WEBVTT

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 Thanks very much Gary and Band. Good evening everyone, really good to have you with us this evening as we come together and continue looking at the book of 1 Samuel.

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 I've called tonight's talk Honor or Horror, Honor or Horror.

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 And as we read the passage, you might look out for examples of where people honour God or are honoured by God,

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 and also things that you find horrifying or shocking, either in what people do or in the judgment that comes on them.

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 So we're going to read from 1 Samuel and chapter 2 to begin with.

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 1 Samuel chapter 2 and we'll be reading from verse 12.

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 1 Samuel chapter 2 and verse 12.

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 And it says this, Eli's sons were scoundrels. They had no regard for the Lord.

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 Now it was the practice of the priests that whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice,

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 the priest's servant would come with a three-pound fork in his hand while the meat was being boiled.

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 And would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot.

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 Whatever the fork brought up, the priest would take for himself.

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 This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh.

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 But even before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the people who were sacrificing,

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 Give the priest some meat to roast. He won't accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.

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 If the person said to him, Let the fat be burned up first and then take whatever you want,

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 the servant would then answer, No, hand it over now.

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 If you don't, I'll take it by force.

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 The sin of the young men was very great in the Lord's sight,

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 for they were treating the Lord's offering with contempt.

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 But Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod.

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 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband

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 to offer the annual sacrifice.

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 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying,

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 May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.

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 Then they would go home.

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 And the Lord was gracious to Hannah.

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 She gave birth to three sons and two daughters.

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 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

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 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel,

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 and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

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 So he said to them,

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 Why do you do such things?

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 I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours.

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 No, my sons,

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 the report I hear spreading among the Lord's people is not good.

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 If one person sins against another,

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 God may mediate for the offender.

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 But if anyone sins against the Lord,

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 who will intercede for them?

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 His sons, however, did not listen to their father's rebuke,

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 for it was the Lord's will to put them to death.

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 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.

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 Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him,

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 This is what the Lord says,

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 Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestors' family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh?

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 I chose your ancestors out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest,

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 to go up to my altar,

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 to burn incense,

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 and to wear an ephod in my presence.

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 I also gave your ancestors' family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites.

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 Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling?

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 Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?

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 Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel declares,

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 I promise that members of your family would minister before me forever.

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 But now the Lord declares,

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 Far be it from me.

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 Those who honor me I will honor,

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 but those who despise me will be disdained.

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 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength

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 and the strength of your priestly house,

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 so that no one in it will reach old age.

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 And you will see distress in my dwelling.

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 Although good will be done to Israel,

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 no one in your family line will ever reach old age.

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 Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar,

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 I will spare only to destroy your sight and stop your strength,

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 and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.

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 And what happens to your two sons,

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 Hophni and Phinehas, will be assigned to you?

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 They will both die on the same day.

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 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest

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 who will do according to what is in my heart and mind.

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 I will firmly establish his priestly house

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 and they will minister before my anointed one always.

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 Then everyone left in your family line

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 will come and bow down before him

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 for a piece of silver and loaf of bread and plead,

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 Appoint to me some priestly office

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 so I can have food to eat.

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 I'm sure God will bless his word as we consider it together.

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 Let's just take a second to pray together.

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 Our Father, we thank you that this is your word,

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 that it is therefore useful to us,

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 whether this is in teaching, in rebuking,

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 in helping us to understand better your ways.

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 I would say that you will speak to us this evening.

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 Help us to understand what is relevant to us today

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 and which should affect the way we live our lives

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 as we seek to honour and glorify the Lord Jesus.

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 We pray that your voice will be heard,

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 that the things which are of yourself will be remembered

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 and that you will help us to draw closer to you

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 as we consider your word.

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 We ask for your presence in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 There's a couple on the screen.

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 Our Horst and Herland Kasner.

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 Kasner was a Lutheran pastor

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 who did something very unusual in 1954.

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 He moved with his wife and their four-month-old daughter

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 from West Germany to East Germany.

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 Now that was at a time when many people

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 were moving in the other direction.

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 East Germany, a very oppressive communist regime.

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 West Germany, of course,

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 a democracy and one which was recovering

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 from the Second World War.

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 But Pastor Kasner moved with his wife

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 and daughter to East Germany.

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 And so the young girl grew up

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 in that oppressive communist regime.

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 In a slightly unusual situation

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 in that all around her,

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 she could see the things that were happening

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 and the things in many ways would be quite horrifying.

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 And yet at the same time,

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 she was growing up in a Christian family,

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 in a Christian environment,

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 and learning something of the gospel of the Lord Jesus.

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 Indeed, the area where they were,

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 as well as having this house where they lived,

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 right next door to them,

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 there was a centre for disabled people

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 which Christians in that area were helping with.

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 1989, and there was the fall of the Berlin Wall.

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 And that young girl,

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 that baby, when she moved to East Germany,

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 by then obviously had grown to be a woman.

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 She was quite a successful chemist.

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 And at that point,

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 she decided she wanted to go into politics.

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 And we know her today

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 as perhaps the most successful female politician

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 in the world.

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 It is Angela Merkel,

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 who is the leader of the German state.

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 And she is still very much influenced

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 by the way in which she grew up,

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 by the strange juxtaposition of,

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 on the one hand,

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 growing up in a Christian environment

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 and being taught God's ways,

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 and the other hand,

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 observing around her all the evils

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 that were associated with that communist state.

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 And she was very much shaped by that.

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 For example,

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 the way in which she received the refugees

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 from the Middle East a few years ago,

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 I believe was very much influenced

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 by the way she grew up

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 and by the things she saw

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 and by the compassion from that,

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 that she developed.

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 And she is,

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 today she belongs to an evangelical church

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 and she would say

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 that she still has a strong Christian faith.

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 And I think the story of Angela Merkel

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 resonates as we think about 1 Samuel 2.

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 Because here we have a situation

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 where the state,

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 those who are in leadership,

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 in this case the priests,

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 are utterly corrupt

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 and are oppressing the people.

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 And yet we have a young boy

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 who is growing up quietly in the temple

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 and is learning God's ways

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 and would go on to be a great leader

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 of his nation.

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 I'm talking about Samuel, of course.

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 And we have this dual thing

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 which is what I've called

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 the talk honour or horror.

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 We have this dual thing going on.

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 On the one hand,

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 we have the horrors

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 of what the priests are doing

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 to the people

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 and in disobedience to God.

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 And on the other hand,

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 we have Samuel and his family

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 who are honouring God

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 and being honoured by him.

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 So what we're going to do this evening,

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 very simple,

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 is we're going to look at three people,

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 three groups of people.

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 We're going to look at Hophni and Phinehas,

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 the sons of Eli.

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 We're going to look at Eli.

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 And then we're going to look at Samuel

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 and a little bit about his family as well.

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 And hopefully learn some lessons from that

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 about how we should honour God

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 and about some of the horrors

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 that can happen

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 when people don't honour God,

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 have no knowledge of him.

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 So let's start with the two sons,

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 Hophni and Phinehas.

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 I've called this section extreme evil.

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 I don't think that's putting it too highly.

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 Here were two men

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 who had no knowledge of God.

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 Verse 12 says,

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 Eli's sons were scoundrels.

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 They had no regard for the Lord.

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 If you translate it literally,

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 it says they didn't know God.

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 And both translations are probably fine.

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 They didn't know God.

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 They had no personal relationship with God.

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 And they certainly had no concern

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 for God or for obeying him.

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 This despite them being in positions of leadership,

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 of religious leadership in the land,

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 and those who the people should have been able

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 to look up to and respect

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 and to copy their example.

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 These young men had no regard for the Lord

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 and similarly no regard for the people.

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 Let's look briefly at what was going wrong.

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 In the first place,

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 there was religious abuse.

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 And that's in the first part of the passage.

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 And this was seemed to us

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 rather strange account

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 of what happened to the meat for the sacrifices.

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 So let me just explain a little bit

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 about what should have happened

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 and then we'll talk about what did happen

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 and why that was so wrong.

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 All of the sacrifices the people brought to God,

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 except for the burnt offering,

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 which had to be totally burnt,

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 part of it was devoted to God,

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 part of it was given to the priest,

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 and part of it was available

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 to the person making the offering

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 that they could enjoy

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 part of the sacrifice themselves.

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 So to be specific,

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 the fat had to be burnt off

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 and had to be devoted to God.

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 The priests were entitled

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 to the breast and the right thigh,

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 so they got two good bits

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 of the animal for themselves

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 because the priest needed something to live on

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 and that was what their due was.

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 And the rest of the offering,

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 the individual making the sacrifice,

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 could share with their family

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 in the way appointed by God.

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 Now here the priests were doing two things

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 that were not in the law.

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 The first was as well as taking their portion,

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 presumably, it doesn't say,

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 but presumably they were taking

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 what they were due to get from the law,

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 they were taking extra.

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 They were able to take potluck

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 and to dip their three-point fork

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 into the pot

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 and to take whatever came out of it

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 for themselves.

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 So in that sense,

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 they were robbing the people

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 who were making the sacrifice

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 of something which they should have had.

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 The priests were taking more

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 than their share.

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 And that was bad.

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 But what was much worse

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 was that they also wanted

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 to take something

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 before the meat was boiled.

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 So they were saying,

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 we don't really like boiled meat that much.

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 It's not so much of a treat.

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 What we really want is a roast meal.

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 We want roast meat.

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 That is much more tasty.

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 That is much more enjoyable for us.

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 And so they would take the meat

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 from the people by force if necessary

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 before the fat had been burnt off.

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 And so they were taking

00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:18.159
 not just part of what was due

00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:20.220
 to the person making the sacrifice.

00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:22.519
 They were also taking part

00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:24.259
 that should have been devoted to God,

00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:27.019
 which was evidence of the individual's

00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:28.279
 devotion to God

00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:31.700
 and desire to do what was right before him.

00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:33.480
 In other words,

00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:35.580
 as well as being greedy for themselves

00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:38.440
 and taking what they weren't entitled to,

00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:41.179
 they were also at the same time

00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:43.220
 leading the people into sin

00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:45.620
 in that they weren't able to give God

00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:47.759
 what they knew God was entitled to,

00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:50.660
 what the law had demanded from them.

00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:56.000
 There was religious abuse of the worst kind.

00:13:57.080 --> 00:13:59.220
 Then a little bit later down in the passage,

00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:01.580
 we see moral depravity.

00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:05.300
 So as well as this taking by force

00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:07.000
 what wasn't right for them,

00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:09.300
 the priests in that day,

00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:10.960
 they were also sleeping with the woman

00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.960
 who were responsible for looking after

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.800
 the temple courts.

00:14:15.280 --> 00:14:17.420
 Very much in the nature of what religions

00:14:17.420 --> 00:14:18.840
 round about would have done.

00:14:19.340 --> 00:14:21.420
 Very much against the law of God

00:14:21.420 --> 00:14:23.040
 and what as God's people

00:14:23.040 --> 00:14:25.379
 they should have been doing.

00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:28.300
 I have a question about that.

00:14:28.560 --> 00:14:30.040
 Not expecting you to answer out loud,

00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:31.420
 but think about it.

00:14:31.900 --> 00:14:33.420
 Which of these abuses

00:14:33.420 --> 00:14:35.379
 horrifies you more?

00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:38.440
 Which do you find more shocking?

00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:41.380
 I think for most of us

00:14:41.380 --> 00:14:42.520
 it's the sexual abuse

00:14:42.520 --> 00:14:44.560
 that we find more shocking to begin with.

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.760
 We look at it and perhaps we say,

00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:48.340
 well this is an old ritual,

00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:50.380
 it's not really relevant in our day

00:14:50.380 --> 00:14:51.740
 because we don't have to make

00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:53.120
 these kind of sacrifices,

00:14:53.640 --> 00:14:55.180
 but we understand more about

00:14:55.180 --> 00:14:57.720
 what was happening in the second sin

00:14:57.720 --> 00:15:00.900
 and that is really, really shocking to us.

00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:02.020
 And so it should be.

00:15:03.260 --> 00:15:04.280
 But I'd suggest

00:15:04.280 --> 00:15:08.060
 the first sin should be no less shocking.

00:15:09.060 --> 00:15:11.060
 Because what the people were doing here,

00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:12.980
 what the priests were doing here,

00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:15.680
 was deliberately disobeying God

00:15:15.680 --> 00:15:17.680
 and the commands that he had given

00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:19.240
 and more than that,

00:15:19.300 --> 00:15:20.760
 they were encouraging the people

00:15:20.760 --> 00:15:21.820
 to disobey God

00:15:21.820 --> 00:15:23.720
 and forcing them to do it

00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:26.460
 if they weren't willing to.

00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:30.200
 Not content just to get

00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:31.780
 what didn't belong to them.

00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.940
 They were taking from God

00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:35.640
 and actually taking from

00:15:35.640 --> 00:15:37.080
 the religious exercise

00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:40.440
 of the people who came to the temple.

00:15:41.380 --> 00:15:43.960
 And that is absolutely shocking.

00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:45.120
 And I would say,

00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:47.820
 as we start with the religious abuse,

00:15:48.260 --> 00:15:49.720
 perhaps it's almost inevitable

00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:51.560
 what follows next.

00:15:52.060 --> 00:15:53.520
 That if we get things wrong

00:15:53.520 --> 00:15:55.000
 in our relationship with God

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.380
 and what we give to God

00:15:56.380 --> 00:15:58.540
 and the way we deal with God,

00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:00.640
 then it is a slippery slope

00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:02.519
 and that moral depravity

00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.139
 is something

00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:06.120
 which is very likely to follow.

00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.500
 So I would say

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.740
 we should be shocked

00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:10.539
 at both the sins

00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:13.220
 of these priests of Hophni and Phinehas

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:15.259
 and their associates.

00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:18.259
 Both of them are utterly unacceptable

00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:22.299
 and should be a real warning to us.

00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:24.939
 Now hopefully none of us

00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:26.159
 are engaged directly,

00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:29.379
 at least in either of these sins.

00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:31.819
 But there are a couple of lessons,

00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:32.759
 I think, from it

00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.980
 that I would take.

00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.299
 Two groups of people,

00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:37.100
 I think, need to be very careful

00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:38.519
 to make sure we don't fall

00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:40.779
 into this kind of sin.

00:16:40.839 --> 00:16:42.179
 Now I belong to both groups,

00:16:42.439 --> 00:16:43.659
 so I'm talking to myself

00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:45.500
 on both occasions as well,

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:47.839
 no doubt to many of you.

00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:50.199
 The first group is those of us

00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:51.120
 who have grown up

00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:53.179
 in Christian homes,

00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.980
 who have grown up in environments

00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.800
 where there was a love of the Lord Jesus

00:16:56.800 --> 00:16:59.039
 and a desire to serve Him

00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:01.000
 and to live for Him.

00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:02.860
 Now we know, I'm sure,

00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:04.620
 that growing up in a Christian home

00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:06.279
 isn't a guarantee

00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:07.480
 that we'll come to faith

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:09.000
 in the Lord Jesus.

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.720
 Faith is a personal thing

00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.299
 and we need to put our trust

00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:13.039
 in the Lord Jesus

00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:14.099
 and believe individually

00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:16.000
 that He died for our sins

00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.799
 and that we can have forgiveness

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.920
 through Him.

00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:21.559
 But even having done that,

00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:23.140
 there's a danger, I think,

00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:24.400
 for quite a lot of us

00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:25.540
 that this is something

00:17:25.540 --> 00:17:26.759
 we've known all our life,

00:17:26.820 --> 00:17:28.120
 we're very familiar with

00:17:28.120 --> 00:17:30.380
 and perhaps we don't treat it

00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:33.200
 as seriously as we should.

00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:35.360
 That obeying God,

00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:36.400
 serving Him,

00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:38.000
 seeking to bring others to Him

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.360
 and seeking in particular

00:17:39.360 --> 00:17:40.860
 not to trip others up

00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:41.980
 in their Christian faith

00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.940
 or to do things

00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:44.820
 that would draw them away from God,

00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:46.759
 these can easily become

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:48.460
 too low priorities for us

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:51.299
 if our faith becomes too familiar

00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:54.960
 and if we lose that burning desire

00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:56.299
 to serve God

00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:57.700
 and to live for Him

00:17:57.700 --> 00:18:00.000
 and to draw others to Him.

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.160
 And those of us

00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:02.900
 who have been in a Christian environment

00:18:02.900 --> 00:18:03.660
 all our life,

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.940
 we need to be very careful.

00:18:05.100 --> 00:18:06.920
 We don't take it for granted.

00:18:07.340 --> 00:18:08.960
 It is an enormous privilege

00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:10.319
 to have godly parents

00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:12.460
 and to be able to follow their example,

00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:13.940
 but we need to make sure

00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:15.519
 we are following that example,

00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.920
 that we are devoted to the Lord Jesus,

00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:20.759
 that we are living for Him.

00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:23.879
 The second group is Christian leaders,

00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:24.819
 practically those

00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:27.059
 who are in some kind of full-time Christian work,

00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:30.379
 but all those who are leaders of God's people.

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:33.359
 And the real warning here is,

00:18:33.639 --> 00:18:35.099
 am I doing anything

00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:36.859
 that would distract people

00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:38.079
 or would draw them away

00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:40.539
 from their love for the Lord Jesus?

00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:43.039
 As they look at me

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.839
 or as I talk to them,

00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:47.119
 and as they expect

00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:48.240
 for someone who is in a position

00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:49.799
 of leadership within a church

00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:51.720
 to get a good example

00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:53.319
 and good teaching,

00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:55.819
 is there anything I am doing

00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:58.500
 that could draw others away from Christ

00:18:58.500 --> 00:19:00.000
 that could make them stumble

00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.839
 in their faith?

00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:03.980
 Again, probably not as dramatically

00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:06.539
 as in the case of Hophni and Phinehas

00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:07.959
 for most of us,

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:10.099
 but nevertheless a real danger

00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:11.519
 that as Christian leaders,

00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.899
 as those who are supposed

00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:14.120
 to be setting an example

00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:16.620
 that actually we set the wrong example

00:19:16.620 --> 00:19:18.140
 and we cause people

00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:20.280
 to stumble in their faith.

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.860
 So two possibilities.

00:19:22.080 --> 00:19:23.700
 Some of you may not fall into neither good,

00:19:23.780 --> 00:19:24.860
 some of us fall into both,

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:26.500
 but let's examine ourselves

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:29.840
 if either of these applies to us.

00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:35.040
 But let's look at the second horror

00:19:35.040 --> 00:19:36.100
 that I think there is

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:39.259
 in the case of Hophni and Phinehas.

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.459
 Eli eventually,

00:19:41.959 --> 00:19:44.459
 eventually starts to plead with them

00:19:44.459 --> 00:19:46.240
 and points out to them

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:46.959
 what is wrong

00:19:46.959 --> 00:19:48.219
 and what they are doing

00:19:48.219 --> 00:19:52.539
 and asks them to discontinue it.

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:55.799
 But the writer who records,

00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:58.379
 they didn't listen to their father's rebuke,

00:19:58.380 --> 00:20:00.820
 for it was the Lord's will

00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:02.940
 to put them to death.

00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.900
 It was the Lord's will

00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:07.380
 to put them to death.

00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:09.360
 Now I think that in some ways

00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:12.140
 is quite shocking for us as well.

00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:15.920
 Doesn't God want everyone to be saved?

00:20:16.760 --> 00:20:18.100
 Isn't grace available

00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:21.240
 to all those who will receive it?

00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:23.480
 Absolutely yes.

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:27.160
 And yet we can't receive God's grace

00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:29.380
 without the working of God's Spirit

00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:31.240
 in our lives.

00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.539
 And it appears from Scripture,

00:20:33.620 --> 00:20:35.360
 another example would be Pharaoh in Exodus,

00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:36.819
 it appears from Scripture

00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:38.220
 that there are those

00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:40.019
 who get so far down

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:41.339
 into their sin

00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:44.099
 and their antipathy to God

00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:47.339
 and their absolute unwillingness

00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:49.420
 to be obedient to God

00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:51.779
 that God almost says,

00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:53.120
 well, you have decided,

00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:55.439
 you have resolved to be this way.

00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:58.939
 And the Spirit stops striving with them

00:20:58.939 --> 00:21:00.639
 and pricking their conscience

00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:03.619
 and seeking to draw them to God.

00:21:04.719 --> 00:21:06.619
 I put that out slightly tentatively,

00:21:06.739 --> 00:21:08.739
 but I think that is the implication

00:21:08.739 --> 00:21:10.799
 of what's said here.

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:13.059
 But let me do it with two caveats.

00:21:13.719 --> 00:21:14.879
 The first thing is,

00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:16.899
 we can never make a judgment

00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:20.139
 that someone is beyond God's grace.

00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:22.479
 As far as we are concerned,

00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:25.420
 everyone who is a sinner before God,

00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:27.120
 if they will come to God,

00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:30.240
 then they will receive his grace.

00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:32.420
 They will receive the mercy

00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:33.860
 that he is willing to give.

00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:36.140
 And if they come in faith to the Lord Jesus,

00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:40.180
 they will receive forgiveness for sins.

00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:44.120
 And we are not able to say whether someone's heart is so hard

00:21:44.120 --> 00:21:46.200
 that they're never going to do that.

00:21:46.600 --> 00:21:49.340
 Our job is to constantly witness to them

00:21:49.340 --> 00:21:51.700
 and seek to show them God's grace

00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:56.340
 and to bring them to the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:21:56.339 --> 00:22:00.000
 And the second thing I would say is that none of us individually

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:03.419
 should ever think that we are beyond God's grace.

00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:05.319
 Indeed, if we're having these thoughts,

00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:06.659
 it probably means that we're not,

00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:07.899
 that we still have some conscience.

00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:11.019
 The Spirit is still working in our lives.

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:13.359
 However far we may sink,

00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:15.420
 however great our sin may be,

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:17.920
 however much we may feel that we have failed God,

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.339
 for all of us,

00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.759
 if we come to him,

00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.920
 there is grace

00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:24.500
 and he is willing to receive us

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:26.379
 and to heap that grace on us

00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:28.859
 and to wonderfully bless us

00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:31.379
 as we repent for our sins.

00:22:32.139 --> 00:22:34.599
 So don't let the passage about hard hearts,

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:36.259
 about God's will,

00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:37.240
 as in this passage,

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:38.839
 don't let them put you off

00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:41.120
 seeking to win others for the Lord Jesus

00:22:41.120 --> 00:22:43.019
 and don't let them put you off

00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:44.819
 coming to Jesus for mercy

00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:46.160
 and for forgiveness

00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:48.740
 for all the wrong that you've done.

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.339
 But two horrors,

00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:53.599
 the horror of what the sons of Eli did

00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:55.279
 and the horror of the fact

00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:58.000
 that ultimately they were beyond redemption,

00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:00.220
 that God had decreed

00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:03.059
 that they must be punished for their wrong.

00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:07.180
 Let's move on and look at Eli.

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:10.700
 Eli, like many characters in scriptures,

00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:11.880
 is a bit of a conundrum

00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:14.279
 because you look at Eli in one hand

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:14.819
 and you say,

00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:16.059
 here's a good man.

00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:18.519
 Here's a man who knew God,

00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.839
 who honoured God

00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:22.480
 and who had respect for God's word.

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.960
 And then you look at this chapter

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:26.819
 and you look at God's verdict on Eli

00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:27.940
 where he says,

00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:31.319
 why do you honour your sons more than me?

00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:35.960
 So I suggest that Eli was fundamentally a good man,

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:38.019
 but he had this fatal flaw

00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:40.140
 that he endowed his sons,

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:42.600
 that he didn't discipline them as they should

00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:47.240
 and ultimately that led to his downfall before God.

00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:49.880
 But let's look at the good side first.

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:53.059
 As we look at Eli's dealings with Samuel

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:54.380
 and with his family,

00:23:54.779 --> 00:23:56.259
 apart from his initial mistake

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:58.400
 in thinking what Hannah was doing

00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.140
 when she was praying,

00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.059
 they thought she was drunk.

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:01.079
 Apart from that,

00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:04.139
 Eli was a man who sought to bring Samuel

00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:07.220
 and his family closer to God.

00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:11.000
 He recognised in Hannah and Elkanah

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:13.579
 a couple who were devoted to the Lord,

00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:15.480
 who wanted to live for him

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:18.339
 and who wanted to do what was right.

00:24:19.179 --> 00:24:20.099
 And indeed,

00:24:20.179 --> 00:24:22.019
 who so much wanted to do what was right

00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:24.000
 that they were willing to give their son

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.420
 to work in the temple

00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:28.619
 to devote him to the Lord's service.

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:31.579
 And as they come to the temple,

00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.940
 year after year,

00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:34.220
 Eli is there.

00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:35.500
 He's there to meet them.

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:37.180
 He's there to bless them.

00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:39.859
 He's there to pray for them.

00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:43.779
 As Samuel ministers day to day in the temple,

00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:46.160
 it appears that Eli was there

00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:48.579
 similarly to be a father figure to him.

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.619
 In many ways,

00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:51.160
 I'm sure to show a good example,

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.360
 one of those in chapter three,

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.880
 when God speaks to Samuel,

00:24:54.320 --> 00:24:56.140
 it's Eli who ultimately identifies

00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:57.400
 that it's God speaking

00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:59.960
 and Eli accepts even the judgment

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:01.340
 that's made against him

00:25:01.340 --> 00:25:02.580
 and against his family,

00:25:03.060 --> 00:25:06.060
 recognising the sovereignty of God.

00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:09.620
 Eli was a man who knew God,

00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:12.259
 a man who had great respect for God,

00:25:12.620 --> 00:25:13.519
 and in many ways,

00:25:13.580 --> 00:25:16.860
 a man who sought to do what was right.

00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:19.920
 But he had this one fatal flaw

00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:22.560
 that he managed to ignore completely

00:25:22.560 --> 00:25:25.720
 the sins of his sons.

00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:29.300
 In fact, it may be a bit worse than that.

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:32.779
 When Eli condemns his sons,

00:25:32.840 --> 00:25:33.820
 when he talks to them,

00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:36.539
 gives them the kind of father's warning talk,

00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:39.200
 he very much focuses on their immorality,

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:42.100
 and he talks about the fact

00:25:42.100 --> 00:25:43.380
 that they're sinning against God,

00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.340
 and there's this thing about

00:25:44.340 --> 00:25:45.600
 if you're sinning against someone else,

00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:46.480
 God may intercede.

00:25:46.560 --> 00:25:47.320
 Who's going to intercede

00:25:47.320 --> 00:25:48.960
 if you're sinning against God?

00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:51.380
 He doesn't really address

00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:54.819
 their abuse of their priestly office.

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:58.000
 And there's some suggestion, I think,

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:59.720
 in what God says to Eli

00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:01.000
 through the man of God

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:03.600
 that actually Eli was enjoying

00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:05.519
 what his sons were getting

00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:07.740
 wrongly from the people.

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:10.299
 If we jump forward to chapter 4

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.400
 and the death of Eli,

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:14.839
 it records that Eli was a rather fat man.

00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.420
 He was rather big,

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.799
 and that was partly what contributed

00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:19.039
 to his death.

00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:21.579
 And perhaps that obesity

00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:24.259
 was partly from all these roast meals

00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:25.700
 that his sons were taking

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:27.400
 and were giving to him.

00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:29.920
 Now, Eli, it doesn't look like

00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:31.519
 he was actively involved in this,

00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:33.380
 but perhaps he was complicit

00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.880
 in that he ignored

00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:36.280
 what his sons were doing

00:26:36.280 --> 00:26:37.720
 and he accepted

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:39.560
 the results of their sin

00:26:39.560 --> 00:26:41.880
 even though he wasn't actively involved

00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:43.540
 in it himself.

00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.800
 One way or another,

00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:48.900
 Eli got this badly wrong.

00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:51.380
 He should have looked at his sons

00:26:51.380 --> 00:26:53.000
 and at the very least,

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.100
 he should have said

00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:55.080
 they weren't fit

00:26:55.080 --> 00:26:56.940
 for priestly office.

00:26:57.560 --> 00:26:58.340
 Now, if you look at the law,

00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:58.960
 he should have probably done

00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.100
 quite a lot more to that

00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:01.480
 in tending them away,

00:27:01.639 --> 00:27:02.519
 perhaps even getting them

00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.179
 put to death.

00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:04.579
 But at the very least,

00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:05.879
 he should have made sure

00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:06.719
 that they didn't have

00:27:06.719 --> 00:27:08.279
 the authority of being priests,

00:27:08.639 --> 00:27:09.500
 that they were stripped

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.839
 of that duty,

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:13.480
 of that privilege before God.

00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:16.119
 Eli, up to the point

00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:17.519
 when he remonstrates with them,

00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:18.980
 it appears had done

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:20.799
 absolutely nothing.

00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:22.379
 He was a man

00:27:22.379 --> 00:27:23.539
 who was leading the people,

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:25.559
 who was in some ways

00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.619
 it appears leading the people

00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:27.399
 quite well,

00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.859
 and yet he couldn't lead

00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:29.779
 his own family,

00:27:30.099 --> 00:27:32.099
 and he didn't have the courage

00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:33.740
 to discipline his sons

00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:36.179
 when he should have.

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.759
 Great warning there

00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.579
 to those of us

00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:39.279
 who are parents,

00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:41.219
 that we need to make sure

00:27:41.219 --> 00:27:41.759
 in our dealing

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.579
 with our children,

00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:44.619
 that we give them

00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.379
 a good example,

00:27:45.879 --> 00:27:47.419
 but also when they go wrong,

00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.839
 that we are willing

00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:50.199
 to rebuke them

00:27:50.199 --> 00:27:52.259
 and to seek to bring them back

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:54.319
 into God's ways.

00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:56.039
 Too often, I suspect,

00:27:56.159 --> 00:27:57.539
 many of us are a bit like Eli,

00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:59.019
 and we don't have

00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:00.259
 these hard conversations

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:02.359
 when we really should.

00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:03.599
 But that is what

00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:04.960
 we're called to do.

00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:06.460
 We cannot ignore sin,

00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.779
 whoever it is

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.980
 who is committing it.

00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.639
 Whether it's sins

00:28:09.639 --> 00:28:10.359
 in our family,

00:28:10.899 --> 00:28:11.500
 whether it's sins

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.159
 in the church,

00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:12.859
 whether it's sins

00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.579
 of our nation,

00:28:14.159 --> 00:28:15.139
 then we should be

00:28:15.139 --> 00:28:16.440
 standing against them

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:18.279
 and making sure

00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.539
 that people know

00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:21.059
 what our position is

00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:21.899
 and what is right

00:28:21.899 --> 00:28:23.659
 before God.

00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:23.700
 God.

00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.200
 It's a wonderful example

00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:25.820
 of that, isn't there?

00:28:25.820 --> 00:28:26.500
 In the New Testament,

00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.240
 the Lord Jesus,

00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:28.460
 he goes into the temple

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.779
 and as he sees

00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.800
 the money changers.

00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:32.120
 Now for many of us,

00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:32.840
 we might have looked

00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:33.360
 and we thought,

00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:34.120
 this is terrible,

00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.180
 how are they getting away

00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:36.040
 with doing what

00:28:36.040 --> 00:28:36.820
 they're doing there?

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.279
 The Lord Jesus

00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:39.180
 didn't do that.

00:28:39.560 --> 00:28:40.140
 He went in,

00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:41.340
 he overturned their tables

00:28:41.340 --> 00:28:42.920
 and he made it clear

00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.640
 exactly what their sin was.

00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:46.400
 They turned his father's house

00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:49.120
 into a house of thieves.

00:28:49.620 --> 00:28:50.820
 And we need similarly

00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:53.099
 to have that horror of sin

00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:56.899
 and desire to see it put right.

00:28:57.439 --> 00:28:58.259
 But Eli didn't

00:28:58.259 --> 00:29:00.019
 and so Eli comes under

00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:01.599
 God's judgment.

00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.460
 And the latter part

00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:04.099
 of the chapter

00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:05.659
 is this man of God

00:29:05.659 --> 00:29:06.539
 who comes to Eli.

00:29:06.679 --> 00:29:07.659
 A man of God coming to you

00:29:07.659 --> 00:29:08.720
 is usually a bad sign

00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.619
 in the Old Testament.

00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.579
 It means you've done

00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:11.220
 something wrong

00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:11.859
 and God's going to

00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:12.779
 rebuke you for it.

00:29:13.139 --> 00:29:14.139
 It is that here,

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.819
 the man of God comes

00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:17.759
 and he condemns Eli

00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:19.659
 because he has failed

00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:20.960
 to control his sons

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:22.420
 and because,

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.180
 says God,

00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:25.259
 he has honoured his sons

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:28.080
 more than he honoured God.

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.420
 And so the judgment

00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:30.400
 comes on Eli

00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:31.940
 that ultimately

00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:32.980
 his family

00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:33.900
 are going to lose

00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:35.560
 priestly office.

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:36.940
 Now we scroll

00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:38.140
 just very briefly forward

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:39.500
 in the books of Samuel

00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.980
 and we see

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.880
 in the next chapter

00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:43.940
 the death of Hophni and Phinehas

00:29:43.940 --> 00:29:44.740
 on the same day

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.240
 they're called

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.160
 as a heart of the covenant

00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:47.800
 is taken by their enemies.

00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:49.859
 Eli hears the news

00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:51.319
 and he falls off the bench

00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:51.940
 where he's sitting

00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:52.960
 and he breaks his neck

00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:54.079
 so he dies on the same day

00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:54.559
 as well.

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:56.379
 Later in 1 Samuel

00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.839
 we have an incident

00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.899
 where Saul thinks

00:29:58.899 --> 00:30:00.299
 that Eli's family

00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.359
 are supporting David

00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:03.119
 and he has most of them

00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:03.940
 put to death.

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.700
 And then in 2 Samuel

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.659
 the one who escapes,

00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:07.639
 the only one who escapes

00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:09.059
 from Saul's slaughter

00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:13.000
 is himself caught up

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:14.099
 in the battle

00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:16.319
 that follows David's death

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:18.419
 and Solomon removes him

00:30:18.419 --> 00:30:20.359
 from priestly office.

00:30:20.919 --> 00:30:22.259
 And that is the end

00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:23.240
 of the house of Eli

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:25.839
 as a priestly office.

00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:28.319
 And instead it passes over

00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.319
 to the descendants

00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:30.179
 of Eliezer,

00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:31.599
 one of the oldest sons

00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:32.139
 of Abraham

00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:34.079
 and when it talks here

00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:35.759
 about the priest

00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:37.980
 who will be raised up,

00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:38.939
 the faithful priest,

00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:40.079
 the priest forever,

00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:41.799
 it is almost certainly

00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.919
 talking about Zadok

00:30:42.919 --> 00:30:44.119
 who was the priest

00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:44.759
 under Solomon

00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:46.579
 having served alongside

00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.379
 Abiathar,

00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:49.279
 Eli's descendant

00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:50.200
 under David.

00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:52.240
 Zadok is the faithful priest

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:53.720
 and it is his household

00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.740
 from then on

00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:56.500
 who have the priesthood.

00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:57.400
 Of course when we look

00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:58.140
 at the eternal priest

00:30:58.140 --> 00:30:59.160
 we probably also think

00:30:59.160 --> 00:31:00.099
 about the Lord Jesus

00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:01.279
 but I'm not sure

00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:02.079
 that in this passage

00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:02.799
 particularly

00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:04.940
 that is the main

00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:06.160
 interpretation of it

00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:06.900
 but of course

00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.460
 the Lord Jesus

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:09.039
 is a priest forever

00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:10.480
 as well

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.680
 and we can think

00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:12.359
 about that.

00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.519
 But the judgment

00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:15.099
 comes on Eli's house

00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:16.539
 and over a period

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:18.519
 in Saul's reign

00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.339
 and David's reign

00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.379
 and Solomon's reign

00:31:20.379 --> 00:31:21.700
 Eli's house

00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.700
 is taken away

00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:23.619
 from the priesthood

00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:25.139
 and is passed on

00:31:25.139 --> 00:31:26.960
 to a different group

00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:27.319
 of people

00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:28.220
 also descendants

00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:30.139
 of Aaron.

00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.379
 That in a sense

00:31:32.379 --> 00:31:32.980
 isn't that important

00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:33.900
 just a bit of history

00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:35.220
 but it is important

00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:36.000
 that Eli

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:37.099
 comes under

00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:38.799
 God's judgment.

00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:40.359
 And even though

00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:40.879
 as I've said

00:31:40.879 --> 00:31:41.720
 Eli was

00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:42.579
 in many ways

00:31:42.579 --> 00:31:43.339
 fundamentally

00:31:43.339 --> 00:31:44.259
 a good man

00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.640
 God couldn't

00:31:45.640 --> 00:31:46.640
 ignore his sin

00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:48.140
 and the effects

00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:48.920
 of his sin

00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:50.100
 therefore affected

00:31:50.100 --> 00:31:51.440
 future generations.

00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.200
 In the same way

00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:53.039
 as David's sin

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:54.120
 with Bathsheba

00:31:54.120 --> 00:31:54.640
 and all things

00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:55.259
 joined to that

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.380
 that's a devastating

00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:57.299
 effect also

00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:59.140
 on David's family.

00:32:00.100 --> 00:32:01.420
 And even if we are

00:32:01.420 --> 00:32:02.460
 people of God

00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:03.140
 even if we know

00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:03.860
 the Lord Jesus

00:32:03.860 --> 00:32:05.400
 and love him ourselves

00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:06.259
 our sins

00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:07.140
 can also have

00:32:07.140 --> 00:32:08.319
 a devastating effect

00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.200
 on others.

00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:09.839
 Not that God

00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.359
 is unwilling

00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:11.199
 to forgive us

00:32:11.199 --> 00:32:11.939
 as he forgave

00:32:11.939 --> 00:32:13.240
 David

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:14.939
 and yet our sins

00:32:14.939 --> 00:32:16.019
 do have consequences

00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:17.599
 we need to be aware

00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:19.159
 of these.

00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:21.319
 But a fundamental lesson

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:22.679
 I think for many of us

00:32:22.679 --> 00:32:24.000
 is we can't

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:25.319
 just look at ourselves

00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:26.039
 and try through

00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:27.319
 our personal devotions

00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:28.539
 to please God.

00:32:28.959 --> 00:32:29.799
 If we are in

00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:30.519
 positions of any

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.359
 kind of authority

00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:32.240
 whether as leaders

00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:33.959
 as parents

00:32:33.959 --> 00:32:35.019
 or whatever

00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:37.079
 we need to have

00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:38.220
 this concept

00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:39.119
 of being willing

00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:39.879
 to tackle

00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:41.039
 the difficult issues

00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:42.220
 and the things

00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:43.000
 that would drag

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:43.920
 other people down

00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:44.980
 and to seek

00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:45.900
 to correct them

00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:47.359
 and to see them

00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:48.740
 one for the Lord Jesus.

00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.279
 Let's finish

00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:52.920
 more positively.

00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:54.279
 Samuel.

00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.879
 I've called Samuel

00:32:55.879 --> 00:32:57.359
 growing in grace.

00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:58.160
 I think that's probably

00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:59.960
 quite a good description

00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:02.559
 of what it is here.

00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:05.299
 Samuel 2.29

00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:06.379
 Samuel continues

00:33:06.379 --> 00:33:07.159
 to grow in stature

00:33:07.159 --> 00:33:07.740
 and favour

00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.859
 with the Lord

00:33:08.859 --> 00:33:10.519
 and with people.

00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.139
 When it says

00:33:11.139 --> 00:33:12.079
 you go down the chapter

00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:13.779
 that several times

00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:14.940
 interspersed with all

00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:16.359
 the sins of Eli's family

00:33:16.359 --> 00:33:17.599
 you have these brief

00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:19.399
 comments on Samuel.

00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:20.579
 We have one

00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.079
 we didn't read

00:33:21.079 --> 00:33:21.279
 tonight

00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:21.839
 it was really part of

00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.579
 last week's passage

00:33:22.579 --> 00:33:23.379
 in verse 11

00:33:23.379 --> 00:33:25.500
 about Samuel

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:27.379
 serving before God.

00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:29.019
 We have it again

00:33:29.019 --> 00:33:31.659
 as Eli's sons

00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:33.620
 evil is described

00:33:33.620 --> 00:33:34.519
 in verse 18

00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:36.080
 Samuel was ministering

00:33:36.080 --> 00:33:37.120
 before the Lord

00:33:37.120 --> 00:33:37.720
 then description

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.920
 of what Samuel's

00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:40.060
 parents did.

00:33:40.580 --> 00:33:41.279
 Verse 26

00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:42.040
 the boy Samuel

00:33:42.040 --> 00:33:42.779
 continued to go

00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:43.240
 in stature

00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:43.700
 and favour

00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:44.259
 with the Lord

00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:45.420
 and with people.

00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:46.880
 And then if we read

00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:47.580
 over into the first

00:33:47.580 --> 00:33:48.600
 verse of chapter 3

00:33:48.600 --> 00:33:50.640
 it says the boy Samuel

00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:51.600
 ministered

00:33:51.600 --> 00:33:52.759
 before the Lord

00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:54.140
 under Eli.

00:33:54.900 --> 00:33:55.500
 In other words

00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:57.160
 in all this chaos

00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:57.960
 that was created

00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:59.360
 by Eli's sons

00:33:59.360 --> 00:34:01.220
 in all their sinfulness

00:34:01.220 --> 00:34:03.559
 and despising God

00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:05.559
 in all Eli's weakness

00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:06.880
 in dealing with

00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:07.440
 the sins

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.619
 of his family

00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:10.659
 we have this bright ray

00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:11.619
 that we have Samuel

00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:12.480
 who is growing

00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:14.000
 and is maturing

00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:15.340
 and is coming

00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:16.460
 to faith in God

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:17.639
 and who ultimately

00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:18.480
 will take over

00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.639
 much of the role

00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:21.500
 that was previously Eli

00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:22.340
 who would become

00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.340
 the prophet

00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.260
 and the judge

00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:25.780
 of Israel.

00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:28.179
 So two things

00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:29.179
 about the honour

00:34:29.179 --> 00:34:30.379
 that we can see

00:34:30.379 --> 00:34:31.299
 for Samuel.

00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:33.099
 And the first is

00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:34.759
 Samuel's family.

00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:36.179
 It is

00:34:36.179 --> 00:34:36.699
 Hannah

00:34:36.699 --> 00:34:38.500
 and Elkanah.

00:34:39.299 --> 00:34:40.179
 This couple

00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:40.919
 from Ramah

00:34:40.919 --> 00:34:41.659
 who had previously

00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:42.519
 been childless

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.739
 though Elkanah

00:34:43.739 --> 00:34:44.219
 had children

00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:45.139
 by his other wife

00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:46.719
 previously been childless

00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:47.419
 and Hannah

00:34:47.419 --> 00:34:48.000
 promises

00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:49.579
 that if God

00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:50.519
 gives her a son

00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:51.279
 that son

00:34:51.279 --> 00:34:52.059
 will be devoted

00:34:52.059 --> 00:34:52.379
 to her

00:34:52.379 --> 00:34:52.839
 and will serve

00:34:52.839 --> 00:34:53.500
 in the temple.

00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:54.339
 The son

00:34:54.339 --> 00:34:55.139
 comes along

00:34:55.139 --> 00:34:55.619
 Hannah

00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:56.759
 keeps her words

00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:58.040
 and she hands

00:34:58.040 --> 00:34:59.400
 Samuel over

00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:01.380
 to be devoted

00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:01.960
 to God.

00:35:02.060 --> 00:35:03.000
 They weren't that far away

00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:03.460
 so I suspect

00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:04.200
 they visited him

00:35:04.200 --> 00:35:04.920
 quite often

00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:06.520
 but he was devoted

00:35:06.520 --> 00:35:07.720
 to serving God

00:35:07.720 --> 00:35:08.920
 and every year

00:35:08.920 --> 00:35:09.420
 it says

00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:10.660
 they came back

00:35:10.660 --> 00:35:12.060
 as they came

00:35:12.060 --> 00:35:12.940
 to do give

00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:13.740
 their sacrifice

00:35:13.740 --> 00:35:15.100
 and they brought

00:35:15.100 --> 00:35:15.760
 Samuel

00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:17.100
 a new robe.

00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:17.840
 It was because

00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:18.800
 he was getting bigger

00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:20.040
 as time went on.

00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:20.680
 Every year

00:35:20.680 --> 00:35:21.640
 a sign of their love

00:35:21.640 --> 00:35:22.340
 for Samuel

00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:24.120
 there was this robe

00:35:24.120 --> 00:35:25.240
 that they brought

00:35:25.240 --> 00:35:26.060
 along.

00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:26.920
 And every year

00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.619
 as I've said

00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:29.279
 they met with Eli

00:35:29.279 --> 00:35:30.599
 and Eli

00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:31.199
 as he saw

00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:32.279
 this lovely family

00:35:32.279 --> 00:35:33.139
 he wanted

00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:34.059
 to bless them

00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:34.940
 and to pray

00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.519
 for them

00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:36.579
 and God

00:35:36.579 --> 00:35:37.460
 honoured them.

00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:38.779
 He honoured Hannah

00:35:38.779 --> 00:35:39.480
 who had previously

00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:40.259
 been barren

00:35:40.259 --> 00:35:40.980
 she had another

00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:41.900
 five children

00:35:41.900 --> 00:35:43.079
 three sons

00:35:43.079 --> 00:35:45.340
 and two daughters.

00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:48.099
 A lovely family

00:35:48.099 --> 00:35:49.699
 devoted to God

00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:51.039
 keeping their promises

00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:53.099
 living for him.

00:35:53.799 --> 00:35:54.500
 Good if we can have

00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.360
 families like that

00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:56.140
 rather than the family

00:35:56.140 --> 00:35:56.740
 of Eli

00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:58.240
 that we have families

00:35:58.240 --> 00:35:59.200
 where God's name

00:35:59.200 --> 00:36:00.260
 is honoured

00:36:00.260 --> 00:36:01.400
 and where we seek

00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:02.160
 to serve him

00:36:02.160 --> 00:36:03.559
 and to devote

00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:04.720
 our lives

00:36:04.720 --> 00:36:06.079
 and our family life

00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:06.940
 to him.

00:36:08.680 --> 00:36:09.660
 And then we have Samuel.

00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:11.900
 Samuel is being prepared.

00:36:12.940 --> 00:36:14.140
 It says in chapter 3

00:36:14.140 --> 00:36:14.660
 that Samuel

00:36:14.660 --> 00:36:16.400
 didn't yet know God.

00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:17.539
 I think that means

00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:18.340
 particularly Samuel

00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:19.700
 never had the personal

00:36:19.700 --> 00:36:20.599
 experience of God

00:36:20.599 --> 00:36:22.019
 speaking to him.

00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:24.280
 and yet in chapter 2

00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:26.239
 Samuel is being prepared

00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:27.059
 for his service

00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:28.119
 in chapter 3

00:36:28.119 --> 00:36:29.639
 and beyond.

00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:31.840
 And these little reports

00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:32.699
 about Samuel

00:36:32.699 --> 00:36:34.519
 are kind of progress reports

00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:36.280
 on how he was getting on

00:36:36.280 --> 00:36:37.440
 in the temple.

00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:39.480
 So to begin with

00:36:39.480 --> 00:36:41.320
 he was just helping Eli.

00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:42.980
 He ministered before the Lord

00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:44.719
 under Eli.

00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:47.280
 Then Eli kind of goes

00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:47.880
 out of the picture

00:36:47.880 --> 00:36:48.619
 in verse 18

00:36:48.619 --> 00:36:49.199
 it just says

00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:50.519
 Samuel was ministering

00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:51.599
 before the Lord.

00:36:52.279 --> 00:36:52.859
 Perhaps Samuel

00:36:52.859 --> 00:36:53.500
 by this stage

00:36:53.500 --> 00:36:55.159
 become a bit more

00:36:55.159 --> 00:36:55.699
 independent

00:36:55.699 --> 00:36:57.119
 a bit more personal faith

00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:58.779
 and a bit more

00:36:58.779 --> 00:36:59.899
 knowing what it was

00:36:59.899 --> 00:37:01.460
 that God's will was

00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:02.500
 for him.

00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:04.299
 Verse 26

00:37:04.299 --> 00:37:05.179
 Samuel continued

00:37:05.179 --> 00:37:06.139
 to go in stature

00:37:06.139 --> 00:37:07.079
 and favour

00:37:07.079 --> 00:37:07.839
 with the Lord

00:37:07.839 --> 00:37:09.439
 and with people.

00:37:09.699 --> 00:37:10.939
 As he learned from Eli

00:37:10.939 --> 00:37:12.460
 as he served God

00:37:12.460 --> 00:37:13.159
 in the temple

00:37:13.159 --> 00:37:14.619
 so he grew

00:37:14.619 --> 00:37:15.579
 he matured

00:37:15.579 --> 00:37:16.199
 he developed

00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:17.480
 and he became

00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:18.739
 a good servant of God

00:37:18.739 --> 00:37:19.879
 that people could look at

00:37:19.879 --> 00:37:20.919
 and they could say

00:37:20.919 --> 00:37:22.359
 here is a good example

00:37:22.359 --> 00:37:23.899
 where Eli's sons

00:37:23.899 --> 00:37:26.079
 are very bad examples.

00:37:26.319 --> 00:37:27.299
 And then in chapter 3

00:37:27.299 --> 00:37:28.559
 God starts speaking

00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.139
 to Samuel

00:37:29.139 --> 00:37:30.079
 and everything

00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:30.979
 that God says

00:37:30.979 --> 00:37:31.519
 to Samuel

00:37:31.519 --> 00:37:32.299
 comes about

00:37:32.299 --> 00:37:33.299
 and the people

00:37:33.299 --> 00:37:33.979
 recognise

00:37:33.979 --> 00:37:34.819
 there is

00:37:34.819 --> 00:37:36.139
 a great prophet

00:37:36.139 --> 00:37:37.119
 here.

00:37:38.899 --> 00:37:39.599
 We again

00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:40.579
 if we are parents

00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:41.579
 or indeed as a church

00:37:41.579 --> 00:37:42.359
 when we have so many

00:37:42.359 --> 00:37:43.299
 young children

00:37:43.299 --> 00:37:44.059
 among us

00:37:44.059 --> 00:37:45.539
 we need to really

00:37:45.539 --> 00:37:46.359
 care for

00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:47.200
 and nurture

00:37:47.200 --> 00:37:48.539
 our young

00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:49.300
 people.

00:37:49.760 --> 00:37:50.559
 We need to show

00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:51.400
 them an example

00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:52.340
 of what it is

00:37:52.340 --> 00:37:53.640
 to live for God

00:37:53.640 --> 00:37:54.460
 we need to teach

00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.260
 them God's word

00:37:55.260 --> 00:37:55.880
 simply

00:37:55.880 --> 00:37:57.280
 and faithfully

00:37:57.280 --> 00:37:58.340
 and seek to

00:37:58.340 --> 00:37:59.140
 encourage them

00:37:59.140 --> 00:38:00.200
 to serve

00:38:00.200 --> 00:38:01.420
 and to follow

00:38:01.420 --> 00:38:02.700
 and to grow

00:38:02.700 --> 00:38:03.980
 in their knowledge

00:38:03.980 --> 00:38:05.420
 of the Lord

00:38:05.420 --> 00:38:06.079
 Jesus.

00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:08.140
 Children must

00:38:08.140 --> 00:38:09.000
 never be seen

00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:10.039
 as a bit of an extra

00:38:10.039 --> 00:38:10.980
 a bit of a nuisance

00:38:10.980 --> 00:38:11.480
 in church

00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:12.220
 something that we

00:38:12.220 --> 00:38:13.180
 yes it's good

00:38:13.180 --> 00:38:13.820
 whether there's

00:38:13.820 --> 00:38:14.440
 good to have a bit

00:38:14.440 --> 00:38:15.000
 of life around

00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:15.380
 the church

00:38:15.380 --> 00:38:16.200
 but not really

00:38:16.200 --> 00:38:17.300
 that important.

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:18.659
 Our children

00:38:18.659 --> 00:38:19.400
 are the future

00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:20.159
 of the church

00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:21.099
 they are those

00:38:21.099 --> 00:38:21.599
 who knows

00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:21.980
 who may have

00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:22.480
 gone to be

00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:23.159
 like Samuel

00:38:23.159 --> 00:38:24.440
 and to serve

00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:25.260
 God in similar

00:38:25.260 --> 00:38:26.139
 kind of ways

00:38:26.139 --> 00:38:27.220
 and to be great

00:38:27.220 --> 00:38:28.159
 men and women

00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:29.200
 of faith

00:38:29.200 --> 00:38:30.280
 and we need

00:38:30.280 --> 00:38:30.780
 as a church

00:38:30.780 --> 00:38:31.780
 to value them

00:38:31.780 --> 00:38:33.579
 and to look

00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:34.300
 after them

00:38:34.300 --> 00:38:35.260
 and to teach

00:38:35.260 --> 00:38:36.200
 them faithfully

00:38:36.200 --> 00:38:37.220
 the word

00:38:37.220 --> 00:38:38.260
 of God

00:38:38.260 --> 00:38:39.179
 to show them

00:38:39.179 --> 00:38:39.940
 that we care

00:38:39.940 --> 00:38:40.579
 for them

00:38:40.579 --> 00:38:41.579
 because God

00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:42.500
 cares for them

00:38:42.500 --> 00:38:43.460
 and we want

00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:44.360
 what is best

00:38:44.360 --> 00:38:45.340
 for them

00:38:45.340 --> 00:38:46.940
 from God

00:38:46.940 --> 00:38:48.320
 and then perhaps

00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:48.940
 it can be said

00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:49.519
 of them

00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:50.420
 that they grow

00:38:50.420 --> 00:38:51.119
 in stature

00:38:51.119 --> 00:38:52.280
 and favour

00:38:52.280 --> 00:38:53.519
 with the Lord

00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:55.619
 and his people

00:38:55.619 --> 00:38:57.360
 reminder here

00:38:57.360 --> 00:38:58.260
 I think isn't there

00:38:58.260 --> 00:38:59.840
 of the Lord Jesus

00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:01.320
 end of Luke's gospel

00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:01.639
 we know

00:39:01.639 --> 00:39:03.400
 we know very little

00:39:03.400 --> 00:39:04.440
 about Jesus' childhood

00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:05.860
 but one thing

00:39:05.860 --> 00:39:06.340
 we do know

00:39:06.340 --> 00:39:06.920
 the last verse

00:39:06.920 --> 00:39:07.639
 of Luke 2

00:39:07.639 --> 00:39:09.139
 the evangelist

00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:09.679
 records

00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:10.679
 Jesus grew

00:39:10.679 --> 00:39:11.199
 in wisdom

00:39:11.199 --> 00:39:11.879
 and stature

00:39:11.879 --> 00:39:13.419
 and in favour

00:39:13.419 --> 00:39:14.619
 with God

00:39:14.619 --> 00:39:16.159
 and man

00:39:16.159 --> 00:39:17.179
 very much

00:39:17.179 --> 00:39:17.659
 a reflection

00:39:17.659 --> 00:39:18.159
 of the same

00:39:18.159 --> 00:39:18.859
 kind of thing

00:39:18.859 --> 00:39:20.179
 as with Samuel

00:39:20.179 --> 00:39:21.159
 grew in wisdom

00:39:21.159 --> 00:39:21.779
 and stature

00:39:21.779 --> 00:39:22.779
 in favour

00:39:22.779 --> 00:39:23.559
 with God

00:39:23.559 --> 00:39:25.079
 and man

00:39:25.079 --> 00:39:26.439
 may our prayer

00:39:26.439 --> 00:39:27.239
 be that our

00:39:27.239 --> 00:39:27.919
 young people

00:39:27.919 --> 00:39:28.779
 in this church

00:39:28.779 --> 00:39:30.119
 may come to know

00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:30.879
 the Lord Jesus

00:39:30.879 --> 00:39:31.819
 for themselves

00:39:31.819 --> 00:39:32.919
 and may then

00:39:32.919 --> 00:39:33.759
 grow in wisdom

00:39:33.759 --> 00:39:34.480
 and stature

00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:35.919
 and in favour

00:39:35.919 --> 00:39:37.139
 with God

00:39:37.139 --> 00:39:38.839
 and man

00:39:38.839 --> 00:39:40.179
 let's pray

00:39:40.179 --> 00:39:40.659
 for them

00:39:40.659 --> 00:39:41.480
 let's

00:39:41.480 --> 00:39:42.239
 encourage

00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:42.619
 them

00:39:42.619 --> 00:39:43.539
 and so

00:39:43.539 --> 00:39:43.799
 we have

00:39:43.799 --> 00:39:44.019
 God

00:39:44.019 --> 00:39:44.519
 honoured

00:39:44.519 --> 00:39:45.519
 through Samuel

00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:46.759
 and his

00:39:46.759 --> 00:39:47.619
 family

00:39:47.619 --> 00:39:50.440
 let's finish

00:39:50.440 --> 00:39:51.139
 with Eric Liddow

00:39:51.139 --> 00:39:52.679
 Eric Liddow

00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:53.460
 centre just

00:39:53.460 --> 00:39:53.960
 around the corner

00:39:53.960 --> 00:39:54.579
 in Morningside

00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:55.319
 that's named

00:39:55.319 --> 00:39:55.699
 after

00:39:55.699 --> 00:39:56.159
 Eric Liddow

00:39:56.159 --> 00:39:56.619
 of course

00:39:56.619 --> 00:39:57.460
 was a very

00:39:57.460 --> 00:39:58.219
 famous athlete

00:39:58.219 --> 00:39:58.819
 also an

00:39:58.819 --> 00:39:59.519
 international rugby

00:39:59.519 --> 00:39:59.960
 player

00:39:59.960 --> 00:40:00.799
 but best known

00:40:00.799 --> 00:40:01.559
 as an athlete

00:40:01.559 --> 00:40:02.460
 and through

00:40:02.460 --> 00:40:02.879
 the film

00:40:02.879 --> 00:40:04.019
 Chariots of Fire

00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:05.059
 Eric Liddow

00:40:05.059 --> 00:40:06.119
 won the 400 metres

00:40:06.119 --> 00:40:07.719
 at the 1924

00:40:07.719 --> 00:40:08.199
 Olympics

00:40:08.199 --> 00:40:09.559
 in Paris

00:40:09.559 --> 00:40:11.139
 and there's a story

00:40:11.139 --> 00:40:11.480
 that says

00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:11.980
 Eric Liddow

00:40:11.980 --> 00:40:12.500
 is preparing

00:40:12.500 --> 00:40:13.639
 to go to the track

00:40:13.639 --> 00:40:15.400
 for his 400 metres

00:40:15.400 --> 00:40:15.859
 final

00:40:15.859 --> 00:40:17.279
 that one of the

00:40:17.279 --> 00:40:18.539
 American masseurs

00:40:18.539 --> 00:40:19.699
 passed him a note

00:40:19.699 --> 00:40:21.380
 and that note says

00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:22.480
 in the old book

00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.259
 it says

00:40:23.259 --> 00:40:25.659
 he who honours me

00:40:25.659 --> 00:40:27.059
 I will honour

00:40:27.059 --> 00:40:27.559
 in other words

00:40:27.559 --> 00:40:28.099
 a quotation

00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:29.739
 from 1 Samuel

00:40:29.739 --> 00:40:30.900
 chapter 2

00:40:30.900 --> 00:40:32.440
 and that American

00:40:32.440 --> 00:40:33.079
 although on

00:40:33.079 --> 00:40:34.380
 an opposing side

00:40:34.380 --> 00:40:35.579
 in terms of

00:40:35.579 --> 00:40:36.079
 the Olympics

00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:37.840
 he recognised

00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:39.679
 that Eric Liddow

00:40:39.679 --> 00:40:40.199
 was someone

00:40:40.199 --> 00:40:41.239
 who loved God

00:40:41.239 --> 00:40:42.319
 who knew him

00:40:42.319 --> 00:40:43.719
 and who honoured him

00:40:43.719 --> 00:40:44.940
 in that particular

00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:46.059
 context of course

00:40:46.059 --> 00:40:46.980
 it was that Eric Liddow

00:40:46.980 --> 00:40:47.860
 had refused to

00:40:47.860 --> 00:40:48.980
 run on a Sunday

00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:50.039
 so he'd given up

00:40:50.039 --> 00:40:50.940
 on his favourite event

00:40:50.940 --> 00:40:51.779
 the 100 metres

00:40:51.779 --> 00:40:53.279
 and had gone instead

00:40:53.279 --> 00:40:54.119
 for the event

00:40:54.119 --> 00:40:55.000
 the 400 metres

00:40:55.000 --> 00:40:55.799
 and indeed you could say

00:40:55.799 --> 00:40:56.799
 that God honoured him

00:40:56.799 --> 00:40:58.519
 as he won that event

00:40:58.519 --> 00:40:59.840
 and as he broke

00:40:59.840 --> 00:41:01.579
 the world record

00:41:01.579 --> 00:41:02.960
 but of course

00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:03.980
 Eric Liddow's story

00:41:03.980 --> 00:41:05.340
 didn't end there

00:41:05.340 --> 00:41:06.840
 after Eric Liddow

00:41:06.840 --> 00:41:08.099
 had been to the Olympics

00:41:08.099 --> 00:41:09.699
 he did what he'd

00:41:09.699 --> 00:41:11.099
 always intended to do

00:41:11.099 --> 00:41:12.799
 and he followed his parents

00:41:12.799 --> 00:41:13.840
 to the mission field

00:41:13.840 --> 00:41:15.619
 he went to China

00:41:15.619 --> 00:41:16.559
 and he served there

00:41:16.559 --> 00:41:17.079
 faithfully

00:41:17.079 --> 00:41:17.900
 for a good number

00:41:17.900 --> 00:41:18.480
 of years

00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:20.079
 and in the end

00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:20.679
 he ended up

00:41:20.679 --> 00:41:21.960
 in an internment camp

00:41:21.960 --> 00:41:23.420
 where he died

00:41:23.420 --> 00:41:25.799
 at quite a young age

00:41:25.799 --> 00:41:27.659
 for Eric Liddow

00:41:27.659 --> 00:41:28.940
 athletics running

00:41:28.940 --> 00:41:30.079
 was important

00:41:30.079 --> 00:41:31.199
 it was something

00:41:31.199 --> 00:41:31.900
 he believed

00:41:31.900 --> 00:41:33.519
 God had gifted him in

00:41:33.519 --> 00:41:35.239
 and that because of that

00:41:35.239 --> 00:41:36.679
 that he should honour

00:41:36.679 --> 00:41:38.099
 God through it

00:41:38.099 --> 00:41:39.980
 but he wasn't looking

00:41:39.980 --> 00:41:40.759
 for glory

00:41:40.759 --> 00:41:41.840
 for himself

00:41:41.840 --> 00:41:43.960
 and it wasn't so important

00:41:43.960 --> 00:41:44.599
 that having won

00:41:44.599 --> 00:41:45.480
 in 1924

00:41:45.480 --> 00:41:46.119
 he was thinking

00:41:46.119 --> 00:41:46.940
 well I need to come back

00:41:46.940 --> 00:41:47.880
 in 1928

00:41:47.880 --> 00:41:49.179
 or to go to some

00:41:49.179 --> 00:41:50.000
 other championships

00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:51.599
 and make a bigger

00:41:51.599 --> 00:41:52.559
 career of myself

00:41:52.559 --> 00:41:54.219
 as an athlete

00:41:54.219 --> 00:41:55.759
 Eric Liddow

00:41:55.759 --> 00:41:56.599
 wanted to put

00:41:56.599 --> 00:41:57.380
 God first

00:41:57.380 --> 00:41:58.920
 and to honour

00:41:58.920 --> 00:41:59.700
 God

00:41:59.700 --> 00:42:00.900
 in all he did

00:42:00.900 --> 00:42:02.500
 and so it was more

00:42:02.500 --> 00:42:03.039
 important

00:42:03.039 --> 00:42:04.039
 than running

00:42:04.039 --> 00:42:04.680
 in the race

00:42:04.680 --> 00:42:05.320
 where he was felt

00:42:05.320 --> 00:42:05.960
 to have the best

00:42:05.960 --> 00:42:06.400
 chance

00:42:06.400 --> 00:42:07.220
 of winning

00:42:07.220 --> 00:42:09.099
 it was more important

00:42:09.099 --> 00:42:09.700
 than pursuing

00:42:09.700 --> 00:42:10.980
 a career in this country

00:42:10.980 --> 00:42:12.519
 and perhaps having

00:42:12.519 --> 00:42:13.780
 even greater success

00:42:13.780 --> 00:42:14.619
 in athletics

00:42:14.619 --> 00:42:15.280
 or in rugby

00:42:15.280 --> 00:42:16.360
 or perhaps even

00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:17.380
 in a different sport

00:42:17.380 --> 00:42:18.860
 for Eric Liddow

00:42:18.860 --> 00:42:20.099
 the most important

00:42:20.099 --> 00:42:20.599
 thing

00:42:20.599 --> 00:42:22.059
 was that in his life

00:42:22.059 --> 00:42:22.940
 he should

00:42:22.940 --> 00:42:23.559
 honour

00:42:23.559 --> 00:42:24.579
 God

00:42:24.579 --> 00:42:25.739
 and that's where

00:42:25.739 --> 00:42:26.380
 we should be

00:42:26.380 --> 00:42:26.980
 as well

00:42:26.980 --> 00:42:28.440
 that it's not

00:42:28.440 --> 00:42:29.460
 about the greed

00:42:29.460 --> 00:42:31.539
 of Hophni and Phinehas

00:42:31.539 --> 00:42:32.679
 it's certainly

00:42:32.679 --> 00:42:33.380
 not about

00:42:33.380 --> 00:42:34.539
 ignoring God's

00:42:34.539 --> 00:42:34.900
 will

00:42:34.900 --> 00:42:36.000
 and his way

00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:37.259
 and of bringing

00:42:37.259 --> 00:42:38.000
 others down

00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:39.400
 in their faith

00:42:39.400 --> 00:42:41.019
 rather like

00:42:41.019 --> 00:42:41.559
 Samuel

00:42:41.559 --> 00:42:42.860
 like Eric Liddow

00:42:42.860 --> 00:42:43.799
 like the Lord

00:42:43.799 --> 00:42:44.199
 Jesus

00:42:44.199 --> 00:42:46.179
 our greatest desire

00:42:46.179 --> 00:42:46.799
 should be

00:42:46.799 --> 00:42:47.779
 that God's name

00:42:47.779 --> 00:42:48.639
 is glorified

00:42:48.639 --> 00:42:50.019
 and that we serve

00:42:50.019 --> 00:42:50.319
 him

00:42:50.319 --> 00:42:51.619
 and that we live

00:42:51.619 --> 00:42:52.519
 for him

00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:53.619
 and that for me

00:42:53.619 --> 00:42:54.320
 is the challenge

00:42:54.320 --> 00:42:55.920
 of 1 Samuel 2

00:42:55.920 --> 00:42:57.800
 in my life

00:42:57.800 --> 00:42:59.280
 do I really

00:42:59.280 --> 00:43:00.940
 honour God

00:43:00.940 --> 00:43:02.719
 do I put God

00:43:02.719 --> 00:43:03.259
 first

00:43:03.259 --> 00:43:04.199
 or are there

00:43:04.199 --> 00:43:05.039
 lots of other

00:43:05.039 --> 00:43:05.920
 things that I put

00:43:05.920 --> 00:43:06.619
 ahead of them

00:43:06.619 --> 00:43:07.340
 that are to do

00:43:07.340 --> 00:43:08.759
 with my selfishness

00:43:08.759 --> 00:43:10.280
 and my ambition

00:43:10.280 --> 00:43:11.659
 for myself

00:43:11.659 --> 00:43:12.920
 and I challenge

00:43:12.920 --> 00:43:13.400
 all of us

00:43:13.400 --> 00:43:14.179
 as we go away

00:43:14.179 --> 00:43:14.639
 tonight

00:43:14.639 --> 00:43:15.679
 to think about

00:43:15.679 --> 00:43:17.199
 am I honouring

00:43:17.199 --> 00:43:18.039
 God

00:43:18.039 --> 00:43:19.559
 or are there

00:43:19.559 --> 00:43:20.380
 things that bring

00:43:20.380 --> 00:43:21.900
 horror to God's

00:43:21.900 --> 00:43:22.220
 heart

00:43:22.220 --> 00:43:22.639
 I would bring

00:43:22.639 --> 00:43:23.220
 horror to the

00:43:23.220 --> 00:43:23.940
 heart of others

00:43:23.940 --> 00:43:24.820
 if they knew

00:43:24.820 --> 00:43:25.420
 about them

00:43:25.420 --> 00:43:26.539
 about the sin

00:43:26.539 --> 00:43:27.780
 in my life

00:43:27.780 --> 00:43:28.700
 if there are

00:43:28.700 --> 00:43:29.180
 things that are

00:43:29.180 --> 00:43:29.880
 holding us back

00:43:29.880 --> 00:43:30.559
 let's confess

00:43:30.559 --> 00:43:31.559
 them before God

00:43:31.559 --> 00:43:32.559
 and let's go

00:43:32.559 --> 00:43:33.780
 ahead and live

00:43:33.780 --> 00:43:34.260
 for him

00:43:34.260 --> 00:43:35.519
 and serve him

00:43:35.519 --> 00:43:36.820
 and honour him

00:43:36.820 --> 00:43:38.200
 let's pray together

00:43:38.200 --> 00:43:40.720
 Father we thank you

00:43:40.720 --> 00:43:41.200
 for your word

00:43:41.200 --> 00:43:41.760
 we thank you

00:43:41.760 --> 00:43:42.400
 that even those

00:43:42.400 --> 00:43:42.900
 passages

00:43:42.900 --> 00:43:44.119
 where there is

00:43:44.119 --> 00:43:44.680
 judgment

00:43:44.680 --> 00:43:45.860
 where there is

00:43:45.860 --> 00:43:46.300
 evil

00:43:46.300 --> 00:43:48.099
 where there is

00:43:48.099 --> 00:43:49.680
 apparent darkness

00:43:49.679 --> 00:43:51.199
 yet we can see

00:43:51.199 --> 00:43:51.899
 you at work

00:43:51.899 --> 00:43:52.480
 and there are

00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:53.059
 things that we

00:43:53.059 --> 00:43:53.819
 can learn from

00:43:53.819 --> 00:43:54.139
 them

00:43:54.139 --> 00:43:55.259
 and we thank you

00:43:55.259 --> 00:43:55.779
 even in the

00:43:55.779 --> 00:43:56.559
 darkest days

00:43:56.559 --> 00:43:57.319
 even the most

00:43:57.319 --> 00:43:58.139
 difficult times

00:43:58.139 --> 00:43:58.919
 as was the case

00:43:58.919 --> 00:43:59.919
 as Samuel was

00:43:59.919 --> 00:44:00.519
 growing up

00:44:00.519 --> 00:44:01.639
 that you are

00:44:01.639 --> 00:44:02.059
 at work

00:44:02.059 --> 00:44:03.019
 often quietly

00:44:03.019 --> 00:44:04.399
 often unseen

00:44:04.399 --> 00:44:05.279
 at that point

00:44:05.279 --> 00:44:06.500
 but yet you are

00:44:06.500 --> 00:44:07.299
 raising up people

00:44:07.299 --> 00:44:08.139
 to serve you

00:44:08.139 --> 00:44:09.759
 and to live for you

00:44:09.759 --> 00:44:11.019
 we bid you help

00:44:11.019 --> 00:44:11.639
 each of us

00:44:11.639 --> 00:44:12.599
 to be true

00:44:12.599 --> 00:44:13.179
 servants

00:44:13.179 --> 00:44:14.019
 of you

00:44:14.019 --> 00:44:14.900
 and of our

00:44:14.900 --> 00:44:15.300
 Lord

00:44:15.300 --> 00:44:16.360
 that we may

00:44:16.360 --> 00:44:17.039
 honour you

00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:18.759
 and so we know

00:44:18.759 --> 00:44:19.519
 that we are

00:44:19.519 --> 00:44:19.900
 never

00:44:19.900 --> 00:44:20.880
 you are never

00:44:20.880 --> 00:44:21.559
 any man's

00:44:21.559 --> 00:44:21.880
 debtor

00:44:21.880 --> 00:44:22.400
 and as we

00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:23.239
 seek to honour

00:44:23.239 --> 00:44:23.579
 you

00:44:23.579 --> 00:44:24.579
 that we will

00:44:24.579 --> 00:44:25.300
 receive back

00:44:25.300 --> 00:44:26.400
 much much more

00:44:26.400 --> 00:44:27.239
 than we could

00:44:27.239 --> 00:44:27.920
 ever give

00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:28.639
 to you

00:44:28.639 --> 00:44:29.440
 we thank you

00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:30.099
 for the great

00:44:30.099 --> 00:44:30.900
 grace that we've

00:44:30.900 --> 00:44:31.539
 received through

00:44:31.539 --> 00:44:32.259
 the Lord Jesus

00:44:32.259 --> 00:44:33.440
 and for the

00:44:33.440 --> 00:44:34.059
 daily grace

00:44:34.059 --> 00:44:34.780
 that we receive

00:44:34.780 --> 00:44:35.380
 from you

00:44:35.380 --> 00:44:36.639
 help us never

00:44:36.639 --> 00:44:37.199
 to take it

00:44:37.199 --> 00:44:37.699
 for granted

00:44:37.699 --> 00:44:39.000
 help us in our

00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:40.039
 lives to seek

00:44:40.039 --> 00:44:40.719
 to honour you

00:44:40.719 --> 00:44:42.039
 and to serve you

00:44:42.039 --> 00:44:42.679
 we thank you

00:44:42.679 --> 00:44:43.059
 for this time

00:44:43.059 --> 00:44:43.800
 together this evening

00:44:43.800 --> 00:44:44.320
 we thank you

00:44:44.320 --> 00:44:44.920
 for your word

00:44:44.920 --> 00:44:45.740
 and we pray

00:44:45.740 --> 00:44:45.940
 to you

00:44:45.940 --> 00:44:46.380
 bless it

00:44:46.380 --> 00:44:47.080
 to our hearts

00:44:47.080 --> 00:44:47.960
 and help us

00:44:47.960 --> 00:44:48.840
 to live for you

00:44:48.840 --> 00:44:49.720
 for our Lord

00:44:49.720 --> 00:44:50.660
 Jesus this week

00:44:50.660 --> 00:44:52.019
 we ask in his name

00:44:52.019 --> 00:44:52.920
 Amen