WEBVTT

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 All right, good evening.

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 Again.

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 If you want to keep the text open with me,

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 we'll be walking through that together.

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 So why don't we just pray and ask for God's help

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 before we come to his words.

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 Dear Lord, I thank you so much

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 just for the good news of the gospel

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 that Jesus Christ has died to set us free.

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 Pray, Lord, as we come to your word,

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 that you would help us to hear from you.

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 I know personally I'm a little bit tired this evening.

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 I'm sure many others are here this evening.

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 Just help us to concentrate.

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 Help us to focus.

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 Pray that, Lord, by the power of your spirit,

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 you might speak to us.

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 And we would say as we come out from this building,

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 we have met with the living God.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 So kingdoms come and go.

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 Governments come and go.

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 People come and go.

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 But there's one kingdom

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 that will never perish

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 and that is above all things.

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 And that is the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Doesn't matter what's happening in our churches.

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 Doesn't matter what's happening in our nation.

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 Doesn't matter what's happening in the world

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 or in our governments.

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 The Lord reigns.

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 And he's building his kingdom

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 as he gathers a people for himself

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 from every tribe,

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 nation, and tongue.

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 We see this time and time again across the world.

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 We've seen it in Nidri.

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 They just shared.

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 20 years ago, the church was about to die.

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 The building was falling apart.

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 There were six members left

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 and apparently a dog as well.

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 They got hammered by the community.

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 And they were about to close their doors.

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 And yet it came to our church this morning.

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 20 years later,

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 we had a building packed full

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 as two people were being baptized.

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 And we're involved now

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 with planting across Scotland.

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 Something to do with us.

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 That's because the Lord is building his kingdom.

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 Think about China.

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 Communism had brutalized that country

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 and the Christians living in it.

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 All missionaries were booted out.

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 And Mao terrorized the place.

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 What do we see today?

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 Despite the continued persecution,

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 thousands are being converted every week.

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 Mao thought,

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 I can destroy the church.

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 But God's kingdom cannot be thwarted.

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 Do you know where one of the fastest

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 growing underground church movements is

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 in the world today?

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 It's in Iran.

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 Iran.

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 People are being converted by the gospel

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 in a staunch Islamic place.

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 A Christian organization called

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 Heart for Iran

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 is getting 30 requests a day

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 by Muslims who want to have access to a Bible.

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 Sometimes we look at the news,

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 don't we look at the Middle East,

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 we look at particularly the Islamic areas

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 of our world,

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 we think darkness has squashed the gospel there.

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 And yet,

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 there are flickers of light

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 all over the world

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 as God is building his church.

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 We've come to the book of,

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 the end of the book of 1 Samuel,

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 we come to the end of an earthly kingdom.

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 And it's a tragic,

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 tragic chapter as we read it.

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 It looks like the Philistines

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 have got a major victory.

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 That God's people are obliterated

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 and the kingship of Israel is wiped out.

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 It looks like God's enemies are winning.

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 And it probably felt like that

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 if you were living in that region at the time.

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 But this chapter again shows us

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 that God is working in the background

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 and building his kingdom.

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 One kingdom is over

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 at the end of 1 Samuel.

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 And yet,

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 a new one is about to begin

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 under the kingship of King David

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 that will last into eternity.

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 So we're going to walk through the chapter

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 and we basically have four scenes

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 that I want us to look at.

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 We've got a loyal son,

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 a proud king,

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 a faithful God,

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 and a few good men.

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 A loyal son,

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 a proud king,

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 a faithful God,

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 and a few good men.

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 So firstly,

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 we have a loyal son.

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 The chapter opens

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 in dramatic fashion in verse 1

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 as we enter straight into the action.

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 The writer's not messing around

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 one bit

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 and the whole passage

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 is written in the Hebrew

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 in the present tense.

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 This verse in verse 1

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 is like a news reader bulletin at 9

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 who says this,

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 we're now entering into the live action

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 at Israel,

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 Mount Geboah,

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 live footage,

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 some of these scenes

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 might be disturbing.

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 And this chapter

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 is a continuation straight

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 from chapter 28.

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 If you remember there,

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 Saul goes to see the medium at Endor

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 to find out his fate.

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 Well, this battle

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 is basically

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 the very next day

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 after that encounter.

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 So what's been happening

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 in the last two chapters

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 in 29 and 30?

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 Well, the last two chapters,

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 exactly the same point,

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 about 100 miles away,

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 have been documenting

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 David's victories

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 in Aphek and Ziklag.

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 And what the writer

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 is doing skillfully

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 is he's comparing

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 and contrasting

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 the two kingdoms.

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 The Lord is giving

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 his servant David

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 the victory.

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 David is smashing things

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 all over the place.

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 Meanwhile,

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 Saul

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 and his army

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 are getting a battering.

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 29 and 30,

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 David smashing things.

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 31,

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 Saul is taking a battering

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 from Israel's enemies.

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 Verse 1

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 sums it all up.

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 The Philistines

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 were fighting

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 against Israel

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 and the men of Israel

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 fled before the Philistines

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 and fell slain

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 on Mount Geboah.

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 This is a dark,

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 sad,

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 tragic verse.

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 Think of scenes

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 from the First World War

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 when the machine gun

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 mowed down

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 hundreds of bodies

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 across no man's land.

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 This is the scene

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 we see here.

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 But there's only one winner

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 and that's the Philistines.

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 If you had been

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 at Mount Geboah

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 that day,

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 you would have seen

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 one corpse

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 after another

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 laying strewn

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 across that mountainside.

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 And it's not just

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 Saul's army

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 that gets killed as well.

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 It's his children.

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 Did you notice

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 in verse 2

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 that Saul's sons

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 are struck down?

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 Jonathan,

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 Abinadab,

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 and Malkishua.

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 You see,

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 Saul's rebellion

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 against the Lord

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 that you've been seeing

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 in 1 Samuel

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 doesn't just affect

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 Saul and his army,

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 it's affected

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 his family as well.

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 That's what sin does.

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 Sin doesn't just

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 affect one person.

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 You see that all

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 through the Bible.

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 Sin affects

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 your relationship

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 with God,

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 but it also

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 affects those

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 around you.

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 sin affects

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 everything.

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 Even

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 Jonathan is killed.

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 Did you notice that?

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 I mean,

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 that's a shock

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 if you're reading

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 through the book

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 of 1 Samuel.

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 I mean,

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 Saul,

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 we can understand

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 him dying.

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 He's disobeyed

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 the Lord

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 time and time again,

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 but Jonathan,

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 does he really

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 deserve to die?

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 That man

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 was a faithful

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 friend to David,

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 the Lord's anointed,

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 and at the same time

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 a loyal son to Saul.

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 He managed

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 through his life

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 to walk that

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 really tight,

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 tight rope

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 between honoring

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 his father

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 as God had

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 commanded him to

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 and yet being faithful

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 to the Lord's anointed.

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 Do you know how hard

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 that was for him?

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 It must have been

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 really difficult.

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 When David was

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 anointed to be king

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 and the women

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 were shouting

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 those songs of praise

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 about David

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 striking down thousands,

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 Jonathan didn't get jealous.

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 Jonathan didn't get envious.

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 What did Jonathan do?

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 Here's my cloak.

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 I honor you

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 as the anointed one

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 of the Lord's.

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 I mean,

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 in the end,

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 he could have said

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 goodbye to Saul

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 and he could have

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 stuck near to David

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 and he would have

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 been safe.

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 His life

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 would have been

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 spared.

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 So why does he

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 have to die?

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 Isn't it a bit of a waste,

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 this faithful man

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 of God dying?

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 But it's not a waste.

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 You see,

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 Jonathan died

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 doing what he loved,

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 battling

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 for the Lord

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 and for his people.

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 What better way to die

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 than in the service

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 of the true king?

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 You see,

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 faithful service

00:09:35.719 --> 00:09:36.519
 to the Lord,

00:09:36.620 --> 00:09:38.339
 no matter how it ends,

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 is never a waste

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 because the Lord

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 always remembers

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 what we've done for him

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 and doesn't forget a thing.

00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:49.960
 Dale Ralph Davis,

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 one of the commentators

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 I was reading this week,

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 wrote this,

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 he laid aside

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 a kingdom

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 he could not have

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 to enter

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 a kingdom

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 he could not lose.

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 He laid aside

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 that kingdom

00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:02.740
 he couldn't have

00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:03.560
 that God had given

00:10:03.560 --> 00:10:04.539
 to David

00:10:04.539 --> 00:10:06.320
 to enter

00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:07.100
 a kingdom

00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:08.200
 that couldn't

00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:08.800
 be taken away

00:10:08.800 --> 00:10:09.240
 from him.

00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:13.100
 I was reading that,

00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:13.659
 it reminded me

00:10:13.659 --> 00:10:14.500
 of Jim Elliot.

00:10:15.699 --> 00:10:15.959
 Well,

00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:16.839
 he died in Ecuador.

00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:17.219
 Do you remember

00:10:17.219 --> 00:10:17.819
 what he said?

00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:19.699
 He is no fool

00:10:19.699 --> 00:10:20.899
 who gives

00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:21.799
 what he cannot keep

00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:22.159
 to gain

00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:23.079
 what he cannot lose.

00:10:24.079 --> 00:10:24.639
 That was Jonathan.

00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:27.379
 He's not a fool.

00:10:28.839 --> 00:10:29.559
 His life

00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:30.360
 isn't wasted

00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:32.480
 because he gave

00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:32.839
 up the thing

00:10:32.839 --> 00:10:33.719
 he couldn't have

00:10:33.719 --> 00:10:34.819
 for the thing

00:10:34.819 --> 00:10:35.480
 that he could have.

00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:37.819
 An imperishable crown.

00:10:39.339 --> 00:10:39.459
 You know,

00:10:39.459 --> 00:10:40.059
 sometimes we think,

00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:40.279
 don't we,

00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:41.000
 in a Christian walk?

00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:42.039
 I don't know

00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:42.740
 about you,

00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:43.740
 but I do anyway.

00:10:45.139 --> 00:10:46.240
 Is it all worth it?

00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:48.820
 Is it all worth it?

00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:50.680
 Why am I giving

00:10:50.680 --> 00:10:51.460
 this all up

00:10:51.460 --> 00:10:53.500
 for the Lord Jesus Christ?

00:10:53.580 --> 00:10:54.080
 We have that sinful

00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:54.759
 battle, don't we?

00:10:55.340 --> 00:10:55.980
 Some days.

00:10:57.480 --> 00:10:57.980
 Maybe you're better

00:10:57.980 --> 00:10:58.799
 Christians than I am.

00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:00.879
 We have a battle,

00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:01.320
 don't we?

00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:05.139
 On that day,

00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:07.379
 when Jesus returns,

00:11:08.180 --> 00:11:08.639
 we'll get that

00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:09.320
 pat on the back

00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:10.700
 and he'll say,

00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:11.260
 well done,

00:11:11.920 --> 00:11:13.980
 good and faithful servant.

00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:16.420
 And it'll be all worth it.

00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:18.100
 All the struggles,

00:11:18.900 --> 00:11:19.920
 all the battles,

00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:21.879
 all the war scars,

00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:23.220
 all the suffering,

00:11:23.680 --> 00:11:24.940
 it'll be worth it

00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:26.300
 because we'll get to praise

00:11:26.300 --> 00:11:27.460
 the name of Jesus

00:11:27.460 --> 00:11:28.760
 for eternity.

00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:30.620
 Our job,

00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:32.340
 like Jonathan's job was,

00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:34.060
 is to be faithful,

00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:35.560
 to be loyal

00:11:35.559 --> 00:11:37.519
 to our true king,

00:11:37.979 --> 00:11:38.799
 Jesus Christ.

00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:39.839
 This world's

00:11:39.839 --> 00:11:40.519
 going to pass away.

00:11:41.339 --> 00:11:42.559
 It's all going to pass away

00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:43.000
 one day.

00:11:43.579 --> 00:11:44.899
 But God's kingdom

00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:46.579
 never went.

00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:48.559
 Jonathan dies,

00:11:49.559 --> 00:11:50.219
 the kingdom

00:11:50.219 --> 00:11:51.579
 that he believed in

00:11:51.579 --> 00:11:53.379
 continues on

00:11:53.379 --> 00:11:54.479
 forever.

00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:55.639
 That's where our confidence

00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:56.679
 is as Christians.

00:11:57.539 --> 00:11:58.279
 Not in this world

00:11:58.279 --> 00:11:58.919
 around us,

00:11:59.179 --> 00:11:59.939
 not in these things

00:11:59.939 --> 00:12:00.919
 that we have today,

00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:02.559
 but in that true kingdom

00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:03.179
 that is to come

00:12:03.179 --> 00:12:04.779
 when Jesus returns.

00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:07.719
 So what a loyal son.

00:12:07.819 --> 00:12:09.179
 Second scene we see

00:12:09.179 --> 00:12:10.379
 is a proud king.

00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:11.740
 The writer moves

00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:12.419
 from the army

00:12:12.419 --> 00:12:13.459
 to the sons,

00:12:13.939 --> 00:12:15.539
 quickly narrows it down

00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:16.399
 in verse 3

00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:17.539
 as the battle

00:12:17.539 --> 00:12:18.759
 begins to rage

00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:19.559
 around Saul.

00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:21.240
 The battle presses

00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:22.219
 hard around him.

00:12:23.019 --> 00:12:24.360
 The Philistine archers

00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:25.059
 find him.

00:12:25.599 --> 00:12:26.579
 They hit the target

00:12:26.579 --> 00:12:28.279
 and he's mortally wounded.

00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:30.179
 And so,

00:12:30.579 --> 00:12:31.459
 as he's lying there,

00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.360
 probably on the mountain,

00:12:33.179 --> 00:12:34.079
 he asks his

00:12:34.079 --> 00:12:34.879
 armour bearer

00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:35.659
 to thrust him

00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:36.659
 through with a sword

00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:38.299
 because he knows

00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:39.199
 that the Philistines

00:12:39.199 --> 00:12:40.419
 get him and he's still alive,

00:12:40.939 --> 00:12:42.079
 he's getting decapitated

00:12:42.079 --> 00:12:43.019
 and tortured

00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:44.000
 and all sorts of

00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:45.120
 evil things

00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.220
 will happen to him.

00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:48.000
 The armour bearer

00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:48.439
 refuses,

00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:49.819
 probably because

00:12:49.819 --> 00:12:50.259
 he doesn't want to

00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:50.980
 strike down the Lord's

00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:51.339
 anointed,

00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:52.039
 a little bit like

00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.579
 King David

00:12:52.579 --> 00:12:53.220
 earlier on

00:12:53.220 --> 00:12:54.600
 in the book of 1 Samuel.

00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:55.939
 And so Saul

00:12:55.939 --> 00:12:57.199
 finishes himself off

00:12:57.200 --> 00:12:58.879
 and his armour bearer

00:12:58.879 --> 00:12:59.860
 joins him as well.

00:13:01.300 --> 00:13:02.040
 And the scene again

00:13:02.040 --> 00:13:02.520
 is tragic,

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:02.940
 isn't it?

00:13:04.140 --> 00:13:06.160
 Saul dies alone

00:13:06.160 --> 00:13:07.620
 with no reference

00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:08.080
 to God.

00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:10.700
 Doesn't even cry out

00:13:10.700 --> 00:13:11.040
 to God

00:13:11.040 --> 00:13:12.120
 in his last moments

00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:13.140
 in repentance.

00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:14.940
 And the suicide

00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:15.940
 just shows

00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:16.600
 the tragedy

00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:19.040
 of the situation.

00:13:20.780 --> 00:13:21.759
 The scene actually

00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.600
 reminds us,

00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:23.800
 and I think the writer's

00:13:23.800 --> 00:13:24.740
 being intentional here,

00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:25.520
 of Abimelech.

00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:26.179
 Do you remember

00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:26.699
 Abimelech

00:13:26.699 --> 00:13:28.679
 in Judges chapter 9?

00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:30.500
 An awful judge,

00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:31.620
 a ruthless judge,

00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:32.620
 killing 70 of his

00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:34.199
 brothers on a stone,

00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:35.539
 rampaging against

00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:36.299
 his own city,

00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:37.120
 he's burning towers

00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:37.699
 to the ground

00:13:37.699 --> 00:13:38.860
 and then a lady

00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:40.259
 drops a stone

00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:40.899
 on his head

00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:42.600
 and he doesn't want

00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:43.379
 anyone to know

00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:44.279
 that the woman

00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:44.960
 has killed him

00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.799
 and so he gets

00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:46.519
 his armour bearer

00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.299
 to thrust a sword

00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:48.259
 through him as well.

00:13:49.179 --> 00:13:49.659
 Basically,

00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:50.759
 this is not a good

00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:51.299
 comparison.

00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:53.899
 It's like comparing

00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:55.139
 your death to Hitler's.

00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:57.720
 Wouldn't be a great

00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:58.159
 thing, would it,

00:13:58.179 --> 00:13:58.740
 in your obituary?

00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:01.079
 That's how slow

00:14:01.079 --> 00:14:02.319
 Saul has come

00:14:02.319 --> 00:14:04.539
 from being anointed

00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:05.319
 as God's king,

00:14:05.459 --> 00:14:07.699
 chosen by God's people

00:14:07.699 --> 00:14:08.819
 to be king

00:14:08.819 --> 00:14:12.240
 to having to kill

00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.459
 himself as the

00:14:13.459 --> 00:14:15.899
 Philistines come

00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:16.459
 against him.

00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.559
 Look at verse 6.

00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:21.139
 Thus Saul died

00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:23.779
 and his three sons

00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:26.239
 and his armour bearer

00:14:26.239 --> 00:14:29.219
 and all his men

00:14:29.219 --> 00:14:31.379
 on the same day

00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.259
 together.

00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:34.399
 The writer's making

00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:35.039
 a point, isn't he?

00:14:36.479 --> 00:14:37.559
 He's lost everything.

00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:40.139
 Everything that he

00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:41.039
 had his hands on,

00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:44.139
 he has lost,

00:14:44.459 --> 00:14:45.039
 annihilated,

00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:46.000
 wiped out.

00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.620
 And not only that,

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.799
 the following verses

00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:49.580
 tell us the people

00:14:49.580 --> 00:14:50.559
 living in that area

00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.639
 see the defeat,

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.759
 they basically leave

00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:53.639
 their houses behind,

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:54.620
 collect all their

00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:55.820
 belongings and they

00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:57.200
 go off into other

00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.159
 parts of Israel

00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:59.039
 and the Philistines

00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:00.320
 come and live

00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:02.360
 in these houses.

00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:05.120
 Sons killed,

00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:06.299
 army gone,

00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:07.919
 king killed,

00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:09.120
 territory taken,

00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:10.940
 job done for the

00:15:10.940 --> 00:15:11.460
 Philistines.

00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:14.600
 Tragic.

00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:17.580
 Here's what we

00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:18.320
 learn from Saul's

00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:18.680
 life.

00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:20.500
 Sin never pays.

00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:24.240
 Sin never pays.

00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.040
 It looks good,

00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:28.320
 sometimes tastes good

00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.040
 in the moment,

00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:31.840
 but it always leads

00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:32.800
 to death.

00:15:34.180 --> 00:15:35.159
 That's the life of Saul.

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:35.860
 We got arrogant.

00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:37.220
 If you remember,

00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:38.460
 he chose sacrifice

00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:39.720
 rather than obedience.

00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:40.000
 obedience.

00:15:40.920 --> 00:15:42.019
 It's led to him

00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.740
 being rejected by

00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:44.399
 God and God

00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.180
 raising up David.

00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:46.700
 This led to Saul

00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:47.639
 being envious of

00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:47.940
 David.

00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.279
 This led to trying

00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:50.620
 to kill God's

00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:51.360
 anointed one.

00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:52.360
 This led to him

00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:52.899
 not listening to

00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:53.660
 God's voice.

00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:54.879
 This led to him

00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.700
 killing a whole host

00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:56.480
 of priests.

00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:57.639
 This led to him

00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:58.560
 going to a medium

00:15:58.560 --> 00:16:00.240
 to try and discern

00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.680
 what God is saying.

00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:03.660
 Basically,

00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:04.720
 the decay of

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.700
 Saul's kingdom

00:16:05.700 --> 00:16:08.240
 mirrors the decay

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:08.700
 in his own

00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.440
 spiritual life.

00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.580
 The decay of

00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:12.779
 his own kingdom

00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:14.500
 mirrors the decay

00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:15.039
 of his own

00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:15.980
 spiritual life.

00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:18.120
 Here's the thing,

00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:18.680
 when we reject

00:16:18.680 --> 00:16:19.379
 the Lord in the

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.240
 slightest ways,

00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.259
 whatever it is,

00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:22.600
 it can have

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.539
 disastrous effects

00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:24.200
 in our lives

00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.000
 and in our

00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.779
 family's lives

00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.580
 and in our

00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.399
 church as well.

00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:29.700
 Sin always looks

00:16:29.700 --> 00:16:30.720
 good for the

00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.060
 moment,

00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:32.080
 but it always

00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:32.700
 bites us on the

00:16:32.700 --> 00:16:33.019
 backside.

00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.840
 It's not worth it.

00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:37.120
 In particular,

00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:38.560
 we must learn

00:16:38.560 --> 00:16:39.919
 from Saul not

00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:40.820
 to have a

00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:41.259
 proud,

00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.100
 proud heart.

00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:44.779
 That's where it

00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:45.500
 started for Saul.

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.200
 It's the silent

00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:46.480
 killer.

00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:48.259
 Heroin is not

00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:48.860
 the biggest problem

00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.480
 that we struggle

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.320
 with in the

00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:50.639
 schemes.

00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:52.940
 It's pride.

00:16:54.560 --> 00:16:54.960
 Pride.

00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:59.019
 We think we

00:16:59.019 --> 00:16:59.519
 know it all.

00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:01.200
 We think we

00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:02.700
 know better

00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.259
 than God.

00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:05.099
 We think we've

00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:05.640
 got the Christian

00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:06.279
 walk sorted.

00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:09.559
 when we think

00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.440
 we are something.

00:17:11.639 --> 00:17:13.019
 That is a very

00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:14.440
 dangerous place

00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:15.019
 to be in.

00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.079
 Very dangerous

00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:17.519
 place.

00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:18.759
 We need to

00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.359
 remember this

00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:20.039
 as Christians.

00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:21.200
 We are

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:21.480
 nothing.

00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:23.500
 We are

00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:23.819
 nothing.

00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.160
 What is

00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:25.559
 Paul?

00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:26.599
 What is

00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:26.960
 Peter?

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:27.500
 What is

00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.099
 Apollos?

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.639
 What am I?

00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:29.960
 What is

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.319
 Graham?

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.000
 What is

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:31.759
 any of us

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.559
 but servants

00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:34.579
 of the

00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.019
 Master,

00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:36.220
 Jesus Christ?

00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.180
 If we

00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:38.920
 remember that

00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:39.160
 we are

00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:39.839
 servants of

00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.680
 Jesus Christ

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.700
 who have

00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:42.539
 been saved

00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:44.019
 totally by

00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:44.839
 his grace,

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:46.160
 it will keep

00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:46.839
 us humble

00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:47.879
 and walking

00:17:47.879 --> 00:17:48.720
 closely with

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.299
 our

00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:49.900
 saviour.

00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:52.720
 God

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:52.920
 the other

00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:54.040
 choice is

00:17:54.040 --> 00:17:54.160
 to have

00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:54.600
 a proud

00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:55.000
 heart

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.840
 that leads

00:17:55.840 --> 00:17:56.340
 to death

00:17:56.340 --> 00:17:57.920
 and hell.

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.080
 Saul

00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:00.400
 abandoned

00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:00.880
 the Lord

00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:01.300
 and ended

00:18:01.300 --> 00:18:01.820
 with death.

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:02.500
 Same with

00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:03.580
 anyone who

00:18:03.580 --> 00:18:04.240
 turns aside

00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:04.560
 from the

00:18:04.560 --> 00:18:04.940
 Lord and

00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:05.560
 trusts in

00:18:05.560 --> 00:18:06.100
 themselves.

00:18:06.600 --> 00:18:07.280
 The question

00:18:07.280 --> 00:18:08.440
 is are we

00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:08.880
 being faithful

00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:09.400
 to the Lord

00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:11.100
 now and

00:18:11.100 --> 00:18:11.640
 will we be

00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.100
 faithful to

00:18:12.100 --> 00:18:12.340
 the Lord

00:18:12.340 --> 00:18:12.680
 in the end?

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.019
 It's not how

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.519
 we start.

00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:14.540
 That matters.

00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.839
 it's how we

00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:16.319
 go on

00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:16.879
 through the

00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:17.299
 rest of our

00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:18.519
 lives to

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:18.819
 the day

00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.099
 that we

00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:19.420
 die.

00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:21.619
 You see

00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:22.319
 as we grow

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:22.819
 on in the

00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:23.359
 Christian walk

00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:23.720
 we're going to

00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.339
 grow in grace

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:24.740
 aren't we?

00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:25.619
 We're going to be

00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:27.099
 sanctified and

00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:27.779
 grow in godliness

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.519
 hopefully.

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.740
 But we never

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.859
 ever outgrow

00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:32.399
 our need of

00:18:32.399 --> 00:18:32.680
 grace.

00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.039
 We were

00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:34.339
 damned

00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:35.599
 sinners when

00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.379
 we came into

00:18:36.379 --> 00:18:37.799
 Christ saved

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.460
 only by his

00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:38.859
 grace.

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:39.740
 Do you know

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.059
 what we are

00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:40.359
 now?

00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:42.200
 Damned

00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:42.720
 sinners saved

00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:43.000
 by his

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.299
 grace.

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:44.759
 It doesn't

00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.059
 matter if

00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:45.279
 you're day

00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:45.640
 one a

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.660
 believer or

00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:47.400
 50 years a

00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:47.680
 believer.

00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.079
 We stay in

00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:49.660
 that same

00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:51.940
 spectrum.

00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:54.299
 We were

00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:54.640
 heading to

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.900
 hell and

00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:56.240
 we would be

00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:56.579
 heading to

00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:57.519
 hell unless

00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.660
 Christ intervened

00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:59.299
 in our lives.

00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.319
 That should

00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:00.819
 humble us.

00:19:01.900 --> 00:19:02.680
 Every day we

00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:03.140
 should beat our

00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:04.299
 breast and say

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:05.120
 have mercy on me

00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:05.600
 Lord I'm a

00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:05.759
 sinner.

00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:08.960
 But nothing

00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:09.920
 more nothing

00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:10.640
 less than that.

00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:12.200
 Saul got it

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:12.700
 wrong didn't he?

00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.140
 He got

00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:14.559
 proud.

00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:16.620
 Don't make

00:19:16.620 --> 00:19:16.880
 the same

00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:17.319
 mistake.

00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.380
 Scene three

00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:20.680
 we have a

00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.380
 faithful God.

00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:23.440
 So King

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:23.980
 Saul his

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:24.460
 sons his

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:24.839
 army are

00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:25.100
 dead.

00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:26.059
 Philistines

00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:26.559
 are buzzing

00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:28.539
 probably can't

00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:28.960
 believe their

00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:29.319
 luck.

00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:30.559
 We read in

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.140
 verse eight

00:19:31.140 --> 00:19:33.259
 that the

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:33.860
 next day they

00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:34.240
 strip the

00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:34.500
 dead.

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.220
 They find

00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:35.839
 Saul's body

00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.680
 and his

00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:37.140
 sons.

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.220
 Verse nine

00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:38.579
 says they

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.460
 cut off his

00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:39.720
 head.

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:42.960
 they put

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.720
 his

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.180
 armour in

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:44.839
 one temple

00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:45.720
 and they

00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.279
 fasten his

00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.559
 body to

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.819
 another temple.

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:49.640
 They want

00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:50.400
 everyone to

00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:51.600
 know that

00:19:51.600 --> 00:19:52.059
 Saul is

00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.339
 dead.

00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:53.779
 So they

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.720
 send word

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.200
 around telling

00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:55.680
 people the

00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:55.940
 defeat.

00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:56.299
 It's like

00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:57.039
 putting a

00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.539
 status up on

00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:57.900
 Facebook.

00:19:59.059 --> 00:19:59.480
 You know we

00:19:59.480 --> 00:19:59.940
 usually put good

00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:00.360
 news up on

00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:00.819
 Facebook don't

00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:00.920
 we?

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:01.220
 Well this is

00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:01.559
 their good

00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:01.880
 news.

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:02.539
 Saul's

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:02.799
 dead.

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:04.440
 our gods

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.619
 have got

00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:07.480
 the victory.

00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:09.639
 You notice

00:20:09.639 --> 00:20:09.980
 the language

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:10.399
 in verse

00:20:10.399 --> 00:20:10.740
 nine.

00:20:12.419 --> 00:20:12.980
 In the

00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.740
 ESV anyway

00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.299
 it says

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:14.680
 this and

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:14.940
 he sent

00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.319
 messages

00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:15.779
 throughout the

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.059
 land of

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.579
 the Philistines

00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:17.119
 to carry

00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:18.059
 the good

00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:20.339
 news to

00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:20.779
 the house

00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.000
 of their

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.480
 idols and

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:21.899
 the people.

00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.299
 The word

00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:22.839
 behind good

00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.259
 news is

00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:23.839
 gospel.

00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:25.879
 Gospel.

00:20:27.159 --> 00:20:27.480
 They're

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:27.980
 spreading the

00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.960
 gospel of

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.440
 the defeat

00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:29.740
 of their

00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:31.279
 enemies and

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:31.899
 the gospel

00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:33.080
 giving glory

00:20:33.080 --> 00:20:33.460
 to their

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:33.860
 gods.

00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:37.040
 Just think

00:20:37.040 --> 00:20:37.480
 if you're a

00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:37.900
 Jew for a

00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:38.380
 moment reading

00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:38.960
 this text.

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:39.519
 It doesn't

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.019
 mean much to

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:41.940
 us a couple

00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:42.320
 of thousand

00:20:42.320 --> 00:20:43.040
 years later.

00:20:43.780 --> 00:20:44.220
 But if you're

00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:44.759
 a Jew reading

00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.380
 that text you

00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:45.900
 would be

00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:46.540
 livid.

00:20:47.560 --> 00:20:48.280
 You would be

00:20:48.280 --> 00:20:48.960
 very very

00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:49.460
 angry.

00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.220
 You would be

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:50.680
 gutted.

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.620
 Your enemies

00:20:51.620 --> 00:20:52.120
 have the upper

00:20:52.120 --> 00:20:53.140
 hand and

00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:53.460
 have taken

00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:53.820
 some of your

00:20:53.820 --> 00:20:54.300
 territories.

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:54.720
 It was a

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.960
 total humiliation.

00:20:57.860 --> 00:20:58.320
 It's like when

00:20:58.320 --> 00:20:58.800
 Scotland beat

00:20:58.800 --> 00:21:00.360
 England at the

00:21:00.360 --> 00:21:01.040
 football rugby.

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:02.599
 As an

00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.440
 Englishman it

00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.119
 hurts reading

00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:04.519
 that and

00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.079
 watching it.

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:05.659
 But the

00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:06.119
 worst thing

00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:06.639
 about it is

00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:06.859
 when you go

00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:07.240
 to church

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.500
 the next

00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:07.700
 day and

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:07.839
 everyone

00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:08.159
 rubs your

00:21:08.159 --> 00:21:08.500
 face in

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:08.659
 it.

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.079
 That's what

00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:11.399
 it's like

00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:12.000
 here for a

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.200
 Jew.

00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:13.799
 Okay,

00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:14.700
 we've got the

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:14.980
 defeat.

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.240
 We don't need

00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:15.700
 to hear about

00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.079
 it again,

00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:16.740
 over and

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.019
 over and

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:17.519
 over again.

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.319
 But the

00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:20.799
 worst thing

00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:21.960
 for them is

00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:22.200
 that the

00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:22.519
 name of the

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:22.759
 Lord has

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.519
 been disgraced

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:25.039
 in their

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:25.420
 eyes.

00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:28.119
 The name of

00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:28.619
 the Lord has

00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:29.379
 been defamed.

00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.119
 They think the

00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:30.919
 Philistine gods

00:21:30.919 --> 00:21:31.319
 have got a

00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:31.619
 victory.

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.399
 That's what the

00:21:33.399 --> 00:21:34.199
 Philistines think.

00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:36.279
 That's what

00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:37.139
 Satan rejoices in

00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:37.439
 the most,

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:37.779
 doesn't he?

00:21:38.939 --> 00:21:39.339
 When he can

00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:40.219
 disgrace the

00:21:40.219 --> 00:21:41.479
 church, when

00:21:41.479 --> 00:21:42.359
 he can disgrace

00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:44.099
 God's people,

00:21:44.199 --> 00:21:44.959
 when he can

00:21:44.959 --> 00:21:45.959
 get a mini

00:21:45.959 --> 00:21:46.539
 victory or

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.039
 what he thinks

00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.419
 is a mini

00:21:47.419 --> 00:21:48.699
 victory over

00:21:48.699 --> 00:21:49.659
 the Lord and

00:21:49.659 --> 00:21:50.479
 bring praise to

00:21:50.479 --> 00:21:51.299
 his own name.

00:21:53.659 --> 00:21:54.439
 But we know

00:21:54.439 --> 00:21:55.459
 from the book

00:21:55.459 --> 00:21:57.639
 of Samuel that

00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:58.179
 the Philistines

00:21:58.179 --> 00:21:58.679
 and their gods

00:21:58.679 --> 00:21:59.199
 have not got a

00:21:59.200 --> 00:21:59.740
 victory at all

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:01.259
 here because

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:01.700
 they're not in

00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:02.220
 control.

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:03.600
 Just flick

00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:04.220
 back to 28,

00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:04.700
 keep you on

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.200
 your toes.

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.920
 Chapter 28,

00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.740
 verse 19.

00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.240
 Remember this

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.019
 conversation,

00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:16.840
 the medium of

00:22:16.840 --> 00:22:17.160
 Endor?

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.340
 Moreover, the

00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:21.000
 Lord will give

00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.279
 Israel also with

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:22.700
 you into the

00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.039
 hand of the

00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.640
 Philistines and

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:25.000
 tomorrow you and

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.880
 your sons shall

00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.600
 be with me.

00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:29.359
 the Lord will

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:31.139
 give the

00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:32.039
 army of Israel

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.659
 also into the

00:22:33.659 --> 00:22:34.399
 hand of the

00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:35.039
 Philistines.

00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:36.399
 See, Samuel

00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:37.000
 leaves us with no

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.119
 doubt who's in

00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:38.579
 charge here.

00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:38.899
 It's not the

00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:39.619
 Philistine gods

00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:39.959
 that are in

00:22:39.959 --> 00:22:40.480
 charge, it's

00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.799
 God who is

00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.959
 in charge.

00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:43.959
 He's in

00:22:43.959 --> 00:22:44.439
 control of this

00:22:44.439 --> 00:22:46.039
 event as 31 is

00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:46.939
 the fulfillment of

00:22:46.939 --> 00:22:47.740
 his word through

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:49.619
 Samuel to Saul.

00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:51.619
 And here's the

00:22:51.619 --> 00:22:51.959
 thing that we

00:22:51.959 --> 00:22:52.579
 learn here.

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.799
 The word of the

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:56.180
 Lord is always

00:22:56.180 --> 00:22:56.700
 fulfilled.

00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.240
 It doesn't

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.839
 matter if it's a

00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.980
 divine pronouncement

00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:01.480
 of judgment or

00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.299
 if it's a divine

00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:03.200
 pronouncement of

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:03.700
 blessing.

00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:06.079
 God's word is

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.819
 always fulfilled.

00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:09.419
 Do you remember

00:23:09.419 --> 00:23:09.799
 the beginning of

00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:10.299
 1 Samuel,

00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:11.159
 chapter 2?

00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:13.180
 Flip there with

00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.399
 me.

00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:19.240
 It's a summary of

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:19.759
 the book so I

00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.139
 thought I'd give

00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:22.099
 you a little look

00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:22.799
 around it as well.

00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:23.539
 1 Samuel 2,

00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.159
 verse 6.

00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.000
 So what Hannah

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:29.359
 prays, the Lord

00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.200
 kills and brings

00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:30.700
 to life.

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.440
 He brings down

00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:34.460
 to Sheol and

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.940
 raises up.

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:38.039
 The Lord's the

00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.399
 one who's in

00:23:38.399 --> 00:23:38.980
 control here.

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.220
 Not these

00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:40.920
 Philistine gods

00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:41.619
 they've made up.

00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:42.639
 Not the

00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:43.279
 Philistines who

00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:43.779
 think they've got

00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.539
 a great victory

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.180
 because of their

00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.079
 tactics and their

00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:46.980
 great war efforts.

00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:48.099
 It's because the

00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:49.619
 Lord gave Saul,

00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:50.519
 his sons and his

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:52.079
 army into the

00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:52.839
 hands of the

00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.459
 Philistines.

00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:54.639
 The word of the

00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.359
 Lord is fulfilled

00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:55.639
 here.

00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:56.319
 That's what's

00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:56.740
 happening in

00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.459
 chapter 31.

00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.119
 And this is a

00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:00.220
 good thing that

00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.859
 God's word is

00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:01.559
 fulfilled because

00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.319
 it means this for

00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:02.779
 the Christian.

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.339
 We can trust him.

00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.839
 A God who

00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:08.839
 breaks his word

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.980
 is not trustworthy.

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:11.639
 As Isaiah

00:24:11.639 --> 00:24:12.359
 writes, the grass

00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:13.159
 withers, the

00:24:13.159 --> 00:24:14.379
 flowers fall, but

00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:15.319
 the word of our

00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.839
 God will never

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.279
 fail.

00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:17.759
 It stands

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.119
 forever.

00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:20.619
 This chapter

00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:20.979
 helps us

00:24:20.979 --> 00:24:22.219
 remember we

00:24:22.219 --> 00:24:22.979
 can't trust our

00:24:22.979 --> 00:24:23.339
 feelings.

00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:25.239
 We can't trust

00:24:25.239 --> 00:24:26.079
 the people around

00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:26.439
 us.

00:24:26.959 --> 00:24:27.959
 We can't trust

00:24:27.959 --> 00:24:28.719
 the government

00:24:28.719 --> 00:24:29.419
 or anything.

00:24:29.679 --> 00:24:30.119
 They all come

00:24:30.119 --> 00:24:30.500
 and go.

00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:32.639
 The only person

00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:33.519
 that we can trust

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.519
 in this world

00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.699
 is the Lord

00:24:35.699 --> 00:24:37.159
 because he is

00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:37.979
 always faithful

00:24:37.979 --> 00:24:38.799
 to his promises

00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:39.939
 and always

00:24:39.939 --> 00:24:41.179
 fulfills his

00:24:41.179 --> 00:24:42.799
 good words.

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:45.180
 even in the

00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.139
 worst circumstances

00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:47.180
 of our lives,

00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.639
 the Lord is

00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:49.759
 working.

00:24:51.639 --> 00:24:52.379
 People think

00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:52.680
 they get a

00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.119
 victory of the

00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:53.599
 Lord sometimes,

00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.000
 don't they?

00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.579
 See Islamic

00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:56.720
 extremists killing

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.539
 Christians and

00:24:57.539 --> 00:25:00.200
 shouting victory

00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:00.879
 to Allah.

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.039
 The Lord is

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:03.559
 lost from

00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:03.799
 heaven.

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:05.919
 He is the

00:25:05.919 --> 00:25:06.919
 one who is

00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:07.559
 in control.

00:25:08.399 --> 00:25:08.960
 Saul might be

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.399
 defeated.

00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:10.839
 That was God's

00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:11.119
 plan.

00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:13.139
 He is raising

00:25:13.139 --> 00:25:13.739
 another king

00:25:13.739 --> 00:25:15.019
 in King

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.500
 David.

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.519
 Again,

00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:18.359
 Dale Ralph

00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:18.919
 Davis writes

00:25:18.919 --> 00:25:19.399
 this,

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.059
 In darkness

00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:21.859
 or light,

00:25:22.419 --> 00:25:23.239
 what matters

00:25:23.239 --> 00:25:24.539
 is having a

00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:24.959
 God who

00:25:24.959 --> 00:25:25.359
 speaks a

00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:25.839
 true and

00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.479
 faithful word.

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.419
 In darkness

00:25:28.419 --> 00:25:29.339
 or light,

00:25:29.399 --> 00:25:29.839
 what matters

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.339
 is having a

00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:31.319
 God who

00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:32.019
 speaks a

00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.659
 true and

00:25:32.659 --> 00:25:33.079
 a faithful

00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:33.459
 word.

00:25:33.659 --> 00:25:34.059
 Things might

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.399
 be a mess

00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:34.619
 in our

00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:35.000
 country.

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.539
 It's been a

00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:35.699
 mess,

00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:35.979
 hasn't it,

00:25:35.979 --> 00:25:36.399
 with Brexit?

00:25:37.719 --> 00:25:38.039
 A right

00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:38.439
 mess.

00:25:39.139 --> 00:25:39.639
 A right

00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:40.339
 pig's ear

00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:40.679
 of it.

00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:41.599
 Things might

00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:41.939
 be a mess

00:25:41.939 --> 00:25:42.139
 in our

00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:42.719
 lives today

00:25:42.719 --> 00:25:44.299
 or in

00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.719
 our family

00:25:44.719 --> 00:25:45.159
 life.

00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.459
 People

00:25:46.459 --> 00:25:46.859
 might have

00:25:46.859 --> 00:25:47.099
 let us

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:47.479
 down this

00:25:47.479 --> 00:25:48.879
 week or

00:25:48.879 --> 00:25:49.379
 this year.

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.859
 Our heads

00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:51.779
 might be

00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.299
 completely

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:52.899
 battered with

00:25:52.899 --> 00:25:53.519
 the situations

00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:53.839
 that we're

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.379
 facing in

00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:54.699
 life.

00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.500
 But you

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:56.719
 can be

00:25:56.719 --> 00:25:57.019
 sure of

00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.359
 one thing

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:57.819
 this evening,

00:25:57.919 --> 00:25:58.099
 whatever

00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:58.479
 you're going

00:25:58.479 --> 00:25:58.779
 through,

00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.119
 the word

00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:00.299
 of the

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.619
 Lord never

00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:01.039
 fails.

00:26:02.719 --> 00:26:03.439
 The only

00:26:03.439 --> 00:26:03.959
 thing that

00:26:03.959 --> 00:26:04.479
 stands in

00:26:04.479 --> 00:26:04.879
 this roller

00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:05.439
 coaster of

00:26:05.439 --> 00:26:05.939
 a world

00:26:05.939 --> 00:26:06.939
 is the

00:26:06.939 --> 00:26:07.819
 word of

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:08.659
 God.

00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.119
 That's what

00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:09.319
 you can

00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:09.699
 bank your

00:26:09.699 --> 00:26:10.119
 life on.

00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:11.759
 That's what

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.059
 you can

00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.639
 trust in.

00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:13.819
 We'll

00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.279
 soon be

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:14.599
 dead,

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:16.939
 but God's

00:26:16.939 --> 00:26:17.319
 word never

00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:17.739
 dies.

00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.119
 It never

00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:18.500
 fails.

00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:19.000
 It always

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.519
 remains.

00:26:19.959 --> 00:26:20.359
 In darkness

00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:20.859
 or light,

00:26:22.439 --> 00:26:22.959
 God is

00:26:22.959 --> 00:26:24.559
 always faithful

00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:26.000
 to his

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.419
 people.

00:26:27.919 --> 00:26:28.419
 The Philistines

00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:28.839
 haven't got a

00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:29.159
 victory.

00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:31.079
 God is in

00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:32.339
 control.

00:26:32.339 --> 00:26:35.240
 in our

00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:35.740
 last scene

00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.159
 we see

00:26:36.159 --> 00:26:37.159
 a few

00:26:37.159 --> 00:26:37.339
 good

00:26:37.339 --> 00:26:37.480
 men

00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:37.720
 and we'll

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.139
 end

00:26:38.139 --> 00:26:38.299
 with

00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:38.659
 this.

00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:39.799
 The

00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:39.980
 chapter

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.179
 ends

00:26:40.179 --> 00:26:40.379
 on a

00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:40.559
 small

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:40.859
 hideous.

00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:40.959
 Did you

00:26:40.959 --> 00:26:41.519
 notice that?

00:26:42.659 --> 00:26:43.199
 A few

00:26:43.199 --> 00:26:43.599
 good men

00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:43.779
 from

00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.179
 Jabesh

00:26:44.179 --> 00:26:44.699
 Gilead

00:26:44.699 --> 00:26:45.579
 hear what

00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:46.099
 the Philistines

00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:46.559
 have done

00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:46.779
 with the

00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:47.179
 body of

00:26:47.179 --> 00:26:47.399
 Saul.

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:47.859
 They go

00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.039
 on a

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:48.299
 rescue

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:48.759
 mission

00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:50.019
 to get

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.319
 the body

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:50.639
 back.

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:50.899
 It's like

00:26:50.899 --> 00:26:51.279
 saving

00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:51.619
 Private

00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:51.959
 Ryan.

00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:58.900
 They go on a 20-mile round trip through enemy territory

00:26:58.900 --> 00:27:01.880
 to come and get that body back.

00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:03.299
 It would have been dangerous.

00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:04.980
 It would have been tiring.

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.640
 It would have been exhausting.

00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:08.340
 And yet they go for it.

00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.840
 Why is that?

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:13.480
 Why do they go out of their way to help this disobedient king

00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:19.319
 who basically helped lose a whole load of soldiers?

00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.000
 Why the hassle?

00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:21.019
 Why do they go for it?

00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:22.759
 Well, the reason is gratitude.

00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:26.819
 Do you remember the first thing that Saul did as a king?

00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.940
 As you went through the series?

00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.879
 I don't know who preached on it, Shanks.

00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:33.779
 But it was back in 1 Samuel chapter 11.

00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:36.519
 Do you know what Saul did there?

00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:44.079
 He rescued the people of Jabesh Gilead from the Ammonites.

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:47.779
 Remember the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon Saul.

00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:52.019
 He gathered 330,000 men and he rescued the people of this region.

00:27:53.859 --> 00:28:00.279
 These men just wanted to honour what the Lord had done through Saul at the time.

00:28:00.379 --> 00:28:02.960
 Out of respect, they wanted his body to be laid at rest.

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:03.920
 That's what they did.

00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:08.100
 They never forgot what Saul had done for them.

00:28:09.320 --> 00:28:13.380
 Imagine if you were just at the hands of these people, the Ammonites.

00:28:13.380 --> 00:28:15.700
 I think they were about to gouge out their eyes.

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:18.900
 And then someone comes in and rescues you.

00:28:19.100 --> 00:28:20.560
 You'd be forever thankful, wouldn't you?

00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:20.700
 Yeah.

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:26.980
 Gratitude is an important part of the Christian life, isn't it?

00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:32.559
 As Christians, we should never forget where we've come from

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:36.940
 and what God has done for us in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:40.200
 His death on the cross rescued us from slavery to sin,

00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:44.100
 slavery to Satan, and slavery to death.

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.640
 We were heading to hell.

00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:46.880
 No hope.

00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:52.740
 And yet God in Christ rescued us by the power of his Spirit.

00:28:52.820 --> 00:28:53.960
 We've got something to be thankful for.

00:28:54.040 --> 00:28:56.600
 We should never, ever lose the wonder of the cross.

00:29:00.080 --> 00:29:02.740
 When we forget the wonder of the cross, we go to two extremes.

00:29:02.840 --> 00:29:05.060
 We either take everything for granted or we get bitter about life.

00:29:07.760 --> 00:29:11.740
 A life full of gratitude helps us stick near to Christ, our Saviour.

00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:14.580
 We should be like that one leper who went back after he was healed,

00:29:14.860 --> 00:29:16.760
 again and again to Christ, saying, thank you, Lord.

00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:19.920
 Thank you, Lord, for rescuing me.

00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:22.920
 Thank you, Lord, for that work you've done in my life.

00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:28.660
 Do you ever think, do you ever sit and think, where would I be without Christ?

00:29:29.600 --> 00:29:30.720
 What would I be doing now?

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:32.140
 Where would I be?

00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:36.300
 Christ has saved us.

00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:38.899
 So these men rescue Saul's body.

00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:40.940
 They bury him under the tamarisk tree.

00:29:41.639 --> 00:29:48.519
 Saul's reign began with his deliverance of Jabesh Gilead and ends with Jabesh's deliverance of Saul.

00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:54.579
 Saul's kingship started so strongly but ended disastrously.

00:29:54.579 --> 00:30:02.379
 So at the end of the series in 1 Samuel, in chapter 31, probably thinking, where's the hope?

00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.779
 Where's the hope after all that?

00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:07.980
 What a tragic chapter.

00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:10.980
 Well, the hope is this.

00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:14.460
 God has chosen another servant.

00:30:16.620 --> 00:30:18.839
 God chose another servant in David's.

00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:22.019
 1 and 2 Samuel are actually one book, so you need to keep preaching.

00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:24.559
 One book in the original.

00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:38.299
 And so you read chapter 31 and go straight into 2 Samuel, chapter 1, where David ascends the throne, unites the empires, and a golden reign begins.

00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.619
 But here's the thing.

00:30:40.659 --> 00:30:41.659
 He's not even the hope, is he?

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.419
 Because he's going to fail.

00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:48.779
 But he's pointing forward to a greater hope, isn't he?

00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:52.619
 The everlasting covenant of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:56.159
 And so in these dark days, that is our hope.

00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:57.839
 Jesus Christ.

00:30:58.979 --> 00:31:02.719
 You see, like Saul, Jesus' body was brutalized on the cross.

00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:08.119
 But unlike Saul, Jesus was faithful to his heavenly Father.

00:31:08.959 --> 00:31:10.719
 He was obedient to death on the cross.

00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:20.819
 And then he rose three days from the grave, conquering death, sin, and Satan, and establishing a kingdom that will never pass away.

00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:26.699
 This is what Mary, the angel said to Mary in Luke 1.

00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:32.319
 He will be a great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:35.740
 And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.

00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:41.100
 And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.

00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:46.700
 And of his kingdom there will be no end.

00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:48.380
 That's the kingdom we're part of.

00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:54.820
 That is the kingdom that God was pointing forward to in 1 Samuel.

00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:59.100
 And so whatever's happening in our lives, whatever's happening in our countries,

00:31:59.600 --> 00:32:06.560
 we can trust that Jesus is reigning and he's ruling and that he's building his kingdom.

00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:09.200
 It doesn't matter if secularism is on the rise.

00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:11.279
 Jesus is building his kingdom.

00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:15.460
 It doesn't matter if the laws change and we are persecuted.

00:32:16.399 --> 00:32:17.879
 Because Jesus is on the throne.

00:32:18.659 --> 00:32:21.220
 It doesn't matter if it looks like Satan is winning.

00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:25.399
 Because Jesus is on his throne.

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:28.159
 See, as Christians in the UK, we often panic, don't we?

00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:30.980
 We get quite pessimistic about things in the UK.

00:32:31.679 --> 00:32:33.679
 You know, they're changing laws on homosexuality.

00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:36.460
 Look at how people are getting aggressive towards Christians.

00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:38.000
 But here's the thing.

00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:41.900
 It's been exactly the same since Jesus died and rose again.

00:32:43.600 --> 00:32:48.600
 I think if the empire, if the Christian kingdom survived through the Roman Empire,

00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:50.860
 I think you can survive in these times.

00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:54.620
 But here's the thing.

00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:55.480
 Our job doesn't change.

00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:57.220
 And your job at Brunsfield doesn't change.

00:32:57.759 --> 00:33:02.360
 Your job is to continue to be faithful to Jesus

00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:05.399
 and tell others of what he has done for you.

00:33:05.479 --> 00:33:06.299
 It doesn't change, does it?

00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:08.259
 Kingdoms come and go.

00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:12.079
 Our job as a church never changes.

00:33:12.539 --> 00:33:13.299
 Go into the world.

00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:15.799
 Make disciples of all the nations.

00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:18.839
 And baptize in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

00:33:19.219 --> 00:33:22.379
 And I am with you till the very end of the age.

00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:24.939
 Do you know that was said?

00:33:25.939 --> 00:33:27.339
 That was said on the mountain as well.

00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:31.220
 1 Samuel 31, Mount Geboa.

00:33:33.419 --> 00:33:34.099
 Everyone's dead.

00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:36.919
 Another mountain.

00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:41.039
 A few years later, Jesus is saying,

00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:41.859
 Go into the world.

00:33:43.159 --> 00:33:43.859
 Make disciples.

00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:46.079
 I'll build my church.

00:33:46.639 --> 00:33:48.019
 And the gates of hell will never prevail.

00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:49.240
 Amen?

00:33:49.879 --> 00:33:50.179
 Amen.

00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:53.539
 Let me just pray and then I'll hand over to whoever.

00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:59.379
 Dear Lord, I thank you so much that you are building your church

00:33:59.379 --> 00:34:01.619
 and the gates of hell will not prevail.

00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:02.940
 I pray for Brunsfield here.

00:34:03.399 --> 00:34:05.299
 They will continue to be faithful to the gospel

00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:09.739
 and they will continue to preach this glorious message to this city.

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:14.139
 And they might continue to see men, women and children saved

00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:16.519
 as you work in this area.

00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:20.519
 I pray for our nation of Scotland that you will continue to do the same.

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:24.239
 Would we be known once again as the land of the book

00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:29.619
 where people from all over Scotland are worshipping and praising Jesus.

00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:32.259
 Whatever happens in our lives this week,

00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:34.599
 help us to trust in him.

00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:36.079
 In his name we pray.

00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:36.559
 Amen.