1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:04,900 Now, would you open your Bible please at first Samuel, the book of first Samuel. 2 00:00:05,060 –> 00:00:09,800 We’re beginning a new series today that’s called A Tale of Two Kings, 3 00:00:09,800 –> 00:00:12,860 and we’re going to be following from this Old Testament book, 4 00:00:12,860 –> 00:00:15,800 The Story of Saul and of David, 5 00:00:15,800 –> 00:00:21,920 and through this story we’re going to tap into a very rich and important vein of 6 00:00:21,920 –> 00:00:27,059 scripture that speaks very powerfully into our lives today. 7 00:00:27,320 –> 00:00:33,220 Now we’re going to focus today in this broad introduction on 1st Samuel and chapter 15, 8 00:00:33,220 –> 00:00:41,160 but I want you first, if you would, to turn for just a moment to 1st Samuel and chapter 8. 9 00:00:41,599 –> 00:00:47,279 Because chapter 8 is really a turning point in the big picture of the Bible story. 10 00:00:47,599 –> 00:00:53,220 To remind you of how that progresses after the book of Genesis in Exodus we’re told about 11 00:00:53,279 –> 00:00:57,820 how God’s people are brought to freedom under the leadership of Moses, 12 00:00:58,020 –> 00:01:04,860 and that story, them going through the wilderness and so forth, continues through the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy. 13 00:01:05,260 –> 00:01:08,959 Then after the time of Moses God gives them another leader, Joshua. 14 00:01:09,139 –> 00:01:18,720 And we have the book of Joshua that follows Deuteronomy telling the story of how God gave to his people the land of Canaan, the promised land. 15 00:01:18,739 –> 00:01:23,220 Then after Joshua you have a period of about 300 years 16 00:01:23,599 –> 00:01:28,199 in which God raised up various leaders in different times of crisis. 17 00:01:28,199 –> 00:01:29,940 And these leaders were called Judges. 18 00:01:29,959 –> 00:01:35,660 And so that is the next book of the Bible telling the story of these 300 years. 19 00:01:36,000 –> 00:01:38,360 The book of Judges is tough reading. 20 00:01:38,519 –> 00:01:39,760 It really is. 21 00:01:39,980 –> 00:01:44,160 It keeps coming back to this, everybody did what was right in their own eyes. 22 00:01:44,379 –> 00:01:50,339 Chaos tended to reign in the land except when God raised up a judge to restore order. 23 00:01:50,459 –> 00:01:54,919 And even these Judges, who were raised up by God, were something of a mixed bag. 24 00:01:54,919 –> 00:01:58,180 Some of them, like Gideon and Deborah for example, 25 00:01:58,180 –> 00:02:02,760 were wonderful, wonderful leaders. Heroes who you could admire. 26 00:02:03,099 –> 00:02:06,260 And then there were others like Samson 27 00:02:06,260 –> 00:02:09,419 who was of course a poster boy for bulking up 28 00:02:09,419 –> 00:02:12,720 but hardly a kind of role model for your children 29 00:02:13,000 –> 00:02:16,679 when you read the stories of some of the things that he got up to. 30 00:02:17,300 –> 00:02:19,699 And so the last of these judges 31 00:02:19,699 –> 00:02:22,020 that long three-hundred-year period 32 00:02:22,020 –> 00:02:24,339 that was really a very difficult period 33 00:02:24,339 –> 00:02:27,039 was a good man by the name of Samuel. 34 00:02:27,039 –> 00:02:29,800 And so we come to the book of Samuel in the Bible. 35 00:02:29,919 –> 00:02:31,880 And picking it up in Chapter Eight, 36 00:02:31,880 –> 00:02:34,220 I want you to notice in verse 3 there that 37 00:02:34,220 –> 00:02:37,419 although Samuel was a good man, we’re told his sons 38 00:02:37,419 –> 00:02:40,179 did not walk in his way 39 00:02:40,679 –> 00:02:43,660 but turned aside after gain. 40 00:02:43,660 –> 00:02:45,839 Nothing much changes in the world it seems. 41 00:02:45,839 –> 00:02:50,360 They took bribes and they perverted justice. 42 00:02:50,360 –> 00:02:52,820 So, the people see that after some good years 43 00:02:52,820 –> 00:02:54,679 under Samuel’s leadership 44 00:02:54,679 –> 00:02:57,360 there’s not very good stuff coming down the track 45 00:02:57,360 –> 00:02:59,660 as far as his sons are concerned. 46 00:02:59,660 –> 00:03:02,160 And so they say to Samuel in verse 5, 47 00:03:06,279 –> 00:03:09,679 Top marks for directness, not a lot of tap there but 48 00:03:10,279 –> 00:03:11,479 just straight to the point. 49 00:03:11,479 –> 00:03:13,419 Now look Samuel you’re old 50 00:03:13,419 –> 00:03:16,740 and your sons do not walk in your ways. 51 00:03:16,740 –> 00:03:20,339 Now appoint for us a king 52 00:03:20,339 –> 00:03:23,660 to judge us like all the nations. 53 00:03:23,660 –> 00:03:26,339 So, do you see what is happening at this point in the Bible story? 54 00:03:26,339 –> 00:03:28,039 Here are the people of God 55 00:03:28,039 –> 00:03:29,399 and they say to Samuel, 56 00:03:29,399 –> 00:03:31,220 now things are not going well. 57 00:03:31,220 –> 00:03:33,240 They do not look well for the future 58 00:03:33,240 –> 00:03:37,100 and so what we need is a different form of government. 59 00:03:37,100 –> 00:03:38,860 What we need here is something that’s 60 00:03:38,860 –> 00:03:40,259 going to be more stable, 61 00:03:40,259 –> 00:03:42,720 something that’s going to be more permanent, 62 00:03:42,720 –> 00:03:44,759 not this relying on God to raise up 63 00:03:44,759 –> 00:03:47,199 another judge when the next crisis comes 64 00:03:47,199 –> 00:03:50,740 and we think that the answer is a monarchy. 65 00:03:50,740 –> 00:03:52,520 This is what the other nations do, 66 00:03:52,520 –> 00:03:55,720 they have kings and it obviously works for them 67 00:03:55,720 –> 00:03:58,419 and we think they say to Samuel 68 00:03:58,419 –> 00:04:00,880 that it will work for us. 69 00:04:00,880 –> 00:04:05,059 Now this is a major turning point in the Bible story. 70 00:04:05,059 –> 00:04:06,880 You need to know that it was not wrong 71 00:04:07,020 –> 00:04:09,119 for Israel to ask for a king. 72 00:04:09,979 –> 00:04:11,839 In fact, God had anticipated this, 73 00:04:11,839 –> 00:04:14,580 it was within his overall purpose for history 74 00:04:14,580 –> 00:04:17,700 through his people and he had planned for it. 75 00:04:17,700 –> 00:04:19,140 In fact if you check back in the book 76 00:04:19,140 –> 00:04:21,619 of Deuteronomy in chapter 17, 77 00:04:21,619 –> 00:04:24,839 you will find that in anticipation of this moment, 78 00:04:24,839 –> 00:04:28,019 God through Moses gave particular instructions 79 00:04:28,019 –> 00:04:32,100 as to the kind of person the king was to be 80 00:04:32,100 –> 00:04:34,619 and very clear in Deuteronomy chapter 17 81 00:04:34,619 –> 00:04:37,239 is that the key qualification of a king 82 00:04:37,239 –> 00:04:40,519 is that he must be someone who submits himself 83 00:04:40,519 –> 00:04:44,899 to the law of God and the rule of God. 84 00:04:45,880 –> 00:04:49,160 Now God tells Samuel therefore to anoint Saul 85 00:04:49,160 –> 00:04:52,880 as the very first king of Israel. 86 00:04:52,880 –> 00:04:55,660 And again, I say this is a turning point 87 00:04:55,660 –> 00:05:00,239 in the ongoing story of the Bible. 88 00:05:00,239 –> 00:05:03,019 Now, just to see how significant this theme is. 89 00:05:03,100 –> 00:05:04,839 Follow me here if you would. 90 00:05:04,839 –> 00:05:06,579 Take your Bible in your hand 91 00:05:06,579 –> 00:05:08,799 at 1st Samuel in chapter eight 92 00:05:08,799 –> 00:05:10,660 and then see what happens next, 93 00:05:10,660 –> 00:05:11,899 because the whole of the rest 94 00:05:11,899 –> 00:05:13,399 of the book of 1st Samuel 95 00:05:13,399 –> 00:05:16,119 is all about the first King Saul. 96 00:05:16,119 –> 00:05:17,760 Then if you go to 2nd Samuel, 97 00:05:17,760 –> 00:05:19,940 just flicking through the Bible here 98 00:05:19,940 –> 00:05:22,179 the book of 2nd Samuel is almost entirely 99 00:05:22,179 –> 00:05:25,760 about David, then what comes next? 100 00:05:25,760 –> 00:05:29,480 The first and then the second book of kings. 101 00:05:29,480 –> 00:05:30,339 Guess what the first 102 00:05:30,339 –> 00:05:32,299 and second book of kings are all about. 103 00:05:32,459 –> 00:05:34,140 There are about the Kings of course 104 00:05:34,140 –> 00:05:35,779 that followed David. 105 00:05:35,779 –> 00:05:37,679 And just to complete the picture 106 00:05:37,679 –> 00:05:40,679 beyond that you then have the first 107 00:05:40,679 –> 00:05:43,899 and then the second book of chronicles 108 00:05:43,899 –> 00:05:45,679 which repeats the same story 109 00:05:45,679 –> 00:05:47,980 as the first and second book of kings 110 00:05:47,980 –> 00:05:50,559 but adds some particular applications 111 00:05:50,559 –> 00:05:52,440 for the people of God. 112 00:05:52,440 –> 00:05:54,019 Now just looking at the page numbers 113 00:05:54,019 –> 00:05:54,980 if you look at where we are 114 00:05:54,980 –> 00:05:57,859 from 1 Samuel in chapter eight 115 00:05:57,859 –> 00:05:59,540 through to the end of 116 00:05:59,540 –> 00:06:01,579 the book of chronicles here 117 00:06:01,579 –> 00:06:04,459 in my Bible it’ll probably vary in yours 118 00:06:04,459 –> 00:06:06,179 depending on the introductory pages 119 00:06:06,179 –> 00:06:09,700 but 1 Samuel 8’s on page 295 120 00:06:09,700 –> 00:06:12,519 the end of second chronicles on page 491 121 00:06:12,519 –> 00:06:15,899 that means that there are two hundred pages 122 00:06:15,899 –> 00:06:16,739 in the Bible 123 00:06:17,739 –> 00:06:19,459 that are devoted to the kings. 124 00:06:20,500 –> 00:06:23,839 And there are only 14 hundred pages 125 00:06:23,839 –> 00:06:25,500 I should say in the whole of the Bible here 126 00:06:25,500 –> 00:06:26,779 as I check it out. 127 00:06:26,779 –> 00:06:28,720 That means that one seventh 128 00:06:29,700 –> 00:06:31,399 of the entire Bible 129 00:06:32,320 –> 00:06:33,480 is devoted 130 00:06:34,339 –> 00:06:35,179 to kings. 131 00:06:36,920 –> 00:06:38,859 Now that has to tell us something important 132 00:06:38,859 –> 00:06:40,679 because God does nothing by accident 133 00:06:40,679 –> 00:06:42,299 it has to mean 134 00:06:42,299 –> 00:06:44,459 that God has some significant things 135 00:06:44,459 –> 00:06:46,459 to say into all of our lives 136 00:06:46,459 –> 00:06:48,000 through kings. 137 00:06:48,000 –> 00:06:50,559 It means that God has much to 138 00:06:50,559 –> 00:06:51,839 teach us through kings 139 00:06:51,839 –> 00:06:54,619 it means that in some way kings are important 140 00:06:54,619 –> 00:06:57,320 it means that if we are to understand 141 00:06:57,320 –> 00:06:59,579 the message of the Bible 142 00:06:59,579 –> 00:07:01,799 we have to grasp 143 00:07:01,799 –> 00:07:03,579 what it means 144 00:07:03,579 –> 00:07:04,920 to be a king. 145 00:07:05,500 –> 00:07:07,980 And that’s the point of this series 146 00:07:07,980 –> 00:07:08,799 Now 147 00:07:09,760 –> 00:07:11,760 In case you thought I hadn’t noticed 148 00:07:12,679 –> 00:07:13,940 I am very aware 149 00:07:14,739 –> 00:07:17,320 that this is going to be extremely difficult 150 00:07:17,660 –> 00:07:19,519 Granted that we are all very glad 151 00:07:19,519 –> 00:07:20,980 to be living in a Republic 152 00:07:20,980 –> 00:07:22,079 Right? 153 00:07:22,940 –> 00:07:25,440 There’s a bridge of understanding 154 00:07:26,399 –> 00:07:27,760 For us to cross here 155 00:07:27,760 –> 00:07:30,059 to understand what is being conveyed 156 00:07:30,059 –> 00:07:32,559 in the world of the Bible 157 00:07:33,700 –> 00:07:36,679 And I want to help us cross that bridge today 158 00:07:36,679 –> 00:07:38,940 so that we will have an understanding 159 00:07:38,940 –> 00:07:40,940 of what God is saying to us 160 00:07:40,940 –> 00:07:42,940 in relation to 200 pages 161 00:07:42,940 –> 00:07:44,480 1 7th of the Scripture 162 00:07:45,100 –> 00:07:47,500 that is all about kings 163 00:07:48,160 –> 00:07:49,600 it’s all about kings 164 00:07:50,859 –> 00:07:51,959 Let’s start here 165 00:07:51,959 –> 00:07:53,880 as all of you know 166 00:07:53,880 –> 00:07:56,019 that our form of government 167 00:07:56,019 –> 00:07:57,079 in this country 168 00:07:57,079 –> 00:08:00,260 wonderful form of government that we have 169 00:08:00,260 –> 00:08:04,239 reflects and is even founded on the conviction 170 00:08:04,239 –> 00:08:08,279 that if power is centered on one person 171 00:08:08,279 –> 00:08:10,859 things will not go well 172 00:08:10,859 –> 00:08:13,380 it’s part of the wisdom of the founders 173 00:08:13,380 –> 00:08:14,880 of our nation 174 00:08:15,619 –> 00:08:17,220 We believe 175 00:08:17,220 –> 00:08:21,420 that absolute power corrupts absolutely 176 00:08:21,420 –> 00:08:22,899 and therefore we believe 177 00:08:22,899 –> 00:08:23,779 it is good for the people 178 00:08:23,779 –> 00:08:26,459 and it is good for the health of the government 179 00:08:26,459 –> 00:08:29,079 that power should not be consolidated in one person 180 00:08:29,079 –> 00:08:30,959 but that it should be diversified 181 00:08:30,959 –> 00:08:32,299 through what we call 182 00:08:32,299 –> 00:08:34,840 a separation of powers 183 00:08:36,000 –> 00:08:36,859 And so our government 184 00:08:36,859 –> 00:08:40,000 as everyone who’s taken the Constitution test knows well 185 00:08:40,000 –> 00:08:42,380 and of course I had to pass my citizenship test 186 00:08:42,380 –> 00:08:43,719 a number of years ago 187 00:08:43,719 –> 00:08:46,619 so I’m well, well up on all of this 188 00:08:46,619 –> 00:08:49,359 our government is divided into three branches 189 00:08:49,599 –> 00:08:52,080 the legislative branch 190 00:08:52,080 –> 00:08:53,159 through the Congress 191 00:08:53,179 –> 00:08:54,900 the executive branch 192 00:08:54,900 –> 00:08:56,359 through the White House 193 00:08:56,359 –> 00:08:57,400 through the President 194 00:08:57,400 –> 00:08:58,280 and the judicial branch 195 00:08:58,280 –> 00:09:00,039 through the Supreme Court 196 00:09:00,039 –> 00:09:01,820 what do these three branches do 197 00:09:01,820 –> 00:09:03,380 this is a nice little refresher 198 00:09:03,380 –> 00:09:03,840 for anyone who is coming up 199 00:09:03,840 –> 00:09:06,539 to their Constitution test at school 200 00:09:06,539 –> 00:09:09,039 the legislators write the laws 201 00:09:09,039 –> 00:09:09,719 that’s what they do 202 00:09:09,719 –> 00:09:12,059 they decide what the laws should be 203 00:09:12,059 –> 00:09:13,500 that’s the work of Congress 204 00:09:13,500 –> 00:09:14,299 the executive 205 00:09:14,299 –> 00:09:15,580 what is the executive do 206 00:09:15,580 –> 00:09:17,280 to put the laws into effect 207 00:09:17,280 –> 00:09:18,859 that’s the role of the President 208 00:09:18,859 –> 00:09:19,619 to lead the nation 209 00:09:19,619 –> 00:09:21,599 within the laws of the land 210 00:09:21,599 –> 00:09:23,080 what is the role of the Judiciary 211 00:09:23,140 –> 00:09:24,539 the judges determine 212 00:09:24,539 –> 00:09:26,020 when the laws have been broken 213 00:09:26,020 –> 00:09:27,520 and where they have been broken 214 00:09:27,520 –> 00:09:29,479 the consequences that should follow 215 00:09:29,479 –> 00:09:32,340 so we have this separation of powers 216 00:09:32,340 –> 00:09:33,200 and that we understand 217 00:09:33,200 –> 00:09:34,960 and that we greatly appreciate 218 00:09:34,960 –> 00:09:35,979 what we have to understand 219 00:09:35,979 –> 00:09:37,119 when you go back into the world 220 00:09:37,119 –> 00:09:38,479 of the Bible 221 00:09:38,479 –> 00:09:41,880 is that in ancient cultures 222 00:09:41,880 –> 00:09:44,940 the king held all three 223 00:09:44,940 –> 00:09:46,080 of these powers 224 00:09:46,080 –> 00:09:50,299 together in himself 225 00:09:50,299 –> 00:09:51,859 our natural reaction of course 226 00:09:51,859 –> 00:09:52,679 is to look at that 227 00:09:52,859 –> 00:09:53,580 and to say 228 00:09:53,580 –> 00:09:57,000 well that is not going to go well 229 00:09:57,000 –> 00:09:58,479 that is something we need to learn from 230 00:09:58,479 –> 00:09:59,700 because that’s obviously 231 00:09:59,700 –> 00:10:01,000 a path to complete disaster 232 00:10:01,000 –> 00:10:05,440 which of course is right 233 00:10:05,440 –> 00:10:06,760 and I want you to think about this 234 00:10:06,760 –> 00:10:11,260 because to me this is the ultimate irony 235 00:10:11,799 –> 00:10:14,799 of American life 236 00:10:14,799 –> 00:10:17,820 think this through with me 237 00:10:17,820 –> 00:10:22,280 having believed so strongly 238 00:10:22,340 –> 00:10:26,500 that absolute power corrupts absolutely 239 00:10:26,500 –> 00:10:29,780 and having planned as the founders did 240 00:10:29,780 –> 00:10:31,440 so clearly, that there should be in government 241 00:10:31,440 –> 00:10:32,679 a separation of powers 242 00:10:32,679 –> 00:10:33,200 which is surely 243 00:10:33,200 –> 00:10:35,380 the wisest way for government to function 244 00:10:35,380 –> 00:10:38,460 on the face of the earth 245 00:10:38,460 –> 00:10:40,880 and having discerned so wisely therefore 246 00:10:40,880 –> 00:10:44,880 that there should be no king 247 00:10:44,880 –> 00:10:47,239 we have proceeded 248 00:10:47,239 –> 00:10:50,659 to make kings of ourselves 249 00:10:50,659 –> 00:10:51,859 that is what we have done 250 00:10:51,880 –> 00:10:53,380 in a postmodern culture 251 00:10:53,380 –> 00:10:54,580 and think of how it works out 252 00:10:54,580 –> 00:10:56,299 we have created a culture 253 00:10:56,299 –> 00:10:57,859 in which every individual 254 00:10:57,859 –> 00:10:59,919 becomes his or her own king 255 00:10:59,919 –> 00:11:01,460 the king of his or her own life 256 00:11:01,460 –> 00:11:03,419 our postmodern culture 257 00:11:03,419 –> 00:11:05,200 says to every individual 258 00:11:05,200 –> 00:11:06,099 you cannot watch 259 00:11:06,099 –> 00:11:07,520 a section of advertisement 260 00:11:07,520 –> 00:11:09,140 without this being pumped 261 00:11:09,140 –> 00:11:10,739 at you absolutely constantly 262 00:11:10,739 –> 00:11:12,820 you write your own rules 263 00:11:12,820 –> 00:11:15,619 you be your own legislator 264 00:11:15,619 –> 00:11:18,500 you follow your own desires 265 00:11:18,500 –> 00:11:20,200 that means you be your own executive 266 00:11:20,500 –> 00:11:23,140 you decide what is right for you 267 00:11:23,140 –> 00:11:24,539 you can’t watch adverts 268 00:11:24,539 –> 00:11:25,460 without seeing 269 00:11:25,460 –> 00:11:26,900 you know is that right for you 270 00:11:26,900 –> 00:11:28,380 it’s the most common phrase 271 00:11:28,380 –> 00:11:29,619 in all of our society 272 00:11:29,619 –> 00:11:30,419 which is to say 273 00:11:30,419 –> 00:11:32,119 basically you be your own judiciary 274 00:11:32,119 –> 00:11:33,119 that’s what it is 275 00:11:33,119 –> 00:11:36,619 so if you become your own legislature 276 00:11:36,619 –> 00:11:38,539 and you become your own executive 277 00:11:38,539 –> 00:11:39,419 and you become your own judiciary 278 00:11:39,419 –> 00:11:41,299 what is that but 279 00:11:41,299 –> 00:11:42,780 that you become the king 280 00:11:42,780 –> 00:11:45,340 and here I see 281 00:11:45,340 –> 00:11:47,080 is the ultimate irony 282 00:11:47,080 –> 00:11:49,219 of American life today 283 00:11:50,179 –> 00:11:54,099 that believing as we do wisely 284 00:11:54,099 –> 00:11:56,159 following the founders 285 00:11:56,159 –> 00:11:58,619 that absolute power 286 00:11:58,619 –> 00:12:00,140 corrupts absolutely 287 00:12:00,140 –> 00:12:01,500 we proceed then 288 00:12:01,500 –> 00:12:03,039 on an individual basis 289 00:12:03,039 –> 00:12:04,000 to give absolute power 290 00:12:04,000 –> 00:12:05,599 and authority to ourselves 291 00:12:05,599 –> 00:12:07,679 that is crazy 292 00:12:07,679 –> 00:12:10,840 what we would not see as safe 293 00:12:10,840 –> 00:12:12,219 in the hands of anybody else 294 00:12:12,219 –> 00:12:13,320 we assumed to be safe 295 00:12:13,320 –> 00:12:14,200 in our own hands 296 00:12:14,200 –> 00:12:15,179 I have to write my own rules 297 00:12:15,179 –> 00:12:16,820 I have to determine my own morality 298 00:12:16,820 –> 00:12:17,919 I have to be the judge 299 00:12:17,960 –> 00:12:20,159 of what is right and what is wrong 300 00:12:20,159 –> 00:12:22,599 I am the captain of my own life 301 00:12:23,380 –> 00:12:25,500 the master of my own ship 302 00:12:27,020 –> 00:12:29,200 now think about this with me 303 00:12:30,140 –> 00:12:32,500 the roots of this 304 00:12:32,500 –> 00:12:33,799 where did that began? 305 00:12:33,799 –> 00:12:35,500 be your own king 306 00:12:36,919 –> 00:12:38,200 it began 307 00:12:39,159 –> 00:12:41,799 in the garden of Eden 308 00:12:43,000 –> 00:12:44,000 right back in Genesis 309 00:12:44,000 –> 00:12:44,880 in Chapter 3 310 00:12:44,880 –> 00:12:45,799 think about this 311 00:12:45,799 –> 00:12:47,299 God created the man 312 00:12:47,400 –> 00:12:48,080 and the woman 313 00:12:48,080 –> 00:12:49,280 and then he placed them 314 00:12:49,280 –> 00:12:50,940 in this beautiful garden 315 00:12:50,940 –> 00:12:52,440 where they would thrive 316 00:12:52,440 –> 00:12:54,099 and they would live 317 00:12:54,099 –> 00:12:55,400 under his blessing 318 00:12:55,400 –> 00:12:57,780 and he would be their LORD 319 00:12:57,780 –> 00:12:59,880 and their god 320 00:12:59,880 –> 00:13:01,020 and they would find all 321 00:13:01,020 –> 00:13:02,719 their good in him 322 00:13:03,219 –> 00:13:04,440 Eden 323 00:13:05,780 –> 00:13:07,239 God was their king 324 00:13:08,760 –> 00:13:10,840 and he gave one rule 325 00:13:12,380 –> 00:13:13,419 for the protection 326 00:13:13,419 –> 00:13:14,820 and for the good 327 00:13:14,820 –> 00:13:16,440 of the man and the woman 328 00:13:16,440 –> 00:13:18,500 that he had created 329 00:13:18,500 –> 00:13:20,559 You remember that rule 330 00:13:20,559 –> 00:13:21,640 you can check it out 331 00:13:21,640 –> 00:13:23,280 in Genesis 2 332 00:13:23,280 –> 00:13:24,780 in verses 16 and 17 333 00:13:24,780 –> 00:13:25,640 God says now 334 00:13:25,640 –> 00:13:26,840 here is the freedom 335 00:13:26,840 –> 00:13:28,479 and the generosity of God 336 00:13:28,479 –> 00:13:29,940 he says now you may eat 337 00:13:30,419 –> 00:13:32,859 of any tree in the garden 338 00:13:32,859 –> 00:13:34,239 any tree in the garden 339 00:13:34,239 –> 00:13:36,080 but he says 340 00:13:36,080 –> 00:13:37,219 except for one 341 00:13:37,219 –> 00:13:39,539 of the tree of the knowledge 342 00:13:39,539 –> 00:13:40,640 of good and of evil 343 00:13:40,640 –> 00:13:42,080 you shall not eat for 344 00:13:42,080 –> 00:13:43,619 so he is going to damage 345 00:13:43,619 –> 00:13:44,799 you if you do this 346 00:13:44,799 –> 00:13:46,099 if you eat of that tree 347 00:13:46,280 –> 00:13:47,820 the day that you eat of it 348 00:13:47,820 –> 00:13:49,020 you will surely die 349 00:13:50,140 –> 00:13:51,159 most of you know 350 00:13:51,159 –> 00:13:52,020 this story well 351 00:13:52,020 –> 00:13:53,080 but think it through with me 352 00:13:53,080 –> 00:13:54,059 please 353 00:13:54,059 –> 00:13:55,219 see it’s significance 354 00:13:55,219 –> 00:13:56,679 Satan comes 355 00:13:56,679 –> 00:13:58,200 to tempt them 356 00:13:59,859 –> 00:14:01,099 and what does he say 357 00:14:01,099 –> 00:14:02,340 how does he go about 358 00:14:02,340 –> 00:14:03,340 this temptation 359 00:14:03,340 –> 00:14:04,780 notice very significantly 360 00:14:04,780 –> 00:14:05,200 that there are 361 00:14:05,200 –> 00:14:07,039 three parts 362 00:14:07,039 –> 00:14:09,039 to that original temptation 363 00:14:09,039 –> 00:14:10,619 what are they 364 00:14:10,619 –> 00:14:11,400 Genesis chapter three 365 00:14:11,400 –> 00:14:12,539 in verse one 366 00:14:12,539 –> 00:14:14,919 did God actually say 367 00:14:15,419 –> 00:14:19,359 you shall not eat of the tree in the garden 368 00:14:19,359 –> 00:14:21,659 that’s a legislative question 369 00:14:21,659 –> 00:14:23,659 it’s a question about the law 370 00:14:23,659 –> 00:14:24,580 is this the right law 371 00:14:24,580 –> 00:14:26,039 did God really give this law 372 00:14:26,039 –> 00:14:27,900 isn’t this a restrictive law 373 00:14:27,900 –> 00:14:29,559 I mean shouldn’t we pass a better law 374 00:14:30,219 –> 00:14:31,580 that would be something 375 00:14:31,580 –> 00:14:33,580 that you could do Adam 376 00:14:35,159 –> 00:14:36,719 what’s the next thing 377 00:14:36,719 –> 00:14:38,039 Genesis chapter three 378 00:14:38,039 –> 00:14:39,580 in verse five 379 00:14:39,580 –> 00:14:40,900 God knows 380 00:14:40,900 –> 00:14:42,419 the enemy says 381 00:14:42,419 –> 00:14:44,039 that when you eat of this 382 00:14:44,039 –> 00:14:45,960 your eyes will be opened 383 00:14:46,960 –> 00:14:48,960 and you will be like God 384 00:14:50,340 –> 00:14:52,340 that’s about 385 00:14:52,340 –> 00:14:54,559 the executive role, isn’t it 386 00:14:55,700 –> 00:14:56,880 you should 387 00:14:56,880 –> 00:14:58,419 be the one calling the shots 388 00:14:58,419 –> 00:15:00,299 why have God making all the decisions 389 00:15:00,299 –> 00:15:01,400 and all the direction 390 00:15:01,400 –> 00:15:03,039 why should he be the one shapeing the future 391 00:15:03,039 –> 00:15:04,679 you could be the one that shapes the future 392 00:15:04,679 –> 00:15:07,080 you can be the one who is in the executive position 393 00:15:07,080 –> 00:15:09,440 you can be the one who’s making things happen 394 00:15:10,039 –> 00:15:11,359 and if you go after this tree 395 00:15:11,359 –> 00:15:12,820 that’s the only thing that stopping you 396 00:15:12,820 –> 00:15:13,799 is that God won’t let 397 00:15:13,820 –> 00:15:14,979 get to this tree 398 00:15:15,000 –> 00:15:17,340 you should lay hold of the executive position 399 00:15:17,380 –> 00:15:18,700 just as you should feel free 400 00:15:18,700 –> 00:15:20,260 to write your own law 401 00:15:21,500 –> 00:15:23,500 and then what is the other thing that he says 402 00:15:24,419 –> 00:15:26,539 Genesis chapter three in verse four 403 00:15:27,640 –> 00:15:30,380 you shall not surely die 404 00:15:30,380 –> 00:15:32,119 and you see where that goes 405 00:15:32,539 –> 00:15:33,780 that’s judicial 406 00:15:34,539 –> 00:15:36,260 God may warn you about some judgment 407 00:15:36,260 –> 00:15:37,320 that is to come 408 00:15:37,320 –> 00:15:39,280 but hey nothings gonna happen 409 00:15:39,280 –> 00:15:40,739 you’ll be your own judge 410 00:15:40,739 –> 00:15:43,340 to your own self be true 411 00:15:43,400 –> 00:15:45,880 you stand or fall by the consequences of your own decisions 412 00:15:45,880 –> 00:15:47,140 you don’t worry about God 413 00:15:48,239 –> 00:15:49,599 as long as you’re right with yourself 414 00:15:49,599 –> 00:15:51,059 that’s the only thing that really matters 415 00:15:51,059 –> 00:15:51,559 you see that 416 00:15:51,840 –> 00:15:54,320 what is the core of his temptation then 417 00:15:54,320 –> 00:15:55,140 do you see it 418 00:15:55,719 –> 00:15:58,900 what is at the very heart of Satan’s rebellion against God 419 00:15:58,900 –> 00:16:02,179 into which he wants to include us 420 00:16:02,840 –> 00:16:04,559 and the heart of it is this 421 00:16:04,840 –> 00:16:07,739 that you should be your own king 422 00:16:08,580 –> 00:16:10,299 that you should take to yourself 423 00:16:10,299 –> 00:16:11,780 all of the functions 424 00:16:12,000 –> 00:16:13,340 of determining right and wrong 425 00:16:13,340 –> 00:16:14,780 writing your own morality 426 00:16:14,940 –> 00:16:17,599 directing the course of your own life 427 00:16:18,059 –> 00:16:22,960 making the judgments with regards to what is right and what is wrong for you 428 00:16:23,020 –> 00:16:24,159 be you own king 429 00:16:24,159 –> 00:16:25,679 live by your own code 430 00:16:26,640 –> 00:16:29,320 stand or fall by your own judgments 431 00:16:29,320 –> 00:16:30,359 and here’s the problem 432 00:16:32,020 –> 00:16:34,719 as we all say when it relates to anybody else 433 00:16:36,179 –> 00:16:36,900 say it with me 434 00:16:37,359 –> 00:16:39,700 absolute power corrupts 435 00:16:40,119 –> 00:16:41,080 absolutely 436 00:16:42,419 –> 00:16:45,099 why don’t you take absolute power to yourself 437 00:16:45,099 –> 00:16:46,659 we say that’s a great idea 438 00:16:46,659 –> 00:16:47,840 I can trust myself with it 439 00:16:47,840 –> 00:16:48,580 can you? 440 00:16:50,760 –> 00:16:52,640 somehow we convince ourselves 441 00:16:52,640 –> 00:16:55,280 that what we would never trust to one other person 442 00:16:55,340 –> 00:16:57,539 can somehow all be held in our own hand 443 00:16:57,640 –> 00:17:00,080 and that we do not need someone to legislate for us 444 00:17:00,200 –> 00:17:01,799 or to direct our lives 445 00:17:02,659 –> 00:17:05,880 and somehow that we can avoid the ultimate position 446 00:17:05,880 –> 00:17:07,920 of standing and accountability before God 447 00:17:08,800 –> 00:17:12,380 now friends back to 1st Samuel 448 00:17:12,640 –> 00:17:16,400 never is this seen more clearly 449 00:17:18,400 –> 00:17:19,920 than in the story of Saul 450 00:17:19,920 –> 00:17:21,880 Israel’s first king 451 00:17:23,420 –> 00:17:25,479 and we are going to follow this story 452 00:17:25,619 –> 00:17:27,380 of this King who went bad 453 00:17:28,119 –> 00:17:30,239 and then the hope of another King David 454 00:17:30,239 –> 00:17:33,000 who points of course, to our Lord and our saviour 455 00:17:33,000 –> 00:17:34,920 Jesus Christ 456 00:17:35,239 –> 00:17:37,839 we are beginning today with Saul 457 00:17:38,380 –> 00:17:40,119 We are going to follow his story 458 00:17:41,699 –> 00:17:45,760 Saul reigned for forty years 459 00:17:46,880 –> 00:17:49,020 and 1st Samuel, chapter 15 460 00:17:49,020 –> 00:17:50,979 if you would turn there with me now please 461 00:17:51,520 –> 00:17:54,760 comes roughly half-way through his reign 462 00:17:55,660 –> 00:17:57,839 for a few years 463 00:17:58,239 –> 00:17:59,920 things had gone well 464 00:18:00,520 –> 00:18:02,300 there had been some victories 465 00:18:02,300 –> 00:18:04,880 chapter 11, a victory over the Ammonites 466 00:18:04,880 –> 00:18:07,859 chapter 13, a victory over the Philistines 467 00:18:08,880 –> 00:18:11,239 then in chapter 13, it’s very interesting 468 00:18:11,239 –> 00:18:13,900 what happens when Saul begins to get confident 469 00:18:13,900 –> 00:18:17,000 is that he tries to extend his own power 470 00:18:17,000 –> 00:18:19,680 beyond even the power given to a king 471 00:18:21,260 –> 00:18:25,219 and he comes and he assumes the right of making a sacrifice 472 00:18:25,219 –> 00:18:27,520 which in the Old Testament was not given to a king 473 00:18:27,520 –> 00:18:29,660 it was a privilege that was given to a priest 474 00:18:29,660 –> 00:18:32,020 but why does a king need to wait for a priest? 475 00:18:32,020 –> 00:18:35,280 he can come to God for himself and in his own way and so forth 476 00:18:35,699 –> 00:18:39,640 Samuel brings a very severe warning to Saul at that point 477 00:18:40,939 –> 00:18:43,040 there’s the sense that things are beginning to go wrong 478 00:18:43,040 –> 00:18:45,119 this person’s beginning to assume 479 00:18:45,119 –> 00:18:48,119 that he can usurp even the place of God 480 00:18:49,560 –> 00:18:51,359 and then we come to chapter 15 481 00:18:51,359 –> 00:18:55,439 this is the story, you can read the details later if you wish 482 00:18:55,439 –> 00:18:57,699 of how God sends Saul on this mission 483 00:18:57,699 –> 00:19:02,239 in which he’s to deal with this evil, evil man, Agag 484 00:19:02,359 –> 00:19:04,439 who had an extraordinary history 485 00:19:04,439 –> 00:19:06,280 of atrocious war crimes 486 00:19:08,439 –> 00:19:11,400 and instead of putting Agag to the sword 487 00:19:11,400 –> 00:19:14,060 which was what God had commanded Saul to do 488 00:19:14,060 –> 00:19:16,040 Saul chose to bring him back alive 489 00:19:16,040 –> 00:19:18,479 perhaps thinking that having him locked up 490 00:19:18,479 –> 00:19:21,560 would be a kind of trophy to his own praise 491 00:19:21,560 –> 00:19:23,380 and instead of destroying the animals 492 00:19:23,380 –> 00:19:26,000 as God has commanded Saul kept them 493 00:19:26,000 –> 00:19:28,180 and then justified his action 494 00:19:28,180 –> 00:19:30,760 on the basis that he had offered some of them 495 00:19:30,780 –> 00:19:32,719 as sacrifices to God 496 00:19:33,599 –> 00:19:37,859 and this now is the point where God draws the line 497 00:19:37,859 –> 00:19:39,900 there’s been grace extended throughout 498 00:19:39,900 –> 00:19:42,300 the previous chapters and Chapter 15 499 00:19:42,300 –> 00:19:43,660 you’ll see the heading at the beginning 500 00:19:43,660 –> 00:19:46,939 is God rejects Saul 501 00:19:46,939 –> 00:19:49,619 and this is the awful moment in the story 502 00:19:49,619 –> 00:19:54,619 where Saul is rejected by God as King 503 00:19:55,500 –> 00:19:57,780 and in verse 10, you’ll see that the word 504 00:19:57,780 –> 00:19:59,780 of the Lord came to Samuel 505 00:20:01,380 –> 00:20:06,380 I regret that I have made Saul King 506 00:20:09,280 –> 00:20:12,040 power has corrupted Saul 507 00:20:13,579 –> 00:20:17,660 and now there is grief in the heart of God 508 00:20:17,660 –> 00:20:20,000 when you read the word God saying I regret 509 00:20:20,000 –> 00:20:21,920 don’t think for a minute of course 510 00:20:21,920 –> 00:20:23,739 that God is saying oh I made a mistake 511 00:20:23,739 –> 00:20:25,780 God makes no mistakes 512 00:20:25,780 –> 00:20:29,199 think of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem 513 00:20:29,239 –> 00:20:31,280 think of the fact that when a man or a woman 514 00:20:31,280 –> 00:20:33,920 choses a sinful and self-destructive path 515 00:20:33,920 –> 00:20:38,260 the heart of God is not unmoved 516 00:20:38,260 –> 00:20:41,459 and the heart of God is moved within him 517 00:20:41,459 –> 00:20:45,300 at the tragedy of this first king 518 00:20:45,300 –> 00:20:48,420 and the path that has been chosen 519 00:20:48,420 –> 00:20:52,239 the end to which it is going to bring him 520 00:20:52,239 –> 00:20:54,939 and Samuel is given the unenviable task 521 00:20:54,939 –> 00:20:59,000 of announcing the verdict of God 522 00:20:59,000 –> 00:21:02,500 of Saul, the first king of Israel 523 00:21:02,500 –> 00:21:05,619 and the news puts Samuel, this good man 524 00:21:05,619 –> 00:21:08,359 into an agony of soul 525 00:21:08,359 –> 00:21:10,880 try and put yourself in Samuel’s shoes 526 00:21:10,880 –> 00:21:13,380 he loves Saul, he’s prayed for Saul 527 00:21:13,380 –> 00:21:15,000 in earlier years he’s been a 528 00:21:15,000 –> 00:21:16,979 well received councilor to Saul 529 00:21:16,979 –> 00:21:19,180 but Saul’s now gone on a different path 530 00:21:19,180 –> 00:21:21,040 and Samuel has to come and speak 531 00:21:21,040 –> 00:21:22,800 the word of the Lord to him 532 00:21:22,800 –> 00:21:25,680 that basically says, Saul, you’re done 533 00:21:25,680 –> 00:21:27,719 you’re done 534 00:21:27,719 –> 00:21:29,920 Samuel goes to speak. And we take it up in verse 535 00:21:29,920 –> 00:21:32,959 22, that was part of what was read 536 00:21:32,959 –> 00:21:34,579 Samuel said, behold 537 00:21:34,579 –> 00:21:36,040 the middle of the verse 538 00:21:36,040 –> 00:21:40,099 to obey is better than sacrifice 539 00:21:40,099 –> 00:21:42,500 and to listen 540 00:21:42,500 –> 00:21:46,040 better than the fat of rams 541 00:21:46,040 –> 00:21:50,520 for rebellion is as the sin of divination 542 00:21:50,520 –> 00:21:52,839 and presumption, notice that word 543 00:21:52,839 –> 00:21:57,239 is as iniquity and idolatry 544 00:21:57,420 –> 00:22:00,300 then this most awful statement 545 00:22:00,300 –> 00:22:04,199 because you have rejected the word of the Lord 546 00:22:04,199 –> 00:22:09,579 he has also rejected you 547 00:22:09,579 –> 00:22:16,579 from being king, period 548 00:22:17,199 –> 00:22:21,760 notice that Saul is indicted by God 549 00:22:21,760 –> 00:22:23,959 on three charges 550 00:22:23,959 –> 00:22:25,380 lets allow the light of God’s word 551 00:22:25,380 –> 00:22:29,260 to search our hearts right now 552 00:22:29,260 –> 00:22:31,060 the first is rebellion 553 00:22:31,060 –> 00:22:32,199 verse 23 do you see it there 554 00:22:32,199 –> 00:22:39,199 rebellion is as the sin of divination 555 00:22:40,199 –> 00:22:43,119 you can check this out in deuteronomy 17 556 00:22:43,119 –> 00:22:47,199 when a king in Israel came to the throne 557 00:22:47,199 –> 00:22:48,439 the command of God was that 558 00:22:48,439 –> 00:22:51,339 the very first thing he was to do 559 00:22:51,339 –> 00:22:53,839 was to make his own hand written 560 00:22:53,839 –> 00:22:56,140 copy of the entire book of deuteronomy 561 00:22:56,140 –> 00:22:57,979 can you imagine writing out the book 562 00:22:57,979 –> 00:23:00,939 of deuteronomy in it’s entirety 563 00:23:00,939 –> 00:23:02,239 it was to be written out by hand 564 00:23:02,239 –> 00:23:04,680 because the king was responsable 565 00:23:04,680 –> 00:23:07,739 executive he’s to implement the law 566 00:23:07,739 –> 00:23:11,119 of god and so he’s to write out 567 00:23:11,119 –> 00:23:12,540 his own hand written copy 568 00:23:12,540 –> 00:23:13,780 pressed on his mind, his heart 569 00:23:13,780 –> 00:23:16,359 to be on his bed, stand at night 570 00:23:16,359 –> 00:23:18,500 is to be with him where ever he goes 571 00:23:18,500 –> 00:23:20,380 on any of his journeys 572 00:23:20,380 –> 00:23:22,579 he’s constantly to have the law of God 573 00:23:52,660 –> 00:23:54,900 and you know often those people 574 00:23:54,900 –> 00:23:56,939 that is called rebellion 575 00:23:56,939 –> 00:24:01,900 you are not living according to the word of God 576 00:24:01,900 –> 00:24:04,260 you are following your own impulse 577 00:24:04,260 –> 00:24:05,819 and your own way 578 00:24:05,819 –> 00:24:09,579 and you’re doing it under the banner of faith 579 00:24:09,579 –> 00:24:12,939 because you’re the king of Israel 580 00:24:12,939 –> 00:24:15,640 friends on the last day 581 00:24:15,640 –> 00:24:17,699 I don’t care how long you have been in church 582 00:24:17,699 –> 00:24:19,640 or whatever 583 00:24:19,719 –> 00:24:22,560 on the last day 584 00:24:22,560 –> 00:24:24,739 the question when you and I stand before God 585 00:24:24,739 –> 00:24:27,760 is going to boil down to this 586 00:24:27,760 –> 00:24:31,859 who was king in your life? 587 00:24:31,859 –> 00:24:34,839 was it really God? 588 00:24:34,839 –> 00:24:37,939 Was it really you? 589 00:24:37,939 –> 00:24:39,500 Every day, every week 590 00:24:39,500 –> 00:24:41,599 every year as we begin another year 591 00:24:41,599 –> 00:24:44,260 we are working out the answer to that question 592 00:24:44,260 –> 00:24:45,560 in the decisions we make 593 00:24:45,560 –> 00:24:46,660 the choices that we make 594 00:24:47,180 –> 00:24:48,780 our priorities of our lives 595 00:24:48,780 –> 00:24:52,719 what place does the word of God have in your life? 596 00:24:52,719 –> 00:2455,619 We hear it every week when we gather together 597 00:24:55,619 –> 00:24:58,160 the Bible says the entrance of God’s Word gives light 598 00:24:58,160 –> 00:25:00,660 it’s in reading the word of God 599 00:25:00,660 –> 00:25:02,479 and in taking it as your guide 600 00:25:02,479 –> 00:25:04,599 and in walking with God 601 00:25:04,599 –> 00:25:07,319 that you are enabled to make wise decisions 602 00:25:07,319 –> 00:25:08,380 in the course of the week 603 00:25:08,619 –> 00:25:10,420 How can you live according to the word of God 604 00:25:10,420 –> 00:25:12,959 if you don’t read it from one week’s end to another? 605 00:25:12,959 –> 00:25:16,300 So you’re not listening to the word of God 606 00:25:16,780 –> 00:25:18,800 I don’t know if you ever made a hand-written copy 607 00:25:18,800 –> 00:25:19,520 maybe you did 608 00:25:19,520 –> 00:25:22,119 and just gathering dust 609 00:25:22,859 –> 00:25:26,160 you’re just doing your own thing 610 00:25:26,900 –> 00:25:29,239 There’s not an entrance of the word of God 611 00:25:29,239 –> 00:25:31,459 and what that’s called is rebellion 612 00:25:31,459 –> 00:25:32,859 because what you’re really doing 613 00:25:32,859 –> 00:25:35,520 is you’re just feeling your own way 614 00:25:35,520 –> 00:25:37,939 you’re going by impulse 615 00:25:37,959 –> 00:25:40,459 not submitting yourself to the guiding instruction 616 00:25:40,459 –> 00:25:43,359 of the very word of God 617 00:25:43,699 –> 00:25:46,859 Who is king in your life? 618 00:25:47,140 –> 00:25:47,780 If it’s you, 619 00:25:47,780 –> 00:25:50,579 do you see that you are guilty of rebellion 620 00:25:50,579 –> 00:25:53,459 against the King of kings 621 00:25:53,459 –> 00:25:55,959 That’s what we’re learning here 622 00:25:56,260 –> 00:25:59,660 And then Saul is indicted on a second charge 623 00:25:59,660 –> 00:26:00,660 not only rebellion 624 00:26:00,660 –> 00:26:03,819 but notice the second charge here is presumption 625 00:26:03,819 –> 00:26:06,300 presumption verse 23 626 00:26:06,300 –> 00:26:10,920 is as iniquity and as idolatry 627 00:26:11,640 –> 00:26:15,000 Now what is so striking to me about in this story 628 00:26:15,000 –> 00:26:17,500 and it should make everyone of us 629 00:26:17,500 –> 00:26:19,880 take a fresh look at ourselves 630 00:26:19,880 –> 00:26:23,540 is that Saul manages to convince himself 631 00:26:23,540 –> 00:26:25,719 that he really is pleasing God 632 00:26:25,719 –> 00:26:28,540 even when he is in rebellion against him 633 00:26:28,540 –> 00:26:31,920 Here’s this man, he is actually not listening to the Word of God 634 00:26:31,920 –> 00:26:33,780 he’s going on his own way 635 00:26:33,780 –> 00:26:36,199 But notice what he says to Samuel verse 13 636 00:26:36,199 –> 00:26:38,239 like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth as we say 637 00:26:38,239 –> 00:26:40,579 I have performed the commandment of the Lord 638 00:26:41,160 –> 00:26:42,260 Verse 20 639 00:26:42,260 –> 00:26:43,800 I have obeyed the voice of the Lord 640 00:26:43,800 –> 00:26:45,140 I have gone on a mission 641 00:26:45,140 –> 00:26:48,160 I have brought Agag the king of Amalek 642 00:26:48,160 –> 00:26:50,540 I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction 643 00:26:50,540 –> 00:26:53,199 At least the people who told me to keep the sheep and the goats 644 00:26:53,199 –> 00:26:55,760 and I used them as a sacrifice for the Lord Your God 645 00:26:55,760 –> 00:26:57,260 Hey what am I… 646 00:26:58,119 –> 00:27:03,199 Saul is absolutely sure that he’s on the right side of God 647 00:27:04,199 –> 00:27:07,020 that he can please God in his own way 648 00:27:07,060 –> 00:27:09,500 He doesn’t need to go by the Bible way 649 00:27:09,500 –> 00:27:12,119 or the Word of God through Samuel way 650 00:27:12,119 –> 00:27:15,180 He can please God in his own way 651 00:27:16,020 –> 00:27:19,060 We spared the sheep for the sacrifice to the Lord 652 00:27:19,060 –> 00:27:20,979 We did it to please God 653 00:27:20,979 –> 00:27:23,880 What could be more pleasing to God than sacrifices? 654 00:27:23,880 –> 00:27:25,520 I mean isn’t that what he wants? 655 00:27:25,520 –> 00:27:28,160 and Samuel says 656 00:27:29,420 –> 00:27:31,599 The only problem with that Saul is 657 00:27:31,599 –> 00:27:33,099 you may think that’s what God wants 658 00:27:33,300 –> 00:27:35,640 but that is not what God said 659 00:27:37,280 –> 00:27:40,239 You’re guilty of presumption 660 00:27:40,239 –> 00:27:42,260 You have this idea that whatever you think is good 661 00:27:42,260 –> 00:27:44,760 is what is acceptable to God 662 00:27:45,979 –> 00:27:48,579 That’s a path to disaster 663 00:27:49,060 –> 00:27:51,959 And if you don’t think presumption is a very serious thing 664 00:27:51,959 –> 00:27:54,560 Look at what Samuel says here 665 00:27:54,560 –> 00:27:55,660 He says 666 00:27:55,660 –> 00:27:57,579 Here’s how serious it is 667 00:27:57,579 –> 00:28:02,079 Presumption is as iniquity and idolatry 668 00:28:02,739 –> 00:28:08,459 When you run with the idea that God is pleased with whatever pleases you 669 00:28:09,839 –> 00:28:12,500 It’s no better than if you sat down with a piece 670 00:28:12,500 –> 00:28:14,560 stone or a piece of metal or a piece of wooden 671 00:28:14,560 –> 00:28:16,359 and you just carved your own idol 672 00:28:16,359 –> 00:28:18,180 Because what you’re really doing is you’re making God 673 00:28:18,180 –> 00:28:20,140 to be a massive projection of yourself 674 00:28:20,140 –> 00:28:23,400 And that’s blasphemous 675 00:28:23,400 –> 00:28:31,400 and God has come to an end of it, Saul, as far as you’re concerned 676 00:28:31,800 –> 00:28:37,079 rebellion, presumption 677 00:28:37,079 –> 00:28:42,099 Then the third indictment, here do you see it, disobedience 678 00:28:42,099 –> 00:28:49,020 Behold, to obey, verse 22, to obey is better than a sacrifice 679 00:28:49,020 –> 00:28:53,579 Now, Samuel’s not making a critique of sacrifices here 680 00:28:53,579 –> 00:28:56,579 Sacrifices, of course, were given by God pleasing to God 681 00:28:56,739 –> 00:29:01,339 but when offered with a humble and a faithful heart, an expression of worship 682 00:29:01,339 –> 00:29:04,239 But do you see what happened to Samuel here? 683 00:29:04,239 –> 00:29:12,160 He has slipped into the deadly snare for all religious people 684 00:29:12,160 –> 00:29:16,520 Which is that he offers sacrifices to God and then he carries on following his own impulse 685 00:29:16,520 –> 00:29:19,500 throughout his life 686 00:29:19,500 –> 00:29:24,599 And what Samuel is saying very powerfully here when he says to obey is better than sacrifice 687 00:29:24,739 –> 00:29:26,180 He’s saying, 688 00:29:26,180 –> 00:29:29,420 Saul don’t you think that you can use your religion as a smoke screen 689 00:29:29,420 –> 00:29:33,880 for the disobedience of your life towards God 690 00:29:33,880 –> 00:29:38,839 You say hey I’ve been to church, I took communion 691 00:29:38,839 –> 00:29:43,719 I didn’t take communion I have real integrity about that 692 00:29:43,719 –> 00:29:46,239 I’m part of a Bible study group 693 00:29:46,239 –> 00:29:50,839 I went to a conference when I heard five of the top ten speakers of the united states of America 694 00:29:50,920 –> 00:29:53,319 And it was marvellous 695 00:29:54,359 –> 00:30:02,119 and God says who cares if you continue to walk in disobedience 696 00:30:02,119 –> 00:30:05,319 That’s what’s being said here. It’s powerful it’s convicting 697 00:30:07,859 –> 00:30:12,719 Rebellion Presumption Disobedience 698 00:30:14,439 –> 00:30:18,459 and then Saul heard the most awful words that must they must have been then 699 00:30:18,459 –> 00:30:24,439 Agony for Samuel to speak. They were awful for Saul to hear. Verse 23 700 00:30:26,339 –> 00:30:30,359 Because you have rejected the word of the Lord 701 00:30:32,819 –> 00:30:38,439 He has also rejected you from being king 702 00:30:40,339 –> 00:30:42,339 Period 703 00:30:44,060 –> 00:30:47,180 God was done with Saul 704 00:30:49,459 –> 00:30:51,459 This is the Old Testament 705 00:30:52,040 –> 00:30:57,280 equivalent to the day that Jesus speaks about when some who thought very well of their religious works 706 00:30:57,560 –> 00:31:02,219 Will hear the Savior say to them depart from me. I 707 00:31:03,020 –> 00:31:05,020 Never knew you 708 00:31:05,739 –> 00:31:07,739 period 709 00:31:09,380 –> 00:31:11,380 And we should tremble to think about that 710 00:31:11,560 –> 00:31:13,560 And 711 00:31:13,640 –> 00:31:16,739 The chapter ends with the tragic scene here Samuel 712 00:31:16,760 –> 00:31:20,560 Who’s the one who’s brought the Word of God to Saul and it’s been received in earlier times 713 00:31:20,619 –> 00:31:27,219 But now this man has with his puffed ego and his inflated view of himself. Turn to his own path and 714 00:31:27,760 –> 00:31:31,900 Samuel who loved him and prayed for him and guided him we read in verse 34 715 00:31:32,439 –> 00:31:36,400 Samuel went to Rama Saul went to the house of Gibria of Saul 716 00:31:36,400 –> 00:31:43,739 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death. The word of God has gone from him 717 00:31:45,560 –> 00:31:50,160 And Saul is still on the throne, of course, as we’ll see as we follow the story, but he’s lost his power 718 00:31:51,599 –> 00:31:53,660 He still has a crown on his head 719 00:31:53,660 –> 00:31:58,760 but it’s an empty symbol people still think he’s the most marvelous fellow at least for a time and 720 00:31:59,239 –> 00:32:04,380 Nobody really knows that the reality is that while he struggles on trying to bring order to his own life 721 00:32:04,599 –> 00:32:07,579 The truth of the matter is that God has left him 722 00:32:08,280 –> 00:32:10,280 God is not for him 723 00:32:10,319 –> 00:32:16,500 God is not with him and he is without God and He is without hope in the world 724 00:32:18,199 –> 00:32:22,680 That’s the reality of Saul from the end of chapter 725 00:32:24,160 –> 00:32:25,400 15 726 00:32:25,400 –> 00:32:27,079 And we’re going to follow the story 727 00:32:27,079 –> 00:32:31,579 And we’re going to see what it is like to be without God and without hope in the world 728 00:32:31,699 –> 00:32:34,599 As Saul moves into greater and greater darkness 729 00:32:34,599 –> 00:32:40,560 He’s consumed with more and more jealousy David comes along and Saul’s whole life is what about me? What about me? 730 00:32:42,040 –> 00:32:46,959 the dark moods and the violence that comes over him and the tragedy of a man who is 731 00:32:47,199 –> 00:32:49,780 Alienated from God and there is no way back 732 00:32:52,000 –> 00:32:58,880 The indictments against Saul rebellious presumptuous and disobedient and therefore rejected by God 733 00:32:59,520 –> 00:33:05,219 That my friend is the Bible’s analysis of our natural human condition 734 00:33:05,280 –> 00:33:07,280 That’s what we’re born into in this world 735 00:33:07,880 –> 00:33:09,780 Let’s not mince words 736 00:33:09,780 –> 00:33:11,780 It’s what the Bible makes clear 737 00:33:12,660 –> 00:33:15,660 We hear this indictment. We have to say by nature. That’s us 738 00:33:17,239 –> 00:33:22,380 Like Adam we have decided to be our own Kings like Saul we our kings gone bad 739 00:33:22,380 –> 00:33:24,359 a 740 00:33:24,359 –> 00:33:29,459 Song written by Randy Stonehill who some my age and perhaps a little older will remember 741 00:33:29,459 –> 00:33:31,479 I don’t know if anyone younger has ever listened to him 742 00:33:33,040 –> 00:33:37,859 The Christians singer who sang these words we 743 00:33:38,359 –> 00:33:40,359 are all like foolish puppets 744 00:33:41,180 –> 00:33:43,180 Who desiring to be Kings 745 00:33:44,560 –> 00:33:46,819 Now lie pitifully crippled 746 00:33:48,040 –> 00:33:50,040 having cut off 747 00:33:50,260 –> 00:33:52,260 our own strings 748 00:33:53,280 –> 00:33:58,400 I am so glad that the Bible does not end at one Samuel chapter fifteen. Are you? 749 00:34:01,099 –> 00:34:03,099 What has God done 750 00:34:03,560 –> 00:34:05,560 for this world of 751 00:34:05,579 –> 00:34:07,579 self-appointed Kings gone bad 752 00:34:08,399 –> 00:34:11,139 And you know the answer my friend. He has sent another 753 00:34:12,300 –> 00:34:13,439 King 754 00:34:13,439 –> 00:34:16,620 And that is why we have been celebrating at Christmas 755 00:34:16,620 –> 00:34:20,600 The angel says to Mary you will bear a son and you will call His name Jesus 756 00:34:21,320 –> 00:34:25,479 God will give to him the throne of his father David and of his Kingdom 757 00:34:25,479 –> 00:34:28,179 there will be no end and when he’s born what happens the 758 00:34:28,399 –> 00:34:34,199 Magi common they say where is he who is born the king of the Jews and we have these Kings who come and they bring 759 00:34:34,199 –> 00:34:40,100 gifts and they worship him and then he launches his ministry and what does he say the kingdom of God is at hand 760 00:34:40,500 –> 00:34:43,699 repent and believe the good news of the gospel and he 761 00:34:43,699 –> 00:34:50,899 demonstrates his power as King by stilling the Storm and by casting out evil spirits and by healing the sick and by 762 00:34:51,360 –> 00:34:59,120 Raising the dead and what happens is that the people say we will not have this man to reign over us 763 00:34:59,479 –> 00:35:00,820 and 764 00:35:00,820 –> 00:35:02,820 So what did they do? 765 00:35:03,540 –> 00:35:06,979 They reject the king they dress him up in a purple robe 766 00:35:06,979 –> 00:35:09,179 They twist a crown of thorns 767 00:35:09,179 –> 00:35:11,260 and they put it on his head and they put a 768 00:35:11,260 –> 00:35:15,100 Wreath in his hand and they begin to mock him hail hail 769 00:35:15,100 –> 00:35:18,300 They say in their mockery of our king 770 00:35:18,500 –> 00:35:23,939 Jesus Christ, and then they kneel into a cross and they put a sign and Peter puts a sign above him 771 00:35:23,939 –> 00:35:25,939 You remember what it says. It’s the king 772 00:35:27,399 –> 00:35:29,399 King of the Jews 773 00:35:30,340 –> 00:35:32,340 But death could not hold this king 774 00:35:33,820 –> 00:35:35,860 On the third day he rises from the dead 775 00:35:35,860 –> 00:35:37,360 And God highly exalts 776 00:35:37,360 –> 00:35:42,439 Him gives him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and at the end of 777 00:35:42,439 –> 00:35:48,439 the Bible we are told of the day when his glory will be unveiled and what do we hear that he has a robe and 778 00:35:48,439 –> 00:35:55,060 Then written on his thigh. There is a name and what is the name stay it with me. It is King of Kings and 779 00:35:55,959 –> 00:35:57,959 Lord of lords and 780 00:35:58,639 –> 00:36:04,500 His glory is seen by every person who has ever lived all the would-be Kings 781 00:36:04,580 –> 00:36:06,580 and 782 00:36:07,020 –> 00:36:09,020 All power is given 783 00:36:09,800 –> 00:36:15,000 To him and the reason that all power does not corrupt him 784 00:36:16,080 –> 00:36:18,080 Is that he is God 785 00:36:19,199 –> 00:36:21,199 He’s God and 786 00:36:21,659 –> 00:36:25,020 This King graciously offers himself to all of us 787 00:36:25,679 –> 00:36:27,899 self-appointed Kings who’ve gone bad and and 788 00:36:28,379 –> 00:36:33,520 Stand on the wrong side of God because of our own rebellion and our own presumption and our own 789 00:36:33,879 –> 00:36:39,500 Disobedience and he comes and he offers grace and mercy and then he says to us now you must come into my kingdom 790 00:36:39,520 –> 00:36:42,239 I want to bring you out of the kingdom of darkness and into 791 00:36:43,080 –> 00:36:49,860 The marvelous kingdom of my light my question to you in closing today is is he your king? 792 00:36:51,439 –> 00:36:53,439 Is your Lord 793 00:36:54,639 –> 00:36:56,639 You need a king 794 00:36:56,959 –> 00:36:58,780 to whom 795 00:36:58,780 –> 00:37:00,780 Who you can trust with? 796 00:37:01,080 –> 00:37:06,919 Absolute authority in your life because otherwise absolute authority is going to be with you and it will corrupt a 797 00:37:08,459 –> 00:37:10,479 King whose laws you will obey a 798 00:37:11,479 –> 00:37:14,100 King whose direction you will follow a 799 00:37:15,040 –> 00:37:18,540 King to whose judgments you will submit yourself 800 00:37:18,540 –> 00:37:24,219 And there is a king to whom you can trust your life, and his name is Jesus and the message of the series is 801 00:37:25,040 –> 00:37:27,139 You dare not be your own king 802 00:37:27,739 –> 00:37:32,939 You dare not be your own legislator, you dare not become your own judge, you dare not become your own executive 803 00:37:33,540 –> 00:37:35,560 absolute power erupts absolutely 804 00:37:36,939 –> 00:37:40,500 The best way we can launch ourselves into this new year is as best 805 00:37:40,500 –> 00:37:44,760 We know how to bow before the risen Lord Jesus Christ and say in 806 00:37:45,239 –> 00:37:51,780 Everything that this means Lord. Be my king my savior my master 807 00:37:53,199 –> 00:37:54,340 father 808 00:37:54,379 –> 00:38:01,060 Bring us to that place at the foot of the cross today as we gather around the table of the Christ 809 00:38:01,699 –> 00:38:05,560 Who offers himself to us in grace and in mercy? 810 00:38:06,199 –> 00:38:09,300 So that our sins may, not lead to our rejection 811 00:38:10,120 –> 00:38:13,500 but rather that, we may experience your grace and 812 00:38:14,139 –> 00:38:17,879 Become part of your kingdom hear our prayers in jesus name 813 00:38:18,820 –> 00:38:20,820 amen