100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:02,8800200:00:03,740 –> 00:00:09,420Your pastor told me that some of you are big shots in business and in the city.300:00:09,440 –> 00:00:14,600Well, he didn’t exactly use these words, but that’s what he meant.400:00:14,600 –> 00:00:21,360I tell you, whatever you achieve in your life, the most important thing about you will be500:00:21,360 –> 00:00:23,879your relationship to Jesus Christ..600:00:23,879 –> 00:00:26,240Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.700:00:26,600 –> 00:00:30,559I’m David Pick, and Colin, we’re continuing our series, looking at the Christmas story800:00:30,559 –> 00:00:33,200through the eyes of various biblical characters.900:00:33,220 –> 00:00:36,080And today we come to King David.1000:00:36,080 –> 00:00:40,840One of my favorite characters in all of the Bible, I think of David as a great achiever.1100:00:40,919 –> 00:00:46,020I think of what he accomplished in his life and recognized as Israel’s greatest king.1200:00:46,060 –> 00:00:52,919All that he did and yet the greatest thing about him is not his accomplishments, but1300:00:52,919 –> 00:00:54,919his relationship to Jesus Christ.1400:00:54,919 –> 00:00:59,860Of course, Christ is descended from David, but the Bible makes this great emphasis that1500:00:59,860 –> 00:01:03,200there’s a relationship between David and Christ.1600:01:03,200 –> 00:01:07,800Thank God that bi-faith there can be a relationship between Jesus Christ and us, too.1700:01:07,800 –> 00:01:09,500That is something to be grateful for.1800:01:09,500 –> 00:01:12,800So today we’re thinking about the life of King David.1900:01:12,800 –> 00:01:18,940So I hope you’ll be able to join us in your Bible at 1 Samuel and Chapter 17 as we begin2000:01:18,940 –> 00:01:20,260David’s story.2100:01:20,260 –> 00:01:20,919Here’s Colin.2200:01:20,919 –> 00:01:22,419Merry Christmas to you everyone.2300:01:22,419 –> 00:01:24,300It’s wonderful to be here.2400:01:24,300 –> 00:01:27,040You look back to the birth of Jesus.2500:01:27,040 –> 00:01:32,860Where I lived 1,000 years before he came into the world, I looked forward.2600:01:32,860 –> 00:01:39,800But as one who placed my faith in Jesus before he came, just as I hope you’ve put your faith2700:01:39,800 –> 00:01:46,820in Jesus since he came, I’ve had the joy of spending these years in his marvelous,2800:01:46,820 –> 00:01:48,360marvelous presence.2900:01:48,360 –> 00:01:52,120I’m not allowed to tell you what that’s like.3000:01:52,680 –> 00:01:57,839But what I can tell you today is something of my own story, and something about my own3100:01:57,839 –> 00:02:05,779relationship with Jesus that I hope will help you to see just how great he is and what he3200:02:05,779 –> 00:02:09,899can mean to you.3300:02:09,899 –> 00:02:14,919I was the youngest in my family, and some of you know—you never outgrow being the3400:02:14,919 –> 00:02:20,380youngest in your family—it’s not the easiest position in which to be placed.3500:02:20,380 –> 00:02:23,699I had brothers who got to do all of the fun things.3600:02:23,699 –> 00:02:30,380As the youngest, my father Jesse, he had me out watching the sheep.3700:02:30,380 –> 00:02:35,940And I would have loved to have been with my brothers, but that’s how it was for me for3800:02:35,940 –> 00:02:38,860much of my early years.3900:02:38,860 –> 00:02:48,240If someone had come and asked me, David, guess which member of your family will sit as king4000:02:48,240 –> 00:02:49,419on the throne of Israel?4100:02:49,460 –> 00:02:54,940I would never have guessed in a thousand years that it would have been me.4200:02:54,940 –> 00:03:00,800But I can tell you this, that God has plans for your life if you’re a follower of Jesus4300:03:00,800 –> 00:03:04,639that are greater than anything you have ever dreamed.4400:03:04,639 –> 00:03:10,639And seeing it from up there, now I see it more clearly than I ever saw it in my life4500:03:10,639 –> 00:03:12,759down here.4600:03:12,759 –> 00:03:16,199Some of you, of course, will know the stories from my life, you’ll know about some of my4700:03:16,360 –> 00:03:20,820great successes, and you’ll also know about some of my great failures.4800:03:20,820 –> 00:03:26,320No one knew greater happyness than me on the day when they brought the ark of the covenant4900:03:26,320 –> 00:03:27,320to Jerusalem.5000:03:27,320 –> 00:03:29,539Wow, what a fantastic day that was!5100:03:29,539 –> 00:03:35,399I was so happy I danced before the Lord, overwhelmed by joy.5200:03:35,399 –> 00:03:40,880But if you’ve read my story, you will know that I also had my problems.5300:03:40,880 –> 00:03:46,139If some of you think you have problems in your family, read my story.5400:03:46,139 –> 00:03:53,419My son Absalom who rebelled against me and his terrible, terrible end and that awful,5500:03:53,419 –> 00:03:58,500oh, unspeakable thing that happened to my daughter Tamar.5600:03:59,500 –> 00:04:05,080I lived in an evil world a thousand years before the coming of Jesus Christ, and I expect5700:04:05,080 –> 00:04:10,160that you’ve had your fair share and your taste of that, too.5800:04:10,220 –> 00:04:15,940Now you know, people have fallen into the habit of calling me Israel’s greatest king.5900:04:15,940 –> 00:04:21,299Frankly, I wish they wouldn’t do that, but here’s why they do.6000:04:21,299 –> 00:04:26,320When I was king, God gave us victory over our enemies.6100:04:26,320 –> 00:04:33,359Our borders were secure and we lived with peace in our time, and get this, during the6200:04:33,359 –> 00:04:36,220entire period of my reign…6300:04:36,959 –> 00:04:38,239You’ll like this…6400:04:38,660 –> 00:04:43,380Our economy was booming!6500:04:43,380 –> 00:04:46,980Now just thinking about that and being around here, I’m thinking maybe I should stick6600:04:46,980 –> 00:04:51,660around and have a shot at running to be your president.6700:04:52,959 –> 00:04:55,760But I’m not here to talk about myself.6800:04:55,760 –> 00:05:04,359I’m here today to talk to you about my greater son, whose name is Jesus.6900:05:04,459 –> 00:05:05,920Now remember this.7000:05:05,920 –> 00:05:14,959The most important thing in my life is not anything that I achieved as the king of Israel.7100:05:14,959 –> 00:05:22,519The most important thing about me is my relationship with Jesus.7200:05:22,519 –> 00:05:28,519And you will find, in your life, and you will certainly find beyond the period of your life,7300:05:28,559 –> 00:05:34,299that the most important thing for you is your relationship with Jesus.7400:05:34,299 –> 00:05:39,980Your pastor told me that some of you are big shots in business and in the city.7500:05:39,980 –> 00:05:45,119Well, he didn’t exactly use these words, but that’s what he meant.7600:05:45,119 –> 00:05:52,040I tell you, whatever you achieve in your life, the most important thing about you will be7700:05:52,040 –> 00:05:54,839your relationship to Jesus Christ.7800:05:55,200 –> 00:05:59,059You take that from me as the word of a king.7900:05:59,059 –> 00:06:02,220So let me tell you about my relationship with Jesus.8000:06:02,220 –> 00:06:09,040It all began with a promise that God gave to me through the prophet Nathan.8100:06:09,040 –> 00:06:13,700Nathan spoke the truth into my life, as you may remember on many occasions, sometimes8200:06:13,700 –> 00:06:20,739painfully so, but God used this very special man, Nathan, to speak the truth in a very8300:06:20,739 –> 00:06:21,739wonderful way.8400:06:21,739 –> 00:06:26,339You can read about it in second Samuel, chapter 7 and verse 14.8500:06:26,339 –> 00:06:34,179In fact, Nathan became so important in my life that I named one of my own sons after8600:06:34,179 –> 00:06:35,179him.8700:06:35,179 –> 00:06:37,940You might like to remember that.8800:06:37,940 –> 00:06:41,019Here’s what God said to me through Nathan.8900:06:41,019 –> 00:06:49,720God said that after I was dead and gone, He would raise up my offspring to succeed me.9000:06:49,820 –> 00:06:54,119In other words, that there would be a future person who would come from my family line9100:06:54,119 –> 00:07:00,179and God said, He would be the one who would build a house for God’s name.9200:07:00,179 –> 00:07:04,839It was an amazing promise, especially when you think about this.9300:07:04,839 –> 00:07:08,839God never made a promise like that to Moses.9400:07:08,839 –> 00:07:14,480No promise like that was ever given to Joshua or to any of the judges.9500:07:14,480 –> 00:07:17,799This was a promise that was given wonderfully to me.9600:07:17,799 –> 00:07:20,420I can’t get over the privilege of it.9700:07:20,420 –> 00:07:24,420God said, there will be a son in your line, David.9800:07:24,420 –> 00:07:28,200He will arise after your lifetime.9900:07:28,200 –> 00:07:32,839But he will be your offspring and he will be the one to build the house for my name.10000:07:32,839 –> 00:07:38,040Then God said something else about this future person.10100:07:38,040 –> 00:07:47,380God said about him, that he would give to this person the throne forever.10200:07:47,399 –> 00:07:52,380Now I was scratching my head when I heard that word from God, because kings come10300:07:52,380 –> 00:07:53,959and kings go.10400:07:53,959 –> 00:07:57,239Kings rise and kings fall.10500:07:57,239 –> 00:07:59,880No king has a throne that lasts forever.10600:07:59,880 –> 00:08:07,140But God said that this offspring who would come into my line after I had died,10700:08:07,140 –> 00:08:11,040he would be given the throne and his kingdom would last forever.10800:08:11,040 –> 00:08:16,179And then God said something even more astonishing, he said this,10900:08:16,619 –> 00:08:21,760and I will be his father,11000:08:21,760 –> 00:08:27,239and he will be my son.11100:08:27,239 –> 00:08:30,160You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith,11200:08:30,160 –> 00:08:33,219and David Story, one of our Christmas Stories,11300:08:33,219 –> 00:08:38,159which is looking at the story of Christmas through the eyes of various characters from11400:08:38,159 –> 00:08:39,159the Bible.11500:08:39,159 –> 00:08:41,239Don’t forget if you ever miss one of our series,11600:08:41,239 –> 00:08:44,900you can always catch up or go back and listen again online.11700:08:45,000 –> 00:08:45,799Come to our website11800:08:49,179 –> 00:08:53,140Or find us as a podcast and those are on the main podcast sites,11900:08:53,140 –> 00:08:55,619search for Open the Bible UK12000:08:55,619 –> 00:09:00,099Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners and if you’re already doing that,12100:09:00,099 –> 00:09:03,200we want to thank you very much for your support.12200:09:03,200 –> 00:09:05,440If that’s something that you haven’t done to date,12300:09:05,440 –> 00:09:07,440but you’re considering doing it,12400:09:07,440 –> 00:09:11,619this month, if you’re able to, begin a new donation to the work of Open the Bible,12500:09:11,619 –> 00:09:14,640a direct debit of £5 per month or more,12600:09:14,799 –> 00:09:17,580or a one-off gift of £50 or more,12700:09:17,580 –> 00:09:20,640we’d love to thank you by sending you three copies12800:09:20,640 –> 00:09:23,580of a beautiful bound edition of John’s Gospel.12900:09:24,219 –> 00:09:25,299I’ll be talking to13000:09:25,299 –> 00:09:29,119Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham later in the programme about that.13100:09:29,119 –> 00:09:31,559Back to the message now, here’s Colin.13200:09:31,559 –> 00:09:33,340God said13300:09:33,340 –> 00:09:37,739that this offspring who would come into my line after I had died,13400:09:37,739 –> 00:09:41,619he would be given the throne and his kingdom would last forever13500:09:41,619 –> 00:09:44,119and then God said something even more astonishing.13600:09:45,000 –> 00:09:46,799He said this,13700:09:46,799 –> 00:09:50,219and I will be his father13800:09:51,940 –> 00:09:56,580and he will be my son.13900:09:58,059 –> 00:10:01,880I scratched my head when I heard that word through Nathan.14000:10:03,119 –> 00:10:07,380How could any son of mine14100:10:07,380 –> 00:10:09,979be the son of God?14200:10:09,979 –> 00:10:13,179How could God be father14300:10:13,460 –> 00:10:14,500to my son?14400:10:16,000 –> 00:10:17,840I understand it now14500:10:18,760 –> 00:10:22,619but you can understand it was a complete mystery to me then.14600:10:23,599 –> 00:10:25,719But this was the promise, it was quite clear.14700:10:25,719 –> 00:10:27,719You can read it in your Bible.14800:10:27,719 –> 00:10:32,039The son of God would be born into my family line14900:10:32,039 –> 00:10:33,960and from that day, you will understand15000:10:33,960 –> 00:10:36,479that the eyes of faithful and believing people15100:10:36,479 –> 00:10:41,479were always on my line of descent through the generations.15200:10:41,820 –> 00:10:44,520Well, if you know a little bit about the Bible,15300:10:44,520 –> 00:10:46,320you’ll know the story that followed.15400:10:46,320 –> 00:10:49,440When I died, my son, Solomon, became the king15500:10:49,440 –> 00:10:51,520and he was the one who built the temple.15600:10:51,520 –> 00:10:53,280Of course, I expect some people thought15700:10:53,280 –> 00:10:54,479that that was what was meant15800:10:54,479 –> 00:10:56,419by building a house for God’s name15900:10:56,419 –> 00:10:58,000and in some ways, it was16000:10:58,000 –> 00:11:00,440but Solomon didn’t fulfill the promise16100:11:00,440 –> 00:11:02,679and he ended actually rather badly.16200:11:02,679 –> 00:11:03,900It was very sad.16300:11:05,119 –> 00:11:09,700After him came my grandson, Rehoboam, oh.16400:11:10,580 –> 00:11:15,000Poor fellow didn’t know the first thing about leadership.16500:11:15,979 –> 00:11:17,700As soon as he became king,16600:11:17,700 –> 00:11:19,659he alienated most of the people16700:11:20,700 –> 00:11:22,419and it wasn’t long therefore16800:11:22,419 –> 00:11:24,500before there was someone who rose up16900:11:24,500 –> 00:11:25,780in the north of the country,17000:11:25,780 –> 00:11:28,820a man by the name of Jeroboam, a military leader17100:11:28,820 –> 00:11:31,539and he led a revolt against my grandson17200:11:31,539 –> 00:11:34,539and that resulted in the 10 tribes17300:11:34,539 –> 00:11:36,059in the northern part of Israel,17400:11:36,059 –> 00:11:38,239the huge majority of Israel17500:11:38,239 –> 00:11:40,880declaring independence from the house of David17600:11:40,880 –> 00:11:42,760and they appointed their own king,17700:11:42,760 –> 00:11:43,919turned out to be Jeroboam.17800:11:43,919 –> 00:11:45,280It’s amazing how the military leader17900:11:45,280 –> 00:11:47,820ends up being the king, isn’t it?18000:11:47,820 –> 00:11:48,820That’s what happened.18100:11:49,960 –> 00:11:54,280From then on, it was a line of unbroken disaster18200:11:54,280 –> 00:11:56,919for these 10 tribes that had separated18300:11:56,919 –> 00:11:58,799from the rule of my family line.18400:11:59,719 –> 00:12:04,799One after another, evil kings until the year 722 BC18500:12:04,799 –> 00:12:07,719about 300 years after my time,18600:12:07,719 –> 00:12:12,640when the Assyrians came in and they deported the people18700:12:12,640 –> 00:12:16,020and they overwhelmed all of the armies of the North18800:12:16,020 –> 00:12:18,960so that the Northern area of the kingdom18900:12:18,960 –> 00:12:21,900was left as a complete desolate wasteland.19000:12:23,919 –> 00:12:25,320And then, the king of Assyria,19100:12:25,320 –> 00:12:27,359having scattered all these people,19200:12:28,619 –> 00:12:31,380brought foreigners from all kinds of other nations19300:12:31,380 –> 00:12:34,539and forcibly repatriated them19400:12:34,539 –> 00:12:35,880to live in the Northern kingdom.19500:12:35,919 –> 00:12:38,580Do you know what these folks were called?19600:12:38,580 –> 00:12:42,260Samaritans, you know how much we Jews love them.19700:12:44,140 –> 00:12:47,219Well, that left just two tribes in the south19800:12:47,219 –> 00:12:49,880around Jerusalem continuing to live19900:12:49,880 –> 00:12:53,219under the line descended from me.20000:12:53,219 –> 00:12:54,059Now, to tell you,20100:12:54,059 –> 00:12:56,659my descendants were a bit of a mixed bunch.20200:12:56,659 –> 00:12:59,239Some of them had a heart for God.20300:12:59,239 –> 00:13:03,739A lot of them turned out to be all about themselves.20400:13:03,799 –> 00:13:07,900They continued after the fall of the Northern kingdom20500:13:07,900 –> 00:13:11,679for about another 100 or more years,20600:13:11,679 –> 00:13:14,419but eventually the same disaster that had come20700:13:14,419 –> 00:13:16,859to the north also came to these two tribes20800:13:16,859 –> 00:13:20,820living under the rule of my descendants in the south.20900:13:20,820 –> 00:13:23,580Babylon was the superpower of the day21000:13:23,580 –> 00:13:26,179and Nebuchadnezzar’s armies came along21100:13:26,179 –> 00:13:28,820and marched against Jerusalem.21200:13:28,820 –> 00:13:30,880The city was completely destroyed,21300:13:30,880 –> 00:13:33,099the temple was devastated21400:13:33,099 –> 00:13:36,500and the people who had not fled or had not died21500:13:36,500 –> 00:13:39,520were taken off into exile in Babylon.21600:13:41,500 –> 00:13:45,380Zedekiah was the last king of my line21700:13:45,380 –> 00:13:47,739to sit on the throne in Jerusalem21800:13:48,880 –> 00:13:51,520and the end came for him in the year21900:13:51,520 –> 00:13:55,239586 years before Jesus.22000:13:56,219 –> 00:14:00,260And after that, descendants from my line,22100:14:00,280 –> 00:14:02,760they all lived in obscurity,22200:14:04,179 –> 00:14:06,080most of them living in poverty.22300:14:07,460 –> 00:14:10,500People watched and people waited22400:14:11,919 –> 00:14:15,380to see how God’s promise might be fulfilled.22500:14:15,380 –> 00:14:16,979Of course you know the story that22600:14:16,979 –> 00:14:21,840after 70 years, the people who were in exile,22700:14:21,840 –> 00:14:24,780some of them came back to Jerusalem22800:14:24,780 –> 00:14:27,460and they rebuilt the city walls22900:14:27,460 –> 00:14:29,280and they rebuilt the temple.23000:14:29,500 –> 00:14:31,080You can read about this in the books23100:14:31,080 –> 00:14:32,840of Ezra and Nehemiah,23200:14:34,419 –> 00:14:36,159but I want you to understand this.23300:14:36,159 –> 00:14:38,200When that little community came back,23400:14:38,200 –> 00:14:41,200they had a temple, there was a worshiping people23500:14:42,520 –> 00:14:46,059but they had no Davidic king.23600:14:47,580 –> 00:14:48,700No Davidic king.23700:14:50,000 –> 00:14:51,840They were ruled from that time on23800:14:51,840 –> 00:14:53,500by kings who were foreigners.23900:14:53,500 –> 00:14:55,960Right down to the time of Herod.24000:14:56,039 –> 00:14:57,299There was an Edomite,24100:14:58,419 –> 00:15:02,359no one from my line on the throne since Zedekiah,24200:15:02,359 –> 00:15:05,159600 years before the birth of Jesus.24300:15:06,619 –> 00:15:09,979And so people waited and watched24400:15:09,979 –> 00:15:13,859and wondered 600 years since a Davidic king24500:15:13,859 –> 00:15:15,539has been on the throne,24600:15:15,539 –> 00:15:20,400how will one ever arise from obscurity24700:15:20,400 –> 00:15:23,159to fulfill the promise of God.24800:15:24,000 –> 00:15:28,880Well, I tell you it was a thousand years after my lifetime24900:15:28,880 –> 00:15:30,880before the promise was fulfilled,25000:15:32,140 –> 00:15:34,080and as I watched from above,25100:15:34,080 –> 00:15:38,159I cannot tell you the joy that was in my heart25200:15:38,159 –> 00:15:41,119as he was born.25300:15:42,219 –> 00:15:44,479By the way, have you noticed25400:15:44,479 –> 00:15:49,080that I get a direct personal mention25500:15:49,979 –> 00:15:53,479in the very first verse of the New Testament?25600:15:53,479 –> 00:15:54,880Did you notice that?25700:15:54,880 –> 00:15:56,080Here’s what it says.25800:15:56,080 –> 00:15:59,320Matthew chapter one and verse one.25900:15:59,320 –> 00:16:04,320A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,26000:16:05,159 –> 00:16:07,359the son of David,26100:16:07,359 –> 00:16:10,500my favorite verse in the New Testament.26200:16:11,840 –> 00:16:13,239By the way, while we’re on that,26300:16:13,239 –> 00:16:15,039you might be interested to know,26400:16:15,039 –> 00:16:17,000did you know this?26500:16:17,000 –> 00:16:21,179That both Joseph and Mary26600:16:21,179 –> 00:16:24,280were descended from my line through different sons.26700:16:25,119 –> 00:16:28,640Joseph was my descendant through Solomon26800:16:28,640 –> 00:16:32,520and his line is traced in the gospel of Matthew.26900:16:32,520 –> 00:16:35,919Mary was my descendant through Nathan,27000:16:35,919 –> 00:16:38,599the son that I named after the prophet27100:16:38,599 –> 00:16:43,440and her line is traced in the gospel of Luke.27200:16:43,440 –> 00:16:46,000Both of them are of the royal bloodline.27300:16:47,059 –> 00:16:51,299Both of them living in obscurity, amazing.27400:16:53,099 –> 00:16:56,739Actually, I get a mention all over the Christmas story.27500:16:56,739 –> 00:16:58,940Do you remember when the angel appeared to Mary,27600:16:58,940 –> 00:17:01,679he said that the son that she would bear27700:17:01,679 –> 00:17:04,319would be called the son of the most high27800:17:04,319 –> 00:17:09,319and that God would give him the throne of his father David,27900:17:10,000 –> 00:17:12,880my son on my throne.28000:17:14,020 –> 00:17:16,880And then when Caesar called for that census28100:17:16,880 –> 00:17:19,880and everyone had to return to their own town of origin28200:17:19,880 –> 00:17:23,359in order to register, where did Mary and Joseph go?28300:17:23,359 –> 00:17:26,560But to Bethlehem, which was my hometown.28400:17:28,479 –> 00:17:30,359Now, think about this,28500:17:30,359 –> 00:17:32,000has it ever occurred to you,28600:17:32,000 –> 00:17:35,140I was a shepherd from Bethlehem.28700:17:35,140 –> 00:17:37,359I knew what it was to be out on those hills28800:17:37,359 –> 00:17:38,380watching sheep at night.28900:17:38,380 –> 00:17:40,920That’s what I did, as the youngest brother29000:17:40,959 –> 00:17:45,420for years before God had given me opportunity29100:17:45,420 –> 00:17:46,979to serve in other ways.29200:17:46,979 –> 00:17:49,199I knew what it was like for these guys29300:17:49,199 –> 00:17:51,560who would out on the hills behind Bethlehem29400:17:51,560 –> 00:17:55,079watching sheep on the night when Jesus was born29500:17:55,079 –> 00:17:57,560and the angel of the Lord appeared to them29600:17:57,560 –> 00:17:59,839and the glory of the Lord shone around them.29700:17:59,839 –> 00:18:03,119And you remember what the angel said to them.29800:18:03,119 –> 00:18:04,619Don’t be afraid, he said.29900:18:04,619 –> 00:18:06,579Today, there’s good news of great joy30000:18:06,579 –> 00:18:11,380because today in the town of David, Bethlehem,30100:18:11,380 –> 00:18:15,020they’d renamed it really, because that’s where I came from.30200:18:15,020 –> 00:18:20,020A Savior has been born to you and he is Christ the Lord.30300:18:22,939 –> 00:18:27,939Roll the story forward, because if you end at Christmas,30400:18:28,300 –> 00:18:30,479you really don’t get what it’s all about.30500:18:31,780 –> 00:18:34,420Roll the story forward and you find Jesus30600:18:34,420 –> 00:18:36,400beginning his public ministry.30700:18:37,300 –> 00:18:38,819And he healed people30800:18:39,739 –> 00:18:42,939and folks were astonished at what he did.30900:18:42,939 –> 00:18:44,680On one occasion, you can read about this31000:18:44,680 –> 00:18:46,920in Matthew in chapter 12,31100:18:46,920 –> 00:18:49,140some people found a person31200:18:49,140 –> 00:18:52,959who seemed to be a uniquely difficult case.31300:18:54,219 –> 00:18:59,219This man couldn’t speak and he couldn’t see31400:19:00,359 –> 00:19:02,660and on top of that he was possessed31500:19:02,800 –> 00:19:05,900by many evil spirits, demons.31600:19:06,939 –> 00:19:09,719I guess these folks wanted to test Jesus.31700:19:09,719 –> 00:19:11,060We’ve seen him doing some miracles,31800:19:11,060 –> 00:19:13,780let’s see what he can do with this fellow.31900:19:13,780 –> 00:19:15,500So they brought this fellow who can’t see32000:19:15,500 –> 00:19:17,900and can’t speak and is possessed by many demons32100:19:17,900 –> 00:19:20,859they bring him to Jesus, let’s see what he can do with him.32200:19:20,859 –> 00:19:22,859And you know what Jesus did,32300:19:22,859 –> 00:19:26,119he healed him and delivered him on the spot.32400:19:27,500 –> 00:19:29,979Well, that absolutely astonished everyone.32500:19:29,979 –> 00:19:31,739You could read this in your Bible.32600:19:31,739 –> 00:19:33,619Here’s what people started to say.32700:19:33,619 –> 00:19:37,959They said, could this be the son of David?32800:19:39,520 –> 00:19:43,420Could this Jesus be the one who for all these centuries32900:19:43,420 –> 00:19:45,300and generations we’ve been looking33000:19:45,300 –> 00:19:48,619since God gave the promise to me?33100:19:49,739 –> 00:19:52,300Word about him spread, of course.33200:19:52,300 –> 00:19:54,780And eventually he came to Jerusalem.33300:19:54,780 –> 00:19:57,660Wouldn’t you celebrate this a little nearer to Easter?33400:19:57,680 –> 00:20:00,540There was a day when he came into the city33500:20:00,540 –> 00:20:03,939riding on a donkey and more and more people33600:20:03,939 –> 00:20:05,660had come to the same conclusion33700:20:05,660 –> 00:20:07,099that they expressed that day.33800:20:07,099 –> 00:20:09,739You remember they picked up palm branches33900:20:09,739 –> 00:20:11,680and they said, say it with me,34000:20:11,680 –> 00:20:14,339Hosanna to the son of David.34100:20:16,859 –> 00:20:20,180They’d come to believe that this34200:20:20,180 –> 00:20:23,280is the one in whom that great promise34300:20:23,280 –> 00:20:26,859to me would be fulfilled.34400:20:28,339 –> 00:20:30,180You know, as you read through the Gospels,34500:20:30,180 –> 00:20:34,239Jesus referred to me on many, many occasions,34600:20:34,239 –> 00:20:38,180but my favorite is the time when Jesus34700:20:38,180 –> 00:20:41,579quoted one of my Psalms34800:20:41,579 –> 00:20:46,219and threw the Pharisees into utter confusion.34900:20:46,219 –> 00:20:48,579I wonder if you know this story.35000:20:48,579 –> 00:20:52,859Here’s what I wrote in Psalm 110.35100:20:52,859 –> 00:20:55,020I wrote these words, they’re very important.35200:20:55,020 –> 00:20:57,160In fact, they’re so important35300:20:57,160 –> 00:20:59,979that these words are the most quoted words35400:20:59,979 –> 00:21:01,560from the Old Testament in all35500:21:01,560 –> 00:21:03,359of the New Testament scriptures.35600:21:03,359 –> 00:21:06,239Psalm 110, verse one, here’s what I wrote.35700:21:06,239 –> 00:21:08,380Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,35800:21:08,380 –> 00:21:13,380I said, the Lord, that is, God Almighty, Yahweh,35900:21:15,079 –> 00:21:20,079the Lord, I wrote, said to my Lord,36000:21:22,099 –> 00:21:25,380sit at my right hand until all your enemies36100:21:25,380 –> 00:21:26,500are under your feet.36200:21:28,060 –> 00:21:31,180You see, it had been revealed to me by God36300:21:32,439 –> 00:21:37,439that beside the Almighty Himself would be one36400:21:39,599 –> 00:21:44,599who I could only describe as, my Lord,36500:21:46,560 –> 00:21:49,239and that the Almighty would say to the one36600:21:49,239 –> 00:21:51,719I can only describe as my Lord36700:21:52,760 –> 00:21:56,239that he should sit at the right hand of the Almighty.36800:21:57,280 –> 00:22:00,219And that he should sit there until all his enemies36900:22:00,219 –> 00:22:02,040have been placed under his feet.37000:22:03,520 –> 00:22:05,199It was all a little hazy to me,37100:22:05,199 –> 00:22:06,959but enough was revealed to me37200:22:06,959 –> 00:22:09,839so that I knew that the one I could only describe37300:22:09,839 –> 00:22:14,199as my Lord would be at the right hand of the Almighty37400:22:14,199 –> 00:22:17,660and that all his enemies would be put under his feet,37500:22:17,660 –> 00:22:20,280and I wrote that in Psalm 11037600:22:20,280 –> 00:22:22,660under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,37700:22:22,660 –> 00:22:24,280and it’s so important37800:22:24,280 –> 00:22:26,459that it is the most quoted single statement37900:22:26,560 –> 00:22:29,400from all the Old Testament Scriptures in the New Testament.38000:22:29,400 –> 00:22:30,479I wonder if you knew.38100:22:31,400 –> 00:22:33,880You’ve been listening to David’s Story,38200:22:33,880 –> 00:22:36,140one of our Christmas Story series38300:22:36,140 –> 00:22:38,920on Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.38400:22:38,920 –> 00:22:40,859Don’t forget, if you ever miss one of the series38500:22:40,859 –> 00:22:42,780or if you want to go back and listen again,38600:22:42,780 –> 00:22:45,380you can do that by coming online to our website,38700:22:45,380 –> 00:22:48,660openthebible.org.uk.38800:22:48,660 –> 00:22:52,140Open the Bible is entirely funded by our listeners,38900:22:52,140 –> 00:22:53,260and we’re very grateful,39000:22:53,260 –> 00:22:55,900so if you already give to the work of Open the Bible,39100:22:55,900 –> 00:22:57,699thank you so much.39200:22:57,699 –> 00:23:00,500If that’s something you’re considering doing in the future,39300:23:00,500 –> 00:23:02,140we have an offer for you this month,39400:23:02,140 –> 00:23:04,140which I hope you’ll be interested in.39500:23:04,140 –> 00:23:05,500During the month of December,39600:23:05,500 –> 00:23:08,300if you are able to set up a new direct debit39700:23:08,300 –> 00:23:09,959to the work of Open the Bible39800:23:09,959 –> 00:23:13,020in the amount of £5 per month or more,39900:23:13,020 –> 00:23:17,140or a one-off gift to Open the Bible of £50 or more,40000:23:17,140 –> 00:23:18,400we’d love to say thank you40100:23:18,400 –> 00:23:22,619by sending you three copies of John’s Gospel.40200:23:22,619 –> 00:23:24,839I recently caught up with Amanda Cunningham,40300:23:24,839 –> 00:23:27,839who is Open the Bible UK’s Operations40400:23:27,839 –> 00:23:29,979and Communications Manager.40500:23:29,979 –> 00:23:33,380And I asked her to tell me more about this free gift.40600:23:33,380 –> 00:23:34,479Thank you, David.40700:23:34,479 –> 00:23:37,300Yes, we are really excited to be giving away40800:23:37,300 –> 00:23:40,319not just one, but three of these ESV40900:23:40,319 –> 00:23:43,160journaling copies of John’s Gospel,41000:23:43,160 –> 00:23:46,339as well as an Open the Bible bookmark41100:23:46,339 –> 00:23:48,579with five questions to reflect on41200:23:48,579 –> 00:23:50,660as you open the Bible.41300:23:50,660 –> 00:23:53,239Each page of sex is a blank page opposite41400:23:53,319 –> 00:23:55,939on lovely thick cream paper,41500:23:55,939 –> 00:23:58,680which means they’re perfect for writing notes,41600:23:58,680 –> 00:24:00,719reflections, or prayers.41700:24:00,719 –> 00:24:03,760Or if you’re giving it to an inquiring friend,41800:24:03,760 –> 00:24:05,239perhaps you could suggest that they41900:24:05,239 –> 00:24:07,680write down any questions that they want to ask you42000:24:07,680 –> 00:24:10,239or anything that they’re struck by.42100:24:10,239 –> 00:24:13,239I also really love the beautiful gold ink42200:24:13,239 –> 00:24:14,760illustrations in the book42300:24:14,760 –> 00:24:17,800and the unique gold foil stamped cover,42400:24:17,800 –> 00:24:20,020which gives it a feel of luxury.42500:24:20,020 –> 00:24:22,160So I definitely wouldn’t feel embarrassed42600:24:22,239 –> 00:24:24,839about giving this gospel as a Christmas gift,42700:24:24,839 –> 00:24:26,400but if you do feel a little nervous42800:24:26,400 –> 00:24:27,979about giving it to someone,42900:24:27,979 –> 00:24:30,400why not bundle it in with a box of chocolates43000:24:30,400 –> 00:24:33,099or the pair of socks that you’re already giving?43100:24:33,099 –> 00:24:36,160After all, what could be a more precious gift43200:24:36,160 –> 00:24:39,199this Christmas than the living Word of God?43300:24:39,199 –> 00:24:42,359And these beautiful illustrated Gospels of John43400:24:42,359 –> 00:24:45,540would be a perfect way to give that gift.43500:24:45,540 –> 00:24:46,839Thank you, Amanda.43600:24:46,839 –> 00:24:49,180So those three copies of John’s Gospel43700:24:49,180 –> 00:24:51,239are our gift to you if you’re able to begin43800:24:51,400 –> 00:24:53,979your new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible43900:24:53,979 –> 00:24:57,699this month in the amount of £5 per month or more44000:24:57,699 –> 00:24:59,500or a one-off gift of £50.44100:25:00,780 –> 00:25:03,900Full details, terms and conditions are on our website.44200:25:03,900 –> 00:25:07,359That’s at openthebible.org.uk.44300:25:07,359 –> 00:25:09,939For Pastor Colin Smith and Open the Bible,44400:25:09,939 –> 00:25:12,160I’m David Pink, and I hope you’ll join us again44500:25:12,160 –> 00:25:14,239next time on Open the Bible.44600:25:15,160 –> 00:25:17,439After David’s great victory over Goliath,44700:25:17,439 –> 00:25:20,319the people of God made him king.44800:25:20,319 –> 00:25:23,040Find out why the people needed a better king44900:25:23,040 –> 00:25:25,119next time on Open the Bible.