1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,420 Well, we are up and running on our series, 2 00:00:03,420 –> 00:00:05,740 A Tale of Two Kings. 3 00:00:05,740 –> 00:00:08,740 We began by meeting King Saul, 4 00:00:08,740 –> 00:00:11,500 who we described as a king gone bad, 5 00:00:11,500 –> 00:00:14,540 Saul a tragic figure in the Bible. 6 00:00:14,540 –> 00:00:16,459 Here’s someone who believed in God, 7 00:00:16,459 –> 00:00:19,320 who for a time offered service to God, 8 00:00:19,320 –> 00:00:22,020 and yet his heart even through that time 9 00:00:22,020 –> 00:00:24,620 was in rebellion against God, 10 00:00:24,620 –> 00:00:27,420 and we have seen that Saul is the one 11 00:00:27,420 –> 00:00:29,760 that none of us wants to be like. 12 00:00:30,760 –> 00:00:32,680 And then last week we met David, 13 00:00:32,680 –> 00:00:34,439 a man after God’s own heart. 14 00:00:34,439 –> 00:00:36,959 We saw that man looks on the outward appearance, 15 00:00:36,959 –> 00:00:39,299 might not see outwardly or immediately 16 00:00:39,299 –> 00:00:41,639 any great difference between David and Saul, 17 00:00:41,639 –> 00:00:45,040 but God looks on the heart and we saw David, 18 00:00:45,040 –> 00:00:47,200 of course, was born with a sinful heart 19 00:00:47,200 –> 00:00:49,580 like all of his brothers and like all of us. 20 00:00:49,580 –> 00:00:51,639 So where did David get a heart after God? 21 00:00:51,639 –> 00:00:54,639 The only answer is this, God gave it to him. 22 00:00:54,639 –> 00:00:57,880 God seeking this new heart and God found it 23 00:00:57,880 –> 00:00:59,380 because God gave it, 24 00:00:59,919 –> 00:01:01,520 and we saw that that takes us right 25 00:01:01,520 –> 00:01:04,059 to the promise of the gospel, 26 00:01:04,059 –> 00:01:07,180 which in Ezekiel and chapter 36 verse 26 27 00:01:07,180 –> 00:01:08,779 is stated this way, God says, 28 00:01:08,779 –> 00:01:10,739 I will give you a new heart 29 00:01:10,739 –> 00:01:15,419 and I will put a new spirit within you. 30 00:01:15,419 –> 00:01:17,300 Now, as the story goes on, 31 00:01:17,300 –> 00:01:19,459 the difference between David and Saul 32 00:01:19,459 –> 00:01:22,139 becomes increasingly obvious. 33 00:01:22,139 –> 00:01:23,279 It boils down to this, 34 00:01:23,279 –> 00:01:25,680 we summarized it last time in this way 35 00:01:25,680 –> 00:01:29,180 that Saul was a religious man 36 00:01:29,220 –> 00:01:32,779 and David was a regenerated man 37 00:01:32,779 –> 00:01:35,440 and there is all the difference in the world 38 00:01:35,440 –> 00:01:36,459 between these two. 39 00:01:36,459 –> 00:01:39,040 That was our focus last time. 40 00:01:39,040 –> 00:01:40,959 The religious person is really 41 00:01:40,959 –> 00:01:44,019 just a church-based version 42 00:01:44,019 –> 00:01:47,139 of the person that they were before. 43 00:01:47,139 –> 00:01:50,360 But the person who is regenerated has a new heart. 44 00:01:50,360 –> 00:01:51,860 That’s what the word means. 45 00:01:51,860 –> 00:01:53,419 There’s a love for Christ, 46 00:01:53,419 –> 00:01:55,199 there’s a grieving over sin, 47 00:01:55,199 –> 00:01:56,660 whatever it is detected, 48 00:01:56,660 –> 00:01:59,139 there is a longing to be holy 49 00:01:59,199 –> 00:02:02,320 and to pursue that in the power of the Spirit. 50 00:02:02,320 –> 00:02:05,400 And the difference between the religious person 51 00:02:05,400 –> 00:02:07,139 and the regenerated person, 52 00:02:07,139 –> 00:02:10,119 beautifully pictured for us in the New Testament 53 00:02:10,119 –> 00:02:12,520 by a man called Nicodemus… 54 00:02:12,520 –> 00:02:13,919 Do you remember this man? 55 00:02:13,919 –> 00:02:15,860 He came to Jesus one night, 56 00:02:15,860 –> 00:02:17,699 we are told in John’s Gospel, 57 00:02:17,699 –> 00:02:18,800 and chapter 3. 58 00:02:18,800 –> 00:02:20,160 And he’s a religious man. 59 00:02:20,160 –> 00:02:21,220 He’s a moral man. 60 00:02:21,220 –> 00:02:22,339 He’s an educated man. 61 00:02:22,339 –> 00:02:25,559 He’s a man who’s highly respected in the community. 62 00:02:25,559 –> 00:02:28,899 A man of influence, a natural leader. 63 00:02:29,020 –> 00:02:30,300 And he comes to Jesus, 64 00:02:30,300 –> 00:02:31,919 and remember Jesus says to him, 65 00:02:31,919 –> 00:02:35,080 Now Nicodemus, you must be born again. 66 00:02:36,460 –> 00:02:38,479 We could put it like this. 67 00:02:38,479 –> 00:02:39,559 Jesus was saying to him, 68 00:02:39,559 –> 00:02:43,539 you have to become like David, a regenerated man. 69 00:02:43,539 –> 00:02:46,500 Or Nicodemus, you will remain like Saul, 70 00:02:46,500 –> 00:02:47,559 simply a religious man. 71 00:02:47,559 –> 00:02:51,520 That’s basically what you are at this point. 72 00:02:51,520 –> 00:02:53,320 And do you remember that this religious man, 73 00:02:53,320 –> 00:02:55,279 who was a teacher in Israel, 74 00:02:55,279 –> 00:02:57,619 had absolutely no idea whatsoever 75 00:02:57,660 –> 00:02:59,960 about what Jesus was speaking to him of? 76 00:02:59,960 –> 00:03:01,940 Not the faintest idea, he says, 77 00:03:01,940 –> 00:03:02,919 well now, I’m a grown man. 78 00:03:02,919 –> 00:03:07,919 How in the world can I climb back into my mother’s womb? 79 00:03:08,779 –> 00:03:10,720 And it’s completely beyond him. 80 00:03:12,339 –> 00:03:14,800 As perhaps the things that we are speaking of 81 00:03:14,800 –> 00:03:16,259 may seem completely beyond 82 00:03:16,259 –> 00:03:18,300 some in the congregation even today. 83 00:03:19,619 –> 00:03:21,759 And I want to give you, therefore, this encouragement. 84 00:03:21,759 –> 00:03:24,000 The good news of the story of Nicodemus 85 00:03:24,000 –> 00:03:26,860 is that by the time you get to the end of the gospel, 86 00:03:26,880 –> 00:03:29,160 Nicodemus comes out into the open 87 00:03:29,160 –> 00:03:33,679 and identifies himself as a disciple of Jesus. 88 00:03:34,759 –> 00:03:36,460 And so the story as you put it together 89 00:03:36,460 –> 00:03:38,339 at the beginning and the end of John’s gospel 90 00:03:38,339 –> 00:03:41,059 is that God turned this religious man 91 00:03:41,059 –> 00:03:43,440 into a regenerated man. 92 00:03:43,440 –> 00:03:47,300 And God can do the same for every man and woman 93 00:03:47,300 –> 00:03:49,880 here in the service today. 94 00:03:49,880 –> 00:03:51,539 So I want to encourage you 95 00:03:52,419 –> 00:03:54,059 if you’re struggling with these things, 96 00:03:54,059 –> 00:03:55,220 you’re thinking, now this is, 97 00:03:55,220 –> 00:03:57,220 I’m not quite sure I’m getting all of this. 98 00:03:57,220 –> 00:04:00,460 Stay with the Word of God in this series. 99 00:04:01,419 –> 00:04:04,979 And as we always try to submit ourselves 100 00:04:04,979 –> 00:04:07,339 to the Word of God, I try to do that as I speak. 101 00:04:07,339 –> 00:04:09,339 We must try and do that as we listen. 102 00:04:10,580 –> 00:04:12,759 Ask God to be your teacher. 103 00:04:13,960 –> 00:04:16,700 Tell him that you want to grasp 104 00:04:16,700 –> 00:04:18,600 more than you have grasped already, 105 00:04:18,600 –> 00:04:22,100 that you want to get what is not yet clear to you. 106 00:04:22,100 –> 00:04:24,200 Tell him that you want more from him 107 00:04:24,220 –> 00:04:27,200 and you have already received. 108 00:04:27,200 –> 00:04:28,859 And what God did for David 109 00:04:29,799 –> 00:04:34,799 and what God did for Nicodemus in giving a new heart, 110 00:04:34,799 –> 00:04:39,799 God is also wonderfully able to do for you. 111 00:04:41,279 –> 00:04:46,279 So now we’ve met the two kings, Saul and David. 112 00:04:46,299 –> 00:04:48,779 We’ve understood something about them, 113 00:04:48,779 –> 00:04:51,739 the religious and the regenerate 114 00:04:51,799 –> 00:04:55,019 and all the world of difference between the two. 115 00:04:55,019 –> 00:04:56,579 And the purpose of this series now 116 00:04:56,579 –> 00:04:59,899 is going to be to follow the story of these two kings, 117 00:04:59,899 –> 00:05:02,700 the very different lives and experiences 118 00:05:02,700 –> 00:05:04,940 that came to them. 119 00:05:04,940 –> 00:05:06,739 And now that we know who they are 120 00:05:06,739 –> 00:05:08,640 and now that we know what they represent, 121 00:05:08,640 –> 00:05:13,000 we will be able to learn from them together. 122 00:05:13,000 –> 00:05:15,739 Now, just think about this as you frame this in your mind 123 00:05:15,739 –> 00:05:18,040 for the rest of the series, 124 00:05:18,040 –> 00:05:19,559 there are two kings 125 00:05:20,559 –> 00:05:23,660 and there is the old king who was abandoned by God, 126 00:05:23,660 –> 00:05:27,160 the new king was anointed by God, 127 00:05:27,160 –> 00:05:29,279 the old king kept bringing disaster 128 00:05:29,279 –> 00:05:30,459 to the people around him, 129 00:05:30,459 –> 00:05:33,220 the new king keeps bringing blessing 130 00:05:33,220 –> 00:05:36,739 to people who are around him. 131 00:05:36,739 –> 00:05:39,700 The old king hates the new king. 132 00:05:39,700 –> 00:05:41,339 Some of you know the story already, 133 00:05:41,339 –> 00:05:43,100 we will find it in the chapters to come 134 00:05:43,100 –> 00:05:45,679 over these next weeks, 135 00:05:45,679 –> 00:05:48,019 but the old king Saul does all that he can 136 00:05:48,019 –> 00:05:49,660 to oppose the new king David, 137 00:05:49,660 –> 00:05:52,500 to resist him, he hunts him, 138 00:05:52,500 –> 00:05:54,440 he tries to kill him, 139 00:05:54,440 –> 00:05:55,480 and as time goes on, 140 00:05:55,480 –> 00:05:57,660 the life of the old king becomes more and more 141 00:05:57,660 –> 00:06:00,959 consumed and absorbed with this antagonism 142 00:06:00,959 –> 00:06:02,440 that he feels ever more deeply 143 00:06:02,440 –> 00:06:06,079 towards the new king and his claims. 144 00:06:06,079 –> 00:06:08,119 But then we find, and this is so fascinating, 145 00:06:08,119 –> 00:06:09,799 the new king, what does he do? 146 00:06:09,799 –> 00:06:13,200 He shows grace to the old king. 147 00:06:13,200 –> 00:06:14,720 He refuses to take advantage 148 00:06:14,720 –> 00:06:16,839 of the old king’s weakness, 149 00:06:16,839 –> 00:06:18,760 he does him good again and again 150 00:06:18,760 –> 00:06:21,459 and repeatedly spares his life. 151 00:06:22,779 –> 00:06:25,420 The new king loves the old king 152 00:06:26,660 –> 00:06:30,859 and grieves over him at the end of the book 153 00:06:30,859 –> 00:06:34,559 when finally the old king dies. 154 00:06:34,559 –> 00:06:36,380 And so we’re going to follow this tale 155 00:06:36,380 –> 00:06:39,380 of two kings, this extraordinary story 156 00:06:39,380 –> 00:06:42,820 of Saul who was always fighting against David. 157 00:06:43,799 –> 00:06:46,399 And this remarkable story of David 158 00:06:46,399 –> 00:06:51,399 who is always showing grace to Saul. 159 00:06:51,519 –> 00:06:54,160 And of course, it will be obvious to you by now 160 00:06:54,160 –> 00:06:57,119 that the new King, David, consistently 161 00:06:57,119 –> 00:06:59,640 in the book of 1st Samuel points us 162 00:06:59,640 –> 00:07:03,440 to the Lord Jesus Christ, Christ who is the son of David, 163 00:07:03,440 –> 00:07:07,040 Christ, who was born into the line of David. 164 00:07:07,040 –> 00:07:09,700 David is not the Messiah, David needs a savior. 165 00:07:09,700 –> 00:07:12,420 In 2nd Samuel we’ll find out in the later book 166 00:07:12,420 –> 00:07:15,040 that David has many sins of his own. 167 00:07:15,040 –> 00:07:18,019 But here in First Samuel he is especially presented 168 00:07:18,019 –> 00:07:21,679 to us as a type of Christ, a figure of Christ, 169 00:07:21,679 –> 00:07:24,760 a kind of pointer to Jesus Christ. 170 00:07:24,760 –> 00:07:27,220 And in this book we’re going to see him consistently 171 00:07:27,220 –> 00:07:32,140 as the Lord’s anointed who comes to serve 172 00:07:32,140 –> 00:07:33,519 and then is rejected. 173 00:07:34,380 –> 00:07:36,459 And we’ll see that all the way through the book. 174 00:07:36,459 –> 00:07:38,600 And then Saul, the old King, 175 00:07:39,459 –> 00:07:41,339 we’ll see how he points us 176 00:07:42,260 –> 00:07:47,019 how the sinner hates Christ and resists Him 177 00:07:47,019 –> 00:07:49,040 and always opposes Him. 178 00:07:50,079 –> 00:07:52,079 So as we will see in the Gospels, 179 00:07:52,079 –> 00:07:57,079 when it comes to Christ they hunt Him and even kill Him. 180 00:07:58,239 –> 00:08:02,359 The sinner always wants to crown himself as the King 181 00:08:02,359 –> 00:08:05,160 and he does not want to relinquish the throne, 182 00:08:05,160 –> 00:08:08,000 and so God says the new King must reign, 183 00:08:08,000 –> 00:08:10,899 and so there’s always a conflict. 184 00:08:11,059 –> 00:08:12,059 It just goes on and on and on. 185 00:08:12,059 –> 00:08:13,720 And that’s the story of Saul 186 00:08:13,720 –> 00:08:15,359 and that’s the story of David. 187 00:08:15,359 –> 00:08:18,220 The tale of two kings and it gives us a window 188 00:08:18,220 –> 00:08:23,220 into the very heart of Jesus Christ coming into the world. 189 00:08:26,119 –> 00:08:27,760 Now I hope you have the Bible open 190 00:08:27,760 –> 00:08:32,200 and that you will open it at 1 Samuel chapter 16 191 00:08:32,200 –> 00:08:35,380 and verse 14 where we take up the story today. 192 00:08:36,599 –> 00:08:39,719 Notice the extraordinary contrast 193 00:08:39,760 –> 00:08:44,099 that is focused for us between verse 13 and verse 14. 194 00:08:45,299 –> 00:08:48,760 The spirit of the Lord, verse 13, 195 00:08:48,760 –> 00:08:51,559 rushed upon David from that day forward. 196 00:08:51,559 –> 00:08:53,840 That’s where we ended last time. 197 00:08:53,840 –> 00:08:56,739 And now where we begin today, verse 14. 198 00:08:56,739 –> 00:09:01,200 The spirit of the Lord departed from Saul. 199 00:09:01,200 –> 00:09:03,280 Now you couldn’t get a clearer contrast than that could you? 200 00:09:03,280 –> 00:09:05,559 The spirit of the Lord rushing on David 201 00:09:05,559 –> 00:09:06,760 from that day forward, 202 00:09:06,760 –> 00:09:11,559 the spirit of the Lord departing from Saul. 203 00:09:13,559 –> 00:09:15,580 Now let’s pause here for a moment 204 00:09:15,580 –> 00:09:17,440 because many questions arise 205 00:09:17,440 –> 00:09:20,280 from this spirit of the Lord departing from Saul. 206 00:09:22,340 –> 00:09:25,440 In Old Testament times, it’s important to understand 207 00:09:25,440 –> 00:09:28,840 that the Holy Spirit was given to certain people 208 00:09:28,840 –> 00:09:31,840 for particular purposes. 209 00:09:31,840 –> 00:09:34,140 The Holy Spirit came on Saul, 210 00:09:34,140 –> 00:09:37,039 giving him wisdom for the responsibilities 211 00:09:37,039 –> 00:09:40,640 that had been trusted to him in regards to government. 212 00:09:40,640 –> 00:09:44,599 In particular, he was given the ability to prophesy. 213 00:09:46,200 –> 00:09:51,200 Remember this, that God helps those who do not honor him 214 00:09:52,960 –> 00:09:54,859 as well as those who do. 215 00:09:55,940 –> 00:09:57,559 It’s a very important principle. 216 00:09:58,500 –> 00:10:02,739 And we acknowledge this every time we pray for our nation. 217 00:10:03,440 –> 00:10:08,219 We pray that God, by his Holy Spirit, 218 00:10:08,219 –> 00:10:13,179 will help our leaders, some of whom honor him, 219 00:10:13,179 –> 00:10:16,179 and some of whom do not. 220 00:10:16,179 –> 00:10:20,919 But we pray indiscriminately that God will help all of them 221 00:10:20,919 –> 00:10:24,400 because we believe that in his mercy, 222 00:10:24,400 –> 00:10:27,919 God helps those who do not honor him 223 00:10:27,919 –> 00:10:30,440 as well as those who do. 224 00:10:31,320 –> 00:10:32,979 Now, theologians, who, of course, 225 00:10:32,979 –> 00:10:35,719 have a name for everything, have a name for this, 226 00:10:35,719 –> 00:10:39,580 and it’s called common grace. 227 00:10:39,580 –> 00:10:43,580 That is grace that God gives widely, 228 00:10:43,580 –> 00:10:46,960 indiscriminately, to those who dishonor him 229 00:10:46,960 –> 00:10:49,659 and even defy him as well as those 230 00:10:49,659 –> 00:10:52,799 who honor him and love him. 231 00:10:52,799 –> 00:10:55,619 And common grace is expressed in many, many ways 232 00:10:55,619 –> 00:10:56,500 in our world. 233 00:10:56,500 –> 00:10:58,479 Jesus speaks of it this way. 234 00:10:58,479 –> 00:11:01,580 God makes the sun to shine 235 00:11:01,580 –> 00:11:05,200 and the rain to fall on those who are evil 236 00:11:05,200 –> 00:11:08,020 as well as those who are good. 237 00:11:08,020 –> 00:11:09,700 What this means is very wonderfully, 238 00:11:09,700 –> 00:11:11,280 and thank God for this, 239 00:11:11,280 –> 00:11:14,460 that God is able to prompt a bad king 240 00:11:14,460 –> 00:11:15,979 to make a good decision. 241 00:11:15,979 –> 00:11:17,880 We’re all relieved about that, aren’t we? 242 00:11:17,880 –> 00:11:20,780 That God is able to do this, and indeed He does. 243 00:11:20,780 –> 00:11:21,419 What is that? 244 00:11:21,419 –> 00:11:24,219 It is common grace, 245 00:11:24,219 –> 00:11:27,000 and it was the experience that Saul had 246 00:11:27,460 –> 00:11:30,159 of the Holy Spirit. 247 00:11:30,159 –> 00:11:32,119 Now, Romans chapter 2, verse 4, 248 00:11:32,119 –> 00:11:35,520 tells us very clearly that the kindness of God 249 00:11:35,520 –> 00:11:37,500 that is the common grace of God 250 00:11:37,500 –> 00:11:39,140 is given for this purpose 251 00:11:39,140 –> 00:11:40,960 that it should lead us to repentance. 252 00:11:40,960 –> 00:11:43,080 You would think that the gifts of God 253 00:11:43,080 –> 00:11:44,559 in life and in this world 254 00:11:44,559 –> 00:11:47,080 that are indiscriminately given to all 255 00:11:47,080 –> 00:11:50,500 would simply lead all to repentance. 256 00:11:50,500 –> 00:11:51,840 But we’re seeing very clearly 257 00:11:51,840 –> 00:11:54,960 that Saul did not follow that path. 258 00:11:54,960 –> 00:11:58,179 He hardened his heart in rebellion against God. 259 00:11:58,179 –> 00:12:00,380 And so I want you to notice in verse 14 260 00:12:00,380 –> 00:12:02,479 what happened next. 261 00:12:02,479 –> 00:12:04,900 Now, the Spirit of the Lord 262 00:12:04,900 –> 00:12:08,619 departed from Saul. 263 00:12:08,619 –> 00:12:10,520 He was no longer experiencing 264 00:12:10,520 –> 00:12:12,799 this particular help and wisdom 265 00:12:12,799 –> 00:12:15,039 for the purpose of the wise guiding 266 00:12:15,039 –> 00:12:17,440 of the kingdom in these earlier years. 267 00:12:17,440 –> 00:12:20,140 The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul 268 00:12:20,140 –> 00:12:23,320 and then something else happened. 269 00:12:23,719 –> 00:12:29,159 And a harmful Spirit from the Lord 270 00:12:29,159 –> 00:12:32,840 tormented him. 271 00:12:32,840 –> 00:12:37,159 A harmful Spirit from the Lord. 272 00:12:37,159 –> 00:12:38,900 Now, if anyone’s not got a few questions 273 00:12:38,900 –> 00:12:41,840 about that phrase, you’re simply not awake. 274 00:12:41,840 –> 00:12:44,119 All kinds of questions come up 275 00:12:44,119 –> 00:12:46,080 from that phrase, right? 276 00:12:46,080 –> 00:12:50,419 A harmful Spirit from the Lord? 277 00:12:50,419 –> 00:12:53,239 What in the world is this? 278 00:12:53,260 –> 00:12:54,919 I make these two observations, 279 00:12:54,919 –> 00:12:56,880 and they are very important. 280 00:12:56,880 –> 00:13:01,559 Number one, God is sovereign 281 00:13:01,559 –> 00:13:06,580 over evil as well as good. 282 00:13:06,580 –> 00:13:07,919 And you only need to think about that 283 00:13:07,919 –> 00:13:10,760 for a moment to say from your heart, 284 00:13:10,760 –> 00:13:12,739 thank God that it is so, 285 00:13:12,739 –> 00:13:14,700 because if evil was sovereign over God, 286 00:13:14,700 –> 00:13:17,280 we’d all be in desperate trouble. 287 00:13:17,280 –> 00:13:19,020 But God is sovereign over evil 288 00:13:19,020 –> 00:13:21,039 as well as good. 289 00:13:21,039 –> 00:13:22,619 And you see that, of course, most clearly 290 00:13:22,679 –> 00:13:24,340 many places in the Bible but perhaps 291 00:13:24,340 –> 00:13:27,919 most particularly in the story of Job, 292 00:13:27,919 –> 00:13:29,080 where it becomes quite evident 293 00:13:29,080 –> 00:13:30,479 from the first chapter 294 00:13:30,479 –> 00:13:35,320 that Satan operates within certain boundaries 295 00:13:35,320 –> 00:13:38,880 that are set by Almighty God. 296 00:13:38,880 –> 00:13:42,580 By the way, that is why in the New Testament God says, 297 00:13:42,580 –> 00:13:45,039 and this is a very precious promise 298 00:13:45,039 –> 00:13:47,299 for Christians who are tempted, 299 00:13:47,299 –> 00:13:51,179 God says that He will not let you be tempted 300 00:13:51,219 –> 00:13:53,780 beyond what you can bear. 301 00:13:53,780 –> 00:13:55,919 That’s 1 Corinthians 10 and verse 13. 302 00:13:56,919 –> 00:13:58,479 God sets boundaries 303 00:13:58,479 –> 00:14:00,119 to the degree of temptation 304 00:14:00,119 –> 00:14:03,000 that Satan is allowed to bring to you. 305 00:14:03,000 –> 00:14:05,559 Satan always operates within boundaries 306 00:14:05,559 –> 00:14:06,840 that are set by God. 307 00:14:06,840 –> 00:14:08,719 That is why the Bible also says 308 00:14:08,719 –> 00:14:11,619 that Satan knows that his time is short. 309 00:14:11,619 –> 00:14:14,119 There are boundaries in terms of his operations 310 00:14:14,119 –> 00:14:16,880 and there are boundaries in terms of his time 311 00:14:17,239 –> 00:14:19,679 and both are set, not by Satan, 312 00:14:19,679 –> 00:14:21,359 but by Almighty God himself 313 00:14:21,359 –> 00:14:24,400 because God is sovereign over evil 314 00:14:24,400 –> 00:14:26,299 and thank God for that 315 00:14:26,299 –> 00:14:28,440 and here’s the principal, 316 00:14:28,440 –> 00:14:31,239 when people choose evil, 317 00:14:31,239 –> 00:14:35,099 when a nation chooses rebellion against God, 318 00:14:35,099 –> 00:14:39,599 the boundaries within which Satan operates widen 319 00:14:39,599 –> 00:14:42,619 and his activities become ever more evident 320 00:14:42,619 –> 00:14:45,219 because they are widened by God 321 00:14:46,059 –> 00:14:48,659 and this is precisely what was happening 322 00:14:48,659 –> 00:14:51,460 at this point in the life 323 00:14:51,460 –> 00:14:54,400 and the tormented experience 324 00:14:54,400 –> 00:14:57,760 of this first King Saul. 325 00:14:59,400 –> 00:15:00,859 Second observation is this 326 00:15:00,859 –> 00:15:02,200 and it is very important 327 00:15:02,200 –> 00:15:06,140 that God uses evil as well as good 328 00:15:07,239 –> 00:15:10,539 in his own ultimate purposes. 329 00:15:11,500 –> 00:15:15,619 Evil is evil and there is no darkness in God 330 00:15:15,619 –> 00:15:19,719 but because God is sovereign over evil, 331 00:15:19,719 –> 00:15:23,059 he is able to use it 332 00:15:23,059 –> 00:15:25,260 so that he is not defeated by it. 333 00:15:25,260 –> 00:15:27,119 That’s what sovereignty means 334 00:15:28,059 –> 00:15:30,520 but that he actually employs addictive evil 335 00:15:31,700 –> 00:15:33,619 so that Satan unwittingly 336 00:15:33,619 –> 00:15:35,460 into his own eternal frustration 337 00:15:35,460 –> 00:15:36,760 actually becomes an agent 338 00:15:36,799 –> 00:15:38,900 whose work ends up advancing 339 00:15:38,900 –> 00:15:42,880 the ultimate purpose of God. 340 00:15:42,880 –> 00:15:45,539 How frustrating it must be to be the devil. 341 00:15:45,539 –> 00:15:47,820 How eternal will be his frustration. 342 00:15:49,179 –> 00:15:53,380 And of course you see this God working evil 343 00:15:53,380 –> 00:15:56,580 into his own ultimate purpose all over the Bible. 344 00:15:56,580 –> 00:15:59,659 I mean take Joseph’s brothers are a wonderful example. 345 00:15:59,659 –> 00:16:00,500 What did they do? 346 00:16:00,500 –> 00:16:01,820 They beat him up. 347 00:16:01,820 –> 00:16:04,059 They sell him as a slave into Egypt. 348 00:16:04,080 –> 00:16:07,599 That’s evil and they’re morally responsible for it, 349 00:16:07,599 –> 00:16:09,440 but does that defeat the purpose of God? 350 00:16:09,440 –> 00:16:13,580 No, in God’s sovereignty it becomes the very means 351 00:16:13,580 –> 00:16:16,520 by which Joseph is brought to Egypt 352 00:16:16,520 –> 00:16:18,640 where he becomes a prince and a savior. 353 00:16:18,640 –> 00:16:20,859 And then one day he’s able to say to his brothers, 354 00:16:20,859 –> 00:16:25,859 you meant it for evil, but God intended it for good. 355 00:16:26,559 –> 00:16:27,440 Who was sovereign? 356 00:16:27,440 –> 00:16:28,580 Who came out on top? 357 00:16:28,580 –> 00:16:30,679 God was not defeated by what you did. 358 00:16:30,739 –> 00:16:33,780 In fact, God’s purpose for my life was furthered 359 00:16:34,739 –> 00:16:36,460 by what you did, 360 00:16:36,460 –> 00:16:39,840 even though it was evil and you were responsible for it. 361 00:16:39,840 –> 00:16:42,460 You see it in the apostle Paul. 362 00:16:42,460 –> 00:16:44,580 Do you remember how in 2 Corinthians 12, 363 00:16:45,780 –> 00:16:48,400 Paul speaks about how God had allowed him 364 00:16:48,400 –> 00:16:49,599 to live with what? 365 00:16:49,599 –> 00:16:51,820 A thorn in the flesh. 366 00:16:53,659 –> 00:16:55,539 Do you remember what Paul says about that? 367 00:16:55,539 –> 00:16:57,219 He says that thorn in the flesh 368 00:16:57,219 –> 00:16:59,260 was a messenger 369 00:16:59,340 –> 00:17:01,799 from Satan 370 00:17:01,799 –> 00:17:03,400 sent, 371 00:17:03,400 –> 00:17:06,520 sent to buffet me. 372 00:17:07,660 –> 00:17:09,739 And three times I pleaded with the Lord 373 00:17:09,739 –> 00:17:11,420 to take this away. 374 00:17:12,579 –> 00:17:14,579 But this particular work of Satan, 375 00:17:14,579 –> 00:17:17,660 identified in that way by the apostle Paul himself 376 00:17:17,660 –> 00:17:19,300 was the means, 377 00:17:19,300 –> 00:17:22,560 not of overwhelming the purpose of God through the apostle, 378 00:17:22,560 –> 00:17:26,979 but of demonstrating in the experience of the apostle 379 00:17:27,040 –> 00:17:28,439 that the grace of God 380 00:17:28,439 –> 00:17:31,199 was sufficient for him as it is for us 381 00:17:31,199 –> 00:17:33,439 and Paul says, 382 00:17:33,439 –> 00:17:35,520 it had the added effect 383 00:17:35,520 –> 00:17:38,560 of keeping me from becoming proud 384 00:17:38,560 –> 00:17:39,959 which if that had happened 385 00:17:39,959 –> 00:17:42,060 would have completely ruined my ministry. 386 00:17:43,239 –> 00:17:44,800 So here’s this great trouble, 387 00:17:44,800 –> 00:17:45,760 whatever it was 388 00:17:45,760 –> 00:17:48,020 that Satan was allowed 389 00:17:48,020 –> 00:17:50,000 within certain boundaries to work by God 390 00:17:50,000 –> 00:17:52,880 and yet God sovereignly utilizes even this 391 00:17:52,880 –> 00:17:54,660 in the ministry of the apostle Paul 392 00:17:54,660 –> 00:17:58,180 so that its effect is advanced 393 00:17:58,180 –> 00:17:59,500 rather than hindered 394 00:17:59,500 –> 00:18:00,579 and of course, 395 00:18:01,500 –> 00:18:04,939 most of you will be ahead of me already on this. 396 00:18:04,939 –> 00:18:07,939 You see it supremely at the cross. 397 00:18:08,900 –> 00:18:11,680 Here are men who take nails 398 00:18:11,680 –> 00:18:15,400 and they pound them into the flesh of the son of God 399 00:18:15,400 –> 00:18:16,619 that’s evil 400 00:18:18,260 –> 00:18:20,339 but does it defeat the purpose of God? 401 00:18:21,660 –> 00:18:23,599 No, through this very cross, 402 00:18:23,640 –> 00:18:27,199 through this most heinous of all crimes 403 00:18:27,199 –> 00:18:30,119 and in the middle of it, 404 00:18:30,119 –> 00:18:32,760 God is reconciling the world to Himself 405 00:18:32,760 –> 00:18:35,880 as Jesus Christ becomes the sin bearer on the cross. 406 00:18:35,880 –> 00:18:39,260 That’s sovereignty over evil, isn’t it? 407 00:18:39,260 –> 00:18:43,500 And it’s demonstrated in his resurrection from the dead. 408 00:18:43,500 –> 00:18:47,479 Now this is why friends, in Romans 8 and verse 28, 409 00:18:47,479 –> 00:18:50,719 one of the most precious verses in all of the Bible 410 00:18:50,719 –> 00:18:53,479 to a Christian believer, 411 00:18:53,479 –> 00:18:59,739 it says that God works in all things 412 00:18:59,739 –> 00:19:03,900 for the good of those who love Him. 413 00:19:03,900 –> 00:19:07,760 This is a precious promise given to the family of God. 414 00:19:07,760 –> 00:19:12,420 God works in all things. 415 00:19:12,420 –> 00:19:17,380 And the word all there, means all. 416 00:19:17,380 –> 00:19:22,040 If it said, friends, God works in the good things 417 00:19:22,380 –> 00:19:24,199 for those who love Him, 418 00:19:24,199 –> 00:19:28,400 that verse would not be of much help to us. 419 00:19:28,400 –> 00:19:32,400 It would leave a massive sphere of the bad things 420 00:19:32,400 –> 00:19:38,000 that were somehow outside of the ultimate purpose of God. 421 00:19:38,000 –> 00:19:43,880 It would leave as it were, a huge black hole in the world of grace. 422 00:19:43,880 –> 00:19:45,380 And that black hole would suck us in 423 00:19:45,380 –> 00:19:49,520 and then it would ultimately lead us to despair. 424 00:19:49,520 –> 00:19:52,020 But because God is sovereign even over evil, 425 00:19:52,040 –> 00:19:56,699 the Scripture says to us that God works in all things, 426 00:19:56,699 –> 00:20:01,199 that is the bad things in your life and in my life as well as the good, 427 00:20:01,199 –> 00:20:03,900 the worst things as well as the best, 428 00:20:03,900 –> 00:20:07,500 and He is always working in all things and through all things 429 00:20:07,500 –> 00:20:11,839 for the eternal good of those who love Him. 430 00:20:11,839 –> 00:20:18,219 Only a sovereign God can do such a thing. 431 00:20:18,500 –> 00:20:22,119 And here is the great comfort that comes from all of this. 432 00:20:22,119 –> 00:20:27,439 If God allows you to endure some evil, 433 00:20:27,439 –> 00:20:32,300 you can be very confident as a child of God 434 00:20:32,300 –> 00:20:35,000 that what He will bring from it in you 435 00:20:35,000 –> 00:20:38,959 and through you, and what will be to the eternal praise of Jesus Christ 436 00:20:38,959 –> 00:20:40,680 as the ultimate result of it, 437 00:20:40,680 –> 00:20:45,280 will outweigh by far the pain and the torment 438 00:20:45,280 –> 00:20:50,680 that you might have endured on the way. 439 00:20:50,680 –> 00:20:55,160 Thank God for that. 440 00:20:55,160 –> 00:21:02,520 But Saul is not among those who love God. 441 00:21:02,520 –> 00:21:06,880 He is in rebellion against God. 442 00:21:06,880 –> 00:21:11,300 And what we’re seeing here is that God allows him 443 00:21:11,859 –> 00:21:17,000 with the tragedy of what he had chosen. 444 00:21:17,000 –> 00:21:22,119 Matthew Henry says very wisely and very perceptively, 445 00:21:22,119 –> 00:21:25,479 They that drive the good spirit away from them 446 00:21:25,479 –> 00:21:28,979 become prey to the evil spirit. 447 00:21:28,979 –> 00:21:32,339 If God and His grace do not rule us, 448 00:21:32,339 –> 00:21:38,959 sin and Satan will have possession of us. 449 00:21:39,099 –> 00:21:42,119 And you know, the great judgment of God on sinners 450 00:21:42,119 –> 00:21:43,420 is ultimately this, 451 00:21:43,420 –> 00:21:47,380 that He gives them what they choose. 452 00:21:47,380 –> 00:21:52,540 And Saul chose rebellion against God. 453 00:21:52,540 –> 00:21:55,619 And so what happens is that he now finds himself 454 00:21:55,619 –> 00:22:00,739 in the company of those who have made the same choice. 455 00:22:00,739 –> 00:22:06,219 The rebel spirits that end up tormenting him. 456 00:22:06,219 –> 00:22:09,760 Saul’s life is a massive warning. 457 00:22:09,760 –> 00:22:12,680 It’s a huge red light 458 00:22:12,680 –> 00:22:15,079 to the person who rises up against God 459 00:22:15,079 –> 00:22:17,900 and refuses to back down. 460 00:22:17,920 –> 00:22:20,380 Here’s what we naturally think as Satan tempts us. 461 00:22:20,380 –> 00:22:23,020 You may think that if you throw off 462 00:22:23,020 –> 00:22:24,920 the claims of Jesus Christ on your life, 463 00:22:24,920 –> 00:22:27,959 that somehow you will be free. 464 00:22:27,959 –> 00:22:30,060 And I’m telling you on the authority of the Bible 465 00:22:30,060 –> 00:22:32,380 that the opposite is true. 466 00:22:32,380 –> 00:22:34,979 If God does not rule you, 467 00:22:34,979 –> 00:22:38,979 then ultimately sin and Satan will possess you. 468 00:22:38,979 –> 00:22:41,020 And that will be the truth for you 469 00:22:41,020 –> 00:22:42,459 into all eternity. 470 00:22:42,459 –> 00:22:44,479 If God does not rule you ultimately 471 00:22:44,479 –> 00:22:48,099 sin and Satan will possess you. 472 00:22:48,099 –> 00:22:51,880 The person who makes sin their friend 473 00:22:51,880 –> 00:22:53,920 soon finds that sin is their master. 474 00:22:53,920 –> 00:22:57,020 There’s no freedom there. 475 00:22:57,020 –> 00:22:59,160 Never imagine that hell is 476 00:22:59,160 –> 00:23:01,760 some kind of happy band of brothers and sisters 477 00:23:01,760 –> 00:23:04,300 who are united together in their common antagonism 478 00:23:04,400 –> 00:23:06,819 towards God. 479 00:23:06,819 –> 00:23:08,160 Hell is a place of torment 480 00:23:08,160 –> 00:23:10,619 because it is a place of rebellion. 481 00:23:10,619 –> 00:23:13,560 It is a world in which everybody is their own king 482 00:23:13,560 –> 00:23:15,680 and a world in which everybody is their own king 483 00:23:15,680 –> 00:23:19,560 can only ever be a world of conflict. 484 00:23:19,560 –> 00:23:24,060 And so it is, forever and forever and forever. 485 00:23:24,060 –> 00:23:26,479 So here we’re given this tragic reality 486 00:23:26,479 –> 00:23:31,500 into which Saul is moving. 487 00:23:32,339 –> 00:23:34,959 And the story before us is really a very simple one. 488 00:23:34,959 –> 00:23:36,160 Let me just walk you through it. 489 00:23:36,160 –> 00:23:37,780 Saul’s servants are… 490 00:23:37,780 –> 00:23:38,880 Actually, we would call them today, 491 00:23:38,880 –> 00:23:41,920 Saul’s counselors. 492 00:23:41,920 –> 00:23:44,839 They can see his decline. 493 00:23:44,839 –> 00:23:46,180 And they say in verse 15, 494 00:23:46,180 –> 00:23:50,579 behold, now a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 495 00:23:50,579 –> 00:23:51,579 All credit to them. 496 00:23:51,579 –> 00:23:54,839 They diagnosed the problem accurately. 497 00:23:54,839 –> 00:23:56,400 Saul is becoming moody. 498 00:23:56,400 –> 00:23:57,880 He’s becoming irritable. 499 00:23:57,880 –> 00:23:59,560 He’s becoming vindictive. 500 00:24:00,199 –> 00:24:03,219 He’s a source of misery to himself increasingly. 501 00:24:03,219 –> 00:24:07,660 He is a source of anxiety to everyone who is around him. 502 00:24:07,660 –> 00:24:09,760 And the servants see this, 503 00:24:11,599 –> 00:24:13,640 and they suggest a therapy. 504 00:24:15,199 –> 00:24:16,619 And they say verse 16, 505 00:24:16,619 –> 00:24:19,839 let our Lord now command your servants 506 00:24:19,839 –> 00:24:23,339 who are before you to seek out a man 507 00:24:23,339 –> 00:24:26,739 who is skilled in playing the liar. 508 00:24:29,599 –> 00:24:32,260 And Saul agrees with this prescription, 509 00:24:32,260 –> 00:24:33,660 and he says verse 17, 510 00:24:33,660 –> 00:24:35,739 provide for me a man who can play well 511 00:24:35,739 –> 00:24:37,500 and then bring him to me. 512 00:24:37,500 –> 00:24:39,719 And one of the servants there in the royal court 513 00:24:39,719 –> 00:24:41,819 has evidently heard David play 514 00:24:41,819 –> 00:24:44,699 or knows David from Bethlehem or whatever that is, 515 00:24:44,699 –> 00:24:48,140 and basically nominates him for the job. 516 00:24:48,140 –> 00:24:50,300 And Saul sends for David. 517 00:24:50,300 –> 00:24:53,599 And in this amazing providence of God, 518 00:24:53,599 –> 00:24:55,780 David, the young boy, 519 00:24:55,780 –> 00:24:59,119 who has been anointed as the future king, 520 00:24:59,119 –> 00:25:01,479 is brought into the royal court 521 00:25:01,479 –> 00:25:04,560 without him even knocking on the door. 522 00:25:04,560 –> 00:25:05,500 Isn’t that amazing? 523 00:25:07,520 –> 00:25:09,339 This is a remarkable story. 524 00:25:10,380 –> 00:25:12,119 I mean, just think about it. 525 00:25:12,119 –> 00:25:15,219 How does a young boy whose experience of life 526 00:25:15,219 –> 00:25:18,079 is simply working as a shepherd? 527 00:25:18,079 –> 00:25:22,099 How can that young boy ever have any idea 528 00:25:22,099 –> 00:25:24,140 of what it is to be in government 529 00:25:24,140 –> 00:25:25,380 and to rule a nation? 530 00:25:26,959 –> 00:25:28,420 How is he gonna learn that? 531 00:25:29,660 –> 00:25:32,880 And God, in His amazing providence, 532 00:25:32,880 –> 00:25:36,500 brings this boy into the royal court 533 00:25:36,500 –> 00:25:38,839 where he can see it from the inside. 534 00:25:38,839 –> 00:25:41,739 He sees how it’s functioning. 535 00:25:41,739 –> 00:25:44,319 He sees what’s going wrong. 536 00:25:44,319 –> 00:25:48,280 He sees what it’s gonna take to put the royal court right. 537 00:25:48,280 –> 00:25:50,459 And he’s given a prime position to view 538 00:25:50,459 –> 00:25:52,780 and to learn all this early in life. 539 00:25:52,780 –> 00:25:54,000 Remember this. 540 00:25:54,479 –> 00:25:59,719 If God puts you in a position of dysfunction, 541 00:25:59,719 –> 00:26:01,819 in a position where you see something 542 00:26:01,819 –> 00:26:04,939 that is absolutely not working right, 543 00:26:04,939 –> 00:26:09,859 it may just be that He is preparing you 544 00:26:09,859 –> 00:26:13,939 so that you will know what needs to be different 545 00:26:13,939 –> 00:26:18,000 when your time comes. 546 00:26:19,099 –> 00:26:22,400 Everything in your life is part of 547 00:26:22,400 –> 00:26:24,560 the weaving of God’s purpose 548 00:26:24,560 –> 00:26:28,719 by which you are ultimately able to glorify Him. 549 00:26:28,719 –> 00:26:32,099 And even the dysfunction you have seen 550 00:26:32,099 –> 00:26:35,239 can be God’s means of equipping you for ministry. 551 00:26:35,239 –> 00:26:36,640 This is a wonderful thing. 552 00:26:36,640 –> 00:26:38,739 And perhaps in the groups, we’ll talk a little bit 553 00:26:38,739 –> 00:26:41,420 about how that has worked out in our lives. 554 00:26:41,420 –> 00:26:43,520 Many of us will immediately think about, 555 00:26:43,520 –> 00:26:46,459 God put me there, and I saw how it should not be 556 00:26:47,359 –> 00:26:50,180 and He gave me a heart to be involved 557 00:26:50,180 –> 00:26:51,359 in something different. 558 00:26:51,699 –> 00:26:54,599 Those who were brought up in a home that was dysfunctional 559 00:26:54,599 –> 00:26:57,979 and God has given you a vision out of that 560 00:26:57,979 –> 00:27:00,680 of what it means to be a Godly father, a Godly mother. 561 00:27:00,680 –> 00:27:03,839 Thank God for such avision. 562 00:27:05,180 –> 00:27:07,020 Look for these things in your life 563 00:27:08,300 –> 00:27:12,640 and marvel at the grace of God that brings them about. 564 00:27:14,859 –> 00:27:16,160 I want in these last minutes 565 00:27:16,160 –> 00:27:18,380 just to make three very simple observations 566 00:27:18,380 –> 00:27:20,599 from this story. 567 00:27:21,420 –> 00:27:22,939 The first that we dare not miss 568 00:27:22,939 –> 00:27:26,020 is just this extraordinary picture 569 00:27:26,020 –> 00:27:30,180 of David serving Saul. 570 00:27:30,180 –> 00:27:32,839 Amazing, verse 21, 571 00:27:32,839 –> 00:27:35,979 and David came to Saul 572 00:27:37,099 –> 00:27:40,339 and entered his service. 573 00:27:42,660 –> 00:27:44,219 First Saul receives him well. 574 00:27:44,219 –> 00:27:45,680 It even says he loves him. 575 00:27:46,939 –> 00:27:48,719 But because Saul is all about himself, 576 00:27:48,719 –> 00:27:50,099 his love never lasts for long. 577 00:27:50,119 –> 00:27:52,420 It cannot last for long if it’s about yourself. 578 00:27:52,420 –> 00:27:55,520 And before long Saul rejects him. 579 00:27:55,520 –> 00:27:58,119 And in this of course, David points us to Christ. 580 00:27:58,119 –> 00:28:02,119 Christ coming into the world and serving sinners 581 00:28:03,199 –> 00:28:05,099 who may receive him well at first 582 00:28:05,099 –> 00:28:08,719 and then very soon despise him and reject him. 583 00:28:09,859 –> 00:28:12,599 David serving Saul points us forward 584 00:28:12,599 –> 00:28:15,880 to his greater son coming into the world 585 00:28:15,880 –> 00:28:18,079 and to enter the service of sinners 586 00:28:18,140 –> 00:28:22,579 and to come to bring goods to all of our troubled hearts. 587 00:28:22,579 –> 00:28:23,760 And what happens? 588 00:28:23,760 –> 00:28:26,640 He comes to Nazareth, his hometown. 589 00:28:26,640 –> 00:28:30,199 And he speaks about how the spirit of the Lord is upon him 590 00:28:30,199 –> 00:28:32,199 anointing him to bring good news to the poor. 591 00:28:32,199 –> 00:28:33,680 And the people listened to what he says 592 00:28:33,680 –> 00:28:35,400 and they’re very pleased with it at first. 593 00:28:35,400 –> 00:28:36,859 But by the end of the service 594 00:28:36,859 –> 00:28:38,699 they’ve decided they want to throw him off a cliff 595 00:28:38,699 –> 00:28:40,160 and to run him out of town. 596 00:28:41,640 –> 00:28:43,599 Jesus goes to a place called the Gerasenes, 597 00:28:43,599 –> 00:28:45,800 Mark’s gospel in chapter 5 598 00:28:45,880 –> 00:28:46,800 And there’s a person there 599 00:28:46,800 –> 00:28:49,400 who’s a public enemy number one. 600 00:28:49,400 –> 00:28:52,560 And he is a terror to himself and to all the community. 601 00:28:52,560 –> 00:28:56,099 Nobody can put adequate chains on him to restrain him. 602 00:28:56,099 –> 00:28:59,780 And Christ casts all these evil spirits out of him 603 00:28:59,780 –> 00:29:01,680 and then he’s sitting in his right mind 604 00:29:01,680 –> 00:29:04,119 and he’s dressed, and all the community comes out 605 00:29:04,119 –> 00:29:06,079 and you would think that they would say to Jesus 606 00:29:06,079 –> 00:29:07,199 oh, stay! 607 00:29:07,199 –> 00:29:09,479 You have dealt with our worst problem. 608 00:29:09,479 –> 00:29:11,719 We have all the rest that we need you to deal with. 609 00:29:11,719 –> 00:29:12,560 What do they say? 610 00:29:12,699 –> 00:29:13,520 What do you say? 611 00:29:13,520 –> 00:29:14,640 Go! 612 00:29:14,640 –> 00:29:15,660 Depart from here. 613 00:29:17,500 –> 00:29:20,520 And Jesus comes to Jerusalem with the words of life 614 00:29:20,520 –> 00:29:22,599 and what happens, they arrest him, and they bind him, 615 00:29:22,599 –> 00:29:25,199 they nail him to this cross. 616 00:29:25,199 –> 00:29:27,439 He came to his own. 617 00:29:27,439 –> 00:29:30,599 He brings words of grace, works of grace. 618 00:29:32,079 –> 00:29:35,560 And his own received him not. 619 00:29:39,599 –> 00:29:42,479 Does it perplex you that people you may have worked 620 00:29:42,500 –> 00:29:45,599 close to for 10 years, maybe 20 years, maybe more, 621 00:29:47,099 –> 00:29:48,579 have not yet become Christians, 622 00:29:48,579 –> 00:29:50,780 though you’ve tried to bear witness to them? 623 00:29:52,979 –> 00:29:54,920 Think about the number of people. 624 00:29:54,920 –> 00:29:57,660 How many people do you think would have, in some way, 625 00:29:57,660 –> 00:30:00,099 been touched by Jesus, either heard his words 626 00:30:00,099 –> 00:30:01,199 or seen him at some point 627 00:30:01,199 –> 00:30:03,739 during his ministry, over these three years? 628 00:30:03,739 –> 00:30:06,099 Including, of course, all the crowd on Palm Sunday 629 00:30:06,099 –> 00:30:07,780 who marched into Jerusalem with him 630 00:30:07,780 –> 00:30:11,160 and were singing some songs of praise. 631 00:30:13,280 –> 00:30:15,219 How many of them became his followers? 632 00:30:17,079 –> 00:30:18,160 Relatively few. 633 00:30:20,520 –> 00:30:22,280 120 on the day of Pentecost, 634 00:30:22,280 –> 00:30:23,260 that was all of them in Jerusalem, 635 00:30:23,260 –> 00:30:24,699 though, of course, there would have been more 636 00:30:24,699 –> 00:30:25,800 in other places. 637 00:30:27,520 –> 00:30:29,520 In John, chapter six, at the end of the chapter, 638 00:30:29,520 –> 00:30:31,760 we read about many, many who were following him, 639 00:30:31,760 –> 00:30:33,239 but when they really heard what he was saying, 640 00:30:33,239 –> 00:30:36,020 they turned back and wanted nothing more to do with him. 641 00:30:37,599 –> 00:30:39,479 Christ served 642 00:30:40,819 –> 00:30:42,040 and did good 643 00:30:43,280 –> 00:30:46,079 for many who never became his followers. 644 00:30:47,739 –> 00:30:50,339 Just like David served and did good for Saul 645 00:30:50,339 –> 00:30:53,119 who never came to faith or to repentance. 646 00:30:55,280 –> 00:30:56,979 Your experience will be the same. 647 00:30:58,780 –> 00:31:01,859 Your life will touch the lives of many others, 648 00:31:01,859 –> 00:31:05,439 some of whom will never come to faith and to repentance, 649 00:31:05,439 –> 00:31:07,699 but by doing them good, 650 00:31:08,900 –> 00:31:10,900 you have honored your Savior 651 00:31:11,839 –> 00:31:14,300 whose name you bear. 652 00:31:16,680 –> 00:31:20,199 Be very careful when the devil tempts you 653 00:31:21,060 –> 00:31:24,640 to think that the influence of your life has not been much. 654 00:31:26,380 –> 00:31:30,400 Saul being served by David. 655 00:31:32,680 –> 00:31:34,579 Second observation, just very briefly, 656 00:31:34,579 –> 00:31:36,739 is the remarkable power of the gift of music. 657 00:31:36,739 –> 00:31:39,040 Can’t read this story without coming to this. 658 00:31:39,040 –> 00:31:40,260 Isn’t it extraordinary? 659 00:31:40,339 –> 00:31:45,099 David took the lyre and he played it with his hand, 660 00:31:45,099 –> 00:31:49,000 so Saul was refreshed and was well, 661 00:31:49,000 –> 00:31:52,300 and the harmful spirit, verse 23, 662 00:31:52,300 –> 00:31:55,099 departed from him. 663 00:31:57,260 –> 00:32:00,040 Now music is a wonderful gift 664 00:32:00,880 –> 00:32:03,260 and it has a remarkable power, 665 00:32:03,260 –> 00:32:06,839 and this passage of Scripture reminds us of it. 666 00:32:06,839 –> 00:32:10,880 Music has the power to calm and to soothe, 667 00:32:10,880 –> 00:32:15,280 it has the power to awaken and it has the power to inspire. 668 00:32:16,300 –> 00:32:20,459 You go to any sporting event, go to any political rally 669 00:32:20,459 –> 00:32:22,719 and you will always find music. 670 00:32:22,719 –> 00:32:27,420 Why, because the producers of these events know its power. 671 00:32:28,400 –> 00:32:30,439 So let this be an encouragement to everyone 672 00:32:30,439 –> 00:32:32,319 who’s involved in the ministry of music 673 00:32:32,319 –> 00:32:33,979 and to all of you who might have a heart 674 00:32:34,380 –> 00:32:37,060 want to become involved in the ministry of music 675 00:32:37,060 –> 00:32:38,739 in the life of the church. 676 00:32:38,739 –> 00:32:42,459 David practiced on his harp 677 00:32:42,459 –> 00:32:45,819 and he became a skillful musician 678 00:32:45,819 –> 00:32:49,579 and God used the skill that he developed as a musician 679 00:32:49,579 –> 00:32:51,579 in a marvelous way. 680 00:32:51,579 –> 00:32:53,660 Saul, quite clearly the Bible says, 681 00:32:53,660 –> 00:32:56,540 was helped by David’s music 682 00:32:56,540 –> 00:32:59,180 and that in turn kept a nation 683 00:32:59,180 –> 00:33:01,560 from unraveling in complete collapse. 684 00:33:01,599 –> 00:33:05,319 So the ministry of music here was absolutely huge. 685 00:33:07,479 –> 00:33:10,599 Music can have a stimulant effect, 686 00:33:10,599 –> 00:33:14,400 music can have a sedative effect as was the case here, 687 00:33:14,400 –> 00:33:16,439 which is why our thinking about music 688 00:33:16,439 –> 00:33:21,439 should be very careful, it’s right use in the right place. 689 00:33:21,760 –> 00:33:25,099 All of that feeds into our thinking about worship. 690 00:33:27,119 –> 00:33:29,280 Here’s what’s absolutely fascinating to me 691 00:33:29,280 –> 00:33:31,479 and you might have wondered if I’d get to it. 692 00:33:32,380 –> 00:33:37,180 Saul’s problem was an evil spirit 693 00:33:38,680 –> 00:33:41,680 that troubled him because of his own rebellion against God. 694 00:33:43,739 –> 00:33:47,640 And the Bible tells us that the music helped him. 695 00:33:49,000 –> 00:33:50,420 I wonder if that surprises you 696 00:33:50,420 –> 00:33:52,859 as when I read it, it first surprises me. 697 00:33:54,079 –> 00:33:57,359 How does music interact with what the real problem is here? 698 00:33:57,920 –> 00:34:01,579 When David played, the Bible says Saul was refreshed 699 00:34:02,839 –> 00:34:05,260 and the harmful spirit departed from him. 700 00:34:06,859 –> 00:34:09,479 Let me give to you a quote from Matthew Henry 701 00:34:09,479 –> 00:34:12,479 that you can ponder as I’m continuing to ponder it 702 00:34:12,479 –> 00:34:15,820 because I’ve found it so very insightful and helpful. 703 00:34:15,820 –> 00:34:17,439 Matthew Henry says this, 704 00:34:17,439 –> 00:34:20,439 “‘Music cannot work upon the devil, 705 00:34:21,600 –> 00:34:24,959 “‘but it may shut up the passages 706 00:34:25,040 –> 00:34:30,020 “‘by which he has access to the mind.’” 707 00:34:30,020 –> 00:34:31,620 Isn’t that interesting? 708 00:34:31,620 –> 00:34:34,639 Now, music doesn’t have any power over the devil, of course 709 00:34:35,479 –> 00:34:38,360 but it, “‘It may shut up,” says Matthew Henry, 710 00:34:38,360 –> 00:34:42,560 “‘the channels by which he has access to the mind.’” 711 00:34:42,560 –> 00:34:43,379 Well, quite clearly, 712 00:34:43,379 –> 00:34:46,080 something like that was happening here 713 00:34:46,080 –> 00:34:49,419 but as we will see next time, 714 00:34:49,419 –> 00:34:52,239 the effect was only temporary 715 00:34:52,239 –> 00:34:54,739 and that leads very briefly to my last observation 716 00:34:55,560 –> 00:34:57,040 and it’s simply this. 717 00:34:57,040 –> 00:35:02,040 The great danger of suppressing symptoms 718 00:35:02,399 –> 00:35:06,100 without treating the root problem 719 00:35:06,100 –> 00:35:07,879 and, truly, that is where we’re left 720 00:35:07,879 –> 00:35:10,100 at the end of this chapter. 721 00:35:10,100 –> 00:35:12,840 Here, we have Saul’s counselors 722 00:35:12,840 –> 00:35:14,719 who are to be given great credit 723 00:35:14,719 –> 00:35:16,639 because they correctly 724 00:35:16,639 –> 00:35:20,479 and spiritually diagnosed his problem. 725 00:35:20,479 –> 00:35:24,780 Verse 15, Behold now, a harmful spirit from the Lord 726 00:35:24,780 –> 00:35:26,760 is tormenting you. 727 00:35:28,679 –> 00:35:32,439 Now please hear me clearly in these words 728 00:35:32,439 –> 00:35:33,760 that are very important. 729 00:35:35,659 –> 00:35:37,840 There are torments of mind 730 00:35:38,800 –> 00:35:42,080 that arise from mental illness 731 00:35:42,080 –> 00:35:44,580 and when that is the case, 732 00:35:44,580 –> 00:35:46,899 they should be treated with the best 733 00:35:46,899 –> 00:35:49,340 medical help available. 734 00:35:51,399 –> 00:35:55,899 But with your Bible open, you can see with me here 735 00:35:55,899 –> 00:35:58,600 that that was not the case 736 00:35:58,600 –> 00:36:03,239 with Saul here in the first book of Samuel. 737 00:36:03,239 –> 00:36:06,560 The root of Saul’s problem correctly diagnosed 738 00:36:06,560 –> 00:36:11,000 by his counselors was not a mental illness, 739 00:36:11,000 –> 00:36:16,000 it was at root his own rebellion against God. 740 00:36:16,199 –> 00:36:18,500 And his counselors I say again, 741 00:36:18,500 –> 00:36:21,419 were to be commended for diagnosing this 742 00:36:21,419 –> 00:36:24,340 in his case correctly. 743 00:36:24,340 –> 00:36:28,139 They knew that the root of the issue for Saul 744 00:36:28,139 –> 00:36:31,820 was spiritual and that what Saul was suffering 745 00:36:31,820 –> 00:36:36,679 arose from his own continuing resistance towards God. 746 00:36:38,020 –> 00:36:39,620 Now having established that fact 747 00:36:39,620 –> 00:36:42,800 here is the absolutely astonishing thing 748 00:36:42,800 –> 00:36:45,439 and you should take it in and go on pondering it 749 00:36:45,439 –> 00:36:48,399 until it has had its effect in your soul. 750 00:36:49,239 –> 00:36:53,340 Having correctly diagnosed the problem 751 00:36:54,600 –> 00:36:58,459 the counselors then prescribed a therapy 752 00:36:58,459 –> 00:37:01,959 that merely treated the symptoms 753 00:37:01,959 –> 00:37:04,520 without ever getting to the root problem 754 00:37:04,520 –> 00:37:07,280 of this man’s ongoing resistance to God. 755 00:37:07,280 –> 00:37:08,800 They said, here’s what will help you. 756 00:37:08,800 –> 00:37:11,159 The symptoms will be suppressed by the music. 757 00:37:11,159 –> 00:37:13,320 Go and call for a musician and bring him in 758 00:37:13,320 –> 00:37:15,020 and they proved to be right in what they said 759 00:37:15,020 –> 00:37:17,300 but they only treated the symptoms. 760 00:37:18,939 –> 00:37:21,260 Matthew Henry, again so helpful, he says, 761 00:37:21,260 –> 00:37:24,320 how much better friends they would have been to Saul 762 00:37:24,320 –> 00:37:26,879 if they had advised him since the evil spirit 763 00:37:26,879 –> 00:37:29,260 was from the Lord to give all diligence 764 00:37:29,260 –> 00:37:32,479 to make his peace with God by a true repentance 765 00:37:32,479 –> 00:37:35,600 and to send rather for Samuel to pray with him 766 00:37:35,600 –> 00:37:38,340 and then to intercede with God for him. 767 00:37:38,340 –> 00:37:41,419 That way he might not only have had some relief 768 00:37:41,419 –> 00:37:43,820 but the good spirit would have returned to him. 769 00:37:44,699 –> 00:37:48,439 So I speak in these very last moments 770 00:37:48,439 –> 00:37:52,520 to the person here today who has been holding out on God 771 00:37:52,520 –> 00:37:54,600 and you know it. 772 00:37:54,600 –> 00:37:58,659 You have been making a king of yourself. 773 00:37:58,659 –> 00:38:00,439 You have been religious 774 00:38:00,439 –> 00:38:03,860 but you have not been ready to pursue repentance. 775 00:38:03,860 –> 00:38:05,620 And like Saul, what has been happening 776 00:38:05,620 –> 00:38:07,959 is that you have been becoming 777 00:38:07,959 –> 00:38:11,159 increasingly troubled in your own heart 778 00:38:11,159 –> 00:38:12,679 and I’m asking you today, 779 00:38:12,719 –> 00:38:16,360 what is it that you are using to soothe your troubled heart, 780 00:38:16,360 –> 00:38:18,679 to suppress the symptoms? 781 00:38:18,679 –> 00:38:21,080 Is it sports? 782 00:38:21,080 –> 00:38:23,679 Is it work? 783 00:38:23,679 –> 00:38:25,899 Is it drugs? 784 00:38:25,899 –> 00:38:28,280 Is it drink? 785 00:38:28,280 –> 00:38:30,919 Is it friends? 786 00:38:30,919 –> 00:38:32,620 Is it pornography? 787 00:38:32,620 –> 00:38:33,800 Is it music? 788 00:38:33,800 –> 00:38:37,560 Is it simply accumulating more and more and more stuff 789 00:38:37,560 –> 00:38:39,399 and there’s a pain in your heart 790 00:38:39,399 –> 00:38:41,679 and the root of it 791 00:38:41,919 –> 00:38:44,399 is in your continued resistance to God 792 00:38:44,399 –> 00:38:46,199 and you’re suppressing the symptoms 793 00:38:46,199 –> 00:38:48,340 you’re not dealing with the problem 794 00:38:48,340 –> 00:38:49,919 and you know it 795 00:38:49,919 –> 00:38:52,080 and right here in front of you with the bible open, 796 00:38:52,080 –> 00:38:53,239 it could not be plainer 797 00:38:53,239 –> 00:38:55,939 God is exactly describing what you’re doing in your life, 798 00:38:55,939 –> 00:38:57,500 even this week 799 00:38:57,500 –> 00:38:58,500 and he’s speaking to you 800 00:38:58,500 –> 00:39:00,100 and he’s reaching out to you 801 00:39:00,100 –> 00:39:02,479 in grace, and in love, and in mercy 802 00:39:02,479 –> 00:39:02,979 and he’s saying to you 803 00:39:02,979 –> 00:39:07,639 it is no good just carrying on trying to suppress the symptoms 804 00:39:07,639 –> 00:39:10,040 you can never resolve the problem that way 805 00:39:10,219 –> 00:39:15,020 what you need to do is to deal with the roots 806 00:39:15,020 –> 00:39:16,739 and there’s only one way for you to do that 807 00:39:16,739 –> 00:39:19,899 and that is as a Saviour 808 00:39:19,899 –> 00:39:21,399 and he stands before you today 809 00:39:21,399 –> 00:39:23,959 with arms of love that are stretched out to you 810 00:39:23,959 –> 00:39:24,899 and he calls you 811 00:39:26,199 –> 00:39:30,120 to end your rebellion against Jesus Christ today 812 00:39:30,120 –> 00:39:32,020 to take the crown off your head 813 00:39:32,020 –> 00:39:35,219 and to lay it at his feet 814 00:39:35,219 –> 00:39:36,899 to embrace him as your Lord 815 00:39:36,899 –> 00:39:38,060 and as your Master 816 00:39:38,060 –> 00:39:39,679 therefore as your Saviour 817 00:39:39,679 –> 00:39:41,699 to turn to him with repentance 818 00:39:41,699 –> 00:39:43,580 to submit your life to him 819 00:39:43,580 –> 00:39:46,739 to offer yourself ready for a life of obedience 820 00:39:46,739 –> 00:39:49,320 in the power of the Holy Spirit 821 00:39:49,320 –> 00:39:51,439 who he will give to you 822 00:39:54,000 –> 00:39:56,439 that addresses the root of the problem 823 00:39:58,219 –> 00:40:00,100 and Christ reaches out to you today 824 00:40:01,560 –> 00:40:03,520 and he sees your troubled heart 825 00:40:03,520 –> 00:40:07,159 and he sees you weary of your own rebellion 826 00:40:07,199 –> 00:40:11,439 and he sees you laden with the sheer weight of your own sin 827 00:40:13,360 –> 00:40:16,020 and he comes to you in love with his nail-pierced hands 828 00:40:16,020 –> 00:40:18,260 and he says, come to me, 829 00:40:18,260 –> 00:40:22,399 all you who are weary and heavy laden 830 00:40:23,760 –> 00:40:28,000 and I will give you rest 831 00:40:30,520 –> 00:40:31,719 for your soul. 832 00:40:33,800 –> 00:40:36,439 No one else in all the world can say that to you 833 00:40:37,959 –> 00:40:39,760 but Jesus Christ can not only say it, 834 00:40:39,760 –> 00:40:40,639 he can do it 835 00:40:42,040 –> 00:40:43,699 and he’s ready to do it today. 836 00:40:43,699 –> 00:40:44,800 Will you pray with me? 837 00:40:47,679 –> 00:40:48,899 Oh God, our Father. 838 00:40:51,139 –> 00:40:56,139 Work your word into the deep places of our hearts, 839 00:40:56,139 –> 00:40:58,360 turn merely religious people 840 00:40:58,360 –> 00:41:02,159 into those who are regenerated with a whole new heart. 841 00:41:03,060 –> 00:41:08,060 Take Saul’s and make David’s, we pray, 842 00:41:08,100 –> 00:41:11,080 in this congregation even today. 843 00:41:12,360 –> 00:41:14,719 For these things we ask. 844 00:41:14,719 –> 00:41:19,459 In Christ’s name and all of God’s people together said amen.