WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.919 Father God, we thank you and praise you for your word. We thank you for the chance to gather around 00:00:04.919 --> 00:00:10.000 it tonight and we ask that as we do it that you would open our ears to hear what it is that you 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:17.059 have to say. As Samuel prayed last week, we pray that you would speak for we your servants are 00:00:17.059 --> 00:00:26.100 listening. Amen. Sometimes privilege can become a problem. Sometimes you can be generous to 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.179 somebody, you can be good to somebody and they can begin to presume on that generosity. 00:00:31.840 --> 00:00:39.960 Being a father, I have been learning this very quickly. My son is quite a sharp kid. He learns 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:44.200 very quickly what are things that he wants and what are things that he doesn't want. 00:00:45.020 --> 00:00:51.939 And for some reason, he usually wants what I have. So I could have fed him like 10 times more food than 00:00:51.939 --> 00:00:56.219 he needs. But if I then walk out of the kitchen with a piece of toast, there is nothing more desirable 00:00:56.219 --> 00:01:00.859 in this world than that piece of toast. He literally eats more breakfast than I do already. 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:07.579 And yet when I go and get my toast, having fed him, he absolutely cracks it if I don't give him a piece 00:01:07.579 --> 00:01:11.680 of it. And the first few times I thought, oh, that's sweet. He wants to eat what daddy's eating. And so 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:18.659 I'll be generous and I'll give him some toast. But he has begun to assume that now it is his right for 00:01:18.659 --> 00:01:25.619 daddy to give him toast. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop with food. My mobile phone is as much his as it is 00:01:25.619 --> 00:01:30.719 mine now. He's already figured out how to get on there and open up the photos and play videos of himself, 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:36.319 which he thinks are very entertaining. But if I need to make a phone call, it's his phone, it's not my phone. 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:42.140 My generosity in giving him access has come back to bite me because now he thinks it's his right. 00:01:42.140 --> 00:01:50.159 Sometimes privilege can become a problem. Now, so far in the Old Testament up to this point, 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:56.180 God has been very good to Israel. He has chosen them as a nation out of every other nation. 00:01:56.700 --> 00:02:01.060 He's rescued them out of Egypt. He's led them through the desert and made sure they had enough 00:02:01.060 --> 00:02:08.159 food and enough water. He now dwells with them in his temple. Now, there are a few instances of 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:14.359 pretty severe judgment throughout the Old Testament, but they're always warranted. But as a rule, God has 00:02:14.359 --> 00:02:20.099 been good to Israel. Even when we opened the beginning of 1 Samuel a few weeks back and God 00:02:20.099 --> 00:02:28.340 declared judgment on Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, it's still wrapped up in goodness. The reason he brings 00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:33.719 judgment is because he wants to look after his people. And we saw in chapter 3 that that judgment was 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:38.859 going to mean a better priest, a better priesthood. So God is being good even when he was judging. 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:46.300 And so finally, Israel will continue to enjoy the benefits of being God's people. They'll get to 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:51.740 enjoy talking to God. They'll get to enjoy hearing from God, being protected from God, having a relationship 00:02:51.740 --> 00:02:58.900 with God. God has been and God is being good to Israel. He loves them. They're his people. 00:02:58.900 --> 00:03:10.939 But that doesn't change how serious it is when they reject him. God has cared for them, but that doesn't 00:03:10.939 --> 00:03:17.159 mean that they have a right to presume upon his care. God has protected them, but that doesn't mean 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:24.860 that they have a right to expect his protection. Now that God's word is returning to Israel, Israel must 00:03:24.860 --> 00:03:33.540 pay attention. So let's walk in to 1 Samuel chapter 4. The first word that God delivers to Samuel after a 00:03:33.540 --> 00:03:39.380 period of considerable silence is one of judgment. We looked at it in detail last week, so I won't go 00:03:39.380 --> 00:03:45.200 into it too much, but basically it's judgment directed at Eli and his sons. But we've got to be careful 00:03:45.200 --> 00:03:52.020 that we don't assume that everybody else was innocent. I don't know if you guys remember, it was probably 00:03:52.020 --> 00:03:57.439 close to a year ago now, there was the News of the World scandal out of England. And basically, 00:03:57.700 --> 00:04:02.480 it was a dodgy media organization that had been tapping people's phones without permission, 00:04:03.100 --> 00:04:07.460 listening in on conversation so that they could get leads, so they could get secret information to put 00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:12.780 into their papers and onto the web, which of course meant they sold more and made them look great. 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:17.500 And when they got found out, of course, the people at the top of the tree at News of the World 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:22.899 got in a fair bit of trouble. News of the World owner, Rupert Murdoch, got in trouble, 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:28.560 the managing directors got in trouble, and basically the leaders were held accountable. 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:34.220 But that doesn't mean that the people working in the organization didn't also share the guilt. 00:04:35.339 --> 00:04:40.120 It's only the leaders who were taken to court for their role, but what about the person who was 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:44.519 taking the dodgy information and putting it into the paper? What about the person who was actually 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:49.479 putting the taps on the phone so they could listen in? Just because the leaders are the only ones who 00:04:49.479 --> 00:04:54.539 face judgment doesn't mean that there isn't more guilt down the line. And we'll see as we go through 00:04:54.539 --> 00:05:02.240 1 Samuel that although judgment comes to Eli and Hophni and Phinehas as the priests, there is plenty of guilt 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:09.079 to be shared by Israel as a nation. Samuel's word was coming to all Israel. And that's not just a general 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:16.219 statement there in verse 1. It's this word about judgment that all of Israel has heard. Everybody 00:05:16.219 --> 00:05:24.779 knows that God is unhappy. Everybody knows that God is angry. And what do they do as a response? 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:32.799 Verse 1. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. They pick a fight. 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:41.040 The first word from the Lord in a long time is God telling them he's not happy. And they think the 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:47.480 best thing to do would be to pick a fight with the country next door. Now to be fair, this fight has 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:52.540 probably been going on for a while. Israel and Philistine are both trying to take control of the 00:05:52.540 --> 00:06:01.240 same area of land. But having just heard that God is angry, the first thing they do is go over and 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:07.360 fight someone else. Having just heard God's not happy with them, what would your first step be to 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:13.939 annoy someone else? Now all throughout history it's been God who gives victory to Israel. 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:18.900 They've had some spectacular victories. They've won fights that they shouldn't have won. 00:06:19.540 --> 00:06:22.800 They've won battles where they were outnumbered, battles where they were scared. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:30.920 But right now, God is angry with them. Surely the first step for them would have been, 00:06:31.340 --> 00:06:35.379 let's get God on side, then let's go lay waste to these annoying Philistines. 00:06:36.540 --> 00:06:42.300 But no, God's angry, let's just continue on and pick a fight. Remember, God destroyed the 00:06:42.300 --> 00:06:49.460 Egyptian army by swallowing them in the sea. Armies aren't a big issue for God. If God is with Israel, 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:58.259 the Philistines are an absolute non-problem. But right now, he's angry with them. And they still 00:06:58.259 --> 00:07:05.219 go off and pick a fight. They need to deal with the bigger issue first. Because if God is with them, 00:07:05.459 --> 00:07:12.599 the Philistines don't matter. But right now, God is angry. So often, when I talk to people about Jesus, 00:07:12.759 --> 00:07:17.060 you hear things like, look, I hear what you're saying, but I'm just going to figure that out later 00:07:17.060 --> 00:07:23.300 on in my life. I've got a lot going on right now. Work is really busy. There's a lot of stuff for my 00:07:23.300 --> 00:07:27.500 family that I'm dealing with. I've got a lot of things to stress about. I'm trying to buy a house 00:07:27.500 --> 00:07:33.220 at the moment. But you've got to understand that your relationship with God, your relationship with 00:07:33.220 --> 00:07:38.160 the one who created you, is more important than any of these other things in your life. It's not to 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:42.600 say they're not important. It's not to say they don't matter. But when you say, I've got to figure out 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:45.600 which house I'm going to buy, and I've got to figure out whether God matters in my life, 00:07:46.140 --> 00:07:49.400 you've got to deal with the most important issue first. 00:07:52.260 --> 00:07:59.460 Your relationship with the God who will judge you is more important than finding a job. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:06.080 It's more important than buying a house. It's more important than finding a husband or a wife, 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:12.379 choosing or paying for your next holiday, even defending yourself against an invading army. 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:19.820 more important is your relationship with the God who made you and who you will answer to when you 00:08:19.820 --> 00:08:25.700 die. Now, it's not to say that any of those things are wrong or bad. Get married, buy a house, go on a 00:08:25.700 --> 00:08:32.659 holiday, do all those things. But don't let that be an excuse or a distraction when it comes to figuring 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:40.019 out where you stand with the God who made you. It's more important. When you neglect the most important 00:08:40.019 --> 00:08:46.620 thing, inevitably these less important things, still important but less important things, will falter 00:08:46.620 --> 00:08:54.840 as well. Israel ignores God. They ignore what he has to say, or at very least they're more worried 00:08:54.840 --> 00:09:00.539 about the Philistines just over the hill. And so what happens? Verse 2. 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:24.639 What happens? They lose. Badly. 4,000 soldiers die. This is God's people. This is God's army. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:34.840 And they lose. 4,000 dads and sons and brothers die in battle. Now, what do you do with that if 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:40.819 you're Israel? What do you do with that when you're supposed to be God's people? When he's supposed to 00:09:40.819 --> 00:09:47.120 protect you? When he's supposed to look after you? I mean, Israel has won battles before. Israel was a 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:52.000 confident army because they had the God of heaven with them. It didn't matter who they were facing. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:59.820 And then this happens. They lose. What do they do with that? Have a look at verse 3. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:04.820 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:09.139 Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:15.019 Let us bring the ark of the Lord's covenant from Shiloh so that he may go with us and save us from the 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:21.440 hand of our enemies. Why did God do this? It's a really important question. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:30.559 Notice that they don't ask, Who did this? Or they don't ask, Did God do this? They know this is God. 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:36.200 They know that God's in control. They know that even though it's a loss, it's still something that 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:40.639 God is responsible for. If you look closely at verse 3, it says, 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:45.580 Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? 00:10:45.580 --> 00:10:53.280 From Israel's perspective, even though the Philistines were the ones with the swords, it's almost like they were watching as God made Israel loose. 00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:56.680 They understand that God is in control. 00:10:58.060 --> 00:11:01.420 And in fact, it's almost like he has made an example of his own people. 00:11:01.419 --> 00:11:03.979 But the question is, why? 00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:06.259 Why did he do this? 00:11:06.939 --> 00:11:08.459 And this isn't the first time. 00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:10.699 This has happened before. Not very often. 00:11:11.419 --> 00:11:15.599 But it has happened and God has been behind it whenever Israel has lost like this. 00:11:15.959 --> 00:11:18.219 So why is the right question to ask? 00:11:19.459 --> 00:11:21.360 But they couldn't get the answer more wrong. 00:11:22.319 --> 00:11:23.620 Have a look at verse 3 again. 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:32.279 Let us bring the ark of the Lord's covenant from Shiloh so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies. 00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:37.659 Let's go get the ark so that God will win. 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:40.980 So just walk through this logic with me for a second. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:44.720 We lost today, which means God wasn't there. 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:47.379 Go get the ark of the covenant. 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:51.240 Then God will have to fight for us because he's promised. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:57.480 It's like their answer to the question, why did God do this, is he must have forgotten. 00:11:59.139 --> 00:12:00.799 Doesn't he know that we're Israel? 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:01.680 We're his people? 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:04.840 Doesn't he remember what he promised us? 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:06.379 I mean, we've got it in writing. 00:12:07.060 --> 00:12:08.360 It's in the Ten Commandments. 00:12:08.460 --> 00:12:12.139 They're sitting in the ark where he says, you'll be my people, I'll be your God. 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:13.539 God, look at the contract. 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:17.700 Bring the ark over and we will remind him what he's supposed to do as God. 00:12:17.700 --> 00:12:24.140 God, it's almost like something that I annoyingly do to my wife. 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:27.980 I am a big fan of back tickles. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:31.140 I don't like massages, but I like back tickles. 00:12:32.180 --> 00:12:35.600 And so I insist that she occasionally gives me back tickle vouchers. 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:39.040 Because usually the time when I want one is the time when she can't be bothered. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:41.680 And fair enough, because I ask most days. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:47.879 But if I have it in writing, I can wave it in front of her face and say, look, remember, you promised. 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:53.339 It's almost like Israel gets out the Ten Commandments and goes, God, what are you doing? 00:12:53.819 --> 00:12:56.719 You said we have a contract from you. 00:12:56.779 --> 00:12:58.000 You must deliver. 00:12:59.439 --> 00:13:01.439 And so they figure out that's the solution. 00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:02.179 And verse 4, 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:16.639 So they bring the ark, they bring the priests. 00:13:18.199 --> 00:13:20.979 Now Samuel's already told them that God's angry with the priests. 00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:26.360 In fact, the reason God had been silent up until the point when Samuel arrived, 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:33.879 it's been judgment on Israel and their dodgy worship centered around Hophni and Phinehas. 00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:39.560 And yet, somehow they think it's a good idea to bring them to the field of battle. 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:52.099 No one thinks, even for a minute, that the fact that God is angry and the fact that they lost are at all connected. 00:13:54.739 --> 00:13:55.759 There's been judgment. 00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:56.599 They've all heard it. 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:57.699 That's what verse 1 said. 00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:59.659 Samuel's word came to all Israel. 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:01.599 They've lost a battle. 00:14:02.439 --> 00:14:05.279 And for them, there's no possibility that those two things are related. 00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:08.000 It must have been that God forgot. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:12.919 Their privileged position as God's people has suddenly become a right. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:15.059 He has to fight for us. 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:16.779 He has to defend us. 00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:18.419 It doesn't matter what we're doing to Him. 00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:20.500 He promised. 00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:26.960 God has gone from being their creator and protector and sustainer, God, 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:30.600 to some sort of machine that gets wheeled out when they need Him. 00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:33.740 Uh-oh, we're in trouble again. 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:34.899 Someone go get God. 00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:38.939 And make sure you bring the ark in case he's forgotten what he's supposed to do. 00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:44.199 There is so much wrong with this story that it's almost hard to know where to start. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:51.840 I mean, they're trusting in two guys, Hophni and Phinehas, who God has explicitly said He's going to kill. 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:58.160 And they've just brought them to a field of battle where the chance of death has got to be at least a little bit higher. 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:04.740 They have called on God as if they're the master and He answers to them. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:12.860 I mean, the whole priestly system existed to explain and show them what the right way to relate to God was. 00:15:13.579 --> 00:15:17.299 They were so unworthy of God that there were sacrifices they had to go through, 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:20.059 that there were specially elected people they had to go through. 00:15:20.059 --> 00:15:22.059 And none of that seems to come in. 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:24.459 There's no sacrifice. 00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:29.119 And the only priests that they've got along with the ark are dodgy and about to get killed by God. 00:15:31.059 --> 00:15:36.859 And yet somehow, they feel entitled to His protection. 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:42.119 There is no reverence for God at all among God's people here. 00:15:42.599 --> 00:15:44.319 If anything, they're annoyed at Him. 00:15:44.979 --> 00:15:46.819 They feel like God's let them down. 00:15:46.939 --> 00:15:47.699 Forget what they've done. 00:15:48.119 --> 00:15:49.399 Where was God when they needed Him? 00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:51.139 They just lost a battle. 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:52.620 4,000 men just died. 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:58.579 I wonder if you ever do something similar in your own life. 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:05.340 Do you ever get annoyed at God because you feel like He hasn't delivered on some entitlement that you've got? 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:08.139 Why am I still sick, God? 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:10.939 Why am I struggling to pay this bill, God? 00:16:11.939 --> 00:16:13.860 Why am I still single, God? 00:16:16.579 --> 00:16:17.840 Where's my answer to prayer? 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:25.139 And yet at no point do you reflect, even for a second, on the person that you're talking to? 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:28.259 Or on the way that you're treating Him? 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:35.559 Israel is asking the right question in this passage, but they come up with the wrong answer. 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:37.259 Verse 5. 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:52.360 Forget what happened yesterday. 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.560 We've got this army covered. 00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:55.139 God has to fight for us. 00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:58.480 They get so excited that with their shouting, the ground shakes. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:01.600 Listen to the Philistines' reaction in verse 6. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:05.920 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, what's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp? 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:10.660 When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:13.019 A God has come into the camp, they said. 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:16.019 Oh no, nothing like this has happened before. 00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:17.120 We're doomed. 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:20.099 Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:24.360 They were the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:29.759 There's a bit of fear from the Philistines, but not really. 00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:32.579 I mean, what is it they're afraid of? 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:33.959 A God? 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.500 Or some gods? 00:17:35.959 --> 00:17:37.619 It's almost like they're not really sure. 00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:42.279 They've heard the rumours about Israel's God and what He did in Egypt, and that's impressive. 00:17:42.479 --> 00:17:45.519 That's kind of a story that their great-great-great-grandfather told them. 00:17:45.919 --> 00:17:47.919 And so they're thinking, this God's kind of impressive. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:56.720 But this generation of Israel has failed so badly to show everybody what God is like, that 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:59.600 the Philistines think that there's probably multiple gods. 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:06.840 Israel has brought in so many other extra gods, gods of fertility, and gods of rain, and 00:18:06.840 --> 00:18:11.240 gods of crops, and all these other gods that they could worship, that the Philistines, who 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:16.660 are their next-door neighbours, don't even know that what's distinct about Israel's God 00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:22.279 is that He is the only God, that He is the one God, that He is above all other gods. 00:18:23.340 --> 00:18:27.640 And so when the Philistines look, they're kind of scared, but they think, we've got gods. 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:31.660 What's the difference between their gods and our gods? 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:34.980 The Philistines are scared, but not really. 00:18:36.300 --> 00:18:39.200 Listen to their strategy for fighting against God. 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:47.360 Verse 9, be strong, be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews as they have been to you. 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:48.900 Be men and fight. 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:54.100 The Philistine battle strategy for fighting God is man up. 00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:57.660 I mean, does that sound ridiculous to anyone else? 00:18:58.620 --> 00:19:02.900 Surely our first step would be, if you're about to face off with the god who swallowed the 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:05.500 Egyptian army with the sea, beg for mercy. 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:08.460 Put up a white flag and hope for the best. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:12.980 Surely doing a few extra push-ups in the gym between battles is not going to make the 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:15.579 difference if you're facing the god who made the muscles on your arms. 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.579 But that's their strategy. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:28.660 Israel was supposed to be a light that shined the majesty and glory and power of their god 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:29.660 into the world. 00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:36.300 But it's done such a bad job that a few soldiers think that with their strength, they'll be 00:19:36.300 --> 00:19:37.220 able to overcome him. 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:44.820 How far they are away from the prayer that Hannah prayed in chapter 2 when she declared 00:19:44.820 --> 00:19:47.220 that by strength man will not prevail. 00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:53.560 No one in this passage, on either side, understands the power of God. 00:19:54.800 --> 00:19:56.480 Israel thinks they have control. 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:59.680 The Philistines think they can beat God. 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:05.259 And Israel's small vision of God has become all that the world gets to see. 00:20:06.620 --> 00:20:10.039 And so in ignorance, they go into battle again. 00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:11.400 Verse 10. 00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:19.819 So the Philistines fought and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.640 The slaughter was very great. 00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:25.539 Israel lost 30,000 foot soldiers. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:30.640 Israel loses badly again. 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:34.860 30,000 this time dead. 00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:37.920 And they flee. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.319 Not for another battle. 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:41.319 They've lost now. 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:45.440 Verse 11. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:56.220 God's word is fulfilled. 00:20:58.220 --> 00:21:04.080 Hophni and Phinehas both die on the same day exactly as God said would happen in chapter 3. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:14.439 And the ark, the symbol of God's presence with his people, the symbol of his promises to care for them and provide for them and protect them, 00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:17.419 is now captured by a foreign army. 00:21:17.420 --> 00:21:21.779 This whole episode is really about verse 11. 00:21:22.580 --> 00:21:25.640 The answer to the question, why has God done this? 00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:27.039 Why have we lost? 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:30.140 It's because he said he would. 00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:32.700 This is judgment. 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:37.300 And to make it worse, this is judgment that God warned them about. 00:21:38.120 --> 00:21:42.400 Israel has completely misunderstood what it means to be the people of God. 00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:46.440 They've misunderstood what it means to have a relationship with God. 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:55.820 It's taken a gift and a privilege of being called into that relationship and it's become an excuse to treat God like he answers to them. 00:21:57.340 --> 00:22:00.700 When God speaks, Israel should listen. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:08.600 When God spoke through Samuel, Israel should have heeded the warning and turned back to God in humble repentance. 00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:14.099 But instead, they continue thinking, we're God's people. 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.819 He has to be good to us. 00:22:18.159 --> 00:22:22.719 Their privilege and their position as God's chosen nation has become their downfall. 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:26.419 They've lost sight of the God who chose them in the first place. 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:33.159 What we've got to understand is that grace doesn't change who God is. 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:39.240 God's mercy and God's goodness don't change the fact that he's God. 00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:42.860 Don't change the fact that he is far above us. 00:22:43.320 --> 00:22:47.200 Don't change the fact that he is just and holy and powerful. 00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:50.920 I mean, he is their God. 00:22:51.540 --> 00:22:52.660 He's committed to them. 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:54.600 The commandments were a genuine commitment. 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:56.160 The covenant he made is real. 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:58.519 He does want a relationship with them. 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:00.640 He does want them to know him. 00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:03.040 He is their God. 00:23:03.820 --> 00:23:05.840 But he is still God. 00:23:09.040 --> 00:23:12.100 He's still the one who spoke the earth into creation. 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:17.440 He's still the God who Hannah prayed to, who stands alone, who is unlike any other God, 00:23:18.360 --> 00:23:22.040 who breaks the bows of the mighty and raises up the humble. 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:27.700 He is holy and powerful and he will not tolerate sinful people. 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:33.120 God reminded them when he spoke in chapter 2 and verse 30, 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:36.680 it is far from him to tolerate those who dishonor him. 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:40.620 He is worthy of more than that. 00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:45.919 Being in a relationship with God is not like any other relationship we have. 00:23:46.479 --> 00:23:50.159 If you dishonor a mate or a girlfriend or a wife, 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:54.559 you know, you can give a bunch of flowers. 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.299 You can write a letter. 00:23:56.299 --> 00:24:03.240 But if you dishonor God, he's well within his rights to pour out his judgment on you 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:05.379 because he is God and he made you. 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:11.400 That's why the relationship between God and Israel has boundaries. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:17.160 Those boundaries that God has given in the form of priests and sacrifices and the whole system 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:21.180 is actually a gift for the sake and protection of Israel. 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:26.480 It's out of love for them that God protects them from a judgment that they rightfully deserve. 00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:28.720 That's why they have priests. 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:32.320 God wants them to know him as their God, 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:36.380 but they must understand that he remains God. 00:24:37.580 --> 00:24:41.420 He doesn't become less when he calls us in a relationship with himself. 00:24:42.060 --> 00:24:46.720 He gives us a privilege of knowing him and he is still to be feared. 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:49.500 If you call yourself a Christian, 00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:52.200 if you're following Jesus, 00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:55.039 you are in a unique and privileged position. 00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:59.480 God has invited you to refer to him as your heavenly father. 00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:03.240 He has welcomed you to talk to him and pray to him. 00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:05.720 He has promised to do good to you. 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:11.640 But you must remember he is still the God of heaven and earth. 00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:15.700 Yes, he has invited you to call him your God. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:20.160 But he is still a God who sits above all creation. 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:25.539 One thing is different for us. 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:32.860 Romans 8 tells us that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:36.640 Israel feared the judgment of God, 00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:40.360 but Romans 8 tells us that in Christ we need not fear it. 00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:43.900 Jesus fulfills our end of the bargain. 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:47.480 Israel was holding out the contract that God had made with him saying, 00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:50.320 God, you have to hold up your end even though we're not. 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:54.920 But for us, Jesus is our end of the bargain. 00:25:56.200 --> 00:26:01.400 The life that God expects of those who follow him is perfect obedience and service. 00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:03.780 And for us, Jesus fulfills it. 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:11.339 The covenant cannot be broken because it is maintained by God and Jesus. 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:18.420 Galatians 2 tells us that we have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer us who lives, 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:20.440 but Christ who lives in us. 00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:26.160 When God looks at our lives, he no longer sees our imperfect attempts at following him. 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:29.120 He sees the perfect obedience of Jesus. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:33.620 What that means is, 00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:38.200 God will never say to me what he said to Eli. 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:46.940 God will never do to those who follow him what he did to Hophni and Phinehas on the battlefield. 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:51.540 He will never kill them in judgment for their sins 00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:55.700 because Jesus has fulfilled the covenant. 00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:58.139 But be careful how you hear me. 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:02.920 Be careful that you don't hear this and make the same mistake that Israel does. 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:06.039 That security that we have in Jesus, 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:09.759 that confidence we have because he has done what is required, 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:16.119 is not an excuse to treat God as less powerful or less holy 00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:19.299 or less sovereign or less important in your life. 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:25.379 His grace to you is that you get to know him even when you don't deserve it. 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:28.960 But it doesn't change who he is. 00:27:29.659 --> 00:27:33.299 In fact, if you treat God like he's some sort of accessory in your life, 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:36.899 if you treat God like he's an insurance policy for when you die 00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:40.480 and he has no impact on your day-to-day decisions, 00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:42.039 no authority in your life, 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:45.839 chances are that the confidence you have that you're saved 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:47.480 is false confidence. 00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:53.139 Because there's no separation between saying Jesus is my saviour 00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:55.240 and Jesus is my Lord. 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:57.639 You can't have one half. 00:27:58.819 --> 00:28:02.039 Now, I'm not saying you need to be good enough for Jesus to save you. 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:06.119 But to comprehend who Jesus is as saviour, 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:09.139 you must comprehend who he is as Lord. 00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:12.599 To understand what he did on the cross, 00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:17.839 you must understand that Jesus sits on the throne in heaven with all authority. 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:23.539 Only the King of heaven could die in your place and offer you forgiveness. 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:28.240 When we are forgiven by God, 00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:31.740 a transformed life is the evidence. 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:37.359 Paul says it like this in Ephesians 2, verse 8. 00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:39.079 It says, 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:41.679 It is by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:28:42.159 --> 00:28:43.639 And this is not from yourselves. 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:45.019 It is the gift of God, 00:28:45.179 --> 00:28:47.779 not by works so that no one can boast. 00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:50.079 Nothing you do 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:53.839 can actually enable you to have a relationship with God. 00:28:53.919 --> 00:28:54.359 It's a gift. 00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:55.419 It's his grace. 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.419 It's his invitation. 00:28:56.939 --> 00:28:59.159 But there's a really important thing here in verse 10. 00:28:59.160 --> 00:29:09.279 It's the evidence. 00:29:10.300 --> 00:29:14.600 The grace that God gives us isn't just about being given a ticket to heaven. 00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.600 That's part of it. 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:20.660 But it's about being called into a relationship with our heavenly Father. 00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:24.620 We are both children of God and servants of God. 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:25.980 Not one or the other, 00:29:26.060 --> 00:29:28.360 not sometimes children and sometimes servants. 00:29:28.359 --> 00:29:31.479 Just as Jesus is saviour and king, 00:29:32.179 --> 00:29:38.019 we are forgiven and we are given the opportunity to serve our king. 00:29:40.159 --> 00:29:43.619 Being a Christian isn't just about being forgiven. 00:29:45.939 --> 00:29:48.799 It's about having a relationship with God. 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:54.740 Being forgiven is what gives you the chance to have that relationship. 00:29:54.740 --> 00:30:01.059 But obedience and service is what the relationship looks like. 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:03.380 Let me say that again. 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:09.059 Being forgiven is what gives you a chance to have a relationship with God. 00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:10.079 And it's the only thing. 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:12.180 Forgiveness in Christ Jesus. 00:30:13.120 --> 00:30:16.740 But obedience and service is what that relationship looks like. 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:20.079 Not oppressive obedience. 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:23.039 Not burdensome service. 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:30.660 But obedience to and service of the loving saviour who gave everything for you. 00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:36.100 The question I want to leave you with tonight is, 00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:40.380 are you following the God who is both merciful and holy? 00:30:40.380 --> 00:30:44.480 Or are you just picking the half that you like? 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:52.460 Are you accepting the gift that God has given you? 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:56.320 And embracing the life that he's prepared for you? 00:30:58.280 --> 00:31:01.360 Or are you trying to take advantage of a gracious God? 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:04.839 Let's pray. 00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:16.519 Father God, we want to acknowledge that it is easy to forget what it costs you 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:19.699 to call us into a relationship with you. 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:23.740 We want to admit that often we demand from you 00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:27.339 without acknowledging our failures in relating to you. 00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:33.879 And God, we want to ask that you would open our eyes to see you more clearly. 00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:38.099 To see your power and your majesty and your holiness. 00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:43.439 God, we want to ask that we would wake each day excited and enthusiastic 00:31:43.439 --> 00:31:48.659 for the opportunity you give us to love you and obey you and follow you. 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:55.659 God, we want to ask that we would rejoice in the chance to serve and obey you 00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:59.400 as much as we rejoice in the forgiveness that you have given us. 00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:04.019 God, we pray that although Israel failed, 00:32:04.120 --> 00:32:07.860 we ask that as your people now that we would shine your glory and majesty 00:32:07.860 --> 00:32:09.200 to the world around us. 00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:12.640 May they see the satisfaction that is in you alone. 00:32:14.060 --> 00:32:16.600 May they see your incredible worth. 00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:23.219 Father, we thank you for calling us into a relationship that we don't deserve 00:32:23.219 --> 00:32:29.099 and giving us the strength to stay in it by your Holy Spirit. 00:32:29.899 --> 00:32:30.240 Amen.