just that. 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.039 We take 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.379 the bread 00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:04.599 and we 00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:04.980 take the 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.339 cup to 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:05.899 remember 00:27:05.899 --> 00:27:06.439 Jesus' 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:08.219 death for 00:27:08.219 --> 00:27:08.859 all who 00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:09.359 believe in 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:09.519 him, 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:10.119 for all 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:10.559 who take 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:10.819 him as 00:27:10.819 --> 00:27:11.240 Savior and 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:11.419 Lord. 00:27:11.719 --> 00:27:12.019 His 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.879 death is 00:27:12.879 --> 00:27:13.359 our 00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:14.279 substitute 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:15.000 that sets 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.579 us free 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.779 from the 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:17.279 penalty of 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:17.579 sin that 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.240 we deserved. 00:27:22.439 --> 00:27:23.079 So maybe 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.539 tonight you 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:23.899 see a 00:27:23.899 --> 00:27:24.539 pattern of 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:24.939 sin in 00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:25.539 your life 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.579 that needs 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:26.859 to be 00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:27.399 stopped 00:27:27.399 --> 00:27:27.899 before it 00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:28.319 grows any 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:28.619 bigger. 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.200 Maybe you 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:31.779 even see a 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.019 sort of 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.680 complacent 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.119 attitude 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:33.879 thinking that 00:27:33.879 --> 00:27:34.299 no that 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:34.700 could never 00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.180 happen to 00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:35.440 me. 00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:38.460 Well friends 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:38.960 tonight as 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.240 we go to 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.539 the table 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.259 confess your 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.899 sins and 00:27:41.899 --> 00:27:42.379 take the 00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:43.159 bread and 00:27:43.159 --> 00:27:43.639 take the 00:27:43.639 --> 00:27:44.039 cup if 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.279 you're a 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.799 believer in 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.220 Jesus as 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:45.980 a sign that 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.500 he died 00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:47.440 for you and 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:47.759 that he's 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.859 working in 00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.139 you to 00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:49.799 free you 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.399 from sin's 00:27:50.399 --> 00:27:52.460 power and 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:52.859 that you are 00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:54.279 not stuck and 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:54.859 you are not 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:55.399 trapped. 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:59.960 And maybe 00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.519 tonight you've 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.420 lost sight of 00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:02.359 how persistent 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.379 God's mercy 00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:03.899 is. 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.519 Maybe you've 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.039 been trying to 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.899 be good on 00:28:07.899 --> 00:28:08.379 your own 00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:08.819 steam. 00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:10.839 Maybe you've 00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:11.559 blown it and 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.279 you don't think 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:12.839 you can get 00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:13.500 back up. 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:15.980 Well friend if 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.599 that's you 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.159 tonight then 00:28:17.159 --> 00:28:17.960 take the bread 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:19.180 and take the 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:20.579 cup as a 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.779 sign that the 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.579 mercy of Jesus 00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:23.460 never runs 00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:23.819 out. 00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:25.639 God's mercy 00:28:25.639 --> 00:28:26.439 once and 00:28:26.439 --> 00:28:27.159 for all 00:28:27.159 --> 00:28:30.539 flows forth 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:32.559 never losing 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.179 its power 00:28:33.179 --> 00:28:34.439 never growing 00:28:34.439 --> 00:28:34.919 old 00:28:34.919 --> 00:28:37.039 never revoked 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:38.119 never drawn 00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:38.639 back. 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:41.619 Isn't that a 00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:42.039 sign of what 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:42.539 we do 00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:44.059 continually in 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.500 the Lord's 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:44.899 supper we 00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:45.379 take it up 00:28:45.379 --> 00:28:46.339 again and 00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:47.299 again and 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:47.700 again. 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:49.019 Not because 00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.740 Jesus needs to 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.379 die again and 00:28:50.379 --> 00:28:50.720 again and 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.799 again but as a 00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.399 sign that what 00:28:52.399 --> 00:28:53.559 he did was so 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:55.039 magnificent and 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.759 so mighty that 00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.619 it can never run 00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:58.039 dry. 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.379 So friends 00:29:02.379 --> 00:29:03.919 let's pray and 00:29:03.919 --> 00:29:04.460 let's prepare our 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:05.059 hearts to receive 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:05.399 the Lord's 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:05.919 supper tonight. 00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:12.419 Oh Lord 00:29:12.419 --> 00:29:13.419 Jesus thank you 00:29:13.419 --> 00:29:16.379 that you have 00:29:16.379 --> 00:29:17.619 come to rescue 00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:18.799 us from the 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:20.039 impossible situation 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:20.920 that our sin 00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:21.940 had bound us 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.240 in. 00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:24.559 Lord we had 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.180 turned from 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:27.200 you and in 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:27.680 turning from 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.139 you we had 00:29:28.139 --> 00:29:29.940 lost it all 00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:32.000 and then in 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:32.799 trying to save 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:33.839 ourselves we just 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:34.579 went deeper and 00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:35.180 deeper down. 00:29:36.659 --> 00:29:37.579 Lord thank you 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:38.240 that you've come 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.000 and used the 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:40.220 unlikely means of 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:41.460 a Roman cross 00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:44.079 that sign of 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:44.899 torture and 00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:47.519 torment to 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.359 bring us life 00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:48.559 life and 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:48.919 peace. 00:29:50.199 --> 00:29:51.219 To bring us 00:29:51.219 --> 00:29:52.379 up from the 00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:53.719 pit and to 00:29:53.719 --> 00:29:54.279 set us on 00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:55.099 solid ground. 00:29:55.899 --> 00:29:56.779 To take us 00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.539 from darkness 00:29:57.539 --> 00:30:00.419 and to set us 00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:01.079 free to run 00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.539 towards the 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:01.899 morning. 00:30:04.719 --> 00:30:05.399 Lord as we 00:30:05.399 --> 00:30:05.799 come to your 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.579 table may we 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.779 be confessing 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:09.259 sin and 00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.059 finding assurance 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:10.679 in your grace 00:30:10.679 --> 00:30:11.179 we pray. 00:30:11.679 --> 00:30:12.119 Amen. 00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:16.119 So the 00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:16.639 music team is 00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:17.019 going to come 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:18.059 up and 00:30:18.059 --> 00:30:18.839 Matt would 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:19.159 you help 00:30:19.159 --> 00:30:19.899 serve tonight? 00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:20.219 Thanks. 00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:20.719 Jonathan would 00:30:20.719 --> 00:30:20.959 you help 00:30:20.959 --> 00:30:21.500 serve tonight? 00:30:21.659 --> 00:30:22.119 Thanks brother. 00:30:32.919 --> 00:30:33.559 The way we 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.019 celebrate the 00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:34.419 Lord's Supper 00:30:34.419 --> 00:30:34.739 here at 00:30:34.739 --> 00:30:35.179 Trinity is 00:30:35.179 --> 00:30:35.479 that we're 00:30:35.479 --> 00:30:35.659 going to 00:30:35.659 --> 00:30:36.059 take the 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:37.199 bread together 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:38.680 and then 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:38.980 we're going 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.319 to eat it 00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:39.460 together.