WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.459 Yeah, so we come this evening to not really quite the easiest of passages. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:12.880 Graham this morning talked about how the passage he had was an ocean, 00:00:13.099 --> 00:00:16.440 that there was so much, so much depth and riches in it. 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:24.500 And today we come to a passage that at first glance doesn't seem to much we can learn from it. 00:00:24.500 --> 00:00:30.240 But some of our studies in 1 Samuel have been relatively straightforward. 00:00:31.100 --> 00:00:35.679 Some have been a bit challenging to work out what's going on. 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:41.780 I particularly don't envy the speaker that's got the next passage in chapter 28 00:00:41.780 --> 00:00:45.400 with all the strange supernatural goings on there. 00:00:46.760 --> 00:00:51.500 But this chapter at first seems to have not much happening in it. 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:59.820 And then at a second look you realise, wait, what's going on here? 00:01:00.740 --> 00:01:02.500 This is strange. 00:01:03.859 --> 00:01:09.140 And then once you work that out it's, okay, what's really going on here? 00:01:10.960 --> 00:01:17.819 In many of our studies recently we've been thinking of David as a type or a picture of Christ. 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:19.780 And legitimately so. 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:27.760 Later prophets and the New Testament writers frequently make much of the links between David 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:31.599 and great David's greater son. 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:35.260 But David is just a man. 00:01:36.260 --> 00:01:38.939 A fallen man like the rest of us. 00:01:40.140 --> 00:01:43.920 And in this passage we see him not so much as a picture of Christ, 00:01:44.579 --> 00:01:48.240 but as a picture of us in all our weakness and folly. 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:52.640 I hope I'm not being too harsh on David. 00:01:53.979 --> 00:01:58.000 But while some of his actions in this chapter may be debatable, 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:01.659 his motives certainly seem to be compromised. 00:02:01.659 --> 00:02:12.680 So if we start at the beginning in the first four verses of chapter 28, 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:15.859 we find David in a low place. 00:02:17.939 --> 00:02:20.979 Fear has overwhelmed him. 00:02:22.419 --> 00:02:27.199 He's sure that it's only a matter of time until Saul kills him. 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:32.819 Saul promised in the last chapter that he would not try to harm him again, 00:02:33.099 --> 00:02:36.699 but David knows that Saul can't be trusted. 00:02:36.699 --> 00:02:41.099 But fear is nothing new to David. 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:45.839 Saul's been chasing him on and off for the last nine chapters, 00:02:46.619 --> 00:02:48.179 probably about as many years. 00:02:48.180 --> 00:02:54.840 In fact, if anything, we could say that David's written a textbook on fear 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:56.640 and on how to deal with it. 00:02:58.040 --> 00:03:03.840 In Psalm 57, which he wrote while hiding in the cave at Adullam, 00:03:04.379 --> 00:03:05.819 he writes in his desperation, 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:08.419 In the shadow of your wings, 00:03:09.219 --> 00:03:12.780 I will take refuge till the storms of destruction have passed. 00:03:14.459 --> 00:03:16.719 Or in Psalm 24, he writes, 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:37.300 So he knows fear. 00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:42.219 But he knows that he can trust God to deliver him. 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:45.039 So what's changed? 00:03:46.900 --> 00:03:49.719 Why has fear overwhelmed him now? 00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:52.800 We're not told. 00:03:53.939 --> 00:03:56.759 But I think there are two possibilities. 00:03:58.740 --> 00:04:00.800 The first is that Samuel is dead. 00:04:02.219 --> 00:04:06.139 We don't really know what interaction David and Samuel have had 00:04:06.139 --> 00:04:07.659 over the last few years. 00:04:07.659 --> 00:04:10.759 When Saul first tried to kill David, 00:04:11.799 --> 00:04:13.079 David fled to Samuel, 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:16.259 but we don't hear of them together after that. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:18.980 But still, David would have been aware 00:04:18.980 --> 00:04:21.519 that there was this great prophet 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:23.459 who had anointed him king, 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:27.379 who was still around supporting him 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:29.019 and praying for him. 00:04:30.019 --> 00:04:31.860 But Samuel is dead now. 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:36.339 And maybe he feels that the promise died with Samuel. 00:04:36.339 --> 00:04:39.219 But the second reason, 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:41.539 and I think probably 00:04:41.539 --> 00:04:43.839 most likely, 00:04:44.259 --> 00:04:46.539 is just that the danger has been going on 00:04:46.539 --> 00:04:48.179 for so long. 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:52.639 He knows God's promises to him, 00:04:53.539 --> 00:04:55.099 but he's been waiting so long 00:04:55.099 --> 00:04:56.959 and his focus has slipped. 00:04:59.799 --> 00:05:02.399 It's dangerous for us to base too much 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:04.059 on what the passage doesn't say. 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:07.819 But I don't think it's insignificant 00:05:07.819 --> 00:05:11.500 that God is not mentioned once 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:12.839 in this chapter. 00:05:13.819 --> 00:05:15.819 In all the chapters before and after, 00:05:16.220 --> 00:05:17.680 he's mentioned several times, 00:05:18.840 --> 00:05:21.500 frequently explaining David's motives 00:05:21.500 --> 00:05:24.899 or David seeking guidance from God. 00:05:24.899 --> 00:05:28.879 But in this chapter, 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:33.019 God is not mentioned at all. 00:05:33.979 --> 00:05:35.620 That obviously does not mean 00:05:35.620 --> 00:05:37.159 he's not present 00:05:37.159 --> 00:05:38.679 and not active, 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:41.299 but it does suggest 00:05:41.299 --> 00:05:42.879 that he's not at the forefront 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:44.539 of David's mind. 00:05:44.540 --> 00:05:48.780 But, 00:05:49.100 --> 00:05:50.080 so instead, 00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:52.740 David takes things 00:05:52.740 --> 00:05:53.720 into his own hands 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:55.760 and comes out 00:05:55.760 --> 00:05:57.379 with his own strategy. 00:05:58.820 --> 00:06:00.360 Because living in Judah 00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:01.540 under Saul 00:06:01.540 --> 00:06:03.960 has become so dangerous 00:06:03.960 --> 00:06:06.879 that David considers it safer 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:08.820 to go and seek shelter 00:06:08.820 --> 00:06:09.879 with the Philistines, 00:06:10.920 --> 00:06:11.840 Israel's enemy. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:15.079 He goes by the logic 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:17.099 that the enemy of my enemy 00:06:17.099 --> 00:06:18.079 is my friend. 00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:20.199 And it seems 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:21.399 that Achish 00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:23.139 is willing to go 00:06:23.139 --> 00:06:24.060 by the same logic. 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:27.179 Unlike the previous time 00:06:27.179 --> 00:06:29.599 that David had turned up 00:06:29.599 --> 00:06:30.399 on his doorstep 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:32.419 as a lone fugitive 00:06:32.419 --> 00:06:34.579 and had to feign insanity 00:06:34.579 --> 00:06:36.179 to escape, 00:06:36.759 --> 00:06:37.939 this time he's coming 00:06:37.939 --> 00:06:39.259 with a large entourage. 00:06:39.259 --> 00:06:41.579 he's got 600 fighting men 00:06:41.579 --> 00:06:42.920 and their households. 00:06:45.159 --> 00:06:46.219 And Achish decides 00:06:46.219 --> 00:06:47.939 he can make use 00:06:47.939 --> 00:06:49.319 of a band of warriors 00:06:49.319 --> 00:06:51.579 with which they seem 00:06:51.579 --> 00:06:52.779 to share a common enemy. 00:06:55.039 --> 00:06:56.539 But we can already see 00:06:56.539 --> 00:06:57.599 that this is going wrong. 00:06:58.980 --> 00:07:00.500 In the last chapter, 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:01.719 David said to Saul, 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:03.959 they've driven me today 00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:05.060 from my share 00:07:05.060 --> 00:07:06.079 in the Lord's inheritance 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:06.839 and have said, 00:07:07.339 --> 00:07:08.639 go serve other gods. 00:07:09.259 --> 00:07:10.740 Now do not let my blood 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:11.759 fall to the ground 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:12.939 far from the presence 00:07:12.939 --> 00:07:13.639 of the Lord. 00:07:14.699 --> 00:07:15.839 He knows he should 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:16.680 not be going there. 00:07:17.339 --> 00:07:18.300 He knows that's not 00:07:18.300 --> 00:07:19.139 where he should be. 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:21.240 When David 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:22.680 was merely a boy 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:24.240 fighting Goliath, 00:07:24.719 --> 00:07:25.879 everything was clear 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:26.319 to him. 00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:28.959 These pagan Philistines 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:30.199 were God's enemies. 00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:32.779 and here, 00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:34.099 he's basically entering 00:07:34.099 --> 00:07:35.039 into an alliance 00:07:35.039 --> 00:07:36.779 with the Philistines. 00:07:38.539 --> 00:07:39.539 He's been waiting 00:07:39.539 --> 00:07:41.459 so long for God 00:07:41.459 --> 00:07:42.199 to follow through 00:07:42.199 --> 00:07:42.959 on his promises, 00:07:44.159 --> 00:07:45.439 he's given up waiting 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:47.500 and has turned instead 00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:48.500 to his own wisdom 00:07:48.500 --> 00:07:49.379 and cunning 00:07:49.379 --> 00:07:50.180 to save him. 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:54.060 Waiting can be difficult, 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:56.879 even for people like me 00:07:56.879 --> 00:07:58.019 that give the appearance 00:07:58.019 --> 00:07:59.539 of being so laid back 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:00.100 all the time. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:02.240 I think there's 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:03.000 a good reason 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:04.620 why patience 00:08:04.620 --> 00:08:06.280 or long suffering 00:08:06.280 --> 00:08:07.600 is listed 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:08.120 in the fruit 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:08.660 of the Spirit. 00:08:09.700 --> 00:08:10.680 It's not natural. 00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:12.900 We naturally 00:08:12.900 --> 00:08:13.439 struggle 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:14.560 to wait, 00:08:16.020 --> 00:08:16.560 especially 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:17.320 when what we are 00:08:17.320 --> 00:08:17.960 waiting on 00:08:17.960 --> 00:08:19.300 is God's timing 00:08:19.300 --> 00:08:21.300 because as Peter 00:08:21.300 --> 00:08:21.939 would write, 00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:24.079 the Lord 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:25.339 is not slow 00:08:25.339 --> 00:08:25.779 in keeping 00:08:25.779 --> 00:08:26.480 his promise 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:27.899 as some 00:08:27.899 --> 00:08:29.259 understand slowness. 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:30.199 I.e., 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:30.980 God's timing 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:32.519 is not ours. 00:08:33.460 --> 00:08:34.440 God's plans 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:35.759 are not ours. 00:08:38.440 --> 00:08:39.240 But there are 00:08:39.240 --> 00:08:40.039 so many things 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:40.519 that we need 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:41.299 to wait for 00:08:41.299 --> 00:08:42.399 in our lives. 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:44.500 Each of our lives 00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:45.080 is different, 00:08:45.580 --> 00:08:46.100 the challenges 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:46.840 are different, 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:48.980 but for many 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:49.399 of us 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:49.800 there will be 00:08:49.800 --> 00:08:50.899 things that 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:51.519 don't happen 00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:52.200 to the timing 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:52.820 that we would 00:08:52.820 --> 00:08:53.180 like. 00:08:54.560 --> 00:08:55.480 We would like 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:55.860 if things 00:08:55.860 --> 00:08:56.560 happen now 00:08:56.560 --> 00:08:58.300 to our 00:08:58.300 --> 00:08:58.920 timetable, 00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:00.600 but God 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:01.200 asks us 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:01.800 to wait. 00:09:03.540 --> 00:09:04.060 And maybe 00:09:04.060 --> 00:09:04.759 that waiting 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:05.560 like David 00:09:05.560 --> 00:09:06.519 is full of fear, 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:08.560 fear about 00:09:08.560 --> 00:09:09.160 health, 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:10.360 about family, 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:11.680 about employment. 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:13.500 we want 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:14.279 answers now. 00:09:15.799 --> 00:09:17.319 But God 00:09:17.319 --> 00:09:17.859 asks us 00:09:17.859 --> 00:09:18.399 to wait. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:21.179 And maybe 00:09:21.179 --> 00:09:21.519 there are 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:22.019 things in our 00:09:22.019 --> 00:09:22.699 church that 00:09:22.699 --> 00:09:23.120 we need to 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:23.539 wait for. 00:09:24.419 --> 00:09:25.139 We'd love to 00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:25.859 see this or 00:09:25.859 --> 00:09:26.519 that happen 00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:26.879 now. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:28.839 We'd love to 00:09:28.839 --> 00:09:29.259 see much 00:09:29.259 --> 00:09:30.259 greater impact. 00:09:31.379 --> 00:09:31.779 We don't 00:09:31.779 --> 00:09:32.299 want to keep 00:09:32.299 --> 00:09:32.959 working away 00:09:32.959 --> 00:09:34.099 and only 00:09:34.099 --> 00:09:35.339 seeing little 00:09:35.339 --> 00:09:35.919 fruit. 00:09:36.679 --> 00:09:38.079 But God 00:09:38.079 --> 00:09:38.639 asks us 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:39.219 to wait. 00:09:40.699 --> 00:09:41.599 But waiting 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:43.340 can wear us 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:43.680 down. 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:45.379 We can 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:46.220 lose patience 00:09:46.220 --> 00:09:47.779 and decide 00:09:47.779 --> 00:09:48.460 to come up 00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:49.460 with our 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:50.259 own plans 00:09:50.259 --> 00:09:51.220 and our 00:09:51.220 --> 00:09:51.639 own 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:52.240 clever 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:52.920 solutions. 00:09:54.680 --> 00:09:55.540 I'm not 00:09:55.540 --> 00:09:56.279 suggesting we 00:09:56.279 --> 00:09:57.740 should just 00:09:57.740 --> 00:09:58.700 sit back 00:09:58.700 --> 00:09:59.320 and wait. 00:10:00.460 --> 00:10:01.340 Let go 00:10:01.340 --> 00:10:02.100 and let God 00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:02.800 as the phrase 00:10:02.800 --> 00:10:03.240 was. 00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:05.660 Because we're 00:10:05.660 --> 00:10:06.080 called to 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:06.480 action. 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:07.860 We're called 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:08.480 to fight, 00:10:08.680 --> 00:10:09.160 to wrestle, 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:09.899 to endure. 00:10:09.899 --> 00:10:12.019 But are we 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:12.559 fighting our 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:13.079 battles, 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:14.600 our gods? 00:10:17.299 --> 00:10:17.939 But I 00:10:17.939 --> 00:10:18.259 think we 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:19.120 also struggle 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:20.600 as the 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:21.620 church Peter 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:22.199 was writing 00:10:22.199 --> 00:10:22.579 to, 00:10:24.179 --> 00:10:24.759 in waiting 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:25.740 for our 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:26.459 future hope. 00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:29.000 Peter was 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:30.319 writing in 00:10:30.319 --> 00:10:30.639 the first 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:31.720 century to 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:32.179 people who 00:10:32.179 --> 00:10:32.720 were then 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:33.220 questioning, 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:34.879 is this 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:35.340 ever going 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:35.819 to happen? 00:10:35.820 --> 00:10:35.879 heaven. 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:38.700 And here 00:10:38.700 --> 00:10:39.180 we are, 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:40.379 20 long 00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:40.760 centuries 00:10:40.760 --> 00:10:41.320 later. 00:10:43.680 --> 00:10:44.379 And like 00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:45.180 most things, 00:10:45.940 --> 00:10:46.620 it seems to 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:47.040 be something 00:10:47.040 --> 00:10:47.400 that the 00:10:47.400 --> 00:10:47.780 church has 00:10:47.780 --> 00:10:48.300 gone to 00:10:48.300 --> 00:10:49.360 two extremes 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:49.700 on. 00:10:51.560 --> 00:10:52.120 Either 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:53.700 it's front 00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:54.400 and centre 00:10:54.400 --> 00:10:54.879 in our 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:55.300 thinking, 00:10:56.740 --> 00:10:57.360 almost to 00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:57.840 the exclusion 00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:58.400 of everything 00:10:58.400 --> 00:10:58.879 else. 00:11:00.520 --> 00:11:01.080 And life 00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:01.820 here is 00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:02.340 seen as 00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:03.400 no more 00:11:03.400 --> 00:11:03.660 than a 00:11:03.660 --> 00:11:04.120 waiting room 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:04.659 for heaven. 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:07.919 Or 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:09.620 it's just 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:10.000 something 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:10.820 vaguely on 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:11.240 the edge 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:11.539 of our 00:11:11.539 --> 00:11:12.039 consciousness 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:13.600 that doesn't 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:14.539 really affect 00:11:14.539 --> 00:11:15.259 how we think 00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:15.639 about our 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:16.100 day-to-day 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:17.200 lives at 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:17.519 all. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:19.940 I wonder 00:11:19.940 --> 00:11:20.440 if we're 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:21.779 at risk 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:22.759 here of 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:23.320 getting caught 00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:24.519 up in the 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:25.460 challenges of 00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:25.879 here and 00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:27.480 now and 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:28.019 losing our 00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:28.580 perspective. 00:11:30.060 --> 00:11:30.840 I wonder 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:31.460 if possibly 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:32.159 that inhibits 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:33.019 our evangelism. 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:35.419 the promise 00:11:35.419 --> 00:11:37.139 and threats 00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:38.560 of future 00:11:38.560 --> 00:11:39.500 realities seem 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:40.940 so distant 00:11:40.940 --> 00:11:42.039 that it's 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:42.720 hard for us 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:44.120 to reconcile 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:46.320 them with 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:46.740 the people 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:47.259 that we meet 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:47.899 around us 00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:48.620 day-to-day. 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:50.080 It seems 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.139 two very 00:11:51.139 --> 00:11:51.460 different 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:51.980 things. 00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:55.340 But in 00:11:55.340 --> 00:11:56.100 Hebrews 11, 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:58.799 which the 00:11:58.799 --> 00:11:59.680 first passage 00:11:59.680 --> 00:12:00.000 I ever 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.759 actually spoke 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.060 on, 00:12:01.059 --> 00:12:02.679 we read 00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:03.139 of how 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:04.539 future hope 00:12:04.539 --> 00:12:05.899 shaped the 00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:06.519 lives of 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:06.959 those who 00:12:06.959 --> 00:12:07.479 came before 00:12:07.479 --> 00:12:07.839 us. 00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:09.519 Because we 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:09.899 read there 00:12:09.899 --> 00:12:10.739 that Abraham 00:12:10.739 --> 00:12:11.339 was looking 00:12:11.339 --> 00:12:12.519 forward to 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:12.939 the city 00:12:12.939 --> 00:12:13.779 with foundations. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.199 His architect 00:12:15.199 --> 00:12:15.819 and builder 00:12:15.819 --> 00:12:16.399 is God. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.039 And all 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:18.619 these people 00:12:18.619 --> 00:12:19.119 were still 00:12:19.119 --> 00:12:19.619 living by 00:12:19.619 --> 00:12:20.099 faith when 00:12:20.099 --> 00:12:20.659 they died. 00:12:21.319 --> 00:12:21.679 They were 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:22.419 longing for 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:22.859 a better 00:12:22.859 --> 00:12:23.379 country, 00:12:23.839 --> 00:12:24.379 a heavenly 00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:24.799 one. 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:26.000 Therefore, 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:26.739 God is not 00:12:26.739 --> 00:12:27.439 ashamed to be 00:12:27.439 --> 00:12:27.879 called their 00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:28.319 God, 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:29.140 for he 00:12:29.140 --> 00:12:29.740 has prepared 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:30.260 a city 00:12:30.260 --> 00:12:30.860 for them. 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:32.440 They were 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:33.040 living their 00:12:33.040 --> 00:12:33.920 lives here 00:12:33.920 --> 00:12:35.680 while waiting 00:12:35.680 --> 00:12:36.580 for what 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:36.900 they knew 00:12:36.900 --> 00:12:37.280 was to 00:12:37.280 --> 00:12:37.560 come. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:41.300 I've been 00:12:41.300 --> 00:12:42.740 recommending 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:43.540 the songs 00:12:43.540 --> 00:12:44.300 of Andrew 00:12:44.300 --> 00:12:45.020 Peterson to 00:12:45.020 --> 00:12:45.700 various people 00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:46.240 recently. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:48.080 And what I 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:48.720 really like 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:49.200 about them 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:49.980 is they're 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:50.740 so grounded 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:51.340 in the 00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:52.780 joys and 00:12:52.780 --> 00:12:53.700 sorrows of 00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:55.680 life here 00:12:55.680 --> 00:12:56.180 and now. 00:12:56.179 --> 00:12:57.559 they're 00:12:57.559 --> 00:12:58.239 also filled 00:12:58.239 --> 00:12:58.919 with longing 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:00.259 for something 00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:00.759 beyond. 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:03.399 One of 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:04.099 them says, 00:13:05.099 --> 00:13:06.439 And I 00:13:06.439 --> 00:13:07.099 know you 00:13:07.099 --> 00:13:07.779 hear the 00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:08.939 cries of 00:13:08.939 --> 00:13:09.579 every soul 00:13:09.579 --> 00:13:10.059 tonight. 00:13:10.819 --> 00:13:11.699 You see 00:13:11.699 --> 00:13:12.539 the teardrops 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:12.919 as they 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:13.679 roll tonight 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:14.319 down the 00:13:14.319 --> 00:13:14.939 faces of 00:13:14.939 --> 00:13:15.799 saints who 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:16.419 grow weary 00:13:16.419 --> 00:13:17.079 and faint 00:13:17.079 --> 00:13:17.479 in your 00:13:17.479 --> 00:13:18.059 fields. 00:13:19.239 --> 00:13:19.620 And the 00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:20.240 wicked roam 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:20.859 the cities 00:13:20.859 --> 00:13:21.279 and the 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:21.579 streets 00:13:21.579 --> 00:13:22.079 tonight. 00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:23.399 But when 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:25.459 the God of 00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:25.940 love and 00:13:25.940 --> 00:13:26.740 thunder speaks 00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:27.160 tonight, 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:28.360 I believe 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:28.740 you will 00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:29.100 come, 00:13:30.060 --> 00:13:30.620 your justice 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:31.220 be done. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:32.500 But how 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:33.040 long? 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:34.800 How long 00:13:34.800 --> 00:13:35.360 until the 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:35.980 burden is 00:13:35.980 --> 00:13:36.340 lifted? 00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:38.360 How long 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:39.019 is this the 00:13:39.019 --> 00:13:39.440 song that 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:39.940 we sing? 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:41.759 How long 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:42.320 until the 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:42.759 reckoning? 00:13:45.300 --> 00:13:45.740 And as 00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:46.920 our Bibles 00:13:46.920 --> 00:13:47.639 would finish 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:48.259 in Revelation 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:48.960 22, 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:50.980 with that 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:51.440 cry, 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:52.600 come Lord 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:53.019 Jesus, 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:54.740 as we 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:56.659 wait for 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:57.200 that which 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:57.519 is to 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:57.840 come. 00:13:59.120 --> 00:13:59.899 But before 00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:00.420 we go off 00:14:00.420 --> 00:14:01.200 on too 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:01.659 much of 00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:02.220 that tangent 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:03.259 from what's 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:03.980 not said 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:04.240 in the 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:04.620 passage, 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:05.740 let's get 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.100 back to 00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:06.639 the passage. 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:08.920 And 00:14:08.920 --> 00:14:10.139 taking 00:14:10.139 --> 00:14:12.480 most of 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:12.840 the rest 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:13.080 of the 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:13.460 chapter, 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.019 so from 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:15.500 verse 5 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:16.879 to 12 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.019 in one 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:18.580 section, 00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:19.580 and here 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:19.980 we see 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:21.780 that at 00:14:21.780 --> 00:14:22.240 first it 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:22.759 seems that 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:23.139 David's 00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:23.759 strategy has 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.120 worked, 00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:26.320 because Saul 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:26.820 gives up 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:27.420 searching for 00:14:27.420 --> 00:14:27.580 him. 00:14:29.300 --> 00:14:29.560 His 00:14:29.560 --> 00:14:30.480 hatred for 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:31.960 David isn't 00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:33.460 enough to 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:34.000 push him to 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:34.720 all-out war 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:35.100 with the 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:35.720 Philistines. 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:38.480 But as we 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:39.220 read on, 00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:39.960 we see that 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:40.720 David's scheme 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:41.700 gets more 00:14:41.700 --> 00:14:42.259 and more 00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:43.620 cunning, 00:14:44.180 --> 00:14:44.960 convoluted, 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:45.360 and 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:47.000 compromised. 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:49.540 Firstly, 00:14:49.680 --> 00:14:50.020 we see 00:14:50.020 --> 00:14:51.120 David in 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.620 apparent 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:52.300 humility 00:14:52.300 --> 00:14:54.020 in 00:14:54.020 --> 00:14:56.900 verse 5, 00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.240 requesting 00:14:59.240 --> 00:14:59.700 that he's 00:14:59.700 --> 00:15:00.620 given a 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:01.020 place in 00:15:01.020 --> 00:15:01.320 one of 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:01.780 the lesser 00:15:01.780 --> 00:15:02.440 towns 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:03.440 instead of 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:03.680 in the 00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:04.379 royal city, 00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:06.520 making out 00:15:06.520 --> 00:15:07.040 that he's 00:15:07.040 --> 00:15:07.580 not worthy 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:08.200 to be in 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:10.360 the main 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:10.879 city, 00:15:11.400 --> 00:15:12.400 along with 00:15:12.400 --> 00:15:12.860 the king. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:14.759 But when 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:15.280 we look at 00:15:15.280 --> 00:15:15.680 how his 00:15:15.680 --> 00:15:16.160 deception 00:15:16.160 --> 00:15:17.000 develops, 00:15:17.800 --> 00:15:18.280 we realise 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:18.919 this is not 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:19.639 about humility. 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:21.240 This is 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:22.039 about distance. 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:24.059 He wants 00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:24.299 to be 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:24.539 somewhere 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:25.439 close enough 00:15:25.439 --> 00:15:26.519 to be 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:26.939 under the 00:15:26.939 --> 00:15:27.319 Philistine 00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:27.939 protection, 00:15:28.939 --> 00:15:29.819 but he 00:15:29.819 --> 00:15:30.139 wants to 00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:30.500 be far 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:31.139 enough away 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:32.419 that his 00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:32.939 comings and 00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:33.679 goings won't 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:34.299 be watched. 00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:37.000 He wants 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.559 to pull the 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:38.199 wool over 00:15:38.199 --> 00:15:38.919 Achishud's 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:39.360 eyes. 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:42.139 And so he's 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.120 given Ziklag 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.240 that he 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:44.799 uses as 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:45.320 a base 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:46.879 and he 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.440 carries out 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:48.039 raids from 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:48.340 there. 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:50.820 And this 00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:51.240 is where 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:52.179 we start 00:15:52.179 --> 00:15:52.519 getting 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.139 confused. 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.519 Is David 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.720 here carrying 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.379 out raids 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.299 against Israel? 00:15:59.460 --> 00:15:59.980 Against his 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:00.440 own people? 00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:03.080 Surely not. 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:06.240 But then 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:06.560 when you 00:16:06.560 --> 00:16:07.280 read the 00:16:07.280 --> 00:16:07.600 passage 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.139 carefully, 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:08.720 you realise 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.840 there are 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:10.700 two accounts 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.080 of what 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:11.560 he's doing. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:13.280 In 00:16:13.280 --> 00:16:14.120 verse 8, 00:16:15.560 --> 00:16:16.060 read, 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:16.879 So David 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.259 and his 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:18.180 men went 00:16:18.180 --> 00:16:18.600 up and 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:19.180 raided the 00:16:19.180 --> 00:16:19.840 Geshurites, 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:20.660 the Gerzites, 00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:21.020 and the 00:16:21.020 --> 00:16:21.740 Malachites. 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:24.139 But then 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:24.500 in verse 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:24.960 10, 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:26.820 when Achish 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:27.379 asked, 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:28.279 where did 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:28.580 you go 00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:28.879 raiding 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.299 today? 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:30.700 David would 00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:31.060 say, 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:32.299 against the 00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:32.759 Negev of 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.060 Judah, 00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:34.100 or against 00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:34.620 the Negev 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.519 of Jeremiel, 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.279 or against 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:36.820 the Negev 00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:37.080 of the 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:37.700 Canaanites. 00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:41.320 Verse 8 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:42.240 says what 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:42.680 David is 00:16:42.680 --> 00:16:43.419 actually doing. 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:44.700 Verse 10 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:45.220 says what 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:45.820 he's reporting 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:46.820 to Achish. 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:49.360 The situation 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:49.820 he's got 00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:50.519 himself into 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:50.940 is one 00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:51.279 where he 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:51.620 has to 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.259 continually 00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:53.519 lie about 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:53.960 what he's 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:54.860 doing in 00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:55.360 order to 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:55.659 remain 00:16:55.659 --> 00:16:56.080 welcome 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:56.419 there. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:00.320 Because 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.940 Achish 00:17:01.940 --> 00:17:02.700 believes he 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.200 is raiding 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:03.620 Israel, 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:05.579 while actually 00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:07.079 he's raiding 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.400 Israel's 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:08.779 enemies. 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.079 Now, 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:11.460 it is 00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.059 possible 00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:13.240 that David's 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.140 not strictly 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:15.319 lying here. 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.240 The 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:17.740 Negev 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.160 was the 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:18.720 desert land 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.059 to the 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:19.460 south of 00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:19.819 Israel. 00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:19.879 Israel, 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:22.779 and so 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:22.939 it's 00:17:22.939 --> 00:17:23.399 possible 00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:23.619 that 00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:23.879 although 00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:24.220 this 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:24.419 is 00:17:24.419 --> 00:17:24.720 within 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:24.980 the 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.319 borders 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:25.579 of 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:25.919 Israel, 00:17:25.919 --> 00:17:26.899 that the 00:17:26.899 --> 00:17:27.559 peoples he's 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.220 raiding 00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:30.019 against are 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.919 in that 00:17:30.919 --> 00:17:31.359 land. 00:17:32.639 --> 00:17:33.619 So maybe 00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:35.019 technically he's 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.500 speaking the 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:35.759 truth, 00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:38.240 but certainly 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.379 he's intending 00:17:39.379 --> 00:17:39.960 to deceive 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:40.339 here. 00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:42.759 in fact, 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:43.159 the people 00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:43.439 that he 00:17:43.439 --> 00:17:44.179 claims that 00:17:44.179 --> 00:17:44.459 he was 00:17:44.459 --> 00:17:44.839 raiding, 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:46.099 we actually 00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:47.000 will see 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.559 later in 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.299 chapter 30 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:49.079 that he's 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:49.519 giving the 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:50.079 spoils of 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:50.599 his raiding 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:51.299 to them. 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:53.980 He was 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.859 raiding 00:17:54.859 --> 00:17:55.339 Israel's 00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:55.819 enemies, 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.199 building up 00:17:57.199 --> 00:17:57.759 his support 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.259 in Israel 00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:59.539 by giving 00:17:59.539 --> 00:17:59.959 them the 00:17:59.959 --> 00:18:00.339 plunder, 00:18:01.919 --> 00:18:02.220 meanwhile 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:03.259 making Achish 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:05.419 believe that 00:18:05.419 --> 00:18:06.159 he was 00:18:06.159 --> 00:18:06.799 becoming so 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.319 obnoxious 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:07.899 to Israel 00:18:07.899 --> 00:18:10.059 that the 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:10.539 Philistines 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:10.919 would have 00:18:10.919 --> 00:18:11.419 his loyalty 00:18:11.419 --> 00:18:12.059 for life. 00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.419 It's not 00:18:15.419 --> 00:18:16.500 exactly clear 00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.119 who the 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:18.359 Geshurites 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:19.299 and the 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:20.139 Gerizites 00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:20.659 are, 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:22.599 various things 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:22.939 seem to 00:18:22.939 --> 00:18:23.419 suggest 00:18:23.419 --> 00:18:24.539 different 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:24.879 things, 00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:26.500 but certainly 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.579 the Amalekites 00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:29.299 are one of 00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:29.779 the peoples 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:30.700 in the land 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:31.679 that Israel 00:18:31.679 --> 00:18:32.819 should have 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.539 wiped out 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.740 when they 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.200 entered the 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:35.819 land several 00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:36.679 centuries earlier. 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:37.919 Israel 00:18:37.919 --> 00:18:39.859 compromised 00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:41.019 and never 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.679 completed the 00:18:41.679 --> 00:18:42.079 task. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:43.960 In fact, 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.500 in the next 00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:44.879 chapter, 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.339 one of the 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:45.759 things that 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.119 Saul is 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:46.799 accused of 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:48.399 is not 00:18:48.399 --> 00:18:48.859 destroying 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:49.679 the Amalekites. 00:18:50.399 --> 00:18:50.839 So, 00:18:51.899 --> 00:18:52.599 is David 00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:53.059 doing right 00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:53.299 here? 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.059 It's not 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:56.839 totally clear, 00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:58.799 but certainly 00:18:58.799 --> 00:18:59.399 his motives 00:18:59.399 --> 00:19:00.240 aren't godly. 00:19:01.899 --> 00:19:02.859 His reason 00:19:02.859 --> 00:19:03.519 for total 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.079 destruction 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:05.960 is not 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:06.539 because these 00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:06.740 are the 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.200 enemies of 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:07.559 God, 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:09.720 or anything 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.240 like that, 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.519 but pragmatically 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.879 so he can 00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:14.159 continue his 00:19:14.159 --> 00:19:14.579 deception, 00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:15.759 so they 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.480 can't report 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.680 back what's 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.059 happening, 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:19.779 so as to 00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:20.119 save his 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:20.559 own skin. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.440 He's got 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.039 himself into 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:25.299 such a 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:25.879 compromised 00:19:25.879 --> 00:19:26.799 position, 00:19:28.159 --> 00:19:28.980 and none 00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:29.740 of his actions 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.460 seem clear 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:30.839 cut. 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:32.699 everything he 00:19:32.699 --> 00:19:33.539 does is 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:33.939 tainted. 00:19:35.939 --> 00:19:36.679 It's so 00:19:36.679 --> 00:19:37.459 easy for us 00:19:37.459 --> 00:19:38.059 to compromise. 00:19:39.199 --> 00:19:39.599 It's so 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:40.240 easy for us 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:40.699 to look at 00:19:40.699 --> 00:19:41.299 the challenges 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.299 we see 00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:43.099 around us, 00:19:43.919 --> 00:19:44.539 especially 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:45.139 when God 00:19:45.139 --> 00:19:45.720 doesn't seem 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.259 to act to 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:47.019 our timetable, 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:49.259 and come up 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:49.779 with our own 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.199 solutions. 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.579 Sometimes we're 00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.179 willing to be 00:19:53.179 --> 00:19:54.099 flexible on 00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:55.859 what we believe 00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:56.439 to be right 00:19:56.439 --> 00:19:57.000 and wrong, 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:59.099 because we 00:19:59.099 --> 00:19:59.480 think it's 00:19:59.480 --> 00:19:59.960 the best we 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.299 can do 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:00.740 under the 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.380 circumstances. 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.299 Yeah, we 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:03.720 might know 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:05.279 that technically 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.839 our actions 00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.359 are wrong, 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.900 but we 00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:09.279 don't think 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.680 we have any 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.259 other option. 00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:12.259 Have we 00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:13.079 forgotten God? 00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.099 Have we 00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:16.119 forgotten David's 00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:16.819 words that we 00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.460 read earlier? 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:18.640 Many are the 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:19.380 afflictions of 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:19.940 the righteous, 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.200 but the Lord 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.920 delivers him 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.400 out of them 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:22.640 all. 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:23.900 Or the words 00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:24.480 that we sang, 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.619 where there 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.180 seems to be 00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:26.720 no way, 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.680 you make 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.259 it possible. 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:31.819 It's often 00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.779 interesting seeing 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:34.160 how people's 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:34.779 view on an 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:36.059 issue changes 00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.920 completely when 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.839 it affects them 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.640 personally. 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:40.599 They have 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:41.200 very clear 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.279 views on 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:43.019 what's right 00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:43.640 and wrong. 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.359 But when it's 00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:47.019 no longer an 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.960 abstract issue, 00:20:48.619 --> 00:20:49.019 they're willing 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:49.519 to come up 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.640 with excuses, 00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:53.000 exceptions, 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:54.400 mitigating 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:54.980 factors, 00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:56.759 why it's 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.200 okay for 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.539 them. 00:20:59.160 --> 00:20:59.440 Now, 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:00.940 part of 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.420 this is 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.559 probably a 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:02.940 healthy 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.920 developing 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:04.879 of a 00:21:04.879 --> 00:21:05.400 nuanced 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.839 view of 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:07.519 the complexities 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.039 of the 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.339 issues, 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:11.359 but all 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:11.920 too often 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.839 it's mere 00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:13.539 pragmatism. 00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:16.420 It suits the 00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:17.079 situation they 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.660 find themselves 00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:17.960 in, 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:20.160 and if that 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:20.599 means they 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:20.920 have to 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:21.640 slightly revise 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:22.320 their morality, 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:23.920 so be 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:24.140 it. 00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:27.020 But I 00:21:27.020 --> 00:21:27.460 think one 00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:28.200 question that 00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:28.640 must be 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:30.860 asked is 00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:31.440 why is no 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:31.800 one giving 00:21:31.800 --> 00:21:32.580 David advice 00:21:32.580 --> 00:21:32.860 here? 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:36.520 Why is no 00:21:36.520 --> 00:21:36.940 one saying 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:37.320 to him, 00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:38.560 I think you're 00:21:38.560 --> 00:21:39.100 making a big 00:21:39.100 --> 00:21:39.580 mistake? 00:21:40.800 --> 00:21:41.660 Remember God's 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.060 promises. 00:21:43.020 --> 00:21:43.740 You can trust 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:43.960 him. 00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:45.220 Hold on in 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.420 there. 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:47.520 Surely among 00:21:47.520 --> 00:21:48.480 all these people 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.120 he had with 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:49.279 him, 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:50.119 there was 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.759 someone that 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.019 would have 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:51.279 had the 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:51.659 nerve to 00:21:51.659 --> 00:21:52.279 say something. 00:21:54.179 --> 00:21:54.619 Certainly 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.599 Abigail doesn't 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:56.479 seem one 00:21:56.479 --> 00:21:56.939 who's likely 00:21:56.939 --> 00:21:57.459 to keep her 00:21:57.459 --> 00:21:57.939 opinion to 00:21:57.939 --> 00:21:58.399 herself. 00:22:01.939 --> 00:22:02.500 In the 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:02.839 book that 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:03.339 some of us 00:22:03.339 --> 00:22:03.899 read with 00:22:03.899 --> 00:22:04.439 Alistair 00:22:04.439 --> 00:22:04.979 recently, 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:06.099 side by 00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:06.579 side, 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.439 one of the 00:22:08.439 --> 00:22:08.839 things it 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.479 challenged us 00:22:09.479 --> 00:22:10.599 to do was 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.179 to confront 00:22:11.179 --> 00:22:11.779 each other 00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.739 with her 00:22:12.739 --> 00:22:13.039 sin. 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:14.919 Now, 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.379 that of 00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:15.839 course must 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:16.219 be done 00:22:16.219 --> 00:22:17.019 carefully, 00:22:18.199 --> 00:22:19.039 sensitively, 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.779 unlovingly. 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:23.959 But have 00:22:23.959 --> 00:22:24.799 we got 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.519 people around 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:27.979 us that 00:22:27.979 --> 00:22:28.719 know they 00:22:28.719 --> 00:22:29.119 have our 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:30.579 permission to 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.479 challenge us 00:22:31.479 --> 00:22:32.859 when they 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:33.239 think we're 00:22:33.239 --> 00:22:34.039 making mistakes? 00:22:35.719 --> 00:22:36.500 Or do we 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.259 surround ourselves 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:37.959 with people who 00:22:37.959 --> 00:22:38.359 will just 00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:39.419 politely agree 00:22:39.419 --> 00:22:41.000 with us and 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.679 tell us what 00:22:41.679 --> 00:22:42.199 we want to 00:22:42.199 --> 00:22:42.479 hear? 00:22:44.459 --> 00:22:45.219 Do we have 00:22:45.219 --> 00:22:46.299 people around 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.059 us that will 00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:48.500 remind us of 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:48.819 God's 00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.220 promises? 00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:50.819 Who will 00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.420 remind us 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:51.799 that he is 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:52.400 so much 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:53.900 more glorious 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:55.240 than anything 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:55.619 we could 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.799 possibly put 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.099 in his 00:22:57.099 --> 00:22:57.559 place? 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.420 And so 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:03.059 we get 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:03.460 to 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:05.140 essentially 00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:05.559 the end 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:05.839 of our 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.180 passage, 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:06.640 the first 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:07.059 couple of 00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:07.579 verses of 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.579 chapter. 00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:12.579 After all 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:14.819 this fear, 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.639 this compromise, 00:23:17.939 --> 00:23:18.460 are we 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.539 left on a 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:19.960 downer? 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.799 Is there 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.159 anything 00:23:22.159 --> 00:23:22.699 positive? 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:26.819 in the 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:27.299 first couple 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:27.700 of verses 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.220 of chapter 00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:28.980 28 here, 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:29.360 we see 00:23:29.360 --> 00:23:30.500 just the 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.680 difficulty of 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.279 the situation 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:32.860 that David's 00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:33.380 got himself 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:33.740 into. 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:35.819 After almost 00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.319 a year and 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:36.779 a half, 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.840 the major 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:39.360 challenge 00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:39.860 comes. 00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:42.000 Dachish is 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.600 marching out 00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:43.420 against Israel 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:45.080 and expects 00:23:45.080 --> 00:23:45.819 David to be 00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:47.319 there fighting 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:48.400 with him at 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:48.980 his side. 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:52.240 what's 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.680 David to 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:52.900 do? 00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:55.620 Initially, 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.160 he digs 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:56.900 himself even 00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:57.519 deeper into 00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.740 the hole by, 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.140 in a rather 00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:01.160 ambiguous manner, 00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:02.400 pledging his 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:02.819 loyalty. 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:05.880 And Dachish, 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.579 who believes 00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:07.200 the reports 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:07.860 that he's been 00:24:07.860 --> 00:24:09.160 carrying out 00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:09.819 raids against 00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:10.519 Judah all this 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:10.900 time, 00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:11.900 appoints him 00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.319 to be his 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:12.900 bodyguard, 00:24:14.120 --> 00:24:15.140 in a place 00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:15.620 of honour, 00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:17.920 but also a 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.720 place where 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.200 he can keep 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.660 his eye on 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:19.860 him. 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.120 David's not 00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:22.600 going to have 00:24:22.600 --> 00:24:23.279 an opportunity 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:24.579 to quietly 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.299 slip away, 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:27.259 or even go 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:27.759 over to the 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.220 other side 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:28.519 here. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.700 But is 00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:32.059 there any 00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:32.460 hope? 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.740 Earlier 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.799 I said that 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.660 it's dangerous 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.339 to base too 00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.039 much on what's 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.620 not said, 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:41.120 and in this 00:24:41.120 --> 00:24:41.740 case there's 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:43.160 nothing in 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.819 this passage 00:24:43.819 --> 00:24:44.759 to give any 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.059 hope. 00:24:47.100 --> 00:24:47.819 But we'll 00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.519 discover in a 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:48.920 couple of 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:50.839 chapters that 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.920 God does 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:52.799 intervene. 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:55.339 All this 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.339 time David 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:56.839 may have 00:24:56.839 --> 00:24:57.339 been ignoring 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:59.200 God, but 00:24:59.200 --> 00:24:59.720 God's not 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.240 been ignoring 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:00.559 him. 00:25:02.639 --> 00:25:03.440 David may 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:03.859 have given 00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:04.379 up waiting 00:25:04.379 --> 00:25:04.940 for God, 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:05.980 but God 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.639 was still 00:25:06.639 --> 00:25:07.099 going to 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:08.220 fulfil on 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:08.779 his promises. 00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:12.839 As Paul's 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:13.519 devotion this 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.379 morning reminded 00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:15.760 us, failure 00:25:15.760 --> 00:25:17.140 isn't final. 00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:21.400 And here 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:22.080 we see that 00:25:22.080 --> 00:25:22.620 God gets 00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.380 David out 00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:23.660 of the 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.900 situation that 00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:25.300 his own 00:25:25.300 --> 00:25:26.140 foolishness had 00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:26.480 got him 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:26.760 into. 00:25:29.060 --> 00:25:29.820 And in 00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:30.400 the meantime, 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:31.760 God has 00:25:31.760 --> 00:25:32.540 continued to 00:25:32.540 --> 00:25:32.920 bless. 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.660 In 1 00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:36.540 Chronicles 12 00:25:36.540 --> 00:25:37.080 we read of 00:25:37.080 --> 00:25:37.400 all the 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.340 men who 00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:38.820 came to 00:25:38.820 --> 00:25:40.460 David while 00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.180 he was at 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:41.600 Ziklag. 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.580 He started 00:25:43.580 --> 00:25:44.180 with 600 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:44.519 men. 00:25:44.600 --> 00:25:44.900 By this 00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:45.279 point he's 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:45.720 got more 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:47.019 because they 00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.500 keep hearing 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:47.980 about them, 00:25:48.040 --> 00:25:48.340 they keep 00:25:48.340 --> 00:25:48.840 hearing about 00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:49.279 all he's 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:49.640 doing, and 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:49.920 they keep 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:50.360 coming to 00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:50.580 him. 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.480 So his 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:52.960 army is 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.640 continuing to 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.960 grow, ready 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.500 for when it 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:55.759 would be 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.140 needed. 00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:58.820 And one 00:25:58.820 --> 00:25:59.500 day David 00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.940 would sit 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.440 on the throne 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.000 of Israel 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:03.640 with a 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.019 glorious 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.460 reign. 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:06.759 And his 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.360 line would 00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:08.140 be preserved, 00:26:09.360 --> 00:26:09.980 and the 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.920 promised Messiah 00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:11.539 would come 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.880 from it, and 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:13.500 we would be 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:14.039 here today. 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:18.720 He was a 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.120 fearful, 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.860 compromised, 00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:22.160 broken man, 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.299 like the 00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:23.960 rest of us. 00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.279 But God 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.860 was faithful. 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.640 This wouldn't 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:30.360 by any means 00:26:30.360 --> 00:26:31.000 be his last 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:32.640 mistake, or 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.180 even probably 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:33.779 his worst. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.500 And yet God 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.019 could still 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.720 describe him 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.819 as a man 00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:39.359 after my 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:40.019 own heart. 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:41.940 David may 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.500 have failed 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.140 repeatedly, 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.079 but he 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:45.740 came back, 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:46.980 and God 00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.400 was still 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:47.819 there, 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:49.019 waiting for 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.259 him. 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:53.099 Because David's 00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:53.660 the one who 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.160 would write 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:55.700 in the 00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:56.440 psalm that 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.940 Graham 00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:59.180 read for us 00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.420 at the 00:26:59.420 --> 00:26:59.720 beginning, 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:00.480 completely 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:00.980 unplanned. 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:03.140 as far as 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:03.559 the east 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:04.039 is from 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.660 the west, 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.259 so far 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:06.859 has he 00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:07.440 taken our 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.000 sins from 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.319 us. 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.640 But also 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:11.140 in the same 00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:11.640 psalm, 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.299 he knows 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.779 how we are 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:14.160 formed. 00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:15.859 He remembers 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:16.759 we are 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.160 dust. 00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.380 And so 00:27:20.380 --> 00:27:20.779 as we go 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.400 from here, 00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:22.960 let's not 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.880 be burdened 00:27:23.880 --> 00:27:24.720 by our 00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:25.420 regrets of 00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:26.140 the past 00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:27.700 and our 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:28.140 present 00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:28.720 failures, 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:30.640 but let's 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:31.120 bring them 00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:33.020 and leave 00:27:33.020 --> 00:27:33.460 them at the 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:33.900 foot of the 00:27:33.900 --> 00:27:34.240 cross, 00:27:34.340 --> 00:27:34.740 knowing that 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:34.980 they have 00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:35.380 been dealt 00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:35.940 with there. 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.360 As we 00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:39.900 head into 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.720 Holy Weekend, 00:27:40.780 --> 00:27:41.160 the Easter 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.700 weekend, 00:27:42.600 --> 00:27:43.120 let's make 00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:44.100 extra special 00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:45.360 effort to 00:27:45.360 --> 00:27:45.940 take time 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.380 out to 00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.520 remember what 00:27:47.520 --> 00:27:48.000 we remember 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.680 every week, 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:49.800 in fact, 00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:50.360 every day, 00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:51.740 that we 00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:53.000 have died 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.000 with Christ. 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.459 We have 00:27:55.459 --> 00:27:55.899 been buried 00:27:55.899 --> 00:27:56.439 with him 00:27:56.439 --> 00:27:57.619 and we 00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:57.879 have been 00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:58.559 raised to 00:27:58.559 --> 00:27:59.240 new life. 00:28:01.479 --> 00:28:02.039 The waiting 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.119 may seem 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:03.599 a long 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:04.059 time, 00:28:05.199 --> 00:28:05.859 but let 00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:06.240 us have 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.779 confidence 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.399 in what we 00:28:07.399 --> 00:28:08.019 have believed, 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.859 that Christ 00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:11.899 has died, 00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:13.539 Christ 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.219 has risen, 00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:15.719 and Christ 00:28:15.719 --> 00:28:16.799 will come 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.159 again. 00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:20.300 And as 00:28:20.300 --> 00:28:20.940 we wait, 00:28:22.040 --> 00:28:22.800 let's pray 00:28:22.800 --> 00:28:23.940 in the words 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.259 of our 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:25.080 final song, 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:26.800 Don't 00:28:26.800 --> 00:28:27.300 Let My 00:28:27.300 --> 00:28:27.880 Love 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:28.640 Grow Cold. 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.700 If someone 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.360 was to write 00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:32.200 our biography, 00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:34.180 would there 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:34.740 be chapters 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.400 in it where 00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.060 God's not 00:28:36.060 --> 00:28:36.480 mentioned? 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.519 As the 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.200 song says, 00:28:40.800 --> 00:28:41.140 Don't 00:28:41.140 --> 00:28:41.540 Let My 00:28:41.540 --> 00:28:41.980 Love 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:42.720 Grow Cold. 00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:44.259 I'm calling 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:44.740 out, 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:45.840 light the 00:28:45.840 --> 00:28:46.540 fire again. 00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:48.060 Don't 00:28:48.060 --> 00:28:48.460 Let My 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:48.779 Vision 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.180 Die, 00:28:50.080 --> 00:28:50.700 and calling 00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.180 out, 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.440 light the 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.100 fire again. 00:28:53.100 --> 00:28:53.160 Thank you. 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:53.220 Thank you. 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:53.240 Thank you.