WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.960
 Thanks.

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.020
 You've just won the Super Bowl.

00:00:34.619 --> 00:00:35.799
 What are you going to do next?

00:00:37.340 --> 00:00:40.500
 Well, if you're a sports fan, perhaps you've heard this question before.

00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:46.179
 The reporter asks a player after they've won some large sporting event, this very question.

00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:48.280
 You've just won X large sporting event.

00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:49.560
 What are you going to do next?

00:00:50.400 --> 00:00:52.740
 And the expected answer is always the same.

00:00:53.060 --> 00:00:54.280
 I'm going to Disney World.

00:00:54.280 --> 00:01:03.260
 You see, Disney World is not a place for training to smash your enemies on football fields or basketball courts.

00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:07.180
 No, Disneyland is a place of frivolity to celebrate a job well done.

00:01:08.920 --> 00:01:13.900
 But I remember once watching an interview with a basketball player who had just led his team to the NBA championship.

00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:17.159
 And the reporter asked him, you just won the NBA championship.

00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:18.780
 What are you going to do next?

00:01:19.140 --> 00:01:21.700
 Expecting a typical Disneyland answer, Disney World answer.

00:01:21.700 --> 00:01:24.859
 And he said, I'm going to the gym.

00:01:27.379 --> 00:01:34.140
 Because this player knew that though he had won this great victory just now, there were yet future games ahead.

00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:35.960
 And he wanted to win those as well.

00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:42.400
 We find David in our passage this evening in a similar situation.

00:01:43.100 --> 00:01:48.300
 He has just slain Goliath, the story that we are brought up with from our youth.

00:01:48.299 --> 00:01:51.480
 It has a happy ending, unless you're Goliath.

00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:54.219
 But it's not the ending of the story.

00:01:55.019 --> 00:01:58.359
 There's no Disney World for David just yet.

00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:01.179
 Rather, he faces still more challenges.

00:02:01.659 --> 00:02:03.719
 Harder ones, even than Goliath.

00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:07.959
 Royal ones that seek his life no less vehemently than Goliath did.

00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:13.120
 We pick it up in 1 Samuel 18 and 19.

00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:18.759
 Now, our passage tonight is too long for us to read in full, unfortunately.

00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:22.000
 So, I'm going to summarize a bit here at the beginning.

00:02:23.140 --> 00:02:29.140
 And then go back and in the course of the sermon this evening, focus on some particular points.

00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:32.080
 So, 1 Samuel 18 and 19.

00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:38.180
 As I mentioned, the story begins after David has defeated Goliath.

00:02:38.180 --> 00:02:44.260
 He's talking to Saul on a nearby hillside, who asks some personal questions about him.

00:02:44.439 --> 00:02:46.280
 And Saul's son, David, is there.

00:02:47.340 --> 00:02:49.819
 And the text says that David loved Saul.

00:02:51.260 --> 00:02:53.819
 Jonathan loved David at his own soul.

00:02:54.920 --> 00:02:56.600
 And Jonathan does a strange thing.

00:02:56.740 --> 00:03:01.379
 He takes off his royal garments and he gives them to David.

00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:05.080
 That will be important as we go on, so mark that.

00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:09.320
 And through the course of the rest of the passage,

00:03:10.100 --> 00:03:12.860
 David, who is now attracted the attention of Saul,

00:03:13.300 --> 00:03:15.480
 gets closer into Saul's inner court.

00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:20.160
 Saul learns he's a great warrior, sends him out to battle against the Philistines.

00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:22.280
 But this sad thing happens.

00:03:22.420 --> 00:03:26.520
 He kills so many Philistines that when he comes back into the city,

00:03:26.640 --> 00:03:29.480
 these women say that Saul has killed his thousands,

00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:31.200
 but David his ten thousands.

00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:36.000
 And this is the beginning of a fateful relationship between Saul and David.

00:03:37.079 --> 00:03:40.359
 This will be the beginning of the rise of David

00:03:40.359 --> 00:03:43.679
 and accruing love to himself

00:03:43.679 --> 00:03:48.759
 and the decline of Saul as he's consumed with hatred for David.

00:03:49.899 --> 00:03:55.539
 That hatred overflows in him trying to spear David against a wall a few times,

00:03:55.539 --> 00:04:00.859
 trying to trip him up by marrying him off to his daughters,

00:04:01.819 --> 00:04:06.180
 trying to kill him by sending him out in front of all these Philistines,

00:04:06.459 --> 00:04:09.459
 greatly outnumbered, to get their foreskins.

00:04:09.939 --> 00:04:10.560
 Weird stuff.

00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:16.000
 And then he takes the gloves off toward the end

00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:22.220
 and he goes to kill David himself.

00:04:23.459 --> 00:04:25.019
 He's ultimately unsuccessful.

00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:29.959
 And at the end, he goes to this place where David is hiding.

00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:33.120
 He sent messengers over and over and over to find him.

00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:36.199
 They go there and are overwhelmed by the power of the Holy Spirit

00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:38.379
 and they can't bring David in.

00:04:38.779 --> 00:04:40.779
 Saul says, let me take care of this myself,

00:04:40.980 --> 00:04:43.459
 goes in and the same effect happens to him.

00:04:43.459 --> 00:04:46.399
 And at the very, very end of the story today,

00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:50.560
 Saul strips naked and prophesies.

00:04:51.379 --> 00:04:52.599
 Lots of weird stuff.

00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:56.359
 There's a question and answer period coming after the talk.

00:04:57.079 --> 00:04:58.139
 So get yourself ready.

00:05:03.359 --> 00:05:05.099
 In the midst of all of this,

00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:08.060
 these two chapters, long and strange as they are,

00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:10.000
 I want to pull out three themes.

00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:14.560
 First, the schemes of Saul.

00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:18.319
 Second, the devotion of David.

00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:22.300
 And third, the laughter of the Lord.

00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:25.259
 The schemes of Saul, the devotion of David,

00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:26.120
 the laughter of the Lord.

00:05:27.319 --> 00:05:28.959
 So first, the schemes of Saul.

00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:34.139
 Saul, though he is the king of Israel,

00:05:34.579 --> 00:05:36.379
 is a man under a curse.

00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:38.740
 A few chapters earlier,

00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:41.279
 he disobeyed God's spokesman, Samuel,

00:05:41.379 --> 00:05:44.199
 by offering a sacrifice that was not permitted to him.

00:05:44.980 --> 00:05:47.659
 Thereby, trying to grasp for himself authority

00:05:47.659 --> 00:05:50.360
 not only over the temporal affairs of Israel,

00:05:50.459 --> 00:05:52.420
 but also over its religious practices.

00:05:53.659 --> 00:05:55.519
 At that, God told Saul,

00:05:55.779 --> 00:05:57.939
 now your kingdom shall not continue.

00:05:58.500 --> 00:06:01.420
 The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart,

00:06:01.420 --> 00:06:05.400
 and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people,

00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:08.580
 because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.

00:06:10.920 --> 00:06:11.879
 But in that story,

00:06:11.980 --> 00:06:14.580
 Saul is not given the name of the man who will replace him.

00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:19.500
 He just knows that the throne no longer functionally belongs to him.

00:06:19.780 --> 00:06:21.939
 Another is going to rise and take it from him,

00:06:21.980 --> 00:06:22.740
 but he doesn't know the name.

00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:26.800
 So think of how great must have been his suspicion,

00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:31.079
 knowing that someone, perhaps even someone he met,

00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:33.759
 would be the one chosen by God to replace him.

00:06:34.019 --> 00:06:36.500
 Think of his worry, his paranoia,

00:06:37.019 --> 00:06:40.180
 when anyone around him had success.

00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:43.379
 And indeed, we see this in the song the women sing,

00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:46.259
 Saul has slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands.

00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:49.480
 And this induces paranoia in Saul.

00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:53.280
 Think of the precautions that he,

00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:55.600
 knowing his days were numbered, must have taken.

00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:59.319
 Did he set an extra guard at night,

00:06:59.420 --> 00:07:01.580
 and then set another guard over that guard,

00:07:01.660 --> 00:07:03.300
 all to protect him in his sleep,

00:07:03.460 --> 00:07:05.939
 the sleep that escaped him all night long,

00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:08.100
 because though his body was well-protected,

00:07:08.340 --> 00:07:10.259
 he left his soul open to attack?

00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:15.280
 And all because he disobeyed the word of the Lord.

00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:20.939
 Look here, then, how sin gives birth to worry and jealousy.

00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:25.119
 When sin infects the soul,

00:07:25.339 --> 00:07:28.619
 it kills the ability to rejoice in the successes of others.

00:07:29.819 --> 00:07:33.219
 So Saul is terrified when he hears the Israelite women rejoicing

00:07:33.219 --> 00:07:34.639
 in the defeat of the Philistines with their song,

00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:36.419
 Saul has slain his thousands,

00:07:36.719 --> 00:07:38.299
 David his ten thousands.

00:07:39.039 --> 00:07:39.679
 Verse 7.

00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:44.240
 What a sorry situation Saul finds himself in,

00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:47.400
 to be struck with fear and anxiety

00:07:47.400 --> 00:07:49.639
 while the people of God rejoice around him.

00:07:51.259 --> 00:07:53.600
 In response, our text says, in verse 8,

00:07:55.019 --> 00:07:56.480
 in response to this song,

00:07:56.860 --> 00:07:58.100
 Saul was very angry,

00:07:58.699 --> 00:08:00.160
 and this saying displeased him.

00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:01.620
 He said,

00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:03.319
 They have ascribed to David ten thousands,

00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:05.379
 and to me they have ascribed only thousands,

00:08:05.379 --> 00:08:08.639
 and what more can he have but the kingdom?

00:08:10.280 --> 00:08:11.939
 The scene here is like in a movie

00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:13.459
 when a character suddenly realizes

00:08:13.459 --> 00:08:15.139
 what he himself is saying.

00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:16.740
 The music goes somber,

00:08:16.860 --> 00:08:19.560
 the camera pulls in close to his face,

00:08:19.780 --> 00:08:22.300
 and the face flashes with horror

00:08:22.300 --> 00:08:23.519
 as he realizes,

00:08:24.660 --> 00:08:26.280
 what more can David have but the kingdom?

00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:27.920
 The kingdom.

00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:32.159
 David will have the kingdom.

00:08:32.299 --> 00:08:33.399
 David is the man chosen

00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:34.919
 after the Lord's own heart,

00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:36.600
 chosen to care for Israel.

00:08:37.019 --> 00:08:38.740
 David is the favored one of God.

00:08:40.199 --> 00:08:41.439
 David is the one who will keep

00:08:41.439 --> 00:08:42.439
 the Lord's commandments.

00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:43.279
 David!

00:08:45.979 --> 00:08:48.159
 And now Saul is faced with a choice, it seems.

00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:50.739
 What will he do with this new information

00:08:50.739 --> 00:08:52.839
 that his jealousy and his paranoia

00:08:52.839 --> 00:08:53.859
 have warranted for him,

00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:54.779
 have gained for him?

00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:56.120
 What will he do with this?

00:08:58.779 --> 00:09:00.419
 He has insight into the plan of God.

00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:01.419
 Will he surrender it?

00:09:01.859 --> 00:09:03.019
 Repent of his own disobedience,

00:09:03.079 --> 00:09:04.259
 and praise the Lord as the one

00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:06.240
 who lifts up kings and deposes kings?

00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:07.240
 No.

00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:08.240
 No.

00:09:09.060 --> 00:09:09.539
 No.

00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:11.620
 While the people of God rejoice,

00:09:12.019 --> 00:09:13.580
 Saul will rage.

00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:16.740
 So in verse 9, the text says,

00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:20.480
 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:25.440
 Saul, through the hyper-vigilant eyes of fear,

00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:26.940
 has seen the plan of God

00:09:26.940 --> 00:09:29.659
 and chosen to set his face against it.

00:09:30.560 --> 00:09:33.039
 Around five times our text says

00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:35.340
 some variation of Saul hated David,

00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:36.840
 he was afraid of David,

00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:38.420
 that he schemes against David.

00:09:39.920 --> 00:09:42.639
 Saul will now take up arms against him.

00:09:42.980 --> 00:09:44.019
 Saul says in his heart,

00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:45.939
 This man is the Lord's anointed,

00:09:46.079 --> 00:09:48.419
 and I will pin him to a wall

00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:51.379
 and watch him bleed out before my eyes.

00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:53.960
 Or I will send David out

00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:56.000
 against a superior Philistine force

00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:56.960
 that he cannot conquer.

00:09:58.159 --> 00:09:59.919
 Or I will send assassins into his bedroom

00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:00.639
 while he sleeps.

00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:02.620
 And if all this fails,

00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:03.960
 then I will kill himself,

00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:05.480
 kill him myself,

00:10:05.659 --> 00:10:07.519
 with my own royal hands.

00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:09.159
 He is the one the Lord has chosen,

00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:11.100
 and I will stop him.

00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:14.700
 And he tries to do all those things.

00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:23.580
 Does Saul's behavior here

00:10:23.580 --> 00:10:25.060
 sound strange to us?

00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:28.540
 It is possible, you know.

00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:31.519
 It is possible to set your face

00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:33.180
 and your intention against the plan of God

00:10:33.180 --> 00:10:33.820
 when you know it.

00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:37.040
 It is possible to look at the Lord's chosen man

00:10:37.040 --> 00:10:38.580
 and seek to destroy him.

00:10:41.100 --> 00:10:43.259
 Did you not do something like that this week?

00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:44.980
 Did we not do something like that this week

00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:47.500
 when the good plan of God for us

00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:49.100
 was not good enough for us?

00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:51.600
 When God's trustworthiness

00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:52.860
 was not a good enough reason

00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:53.879
 for us to trust him,

00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:55.540
 and so we worried

00:10:55.540 --> 00:10:57.540
 and we were anxious about the future?

00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:00.300
 When God's holiness

00:11:00.300 --> 00:11:02.240
 was not something to be followed after,

00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:03.560
 and so we allowed ourselves

00:11:03.560 --> 00:11:04.820
 to feast our eyes

00:11:04.820 --> 00:11:06.620
 on the evil of our computer screens?

00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:09.379
 When we took advantage

00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:11.399
 of God's patience toward us

00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:12.960
 by being impatient

00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:14.200
 with those around us,

00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:17.399
 did we not see the plan of God for us

00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:19.299
 and set our faces against it?

00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:23.039
 It is possible, you know,

00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:25.039
 to strap on our armor

00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:26.639
 and take the field of battle

00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.879
 against the living God.

00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:29.440
 It's called sin.

00:11:31.180 --> 00:11:32.560
 Saul chose this for himself,

00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:33.500
 and in the end,

00:11:33.739 --> 00:11:34.679
 all of his schemes

00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:37.019
 fell back upon his own head.

00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:41.039
 Will that be our fate as well

00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:42.500
 when we choose sin?

00:11:43.619 --> 00:11:45.599
 Or is there still some hope for us?

00:11:46.719 --> 00:11:48.859
 Well, we will come to that question shortly.

00:11:49.719 --> 00:11:50.959
 But we see throughout this text

00:11:50.959 --> 00:11:51.699
 that even when faced

00:11:51.699 --> 00:11:52.779
 by the good plan of God,

00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:54.959
 Saul sustains his schemes.

00:11:56.019 --> 00:11:57.299
 So the schemes of Saul.

00:11:58.039 --> 00:11:58.959
 Now we turn our attention

00:11:58.959 --> 00:12:00.519
 to the devotion of David.

00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:02.840
 After we've looked

00:12:02.840 --> 00:12:03.980
 at the schemes of Saul,

00:12:04.199 --> 00:12:05.939
 we see the devotion of David

00:12:05.939 --> 00:12:07.720
 in almost perfect contrast.

00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:09.319
 While Saul is anxious

00:12:09.319 --> 00:12:10.399
 and scheming throughout,

00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:12.679
 David seems not to take initiative

00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:14.500
 almost ever in this story.

00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:16.500
 He's frequently responding

00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:17.759
 to what Saul does.

00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:18.620
 He seems to have

00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:19.259
 a tremendous amount

00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:21.000
 of peace about him.

00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:23.340
 While Saul is treacherous

00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:24.000
 against David,

00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:24.980
 his best warrior,

00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:26.679
 David remains devoted

00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:27.500
 to the king

00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:28.480
 against whom

00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:29.980
 he never retaliates.

00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:31.819
 Shockingly,

00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:33.100
 the story seems to imply

00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:34.039
 that even when Saul

00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:35.360
 keeps hurling spears to him,

00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:36.980
 David keeps obediently

00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:37.419
 and humbly

00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:38.379
 coming into his presence

00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:39.559
 to play the lyre for him

00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:40.879
 and attempt to soothe him.

00:12:42.819 --> 00:12:44.120
 Look at verse 11 here.

00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:45.179
 Chapter 18.

00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:47.919
 And Saul hurled the spear

00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:48.539
 for he thought,

00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:50.519
 I will pin David to the wall.

00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:53.319
 But David evaded him twice.

00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:55.360
 And then the next chapter over,

00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:56.199
 it's going to do it again.

00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:56.840
 This seems to be

00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:57.460
 a sort of pattern.

00:12:57.460 --> 00:12:58.500
 And I'm not quite sure

00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.019
 what in the world

00:12:59.019 --> 00:12:59.740
 David's doing

00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:00.940
 by continuing to go back.

00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:01.980
 But it seems to have

00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:03.320
 something of loyalty about it.

00:13:03.660 --> 00:13:04.700
 David is devoted

00:13:04.700 --> 00:13:05.740
 even to the king

00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:06.940
 who tries to kill him.

00:13:09.560 --> 00:13:10.759
 David's posture throughout

00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:12.680
 is not one of scheming,

00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:13.940
 but of trusting.

00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:16.720
 He does not grasp

00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.960
 at events around him,

00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:18.620
 but he allows them

00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:19.120
 to be guided

00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:20.500
 by forces beyond himself.

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.360
 Never, it seems,

00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:21.960
 for a second,

00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:23.160
 thinking those forces

00:13:23.160 --> 00:13:24.220
 are blindly random

00:13:24.220 --> 00:13:25.320
 or that they unfold

00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:26.240
 by chance.

00:13:29.180 --> 00:13:29.620
 So,

00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:32.259
 when David decides

00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:32.820
 to marry

00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:33.899
 one of the daughters

00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:34.759
 of Saul,

00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:36.040
 it was Saul's idea

00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:36.580
 from the beginning.

00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:38.379
 When David goes out

00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:39.220
 against the Philistines,

00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:40.259
 it was Saul's idea

00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:40.899
 to put him there.

00:13:41.540 --> 00:13:42.940
 And so on and so on.

00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:44.700
 David responds

00:13:44.700 --> 00:13:45.680
 obediently

00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:46.519
 to the commands

00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.399
 of the rightful king.

00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:56.799
 This responsiveness

00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:57.659
 doesn't mean

00:13:57.659 --> 00:13:58.559
 that David is simply

00:13:58.559 --> 00:13:59.579
 lazy or inactive.

00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.399
 Simply put,

00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:01.959
 since he doesn't see

00:14:01.959 --> 00:14:02.659
 any good reason

00:14:02.659 --> 00:14:03.360
 to do so,

00:14:04.319 --> 00:14:05.059
 David doesn't allow

00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:05.799
 himself to be struck

00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:06.319
 by the spears

00:14:06.319 --> 00:14:07.240
 that Saul hurls at him.

00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:08.419
 He's not being lazy.

00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:09.379
 He's not being passive.

00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:10.340
 He's not allowing himself

00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:11.379
 to be stuck to a wall.

00:14:11.699 --> 00:14:12.120
 The principle

00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:12.879
 seems to be this.

00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:14.939
 When a good plan

00:14:14.939 --> 00:14:16.059
 of God opens up

00:14:16.059 --> 00:14:16.960
 for David in this passage,

00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:18.200
 he acts upon that plan

00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:19.680
 and does so with wisdom.

00:14:20.300 --> 00:14:22.019
 But never in this story

00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:22.720
 do we see him

00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:24.280
 fretting and doubting.

00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.660
 Consider perhaps

00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:28.019
 the weirdest story

00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:29.340
 in this whole,

00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:30.100
 the weirdest bit

00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:30.639
 of this story,

00:14:31.100 --> 00:14:31.600
 the episode

00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:32.540
 of the foreskins.

00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:34.540
 Let's read it together

00:14:34.540 --> 00:14:35.280
 because it's weird.

00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:38.100
 1820.

00:14:38.680 --> 00:14:39.780
 Now Saul's daughter

00:14:39.780 --> 00:14:40.840
 Michael loved David.

00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:43.000
 And they told Saul

00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.100
 and the thing pleased him.

00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:44.580
 Saul thought,

00:14:44.800 --> 00:14:45.900
 let me give her to him

00:14:45.900 --> 00:14:46.720
 that she may be

00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:47.660
 a snare for him

00:14:47.660 --> 00:14:48.160
 and that the hand

00:14:48.160 --> 00:14:48.680
 of the Philistines

00:14:48.680 --> 00:14:49.500
 may be against him.

00:14:49.820 --> 00:14:50.100
 Therefore,

00:14:50.340 --> 00:14:51.580
 for Saul said to David

00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:52.259
 a second time,

00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.080
 you shall now

00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:53.779
 be my son-in-law.

00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:55.639
 And Saul commanded

00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:56.139
 his servants,

00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:56.899
 speak to David

00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:57.360
 in private

00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:58.460
 and say,

00:14:58.560 --> 00:14:58.860
 behold,

00:14:59.019 --> 00:14:59.840
 the king has delight

00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:00.220
 in you

00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:01.100
 and all his servants

00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:01.560
 love you.

00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.120
 Now then,

00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:03.379
 become the king's

00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:03.899
 son-in-law.

00:15:05.660 --> 00:15:06.620
 And Saul's servants

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.360
 spoke these words

00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:08.320
 in the ears of David.

00:15:08.680 --> 00:15:09.360
 And David said,

00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:10.860
 does it seem to you

00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:11.519
 a little thing

00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:12.580
 to become the king's

00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:12.980
 son-in-law

00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:14.879
 since I am a poor man

00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:15.759
 and have no reputation?

00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:17.879
 And the servants

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.740
 of Saul said to him,

00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:19.399
 thus and so

00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:20.299
 did David speak.

00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:21.960
 Then Saul said,

00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:22.799
 thus you shall say

00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:23.139
 to David,

00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:24.080
 the king desires

00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:24.820
 no bride price

00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:25.439
 except the hundred

00:15:25.439 --> 00:15:26.460
 foreskins of the Philistines

00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:27.939
 that he may be avenged

00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:28.639
 of the king's enemies.

00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:31.340
 Now Saul fought

00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:31.980
 to make David

00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:32.860
 fall by the hand

00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:33.500
 of the Philistines.

00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:35.480
 And when his servant

00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:36.279
 told David

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:36.860
 these words,

00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:37.539
 it pleased David

00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:38.080
 well to be

00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:38.840
 the king's son-in-law.

00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:40.059
 Before that time

00:15:40.059 --> 00:15:40.820
 he had expired,

00:15:40.820 --> 00:15:41.600
 David arose

00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:42.300
 and went along

00:15:42.300 --> 00:15:42.800
 with his men

00:15:42.800 --> 00:15:43.259
 and killed

00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:43.960
 two hundred

00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:44.659
 of the Philistines.

00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:45.960
 And David brought

00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:46.639
 their foreskins

00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.040
 that were given

00:15:47.040 --> 00:15:47.680
 in full number

00:15:47.680 --> 00:15:48.120
 to the king

00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:48.800
 that he might

00:15:48.800 --> 00:15:49.519
 become the king's

00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:49.920
 son-in-law.

00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:51.320
 And Saul gave him

00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:52.019
 his daughter Michael

00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:52.639
 for a wife.

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:53.779
 But when Saul

00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:55.860
 knew that the Lord

00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:56.720
 was with David

00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.580
 and that Michael,

00:15:57.800 --> 00:15:58.200
 Saul's daughter,

00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:58.980
 loved him,

00:15:59.460 --> 00:16:00.879
 Saul was even more

00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.639
 afraid of David.

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.399
 So Saul was David's

00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:04.680
 enemy continually.

00:16:06.560 --> 00:16:07.540
 What's happening here?

00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:10.940
 David, a poor shepherd,

00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:11.400
 responds,

00:16:11.540 --> 00:16:12.260
 he has no money

00:16:12.260 --> 00:16:13.240
 to pay a bride price

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.160
 even though he seems

00:16:14.160 --> 00:16:14.960
 to like this woman.

00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.000
 No worries,

00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:16.600
 said Saul.

00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:17.640
 The king desires

00:16:17.640 --> 00:16:18.440
 no bride price

00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:18.980
 except a couple

00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:19.500
 foreskins.

00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.700
 Now, Saul is not

00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:21.440
 asking David

00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:22.240
 to go down

00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:22.740
 to the local

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.900
 Philistine children's

00:16:23.900 --> 00:16:24.740
 hospital and see

00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:25.120
 what they have

00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:25.560
 lying around

00:16:25.560 --> 00:16:26.260
 in the garbage bins.

00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:26.600
 No.

00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:28.480
 He's saying

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:30.440
 that David is to go

00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:31.620
 and take these foreskins

00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:33.300
 from grown men.

00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:36.580
 And though the culture

00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.300
 in times then

00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:37.800
 are different

00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:38.560
 from the culture today,

00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:39.280
 I think one thing

00:16:39.280 --> 00:16:39.940
 is in common.

00:16:40.140 --> 00:16:40.660
 Grown men

00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.360
 don't like having

00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:41.980
 their foreskins

00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:42.539
 taken from them.

00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:43.159
 They will fight

00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:43.740
 you for them.

00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:45.199
 And this is the point.

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:49.679
 He wants David

00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:50.319
 to go against

00:16:50.319 --> 00:16:51.100
 a hundred men.

00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.159
 This is a snare

00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:53.740
 for David.

00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:56.399
 And perhaps even

00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:57.579
 the weirdness of it

00:16:57.579 --> 00:16:58.539
 is an attempt

00:16:58.539 --> 00:17:00.299
 to malign David

00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:00.759
 in the eyes

00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.019
 of the people

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:01.600
 around him.

00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:02.379
 He's going to do

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.199
 this sort of weird

00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:04.079
 and barbaric thing.

00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:04.799
 Perhaps this will

00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:06.000
 lower his popularity

00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.839
 ranking a bit.

00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:09.099
 David goes and does it

00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:10.059
 over and above

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:11.459
 200 of them.

00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:14.000
 He's strategic.

00:17:14.459 --> 00:17:15.480
 He brings men

00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.039
 with him

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:17.480
 and he takes advantage

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.220
 of the opportunities

00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:18.679
 that are there

00:17:18.679 --> 00:17:19.259
 to become

00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.959
 Saul's son-in-law.

00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.519
 David's settled

00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.500
 confidence in the plan

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:24.819
 of God

00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:25.639
 is not an excuse

00:17:25.639 --> 00:17:26.319
 for foolishness

00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:26.919
 or laziness

00:17:26.919 --> 00:17:27.859
 but an occasion

00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:29.399
 to plan and act wisely

00:17:29.399 --> 00:17:31.259
 yet without anxiety

00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:32.220
 or despair

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:33.900
 and leave the result

00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:34.380
 in the hands

00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:34.799
 of the Lord.

00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:37.220
 But nevertheless

00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:38.799
 this is a trial

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.279
 that Saul sends

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.759
 to destroy David.

00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:44.039
 So note this.

00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:46.220
 Sometimes

00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:47.900
 God saves David

00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:48.940
 from the trials

00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:49.460
 of Saul

00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:50.279
 for example

00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:50.779
 when he tries

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.200
 to kill him

00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:51.700
 with the spear.

00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:53.579
 And sometimes

00:17:53.579 --> 00:17:54.740
 God saves David

00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:56.019
 through the trials

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.559
 of Saul.

00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.779
 This is such

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.299
 an example.

00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:01.279
 When Saul

00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:01.960
 sends David

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:03.000
 out against Philistines

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:03.940
 he routinely

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:05.019
 destroys them

00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.880
 and in the process

00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:06.880
 he wins the favor

00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:07.340
 of the people.

00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.600
 When Saul

00:18:08.600 --> 00:18:09.759
 puts a stumbling block

00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:10.660
 in David's way

00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.640
 God does not simply

00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.539
 whisk him away

00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:13.779
 he lets him walk

00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:15.200
 over the stumbling block

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.380
 or through it.

00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:18.440
 He redeems

00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:19.279
 these trials

00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.640
 by allowing David

00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:21.740
 to go through them.

00:18:22.600 --> 00:18:22.980
 The result

00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:23.600
 is consistent.

00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.440
 David's fame

00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:24.960
 increases

00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.200
 and Saul's rage

00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:27.680
 burns yet fiercer.

00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:29.059
 Yet through it all

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:30.420
 David maintains

00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:31.000
 a consistent

00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:31.640
 peace

00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:32.500
 and rest.

00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:34.680
 Perhaps

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:35.240
 you have wondered

00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:35.920
 why God

00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:37.000
 would do this

00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:37.500
 for David

00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.060
 or perhaps

00:18:38.060 --> 00:18:38.520
 for you.

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:40.360
 Perhaps

00:18:40.360 --> 00:18:41.060
 we pray

00:18:41.060 --> 00:18:41.600
 only

00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:42.520
 to be saved

00:18:42.520 --> 00:18:43.780
 from our trials

00:18:43.780 --> 00:18:44.600
 rather than

00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:45.200
 be saved

00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.440
 through our trials.

00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:48.560
 But if

00:18:48.560 --> 00:18:49.460
 at all of these

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:49.880
 moments

00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:50.500
 God has simply

00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:51.360
 whisked David

00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:52.259
 away from the

00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.240
 trials of Saul

00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.100
 from the schemes

00:18:54.100 --> 00:18:54.700
 of Saul

00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:56.060
 David would not

00:18:56.060 --> 00:18:56.580
 have been able

00:18:56.580 --> 00:18:57.460
 to attain

00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.000
 the heights

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.600
 of power

00:18:58.600 --> 00:18:59.140
 that he did.

00:18:59.140 --> 00:19:00.840
 in all

00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:01.340
 of these

00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:02.420
 evil schemes

00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:03.060
 of the enemy

00:19:03.060 --> 00:19:04.200
 God was working

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.759
 for David

00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.920
 a great salvation.

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.340
 And may it not

00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:08.860
 be the case

00:19:08.860 --> 00:19:09.600
 for you

00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:10.120
 as well.

00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:12.000
 Perhaps the Lord

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.700
 will save you

00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.860
 through your trials.

00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:16.139
 Lord

00:19:16.139 --> 00:19:20.719
 is

00:19:20.719 --> 00:19:24.259
 Vault

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:33.339
 out

00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:33.679
 in the

00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:39.400
 to you to be a sort of weird Christian cliche, trust the Lord and all shall be well. You hear

00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:44.340
 it often enough and it may sound to you to be trite, like a sort of bland pseudo-wisdom that

00:19:44.340 --> 00:19:50.380
 you read on the inside wrapper of those dove chocolates or in a fortune cookie. But you know

00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:54.880
 your experience is more complicated than can be represented in a fortune cookie. Trust God and

00:19:54.880 --> 00:20:02.060
 it'll all be okay just doesn't seem to work. The world of the Bible, after all, is so very different

00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:07.559
 than our own world and God is far too absent to be easily trusted, so it seems. But let me ask you

00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:12.960
 this, if you were a historian transported back into the middle of these very events, how would you know

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:21.859
 from within these events that God was working in them? The narrator provides this information for us.

00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:27.700
 The Lord was with David. The Lord had favor on David. But it's not clear how visible that was.

00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:35.340
 God never gives a word of encouragement to David while Saul is hurling his spears at him.

00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:40.519
 Even Samuel doesn't appear as God's mouthpiece to strengthen and bolster David along the way.

00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:46.660
 The narrator is good to tell us that the Lord was with David, but if you were a reporter investigating

00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:51.440
 these things while they happened, it seems to me that all you would see is a story of political intrigue,

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:57.400
 of secret dealings, of shrewd political calculations wherein it is not easy to trace the hand of God.

00:20:57.700 --> 00:21:03.400
 The very next toss of the spear could find its mark in David's throat, and then where would God be?

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:13.420
 So perhaps this idea of trusting the Lord even when we don't see him is not so unique to our experience.

00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:17.000
 Perhaps it's not so foreign from the experience of these biblical characters.

00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:23.380
 Perhaps the world around them was just as confusing and opaque as it is to us sometimes.

00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:30.500
 But David does not need to hear the audible voice of God or see the visible hand of God in his circumstances

00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:35.640
 because, it seems, he trusts what the Lord had spoken to him earlier.

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:40.640
 Back in chapter 16, David has received a secret anointing from the prophet Samuel, the spokesman of God.

00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:46.020
 This is the last word up till this point that David has heard from God.

00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:49.500
 It's not as though they have conversations together every day.

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:57.480
 The last word is one of anointing and then silence.

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:59.240
 Or rather, violence.

00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:03.420
 Saul piles scheme on top of intrigue, on top of assassination attempt,

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:06.019
 and yet David maintains a restful trust.

00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:09.019
 Not because he can make sense of all the events around him

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:11.920
 and because he sees the hand of God working in each one of them,

00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:18.680
 but because he has decided to heed and believe the word the Lord had spoken to him back at his anointing.

00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:23.599
 And perhaps such a thing is true for us as well.

00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:31.960
 Never, never are we told that we will see the hand of God in the situation of our lives as they unfold around us.

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:37.879
 Rather, we are told that God is good and that he loves us.

00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:42.180
 And when we do not see his hand, we can trust his character.

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:48.480
 Is your confidence in the word of the Lord this strong?

00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:57.400
 The rage of God's enemies against you will reveal what is the bedrock of your confidence.

00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:02.740
 When the opposition of men and demons and the cares of this life come upon you,

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.639
 and they will come,

00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:07.160
 when all of the edifice of your great plans collapses before your eyes,

00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:10.720
 right before those eyes, once so keen in planning and preparing,

00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:13.200
 are blinded by ignorance of what will happen in the future,

00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:15.180
 what then will you do?

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:20.779
 If you have built a life and have cultivated the habit of trusting in the sight of your eyes,

00:23:21.100 --> 00:23:22.620
 the strategy of your schemes,

00:23:22.840 --> 00:23:24.140
 the strength of your arm,

00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:26.700
 what will become of you when all these are taken from you,

00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:29.180
 as they seem to be taken from David?

00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:33.000
 The rain fell,

00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:34.380
 the floods came,

00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:36.740
 the winds blew and beat against that house,

00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:37.940
 and it fell,

00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:39.720
 and great was the fall of it.

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.940
 But when those trials come,

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:46.460
 and the deepest foundation of our trust

00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:47.860
 is not in our strength,

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.920
 or in our sight,

00:23:49.080 --> 00:23:50.100
 or our schemes,

00:23:50.560 --> 00:23:52.660
 but in the love of God

00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:54.080
 that he has spoken to us,

00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:56.100
 then we shall not fail.

00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:59.859
 Everyone, Jesus says,

00:23:59.959 --> 00:24:01.679
 who hears these words of mine and does them

00:24:01.679 --> 00:24:03.159
 will be like a man wise,

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:05.039
 who built his house on a rock,

00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:05.859
 and the rain fell,

00:24:05.939 --> 00:24:06.480
 and the floods came,

00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.579
 and the winds blew and beat on the house,

00:24:07.639 --> 00:24:09.179
 but it did not fall,

00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:11.639
 because it had been founded upon the rock.

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:16.179
 What is the word of the Lord

00:24:16.179 --> 00:24:17.779
 that the Lord has spoken to you?

00:24:19.919 --> 00:24:22.119
 What proof do you have of the Lord's love for you?

00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:25.319
 David had an anointing,

00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:28.139
 and a hope to look forward to,

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:30.960
 of some future Messiah

00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:32.000
 who would really come

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.539
 and make all things right.

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:35.460
 But we're not there yet in the sermon.

00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:39.579
 If you are a child of the Lord,

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:42.119
 God promises that he is working for you

00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:43.200
 a great salvation

00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.819
 in the midst of all of your trials,

00:24:45.179 --> 00:24:47.039
 every single one of which

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:49.279
 will end up with your good.

00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:54.740
 of course you can't see that salvation

00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.779
 while it unfolds.

00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.180
 Of course you can't.

00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.440
 It was never promised to you

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.000
 that you would.

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:05.480
 So do not set your gaze fervently

00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.379
 to spy out

00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:08.240
 all of the intrigue of the plan

00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.339
 as it unfolds around you.

00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:09.899
 Rather,

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:11.279
 direct your ears

00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.319
 to the word the Lord

00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:13.399
 has spoken to you,

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.980
 that word that was

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:16.240
 in the beginning with God,

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:19.200
 that smiling face of Jesus.

00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.240
 Jesus.

00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:23.680
 That word that says

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.920
 that God is

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:28.539
 willing to be reconciled to us.

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:31.160
 That God is willing

00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:32.779
 not to count our trespasses against us.

00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.599
 That God is willing

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.759
 to give us a hope and a future.

00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:36.019
 That word,

00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:36.640
 Jesus.

00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.500
 Trust in that.

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:42.079
 after the angel Gabriel

00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.680
 comes to Mary

00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:43.740
 to announce to her

00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.500
 the birth of Jesus,

00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:46.259
 she goes to visit Elizabeth

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.440
 and after recounting to her

00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:47.799
 the story,

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.460
 Elizabeth says,

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:50.099
 blessed is she

00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:51.000
 who believed

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.660
 that there would be

00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.220
 a fulfillment

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:53.960
 of what was spoken to her

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.960
 by the Lord.

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:57.319
 Let that be true for us.

00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:59.420
 It was true for David

00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:00.599
 and as we have seen

00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.779
 in the face of great opposition

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.799
 and touch to his life,

00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:04.480
 David defends his devotion.

00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.359
 So we've seen then

00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:07.500
 the schemes of Saul

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.680
 and the devotion of David

00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:10.019
 and we end now

00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:11.940
 with the laughter of the Lord.

00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.619
 So,

00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:16.039
 if it's true

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:17.420
 that this last chapter,

00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.380
 18 and 19,

00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.420
 have little to say

00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:20.400
 about the actions of God

00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:21.160
 in the midst of all this

00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:22.559
 and you couldn't see him

00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.680
 if you were a reporter there

00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.339
 at the time,

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:25.640
 and if it's true

00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:26.819
 that David trusts in the Lord

00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:28.359
 despite clearly seeing his face,

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:30.039
 where is the Lord

00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:30.920
 in all of this?

00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:33.119
 Especially if he does not

00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:33.839
 speak for himself.

00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:37.119
 I submit that though

00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:37.979
 he cannot be seen

00:26:37.979 --> 00:26:38.759
 except through the eyes

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.579
 of faith,

00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:41.579
 God is right in the middle

00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:42.479
 of these events,

00:26:43.379 --> 00:26:43.839
 laughing.

00:26:46.179 --> 00:26:46.899
 So the third

00:26:46.899 --> 00:26:47.879
 and final part of the evening,

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:49.079
 observe the laughter

00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.779
 of the Lord.

00:26:51.679 --> 00:26:53.699
 David is the Lord's

00:26:53.699 --> 00:26:54.659
 anointed one.

00:26:55.239 --> 00:26:57.039
 Saul is the king of Israel

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:58.759
 and is throwing spears

00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.899
 and sending assassins

00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:00.779
 out against him.

00:27:01.419 --> 00:27:02.299
 How are we to think

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:03.199
 about this theologically?

00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:04.860
 What happens

00:27:04.860 --> 00:27:06.059
 when a king

00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:07.120
 goes against

00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:07.900
 the Lord's

00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:08.799
 anointed one?

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.580
 To understand that

00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:12.019
 we have to look

00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.819
 at another passage.

00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.360
 So turn with me

00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:15.580
 to Psalm 2.

00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:17.059
 Psalm 2.

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.720
 Psalm 2.

00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:25.180
 We don't know

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:25.660
 if the psalm

00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.539
 is Davidic,

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.340
 but we know

00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:28.180
 that the characters

00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:30.039
 involved in David's

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:31.000
 life here

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.339
 are in a similar situation.

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.799
 So listen to this Psalm.

00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:35.940
 Why do the nations rage

00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:36.759
 and the peoples

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.519
 plot in vain?

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.920
 The kings of the earth

00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.579
 set themselves

00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.579
 and the rulers

00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.319
 take counsel

00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:42.599
 against the Lord

00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:43.839
 and against his anointed

00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.380
 saying,

00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.440
 let us burst

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.680
 their bonds apart

00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:47.839
 and cast away

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:49.259
 their cords from us.

00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:51.980
 The kings of the world

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:53.240
 rage against

00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.900
 the anointed one

00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:54.440
 of the Lord.

00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.460
 Rage.

00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.980
 They will destroy him.

00:27:57.980 --> 00:28:00.660
 And what is the response

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.059
 of the Lord

00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.779
 to all of this?

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:04.400
 He who sits

00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:05.240
 in the heavens

00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:06.920
 laughs.

00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:09.299
 The Lord holds him

00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:09.900
 in derision.

00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:10.960
 He will speak to them

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.579
 in his wrath

00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.480
 and terrify them

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.220
 in his fury

00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:13.579
 saying,

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.240
 as for me,

00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:15.380
 I have set my king

00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:15.980
 on Zion,

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.920
 my holy hill.

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.279
 I will tell the decree.

00:28:19.360 --> 00:28:20.120
 The Lord said to me,

00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:20.940
 you are my son.

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:22.000
 Today I have begotten you.

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.640
 Ask of me

00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:23.220
 and I will make

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.779
 the nations your heritage,

00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.860
 the ends of the earth

00:28:25.860 --> 00:28:26.339
 your possession.

00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:27.740
 You shall break them

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:29.019
 with a rod of iron

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:30.179
 and dash them

00:28:30.179 --> 00:28:30.799
 in pieces

00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:32.399
 like a potter's vessel.

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.359
 Saul

00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:43.159
 thinks he poses

00:28:43.159 --> 00:28:44.179
 a threat to David.

00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:46.319
 The Lord doesn't think so.

00:28:47.459 --> 00:28:48.539
 The Lord's plan

00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:50.720
 will not be stopped.

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.500
 And if Saul

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.240
 chooses to take

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.299
 the feel of battle

00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:55.179
 against the Lord,

00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:56.799
 only Saul

00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.380
 will be the loser

00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:57.840
 for it.

00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.700
 But it's not only

00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:00.500
 Saul here

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:00.960
 that the Lord

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.820
 laughs at

00:29:01.820 --> 00:29:02.560
 when he opposes him.

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:04.060
 It's all of the kings

00:29:04.060 --> 00:29:04.799
 of the world.

00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:06.400
 It's all of the nations.

00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:08.519
 All the combined

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.400
 military power

00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:09.960
 of NATO,

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.820
 all the diplomatic

00:29:10.820 --> 00:29:11.740
 skill of the UN,

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.680
 all of it poses

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.799
 no threat to him.

00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:15.380
 The Lord laughs

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:17.039
 and yet they rage.

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:20.420
 And perhaps there are

00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:21.900
 no two more

00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:22.820
 fundamental principles

00:29:22.820 --> 00:29:23.660
 of political theory

00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:24.880
 in the Bible

00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:25.620
 than this.

00:29:26.580 --> 00:29:27.340
 The nations

00:29:27.340 --> 00:29:28.120
 will rage

00:29:28.120 --> 00:29:28.759
 against the Lord

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.240
 and his anointed

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.120
 and the Lord

00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:30.900
 will laugh.

00:29:32.820 --> 00:29:33.680
 From the opening

00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:34.500
 pages of Genesis

00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.019
 when the people

00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:35.400
 of the world

00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:36.120
 threatened to take

00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:37.220
 heaven by storm

00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:45.320
 until the last

00:29:45.320 --> 00:29:46.080
 chapters of Revelation

00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:46.920
 when the whore

00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:47.420
 of Babylon

00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:48.080
 makes war

00:29:48.080 --> 00:29:48.640
 against the people

00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:49.240
 of the Bible

00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:51.099
 with stubborn

00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:51.680
 and dogged

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.359
 consistency

00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:53.019
 the kings

00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:53.620
 of the world

00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:54.299
 make war

00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:54.940
 against the Lord

00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:55.940
 and his chosen ones

00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.759
 and the Lord

00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:58.240
 just as constantly

00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:59.079
 frustrates

00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:00.200
 and dashes

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:01.240
 their attempts.

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.579
 The gates of hell

00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:04.019
 will not stand

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:05.000
 against the church

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.539
 of the Lord.

00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.799
 To be a Christian

00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:11.220
 is to recognize

00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:12.299
 that we will

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:13.339
 sometimes be the

00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:14.440
 object of rage

00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:15.640
 in high places.

00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:19.640
 but it is also

00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:20.320
 to recognize

00:30:20.320 --> 00:30:21.320
 that the Lord

00:30:21.320 --> 00:30:21.860
 is stronger

00:30:21.860 --> 00:30:22.580
 than any power

00:30:22.580 --> 00:30:23.500
 in those high places.

00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:26.100
 From kings

00:30:26.100 --> 00:30:26.660
 to demons

00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:27.420
 our God

00:30:27.420 --> 00:30:28.420
 has fearsome

00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:29.220
 enemies

00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:30.440
 like Saul

00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.560
 and when we

00:30:31.560 --> 00:30:32.300
 choose to enlist

00:30:32.300 --> 00:30:32.920
 in his service

00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.460
 we enlist

00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:34.580
 to be their targets.

00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:35.460
 This is what

00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:36.360
 we sign up for.

00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:39.400
 It's what we see

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:39.980
 here with David.

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.460
 Does Saul

00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.440
 scheme for David's

00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:43.860
 downfall?

00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:45.120
 God will laugh

00:30:45.120 --> 00:30:45.520
 at him.

00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:46.820
 Even while he

00:30:46.820 --> 00:30:48.020
 works for David

00:30:48.020 --> 00:30:49.520
 a great salvation.

00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:52.460
 And here

00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:53.880
 icing on the cake.

00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.220
 When God

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:56.420
 vindicates his king

00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:57.540
 he makes even

00:30:57.540 --> 00:30:58.259
 his enemies

00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:59.160
 submit to him.

00:30:59.380 --> 00:30:59.920
 Look back

00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:00.700
 at the end

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:02.160
 of 1 Samuel 19.

00:31:07.800 --> 00:31:08.680
 The story goes

00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:09.080
 like this.

00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:09.740
 Saul has sent

00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:10.320
 his messengers

00:31:10.320 --> 00:31:11.200
 to fetch David.

00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.180
 They've all failed.

00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:13.460
 Now he himself

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.180
 goes and on his

00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:14.940
 own personal

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:15.820
 royal assassination

00:31:15.820 --> 00:31:16.360
 attempt.

00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:16.980
 The spirit of the

00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:18.120
 Lord overwhelms him.

00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.220
 He strips off

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:20.220
 all of his clothes

00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:21.600
 and worships.

00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.420
 Look there

00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:24.240
 at verse 24.

00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:25.440
 He too

00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.140
 stripped off

00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:26.860
 his clothes

00:31:26.860 --> 00:31:27.600
 and he too

00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:28.180
 prophesied

00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:29.019
 before Samuel

00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.900
 and lay naked

00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.680
 all that day

00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:31.500
 and all that night.

00:31:31.600 --> 00:31:32.279
 Thus it is said

00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.759
 is Saul

00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.360
 also among

00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:33.880
 the prophets.

00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.559
 Again,

00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:35.440
 weird stuff.

00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:36.160
 Ask about it

00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:36.519
 in questions

00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:36.940
 and answers.

00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:39.340
 But do you

00:31:39.340 --> 00:31:39.559
 remember how

00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.259
 the story began?

00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:41.580
 Do you remember

00:31:41.580 --> 00:31:42.559
 what Jonathan

00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:43.080
 did when he

00:31:43.080 --> 00:31:44.559
 loved David?

00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.799
 He took off

00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.740
 his royal garb

00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.740
 and he gave it

00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:48.400
 to David

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:49.480
 as if to say

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.360
 that you David

00:31:50.360 --> 00:31:51.220
 and not I

00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:52.600
 are the rightful

00:31:52.600 --> 00:31:53.360
 king of Israel

00:31:53.360 --> 00:31:54.259
 the rightful

00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:54.980
 heir to the throne.

00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.240
 This Jonathan

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:57.080
 did willingly

00:31:57.080 --> 00:31:58.680
 but not Saul.

00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.279
 Saul will never

00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:00.920
 give David

00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:01.400
 that sort of

00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:01.820
 legitimacy

00:32:01.820 --> 00:32:03.059
 willingly.

00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:06.159
 But at the end

00:32:06.159 --> 00:32:06.899
 under the

00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:07.419
 influence of

00:32:07.419 --> 00:32:07.720
 the spirit

00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.139
 of God

00:32:08.139 --> 00:32:08.919
 he will

00:32:08.919 --> 00:32:09.599
 take off

00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:10.159
 all of his

00:32:10.159 --> 00:32:10.539
 clothes

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.480
 symbolically

00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:12.220
 representing

00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:13.179
 that he himself

00:32:13.179 --> 00:32:13.899
 has lost

00:32:13.899 --> 00:32:14.419
 legitimacy

00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:14.799
 in the throne

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:15.279
 of Israel.

00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:20.220
 Saul's

00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:20.839
 attempts

00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:21.839
 to frustrate

00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:22.359
 the plans

00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:22.899
 of the Lord

00:32:22.899 --> 00:32:23.940
 will never

00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:24.480
 succeed

00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.460
 and the Lord

00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:26.119
 will laugh

00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:26.720
 over him.

00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:33.120
 So how

00:32:33.120 --> 00:32:33.500
 will you

00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:33.960
 grant your

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:34.360
 submission

00:32:34.360 --> 00:32:34.860
 and obedience

00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:35.279
 to God?

00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:38.079
 As Jonathan

00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:38.400
 did

00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:38.900
 willingly

00:32:38.900 --> 00:32:40.620
 or as Saul

00:32:40.620 --> 00:32:40.900
 did

00:32:40.900 --> 00:32:41.779
 by compulsion?

00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:49.019
 And have

00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:49.360
 the kings

00:32:49.360 --> 00:32:49.880
 of this world

00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:50.720
 ceased to

00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.500
 rage against

00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:51.940
 the chosen

00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:52.539
 ones of God?

00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:56.460
 Any even

00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:57.940
 cursory glance

00:32:57.940 --> 00:32:58.339
 at the news

00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:58.720
 will tell you

00:32:58.720 --> 00:32:58.940
 that they

00:32:58.940 --> 00:32:59.599
 have not.

00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:01.839
 From China

00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.980
 to Pakistan

00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:03.779
 to Nigeria

00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.420
 the kings

00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:05.180
 of the world

00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:05.940
 rage

00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:06.899
 and rage

00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:07.879
 and rage

00:33:07.879 --> 00:33:08.740
 against the

00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.119
 Lord's

00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:10.240
 beloved ones

00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.159
 against his

00:33:11.159 --> 00:33:12.180
 chosen ones.

00:33:13.899 --> 00:33:14.859
 A recent

00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:15.259
 example

00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:16.440
 on February

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.220
 15th

00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:17.819
 the Islamic

00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:18.339
 state

00:33:18.339 --> 00:33:19.500
 released a

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.159
 video showing

00:33:20.159 --> 00:33:20.819
 the execution

00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:21.480
 of 21

00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:21.879
 Egyptian

00:33:21.879 --> 00:33:22.359
 Christians

00:33:22.359 --> 00:33:23.359
 who were

00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:23.699
 targeted

00:33:23.699 --> 00:33:24.319
 precisely

00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:24.719
 because

00:33:24.719 --> 00:33:25.019
 they were

00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.419
 Christians.

00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:27.399
 In the

00:33:27.399 --> 00:33:27.659
 video

00:33:27.659 --> 00:33:27.859
 the

00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:28.259
 Christians

00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:28.939
 clothed

00:33:28.939 --> 00:33:29.159
 in their

00:33:29.159 --> 00:33:29.439
 orange

00:33:29.439 --> 00:33:30.000
 jumpsuits

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.579
 are marched

00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:31.079
 out by

00:33:31.079 --> 00:33:31.500
 individual

00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:31.839
 men

00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:32.359
 clad in

00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:32.899
 full black

00:33:32.899 --> 00:33:33.479
 with daggers

00:33:33.479 --> 00:33:33.879
 tucked into

00:33:33.879 --> 00:33:34.299
 their belts

00:33:34.299 --> 00:33:35.000
 they're pushed

00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:35.240
 to their

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:35.579
 knees in

00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:35.979
 the sand

00:33:35.979 --> 00:33:36.399
 and each

00:33:36.399 --> 00:33:36.579
 of the

00:33:36.579 --> 00:33:36.859
 Islamic

00:33:36.859 --> 00:33:37.199
 state

00:33:37.199 --> 00:33:37.659
 fighters

00:33:37.659 --> 00:33:38.419
 saws

00:33:38.419 --> 00:33:38.679
 off

00:33:38.679 --> 00:33:38.939
 their

00:33:38.939 --> 00:33:39.399
 heads.

00:33:42.399 --> 00:33:42.740
 King

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.059
 Saul

00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:43.479
 could not

00:33:43.479 --> 00:33:43.819
 have thought

00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:44.339
 of anything

00:33:44.339 --> 00:33:44.859
 as heinous

00:33:44.859 --> 00:33:45.339
 as this.

00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.259
 The kings

00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:47.479
 of the

00:33:47.479 --> 00:33:47.719
 world

00:33:47.719 --> 00:33:48.399
 rage

00:33:48.399 --> 00:33:49.139
 to this

00:33:49.139 --> 00:33:49.539
 day

00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.059
 against

00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:50.519
 the Lord

00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:50.839
 and his

00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:51.159
 anointed.

00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:53.719
 And yet

00:33:53.719 --> 00:33:55.939
 mere seconds

00:33:55.939 --> 00:33:56.399
 before he

00:33:56.399 --> 00:33:56.839
 is killed

00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:57.259
 one of the

00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:57.559
 Christians

00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:57.879
 in that

00:33:57.879 --> 00:33:58.299
 video can

00:33:58.299 --> 00:33:58.699
 be seen

00:33:58.699 --> 00:33:58.979
 muttering

00:33:58.979 --> 00:33:59.579
 to himself

00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:00.299
 a prayer

00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:01.119
 over and

00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:01.439
 over.

00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:03.019
 Save me

00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:04.359
 Lord Jesus

00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:04.819
 Christ.

00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:06.000
 Help me

00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.699
 Lord Jesus

00:34:06.699 --> 00:34:07.119
 Christ.

00:34:09.819 --> 00:34:10.539
 These are the

00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.239
 last words

00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:12.319
 from his throat

00:34:12.319 --> 00:34:12.799
 before it

00:34:12.799 --> 00:34:13.440
 slit in his

00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:14.000
 head severed

00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.259
 from his

00:34:14.259 --> 00:34:14.819
 body and

00:34:14.819 --> 00:34:15.579
 thrown across

00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:16.119
 the sand.

00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:16.679
 the sand.

00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.539
 What can

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.159
 explain that

00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:22.420
 sort of

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:22.799
 confidence?

00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:26.259
 I think

00:34:26.259 --> 00:34:26.759
 it's this.

00:34:28.859 --> 00:34:29.900
 That there

00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:30.839
 was yet

00:34:30.839 --> 00:34:31.659
 another

00:34:31.659 --> 00:34:32.539
 anointed

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:32.900
 one

00:34:32.900 --> 00:34:34.139
 after David.

00:34:36.799 --> 00:34:37.639
 There was

00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:38.259
 another one

00:34:38.259 --> 00:34:39.579
 against whom

00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:40.239
 the kings

00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:40.500
 of this

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:40.859
 world

00:34:40.859 --> 00:34:42.119
 spent all

00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.500
 of their

00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:42.920
 rage.

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:45.220
 this one

00:34:45.220 --> 00:34:45.800
 did not

00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:46.579
 flee the

00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:47.119
 spears of

00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:47.500
 the kings

00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:47.740
 of the

00:34:47.740 --> 00:34:48.059
 world as

00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:48.559
 David did

00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:49.860
 but allowed

00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:50.460
 them to

00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:51.240
 pierce his

00:34:51.240 --> 00:34:51.659
 side.

00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:53.440
 This one

00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:53.800
 did not

00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:54.619
 run when

00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.260
 kings and

00:34:55.260 --> 00:34:56.099
 demons conspired

00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:56.720
 against him.

00:34:57.780 --> 00:34:58.280
 Saul could

00:34:58.280 --> 00:34:58.800
 not nail

00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.400
 David to a

00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:00.059
 wall but

00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:00.940
 David's

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.500
 offspring,

00:35:01.720 --> 00:35:02.079
 Saul's

00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:02.420
 offspring,

00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.039
 got their

00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:03.780
 vengeance on

00:35:03.780 --> 00:35:04.220
 David's

00:35:04.220 --> 00:35:04.940
 offspring when

00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:05.559
 they nailed

00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:06.559
 our Jesus

00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:07.500
 to a cross

00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:08.219
 and watched

00:35:08.219 --> 00:35:08.699
 him bleed

00:35:08.699 --> 00:35:09.179
 out and

00:35:09.179 --> 00:35:09.739
 die.

00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:11.619
 And where

00:35:11.619 --> 00:35:12.820
 is the

00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:13.420
 laughter of

00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:13.880
 the Lord

00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.579
 now?

00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:18.019
 Perhaps

00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:18.440
 it was

00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:18.860
 silent.

00:35:20.699 --> 00:35:21.760
 Then for

00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:22.039
 a few

00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:22.440
 days,

00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:25.559
 low in

00:35:25.559 --> 00:35:26.039
 the grave

00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:26.599
 he lay,

00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:27.559
 Jesus my

00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:27.960
 Savior,

00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:29.719
 waiting the

00:35:29.719 --> 00:35:30.280
 coming day,

00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:30.880
 Jesus my

00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:31.199
 Lord.

00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:33.980
 Do dead

00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:34.679
 lords laugh

00:35:34.679 --> 00:35:35.519
 as this

00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:36.219
 psalm suggests

00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:36.639
 they do?

00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:40.380
 Perhaps

00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:40.719
 not.

00:35:43.059 --> 00:35:43.920
 But our

00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:45.619
 Jesus has

00:35:45.619 --> 00:35:46.139
 risen from

00:35:46.139 --> 00:35:46.519
 the dead.

00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:48.559
 And there

00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.000
 is no

00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:50.059
 laughter like

00:35:50.059 --> 00:35:50.579
 resurrection

00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:51.340
 laughter.

00:35:52.739 --> 00:35:53.619
 Up from

00:35:53.619 --> 00:35:54.280
 the grave

00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:54.960
 he arose

00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:56.179
 with a

00:35:56.179 --> 00:35:57.260
 mighty triumph

00:35:57.260 --> 00:35:58.039
 over his

00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:58.619
 foes.

00:35:58.880 --> 00:35:59.500
 He arose

00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.260
 a victor

00:36:00.260 --> 00:36:00.659
 from the

00:36:00.659 --> 00:36:01.440
 dark domain

00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:01.980
 and he

00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:03.599
 lives forever

00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:04.500
 with his

00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:05.300
 saints to

00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:06.219
 reign.

00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:07.480
 He arose

00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.500
 he arose.

00:36:08.780 --> 00:36:09.179
 Hallelujah.

00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:10.000
 Christ

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:10.940
 arose.

00:36:12.360 --> 00:36:12.940
 Back in

00:36:12.940 --> 00:36:13.360
 Psalm 2,

00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:13.760
 if you have

00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:14.159
 the ESV,

00:36:14.240 --> 00:36:14.559
 you'll see

00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:15.059
 that Psalm

00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:15.820
 2 too has

00:36:15.820 --> 00:36:16.480
 anointed

00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:17.240
 capitalized.

00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:17.699
 Why?

00:36:17.860 --> 00:36:18.619
 Because later

00:36:18.619 --> 00:36:19.059
 on in the

00:36:19.059 --> 00:36:19.659
 book of Acts,

00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:20.500
 the apostles,

00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:21.159
 when trying to

00:36:21.159 --> 00:36:21.679
 explain what

00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:22.320
 happened to

00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:22.619
 Jesus,

00:36:22.820 --> 00:36:23.300
 will use

00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:23.920
 this very

00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:24.500
 psalm.

00:36:24.860 --> 00:36:25.320
 The kings

00:36:25.320 --> 00:36:25.539
 of this

00:36:25.539 --> 00:36:26.360
 world conspired

00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:26.679
 against him

00:36:26.679 --> 00:36:26.940
 to put him

00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:27.400
 to death,

00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:28.179
 but God

00:36:28.179 --> 00:36:29.000
 vindicated

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:29.340
 him,

00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:31.219
 preserved

00:36:31.219 --> 00:36:31.639
 him.

00:36:31.639 --> 00:36:35.659
 this

00:36:35.659 --> 00:36:36.539
 anointed

00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:37.119
 one humbled

00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:37.759
 himself by

00:36:37.759 --> 00:36:38.039
 becoming

00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:38.400
 obedient at

00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.559
 the point

00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:38.960
 of death,

00:36:39.339 --> 00:36:39.920
 even death

00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:40.440
 on a cross,

00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:41.299
 and in

00:36:41.299 --> 00:36:41.699
 response,

00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:42.239
 God

00:36:42.239 --> 00:36:42.900
 highly

00:36:42.900 --> 00:36:43.440
 exalted

00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:43.719
 him.

00:36:44.259 --> 00:36:44.819
 And he

00:36:44.819 --> 00:36:45.319
 gave him

00:36:45.319 --> 00:36:45.739
 a name

00:36:45.739 --> 00:36:46.940
 above all

00:36:46.940 --> 00:36:47.420
 the name,

00:36:48.019 --> 00:36:48.359
 so that at

00:36:48.359 --> 00:36:48.659
 the name

00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:49.159
 of Jesus

00:36:49.159 --> 00:36:50.000
 every knee

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:50.659
 should bow

00:36:50.659 --> 00:36:51.179
 in heaven

00:36:51.179 --> 00:36:51.759
 and on earth

00:36:51.759 --> 00:36:52.119
 and under

00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:52.599
 the earth,

00:36:52.719 --> 00:36:53.239
 and every

00:36:53.239 --> 00:36:54.019
 tongue confess

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:54.599
 that Jesus

00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:55.319
 Christ is

00:36:55.319 --> 00:36:55.679
 Lord,

00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:56.619
 to the glory

00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:57.420
 of God

00:36:57.420 --> 00:36:58.219
 the Father.

00:36:58.219 --> 00:36:59.119
 this,

00:36:59.339 --> 00:36:59.959
 I think,

00:37:00.159 --> 00:37:00.559
 is the

00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:01.299
 good word

00:37:01.299 --> 00:37:02.019
 the Lord

00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:02.579
 has spoken

00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:03.119
 to us.

00:37:03.459 --> 00:37:03.939
 This is

00:37:03.939 --> 00:37:04.339
 the word

00:37:04.339 --> 00:37:04.899
 of love

00:37:04.899 --> 00:37:05.779
 that must

00:37:05.779 --> 00:37:06.359
 be the

00:37:06.359 --> 00:37:06.779
 foundation

00:37:06.779 --> 00:37:07.219
 of our

00:37:07.219 --> 00:37:07.639
 lives,

00:37:07.779 --> 00:37:08.299
 lest when

00:37:08.299 --> 00:37:08.919
 the storms

00:37:08.919 --> 00:37:09.359
 come,

00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:09.980
 they ruin

00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.399
 us.

00:37:11.339 --> 00:37:11.819
 This,

00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:12.399
 I think,

00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.119
 this word

00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:13.559
 of love

00:37:13.559 --> 00:37:13.779
 in the

00:37:13.779 --> 00:37:14.059
 person

00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:14.559
 of Jesus

00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:15.559
 is the

00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.199
 motivation,

00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:17.059
 is the

00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:17.759
 passion

00:37:17.759 --> 00:37:19.019
 of those

00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:20.439
 martyrs

00:37:20.439 --> 00:37:20.639
 on the

00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:20.819
 beach

00:37:20.819 --> 00:37:21.239
 in Libya,

00:37:21.919 --> 00:37:22.500
 of King

00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:22.779
 David

00:37:22.779 --> 00:37:23.199
 himself.

00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:25.559
 If you

00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:25.759
 look at

00:37:25.759 --> 00:37:26.459
 your bulletins,

00:37:26.859 --> 00:37:27.439
 I've

00:37:27.439 --> 00:37:27.859
 inserted

00:37:27.860 --> 00:37:28.160
 two

00:37:28.160 --> 00:37:28.559
 pictures

00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.320
 into the

00:37:29.320 --> 00:37:30.099
 handout

00:37:30.099 --> 00:37:30.860
 in the

00:37:30.860 --> 00:37:31.000
 middle,

00:37:32.240 --> 00:37:33.019
 and both

00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:33.300
 have to

00:37:33.300 --> 00:37:33.539
 do with

00:37:33.539 --> 00:37:34.019
 this event

00:37:34.019 --> 00:37:34.660
 in the

00:37:34.660 --> 00:37:34.940
 beach

00:37:34.940 --> 00:37:35.840
 last month

00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:36.340
 in Libya.

00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:39.099
 The top

00:37:39.099 --> 00:37:39.380
 one you

00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:40.079
 see is

00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.559
 essentially

00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:41.680
 a reenactment

00:37:41.680 --> 00:37:42.640
 of the

00:37:42.640 --> 00:37:43.420
 video itself,

00:37:43.720 --> 00:37:44.480
 but in the

00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:44.780
 front,

00:37:44.900 --> 00:37:45.099
 in the

00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:45.360
 orange

00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:45.940
 jumpsuit,

00:37:46.059 --> 00:37:47.660
 is the

00:37:47.660 --> 00:37:47.880
 Lord

00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:48.400
 himself

00:37:48.400 --> 00:37:49.700
 carrying

00:37:49.700 --> 00:37:50.200
 a cross.

00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:51.800
 The Lord

00:37:51.800 --> 00:37:52.960
 never asks

00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:53.340
 us to

00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:53.620
 suffer

00:37:53.620 --> 00:37:54.340
 something

00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:54.579
 that he

00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:54.880
 did not

00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:55.099
 suffer

00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:55.559
 first,

00:37:56.180 --> 00:37:56.539
 and does

00:37:56.539 --> 00:37:56.900
 not suffer

00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:57.440
 with us.

00:37:57.860 --> 00:38:00.559
 And below

00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:01.059
 that you

00:38:01.059 --> 00:38:02.240
 see the

00:38:02.240 --> 00:38:03.960
 men once

00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:04.300
 again,

00:38:05.200 --> 00:38:06.200
 now with

00:38:06.200 --> 00:38:07.000
 halos around

00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:07.559
 their heads,

00:38:07.680 --> 00:38:08.280
 signifying that

00:38:08.280 --> 00:38:08.760
 they have

00:38:08.760 --> 00:38:10.220
 attained their

00:38:10.220 --> 00:38:11.180
 goal in

00:38:11.180 --> 00:38:11.539
 heaven,

00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:12.480
 and they are

00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.099
 receiving the

00:38:13.099 --> 00:38:13.900
 crowns that

00:38:13.900 --> 00:38:14.559
 the Lord has

00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:14.980
 given to

00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:15.180
 them.

00:38:17.420 --> 00:38:18.280
 I give this

00:38:18.280 --> 00:38:19.120
 to you so

00:38:19.120 --> 00:38:19.720
 that you can

00:38:19.720 --> 00:38:20.599
 both pray for

00:38:20.599 --> 00:38:21.220
 our brothers and

00:38:21.220 --> 00:38:21.860
 sisters throughout

00:38:21.860 --> 00:38:22.400
 the world,

00:38:22.660 --> 00:38:23.440
 against whom the

00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:23.900
 kings of this

00:38:23.900 --> 00:38:24.559
 world are

00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:25.519
 continually raging

00:38:25.519 --> 00:38:26.160
 even these

00:38:26.159 --> 00:38:26.460
 days.

00:38:27.899 --> 00:38:28.420
 And I

00:38:28.420 --> 00:38:28.879
 give them to

00:38:28.879 --> 00:38:29.619
 you so that

00:38:29.619 --> 00:38:29.859
 you can

00:38:29.859 --> 00:38:30.399
 remember that

00:38:30.399 --> 00:38:31.319
 there is for

00:38:31.319 --> 00:38:32.519
 us laid up

00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:33.359
 a crown of

00:38:33.359 --> 00:38:33.839
 righteousness.

00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:35.599
 David trusted

00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:36.559
 the Lord and

00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:37.519
 received a

00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:37.879
 crown.

00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:39.879
 There is hope

00:38:39.879 --> 00:38:40.339
 that we shall

00:38:40.339 --> 00:38:40.940
 do the same.

00:38:42.639 --> 00:38:43.619
 Because when

00:38:43.619 --> 00:38:44.399
 the Lord works

00:38:44.399 --> 00:38:45.279
 his salvation

00:38:45.279 --> 00:38:46.000
 over his

00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:46.379
 people,

00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:49.259
 the Lord

00:38:49.259 --> 00:38:49.980
 makes

00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:51.579
 worshipers of

00:38:51.579 --> 00:38:52.259
 his enemies.

00:38:52.260 --> 00:38:52.460
 enemies.

00:38:53.960 --> 00:38:54.600
 He will

00:38:54.600 --> 00:38:55.220
 receive the

00:38:55.220 --> 00:38:55.700
 worship of

00:38:55.700 --> 00:38:56.200
 both his

00:38:56.200 --> 00:38:57.100
 loyal followers

00:38:57.100 --> 00:38:58.280
 and also of

00:38:58.280 --> 00:38:59.100
 his enemies.

00:38:59.300 --> 00:39:00.380
 One willingly,

00:39:00.740 --> 00:39:01.320
 another one

00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:02.000
 forced.

00:39:02.860 --> 00:39:03.600
 But this is

00:39:03.600 --> 00:39:04.080
 the conviction

00:39:04.080 --> 00:39:05.060
 that this

00:39:05.060 --> 00:39:05.640
 passage in

00:39:05.640 --> 00:39:06.540
 1 Samuel

00:39:06.540 --> 00:39:07.440
 gives us.

00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:09.760
 That there is

00:39:09.760 --> 00:39:10.460
 no tyrant

00:39:10.460 --> 00:39:11.040
 that has ever

00:39:11.040 --> 00:39:11.760
 put a knife

00:39:11.760 --> 00:39:12.200
 to the neck

00:39:12.200 --> 00:39:12.700
 of a Christian

00:39:12.700 --> 00:39:13.360
 who will not

00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:14.060
 one day,

00:39:14.180 --> 00:39:14.700
 either in the

00:39:14.700 --> 00:39:15.420
 fires of hell

00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:15.980
 or beyond the

00:39:15.980 --> 00:39:16.660
 gates of splendor,

00:39:17.060 --> 00:39:17.780
 bow the knee

00:39:17.780 --> 00:39:18.860
 to the rightful

00:39:18.860 --> 00:39:19.420
 king of heaven

00:39:19.420 --> 00:39:19.800
 and earth.

00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:20.340
 There is not

00:39:20.340 --> 00:39:21.080
 one who will

00:39:21.080 --> 00:39:21.640
 not do that.

00:39:22.260 --> 00:39:22.980
 There is not

00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:23.600
 one assassin

00:39:23.600 --> 00:39:24.620
 who has ever

00:39:24.620 --> 00:39:25.180
 held the gun

00:39:25.180 --> 00:39:25.540
 to the head

00:39:25.540 --> 00:39:25.960
 of one of

00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:26.540
 God's beloved

00:39:26.540 --> 00:39:27.240
 who will not

00:39:27.240 --> 00:39:28.000
 either willingly

00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:28.900
 or unwillingly

00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:29.780
 confess that

00:39:29.780 --> 00:39:30.640
 Jesus is

00:39:30.640 --> 00:39:31.340
 king of kings

00:39:31.340 --> 00:39:32.520
 and lord of lords.

00:39:33.660 --> 00:39:35.060
 David did not

00:39:35.060 --> 00:39:36.040
 see this in

00:39:36.040 --> 00:39:36.600
 his lifetime.

00:39:37.180 --> 00:39:37.740
 David did not

00:39:37.740 --> 00:39:38.940
 see this sort

00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:39.920
 of lord of lords

00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:40.660
 and king of kings

00:39:40.660 --> 00:39:41.440
 held out before

00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:42.460
 him, but we do.

00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:44.020
 We have the

00:39:44.020 --> 00:39:44.880
 good word of

00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:45.620
 love that God

00:39:45.620 --> 00:39:46.400
 has spoken to us

00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:47.200
 in Jesus.

00:39:48.640 --> 00:39:49.420
 Do you remember

00:39:49.420 --> 00:39:50.500
 earlier I asked

00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:51.760
 what would become

00:39:51.760 --> 00:39:52.680
 of us if we

00:39:52.680 --> 00:39:53.480
 like Saul

00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:54.840
 set our minds

00:39:54.840 --> 00:39:55.820
 and our wills

00:39:55.820 --> 00:39:56.520
 against the plan

00:39:56.520 --> 00:39:56.900
 of God?

00:39:57.900 --> 00:39:58.620
 Is there hope

00:39:58.620 --> 00:39:59.060
 for us?

00:39:59.920 --> 00:40:00.660
 The word of the

00:40:00.660 --> 00:40:01.260
 cross is that there

00:40:01.260 --> 00:40:02.560
 is yet hope

00:40:02.560 --> 00:40:03.140
 for us.

00:40:03.800 --> 00:40:04.560
 That though we

00:40:04.560 --> 00:40:05.520
 are dead in our

00:40:05.520 --> 00:40:06.380
 trespasses and

00:40:06.380 --> 00:40:07.040
 sins and though

00:40:07.040 --> 00:40:08.100
 we bear the

00:40:08.100 --> 00:40:10.340
 rightful curse,

00:40:11.720 --> 00:40:12.940
 that curse and

00:40:12.940 --> 00:40:13.740
 the guilt of sin

00:40:13.740 --> 00:40:14.240
 can be taken

00:40:14.240 --> 00:40:15.560
 away by one

00:40:15.560 --> 00:40:15.960
 look at the

00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:17.200
 cross of repentance

00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:18.179
 and believing

00:40:18.179 --> 00:40:19.039
 that Jesus,

00:40:19.919 --> 00:40:20.899
 his sacrifice

00:40:20.899 --> 00:40:21.879
 is enough for

00:40:21.879 --> 00:40:22.219
 us.

00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:24.259
 If you have not

00:40:24.259 --> 00:40:25.079
 done that tonight,

00:40:25.179 --> 00:40:25.779
 I encourage you

00:40:25.779 --> 00:40:26.359
 to do so.

00:40:27.319 --> 00:40:28.119
 Do not be like

00:40:28.119 --> 00:40:29.419
 Saul and rage

00:40:29.419 --> 00:40:30.099
 against the plan

00:40:30.099 --> 00:40:30.599
 of the Lord.

00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:31.960
 Why would you

00:40:31.960 --> 00:40:32.319
 die?

00:40:33.119 --> 00:40:33.679
 Why would you

00:40:33.679 --> 00:40:34.460
 die like Saul

00:40:34.460 --> 00:40:34.859
 died?

00:40:34.860 --> 00:40:40.440
 And if it is

00:40:40.440 --> 00:40:41.059
 your confidence,

00:40:41.640 --> 00:40:42.579
 hold fast to

00:40:42.579 --> 00:40:43.180
 that confidence

00:40:43.180 --> 00:40:44.340
 as David held

00:40:44.340 --> 00:40:44.920
 fast to that

00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:45.380
 confidence.

00:40:45.740 --> 00:40:46.180
 In the middle

00:40:46.180 --> 00:40:46.800
 of the raging

00:40:46.800 --> 00:40:47.480
 of your enemies

00:40:47.480 --> 00:40:48.200
 and the

00:40:48.200 --> 00:40:49.039
 uncertainties of

00:40:49.039 --> 00:40:49.579
 your life,

00:40:49.840 --> 00:40:50.720
 hold fast.

00:40:51.240 --> 00:40:52.019
 Know, as

00:40:52.019 --> 00:40:53.140
 David knew,

00:40:54.420 --> 00:40:55.900
 that the glory

00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:56.920
 held out for us

00:40:56.920 --> 00:40:58.120
 is greater than

00:40:58.120 --> 00:40:58.840
 the trials we

00:40:58.840 --> 00:40:59.440
 face now.

00:40:59.900 --> 00:41:00.579
 And though we

00:41:00.579 --> 00:41:01.500
 will not see

00:41:01.500 --> 00:41:02.780
 the plan of God

00:41:02.780 --> 00:41:04.079
 unfolding around us,

00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:05.619
 one day we

00:41:05.619 --> 00:41:06.579
 have the hope

00:41:06.579 --> 00:41:07.519
 of seeing God's

00:41:07.519 --> 00:41:08.059
 face.

00:41:09.239 --> 00:41:10.199
 So sing the

00:41:10.199 --> 00:41:11.000
 wondrous love of

00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:11.380
 Jesus.

00:41:12.119 --> 00:41:13.139
 Sing his mercy

00:41:13.139 --> 00:41:13.840
 and his grace

00:41:13.840 --> 00:41:14.759
 in the mansions

00:41:14.759 --> 00:41:15.420
 bright and

00:41:15.420 --> 00:41:15.719
 blessed.

00:41:16.259 --> 00:41:17.019
 He'll prepare

00:41:17.019 --> 00:41:18.159
 for us a place.

00:41:18.860 --> 00:41:19.639
 When we all

00:41:19.639 --> 00:41:20.279
 get to heaven,

00:41:20.539 --> 00:41:21.319
 what a day of

00:41:21.319 --> 00:41:21.980
 rejoicing that

00:41:21.980 --> 00:41:22.340
 will be.

00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:23.559
 When we all

00:41:23.559 --> 00:41:24.099
 see Jesus,

00:41:24.340 --> 00:41:25.099
 we'll sing and

00:41:25.099 --> 00:41:25.940
 shout the victory.

00:41:27.159 --> 00:41:27.759
 So let us then

00:41:27.759 --> 00:41:28.719
 be true and

00:41:28.719 --> 00:41:29.039
 faithful,

00:41:29.880 --> 00:41:30.139
 trusting,

00:41:30.340 --> 00:41:30.880
 serving every

00:41:30.880 --> 00:41:31.199
 day,

00:41:31.759 --> 00:41:32.639
 just one

00:41:32.639 --> 00:41:33.460
 glimpse of

00:41:33.460 --> 00:41:34.059
 him in

00:41:34.059 --> 00:41:34.619
 glory.

00:41:35.340 --> 00:41:35.840
 Will the

00:41:35.840 --> 00:41:36.299
 toils of

00:41:36.299 --> 00:41:36.679
 life repay?

00:41:37.179 --> 00:41:37.820
 When we all

00:41:37.820 --> 00:41:38.340
 get to heaven,

00:41:38.659 --> 00:41:39.500
 what a day of

00:41:39.500 --> 00:41:40.340
 rejoicing that

00:41:40.340 --> 00:41:40.820
 will be.

00:41:41.079 --> 00:41:41.900
 When we all

00:41:41.900 --> 00:41:43.079
 see Jesus,

00:41:43.219 --> 00:41:44.199
 as King David

00:41:44.199 --> 00:41:44.880
 and those

00:41:44.880 --> 00:41:45.420
 martyrs on the

00:41:45.420 --> 00:41:45.739
 beach in

00:41:45.739 --> 00:41:47.079
 Libya now

00:41:47.079 --> 00:41:47.659
 see him.

00:41:48.019 --> 00:41:48.759
 When we all

00:41:48.759 --> 00:41:49.719
 see Jesus,

00:41:50.059 --> 00:41:50.840
 the name at

00:41:50.840 --> 00:41:51.320
 which every

00:41:51.320 --> 00:41:51.739
 knee will

00:41:51.739 --> 00:41:52.259
 bow and

00:41:52.259 --> 00:41:52.860
 tongue confess

00:41:52.860 --> 00:41:53.539
 to be King

00:41:53.539 --> 00:41:53.880
 of Kings

00:41:53.880 --> 00:41:54.219
 and Lord

00:41:54.219 --> 00:41:54.559
 of Lords.

00:41:54.719 --> 00:41:55.599
 When we all

00:41:55.599 --> 00:41:56.619
 see Jesus,

00:41:56.860 --> 00:41:57.679
 we'll sing

00:41:57.679 --> 00:41:58.759
 and shout

00:41:58.759 --> 00:41:59.940
 the victory.

00:42:01.539 --> 00:42:02.119
 Let's pray.

00:42:02.119 --> 00:42:02.179
 Amen.

00:42:02.179 --> 00:42:02.219
 Amen.

00:42:02.219 --> 00:42:02.259
 Amen.

00:42:02.259 --> 00:42:02.299
 Amen.

00:42:02.299 --> 00:42:02.320
 Amen.

00:42:02.320 --> 00:42:04.039
 Amen.

00:42:04.039 --> 00:42:08.639
 Lord,

00:42:08.739 --> 00:42:09.259
 thank you that

00:42:09.259 --> 00:42:10.019
 though you

00:42:10.019 --> 00:42:12.300
 have appointed

00:42:12.300 --> 00:42:13.039
 us to bear

00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:13.719
 the rage and

00:42:13.719 --> 00:42:14.320
 the schemes of

00:42:14.320 --> 00:42:14.779
 evil men,

00:42:15.159 --> 00:42:16.139
 we can bear

00:42:16.139 --> 00:42:16.519
 those with

00:42:16.519 --> 00:42:17.059
 confidence,

00:42:17.659 --> 00:42:18.659
 knowing that

00:42:18.659 --> 00:42:19.659
 you are stronger

00:42:19.659 --> 00:42:20.219
 than them.

00:42:21.019 --> 00:42:21.679
 Your appointed

00:42:21.679 --> 00:42:22.460
 plan will not

00:42:22.460 --> 00:42:22.739
 fail.

00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:24.820
 You have it in

00:42:24.820 --> 00:42:25.440
 your heart to do

00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:26.019
 good for us.

00:42:26.099 --> 00:42:26.659
 You've proven it

00:42:26.659 --> 00:42:27.079
 in Jesus.

00:42:28.039 --> 00:42:28.779
 I pray now you've

00:42:28.779 --> 00:42:29.659
 given us the

00:42:29.659 --> 00:42:30.420
 faith and the

00:42:30.420 --> 00:42:31.380
 trust to believe

00:42:31.380 --> 00:42:32.180
 that you love

00:42:32.180 --> 00:42:33.079
 us and you

00:42:33.079 --> 00:42:33.599
 are glad

00:42:33.599 --> 00:42:34.160
 with us.

00:42:34.539 --> 00:42:34.880
 You have a

00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:35.680
 plan for us.

00:42:36.059 --> 00:42:36.300
 You will

00:42:36.300 --> 00:42:37.019
 protect us.

00:42:37.559 --> 00:42:38.019
 Be with us

00:42:38.019 --> 00:42:39.099
 this week as

00:42:39.099 --> 00:42:39.480
 we go about

00:42:39.480 --> 00:42:40.019
 our business.

00:42:40.559 --> 00:42:41.059
 Help us to

00:42:41.059 --> 00:42:41.500
 preach this

00:42:41.500 --> 00:42:42.619
 gospel to

00:42:42.619 --> 00:42:43.480
 others and

00:42:43.480 --> 00:42:43.980
 to believe it

00:42:43.980 --> 00:42:44.360
 ourselves.

00:42:44.940 --> 00:42:45.240
 In the name

00:42:45.240 --> 00:42:45.579
 of Jesus,

00:42:45.680 --> 00:42:45.980
 I pray.

00:42:46.280 --> 00:42:46.519
 Amen.

00:42:46.519 --> 00:42:46.640
 Amen.

00:42:47.760 --> 00:42:48.099
 Questions?

00:42:48.760 --> 00:42:49.539
 Yeah, let's do it.

00:42:49.740 --> 00:42:50.300
 Five minutes.

00:42:50.920 --> 00:42:51.940
 Five minutes of questions.

00:42:52.160 --> 00:42:52.579
 Ask them quick,

00:42:52.640 --> 00:42:53.180
 I'll answer them quick.

00:42:53.720 --> 00:42:54.460
 There are too many

00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:55.140
 good things in this

00:42:55.140 --> 00:42:55.480
 passage,

00:42:55.599 --> 00:42:55.740
 Justin,

00:42:55.800 --> 00:42:56.039
 didn't I?

00:42:56.039 --> 00:42:57.460
 There are weird

00:42:57.460 --> 00:42:57.920
 things in there

00:42:57.920 --> 00:42:58.079
 too.

00:42:58.599 --> 00:42:58.920
 Questions?

00:43:07.400 --> 00:43:08.500
 Works for me.

00:43:09.219 --> 00:43:10.079
 Why did Saul get

00:43:10.079 --> 00:43:10.980
 naked to prophesy?

00:43:11.719 --> 00:43:12.119
 Sorry?

00:43:12.940 --> 00:43:13.900
 Why did Saul get

00:43:13.900 --> 00:43:14.800
 naked and prophesy?

00:43:15.179 --> 00:43:16.259
 Why did Saul get

00:43:16.259 --> 00:43:17.079
 naked and prophesy?

00:43:18.199 --> 00:43:19.139
 It's not clear.

00:43:19.360 --> 00:43:20.179
 The immediate answer

00:43:20.179 --> 00:43:20.759
 is that the spirit

00:43:20.759 --> 00:43:21.519
 of the Lord overtook

00:43:21.519 --> 00:43:22.980
 him and it seems

00:43:22.980 --> 00:43:24.800
 like it was an

00:43:24.800 --> 00:43:25.980
 attempt to foil the

00:43:25.980 --> 00:43:26.980
 assassination attempt

00:43:26.980 --> 00:43:29.039
 against David.

00:43:30.619 --> 00:43:31.579
 The other, I think,

00:43:31.679 --> 00:43:33.179
 sort of bigger sign

00:43:33.179 --> 00:43:35.119
 was it was a mark

00:43:35.119 --> 00:43:35.740
 of humiliation.

00:43:36.460 --> 00:43:37.880
 That Saul is on

00:43:37.880 --> 00:43:39.000
 his way toward being

00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:40.219
 basically very deranged

00:43:40.219 --> 00:43:40.860
 in this passage.

00:43:41.300 --> 00:43:41.860
 And here's a sort of

00:43:41.860 --> 00:43:42.900
 public weird example

00:43:42.900 --> 00:43:43.320
 of that.

00:43:43.740 --> 00:43:44.960
 He's stripped naked

00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:45.940
 and that's not the

00:43:45.940 --> 00:43:46.639
 sort of thing that a

00:43:46.639 --> 00:43:47.480
 nice civilized king

00:43:47.480 --> 00:43:47.920
 should do.

00:43:48.619 --> 00:43:49.519
 Therefore, perhaps,

00:43:49.760 --> 00:43:50.719
 Saul's not a nice

00:43:50.719 --> 00:43:51.340
 civilized king.

00:43:55.980 --> 00:43:57.619
 I'm just sure.

00:43:59.139 --> 00:43:59.960
 In the back, yeah.

00:43:59.960 --> 00:44:00.240
 Yeah.

00:44:00.240 --> 00:44:00.760
 Yeah.

00:44:02.079 --> 00:44:03.380
 What I want to know is,

00:44:04.219 --> 00:44:04.599
 well,

00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:06.840
 Saul's saying, like,

00:44:07.639 --> 00:44:08.039
 he,

00:44:08.579 --> 00:44:08.820
 well,

00:44:08.900 --> 00:44:09.199
 you know,

00:44:09.280 --> 00:44:10.420
 the evil spirit

00:44:10.420 --> 00:44:10.800
 started,

00:44:10.900 --> 00:44:12.119
 but he had

00:44:12.119 --> 00:44:12.820
 control of it

00:44:12.820 --> 00:44:13.199
 after that.

00:44:13.340 --> 00:44:13.800
 Like David,

00:44:14.420 --> 00:44:15.460
 the Lord would have

00:44:15.460 --> 00:44:15.900
 done it,

00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:16.300
 and he would have

00:44:16.300 --> 00:44:17.099
 made it right.

00:44:17.240 --> 00:44:17.780
 So why did

00:44:17.780 --> 00:44:18.420
 God do it?

00:44:18.420 --> 00:44:19.539
 Good question.

00:44:19.639 --> 00:44:19.780
 Yeah.

00:44:19.820 --> 00:44:20.400
 So the question,

00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:20.800
 it seems like,

00:44:20.880 --> 00:44:21.599
 is about the evil

00:44:21.599 --> 00:44:22.280
 spirit from the Lord

00:44:22.280 --> 00:44:23.519
 thing that goes on.

00:44:23.720 --> 00:44:24.119
 Is that right?

00:44:27.760 --> 00:44:28.119
 Yeah.

00:44:28.220 --> 00:44:28.400
 Good.

00:44:28.760 --> 00:44:29.240
 So, yeah.

00:44:29.280 --> 00:44:29.700
 Thank you.

00:44:30.220 --> 00:44:31.200
 It seems like,

00:44:31.780 --> 00:44:32.380
 so the question,

00:44:32.460 --> 00:44:32.599
 I think,

00:44:32.619 --> 00:44:33.300
 has to do with

00:44:33.300 --> 00:44:34.700
 chapter 18,

00:44:34.900 --> 00:44:40.260
 verse 10.

00:44:40.260 --> 00:44:41.119
 The next day,

00:44:41.200 --> 00:44:41.820
 a harmful spirit

00:44:41.820 --> 00:44:42.260
 from God

00:44:42.260 --> 00:44:43.159
 rushed upon Saul,

00:44:43.240 --> 00:44:43.800
 and he raved

00:44:43.800 --> 00:44:44.340
 within his house

00:44:44.340 --> 00:44:45.119
 while David was playing,

00:44:45.340 --> 00:44:45.800
 and then he threw

00:44:45.800 --> 00:44:46.420
 the spear.

00:44:46.880 --> 00:44:47.780
 Why the harmful

00:44:47.780 --> 00:44:48.500
 spirit from the Lord?

00:44:49.840 --> 00:44:50.800
 It happened already

00:44:50.800 --> 00:44:51.200
 to him,

00:44:51.320 --> 00:44:51.760
 to Saul,

00:44:52.120 --> 00:44:53.019
 in chapter 16,

00:44:53.600 --> 00:44:54.800
 when the spirit

00:44:54.800 --> 00:44:55.240
 of the Lord

00:44:55.240 --> 00:44:55.940
 was upon him

00:44:55.940 --> 00:44:56.500
 that signaled

00:44:56.500 --> 00:44:57.120
 his anointing

00:44:57.120 --> 00:44:57.720
 as king,

00:44:58.140 --> 00:44:59.260
 and he rebelled

00:44:59.260 --> 00:45:00.019
 against it,

00:45:00.640 --> 00:45:01.660
 and the spirit

00:45:01.660 --> 00:45:02.240
 withdrew,

00:45:02.460 --> 00:45:03.160
 and that seemed

00:45:03.160 --> 00:45:03.780
 to open up

00:45:03.780 --> 00:45:04.560
 some sort of space

00:45:04.560 --> 00:45:05.180
 for this other

00:45:05.180 --> 00:45:06.220
 spirit to come in.

00:45:06.660 --> 00:45:06.900
 Now,

00:45:06.940 --> 00:45:07.500
 it doesn't seem

00:45:07.500 --> 00:45:08.620
 like it's sort of

00:45:08.620 --> 00:45:10.019
 God's evil spirit

00:45:10.019 --> 00:45:10.540
 in the sense of

00:45:10.540 --> 00:45:11.160
 it's like a part

00:45:11.160 --> 00:45:11.480
 of God,

00:45:11.540 --> 00:45:12.160
 that sort of thing.

00:45:12.560 --> 00:45:13.200
 I think the analogy

00:45:13.200 --> 00:45:14.040
 could be that

00:45:14.040 --> 00:45:14.940
 in the book of Job,

00:45:15.240 --> 00:45:16.000
 you see that

00:45:16.000 --> 00:45:18.239
 God sort of

00:45:18.239 --> 00:45:19.119
 has a roll call

00:45:19.119 --> 00:45:19.900
 with his cabinet,

00:45:20.400 --> 00:45:21.239
 and among them

00:45:21.239 --> 00:45:22.139
 are Satan,

00:45:22.739 --> 00:45:23.320
 or is Satan,

00:45:23.860 --> 00:45:25.780
 and Satan wants

00:45:25.780 --> 00:45:26.699
 to go and do

00:45:26.699 --> 00:45:27.380
 all these nasty

00:45:27.380 --> 00:45:28.119
 things to Job,

00:45:28.219 --> 00:45:28.780
 but the Lord,

00:45:29.280 --> 00:45:30.139
 he can't do it

00:45:30.139 --> 00:45:30.500
 without the Lord's

00:45:30.500 --> 00:45:30.800
 permission.

00:45:32.440 --> 00:45:33.019
 So what seems

00:45:33.019 --> 00:45:33.440
 to be happening

00:45:33.440 --> 00:45:35.800
 here is the Lord

00:45:35.800 --> 00:45:36.460
 gives permission

00:45:36.460 --> 00:45:37.639
 to this evil spirit.

00:45:38.599 --> 00:45:39.000
 Interestingly,

00:45:39.199 --> 00:45:39.880
 in the earlier

00:45:39.880 --> 00:45:41.039
 parts of the book,

00:45:41.480 --> 00:45:42.639
 the music that

00:45:42.639 --> 00:45:43.280
 David plays

00:45:43.280 --> 00:45:44.179
 seems to work

00:45:44.179 --> 00:45:44.739
 against the evil

00:45:44.739 --> 00:45:45.079
 spirit,

00:45:45.619 --> 00:45:46.879
 and then Saul

00:45:46.879 --> 00:45:48.139
 increases in his

00:45:48.139 --> 00:45:49.299
 anger toward David,

00:45:49.559 --> 00:45:50.199
 and then it seems

00:45:50.199 --> 00:45:50.839
 like this spirit

00:45:50.839 --> 00:45:51.980
 increasingly has

00:45:51.980 --> 00:45:52.980
 control over him,

00:45:53.460 --> 00:45:54.899
 following his own

00:45:54.899 --> 00:45:55.299
 anger.

00:45:55.960 --> 00:45:56.399
 Meanwhile,

00:45:56.679 --> 00:45:57.899
 Saul never repents

00:45:57.899 --> 00:45:58.779
 of all of it,

00:45:58.799 --> 00:45:59.699
 all the way along.

00:46:00.299 --> 00:46:01.419
 So it doesn't seem

00:46:01.419 --> 00:46:02.279
 like this spirit

00:46:02.279 --> 00:46:03.759
 is leading him

00:46:03.759 --> 00:46:05.019
 without his own

00:46:05.019 --> 00:46:05.500
 will.

00:46:05.619 --> 00:46:06.460
 It seems like

00:46:06.460 --> 00:46:07.599
 Saul is going

00:46:07.599 --> 00:46:08.679
 right along with it,

00:46:08.899 --> 00:46:09.859
 willingly scheming

00:46:09.859 --> 00:46:10.519
 against the Lord.

00:46:10.739 --> 00:46:11.019
 Does that answer

00:46:11.019 --> 00:46:11.379
 your question?

00:46:11.879 --> 00:46:12.319
 Yeah,

00:46:12.379 --> 00:46:12.919
 thank you for that.

00:46:12.920 --> 00:46:16.579
 Yes, sir.

00:46:17.079 --> 00:46:17.460
 Do you hear

00:46:17.460 --> 00:46:18.220
 if Saul

00:46:18.220 --> 00:46:19.320
 had a choice

00:46:19.320 --> 00:46:19.920
 about the

00:46:19.920 --> 00:46:20.360
 need to be

00:46:20.360 --> 00:46:21.960
 given that

00:46:21.960 --> 00:46:22.500
 the Lord

00:46:22.500 --> 00:46:22.720
 would be

00:46:22.720 --> 00:46:22.960
 going to?

00:46:24.059 --> 00:46:24.500
 Yeah,

00:46:24.740 --> 00:46:25.059
 weird question.

00:46:25.180 --> 00:46:26.039
 I think he did.

00:46:26.519 --> 00:46:27.539
 I think that

00:46:27.539 --> 00:46:29.420
 he had,

00:46:29.599 --> 00:46:29.960
 more than anything

00:46:29.960 --> 00:46:30.159
 else,

00:46:30.200 --> 00:46:31.019
 a chance to obey.

00:46:31.900 --> 00:46:32.579
 And then,

00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:34.480
 even if this

00:46:34.480 --> 00:46:36.079
 major event,

00:46:36.180 --> 00:46:36.860
 I think it's

00:46:36.860 --> 00:46:37.420
 fairly significant

00:46:37.420 --> 00:46:38.440
 of trying to

00:46:38.440 --> 00:46:39.039
 arrogate to

00:46:39.039 --> 00:46:39.820
 himself power

00:46:39.820 --> 00:46:41.079
 over Israel's

00:46:41.079 --> 00:46:41.880
 religious practices,

00:46:41.880 --> 00:46:43.500
 even if that

00:46:43.500 --> 00:46:44.039
 sort of terrible

00:46:44.039 --> 00:46:44.720
 thing happens

00:46:44.720 --> 00:46:45.220
 to him,

00:46:45.539 --> 00:46:46.260
 I think he has

00:46:46.260 --> 00:46:46.760
 the opportunity

00:46:46.760 --> 00:46:47.780
 to repent there,

00:46:48.059 --> 00:46:48.940
 but he doesn't.

00:46:49.320 --> 00:46:50.099
 So even when he

00:46:50.099 --> 00:46:51.360
 responds to Samuel

00:46:51.360 --> 00:46:52.440
 as a condemnation,

00:46:52.680 --> 00:46:53.039
 he says,

00:46:53.119 --> 00:46:53.740
 will you come back

00:46:53.740 --> 00:46:54.039
 with me because

00:46:54.039 --> 00:46:54.340
 I don't want to

00:46:54.340 --> 00:46:55.119
 lose the esteem

00:46:55.119 --> 00:46:55.559
 of the people.

00:46:55.940 --> 00:46:56.420
 He doesn't say,

00:46:56.539 --> 00:46:57.099
 woe is me,

00:46:57.160 --> 00:46:58.260
 against you alone

00:46:58.260 --> 00:46:59.059
 have I sinned,

00:46:59.099 --> 00:47:00.039
 the way David does.

00:47:00.160 --> 00:47:00.860
 So I think he does

00:47:00.860 --> 00:47:01.519
 have the choice

00:47:01.519 --> 00:47:01.920
 to repent,

00:47:02.180 --> 00:47:03.240
 and he continually

00:47:03.240 --> 00:47:04.519
 habituates himself

00:47:04.519 --> 00:47:05.640
 toward not repenting.

00:47:06.599 --> 00:47:06.720
 Yeah,

00:47:07.340 --> 00:47:08.059
 good question.

00:47:08.059 --> 00:47:14.279
 Way in the back.

00:47:19.320 --> 00:47:22.320
 Good question.

00:47:22.739 --> 00:47:23.460
 Was he justified

00:47:23.460 --> 00:47:24.380
 including 200 people?

00:47:25.380 --> 00:47:26.460
 I think it's

00:47:26.460 --> 00:47:27.239
 probably safe to

00:47:27.239 --> 00:47:28.259
 assume that these

00:47:28.259 --> 00:47:29.639
 are men of war,

00:47:30.320 --> 00:47:31.880
 and the Philistines

00:47:31.880 --> 00:47:32.759
 in Israel have

00:47:32.759 --> 00:47:33.599
 these constant

00:47:33.599 --> 00:47:34.460
 battles going on

00:47:34.460 --> 00:47:35.179
 back and forth.

00:47:35.679 --> 00:47:36.599
 So it would not

00:47:36.599 --> 00:47:37.199
 be sort of like,

00:47:37.340 --> 00:47:37.739
 he just sort of

00:47:37.739 --> 00:47:38.559
 moseys into this

00:47:38.559 --> 00:47:39.319
 nice village and

00:47:39.319 --> 00:47:39.839
 just start attacking

00:47:39.839 --> 00:47:40.379
 people to the part.

00:47:40.659 --> 00:47:41.619
 They have a constant

00:47:41.619 --> 00:47:42.519
 state of war together,

00:47:42.679 --> 00:47:43.739
 and you see frequently

00:47:43.739 --> 00:47:44.879
 Philistine incursions

00:47:44.879 --> 00:47:45.599
 up into Israel,

00:47:45.979 --> 00:47:46.819
 Israeli incursions

00:47:46.819 --> 00:47:47.759
 down into the

00:47:47.759 --> 00:47:48.399
 Philistine area.

00:47:48.619 --> 00:47:49.339
 So I think this is

00:47:49.339 --> 00:47:50.179
 an act of war.

00:47:50.500 --> 00:47:51.419
 It's weird.

00:47:51.759 --> 00:47:53.019
 I think that God

00:47:53.019 --> 00:47:53.979
 doesn't approve of

00:47:53.979 --> 00:47:55.639
 mutilating the bodies

00:47:55.639 --> 00:47:56.279
 of your enemies,

00:47:56.479 --> 00:47:57.759
 but it was a fairly

00:47:57.759 --> 00:47:58.779
 typical practice

00:47:58.779 --> 00:47:59.919
 in the ancient areas

00:47:59.919 --> 00:48:00.699
 to do this sort of thing.

00:48:01.319 --> 00:48:02.779
 I think here the Bible

00:48:02.779 --> 00:48:05.039
 isn't commending this,

00:48:05.099 --> 00:48:05.259
 you know,

00:48:05.299 --> 00:48:06.299
 you go and do likewise.

00:48:06.300 --> 00:48:07.620
 I think it's more

00:48:07.620 --> 00:48:07.980
 of like,

00:48:08.240 --> 00:48:09.580
 it was really messed up

00:48:09.580 --> 00:48:10.140
 back then,

00:48:10.260 --> 00:48:11.260
 and God is

00:48:11.260 --> 00:48:12.539
 accommodating himself

00:48:12.539 --> 00:48:13.500
 to these sort of

00:48:13.500 --> 00:48:13.940
 situations.

00:48:14.500 --> 00:48:15.380
 He's going to save

00:48:15.380 --> 00:48:16.340
 David through this

00:48:16.340 --> 00:48:16.960
 trial that Saul

00:48:16.960 --> 00:48:17.740
 puts out for him.

00:48:18.400 --> 00:48:19.460
 Good question as well.

00:48:20.920 --> 00:48:21.320
 Yes, sir.

00:48:21.440 --> 00:48:21.700
 Ma'am.

00:48:22.080 --> 00:48:22.260
 Sorry.

00:48:22.260 --> 00:48:22.300
 Sorry.

00:48:22.300 --> 00:48:22.340
 Sorry.

00:48:27.340 --> 00:48:27.860
 Yeah.

00:48:30.340 --> 00:48:30.920
 Oh, good question.

00:48:30.920 --> 00:48:33.139
 So Michael,

00:48:33.280 --> 00:48:33.820
 his wife,

00:48:34.159 --> 00:48:35.099
 deceives Saul

00:48:35.099 --> 00:48:37.220
 in order to help

00:48:37.220 --> 00:48:37.800
 David escape.

00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:40.180
 I'm not sure.

00:48:40.460 --> 00:48:41.039
 Again, I think

00:48:41.039 --> 00:48:41.480
 it's one of those

00:48:41.480 --> 00:48:42.599
 things where the Bible

00:48:42.599 --> 00:48:43.320
 just doesn't comment

00:48:43.320 --> 00:48:44.420
 on the legitimacy

00:48:44.420 --> 00:48:44.920
 of it.

00:48:45.700 --> 00:48:46.460
 Although, interestingly,

00:48:47.039 --> 00:48:48.019
 the thing that they

00:48:48.019 --> 00:48:48.960
 put into the bed

00:48:48.960 --> 00:48:50.019
 has to do with

00:48:50.019 --> 00:48:51.119
 the household gods.

00:48:51.619 --> 00:48:52.180
 So it could also

00:48:52.180 --> 00:48:53.039
 be symbolic of

00:48:53.039 --> 00:48:53.760
 this deeper thing.

00:48:53.880 --> 00:48:54.460
 Sort of like Michael

00:48:54.460 --> 00:48:54.900
 would be like,

00:48:54.960 --> 00:48:56.039
 oh, you like those gods,

00:48:56.139 --> 00:48:56.200
 huh?

00:48:56.240 --> 00:48:56.780
 Well, you just cut

00:48:56.780 --> 00:48:57.559
 their heads off in bed.

00:48:57.559 --> 00:48:58.699
 So it might be

00:48:58.699 --> 00:48:59.579
 sort of like tricking

00:48:59.579 --> 00:49:01.380
 Saul and his assassins

00:49:01.380 --> 00:49:02.840
 into doing damage

00:49:02.840 --> 00:49:03.500
 against this thing

00:49:03.500 --> 00:49:04.299
 that he loves.

00:49:04.699 --> 00:49:05.239
 So in general,

00:49:05.320 --> 00:49:06.000
 I don't think the Bible

00:49:06.000 --> 00:49:06.699
 comments on it.

00:49:06.840 --> 00:49:07.880
 It's sort of legitimacy.

00:49:08.099 --> 00:49:08.579
 I think the Bible

00:49:08.579 --> 00:49:09.579
 just says that's

00:49:09.579 --> 00:49:10.539
 the way it worked.

00:49:11.039 --> 00:49:11.179
 Yeah.

00:49:12.440 --> 00:49:13.380
 If there were a better

00:49:13.380 --> 00:49:14.239
 way to do it,

00:49:14.440 --> 00:49:15.840
 I think that that

00:49:15.840 --> 00:49:16.420
 could have been done.

00:49:18.980 --> 00:49:20.119
 But I also don't think,

00:49:20.179 --> 00:49:20.480
 so this is,

00:49:20.579 --> 00:49:21.139
 okay, I'll say this.

00:49:21.599 --> 00:49:22.619
 I also don't think

00:49:22.619 --> 00:49:24.360
 it's always wrong

00:49:24.360 --> 00:49:25.840
 to lie against

00:49:25.840 --> 00:49:26.840
 illegitimate rulers

00:49:26.840 --> 00:49:27.539
 who are doing

00:49:27.539 --> 00:49:28.579
 unjust things.

00:49:29.340 --> 00:49:31.000
 So I have this belief

00:49:31.000 --> 00:49:32.100
 that like all of these

00:49:32.100 --> 00:49:32.880
 medievals and

00:49:32.880 --> 00:49:34.340
 classical Christians do

00:49:34.340 --> 00:49:35.680
 that when a law

00:49:35.680 --> 00:49:36.940
 ceases to be just,

00:49:37.300 --> 00:49:37.980
 it ceases to be

00:49:37.980 --> 00:49:38.660
 a legitimate law

00:49:38.660 --> 00:49:39.240
 and therefore

00:49:39.240 --> 00:49:40.840
 you can't participate

00:49:40.840 --> 00:49:41.240
 in it.

00:49:41.460 --> 00:49:42.059
 So essentially,

00:49:42.380 --> 00:49:44.240
 if what Saul doing

00:49:44.240 --> 00:49:44.920
 is going to Michael

00:49:44.920 --> 00:49:45.220
 and say,

00:49:45.559 --> 00:49:46.740
 help me be an accessory

00:49:46.740 --> 00:49:47.920
 in this guy's murder,

00:49:48.380 --> 00:49:49.460
 she has no obligation

00:49:49.460 --> 00:49:50.400
 to obey him

00:49:50.400 --> 00:49:51.220
 if he's innocent

00:49:51.220 --> 00:49:51.760
 in that way.

00:49:52.620 --> 00:49:53.539
 So there's a contentious one.

00:49:53.600 --> 00:49:54.200
 I'll throw that out there.

00:49:54.760 --> 00:49:55.460
 You can fight with me

00:49:55.460 --> 00:49:56.920
 afterwards on that one.

00:49:56.920 --> 00:50:26.900
 Thank you.