WEBVTT

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 Our sermon passage is the entire chapter of 1 Samuel chapter 23.

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! So please turn to 1 Samuel chapter 23.

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! I'll read these 29 verses trusting that it's God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, sufficient word.

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 It's God's very own word for you and me, his people.

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 1 Samuel chapter 23.

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 Then they told David, saying,

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 Look, the Philistines are fighting against Calah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.

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 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying,

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 Shall I go and attack these Philistines?

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 And the Lord said to David,

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 Go and attack the Philistines and save Calah.

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 But David's men said to him,

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 Look, we are afraid here in Judah.

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 How much more if we go to Calah against the armies of the Philistines?

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 Then David inquired of the Lord once again.

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 And the Lord answered him and said,

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 Arise, go down to Calah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.

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 And David and his men went to Calah and fought with the Philistines,

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 struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock.

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 So David saved the inhabitants of Calah.

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 Now it happened when Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech,

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 fled to David and Calah,

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 that he went down with an ephod in his hand.

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 And Saul was told that David had gone to Calah.

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 So Saul said,

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 Go and deliver him into my hand,

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 for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.

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 Then Saul called all the people together for war.

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 Go down to Calah to besiege David and his men.

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 When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him,

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 he said to Abiathar the priest,

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 Bring the ephod here.

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 Then David said,

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 O Lord God of Israel,

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 your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Calah

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 to destroy the city for my sake.

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 Will the men of Calah deliver me into his hand?

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 Will Saul come down as your servant has heard?

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 O Lord God of Israel,

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 I pray, tell your servant.

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 And the Lord said,

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 He will come down.

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 Then David said,

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 Will the men of Calah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?

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 And the Lord said,

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 They will deliver you.

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 So David and his men,

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 about 600,

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 arose and departed from Calah

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 and went wherever they could go.

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 Then it was told Saul

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 that David had escaped from Calah,

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 so he halted the expedition.

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 And David stayed in the strongholds in the wilderness

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 and remained in the mountains of the wilderness of Ziph.

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 Saul sought him every day,

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 but God did not deliver him into his hand.

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 So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life,

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 and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a forest.

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 Then Jonathan, Saul's son,

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 arose and went to David in the woods

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 and strengthened his hand in God.

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 And he said to him,

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 Do not fear,

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 for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you.

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 You shall be king over Israel,

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 and I shall be next to you.

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 Even my father Saul knows that.

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 So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord,

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 and David stayed in the woods,

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 and Jonathan went to his own house.

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 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah,

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 saying,

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 Is David not hiding with us in the strongholds in the woods,

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 in the hill of Makalah,

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 which is on the south of Jeshimon?

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 Now therefore, O king,

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 come down according to all the desire of your soul

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 to come down,

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 and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.

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 And Saul said,

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 Blessed are you of the Lord,

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 for you have compassion on me.

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 Please go and find out for sure,

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 and see the place where his hideout is,

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 and who has seen him there.

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 For I am told he is very crafty.

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 See therefore,

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 and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides,

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 and come back to me with certainty,

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 and I will go with you.

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 And it shall be,

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 if he is in the land,

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 that I will search for him

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 throughout all the clans of Judah.

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 So they arose,

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 and went to Ziph before Saul.

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 But David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon,

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 in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

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 When Saul and his men went to seek him,

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 they told David,

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 therefore,

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 he went back,

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 he went down to the rock,

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 and stayed in the wilderness of Maon.

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 And when Saul heard that,

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 he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.

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 Then Saul went on his side of the mountain,

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 and David and his men went on the other side of the mountain.

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 So David made haste to get away from Saul,

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 and Saul and his men were encircling David,

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 and his men to take them.

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 But a messenger came to Saul,

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 saying,

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 Hurry,

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 and come,

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 for the Philistines have invaded the land.

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 Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David,

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 and went against the Philistines.

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 So they called that place the rock of escape.

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 Then David went up from there,

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 and dwelt in the strongholds at En Gedi.

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 The word of God for the people of God.

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 Thanks be to God.

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 Please be seated.

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 The grass withers,

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 the flower fades,

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 but the word of the Lord,

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 every last word,

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 endures forever.

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 Let's pray.

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 Oh Lord,

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 we thank you for how you have acted

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 with such power throughout redemptive history.

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 We thank you for how you haven't let your actions go

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 forgotten by your people.

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 You've recorded them,

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 and you've poured out your spirit to interpret your word.

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 We thank you, Lord,

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 how every part of the Bible testifies

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 of your redemption ultimately in Jesus Christ.

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 We pray that by your spirit,

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 you'll help us to see who you are,

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 and what a wonderful, trustworthy,

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 sovereign Savior you are, Lord.

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 Please make this so clear to your people,

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 and we trust that you'll apply your truth to our lives

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 the way that each one needs it.

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 In this moment, we ask, Lord.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, our congregation has experienced difficult losses

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 this week.

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 There's intense stress in many homes.

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 There are unexplainable frustrations

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 that we can feel stuck in,

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 at least for a while.

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 Not one of us can fully understand

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 why things happen the way they do.

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 No one can make complete sense

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 out of those hardest experiences

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 that each one of us have to go through

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 at different points in our lives.

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 And this leaves us with two options.

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 It has to be one or the other.

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 The first option seems to be the path of Saul.

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 We can attempt to compensate for our smallness

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 and our weakness by trying to control

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 what is not ours to control.

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 Isn't that what Saul's doing?

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 Or number two,

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 with the Holy Spirit as our teacher,

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 this seems to be what he's doing for David,

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 we slowly learn to trust in God's complete,

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 sovereign power and total providence

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 over every aspect of our lives.

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 1 Samuel 23 is a wonderful illustration of this,

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 isn't it?

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 The theme of this whole chapter

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 is captured in verse 14.

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 Would you look at that?

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 Look at the second part of verse 14.

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 We read that Saul,

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 the wicked king Saul,

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 who's trying to control everything

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 and unwilling to let God

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 put who he wants on the throne over Israel,

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 Saul sought David every day,

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 but God did not deliver him into his hand.

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 Picture being Saul,

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 what should we do today?

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 Let's do what we did yesterday.

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 Let's try to capture David.

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 That's all he can obsess about.

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 And then David, on the other hand,

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 doesn't even have that luxury.

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 I don't get to pick what I want to do today.

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 I know what I'm doing.

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 I'm running away from Saul.

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 Every day.

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 But verse 14 interprets for us

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 all that's going on in this chapter.

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 God did not deliver him over.

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 David was preserved.

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 David escaped.

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 David was even perhaps crafty.

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 But it was God delivering him,

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 preserving him.

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 The second London Confession of Faith,

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 chapter 5, paragraph 1,

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 declares, professes what the Scripture says.

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 God, the good creator of all things,

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 in his infinite power and wisdom,

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 does uphold, direct, dispose.

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 That's a word we've got to come back to.

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 All things for his glory and our good.

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 Amen?

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 So Noah Webster's Dictionary, 1828,

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 helped me with that word I didn't understand.

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 Dispose.

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 I would think of a garbage disposal.

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 You know, it's getting rid of something.

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 But what the word dispose means,

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 it's rich.

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 It's to arrange things in order,

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 to adapt them for a purpose,

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 to bestow them upon others,

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 to incline the mind toward a choice,

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 conduct, guide,

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 and authoritatively determine

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 a final outcome.

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 It's the perfect word.

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 God disposes.

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 He sovereignly governs all things

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 for the final outcome

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 for which he intended them.

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 So brothers and sisters in the Lord,

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 the question for us today,

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 and it's really just an opportunity

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 to marvel and praise God,

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 it's how the Lord accomplishes his purposes.

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 It's how the Lord accomplishes his purposes.

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 That's my message for you today.

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 Let's see it first in verses 1 through 5.

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 Observe in these verses

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 how the Lord accomplishes his purposes

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 through hearing and answering prayer.

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 The Lord accomplishes his purposes,

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 and it's his pleasure to do this

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 even by hearing and answering our prayers.

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 Isn't that so good of him?

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 Look at verse 1.

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 They told David, saying,

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 Look, the Philistines,

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 we haven't heard about them for a while

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 because it's all been about Saul

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 being the bad guy, chasing him down.

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 The Philistines are fighting against Calah.

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 Calah is a city of the Israelites,

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 and they are robbing the threshing floors.

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 Can you picture the Philistine army

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 coming with all their iron weapons?

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 We know the Philistines also brought with them

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 their own supply chain,

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 so they brought livestock with them

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 to feed their own army and troops.

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 There's a lot of them,

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 and they're just going around

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 like it's taking candy from a baby,

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 taking food off the threshing floors

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 of the people of Israel in the south.

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 I wonder why the Philistines

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 came up with this idea to attack now.

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 You remember how the last chapter ended?

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 David was among the Philistines, right?

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 But he was acting crazy,

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 and he wasn't with Saul anymore.

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 And why is David on the run,

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 not in Israel,

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 acting crazy over here in our country,

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 in Gath?

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 That means a few things here.

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 That means David is the one

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 who God has worked mightily through.

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 We keep getting chased out

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 and beaten by God through David,

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 but remember how easy it was when it was Saul?

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 Look at David now.

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 It's just Saul over there.

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 God doesn't have a pattern of helping that king.

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 Let's go back.

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 Let's take over.

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 Verse 2.

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 Notice what David does.

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 Saul's making his own decisions,

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 and two times now,

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 even before the ephod of Abiathar,

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 which we'll talk about,

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 that's not even with him yet.

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 But look in verse 2.

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 David inquired of the Lord.

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 And then look again at verse 3.

00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:01.539
 David inquired of the Lord once again.

00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:07.100
 This is the wonderful point of application briefly.

00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:09.679
 What do we do, Lord?

00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:12.579
 What would you have us do?

00:13:14.459 --> 00:13:16.799
 Remember, the Lord will accomplish his purposes,

00:13:17.299 --> 00:13:19.240
 and it's God's pleasure to do that

00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:22.100
 through hearing and answering our prayers.

00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:25.000
 And this attack by the Philistines

00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:26.959
 stirred this up in David, his servant.

00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:28.440
 This is part of his preparation

00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:30.960
 as a man in submission to God.

00:13:32.660 --> 00:13:34.200
 Think of how our Lord Jesus,

00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:36.960
 according to his human nature,

00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:38.639
 was a man of prayer.

00:13:39.560 --> 00:13:40.580
 He needed to be.

00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:42.519
 Mark 1.35.

00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:45.820
 Jesus got up a long while before daylight,

00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:48.960
 and he went out and departed to a solitary place,

00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:51.379
 and there he prayed.

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:57.379
 Before big decisions in planting his church,

00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:58.820
 our Lord Jesus,

00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:01.700
 before calling the disciples in Luke 6.12,

00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:03.620
 he went out to the mountain to pray,

00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:07.259
 and continued all night in prayer to God.

00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:11.559
 Our Lord knew his dependence on God,

00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:14.639
 and how it's God's pleasure to accomplish his purpose

00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:16.740
 through hearing and answering prayer.

00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:20.500
 We even know that Jesus had a favorite place of prayer,

00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:21.240
 at least one.

00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:24.919
 He went there so often that Judas knew that's where he would be.

00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:27.439
 Luke 22.41 tells us,

00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:30.860
 Jesus withdrew from the disciples about a stone's throw,

00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:33.020
 and he knelt down and prayed,

00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:33.360
 saying,

00:14:33.540 --> 00:14:35.240
 Father, if it is your will,

00:14:36.780 --> 00:14:38.520
 yet not my will but yours be done.

00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:41.040
 And being in agony,

00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:44.360
 he prayed even more earnestly.

00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:48.899
 The Lord will accomplish his will,

00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:50.919
 his purposes in your life and in mine.

00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:53.500
 And one of the ways he's pleased to do that

00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:54.840
 is by us praying to him,

00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:56.919
 telling him what's hard,

00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:58.279
 agonizing,

00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:00.279
 even staying up all night praying,

00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:03.019
 as I know some of you have in the last few weeks.

00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:06.740
 Ephesians 6.18 encourages us,

00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.659
 as Christians, as a church,

00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:11.220
 we need to be people who are praying always,

00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:13.460
 with all prayer and supplication,

00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:14.440
 in the spirit,

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.820
 being watchful to this end,

00:15:15.900 --> 00:15:20.019
 with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:23.019
 Colossians 4.2,

00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:25.120
 continue earnestly in prayer,

00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:27.220
 being vigilant in it,

00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:29.139
 and with thanksgiving.

00:15:31.160 --> 00:15:33.080
 So when David inquired of the Lord,

00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:34.800
 shall I go and attack the Philistines?

00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:35.620
 Verse 2,

00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:37.200
 the Lord said to David,

00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.400
 we don't know how,

00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.560
 we're not given that detail.

00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:40.759
 It's in prayer.

00:15:41.280 --> 00:15:43.220
 It's without the help of the priest.

00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:47.080
 He knew to go and attack the Philistines,

00:15:47.300 --> 00:15:49.120
 and save this city,

00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:51.180
 that has walls and gates,

00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:52.240
 called Calah.

00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:53.720
 Verse 3,

00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:55.200
 but David's men said to him,

00:15:55.300 --> 00:15:55.500
 look,

00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:57.360
 we're afraid here in Judah.

00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:59.960
 Remember how they were in the stronghold,

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:02.019
 but God sent them back into the land of Judah,

00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.360
 into the forest,

00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:04.500
 and we didn't really know why.

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:04.960
 We're afraid.

00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:07.000
 We're afraid.

00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:10.519
 How much more if we actually go on the offensive now?

00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:11.720
 Go to Calah,

00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:13.600
 and attack the Philistine armies.

00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:17.159
 So David inquired of the Lord once again in verse 4.

00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:21.240
 And the Lord answered him again.

00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:22.939
 The Lord said,

00:16:23.079 --> 00:16:23.419
 arise,

00:16:23.579 --> 00:16:24.159
 go to Calah,

00:16:24.439 --> 00:16:28.779
 for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.

00:16:29.839 --> 00:16:31.659
 It's not David winning the battle.

00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:34.600
 It's not his 600 men going to win it.

00:16:34.819 --> 00:16:39.219
 It's the Lord delivering the Philistines one more time into his hand.

00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:42.139
 So David and his men went to Calah

00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:43.800
 and fought with the Philistines,

00:16:43.920 --> 00:16:46.180
 struck them with a mighty blow

00:16:46.180 --> 00:16:48.840
 by the power of the Lord we know,

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:53.080
 and took away their livestock while they were at it.

00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:55.160
 I'm sure they had a great barbecue that night.

00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.980
 These 600 men in hiding.

00:16:57.779 --> 00:17:00.980
 Notice the livestock is referring to the Philistines' livestock.

00:17:02.660 --> 00:17:03.399
 And so David,

00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:05.180
 by God's power,

00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:08.120
 saved the inhabitants of Calah.

00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:12.960
 because the Lord accomplished his purpose

00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:16.339
 through hearing and answering David's prayer.

00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:20.440
 The Lord hears your prayer,

00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:24.019
 and the Lord loves to answer our prayer

00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:26.380
 when it's in the mind of Christ,

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.980
 when it's according to his will,

00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:30.220
 when it's for his glory.

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:37.319
 Well, the second way in which the Lord accomplishes his purpose

00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:40.899
 is it really builds right off of what just happened.

00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:43.460
 It's even through selfishness,

00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:44.679
 betrayal,

00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:46.980
 and cruelty of men,

00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:51.079
 the Lord still accomplishes his purposes.

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:53.939
 We see this over and over in Scripture, don't we?

00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.200
 Men are evil.

00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:57.240
 Men do bad things,

00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:58.559
 intending harm,

00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:01.779
 and the Lord still somehow uses it

00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:03.879
 to accomplish his ultimate purpose.

00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:06.299
 So our second point is this,

00:18:06.379 --> 00:18:08.619
 that even through the selfishness,

00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.259
 betrayal,

00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:11.000
 and cruelty of men,

00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:13.359
 the Lord accomplishes his purposes.

00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:15.299
 Verse 6 reads,

00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:17.299
 Now it happened when Abiathar,

00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:18.440
 the son of Ahimelech,

00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:20.099
 fled to David at Calah,

00:18:20.639 --> 00:18:23.839
 that he went down with an ephod in his hand.

00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:26.099
 The ephod in his hand

00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:27.279
 is what the priest would put on

00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:29.039
 over their linen garments.

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:31.119
 We don't know a lot about this,

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:33.679
 but there was something called the Urim,

00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:35.339
 I always say it wrong,

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.679
 Urim and Thunim,

00:18:37.459 --> 00:18:40.459
 and it was a binary way of determining God's will.

00:18:40.459 --> 00:18:42.959
 Like a God-directed,

00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:46.419
 Holy Spirit-governed,

00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:48.459
 you know, disposed way of telling

00:18:48.459 --> 00:18:49.859
 yes or no to an answer.

00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:52.799
 And so the priest brings that along,

00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.399
 and remember,

00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:54.519
 Saul had left himself

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:56.359
 without any way of seeking the will of God.

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.579
 He killed all the other priests.

00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.819
 There's one priest left.

00:18:59.339 --> 00:18:59.899
 And even said,

00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:01.519
 it even made the connection with the language,

00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:04.180
 all those priests that Saul killed

00:19:04.180 --> 00:19:06.139
 were the ones wearing an ephod.

00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:07.480
 They're all dead now.

00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:09.879
 How can Saul seek the will of the Lord

00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:11.279
 in the ways that God has given them?

00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:14.200
 There's one who can seek the will of the Lord,

00:19:14.419 --> 00:19:16.079
 and it's David,

00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.619
 because the priest is with him.

00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:20.279
 In verse 7, we read this,

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:22.420
 Saul was told that David had gone to Cala.

00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:25.000
 So here are spies everywhere,

00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:26.379
 and the word gets back to Saul.

00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:27.940
 So Saul said,

00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:29.720
 God has delivered him into my hand,

00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:32.019
 for he has shut himself in

00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:33.099
 by entering a town

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:34.940
 that has gates and bars.

00:19:35.899 --> 00:19:37.000
 Remember on the Psalms

00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:38.579
 where David compares himself

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.639
 to a caged bird?

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:42.119
 This might be the inspiration

00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:43.039
 for that feeling.

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.299
 In verse 8,

00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:46.440
 Then Saul called all the people together

00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:47.159
 for war

00:19:47.159 --> 00:19:48.599
 to go down to Cala

00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:51.240
 and besiege David and his men.

00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.639
 To besiege a town

00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:55.539
 is to take your vast army

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:57.099
 and surround it on all sides,

00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.659
 cut off their water supply,

00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:00.399
 cut off their access to food,

00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:01.559
 and then just wait

00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:03.159
 and let them starve

00:20:03.159 --> 00:20:04.519
 and become weak and desperate

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:06.159
 so that the people inside

00:20:06.159 --> 00:20:07.059
 that are besieged

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.779
 will send a representative out

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:10.519
 who will make a negotiation

00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:11.859
 and settle for

00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:14.039
 very unfavorable terms.

00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.879
 And Saul will now dominate

00:20:15.879 --> 00:20:16.799
 all of them.

00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:18.700
 And so of course

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.599
 the people of Cala

00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.680
 know this is coming.

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.799
 They will likely all die

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.339
 or become enslaved to Saul

00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:25.799
 and have to pay him taxes

00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:26.900
 for the rest of their life

00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:28.379
 at an even higher rate.

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.460
 Verse 9,

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.920
 When David knew that Saul

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:33.379
 plotted evil against him,

00:20:33.379 --> 00:20:35.940
 he said to Abiathar the priest,

00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.639
 Bring the ephod here.

00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:40.740
 One commentator

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.860
 from a long time ago

00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:42.660
 observed,

00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:45.120
 No sooner was the ephod

00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:46.160
 brought to David

00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.860
 than he made use of it.

00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:50.259
 We have the Bible

00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:51.860
 in our hands.

00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:54.080
 Let us make use of it.

00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:56.940
 Let's encourage one another.

00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:58.880
 You're surrounded by believers

00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:01.460
 who trust the Word of God

00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:04.200
 as His breathed out will of God.

00:21:04.600 --> 00:21:05.580
 We know His will.

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.620
 And to encourage one another,

00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:09.240
 to give everybody else a visual,

00:21:09.360 --> 00:21:10.740
 lift up your Bible

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.960
 so everybody can see

00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:13.560
 these are people of the book.

00:21:14.320 --> 00:21:16.180
 And we turn to the Word of God.

00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:18.040
 We have it in hand

00:21:18.040 --> 00:21:19.259
 and we make use of it

00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:20.800
 to know the Lord's will.

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:23.960
 Verse 10,

00:21:24.060 --> 00:21:24.759
 David said,

00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:26.300
 O Lord God of Israel,

00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:28.180
 your servant has certainly heard

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:30.720
 that Saul seeks to come to Cala

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.980
 to destroy the city

00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:33.580
 for my sake.

00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.100
 Remember,

00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:36.000
 he already was feeling

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.960
 in the previous chapter,

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.380
 all the priests died

00:21:38.380 --> 00:21:39.160
 for my sake.

00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.720
 This was my fault.

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:42.259
 I can't have even more blood

00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:42.980
 on my hands.

00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:44.440
 Verse 11,

00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.660
 Will the men of Cala

00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:47.779
 deliver me into Saul's hand?

00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.099
 Now,

00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.599
 put your finger right there

00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:51.660
 in the middle of verse 11,

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:53.259
 but look back at verse 5.

00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.500
 Remember what it says

00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.319
 in verse 5?

00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:58.000
 David saved

00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:00.019
 saved the inhabitants

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.859
 of Cala.

00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:04.319
 These are the exact same people

00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.819
 he just saved

00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:06.960
 by God's power.

00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.099
 And so he,

00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:09.299
 you've got to double check

00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.259
 this one with the Lord.

00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.660
 Will Saul come down

00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:13.880
 as your servant has said?

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.720
 O Lord God of Israel,

00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:16.920
 I pray tell your servant.

00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.500
 Verse 11,

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.440
 the Lord said

00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.240
 he will come down.

00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:20.819
 Verse 12,

00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:21.819
 David said,

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:23.240
 Will the men of Cala

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:24.579
 deliver me

00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:26.039
 and my men

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.160
 into the hand of Saul?

00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:29.660
 Rather than their whole city

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.380
 being besieged,

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.640
 just take them.

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.759
 That's who you want.

00:22:32.820 --> 00:22:33.540
 Leave us alone.

00:22:34.540 --> 00:22:35.400
 The Lord said

00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:36.800
 they will deliver you.

00:22:38.600 --> 00:22:39.200
 Verse 13,

00:22:39.300 --> 00:22:40.300
 So David and his men

00:22:40.300 --> 00:22:41.759
 about 600 arose

00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:44.080
 and departed from Cala

00:22:44.080 --> 00:22:45.880
 and went wherever

00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:47.420
 they could go.

00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:50.120
 600 men

00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:52.220
 on the height

00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:53.180
 of a great victory

00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:56.420
 enjoying a great barbecue

00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:59.300
 now going.

00:22:59.560 --> 00:23:00.259
 Doesn't even say

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.980
 where they went.

00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:02.220
 They just scattered.

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.600
 They went

00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:04.680
 wherever they could go,

00:23:04.800 --> 00:23:05.400
 probably taking

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:06.660
 a little bit of livestock

00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:07.480
 with them each.

00:23:08.800 --> 00:23:09.960
 And then it was told Saul

00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:10.500
 that David

00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.920
 had escaped from Cala

00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.200
 so he halted

00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:13.980
 the expedition.

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:17.319
 We have to see

00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:18.160
 a shadow here

00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:20.460
 of the great

00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.360
 anointed king

00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:22.360
 that was to come.

00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:24.880
 The one

00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.860
 who came

00:23:25.860 --> 00:23:27.059
 for the purpose

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.900
 of delivering

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:29.259
 these people

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.860
 that are helpless

00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:31.000
 from the real enemy,

00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:31.819
 the Philistines.

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:35.500
 Their deliverer now

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:37.640
 sent away from them

00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:39.360
 outside the city,

00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:41.599
 driven away

00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:42.779
 by the very people

00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:44.959
 he just came

00:23:44.959 --> 00:23:45.439
 to save.

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.059
 But the Lord

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:52.539
 through the selfishness,

00:23:52.939 --> 00:23:53.439
 betrayal,

00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:54.679
 and cruelty

00:23:54.679 --> 00:23:55.319
 of men,

00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.859
 the Lord still

00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:58.159
 accomplishes

00:23:58.159 --> 00:23:59.359
 his purposes.

00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.000
 And he did this

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.459
 through the Lord

00:24:01.459 --> 00:24:02.259
 Jesus Christ.

00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.799
 You and I

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:06.079
 are the betrayers.

00:24:07.219 --> 00:24:08.299
 We are enemies

00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:09.019
 of God.

00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:11.039
 You and I

00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:12.720
 have every seed

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.539
 known to man,

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.180
 as Robert Murray

00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:14.799
 Mishane said,

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.559
 is in our heart.

00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.639
 We're capable

00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:18.960
 of any cruelty.

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.839
 Left to ourselves,

00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:22.240
 we are the most

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:22.960
 selfish people.

00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:24.779
 And yet,

00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.460
 we're the ones

00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:26.220
 the Lord Jesus

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:27.279
 came to save.

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.940
 He suffered

00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:31.419
 outside the city gate.

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.659
 His disciples

00:24:33.659 --> 00:24:34.539
 were scattered.

00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:35.559
 That same imagery,

00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.039
 isn't it?

00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.700
 They went

00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.359
 wherever they

00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:38.920
 could go.

00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:41.139
 And yet,

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:41.879
 our Lord did this

00:24:41.879 --> 00:24:42.559
 to accomplish

00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.240
 his purpose,

00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:43.899
 to show that

00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:44.659
 our salvation

00:24:44.659 --> 00:24:46.240
 is not anything

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.019
 we have done,

00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:48.599
 nothing we contribute,

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.139
 but it's all

00:24:50.139 --> 00:24:51.039
 of his grace.

00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:51.339
 Amen?

00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:54.059
 Number three,

00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:55.480
 when it seems

00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.759
 impossible for God

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.379
 to accomplish

00:24:57.379 --> 00:24:58.819
 his purposes,

00:24:59.139 --> 00:25:00.039
 he reminds you

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:01.299
 of his presence.

00:25:01.879 --> 00:25:02.879
 When it seems

00:25:02.879 --> 00:25:04.220
 impossible for God

00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:05.380
 to accomplish

00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:06.180
 his purposes,

00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:07.640
 he reminds you

00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:09.220
 the very best

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.480
 comfort we could

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:10.960
 have,

00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.259
 his presence

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:13.259
 with us.

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:14.539
 Remember,

00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.140
 David's men

00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:15.779
 are scattered.

00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.299
 We don't know

00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:16.960
 how much time

00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:17.759
 passes.

00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:20.259
 The very people

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.000
 in Judah,

00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.920
 the city he delivered

00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:23.819
 by God's power,

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:24.980
 betrayed him.

00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.400
 Where can I go?

00:25:26.860 --> 00:25:27.539
 How is God

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.000
 ever going to

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.700
 keep his promise

00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:30.100
 and establish

00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:30.680
 a kingdom

00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:31.500
 through me

00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.079
 like he said?

00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:32.519
 I don't even

00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.319
 want it anymore.

00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:34.179
 He can almost

00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:34.740
 hear him saying.

00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.579
 In verse 14,

00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:39.139
 we pick up again.

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:40.939
 David stayed

00:25:40.939 --> 00:25:42.099
 in strongholds

00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:43.179
 in the wilderness

00:25:43.179 --> 00:25:44.639
 and remained

00:25:44.639 --> 00:25:45.539
 in the mountains

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.799
 in the wilderness

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.500
 of Ziph.

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.539
 The focus here

00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.019
 in these verses

00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.759
 is to a lot

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.460
 of geography,

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.159
 topography,

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.980
 and it's probably

00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:54.740
 because they came

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.679
 to know these places

00:25:55.679 --> 00:25:56.439
 very intimately.

00:25:56.639 --> 00:25:57.159
 This was their

00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:57.859
 new home now.

00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.779
 From what I researched

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.599
 about the wilderness

00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:02.259
 of Ziph,

00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.359
 Ziph was the name

00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:03.899
 of the city.

00:26:04.179 --> 00:26:04.799
 It's in the hill

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.699
 country of Judah.

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.339
 The city sat

00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:08.339
 on a high ridge

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.199
 overlooking the

00:26:09.199 --> 00:26:10.539
 Judean wilderness

00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.399
 to the east.

00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:12.779
 The limestone

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:14.539
 geology of this area

00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.519
 is honeycombed

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.459
 with caves,

00:26:16.959 --> 00:26:17.779
 and these served

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.959
 as natural bunkers

00:26:18.959 --> 00:26:19.980
 where David's men

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.839
 could hide

00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:22.099
 in total darkness

00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:22.980
 while monitoring

00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:24.299
 Saul's movements

00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:25.319
 in the bright

00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:26.339
 valley below.

00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:29.039
 Remember,

00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.720
 Saul sought David

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.679
 every day,

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.359
 verse 14,

00:26:32.459 --> 00:26:33.539
 but God did not

00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:34.319
 deliver him

00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:35.519
 into his hand.

00:26:36.919 --> 00:26:37.759
 Verse 15,

00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.639
 so David saw

00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.539
 that Saul had come

00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.759
 out to seek his life.

00:26:41.899 --> 00:26:43.439
 Saul seeking his life.

00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:45.059
 One of the Psalms

00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:46.220
 inspired during this time

00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:48.099
 was Psalm 63, 9,

00:26:48.199 --> 00:26:48.799
 which mirrors

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:50.139
 that phrasing exactly.

00:26:51.179 --> 00:26:51.779
 In that Psalm,

00:26:51.899 --> 00:26:52.359
 David wrote,

00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:53.240
 those who seek

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.919
 my life

00:26:53.919 --> 00:26:55.059
 to destroy it.

00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:57.720
 shall go

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.779
 into the lower

00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:00.259
 parts of the earth.

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.619
 For eternity,

00:27:03.439 --> 00:27:04.619
 they will lose.

00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.980
 Verse 15,

00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:08.679
 David was in the wilderness

00:27:08.679 --> 00:27:09.699
 of Ziph

00:27:09.699 --> 00:27:10.679
 in a forest.

00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:12.779
 This forest provided

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:14.099
 that coverage

00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:15.279
 and camouflage

00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.720
 for his 600 men,

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.379
 making it even more

00:27:18.379 --> 00:27:19.980
 difficult for Saul's men

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.759
 to spot them.

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.759
 In this wilderness,

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.559
 Psalm 63, verse 1,

00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:25.799
 David cried out.

00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.779
 It gives us an insight

00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:28.339
 into what he and his men

00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:29.639
 might have been experiencing.

00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:33.259
 My soul thirsts for you.

00:27:33.879 --> 00:27:35.839
 My flesh longs for you

00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:38.839
 in a dry and thirsty land.

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:42.879
 And look at how the Lord

00:27:42.879 --> 00:27:44.759
 answers David's prayer

00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.579
 from the wilderness,

00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.399
 crying out.

00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.339
 Verse 16,

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:51.679
 Then,

00:27:51.899 --> 00:27:52.619
 Jonathan.

00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:55.319
 The Lord stirred his heart

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:56.139
 in that moment

00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:57.259
 when David needed

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:57.939
 the encouragement.

00:27:59.339 --> 00:27:59.759
 Jonathan,

00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:00.659
 Saul's son,

00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.419
 arose

00:28:01.419 --> 00:28:03.399
 and went to David

00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:04.159
 in the woods

00:28:04.159 --> 00:28:05.480
 and strengthened

00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:07.000
 David's hand,

00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:07.559
 how?

00:28:07.919 --> 00:28:08.720
 In God.

00:28:10.399 --> 00:28:11.159
 That's the type

00:28:11.159 --> 00:28:11.939
 of Christian friend

00:28:11.939 --> 00:28:12.659
 we need to be

00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:13.319
 for one another.

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:15.099
 And that's the type

00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:15.859
 of Christian friend

00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:16.919
 no Christian can do

00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.320
 without.

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:19.100
 Someone who the Lord

00:28:19.100 --> 00:28:20.019
 will stir their heart.

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.220
 They'll come visit you

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:22.840
 or call you

00:28:22.840 --> 00:28:23.519
 or text you

00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:25.500
 and they will strengthen

00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:27.440
 your hand in God.

00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:29.380
 The only source

00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:30.019
 of strength.

00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:34.080
 Verse 17,

00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.420
 Jonathan said to David,

00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:37.080
 Do not fear

00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:38.559
 for the hand of Saul

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.179
 my father

00:28:39.179 --> 00:28:40.439
 shall not find you.

00:28:41.939 --> 00:28:43.439
 You shall be king

00:28:43.439 --> 00:28:44.460
 over Israel

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:47.159
 and I shall be next

00:28:47.159 --> 00:28:47.919
 to you.

00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:48.939
 Even my father

00:28:48.939 --> 00:28:49.699
 Saul knows that.

00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:52.839
 I don't think

00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:54.019
 Jonathan is telling

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.799
 the future here

00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.839
 serving as a prophet.

00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.480
 I think the Lord

00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.879
 has shown Jonathan

00:28:59.879 --> 00:29:01.519
 the promised

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.359
 anointed one,

00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.240
 the redemption

00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:04.079
 of God's people,

00:29:04.179 --> 00:29:04.759
 the deliverer,

00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.899
 the shadow of Christ

00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:06.679
 is David.

00:29:07.639 --> 00:29:08.599
 And that grace

00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:09.519
 ministered to Jonathan

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.220
 so much.

00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:10.639
 He said,

00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.500
 I'm by your side.

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.179
 I'm with what God

00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:13.679
 is doing.

00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:16.659
 Jonathan didn't know

00:29:16.659 --> 00:29:18.039
 he would die in war.

00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:18.799
 He would never be

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.720
 by David's side

00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:20.519
 as king.

00:29:21.919 --> 00:29:22.799
 But his heart

00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:23.500
 was with David.

00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:26.319
 And it's true,

00:29:26.399 --> 00:29:27.079
 the Lord has made

00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:27.579
 a promise

00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:28.179
 and Jonathan

00:29:28.179 --> 00:29:29.319
 is reminding David,

00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.659
 trust God's promise.

00:29:31.199 --> 00:29:32.179
 He will establish

00:29:32.179 --> 00:29:32.759
 his kingdom.

00:29:33.699 --> 00:29:34.740
 Do not fear

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.419
 man.

00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:38.399
 Psalm 54

00:29:38.399 --> 00:29:39.500
 is another one

00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.759
 that God breathed out

00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.359
 through David

00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:42.619
 with this context.

00:29:43.659 --> 00:29:44.379
 David cries out

00:29:44.379 --> 00:29:45.000
 in verse 4,

00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:45.699
 Behold,

00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:47.740
 God is my helper.

00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:48.699
 The Lord

00:29:48.699 --> 00:29:49.599
 is with those

00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.740
 who uphold

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.480
 my life.

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.059
 It's Jonathan

00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:54.299
 here propping him up,

00:29:54.659 --> 00:29:55.720
 upholding his life

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.799
 and he takes it

00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.419
 as a ministry

00:29:57.419 --> 00:29:58.079
 of the Lord.

00:29:58.639 --> 00:29:59.000
 The Lord

00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:00.099
 is with Jonathan

00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:01.439
 serving me

00:30:01.439 --> 00:30:01.960
 this way.

00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:03.600
 It's the presence

00:30:03.600 --> 00:30:04.279
 of the Lord

00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.019
 with me

00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:06.380
 through Jonathan.

00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:10.640
 I will freely

00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:12.400
 sacrifice to you

00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:13.680
 and praise your name,

00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:14.799
 O Lord,

00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:16.420
 for it is good.

00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:18.259
 And look at exactly

00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:18.880
 what they do

00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:20.200
 in verse 18.

00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:21.700
 The two of them

00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.779
 made a covenant

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:24.700
 before the Lord.

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:27.819
 they renew

00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.880
 this pledge

00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:31.319
 to show

00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:32.200
 God's

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.259
 covenant faithfulness

00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:34.160
 one to another

00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:35.799
 in the presence

00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.460
 of God.

00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.740
 I will freely

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.340
 sacrifice

00:30:40.340 --> 00:30:41.019
 to you,

00:30:41.120 --> 00:30:41.460
 O Lord.

00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:42.160
 I will praise

00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:42.680
 your name,

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.140
 O Lord,

00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:44.080
 for it is good.

00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:45.400
 They worship

00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:46.220
 God together.

00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:48.080
 Verse 18,

00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:49.160
 So the two of them

00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:52.519
 made this covenant

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.380
 but then David

00:30:53.380 --> 00:30:54.320
 stayed in the woods

00:30:54.320 --> 00:30:55.040
 and Jonathan

00:30:55.040 --> 00:30:56.680
 went to his own house.

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.360
 And this is

00:30:58.360 --> 00:30:59.060
 where the scene

00:30:59.060 --> 00:30:59.640
 picks up.

00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.860
 It's back in Gibeah,

00:31:01.100 --> 00:31:02.320
 the land of the Benjamites,

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.000
 not in Judah

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.980
 where David's from.

00:31:05.580 --> 00:31:06.700
 And another twist

00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.820
 in our story happens.

00:31:08.040 --> 00:31:08.860
 In verse 19,

00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.960
 then the Ziphites,

00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:13.160
 the people of Ziph,

00:31:14.300 --> 00:31:15.400
 also from Judah,

00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.960
 go all the way up

00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:19.559
 to Saul

00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:20.440
 at Gibeah

00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:21.360
 to the land

00:31:21.360 --> 00:31:21.860
 of Benjamin.

00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.019
 They're going

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:24.140
 out of their way

00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:25.600
 to tell Saul

00:31:25.600 --> 00:31:26.720
 where their fellow

00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.620
 man from Judah

00:31:27.620 --> 00:31:28.259
 is hiding.

00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:29.860
 Is David not

00:31:29.860 --> 00:31:31.140
 hiding with us

00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:31.980
 in the strongholds

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.480
 in the woods?

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:36.259
 This is betrayal

00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:37.259
 once again now.

00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.600
 He just got betrayed

00:31:38.600 --> 00:31:39.600
 by those

00:31:39.600 --> 00:31:40.519
 he delivered

00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:41.420
 by God's power

00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:42.120
 and now he's being

00:31:42.120 --> 00:31:43.539
 betrayed again

00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.740
 by his fellow

00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:45.460
 Judeans.

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:48.259
 And they say to Saul,

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:49.120
 come king,

00:31:49.600 --> 00:31:50.319
 come down

00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:51.100
 according to all

00:31:51.100 --> 00:31:51.680
 the desire

00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:52.620
 of your soul.

00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:55.519
 Instead of seeking

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.539
 the will of the Lord,

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:58.380
 it's man seeking

00:31:58.380 --> 00:31:59.259
 to do whatever

00:31:59.259 --> 00:32:00.279
 he thinks is right.

00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:02.160
 Follow your own soul,

00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:02.600
 Saul,

00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:04.360
 and our part

00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:04.840
 shall be

00:32:04.840 --> 00:32:06.340
 to deliver him

00:32:06.340 --> 00:32:07.579
 into the king's hand.

00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:10.500
 In Psalm 54,

00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:11.319
 the superscription

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:12.140
 says it's a

00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:13.600
 contemplation of David

00:32:13.600 --> 00:32:14.980
 when the Ziphites

00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:16.920
 went and said

00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:17.440
 to Saul,

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.660
 is David not

00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:19.580
 hiding with us?

00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:21.340
 David cried out,

00:32:21.520 --> 00:32:21.940
 save me,

00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:22.460
 O God,

00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:23.680
 by your name,

00:32:23.840 --> 00:32:24.480
 vindicate me

00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.440
 by your strength.

00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:26.640
 Hear my prayer,

00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:27.060
 O God,

00:32:27.420 --> 00:32:28.280
 give ear to the words

00:32:28.280 --> 00:32:28.980
 of my mouth,

00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:30.840
 for strangers

00:32:30.840 --> 00:32:32.360
 have risen up

00:32:32.360 --> 00:32:32.980
 against me.

00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:35.900
 These people of Ziph,

00:32:36.640 --> 00:32:37.820
 his fellow tribesmen,

00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:39.180
 he calls strangers.

00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:39.340
 Oppressors.

00:32:40.600 --> 00:32:41.160
 Oppressors

00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:42.060
 have sought

00:32:42.060 --> 00:32:43.420
 after my life.

00:32:44.380 --> 00:32:45.039
 Saul and the army

00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:45.600
 of Israel

00:32:45.600 --> 00:32:46.660
 are the oppressors.

00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.580
 They are the Egyptians.

00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:49.279
 They are the Philistines.

00:32:50.320 --> 00:32:51.460
 His countrymen

00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.799
 and former brothers

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:53.380
 in battle

00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:55.580
 are his oppressors.

00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:57.860
 And why is it

00:32:57.860 --> 00:32:58.960
 they have not

00:32:58.960 --> 00:32:59.980
 set God

00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:01.320
 before them?

00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:03.779
 The very thing

00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.660
 Jonathan did.

00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.700
 Jonathan came close

00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:07.640
 and set God

00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:08.400
 before David

00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.039
 one more time.

00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:12.279
 And Saul and his army

00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:13.500
 and these people of Ziph

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.680
 have forgotten God.

00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.480
 And David says,

00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:18.340
 they will receive

00:33:18.340 --> 00:33:19.340
 justice from God.

00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:20.200
 He will repay

00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:21.120
 my enemies

00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:21.900
 for their evil.

00:33:22.380 --> 00:33:23.240
 Cut them off

00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:24.259
 in your truth.

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.660
 For he has delivered me

00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:27.600
 out of all my troubles.

00:33:27.840 --> 00:33:28.980
 My eye has seen

00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:29.980
 its desire

00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:31.259
 upon my enemies.

00:33:31.400 --> 00:33:32.140
 They have not

00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:32.740
 set God

00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.500
 before them.

00:33:34.600 --> 00:33:35.220
 They have not

00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:36.120
 known the joy

00:33:36.120 --> 00:33:37.340
 of being in God's presence

00:33:37.340 --> 00:33:38.460
 in the wilderness.

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:40.160
 like he and Jonathan

00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:41.900
 just enjoyed.

00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:45.340
 Our confession of faith

00:33:45.340 --> 00:33:46.460
 says,

00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.900
 God providentially

00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:49.360
 superintends

00:33:49.360 --> 00:33:50.680
 all creatures

00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:51.880
 and things

00:33:51.880 --> 00:33:53.279
 from the greatest

00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:54.680
 even to the least

00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:56.519
 by his most wise

00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:58.079
 and holy providence

00:33:58.079 --> 00:33:59.380
 to the end

00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:00.980
 for which they were

00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:01.880
 created.

00:34:03.079 --> 00:34:04.480
 And God reminds us

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.160
 he does this

00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:06.019
 because that's who

00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:06.740
 he is.

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.500
 And when it seems

00:34:08.500 --> 00:34:09.860
 impossible for God

00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:10.920
 to accomplish

00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:12.280
 his purposes,

00:34:12.739 --> 00:34:14.079
 he is so kind

00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:15.699
 to always remind

00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:16.519
 you and me

00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:17.679
 just like he did David

00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:19.059
 that his presence

00:34:19.059 --> 00:34:20.960
 is with us.

00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:22.199
 And that's enough.

00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:23.639
 That's all we need.

00:34:25.239 --> 00:34:26.340
 Well, the fourth

00:34:26.340 --> 00:34:27.599
 and final observation

00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:28.199
 for today

00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:30.280
 is that looking back

00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:31.320
 on God's providence,

00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:33.139
 we will see

00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:34.679
 if not in this life

00:34:34.679 --> 00:34:35.279
 than in the life

00:34:35.279 --> 00:34:35.719
 to come,

00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:36.659
 we will see

00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:37.699
 how God always

00:34:37.699 --> 00:34:38.859
 accomplishes

00:34:38.859 --> 00:34:39.859
 his purposes.

00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:41.139
 And he gives us

00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:41.879
 these little moments

00:34:41.879 --> 00:34:42.559
 to pause

00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.980
 and look back

00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:45.420
 and point out

00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:46.259
 the ways in which

00:34:46.259 --> 00:34:47.599
 he was superintending

00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:48.299
 all things

00:34:48.299 --> 00:34:49.559
 for his glory.

00:34:49.839 --> 00:34:50.739
 We need to pause

00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:51.460
 and praise him

00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:53.379
 and celebrate

00:34:53.379 --> 00:34:54.339
 his faithfulness.

00:34:54.699 --> 00:34:55.359
 Looking back

00:34:55.359 --> 00:34:56.259
 on God's providence,

00:34:56.379 --> 00:34:57.219
 we will see

00:34:57.219 --> 00:34:58.400
 how he always

00:34:58.400 --> 00:34:59.219
 accomplishes

00:34:59.219 --> 00:34:59.779
 his purposes.

00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:01.079
 Verse 21,

00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.460
 Saul said,

00:35:02.840 --> 00:35:03.480
 Blessed are you

00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:04.000
 of the Lord

00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:04.599
 for you have

00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:05.599
 compassion on me.

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:06.860
 He's buttering up

00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:07.519
 the Ziphites

00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.400
 that betrayed David.

00:35:08.699 --> 00:35:09.219
 Please go

00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:09.779
 and find out

00:35:09.779 --> 00:35:10.420
 where he is.

00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:12.639
 And then look

00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:13.480
 at verse 24,

00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.099
 So they,

00:35:14.219 --> 00:35:15.039
 these men of Ziph,

00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:16.699
 arose and went

00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:17.539
 to Ziph

00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.480
 before Saul.

00:35:19.179 --> 00:35:20.019
 The men who were

00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:21.099
 there really

00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:22.159
 helping David

00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:22.579
 and his men

00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:23.380
 to stay in hiding

00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:24.360
 are now coming back

00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:25.940
 as spies for Saul.

00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:29.000
 Because Ziph

00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:30.059
 was a city of Judah,

00:35:30.219 --> 00:35:31.039
 according to Joshua,

00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:32.559
 15, 24.

00:35:32.799 --> 00:35:33.960
 David likely expected

00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:35.819
 protection from these men,

00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:36.539
 but instead,

00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:37.639
 they used their

00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:38.559
 intimate knowledge

00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.759
 of these strongholds

00:35:39.759 --> 00:35:41.599
 to track David's

00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.639
 hiding places

00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:43.819
 and report them

00:35:43.819 --> 00:35:44.299
 to Saul.

00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:46.179
 The one way

00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:46.940
 in which he had

00:35:46.940 --> 00:35:47.860
 an Achilles heel

00:35:47.860 --> 00:35:48.799
 he could be trapped

00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:50.019
 was if the locals

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:51.259
 would tattle on him.

00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:52.840
 And sure enough,

00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:54.480
 it's exposed.

00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:56.460
 David and his men

00:35:56.460 --> 00:35:57.179
 were in the wilderness.

00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:00.380
 Verse 25,

00:36:00.940 --> 00:36:01.640
 we read that

00:36:01.640 --> 00:36:02.740
 Saul and his men

00:36:02.740 --> 00:36:03.900
 went out to seek him

00:36:03.900 --> 00:36:06.140
 because the Ziphites

00:36:06.140 --> 00:36:07.240
 had told them

00:36:07.240 --> 00:36:08.260
 where they could find him.

00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:10.180
 And there's no way

00:36:10.180 --> 00:36:10.700
 that Saul

00:36:10.700 --> 00:36:11.940
 and all the army of Israel

00:36:11.940 --> 00:36:12.519
 that he summoned

00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:13.360
 to go help him,

00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:15.000
 there's no way

00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:16.079
 these 600 men

00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:16.619
 with the help

00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:17.280
 of the Ziphites

00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:18.539
 to aid Saul,

00:36:18.940 --> 00:36:19.900
 they can get away.

00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:23.139
 this wilderness

00:36:23.139 --> 00:36:24.599
 is described as

00:36:24.599 --> 00:36:25.119
 barren,

00:36:25.800 --> 00:36:26.619
 chalky hills

00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:27.980
 in the northeastern

00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:29.160
 Judean desert

00:36:29.160 --> 00:36:29.800
 that overlook

00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:30.639
 the Dead Sea.

00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:33.079
 Not a lot of wildlife here.

00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:34.780
 If you've been to the,

00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:36.160
 I think it's called

00:36:36.160 --> 00:36:38.059
 the paint caves

00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:39.000
 or something like that

00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:40.200
 in the southeast

00:36:40.200 --> 00:36:40.840
 of Colorado,

00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:42.240
 you can see this.

00:36:42.340 --> 00:36:42.700
 It's barren.

00:36:42.760 --> 00:36:43.360
 It's like a desert,

00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:44.920
 but then it drops down

00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:45.780
 into these ravines,

00:36:45.880 --> 00:36:47.139
 these little canyons,

00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:48.119
 and all kinds

00:36:48.119 --> 00:36:48.699
 of little places

00:36:48.699 --> 00:36:49.839
 to walk in and out

00:36:49.839 --> 00:36:51.019
 where the rock

00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.839
 has washed away.

00:36:53.279 --> 00:36:54.099
 And they tried

00:36:54.099 --> 00:36:55.279
 to keep their high ground

00:36:55.279 --> 00:36:56.960
 so they could see Saul

00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:58.000
 and his approaching army.

00:36:59.839 --> 00:37:01.480
 We read in verse 25,

00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:02.359
 when Saul and his men

00:37:02.359 --> 00:37:03.980
 went to seek him,

00:37:04.139 --> 00:37:05.199
 they told David,

00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:06.440
 and therefore he went

00:37:06.440 --> 00:37:07.779
 down to the rock

00:37:07.779 --> 00:37:09.440
 and stayed in the wilderness.

00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:11.239
 And when Saul heard that,

00:37:11.359 --> 00:37:12.099
 he pursued David

00:37:12.099 --> 00:37:12.960
 into this wilderness.

00:37:13.659 --> 00:37:14.339
 And then Saul

00:37:14.339 --> 00:37:15.239
 went on one side

00:37:15.239 --> 00:37:15.799
 of the mountain

00:37:15.799 --> 00:37:17.039
 and David and his

00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:18.360
 men went on the other side.

00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:20.239
 And don't picture

00:37:20.239 --> 00:37:21.739
 just a sloping hill

00:37:21.739 --> 00:37:22.340
 with grass.

00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:22.900
 I mean, picture

00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:24.019
 like rocky terrain.

00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:26.300
 Might have been

00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:28.119
 a steep wadi

00:37:28.119 --> 00:37:29.079
 or a ravine

00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:29.820
 on one side

00:37:29.820 --> 00:37:31.139
 and Saul on the other.

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.820
 Because the terrain

00:37:32.820 --> 00:37:33.480
 was fractured,

00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:34.559
 some think that Saul

00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:35.279
 and his men

00:37:35.279 --> 00:37:35.920
 could even see

00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:36.880
 where David was,

00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:37.900
 but they couldn't

00:37:37.900 --> 00:37:38.860
 get to him quickly

00:37:38.860 --> 00:37:39.820
 of all the climbing

00:37:39.820 --> 00:37:40.460
 you had to do.

00:37:41.179 --> 00:37:42.300
 So David made haste

00:37:42.300 --> 00:37:43.380
 to get away from Saul,

00:37:43.940 --> 00:37:44.800
 for Saul and his men

00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:46.279
 were encircling David

00:37:46.280 --> 00:37:47.400
 and his men

00:37:47.400 --> 00:37:48.300
 to take them.

00:37:49.220 --> 00:37:50.860
 He really seems trapped now.

00:37:51.540 --> 00:37:52.600
 He's been found out.

00:37:53.160 --> 00:37:54.300
 And there's way too many

00:37:54.300 --> 00:37:55.480
 and even going back

00:37:55.480 --> 00:37:56.740
 and forth around this mountain

00:37:56.740 --> 00:37:57.380
 isn't enough.

00:37:57.480 --> 00:37:57.960
 They're coming

00:37:57.960 --> 00:37:59.780
 encircling on both sides.

00:37:59.780 --> 00:38:04.840
 And then in verse 27,

00:38:04.980 --> 00:38:05.780
 look what happens.

00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:10.600
 A messenger came to Saul.

00:38:11.760 --> 00:38:13.240
 God's timing and providence

00:38:13.240 --> 00:38:14.180
 is so perfect.

00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:16.140
 And he said,

00:38:16.260 --> 00:38:17.540
 hurry and come

00:38:17.540 --> 00:38:18.420
 for the Philistines

00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:19.700
 have invaded the land.

00:38:21.780 --> 00:38:23.000
 Remember how verse 1

00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:23.960
 of this chapter started?

00:38:24.660 --> 00:38:25.260
 The Philistines

00:38:25.260 --> 00:38:26.260
 were invading the land.

00:38:26.260 --> 00:38:28.160
 And this is how it ends.

00:38:29.180 --> 00:38:30.280
 And that's what God uses

00:38:30.280 --> 00:38:32.220
 to spare his anointed one.

00:38:32.920 --> 00:38:33.560
 Verse 28,

00:38:33.680 --> 00:38:34.760
 therefore Saul returned

00:38:34.760 --> 00:38:35.900
 from pursuing David

00:38:35.900 --> 00:38:37.600
 and went against

00:38:37.600 --> 00:38:38.260
 the Philistines,

00:38:38.940 --> 00:38:39.620
 the real enemy.

00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:42.120
 Matthew Henry

00:38:42.120 --> 00:38:45.360
 had this wonderful observation.

00:38:46.780 --> 00:38:48.260
 Now we find

00:38:48.260 --> 00:38:49.660
 why the prophet Gad

00:38:49.660 --> 00:38:50.840
 in the previous chapter,

00:38:50.940 --> 00:38:51.240
 remember,

00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:53.020
 gave David

00:38:53.020 --> 00:38:54.680
 this derine direction

00:38:54.679 --> 00:38:56.219
 and ordered David

00:38:56.219 --> 00:38:57.699
 to go into the land

00:38:57.699 --> 00:38:58.179
 of Judah,

00:38:58.359 --> 00:38:59.539
 into the woods of Judah.

00:39:00.019 --> 00:39:00.659
 And the men said,

00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:01.940
 no, it's more dangerous there.

00:39:03.139 --> 00:39:03.980
 Now we find out

00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:05.039
 why God was doing that

00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:05.679
 in hindsight.

00:39:07.059 --> 00:39:08.480
 It was so that

00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:09.699
 since Saul neglected

00:39:09.699 --> 00:39:10.919
 the public safety

00:39:10.919 --> 00:39:11.559
 of Israel,

00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:13.399
 God would still

00:39:13.399 --> 00:39:14.519
 take care of his people,

00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:15.879
 notwithstanding

00:39:15.879 --> 00:39:16.739
 the ill treatment

00:39:16.739 --> 00:39:17.559
 that was given him

00:39:17.559 --> 00:39:18.599
 for he must render

00:39:18.599 --> 00:39:19.699
 good for evil

00:39:19.699 --> 00:39:20.639
 and therein

00:39:20.639 --> 00:39:21.739
 be a type of him

00:39:21.739 --> 00:39:22.879
 who not only

00:39:22.879 --> 00:39:23.839
 ventured his life

00:39:23.840 --> 00:39:25.180
 but laid down his life

00:39:25.180 --> 00:39:26.200
 for those

00:39:26.200 --> 00:39:27.640
 who were his enemies.

00:39:28.640 --> 00:39:30.300
 God was overseeing

00:39:30.300 --> 00:39:30.940
 the salvation

00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:31.720
 of all Israel.

00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:33.940
 Saul wasn't using

00:39:33.940 --> 00:39:34.720
 the army of Israel

00:39:34.720 --> 00:39:35.960
 to fight off the Philistines.

00:39:36.059 --> 00:39:36.539
 It was David

00:39:36.539 --> 00:39:36.980
 and his men

00:39:36.980 --> 00:39:37.760
 that went and did it.

00:39:38.380 --> 00:39:39.079
 And God used

00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:40.420
 David as a bait

00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:42.780
 to bring Saul

00:39:42.780 --> 00:39:43.420
 and his armies

00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:43.940
 to Judah

00:39:43.940 --> 00:39:45.100
 where the Philistines

00:39:45.100 --> 00:39:45.800
 were going to invade.

00:39:46.180 --> 00:39:46.620
 And here now

00:39:46.620 --> 00:39:47.640
 we have a full army

00:39:47.640 --> 00:39:49.320
 and God turns them

00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:49.960
 to fight off

00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:50.720
 the Philistines.

00:39:51.660 --> 00:39:52.360
 See how the king

00:39:52.360 --> 00:39:53.140
 has no power.

00:39:53.720 --> 00:39:54.200
 It's God

00:39:54.200 --> 00:39:54.800
 who steers

00:39:54.800 --> 00:39:55.700
 the heart of the king

00:39:55.700 --> 00:39:57.700
 by his sovereign decree.

00:39:59.800 --> 00:40:00.680
 And they called

00:40:00.680 --> 00:40:01.260
 that place

00:40:01.260 --> 00:40:02.640
 the rock of escape.

00:40:05.300 --> 00:40:06.900
 Our Lord Jesus Christ

00:40:06.900 --> 00:40:09.519
 super intends

00:40:09.519 --> 00:40:11.260
 everything good

00:40:11.260 --> 00:40:12.000
 for his people

00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:13.340
 in the same way.

00:40:15.200 --> 00:40:17.200
 1 Corinthians 10, 13

00:40:17.200 --> 00:40:17.960
 reminds us

00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:18.980
 no temptation

00:40:18.980 --> 00:40:20.480
 must overtake you.

00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:22.380
 God is faithful.

00:40:22.539 --> 00:40:23.740
 He will not allow you

00:40:23.740 --> 00:40:24.440
 to be tempted

00:40:24.440 --> 00:40:26.159
 beyond what you are able

00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:27.840
 but with the temptation

00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:29.380
 will also make way

00:40:29.380 --> 00:40:30.820
 of escape

00:40:30.820 --> 00:40:33.559
 that you may be able

00:40:33.559 --> 00:40:34.400
 to bear it.

00:40:35.920 --> 00:40:37.039
 There may be times

00:40:37.039 --> 00:40:37.440
 in life

00:40:37.440 --> 00:40:38.199
 where the temptation

00:40:38.199 --> 00:40:39.139
 is so great

00:40:39.139 --> 00:40:39.780
 the suffering

00:40:39.780 --> 00:40:40.500
 the despair

00:40:40.500 --> 00:40:41.360
 is so great

00:40:41.360 --> 00:40:43.079
 and it feels like

00:40:43.079 --> 00:40:43.719
 being encircled

00:40:43.719 --> 00:40:44.500
 on all sides

00:40:44.500 --> 00:40:45.960
 and maybe betrayed

00:40:45.960 --> 00:40:47.000
 and just stuck

00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:47.519
 like there's

00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:48.639
 no hope for me

00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:49.199
 on my own.

00:40:50.460 --> 00:40:51.279
 And God promises

00:40:51.279 --> 00:40:52.319
 he will always

00:40:52.319 --> 00:40:53.299
 make a way

00:40:53.299 --> 00:40:53.980
 of escape.

00:40:54.379 --> 00:40:55.099
 He will always

00:40:55.099 --> 00:40:56.579
 spare and protect

00:40:56.579 --> 00:40:57.179
 and preserve

00:40:57.179 --> 00:40:58.759
 for his ultimate good

00:40:58.759 --> 00:41:00.199
 so that we do not stumble

00:41:00.199 --> 00:41:01.719
 and fall into sin.

00:41:02.119 --> 00:41:02.659
 And God gets

00:41:02.659 --> 00:41:03.440
 all the glory

00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:04.460
 for sparing us

00:41:04.460 --> 00:41:05.420
 in that.

00:41:06.519 --> 00:41:07.819
 We read in verse 29

00:41:07.819 --> 00:41:08.759
 then David went up

00:41:08.759 --> 00:41:09.239
 from there

00:41:09.239 --> 00:41:10.179
 and dwelt

00:41:10.179 --> 00:41:11.980
 in the strongholds

00:41:11.980 --> 00:41:12.739
 of En Gedi.

00:41:14.940 --> 00:41:16.619
 David was in these rocks

00:41:16.619 --> 00:41:18.039
 these strongholds

00:41:18.039 --> 00:41:19.639
 but more importantly

00:41:19.639 --> 00:41:21.000
 he was in God's hand.

00:41:21.139 --> 00:41:22.079
 God had proved that

00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:23.239
 over and over.

00:41:24.239 --> 00:41:25.480
 Our Lord Jesus Christ

00:41:25.480 --> 00:41:26.880
 does the same

00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:27.559
 for his church.

00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:28.339
 He proves

00:41:28.339 --> 00:41:30.019
 that we can trust

00:41:30.019 --> 00:41:30.739
 God.

00:41:32.039 --> 00:41:33.420
 We see the infinite

00:41:33.420 --> 00:41:34.619
 wisdom of God

00:41:34.619 --> 00:41:36.719
 in full display

00:41:36.719 --> 00:41:37.859
 on the cross

00:41:37.859 --> 00:41:39.159
 of Jesus Christ.

00:41:39.980 --> 00:41:40.920
 Our Lord Jesus

00:41:40.920 --> 00:41:41.719
 on the cross

00:41:41.719 --> 00:41:44.380
 he became the rock

00:41:44.380 --> 00:41:45.279
 the cornerstone

00:41:45.280 --> 00:41:46.080
 the foundation.

00:41:46.480 --> 00:41:47.260
 Like the hymn says

00:41:47.260 --> 00:41:48.300
 the rock of ages

00:41:48.300 --> 00:41:49.180
 cleft

00:41:49.180 --> 00:41:50.380
 struck

00:41:50.380 --> 00:41:51.660
 broken open

00:41:51.660 --> 00:41:52.600
 for me

00:41:52.600 --> 00:41:54.440
 to have a hiding place

00:41:54.440 --> 00:41:54.980
 in him

00:41:54.980 --> 00:41:56.840
 so we can hide

00:41:56.840 --> 00:41:57.840
 ourselves in Jesus.

00:41:59.220 --> 00:42:00.240
 He is the only

00:42:00.240 --> 00:42:01.420
 solid rock

00:42:01.420 --> 00:42:02.480
 the only refuge

00:42:02.480 --> 00:42:03.940
 in him alone

00:42:03.940 --> 00:42:04.840
 are we safe.

00:42:06.140 --> 00:42:07.380
 From our confession

00:42:07.380 --> 00:42:08.280
 one last time

00:42:08.280 --> 00:42:09.700
 God

00:42:09.700 --> 00:42:10.900
 sovereignly

00:42:10.900 --> 00:42:11.840
 governs

00:42:11.840 --> 00:42:12.320
 all

00:42:12.320 --> 00:42:13.120
 that comes

00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:13.679
 to pass

00:42:13.679 --> 00:42:14.179
 according

00:42:14.179 --> 00:42:15.279
 unto his

00:42:15.279 --> 00:42:15.960
 infallible

00:42:15.960 --> 00:42:16.779
 foreknowledge

00:42:16.779 --> 00:42:17.859
 and the free

00:42:17.859 --> 00:42:19.039
 immutable counsel

00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:20.179
 of his own will

00:42:20.179 --> 00:42:21.279
 to the praise

00:42:21.279 --> 00:42:22.279
 of the glory

00:42:22.279 --> 00:42:23.119
 of his wisdom

00:42:23.119 --> 00:42:23.940
 power

00:42:23.940 --> 00:42:24.880
 justice

00:42:24.880 --> 00:42:26.259
 infinite goodness

00:42:26.259 --> 00:42:27.759
 and mercy.

00:42:29.199 --> 00:42:30.519
 Brothers and sisters

00:42:30.519 --> 00:42:31.779
 we need to trust

00:42:31.779 --> 00:42:32.659
 God.

00:42:34.099 --> 00:42:35.679
 We need to trust

00:42:35.679 --> 00:42:36.920
 our loving

00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:37.920
 sovereign

00:42:37.920 --> 00:42:38.679
 Lord.

00:42:39.819 --> 00:42:40.719
 We need to trust

00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:41.879
 that he is arranging

00:42:41.879 --> 00:42:42.759
 all things

00:42:42.759 --> 00:42:43.500
 that happen

00:42:43.500 --> 00:42:45.480
 in purposeful

00:42:45.480 --> 00:42:46.079
 order.

00:42:47.739 --> 00:42:48.579
 He bestows

00:42:48.579 --> 00:42:49.259
 to each

00:42:49.259 --> 00:42:51.119
 whatever suits

00:42:51.119 --> 00:42:52.219
 his pleasure

00:42:52.219 --> 00:42:53.239
 which is for

00:42:53.239 --> 00:42:53.859
 your good

00:42:53.859 --> 00:42:55.219
 and for his glory.

00:42:56.000 --> 00:42:57.019
 He inclines

00:42:57.019 --> 00:42:58.059
 each mind

00:42:58.059 --> 00:42:59.299
 toward the choice

00:42:59.299 --> 00:43:00.299
 that serves

00:43:00.299 --> 00:43:01.119
 his grand

00:43:01.119 --> 00:43:01.739
 design.

00:43:02.799 --> 00:43:04.019
 He is conducting

00:43:04.019 --> 00:43:04.559
 guiding

00:43:04.559 --> 00:43:05.899
 and he will

00:43:05.899 --> 00:43:07.219
 authoritatively

00:43:07.219 --> 00:43:07.959
 determine

00:43:07.959 --> 00:43:09.059
 the final

00:43:09.059 --> 00:43:09.799
 outcome.

00:43:09.800 --> 00:43:10.519
 Amen.

00:43:12.160 --> 00:43:12.600
 Trust

00:43:12.600 --> 00:43:13.460
 the Lord.

00:43:14.560 --> 00:43:15.180
 He will

00:43:15.180 --> 00:43:16.200
 accomplish

00:43:16.200 --> 00:43:17.080
 all his

00:43:17.080 --> 00:43:17.519
 purposes

00:43:17.519 --> 00:43:18.840
 in your life

00:43:18.840 --> 00:43:19.720
 and mine

00:43:19.720 --> 00:43:20.880
 and in his

00:43:20.880 --> 00:43:21.240
 church.

00:43:21.900 --> 00:43:22.440
 All glory

00:43:22.440 --> 00:43:23.019
 be to God.

00:43:23.680 --> 00:43:24.180
 Let's pray.

00:43:25.539 --> 00:43:26.420
 Oh Lord

00:43:26.420 --> 00:43:27.440
 our faith

00:43:27.440 --> 00:43:28.000
 is weak.

00:43:29.240 --> 00:43:30.280
 We believe

00:43:30.280 --> 00:43:30.740
 but please

00:43:30.740 --> 00:43:31.800
 help our unbelief

00:43:31.800 --> 00:43:32.800
 help us

00:43:32.800 --> 00:43:33.360
 to trust

00:43:33.360 --> 00:43:33.660
 you

00:43:33.660 --> 00:43:34.380
 fully

00:43:34.380 --> 00:43:34.720
 Lord

00:43:34.720 --> 00:43:36.580
 to know

00:43:36.580 --> 00:43:37.200
 your presence

00:43:37.200 --> 00:43:38.039
 with your people

00:43:38.039 --> 00:43:39.039
 so that we

00:43:39.039 --> 00:43:39.699
 will one

00:43:39.699 --> 00:43:39.980
 day

00:43:39.980 --> 00:43:42.099
 by the

00:43:42.099 --> 00:43:43.000
 ministry of

00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:43.539
 your spirit

00:43:43.539 --> 00:43:44.480
 even if it's

00:43:44.480 --> 00:43:44.980
 in glory

00:43:44.980 --> 00:43:45.559
 be able to

00:43:45.559 --> 00:43:46.279
 look back

00:43:46.279 --> 00:43:47.019
 on your

00:43:47.019 --> 00:43:47.559
 providence

00:43:47.559 --> 00:43:48.259
 and see how

00:43:48.259 --> 00:43:49.500
 you always

00:43:49.500 --> 00:43:50.300
 accomplish

00:43:50.300 --> 00:43:51.019
 your purposes.

00:43:51.840 --> 00:43:52.400
 You are

00:43:52.400 --> 00:43:53.500
 always faithful.

00:43:54.159 --> 00:43:54.739
 We must

00:43:54.739 --> 00:43:55.860
 trust you

00:43:55.860 --> 00:43:56.759
 always.

00:43:57.259 --> 00:43:57.759
 Please help us

00:43:57.759 --> 00:43:58.300
 to do this

00:43:58.300 --> 00:43:58.880
 Lord by your

00:43:58.880 --> 00:43:59.259
 power

00:43:59.259 --> 00:44:00.480
 by Christ's

00:44:00.480 --> 00:44:01.239
 active obedience

00:44:01.239 --> 00:44:02.219
 being worked out

00:44:02.219 --> 00:44:03.239
 in our lives

00:44:03.239 --> 00:44:04.000
 by the powerful

00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:04.539
 ministry

00:44:04.539 --> 00:44:05.519
 of the Holy

00:44:05.519 --> 00:44:06.320
 Spirit we pray.

00:44:06.320 --> 00:44:07.220
 Amen.