WEBVTT 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:02.700 Thank you very much Fiona and Andy and Alistair as well. 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:11.099 Good evening everyone, really good to see you this evening as we come to continue our studies in 1 Samuel, 1 Samuel chapter 11. 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:17.719 In 2002 there was a poll taken to find out who was the greatest ever Britain, 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:25.000 and you may well be aware that the result of the poll was that Winston Churchill was voted as the greatest Britain. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:32.840 Now if you'd asked someone in the early months of 1940 if Winston Churchill was going to be the greatest Britain ever, 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:38.519 they would undoubtedly have laughed at you, because no one at that stage saw Winston Churchill, 00:00:38.659 --> 00:00:43.100 or very few people saw Winston Churchill as the great man that we would today. 00:00:43.939 --> 00:00:48.100 The kind of things that were said about him before he became prime minister was that he was overbearing, 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:54.760 he was villainous, he was unreliable, he had no judgment, and he was useless. 00:00:54.759 --> 00:00:57.820 Some of these from the press, some of them from his fellow politicians. 00:00:58.899 --> 00:01:04.319 Very few people would have seen Winston Churchill as being a natural candidate to be prime minister, 00:01:04.980 --> 00:01:10.679 and certainly not as someone who could successfully lead the country through the Second World War. 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:15.239 Let's go forward a few years to when Winston Churchill stepped down as prime minister, 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:18.180 and these are the kind of things that were being said about him. 00:01:18.180 --> 00:01:26.360 He was a statesman, he was passionate, he was inspiring, he was courageous, he was a man of action. 00:01:27.240 --> 00:01:31.580 A total turnaround in the public perception of a man. 00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:33.220 Why did that happen? 00:01:33.860 --> 00:01:40.120 Well, lots of reasons I'm sure, but I would suggest that for Winston Churchill, the sequence is something like this. 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:44.000 He was determined that evil shouldn't triumph. 00:01:44.939 --> 00:01:49.200 He firmly believed that the war was winnable. 00:01:49.900 --> 00:01:54.320 He managed to motivate other people to believe that the war was winnable too, 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:58.320 and he successfully led them through it to victory. 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:05.180 I think there are some obvious parallels then as we come to our passage this evening and look at Saul. 00:02:05.180 --> 00:02:09.680 If you were here a couple of weeks ago when Alistair was taking us through the previous few chapters, 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:13.840 you may remember that Saul had been anointed king by Samuel, 00:02:14.620 --> 00:02:17.599 and he had been chosen by an apparently random, not really random, 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:21.040 but apparently random process among the tribes and the clans and so on. 00:02:21.560 --> 00:02:24.520 The lot in the end fell on Saul as king. 00:02:25.140 --> 00:02:30.260 So in one sense he had been crowned and accepted as the king of the Israelites. 00:02:30.259 --> 00:02:34.819 But at the end of chapter 10, there are still some people saying, 00:02:35.179 --> 00:02:37.219 how can this fellow save us? 00:02:38.099 --> 00:02:39.199 What has he done? 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:42.579 He's just a farmer's son from a remote part of the land. 00:02:42.759 --> 00:02:43.560 What has he done? 00:02:43.679 --> 00:02:47.000 What can he do to save our people? 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:55.180 And it is in chapter 11 that we really see Saul coming to life and demonstrating his credentials. 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:57.099 Very similar to Churchill. 00:02:57.099 --> 00:03:00.359 He sees evil and he's determined it won't triumph. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:03.240 He believes that the victory can be won. 00:03:03.799 --> 00:03:08.939 He motivates others to follow him and he leads them through the battle. 00:03:09.620 --> 00:03:16.560 And by the end of chapter 11, Saul is universally recognized as being the king and the rightful king. 00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:21.359 Now it has to be said, chapter 11 is very much the high point of Saul's life. 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:23.500 It is all downhill from then on. 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:32.759 But chapter 11, he comes out very well as the one who is sent and was used by God and was able to deliver his people. 00:03:33.240 --> 00:03:36.719 And he then gets the recognition of the whole nation. 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:45.159 I think it's quite important when we come to a passage like this to see it as much as we can through the eyes of the people who were there at the time 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:50.300 and those who would first have read the words that are recorded in 1 Samuel. 00:03:50.300 --> 00:03:57.060 So I want to spend just a few minutes looking at the geography and the history of this situation. 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:00.939 So geography first, there's a map of Israel. 00:04:01.860 --> 00:04:06.580 Not sure where you can see it, but hopefully at least you can see that running down the middle is the River Jordan 00:04:06.580 --> 00:04:11.420 with the Sea of Galilee at the top and the Dead Sea down the bottom. 00:04:12.420 --> 00:04:16.980 The tribes of Israel were split between the two sides of the River Jordan. 00:04:16.980 --> 00:04:19.800 We mentioned that last Sunday at our vision evening. 00:04:20.379 --> 00:04:31.160 Two and a half tribes were on the west side of the Jordan, rather, and the remaining tribes were on the east side. 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:40.520 So Reuben and Gad and half tribe of Manasseh had chosen that particular land over on the right of your picture there 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:43.219 and the other tribes that settled on the other side. 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:47.139 Now around them on both sides were enemies. 00:04:48.060 --> 00:04:52.259 The main enemies of the Israelites at that time were the Philistines. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:54.500 We've read about them already in 1 Samuel. 00:04:54.859 --> 00:04:59.299 And of course, when we come on to the story of David, the Philistines feature very strongly. 00:04:59.859 --> 00:05:04.560 They were the ones that posed the greatest threat to Israel as a whole. 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:11.980 But on the east side, where the two and a half tribes were, there was another nation called the Ammonites. 00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:20.160 Not as big, not as powerful as the Philistines, but nevertheless capable of coming in battle against the Israelites. 00:05:21.420 --> 00:05:28.399 And they were probably depending on the fact that the Philistines were occupying most of the tribes of Israel in defending themselves. 00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:35.239 And rather opportunistically, they came and attacked the two and a half tribes that had settled there. 00:05:36.739 --> 00:05:45.339 When we read the Bible as we have it in most of our Bibles today, it looks as if they came specifically and attached this town of Jabesh Gilead. 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:53.560 In the Dead Sea Scrolls, the scrolls which were discovered not that many years ago, which had much of the scripture in them. 00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:58.600 In these Dead Sea Scrolls, there are some extra verses at the start of chapter 11. 00:05:58.740 --> 00:06:02.480 Some of your Bibles may have them as a footnote to chapter 11. 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:11.540 And these scrolls say that what actually happened was that the Ammonites came and they attacked the two and a half tribes. 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:12.939 They defeated them. 00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:16.720 They gouged out the right eyes of most of the men there. 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:26.160 And the ones who were actually there in Jabesh Gilead at the end were those who had escaped from the Ammonites and were taking shelter there. 00:06:26.320 --> 00:06:31.840 And they were being besieged and were to suffer the same fate as the others. 00:06:33.540 --> 00:06:37.460 Most scholars seem to think that that is a genuine account of things. 00:06:37.880 --> 00:06:40.220 It's not in the scripture as we have it. 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:43.360 Probably right that it's not because it's not the focus of this chapter. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:50.400 But maybe quite interesting background that the people who were there were the survivors possibly of a bigger attack, 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:54.520 which already had claimed many of their compatriots. 00:06:55.180 --> 00:06:55.879 So that's the geography. 00:06:56.379 --> 00:06:57.920 We have the two and a half tribes. 00:06:58.160 --> 00:06:59.900 They're kind of isolated from the rest. 00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:01.379 And they have been attacked. 00:07:01.860 --> 00:07:05.020 And Jabesh Gilead is being besieged. 00:07:05.019 --> 00:07:10.939 And there are the two key towns in this story. 00:07:11.039 --> 00:07:17.240 Jabesh Gilead we've talked about and Gebeah, which is where Saul is, which is just a bit north of Jerusalem. 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:23.219 And these two towns are significant because they come up before in our Bibles. 00:07:24.299 --> 00:07:30.500 In one of the most unsavory episodes in the history of Israel in Judges 19 to 21, 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:33.939 these towns play a pivotal part. 00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:36.980 So let me just very briefly describe and summarize what happened. 00:07:37.060 --> 00:07:41.500 It's not very edifying, but it's important that we understand what was going on there. 00:07:43.060 --> 00:07:47.519 So there was an attack on the concubine of a Levite at Gebeah. 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:52.120 She was repeatedly raped and eventually died of what had been done to her. 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:56.920 The Israelites then waged war against the tribe of Benjamin, 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:00.159 which refused to release to them the men who had done this. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:04.300 So there was a big civil war in Israel, which eventually, after a bit of a battle, 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:09.080 the main armies of Israel won against the Benjamites, 00:08:09.700 --> 00:08:12.200 almost entirely destroyed the Benjamites, 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:14.300 but then got to the point where they were saying, 00:08:14.400 --> 00:08:18.240 well, we don't really want one of the tribes of Israel to disappear completely. 00:08:18.320 --> 00:08:19.720 We need to do something about this. 00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:23.640 And what they said they would do was they would find a town in Israel 00:08:23.640 --> 00:08:26.220 that hadn't sent any soldiers to fight in the war, 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:30.220 and they would take women from that to be wives for the Benjamites. 00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:34.019 And they found that Jabesh Gilead was the one place in Israel 00:08:34.019 --> 00:08:36.399 which hadn't sent soldiers to the war, 00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:39.340 and they went and slaughtered most of the people of that town 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:44.379 and brought some of the women back to be wives for the Benjamites. 00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:48.639 As I say, a very unsavory time in the land of Israel. 00:08:48.779 --> 00:08:52.840 Horrific that God's people should get involved in these things. 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:55.000 Why is that significant to this chapter, 00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:58.039 apart from the thing that there are two towns that are there? 00:08:58.299 --> 00:08:59.399 Well, three things I would suggest. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:00.740 There's probably more we could look at, 00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:03.139 but three things I'd suggest that are maybe relevant. 00:09:03.980 --> 00:09:06.840 The first is that the people of Jabesh Gilead 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:10.740 and the people of Gebeah may well have been related 00:09:10.740 --> 00:09:15.519 because the Benjamite woman had been brought back to populate the land. 00:09:15.660 --> 00:09:18.780 So Saul may have been descended from one of the women 00:09:18.780 --> 00:09:21.460 who was taken from Jabesh Gilead. 00:09:21.560 --> 00:09:22.820 They were kinfolk, 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:26.660 and perhaps that's why the plea went out to Gebeah, 00:09:26.780 --> 00:09:29.019 which happened to be Saul's town. 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:32.600 Second thing is I think there's a bit of an irony here, 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:36.200 and I'm sure that irony wouldn't be lost on the people at the time. 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:40.540 Here was the town that had refused to go out and fight for Israel, 00:09:40.940 --> 00:09:44.040 and it's pleading for Israel to come and fight for it. 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:46.440 So the town that refused to fight 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:50.220 is asking others to come and to fight for it. 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:52.900 But thirdly, and probably most significantly, 00:09:53.500 --> 00:09:56.780 when we look at chapters 19 and 21 of Judges, 00:09:56.780 --> 00:09:58.980 chapter 19 begins with the words, 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:01.080 In those days Israel had no king. 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:03.920 Chapter 21 ends with the words, 00:10:04.280 --> 00:10:06.060 In those days Israel had no king. 00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:09.020 Everyone did as they saw fit. 00:10:09.500 --> 00:10:12.100 So people would look back on Judges 19 to 21, 00:10:12.460 --> 00:10:13.240 and they would say, 00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:15.700 This is what happens when you don't have a king. 00:10:16.259 --> 00:10:19.140 You get anarchy, you get wickedness, 00:10:19.340 --> 00:10:21.540 you get all sorts of things happening. 00:10:22.520 --> 00:10:23.320 And they would say, 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:25.660 Ah, but now we do have a king. 00:10:26.180 --> 00:10:27.720 And look what happens when we have a king. 00:10:27.800 --> 00:10:30.160 He goes out, and he rescued his people, 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:32.480 and he restores order. 00:10:33.379 --> 00:10:35.120 So the events way back in Judges, 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:36.639 I think, have some significance 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:39.299 when we look at 1 Samuel. 00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:42.879 For us, though, perhaps not quite as much 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:45.159 as for the Israelites to begin with. 00:10:45.219 --> 00:10:46.199 It is history for us. 00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:47.159 It's perhaps, for some of us, 00:10:47.199 --> 00:10:48.419 at least interesting history. 00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:50.339 But it is not, I think, 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:51.860 the main lesson we're going to get 00:10:51.860 --> 00:10:53.539 from this chapter. 00:10:53.539 --> 00:10:55.539 So let's just walk through it. 00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:57.000 And four points I want to make, 00:10:57.079 --> 00:10:59.059 and I think the lessons from them 00:10:59.059 --> 00:11:00.799 will be fairly obvious. 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:03.919 So we're talking about God's chosen king. 00:11:04.319 --> 00:11:05.620 It's all chosen by God. 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:08.279 And the first thing we note about him 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:11.000 is that he is anointed with the Spirit. 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:13.500 That's in verse 6. 00:11:14.219 --> 00:11:15.459 So why did I start at verse 6 00:11:15.459 --> 00:11:16.480 and not at verse 1? 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:17.959 Well, let me put some up on the screen. 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:19.679 You may not be able to read all of this. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:21.139 I'm hoping you can read some of it. 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:22.879 But it gives something of the structure 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:24.299 of this passage. 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:26.259 I find more and more, 00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:27.199 as I study the Bible, 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:29.100 you come across passages like this 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:30.439 where there's a bit of a symmetry 00:11:30.439 --> 00:11:32.699 to what the Bible says. 00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:34.000 So in this passage, 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:35.399 in verse 1 of the chapter, 00:11:35.539 --> 00:11:36.799 God's people are being attacked. 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:39.399 In verses 12 to 13, they're rescued. 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:41.580 Verse 2, the Ammonites threaten. 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:43.319 Verse 11, they flee. 00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:46.059 Verse 3, Jabesh Gilead promises 00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:47.659 to surrender to the Ammonites. 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:50.360 Verse 10, it does exactly the same thing. 00:11:51.139 --> 00:11:53.100 Verse 4, messengers bring bad news. 00:11:53.560 --> 00:11:55.580 Verse 6, messengers bring good news. 00:11:56.300 --> 00:11:58.879 Verse 5 is about Paul's question and response. 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:00.600 And verses 7 to 8, 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:03.320 Paul's instruction and the response. 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:04.940 And then in the middle, 00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:06.840 you have verse 6. 00:12:07.560 --> 00:12:09.080 And when you see this kind of structure, 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:10.519 and there's a single verse 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:12.620 or a single passage in the middle, 00:12:13.060 --> 00:12:15.399 that is one that is good to focus on 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:18.019 because that is probably the key part 00:12:18.019 --> 00:12:19.679 of the passage. 00:12:20.319 --> 00:12:22.019 And the key bit in this passage 00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:24.220 is that the Spirit of God 00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:27.139 comes powerfully upon Saul. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:28.959 The ESV says, 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:30.120 and I think it's a good translation, 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:33.819 the Spirit rushes on Saul. 00:12:35.819 --> 00:12:38.139 This description of the coming of the Spirit 00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:39.819 is only used of two people 00:12:39.819 --> 00:12:40.799 in the Old Testament. 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:41.719 One is Saul, 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:43.819 and the other is Samson. 00:12:44.019 --> 00:12:45.219 We all know Samson 00:12:45.219 --> 00:12:47.459 and his great feats 00:12:47.459 --> 00:12:48.179 and what happened 00:12:48.179 --> 00:12:49.939 when the Spirit came on him. 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:51.099 And again, 00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:52.539 for the readers of this passage, 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:53.399 I'm sure they were supposed 00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:54.599 to think back to Samson 00:12:54.599 --> 00:12:55.299 and say, 00:12:55.439 --> 00:12:56.219 here's another man 00:12:56.219 --> 00:12:56.959 who's like Samson. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:59.540 And when the Spirit comes powerfully on him, 00:12:59.920 --> 00:13:02.259 he does great things. 00:13:02.940 --> 00:13:04.320 But the important thing is 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:05.560 as God's anointed, 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.720 God had sent the Spirit 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:09.800 to be with Saul. 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:11.259 Now the Spirit had come on Saul 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:12.100 in chapter 10, 00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:13.139 but that appears to have been 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:13.960 quite temporary. 00:13:14.580 --> 00:13:15.440 It appears now 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:16.879 that the Spirit comes on Saul 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:18.100 and remains there 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:20.180 until David is anointed king 00:13:20.180 --> 00:13:22.540 a few chapters ahead. 00:13:23.540 --> 00:13:25.440 God's man has been prepared 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:26.500 for his work 00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:28.240 by having the Spirit 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:31.260 of God coming on him. 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:33.480 Now we're going to be looking forward 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:35.200 in quite a few places this evening 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.560 to the Lord Jesus, 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:37.660 and this is one of them. 00:13:38.560 --> 00:13:39.660 At the Lord's baptism, 00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:40.440 you'll remember 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:42.840 the Holy Spirit descended on him 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:45.700 in the form of a dove. 00:13:46.560 --> 00:13:47.740 And he then goes out 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:49.720 and he preaches in the synagogue 00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:51.779 and he starts by saying 00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:53.639 the Spirit of the Lord 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:55.700 had come upon him. 00:13:56.160 --> 00:13:57.720 And he then preached good news 00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:58.220 and so on, 00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:58.820 the rest of it, 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:00.940 in Luke chapter 4. 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.980 The Spirit came down 00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:04.399 as vindication, 00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:05.019 as validation 00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:06.480 of the Lord's calling 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:08.160 and his person. 00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:09.940 And throughout his life, 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:11.279 he walked in tune 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:12.379 with the Spirit. 00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:15.139 He did what was right. 00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:18.080 We also have the Spirit. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:19.879 The description of the Spirit 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:21.040 rushing on Saul 00:14:21.040 --> 00:14:22.000 in some ways 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:22.759 might be reminiscent 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:23.379 of what happened 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.520 the day of Pentecost 00:14:24.520 --> 00:14:26.220 when there were the tongues of fires 00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:27.460 the Spirit came down 00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:29.520 upon the first believers. 00:14:30.520 --> 00:14:32.200 We haven't had the same experience 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:33.280 that they did, 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:35.000 but as those who have trusted 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:35.820 the Lord Jesus 00:14:35.820 --> 00:14:38.000 and those who are following him, 00:14:38.300 --> 00:14:40.560 we also have the Spirit. 00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:43.080 We have the Spirit within us 00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:44.220 as our counselor, 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:45.379 as our guide, 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:47.340 as our empowerer. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:49.560 And I think it's interesting 00:14:49.560 --> 00:14:51.139 to note what happens 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:51.960 in verse 6 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:54.580 when the Spirit comes on Saul. 00:14:55.280 --> 00:14:56.040 Then he says, 00:14:56.160 --> 00:14:57.420 when Saul heard their words, 00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:58.960 the Spirit of God 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:00.520 came powerfully upon him 00:15:00.520 --> 00:15:04.020 and he burned with anger. 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.980 When we think of the Spirit 00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:07.180 and what this work of the Spirit 00:15:07.180 --> 00:15:08.120 is in our lives, 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:10.060 we quite often think of the Spirit 00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:11.600 as teaching us the truth, 00:15:11.680 --> 00:15:13.020 as leading us into all truth, 00:15:13.640 --> 00:15:14.480 as being the one 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:16.060 who produces fruit in our lives, 00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:17.279 as being the one 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.199 who gives us gifts 00:15:18.199 --> 00:15:20.159 to serve the church. 00:15:21.119 --> 00:15:22.719 Perhaps we don't think 00:15:22.719 --> 00:15:23.759 quite so often 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:25.059 of the Spirit 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:26.699 as being the one 00:15:26.699 --> 00:15:28.339 who can make us 00:15:28.339 --> 00:15:30.659 burn with anger. 00:15:31.979 --> 00:15:34.299 But should that not be the case? 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:35.599 Remember, 00:15:35.859 --> 00:15:37.039 in John's Gospel, 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:38.959 the Lord Jesus says 00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:39.559 that the Spirit 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:40.799 will convict the power 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:42.339 of the world of sin 00:15:42.339 --> 00:15:43.459 and righteousness 00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:44.680 and judgment. 00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:45.820 Talking about the world there 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:46.820 equally applies, 00:15:46.900 --> 00:15:47.639 I think, to us. 00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:49.620 The Spirit convicts us 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:50.840 of sin, 00:15:51.300 --> 00:15:52.100 of righteousness 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:53.660 and of judgment. 00:15:54.780 --> 00:15:55.560 And so the Spirit 00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:56.660 in our lives 00:15:56.660 --> 00:15:57.180 has brought us 00:15:57.180 --> 00:15:57.780 to the point 00:15:57.780 --> 00:15:58.940 of trusting in Jesus 00:15:58.940 --> 00:16:01.120 and seeking to live for him. 00:16:01.680 --> 00:16:03.620 But does he not also show us 00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:05.040 the injustice 00:16:05.040 --> 00:16:06.680 and the evil 00:16:06.680 --> 00:16:07.740 that there is 00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:09.360 in the world around us? 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.420 Does he not show us 00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:13.199 how the world is oppressed 00:16:13.199 --> 00:16:14.839 by someone 00:16:14.839 --> 00:16:16.279 who is utterly evil 00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:17.360 and utterly against 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.199 God's people 00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:20.339 as these Ammonites were 00:16:20.339 --> 00:16:22.479 in the days of Saul? 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:24.719 And when he does that, 00:16:25.099 --> 00:16:26.379 should that rouse us 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.500 into action? 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:30.259 Can we be left indifferent 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:32.279 as we see injustice, 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.519 as we see suffering, 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.299 as we see evil 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:37.339 apparently triumphing 00:16:37.339 --> 00:16:38.559 in our world? 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:41.159 If we have the passion 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:43.239 that comes from the Spirit, 00:16:43.819 --> 00:16:44.919 that God's name 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:46.259 may be glorified, 00:16:46.599 --> 00:16:47.419 that his justice 00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.439 may be upheld, 00:16:48.839 --> 00:16:50.119 that right may be done 00:16:50.119 --> 00:16:51.399 in our world. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.639 That is the first point 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:54.839 at which the Spirit 00:16:54.839 --> 00:16:55.699 then moves us 00:16:55.699 --> 00:16:56.599 and empowers us 00:16:56.599 --> 00:16:57.539 to go out 00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:59.059 and to do something 00:16:59.059 --> 00:16:59.979 about it. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.419 Because of course, 00:17:00.479 --> 00:17:01.279 Saul didn't stop 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:02.599 with just burning with anger. 00:17:02.979 --> 00:17:03.419 He went 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.639 and he managed 00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:05.500 to get all the people 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.799 of Israel behind him 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.740 and he went out 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:08.359 to the battle 00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:10.579 and he was triumphant. 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:12.559 And as we see injustice 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.700 around us in the world, 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:14.639 as we see the grip 00:17:14.639 --> 00:17:16.019 of the evil one, 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:17.859 we should be filled 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:20.680 with the burning desire 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:22.200 that God's name 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:23.399 should be glorified 00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:25.119 and that we should be those 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:25.659 who are able 00:17:25.659 --> 00:17:27.419 to help doing it. 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:28.879 At one level, 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:29.639 that might be 00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:31.299 in seeking to bring about 00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:32.559 social justice. 00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:34.139 Probably not on a national, 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:35.019 international scale 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.879 for most of us, 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.960 but where we are, 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:38.139 just recognizing 00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:38.940 where there are things 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:39.619 that are wrong 00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:42.160 and seeking to put them right. 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:44.339 It should also mean 00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:46.099 that we have a real passion 00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:47.339 for those who are 00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:48.160 under the control 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:49.559 of the evil one, 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:50.879 for those who are 00:17:50.879 --> 00:17:51.960 in mortal danger 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:53.960 if they don't put their trust 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:55.220 in the Lord Jesus. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.859 It should be something 00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:58.079 that makes us 00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:59.119 all the more determined 00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.779 to go out 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.759 and to witness 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:02.240 and to tell others 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.180 about him 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:04.379 and to see them 00:18:04.379 --> 00:18:05.640 brought to know 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:06.700 the Saviour. 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:08.779 We too should be filled 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:10.000 with the Spirit 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.599 and that should affect 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.819 first our attitudes 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:14.619 to things round about us 00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:16.299 and then our actions 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.599 as the Lord teaches us, 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:18.539 leads us 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:20.480 and empowers us 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.460 to go out 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:22.879 and to serve him. 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.660 God's chosen king 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:26.379 is filled with 00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:27.460 the Spirit. 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:30.220 The second thing 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:30.740 we learn about 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.700 God's chosen king, 00:18:31.840 --> 00:18:32.840 Saul, in this case, 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:34.259 is that he rescues 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.440 his people. 00:18:36.340 --> 00:18:37.220 Three times 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:38.799 in this passage 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.980 it talks about 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:41.279 the people being rescued 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:43.360 or being delivered. 00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:45.120 Verse 3, 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.920 the people of Jabesh, 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:47.900 they're being surrounded 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:49.059 by the Ammonites 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:50.079 and they say 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:51.140 if no one comes 00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:52.220 to rescue us, 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.860 we will surrender 00:18:53.860 --> 00:18:54.900 to you. 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:56.799 So the need for rescue 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:58.079 is recognized 00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:59.399 right at the start 00:18:59.399 --> 00:19:00.799 of the chapter. 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:03.940 Down in verse 9, 00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:05.639 Saul has gathered 00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:06.519 the troops together, 00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:07.480 the armies of Israel 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.500 are marching out 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:10.099 and they say 00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:11.299 to the men of Gilead, 00:19:11.639 --> 00:19:12.599 by this time 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:13.879 the sun is hot tomorrow, 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:16.339 you will be rescued. 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:18.359 So the need for rescue 00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:19.399 has been identified, 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:20.599 the rescue 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:21.859 has been promised 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:24.500 and then in verse 13, 00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:25.480 Saul says, 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:26.339 no one will be put 00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:27.220 to death today 00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:28.579 for this day 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.539 the Lord 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:32.019 has rescued Israel. 00:19:32.620 --> 00:19:33.599 The need's identified, 00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:35.440 rescue is promised 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:36.700 and the rescue 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:38.799 is then brought about. 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.680 And that is what 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:42.019 establishes Saul 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.319 as the king 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:44.440 in Israel. 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:46.319 Again, 00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.660 very clear application 00:19:47.660 --> 00:19:48.319 as we think 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:49.700 about the Lord Jesus. 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:52.299 There was a terrible need 00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:53.299 for rescue 00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:54.319 for mankind. 00:19:55.379 --> 00:19:56.319 As sin has got 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.059 into our world, 00:19:57.139 --> 00:19:57.879 as all of us 00:19:57.879 --> 00:19:59.480 are under the penalty 00:19:59.480 --> 00:19:59.940 of sin 00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:01.059 without the Lord Jesus, 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:03.619 we needed to be rescued. 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:06.299 That rescue comes to us, 00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:07.359 is promised to us 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:08.819 throughout the Old Testament 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:10.019 of the Bible. 00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:10.579 Right through 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:12.379 from Genesis chapter 3 onwards, 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.779 we see the promise 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.619 of the Messiah, 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:15.779 the Redeemer, 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.279 the one who would come 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:18.259 and rescue 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.440 his people. 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.940 And then of course 00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:21.799 in the Gospels 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:22.680 and the New Testament, 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:24.680 we see how that rescue happens. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:26.059 It happens through 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:27.700 the Lord Jesus. 00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:30.000 And as Saul says, 00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:31.000 not taking the credit 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.680 for himself, 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:34.620 the Lord has rescued Israel. 00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:36.480 So we can say, 00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:38.840 the Lord has rescued me, 00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:41.180 the Lord has rescued all of us 00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:43.920 from the terrible fate 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:44.860 that awaited us 00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:46.100 if we remained 00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:47.759 in our sins. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:49.359 God promises 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.759 to rescue his people 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:52.180 and he fulfills 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:53.039 that promise 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:53.980 and for us 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.720 he fulfills it 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.299 particularly 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:57.400 through the Lord Jesus. 00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:58.940 God's chosen king 00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:00.079 is filled with the Spirit 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:01.900 and he rescues 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:03.019 his people. 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:05.900 Third thing we noticed 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.579 from this passage 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:08.460 is that God's chosen king 00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:09.339 shows mercy 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:11.039 to the undeserving. 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.140 Now we noted 00:21:12.140 --> 00:21:13.579 at the end of chapter 10, 00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:14.619 we had these people 00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:15.119 who were saying, 00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:16.200 we don't want Saul 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:17.019 to be our king. 00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:18.819 What good is this man 00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.359 to us? 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:21.180 He's not going to be able 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:22.119 to do anything 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:23.559 to rescue us. 00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:25.799 And so in chapter 11, 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:27.200 the people of Saul 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.180 had his victory. 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.700 They were saying 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.879 to Samuel, 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:32.019 well let's bring 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:32.980 these people out 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:34.160 and let's put them 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:34.619 to death 00:21:34.619 --> 00:21:35.759 because they are traitors. 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:37.319 They wouldn't accept 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.480 God's chosen king. 00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:39.920 They deserve nothing 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:41.940 less than death. 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.259 Interesting, 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.420 it was said to Samuel, 00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:45.800 but it was Saul 00:21:45.800 --> 00:21:46.420 who pronounced 00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:48.140 the words of forgiveness. 00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:49.360 No one will be put 00:21:49.360 --> 00:21:50.240 to death today 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.640 for this day 00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:52.519 the Lord 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:54.800 has rescued Israel. 00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:57.259 I think the acclaim 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:58.300 that Saul received 00:21:58.300 --> 00:21:59.080 after this 00:21:59.080 --> 00:22:01.300 was at least partly 00:22:01.300 --> 00:22:03.180 because of what he did 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:04.080 at this point. 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:04.400 Yes, 00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:05.140 it was because of 00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:05.980 the great victory 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.779 that he won 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:08.240 and the way he had 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.120 led his army 00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:10.279 into battle. 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:12.299 But he also showed 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:12.879 the qualities 00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:13.940 which are necessary 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:15.359 in God's king. 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:17.279 That quality of mercy 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.819 and of forgiveness 00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:20.579 and of being willing 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:21.379 to give people 00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:22.720 another chance. 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:23.720 Now again, 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:24.359 as we read through 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:25.879 the account of Saul 00:22:25.879 --> 00:22:26.480 later on, 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.319 we don't see this 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.559 in evidence quite so much 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.839 but in this chapter 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:30.680 I think we do. 00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:32.240 There is a real mercy 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.480 there for those 00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:35.259 who don't deserve it. 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.619 And of course, 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:37.980 as we look forward 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:38.940 to the Lord Jesus, 00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:40.340 what do we see? 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:41.279 We see mercy 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.720 for those who are 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.720 undeserving. 00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.820 As the Lord Jesus 00:22:45.820 --> 00:22:47.120 hangs on the cross, 00:22:47.600 --> 00:22:48.920 he prays for the forgiveness 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:50.480 of those who have 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:52.140 crucified him. 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:54.799 As Saul is on 00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.900 the Damascus road 00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:57.799 going out to persecute 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.440 and to kill 00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:59.539 the Christians, 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:00.980 the Lord appears 00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.480 to him 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:03.019 and shows mercy 00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.440 to him 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:03.880 as Paul would 00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:04.600 describe himself 00:23:04.600 --> 00:23:06.640 the chief of sinners. 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.340 And all of us 00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.899 undeserving as we are, 00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:11.899 sinful as we are. 00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:13.699 If we have put our trust 00:23:13.699 --> 00:23:14.699 in the Lord Jesus, 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:16.339 then he has shown 00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:17.439 mercy to us 00:23:17.439 --> 00:23:18.879 despite the fact 00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:19.959 that we never 00:23:19.959 --> 00:23:21.240 deserved it. 00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:22.359 So also 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:22.980 mercy 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:24.379 to the undeserving 00:23:24.379 --> 00:23:25.079 is evidence 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:26.119 of being 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:27.019 God's 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.759 chosen 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.599 king. 00:23:30.919 --> 00:23:32.299 And then finally, 00:23:32.899 --> 00:23:33.579 God's chosen king 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.839 is filled with the spirit. 00:23:35.459 --> 00:23:36.679 He rescued his people. 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:38.080 He shows mercy 00:23:38.080 --> 00:23:39.100 to the undeserving 00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:40.519 and at the end 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:41.380 he's acclaimed 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:42.759 as king. 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:43.820 So in verse 14, 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:45.500 Samuel says to the people, 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:47.299 come let us go to Gilgal 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.740 and renew our kingship. 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:50.519 They'll go up to Gilgal 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:52.200 and they make Saul king 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:53.560 in the presence 00:23:53.560 --> 00:23:54.519 of the Lord 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.600 and they make sacrifices 00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:57.900 and have a great celebration. 00:23:58.900 --> 00:24:00.019 Paul is established 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:01.600 as the king 00:24:01.600 --> 00:24:03.420 in Israel. 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:05.100 But I think there's more 00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:05.960 to these verses 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.660 than that. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.700 This isn't just about 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:10.240 Saul being recognized 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.480 as king. 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:13.460 Because what Samuel says 00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:15.080 is let's go to Gilgal 00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:16.400 and there 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:17.240 renew 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.539 the kingship. 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:19.820 Gilgal is significant 00:24:19.820 --> 00:24:20.700 because it's the place 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.759 the Israelites came to 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.460 when they crossed over 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.080 the Jordan 00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:24.080 on their way 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:24.759 to Jericho 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:26.400 and where they received 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.759 God's assurance 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:29.220 and God's blessing 00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:30.360 as they went 00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:31.779 to the promised land. 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:33.519 And they go back there 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.700 and Samuel says 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.680 we're going to renew 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.480 the kingship 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.819 and what is significant 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:39.139 about their kingship 00:24:39.139 --> 00:24:40.139 compared with every other 00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:41.180 kingship in the world 00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:42.079 at that time, 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.420 what was significant 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:44.700 is that it was 00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.339 in the presence 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.099 of the Lord 00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:47.720 and it was recognizing 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:49.139 that the ultimate king 00:24:49.139 --> 00:24:50.119 is not Saul, 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:52.359 it is the Lord God. 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.000 And so they have 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.700 this ceremony 00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:55.639 where yes, 00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:56.819 Saul is made king 00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:57.980 but he's made king 00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.579 in the presence 00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.180 of the Lord 00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:00.460 with suitable oaths 00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:02.480 and then they make 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:04.460 sacrifices to the Lord 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:05.539 and recognize 00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.720 that actually 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.840 the great king 00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:09.160 is not just Saul, 00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.480 it is the great God 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:10.880 of heaven, 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.160 he is the Lord God, 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.500 he is the king 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:15.059 over all. 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:17.200 And we come today 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:19.059 and we recognize 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:20.400 one who is acclaimed 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.579 as king. 00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:23.240 One who died 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.460 once for our sins, 00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:25.240 was gloriously 00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:26.200 raised to life 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.440 and now is seated 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.700 at God's right hand 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:30.400 and is king of kings 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:32.700 and lord of lords. 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:35.120 And we look at him 00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:35.779 and we say 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.600 he is the one 00:25:36.600 --> 00:25:38.180 to whom we owe allegiance, 00:25:38.580 --> 00:25:40.059 whom we should be following 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:41.580 and obeying 00:25:41.580 --> 00:25:43.559 and living for. 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:45.259 He is the king 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:47.160 of kings. 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.600 Coronation of our queen 00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:50.700 was in 1953, 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:53.319 65 years ago 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.700 the coronation 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.819 this year. 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:57.740 I was looking this week 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:59.240 through the kind of script 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.339 or the order of service 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.460 for the coronation 00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:02.960 and I was struck 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:04.139 that nine times 00:26:04.139 --> 00:26:05.460 during that service 00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:06.599 it was stated 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:07.399 that God 00:26:07.399 --> 00:26:08.539 or the Lord Jesus 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:11.419 is the eternal king. 00:26:11.659 --> 00:26:12.539 Several other times 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:14.019 he referred to as king 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.159 as well. 00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:17.399 This was the coronation 00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.119 of the queen 00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:19.359 of our land 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:21.579 and yet at that coronation 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.379 it was recognized 00:26:22.379 --> 00:26:22.980 there is one 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:24.059 who is much greater 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:25.240 than her. 00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.359 There is one 00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:27.139 under whom 00:26:27.139 --> 00:26:28.679 she sits. 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.259 You probably see 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.339 in the queen's left hand 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:31.700 there 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.799 there is what's called 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.500 the orb. 00:26:33.919 --> 00:26:34.759 The orb is like 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.759 a small globe 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.879 with a cross 00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:37.980 on the top 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:39.059 and it's a very 00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:40.159 significant part 00:26:40.159 --> 00:26:41.519 of the service. 00:26:42.159 --> 00:26:43.039 As the Archbishop 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:43.759 of Canterbury 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:45.039 presented it to the queen 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:46.480 this is what he said. 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:48.220 Receive this orb 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:49.500 set under the cross 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.920 and remember 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:52.160 that the whole world 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.240 is subject 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.660 to the power 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:56.140 and empire 00:26:56.140 --> 00:26:57.420 of Christ 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:58.559 our redeemer. 00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.619 The whole world 00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:00.559 is subject 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.420 to the power 00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:02.859 and empire 00:27:02.859 --> 00:27:04.160 of Christ 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:05.839 our redeemer. 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.839 And I have to say 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.700 to all appearances 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.279 our queen 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.460 has remembered that 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:11.599 and has sought 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.619 to live for God 00:27:12.619 --> 00:27:13.339 and to live 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.119 as a Christian 00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:15.519 even as she reigns 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.980 over this land. 00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:18.519 And the question 00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:19.180 then I suppose 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:19.799 for all of us 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:21.299 is that's how 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.220 we live. 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.000 Do we remember 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:24.960 every day 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.720 that we are subject 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.660 to the power 00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:29.059 and empire 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:30.299 of Christ 00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:31.879 our redeemer? 00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.920 Is our desire 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:35.119 to obey him 00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:35.700 in every way 00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.359 we can 00:27:36.359 --> 00:27:37.740 to live for him 00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:39.619 and to serve him 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:41.079 and to see his name 00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:41.619 honoured 00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:43.059 and glorified 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:44.500 that others too 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.240 may recognise 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.019 that he is 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:46.940 our king 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:48.160 and that he is 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:49.259 the king of kings 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:50.440 and lord 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:51.700 of lords. 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:53.900 That is what 00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:55.140 he demands of us 00:27:55.140 --> 00:27:55.759 that is what 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.519 he deserves 00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:57.519 from us 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.460 as the one 00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.380 who has saved us 00:27:59.380 --> 00:28:00.440 has rescued us 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:01.580 from the grip 00:28:01.580 --> 00:28:02.480 of sin 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:04.019 and of the evil one. 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:05.580 It is for us 00:28:05.580 --> 00:28:06.380 to owe 00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:07.680 allegiance to him 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.240 and to be 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.880 faithful servants 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:11.019 and subjects 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:12.000 of his 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:13.400 and to recognise 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.519 that he is 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.060 indeed 00:28:15.060 --> 00:28:15.740 the one 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.480 who is worthy 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:18.180 of all our praise 00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:19.460 and of all 00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:20.540 the glory. 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.759 So God's chosen king 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:24.000 he's filled 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.820 with the spirit 00:28:24.820 --> 00:28:26.480 he rescues 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.060 his people 00:28:27.060 --> 00:28:28.680 he shows mercy 00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.740 to the undeserving 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:31.660 and he's acclaimed 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:33.300 as king. 00:28:34.140 --> 00:28:34.900 We can give thanks 00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:35.620 that at least 00:28:35.620 --> 00:28:36.400 for one chapter 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:37.720 that was true 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:39.140 of Saul. 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.840 We can give thanks 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:41.839 so much more 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:42.720 that that is 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.799 eternally true 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:45.279 of our Lord Jesus. 00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:47.500 That he came to earth 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.579 that he was full 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.279 of the spirit 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.939 and that he 00:28:49.939 --> 00:28:51.879 lived by the spirit 00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:53.980 he did what was needed 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.980 to rescue us 00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:55.859 from our sins 00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.859 and to give us 00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:58.240 hope for the future. 00:28:59.159 --> 00:29:00.159 He showed us mercy 00:29:00.159 --> 00:29:01.059 when we deserve 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.599 nothing 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:02.519 but judgement 00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:03.740 from God 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:05.220 and then it is 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:05.919 for all of us 00:29:05.919 --> 00:29:06.839 to acclaim him 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.740 as king 00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:09.319 and to serve him 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:10.480 and to live 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.359 for him. 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:12.519 And my voice 00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:12.980 is going 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:14.079 so let's leave it 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.759 at that point 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:16.099 and let's pray together. 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.659 Our Father 00:29:20.659 --> 00:29:21.240 we thank you 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.079 for our Lord Jesus. 00:29:22.939 --> 00:29:23.460 We thank you 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.299 that he is a king 00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:25.139 who is so much 00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:26.339 greater than Saul 00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:27.960 or any other monarch 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.960 who has ever ruled 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:30.159 on this earth. 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:31.939 And we thank you 00:29:31.939 --> 00:29:32.919 that we can look back 00:29:32.919 --> 00:29:33.519 and we can see 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.019 in Saul 00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.679 and in others 00:29:34.679 --> 00:29:36.299 a very pale shadow 00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:37.279 in some of the things 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:37.779 they did 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:39.039 of the greatness 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:40.599 of the Lord Jesus. 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.980 And we want to say 00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:44.000 that we love him 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:45.279 and that we want 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.139 to serve him 00:29:46.139 --> 00:29:47.539 and to live for him. 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:48.940 And we pray 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:50.019 that you will truly 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:51.399 fill us with the spirit 00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:52.240 that we may 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.920 have that great passion 00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:55.160 to go out 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:56.799 and in our world 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.720 to see Christ 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.440 as proclaimed 00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.139 as king 00:29:59.139 --> 00:30:00.559 and to 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:02.059 work against 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:03.440 the works 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.359 of the evil one 00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:05.519 and to help 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:05.899 others 00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:06.859 to escape 00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:08.199 from his grip 00:30:08.199 --> 00:30:09.219 and from the 00:30:09.219 --> 00:30:10.119 inevitable punishment 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:10.779 of those 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:11.579 who reject 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.279 the Lord Jesus. 00:30:13.159 --> 00:30:13.699 Thank you 00:30:13.699 --> 00:30:14.599 for being with us 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.579 as we've studied 00:30:15.579 --> 00:30:16.059 together. 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:17.699 We again pray 00:30:17.699 --> 00:30:18.259 for Derek 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:19.619 and for other members 00:30:19.619 --> 00:30:20.279 of his family. 00:30:20.459 --> 00:30:20.839 We pray that you 00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:21.740 will be a real comfort 00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.279 to them 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.759 over the coming days. 00:30:24.479 --> 00:30:25.379 We thank you again 00:30:25.379 --> 00:30:26.059 for Elma. 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:26.959 We thank you 00:30:26.959 --> 00:30:27.500 for her life 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.619 of faithful service, 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.519 for the hospitality 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.139 she offered 00:30:30.139 --> 00:30:31.099 for many years, 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:33.299 for her great concern, 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.500 for the underprivileged, 00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:35.399 for her generosity 00:30:35.399 --> 00:30:37.639 and for her desire 00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:39.279 to serve the Lord 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.759 and to be with his people. 00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:41.279 We thank you 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:41.819 that for her 00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:43.099 it is now much better 00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:43.980 and we pray 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.519 that may be 00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.159 a great comfort 00:30:45.159 --> 00:30:45.899 to the family 00:30:45.899 --> 00:30:47.379 over the coming days. 00:30:48.159 --> 00:30:48.659 So we give you 00:30:48.659 --> 00:30:49.940 thanks for this time together. 00:30:50.399 --> 00:30:51.079 We commit ourselves 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:51.740 to you now 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.480 in the name 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.299 of the Lord Jesus. 00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:54.399 Amen.