Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
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Our Father and our God,
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what a joy it is to be
in Your house of worship
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on your holy Sabbath.
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We thank you so much
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that there's been
a break in the rain
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and we saw the
sunshine this morning.
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We ask Father, that
the sunshine of Jesus
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will radiate this place.
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I ask Father,
that You will speak
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to our minds and to our hearts
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that as we study the story,
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the tragic story in
many ways of King Saul
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that you'll help us
to learn the lessons
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which will be useful in
our personal walk with Jesus.
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We thank You Father, for hearing
and for answering our prayer
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for we ask it in
Jesus name, amen.
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The title of our study for today
is Rebellion is as Witchcraft.
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Several of you have expressed
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that this is a very,
very intriguing title.
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Actually it's not my title.
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It's taken directly
from the Book of 1 Kings
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which speaks about
the story of King Saul.
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And I would like to
begin our study this morning
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by going to 1 Samuel Chapter 9
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and I would invite
you to go with me there.
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We're going to be
mostly in 1 Samuel
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for our study this morning.
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1 Samuel Chapter 9
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and I would like
to begin at verse 2.
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We have here a
physical description of Saul.
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It says there "And he"
that is Saul's father Kish.
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"And he had a
choice and handsome son
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whose name was Saul.
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There was not a more
handsome person than he
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among the children of Israel.
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From his shoulders upward
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he was taller than
any of the people."
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So you can imagine
Saul very good looking
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and very imposing
because of his stature.
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Head and shoulders
above the rank and file.
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But this did not
go to Saul's head,
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at least at the beginning,
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because we're told that when God
choose Saul to be king of Israel
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he manifested a
spirit of humility
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and unworthiness.
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We're told in 1 Samuel
9:21, 22 the following.
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"And Saul answered and
said, 'Am I not a Benjamite,
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of the smallest of
the tribes of Israel,
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and my family the
least of all the families
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of the tribe of Benjamin?
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Why then do you
speak like this to me?'
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" Why would God choose
me to be the king of Israel?
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I'm of the most
insignificant tribe
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in the most
insignificant family.
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I'm not qualified to
be the king of Israel.
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So in spite of his
imposing appearance
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and in spite of his good looks
he felt his own unworthiness
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when he was called
to be king of Israel.
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But in spite of his unworthiness
he accepted the call of God.
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And we're told in
1 Samuel Chapter 10
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that when he accepted God's call
and he became the king of Israel
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he experienced a true
conversion experience.
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In fact, we're
told in 1 Samuel 10:6
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and we'll also read
verse 9, the following.
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"Then the Spirit of the
Lord will come up on you,
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and you will prophesy with them
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and be turned into another man."
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By the way that's
called conversion.
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You may become a new person.
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And then we're told in verse 9
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"So it was, when
he had turned his back
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to go from Samuel
that God gave him"
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that is God gave
Saul "another heart,
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and all those signs
came to pass that day."
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In other words God
made Saul another man.
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He gave Saul another
heart. He gave him a new heart.
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He experienced a
conversion experience.
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In fact we're told
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that Saul was also
given the gift of prophecy.
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Notice 1 Samuel
10:10 the very next verse.
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It says "When they
came there to the hill,
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there was a group of
prophets to meet him,
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then the Spirit of
God came upon him."
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That is upon Saul.
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"And he prophesied among them."
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Now when Saul was
introduced to the people,
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the people went wild
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mainly because of
his physical appearance,
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head and
shoulders above everyone.
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They didn't realize
that what God was looking for
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was someone who had humility
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and had a sense
of his unworthiness
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and someone who had
experienced conversion
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and who had
received a new heart,
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someone who could
govern Israel with wisdom.
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But we're told in
1 Samuel 10:23, 24
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what impressed the people.
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It says "So they ran
and brought him from there,
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and when he
stood among the people,
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he was taller
than any other people
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from his shoulders upward.
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And Samuel said
to all the people."
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Even Samuel was impressed.
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"'Do you see him
whom the Lord has chosen,
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that there is no one like
him among all the people?'
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So all the
people shouted and said,
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' Long live the king!' "
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Impressed about his
physical external appearance
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and even Samuel was impressed
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and was caught up in
this reason for exalting Saul.
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Now it's important to realize
that when Saul began to govern
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he received a list
of written instructions
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on how to rule in a godly way.
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We're told in 1
Samuel 10:25, the following.
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"Then Samuel
explained to the people
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the behavior of royalty,
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and wrote it in a book and
laid it up before the Lord."
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This actually was a copy
of the Book of Deuteronomy
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which has the blessings
and the curses of the covenant
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which told the king
how to behave himself,
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how to govern wisely.
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So in other words
Saul had written Revelation
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about how to govern Israel.
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But Saul not only
had written Revelation
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Saul also had a
prophet in his midst.
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Samuel we might say
was his personal prophet.
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He accompanied
Saul wherever he went.
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In other words Saul
not only had the benefit
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of written
instructions from the Lord
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he also had the benefit
of a prophet in his midst
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to enlighten and to
describe and to amplify
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what was contained
written in that book.
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At the
beginning of his rulership
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Saul manifested a
wonderful character,
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a character of a converted man.
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In fact, when he
was crowned as king
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there was a group of
rebels they were very unhappy
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about Saul being king.
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We're told in 1
Samuel 10:26, 27.
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"And Saul also
went home to Gibeah,
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and valiant men went with him,
whose hearts God had touched.
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But some rebels said,
'How can this man save us?'
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So they despised him
and brought him no presents.
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But he held his peace."
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It would have been
very easy for Saul to say
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oh, you don't
want to recognize me
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I'll take care of you,
because he was the king.
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Basically he could have
done whatever he wished,
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but he shows
moderation and he shows calm,
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he does not act rashly.
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And so then Saul goes
into his first battle,
00:10:01.93\00:10:05.08
the battle
against the Ammonites.
00:10:05.11\00:10:08.32
And we're told that he gained
a signal victory over them.
00:10:08.35\00:10:14.60
After he gained the victory
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everybody of
course was pumped up
00:10:16.56\00:10:18.97
and so they said to Saul,
00:10:19.00\00:10:20.65
you know what
we ought to do now.
00:10:20.68\00:10:22.13
We ought to
take all those rebels
00:10:22.16\00:10:23.90
who didn't think
that you would make
00:10:23.93\00:10:25.60
that you would
actually make a good king
00:10:25.63\00:10:27.60
and you could lead us to victory
00:10:27.63\00:10:29.16
and we ought to
have all of them killed.
00:10:29.19\00:10:33.48
And even though Saul later
on in his life showed rashness
00:10:33.51\00:10:37.98
and rush to
action without thinking
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we find that Saul said
and these words are found
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in chapter 11 and verse 13.
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"Not a man shall be
put to death this day,
00:10:48.26\00:10:52.94
for today the
Lord has accomplished
00:10:52.97\00:10:56.28
salvation in Israel."
00:10:56.31\00:10:58.92
Notice that he gives
honor and glory to God.
00:10:58.95\00:11:01.81
Notice that he
does not act rashly,
00:11:01.84\00:11:04.37
he's actually
benevolent towards his enemies
00:11:04.40\00:11:07.31
who might threaten his throne.
00:11:07.34\00:11:11.58
Now it's very important
to realize that in a contact
00:11:11.61\00:11:14.37
that Saul had with Samuel.
00:11:14.40\00:11:17.34
Samuel told Saul that he
should meet him at Gilgal.
00:11:17.37\00:11:21.12
In other words Samuel
said, I'm gonna come to Gilgal,
00:11:21.15\00:11:23.60
I'm gonna meet you there
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and wait until I
arrive to make the sacrifice.
00:11:24.99\00:11:29.08
I'm going to make the
sacrifice when I arrive.
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1 Samuel 10:8 has that.
00:11:31.33\00:11:34.61
Samuel says "You shall
go down before me to Gilgal,
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and surely I will come down
to you to offer burnt offerings
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and make
sacrifices of peace offerings.
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Seven days you shall wait,
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till I come to you and
show you what you should do."
00:11:48.22\00:11:52.64
Now there's a prophet is saying
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don't make the
sacrifices until I arrive.
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This is the word of the Lord.
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This is the command of the Lord.
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And suddenly we begin to detect
00:12:01.27\00:12:04.15
a serious flaw in
the character of Saul.
00:12:04.18\00:12:08.50
He had a problem
strictly obeying the commands
00:12:08.53\00:12:13.78
and the Word of God.
00:12:13.81\00:12:16.36
Now what happened like this
00:12:16.39\00:12:19.12
the Philistines had
come against Israel.
00:12:19.15\00:12:22.78
They had 30,000
chariots and 6,000 horsemen,
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plus all of the
people in their army.
00:12:27.95\00:12:29.97
We're told in
chapter 13 verse 5 through 7
00:12:30.00\00:12:32.95
that the enemies were
like the sand of the sea.
00:12:32.98\00:12:36.94
And of course,
Israel was filled with fear
00:12:36.97\00:12:40.52
and so many of the soldiers
that Saul had started to desert.
00:12:40.55\00:12:45.03
They were actually
3,000 of them originally
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and they were only 600 left.
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And Saul said, all of
my armies are gonna leave
00:12:52.23\00:12:54.90
and the Philistines are
going to be able to defeat us.
00:12:54.93\00:12:57.94
And so I need to be
assured of God's blessing.
00:12:57.97\00:13:01.94
And so contrary to the
explicit command of God
00:13:01.97\00:13:06.77
we find that Saul decided
00:13:06.80\00:13:08.79
that he could wait
for Samuel no longer.
00:13:08.82\00:13:12.56
And we're told that he decided
00:13:12.59\00:13:15.68
to offer the
sacrifices upon the altar.
00:13:15.71\00:13:22.14
Here we find Saul a man
00:13:22.17\00:13:24.91
who acted not on
the basis of principle,
00:13:24.94\00:13:28.85
but on the basis of
impulse thinking that
00:13:28.88\00:13:33.77
the end could justify the means.
00:13:33.80\00:13:39.22
A man who had a lack
of faith in God's word,
00:13:39.25\00:13:42.18
because God had
said through Samuel
00:13:42.21\00:13:45.03
I'm coming we will
offer the sacrifices,
00:13:45.06\00:13:47.40
God will be with Israel,
00:13:47.43\00:13:49.31
but he disobeyed the
explicit command of God.
00:13:49.34\00:13:52.91
He acted by impulse
not by faith in God's word.
00:13:52.94\00:13:58.02
And right after he offered
the sacrifices Samuel appeared.
00:13:58.05\00:14:02.87
And Samuel said to him,
what is this that you have done.
00:14:02.90\00:14:05.67
In fact, let's read
it in 1 Samuel 13:11.
00:14:05.70\00:14:10.59
It says "And Samuel said,
00:14:10.62\00:14:12.74
'What have you
done?' And Saul said."
00:14:12.77\00:14:16.65
Notice, he is saying
the circumstances demanded
00:14:16.68\00:14:19.13
that I disobey the Word of God.
00:14:19.16\00:14:21.54
The situation demand that
00:14:21.57\00:14:23.23
that I change God's
plan and then I go to plan B.
00:14:23.26\00:14:27.92
"And Saul said,
00:14:27.95\00:14:29.01
'When I saw that the
people were scattered from me,
00:14:29.04\00:14:31.98
and that you did not come
within the days appointed,
00:14:32.01\00:14:35.10
and that the Philistines
gathered together at Michmash,
00:14:35.13\00:14:38.44
then I said, 'The
Philistines will now come down
00:14:38.47\00:14:42.28
on me at Gilgal,
00:14:42.31\00:14:44.36
and I have not made
supplication to the Lord.'
00:14:44.39\00:14:46.87
Therefore I felt compelled,
00:14:46.90\00:14:48.98
and offered a burnt offering."
00:14:49.01\00:14:50.63
In other words, the
circumstances demanded
00:14:50.66\00:14:53.08
that I disobey the
explicit command of God.
00:14:53.11\00:14:58.61
And now notice.
00:14:58.64\00:14:59.67
"And Samuel said to Saul,
00:14:59.70\00:15:02.01
'You have done foolishly.
00:15:02.04\00:15:04.74
You have not
kept the commandment
00:15:04.77\00:15:06.76
of the Lord your God."
00:15:06.79\00:15:08.56
In other words, you
have disobeyed God's word
00:15:08.59\00:15:11.31
"which He commanded you.
00:15:11.34\00:15:12.84
For now the Lord
would have established
00:15:12.87\00:15:15.33
your kingdom
over Israel forever.
00:15:15.36\00:15:17.87
But now your
kingdom shall not continue.
00:15:17.90\00:15:20.63
The Lord has sought for Himself
a man after His own heart,
00:15:20.66\00:15:24.24
and the Lord has commanded him
00:15:24.27\00:15:25.72
to be commander over His people,
00:15:25.75\00:15:27.84
because you have not kept
00:15:27.87\00:15:29.94
what the Lord commanded you."
00:15:29.97\00:15:31.79
You see Saul was not
the type of person who said,
00:15:31.82\00:15:34.72
God commands us
to do things this way
00:15:34.75\00:15:37.62
and I'm gonna do it this way
00:15:37.65\00:15:39.16
no matter what
the circumstances,
00:15:39.19\00:15:41.20
I'm simply
gonna do what God says
00:15:41.23\00:15:44.64
and let the chips
fall where they may.
00:15:44.67\00:15:47.49
He felt that it was necessary
sometimes to violate God's word,
00:15:47.52\00:15:52.01
because the
situation demanded it.
00:15:52.04\00:15:54.52
We might say that he
was a situation ethicist.
00:15:54.55\00:15:58.96
In other words type
of Robin Hood ethics
00:15:58.99\00:16:03.43
where you steal from the
rich and give to the poor.
00:16:03.46\00:16:06.14
I know God says that you
are not supposed to steal,
00:16:06.17\00:16:08.46
but as long as you
give to the poor it's okay.
00:16:08.49\00:16:11.62
And that's the way
that Saul looked at things.
00:16:11.65\00:16:16.06
That was the first step downward
00:16:16.09\00:16:18.82
on the slippery slope
to perdition for Saul.
00:16:18.85\00:16:21.93
We noticed this
defect in his character
00:16:21.96\00:16:24.83
that he does not
live by every word
00:16:24.86\00:16:26.87
that proceeds out
of the mouth of God,
00:16:26.90\00:16:28.86
he takes circumstances
00:16:28.89\00:16:30.22
and allows the
circumstances to dictate
00:16:30.25\00:16:33.00
what he should do and
what he should not do.
00:16:33.03\00:16:36.19
Then we got a chapter 14.
00:16:36.22\00:16:38.51
We find another step
down the slippery slope.
00:16:38.54\00:16:42.89
Do you see Jonathan
went against the Philistines
00:16:42.92\00:16:46.26
and he gained a signal
victory over the Philistines.
00:16:46.29\00:16:49.83
In fact, Jonathan only
slew 20 plus Philistines
00:16:49.86\00:16:54.57
and God took care of the rest.
00:16:54.60\00:16:56.21
Because we're told
there in chapter 14,
00:16:56.24\00:16:58.22
that the swords
of the Philistines
00:16:58.25\00:16:59.95
were turned upon one another.
00:16:59.98\00:17:01.80
They had confusion in the camp
00:17:01.83\00:17:03.49
and they started
slaying one another.
00:17:03.52\00:17:07.32
And Saul of course had given
an oath where he said, listen
00:17:07.35\00:17:13.28
and tell I am
avenged on the Philistines.
00:17:13.31\00:17:17.45
No one will eat
or drink anything,
00:17:17.48\00:17:20.89
everyone will
fast until the evening.
00:17:20.92\00:17:23.31
That is until sundown.
00:17:23.34\00:17:25.92
That was a decree that
God had not given to Saul.
00:17:25.95\00:17:29.41
You see he is
actually giving his own oath
00:17:29.44\00:17:32.18
and his own decrees about
what his soldiers should do
00:17:32.21\00:17:35.32
and what his
soldiers should not do.
00:17:35.35\00:17:38.08
And so what happens
that the soldiers that Saul
00:17:38.11\00:17:45.56
had and whom had
been commanded by Jonathan
00:17:45.59\00:17:49.02
went into a wooded
area and they were famished
00:17:49.05\00:17:51.63
because they've been in battle.
00:17:51.66\00:17:53.81
And suddenly in the
woods they find this area
00:17:53.84\00:17:57.02
where there's
honey oozing from a tree
00:17:57.05\00:17:59.36
or oozing from
somewhere a honeycomb
00:17:59.39\00:18:02.86
and of course they know
the oath that Saul has given
00:18:02.89\00:18:06.67
and that is that no
one is to taste anything
00:18:06.70\00:18:09.63
or drink anything until
the sunsets, until the evening.
00:18:09.66\00:18:14.24
And so even though all of
the soldiers were worn out,
00:18:14.27\00:18:17.38
they obeyed the
command of King Saul,
00:18:17.41\00:18:19.73
the unreasonable
command of King Saul.
00:18:19.76\00:18:22.94
But you see
Jonathan had not heard
00:18:22.97\00:18:24.79
about this command
or about this oath.
00:18:24.82\00:18:27.51
And so Jonathan
saw one honeycomb
00:18:27.54\00:18:29.88
and he stuck his took
his staff in the honeycomb
00:18:29.91\00:18:31.64
and he took his finger
and he licked the honey.
00:18:31.67\00:18:35.98
And we're told in Scripture
00:18:36.01\00:18:38.21
that the eyes of
Jonathan were brightened
00:18:38.24\00:18:43.58
as a result of the honey.
00:18:43.61\00:18:44.79
In other words his
strength was refurbished.
00:18:44.82\00:18:47.60
And then they
told him by the way
00:18:47.63\00:18:48.99
do you know that
Saul your father has said
00:18:49.02\00:18:51.19
that nobody is to taste anything
until sundown on pain of death.
00:18:51.22\00:18:56.51
And Jonathan
said, I didn't know that
00:18:56.54\00:18:58.05
he had given that
oath or he said that.
00:18:58.08\00:19:01.24
He says besides that
that's an unreasonable decree,
00:19:01.27\00:19:03.87
because all these
soldiers are fighting hard
00:19:03.90\00:19:05.72
why should they fast?
00:19:05.75\00:19:07.01
Why should they
not be able to drink?
00:19:07.04\00:19:10.58
In other words it was
an unreasonable decree
00:19:10.61\00:19:13.32
that Saul had given.
00:19:13.35\00:19:16.91
Well, Saul then says
00:19:16.94\00:19:18.76
let's go finish
off the Philistines.
00:19:18.79\00:19:22.18
And there's a priest
in the midst of course
00:19:22.21\00:19:24.08
and so the priest says
00:19:24.11\00:19:25.14
I think we
should consult the Lord
00:19:25.17\00:19:26.71
before we go and
finish off the philistines.
00:19:26.74\00:19:28.95
Most of the work has been done,
00:19:28.98\00:19:30.20
but we should go
perhaps and finish off the rest.
00:19:30.23\00:19:34.52
And so the priest says
lets inquire of the Lord to see
00:19:34.55\00:19:36.90
if this is His will.
00:19:36.93\00:19:38.49
And we're told of the
story there in chapter 14
00:19:38.52\00:19:40.64
that Saul was
not answered by God.
00:19:40.67\00:19:43.80
In other words God
gave him no answer.
00:19:43.83\00:19:45.86
What God was saying
is I'm very distressed
00:19:45.89\00:19:48.40
and disturbed by the
fact that you gave this oath
00:19:48.43\00:19:50.56
and this decree that your troops
00:19:50.59\00:19:53.37
could not eat or drink anything.
00:19:53.40\00:19:55.19
That is not my
command that's your word,
00:19:55.22\00:19:57.38
that's your command.
00:19:57.41\00:19:59.09
You should have allowed
them to eat and to drink.
00:19:59.12\00:20:02.50
And so Saul takes
the silence of God
00:20:02.53\00:20:04.92
as a sign that God is disturbed
00:20:04.95\00:20:07.12
because somebody has
sinned against His oath.
00:20:07.15\00:20:11.78
And so to make
a long story short
00:20:11.81\00:20:14.01
it's discovered that Jonathan
00:20:14.04\00:20:17.14
has eaten a little bit
of honey there in the woods
00:20:17.17\00:20:21.06
and so Saul tells Jonathan
this very day you're gonna die,
00:20:21.09\00:20:27.54
because you violated my oath.
00:20:27.57\00:20:30.79
We start detecting in
Saul a very interesting defect.
00:20:30.82\00:20:35.13
He goes not by the Word of
God, but when he gives the word
00:20:35.16\00:20:40.39
he expects everybody to do
what he says on pain of death.
00:20:40.42\00:20:45.48
And if it hadn't
been for the fact
00:20:45.51\00:20:47.07
that the soldiers and the
people stood up for Jonathan
00:20:47.10\00:20:49.70
we find this in 1 Samuel 14:45.
00:20:49.73\00:20:53.33
It says "But the
people said to Saul,
00:20:53.36\00:20:55.40
'Shall Jonathan die,
00:20:55.43\00:20:57.06
who has accomplished this
great deliverance in Israel?
00:20:57.09\00:21:00.20
Certainly not!
00:21:00.23\00:21:01.85
As the Lord lives,
not one hair of his heads
00:21:01.88\00:21:05.09
shall fall to the ground,
00:21:05.12\00:21:06.60
for he has worked
with God this day.'
00:21:06.63\00:21:09.35
So the people rescued
Jonathan, and he did not die."
00:21:09.38\00:21:14.68
We begin to detect that Saul
is becoming a bit unreasonable.
00:21:14.71\00:21:21.27
He with impunity
violates the Word of God,
00:21:21.30\00:21:25.36
he imposes his own or his
own oaths on pain of death.
00:21:25.39\00:21:31.50
But these were
only the first steps
00:21:31.53\00:21:34.22
in the road to perdition.
00:21:34.25\00:21:36.68
We find in 1 Samuel Chapter 15
00:21:36.71\00:21:40.03
that Saul goes
against the Amalekites
00:21:40.06\00:21:44.78
and God give some
specific instructions
00:21:44.81\00:21:47.23
as to what to do
with the Amalekites.
00:21:47.26\00:21:50.68
In chapter 15 and
versus 1 through 3 of 1 Samuel
00:21:50.71\00:21:54.86
we find these words.
00:21:54.89\00:21:56.72
"Samuel also said to Saul,
00:21:56.75\00:21:59.69
'The Lord sent me
to anoint you king
00:21:59.72\00:22:02.31
over His people, over Israel.
00:22:02.34\00:22:05.53
Now therefore, hear the
voice of the words of the Lord."
00:22:05.56\00:22:08.92
Notice it's very clear.
00:22:08.95\00:22:10.45
"Heed the voice of
the words of the Lord.
00:22:10.48\00:22:14.28
Thus says the Lord of hosts."
00:22:14.31\00:22:18.96
Is this the will of God
that's been expressed clearly?
00:22:18.99\00:22:21.85
Absolutely.
00:22:21.88\00:22:23.92
"I will punish Amalek
for what he did to Israel,
00:22:23.95\00:22:27.91
how he ambushed him on the
way when he came up from Egypt.
00:22:27.94\00:22:32.17
Now go and attack
Amalek, and utterly destroy
00:22:32.20\00:22:38.39
all that they have,
and do not spare them."
00:22:38.42\00:22:43.26
What does the word all mean?
00:22:43.29\00:22:45.89
It means just that, "All."
00:22:45.92\00:22:49.33
"But kill both man and
woman, infant and nursing child,
00:22:49.36\00:22:53.29
ox and sheep, camel and donkey."
00:22:53.32\00:22:56.00
He even gives a list of animals
which are supposed to be slain.
00:22:56.03\00:23:01.48
But we're told that
Saul once again disobeyed
00:23:01.51\00:23:04.24
the explicit word of God,
the explicit command of God.
00:23:04.27\00:23:09.55
1 Samuel 15:9 says "But
Saul and the people spared Agag
00:23:09.58\00:23:16.32
and the best of the
sheep, the oxen, the fatlings,
00:23:16.35\00:23:21.82
the lambs, and
all that was good,
00:23:21.85\00:23:25.73
and were unwilling
to utterly destroy them.
00:23:25.76\00:23:29.77
But everything
despised and worthless,
00:23:29.80\00:23:32.94
that they utterly destroyed."
00:23:32.97\00:23:36.83
And with this
happens God is agonizing.
00:23:36.86\00:23:39.23
It's interesting to notice
how in the next few verses,
00:23:39.26\00:23:42.86
you know, the attitude of God
is revealed with such clarity
00:23:42.89\00:23:46.71
and the attitude
of Samuel as well.
00:23:46.74\00:23:49.37
Notice verses 10 and 11.
00:23:49.40\00:23:51.36
It says "Now the word
of the Lord came to Samuel,
00:23:51.39\00:23:53.87
saying, 'I greatly regret
that I have set up Saul as king,
00:23:53.90\00:23:59.69
for he has turned back."
00:23:59.72\00:24:01.20
Notice he's turned
back, he was following
00:24:01.23\00:24:03.32
and now he's made U turn.
00:24:03.35\00:24:04.90
He was converted and
now he's backtracking.
00:24:04.93\00:24:08.42
It says "'He has
turned back from following Me,
00:24:08.45\00:24:11.31
and has not
performed My commandments.'
00:24:11.34\00:24:15.60
And it grieved Samuel,
00:24:15.63\00:24:17.24
and he cried out to
the Lord all night."
00:24:17.27\00:24:21.56
And so then
Samuel after agonizing
00:24:21.59\00:24:23.89
and the Lord
agonizing over this situation
00:24:23.92\00:24:26.90
where Saul has blatantly
violated the command of God
00:24:26.93\00:24:30.77
and he's done things his own way
00:24:30.80\00:24:32.93
obviously we're gonna
notice with the motivation.
00:24:32.96\00:24:36.49
The next day
Samuel goes to meet Saul.
00:24:36.52\00:24:41.20
And I want you to notice
it's a rather lengthy passage,
00:24:41.23\00:24:43.83
but it's very
powerful, 1 Samuel 15:13.
00:24:43.86\00:24:49.28
"Then Samuel went to
Saul, and Saul said to him,
00:24:49.31\00:24:54.26
'Blessed are you of the Lord!
00:24:54.29\00:24:57.25
I have performed the
commandment of the Lord.'
00:24:57.28\00:25:03.03
" Now not only he is, he
violating God's commandment,
00:25:03.06\00:25:06.78
but he is openly, what?
00:25:06.81\00:25:09.12
Lying.
00:25:09.15\00:25:11.44
"But Samuel said,
00:25:11.47\00:25:13.78
'What then is this bleating
of the sheep in my ears,
00:25:13.81\00:25:19.03
and the lowing of
the oxen which I hear?'
00:25:19.06\00:25:23.61
And Saul said,
00:25:23.64\00:25:24.72
'They have brought
them from the Amalekites.'
00:25:24.75\00:25:26.53
" Notice they have brought
them from the Amalekites.
00:25:26.56\00:25:29.45
Another flaw.
00:25:29.48\00:25:30.85
He didn't take responsibility
for his own actions.
00:25:30.88\00:25:37.46
"So they have brought
them from the Amalekites,"
00:25:37.49\00:25:41.03
for the people have brought
them from the Amalekites,
00:25:41.06\00:25:44.12
"Its for the people spared
00:25:44.15\00:25:45.55
the best of the
sheep and the oxen."
00:25:45.58\00:25:47.70
And now notice there was
a good motivation Samuel.
00:25:47.73\00:25:51.41
"To sacrifice to
the Lord your God."
00:25:51.44\00:25:56.23
So I doesn't see
motivation in disobeying
00:25:56.26\00:25:59.23
what God said.
00:25:59.26\00:26:01.25
By the way this is
called rationalization.
00:26:01.28\00:26:04.97
It's called justifying sin
00:26:05.00\00:26:08.41
under the
pretext that we're doing
00:26:08.44\00:26:10.13
what God says
we're supposed to do.
00:26:10.16\00:26:13.83
And so it says "And Saul said,
00:26:13.86\00:26:15.28
'They have brought
them from the Amalekites,
00:26:15.31\00:26:16.91
for the people spared the
best of the sheep and the oxen
00:26:16.94\00:26:19.35
and to sacrifice
to the Lord your God.
00:26:19.38\00:26:22.09
And the rest we
have utterly destroyed.'
00:26:22.12\00:26:24.90
Then Samuel said
to Saul, 'Be quiet!
00:26:24.93\00:26:28.65
And I will tell you what
the Lord said to me last night.'
00:26:28.68\00:26:32.51
And he said to him, speak on.
00:26:32.54\00:26:34.76
So Samuel said,
00:26:34.79\00:26:36.15
'When you were
little in your own eyes.'
00:26:36.18\00:26:40.53
" What is he saying there?
00:26:40.56\00:26:42.82
He's saying you were once what?
00:26:42.85\00:26:45.29
You were once humble.
00:26:45.32\00:26:47.79
You were once willing to
follow my will, what I said.
00:26:47.82\00:26:51.97
Not substitute your
word in place of mine.
00:26:52.00\00:26:55.37
You weren't a rationalized,
00:26:55.40\00:26:56.73
you weren't a
liar as you are now.
00:26:56.76\00:26:58.92
"He says, 'When you were
a little in your own eyes,
00:26:58.95\00:27:03.63
were you not head of
all the tribes of Israel?
00:27:03.66\00:27:06.39
And did not the Lord
anoint you king over Israel?
00:27:06.42\00:27:10.50
Now the Lord sent you
on a mission, and said,
00:27:10.53\00:27:12.79
'Go, and utterly destroy
the sinner, the Amalekites,
00:27:12.82\00:27:15.85
and fight against them
until they are consumed.'
00:27:15.88\00:27:19.34
Why then did you not
obey the voice of the Lord?
00:27:19.37\00:27:24.32
Why did you swoop
down on the spoil,
00:27:24.35\00:27:27.26
and do evil in the
sight of the Lord?"
00:27:27.29\00:27:29.98
You know, it's evil even to do
00:27:30.01\00:27:32.03
what we consider to be
good under good pretexts
00:27:32.06\00:27:35.38
when God has said don't do it.
00:27:35.41\00:27:39.58
"And Saul said to Samuel."
00:27:39.61\00:27:42.17
Noticed this "But I have
obeyed the voice of the Lord."
00:27:42.20\00:27:48.76
This is really self
justification isn't it?
00:27:48.79\00:27:51.25
He said you are wrong
00:27:51.28\00:27:52.45
I have Obeyed
the word of the Lord
00:27:52.48\00:27:56.81
or the voice of the Lord.
00:27:56.84\00:27:58.61
"And gone on the mission
on which the Lord sent me,
00:27:58.64\00:28:01.69
and brought back
Agag king of Amalek,
00:28:01.72\00:28:04.96
I have utterly
destroyed the Amalekites."
00:28:04.99\00:28:09.50
And now notice.
00:28:09.53\00:28:10.57
"But the people
took of the plunder."
00:28:10.60\00:28:14.59
Perhaps seen the buck.
00:28:14.62\00:28:17.22
"Sheep and oxen,
the best of the things
00:28:17.25\00:28:19.84
which should have
been utterly destroyed."
00:28:19.87\00:28:22.12
And we did it for
a good reason Lord,
00:28:22.15\00:28:23.92
to sacrifice to the
Lord your God in Gilgal.
00:28:23.95\00:28:29.36
Are you starting to
detect a series of flaws
00:28:29.39\00:28:33.43
in the character of Saul?
00:28:33.46\00:28:35.58
Slowly but surely
00:28:35.61\00:28:37.39
he's backtracking on
his conversion experience.
00:28:37.42\00:28:39.98
You know, there are people
00:28:40.01\00:28:41.04
who say that once you are
saved you can never be lost.
00:28:41.07\00:28:43.66
This is one of the most
powerful stories in Scripture
00:28:43.69\00:28:46.05
that you can be
lost after you're saved.
00:28:46.08\00:28:48.93
You can be born
again and you can be lost.
00:28:48.96\00:28:52.21
If you do not persevere
onto the end as Scripture says.
00:28:52.24\00:28:59.00
And now I want you to notice
what Samuel's response was.
00:28:59.03\00:29:02.08
It's found in verse 22
00:29:02.11\00:29:04.90
and this is where
our title comes from.
00:29:04.93\00:29:08.07
"Then Samuel said, 'Has
the Lord as great delight
00:29:08.10\00:29:12.93
in burnt
offerings and sacrifices,
00:29:12.96\00:29:15.21
as in obeying the
voice of the Lord?'
00:29:15.24\00:29:19.40
" Is God so concerned
about rituals and ceremonies
00:29:19.43\00:29:22.64
and religious practices
as with obeying his voice?
00:29:22.67\00:29:27.60
"Behold, to obey is
better than sacrifice."
00:29:27.63\00:29:31.55
That means to
obey is better than
00:29:31.58\00:29:33.23
ritual are ceremonies.
00:29:33.26\00:29:35.78
"And to heed
then the fat of rams."
00:29:35.81\00:29:42.22
And now notice. "For rebellion."
00:29:42.25\00:29:45.67
At this point
was Saul rebellious
00:29:45.70\00:29:47.56
against God's
clearly revealed will?
00:29:47.59\00:29:49.95
Absolutely.
00:29:49.98\00:29:51.24
"For rebellion is as
the sin of witchcraft,
00:29:51.27\00:29:57.46
and stubbornness as
inequity and idolatry."
00:29:57.49\00:30:02.14
You say how can
rebellion be witchcraft?
00:30:02.17\00:30:04.46
We'll come to
that in a few moments.
00:30:04.49\00:30:07.25
"Because you have
rejected the word of the Lord."
00:30:07.28\00:30:11.44
See it constantly
00:30:11.47\00:30:12.58
the ideas he's
rejected the word of the Lord
00:30:12.61\00:30:14.89
and following his own
word and his own will.
00:30:14.92\00:30:17.53
"Because you have
rejected the word of Lord,
00:30:17.56\00:30:20.11
He also has rejected
you from being king."
00:30:20.14\00:30:26.31
And then of course Saul repents.
00:30:26.34\00:30:32.66
Notice what we
find in verses 24 to 31.
00:30:32.69\00:30:36.37
"Then Saul said to
Samuel, 'I have sinned,
00:30:36.40\00:30:41.59
for I have transgressed
00:30:41.62\00:30:42.73
the command of the
Lord and your words,
00:30:42.76\00:30:44.76
because I feared the
people and obeyed there voice."
00:30:44.79\00:30:47.08
See what he's doing.
00:30:47.11\00:30:49.08
Is this true repentance?
00:30:49.11\00:30:50.99
True repentance
means the buck stops here.
00:30:51.02\00:30:54.62
I'm to blame
nobody else is to blame.
00:30:54.65\00:30:58.10
But he's saying, you know,
00:30:58.13\00:30:59.16
I did transgressed
the word of the Lord,
00:30:59.19\00:31:01.39
the commandment of Lord
00:31:01.42\00:31:02.45
but, you know, it was
because of the people.
00:31:02.48\00:31:05.29
Verse 25 "Now
therefore, please pardon my sin,
00:31:08.47\00:31:11.42
and return with me,
that I may worship the Lord."
00:31:11.45\00:31:13.98
In other words,
what he is sorry about
00:31:14.01\00:31:16.46
is that he's
gonna lose his kingship.
00:31:16.49\00:31:19.65
He's not sorry because he
had violated the commanded,
00:31:19.68\00:31:21.93
because he's truly
repent be the case.
00:31:21.96\00:31:24.10
He's truly sorry
for what he's done.
00:31:24.13\00:31:27.19
"But Samuel said to Saul,
'I will not return with you,
00:31:27.22\00:31:30.34
for you have
rejected the word of the Lord,
00:31:30.37\00:31:32.63
and the Lord has rejected you
from being king over Israel.'
00:31:32.66\00:31:36.11
And as Samuel
turned around to go away."
00:31:36.14\00:31:38.19
You can just
feel the desperation.
00:31:38.22\00:31:40.53
"Saul seized the edge
of his robe, and it tore.
00:31:40.56\00:31:45.06
So Samuel said to him,
00:31:45.09\00:31:46.54
'The Lord has torn the kingdom
of Israel from you today,
00:31:46.57\00:31:49.51
and has given it to
a neighbor of yours,
00:31:49.54\00:31:51.92
who is better than you.
00:31:51.95\00:31:53.73
And also the Strength of
Israel will not lie nor relent.
00:31:53.76\00:31:57.73
For He is not a man,
that He should relent.'
00:31:57.76\00:32:00.69
Then he said, 'I have
sinned, yet honor me now,
00:32:00.72\00:32:04.09
please before the elders of
my people and before Israel,
00:32:04.12\00:32:07.49
and return with me, that I
may worship the Lord your God.'
00:32:07.52\00:32:10.92
So Samuel
turned back after Saul,
00:32:10.95\00:32:13.77
and Saul worshiped the Lord."
00:32:13.80\00:32:15.39
This was false repentance.
00:32:15.42\00:32:17.33
It was like the
repentance of Judas
00:32:17.36\00:32:21.14
who went in through the money
00:32:21.17\00:32:22.99
when he saw that
his plan had backfired.
00:32:23.02\00:32:27.34
In other words,
it was repentance
00:32:27.37\00:32:29.27
over the consequences of
sin and not over sin itself.
00:32:29.30\00:32:35.30
And God was
already at this point
00:32:35.33\00:32:37.96
choosing the successor of Saul.
00:32:37.99\00:32:41.07
In fact in 1 Samuel
16:7 God says something
00:32:41.10\00:32:44.56
very interesting to Samuel,
00:32:44.59\00:32:47.67
because Samuel
had been impressed
00:32:47.70\00:32:49.25
with the
physical stature of Saul.
00:32:49.28\00:32:52.05
And so notice 16:7 "But
the Lord said to Samuel,
00:32:52.08\00:32:57.34
'Do not look at his appearance
00:32:57.37\00:33:01.44
or at the height of his stature,
00:33:01.47\00:33:04.66
because I have refused him."
00:33:04.69\00:33:08.11
In other words, don't
do like you did with Saul.
00:33:08.14\00:33:11.26
"For the Lord does
not see as man sees,
00:33:11.29\00:33:14.98
for man looks at
the outward appearance,
00:33:15.01\00:33:18.62
but the Lord
looks at the heart."
00:33:18.65\00:33:24.83
And then comes
the most tragic part
00:33:24.86\00:33:27.22
of the story of Saul.
00:33:27.25\00:33:29.24
This rationalizing, this liar,
00:33:29.27\00:33:32.38
this individual
who blames others,
00:33:32.41\00:33:34.55
this individual
who has the tendency
00:33:34.58\00:33:37.72
of constantly going against
the expressed will of God,
00:33:37.75\00:33:41.03
this individual who
substitutes his word
00:33:41.06\00:33:43.53
and commands on pain of death
00:33:43.56\00:33:45.28
instead of what
God has commanded.
00:33:45.31\00:33:49.12
We're told that as a result
00:33:49.15\00:33:50.50
on evil spirits
started tormenting Saul.
00:33:50.53\00:33:54.48
Do you remember that
rebellion is as what?
00:33:54.51\00:33:57.52
Witchcraft.
00:33:57.55\00:33:59.77
When you failed to
listen to the Word of God
00:33:59.80\00:34:02.03
you will end up listening
to the word of another spirit.
00:34:02.06\00:34:05.87
When you seize to be
under the control of God
00:34:05.90\00:34:09.43
and you rebel against God
00:34:09.46\00:34:11.51
another spirit will
come to control you.
00:34:11.54\00:34:14.87
Someone in the
world of your cult
00:34:14.90\00:34:17.31
whose name is Satan.
00:34:17.34\00:34:19.55
Its risky business going against
the clear revealed Word of God.
00:34:19.58\00:34:24.13
We're told in 1 Samuel 16:14.
00:34:24.16\00:34:28.85
"But the Spirit of the
Lord departed from Saul."
00:34:28.88\00:34:31.44
Notice that he did have
the spirit departed from Saul.
00:34:31.47\00:34:34.61
"And a distressing spirit
from the Lord troubled him."
00:34:34.64\00:34:37.75
When it says from the Lord
00:34:37.78\00:34:38.81
it means that
the Lord allowed it.
00:34:38.84\00:34:41.47
"And Saul's servants
said to him, 'Surely,
00:34:41.50\00:34:44.43
a distressing spirit
from God is troubling you.' "
00:34:44.46\00:34:48.72
But even at this point probation
had not closed for Saul.
00:34:48.75\00:34:52.13
Because we're told in
verse 23 that there were periods
00:34:52.16\00:34:54.55
when David came and
played his harp before Saul
00:34:54.58\00:34:57.42
that the Spirit would depart.
00:34:57.45\00:34:58.90
He was not totally
and completely possessed
00:34:58.93\00:35:01.05
at this point yet.
00:35:01.08\00:35:02.50
There was still hope.
00:35:02.53\00:35:03.76
Notice verse 23 "And so it was,
00:35:03.79\00:35:06.61
whenever the spirit
from God was upon Saul,
00:35:06.64\00:35:09.53
that David would take a
harp and play it with his hand.
00:35:09.56\00:35:13.46
Then Saul would
become refreshed and well,
00:35:13.49\00:35:16.30
and the distressing
spirit would depart from him."
00:35:16.33\00:35:19.66
You see his destiny
hung in the balance.
00:35:19.69\00:35:23.69
He could yet
return to the condition
00:35:23.72\00:35:26.77
he was in at the
moment of his conversion.
00:35:26.80\00:35:29.12
The spirit was tormenting him,
00:35:29.15\00:35:31.02
but spirit had
not possessed him.
00:35:31.05\00:35:35.53
But then David fights Goliath
00:35:35.56\00:35:37.21
and gains the signal
victory over Goliath.
00:35:37.24\00:35:40.87
And the women of Israel begins
singing the glories of David.
00:35:40.90\00:35:45.74
And now we catch
another flaw of Saul,
00:35:45.77\00:35:48.86
which he does not
allow the Holy Spirit
00:35:48.89\00:35:50.66
to overcome in his life.
00:35:50.69\00:35:52.29
You see he is hanging
onto these tendencies and sins.
00:35:52.32\00:35:55.14
He's not
allowing the Holy Spirit
00:35:55.17\00:35:56.69
to get rid of them.
00:35:56.72\00:35:59.10
In fact we're told there
00:35:59.13\00:36:00.83
"So the women
sang as they danced."
00:36:00.86\00:36:03.82
Did I give you the reference?
00:36:03.85\00:36:05.51
The reference
is 1 Samuel 18:7-9.
00:36:05.54\00:36:08.34
"So the women sang as
they danced, and said,
00:36:08.37\00:36:10.91
'Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.'
00:36:10.94\00:36:16.44
Then Saul was very angry."
00:36:16.47\00:36:18.92
Oh, now he starts
having the spirit of jealousy
00:36:18.95\00:36:22.42
and anger.
00:36:22.45\00:36:24.50
And he's looking
over his shoulder.
00:36:24.53\00:36:26.99
"Then Saul was very angry,
and the saying displeased him,
00:36:27.02\00:36:30.76
and he said, 'They have
ascribed to David ten thousands,
00:36:30.79\00:36:34.76
and to me they have
ascribed only thousands.
00:36:34.79\00:36:38.76
Now what more can he
have but the kingdom?'
00:36:38.79\00:36:42.59
So Saul eyed David
from the day forward."
00:36:42.62\00:36:46.19
He had no peace
from that day forward,
00:36:46.22\00:36:48.75
because he was always
looking over his shoulder
00:36:48.78\00:36:51.49
thinking that David
was gonna take his place
00:36:51.52\00:36:54.28
and then instead of
allowing the Holy Spirit
00:36:54.31\00:36:56.38
to subdue this
tendency in his life
00:36:56.41\00:36:59.49
he allows
jealousy to become a rage
00:36:59.52\00:37:03.00
and he begins his
onslaught on David.
00:37:03.03\00:37:07.24
In fact, we're told
in 1 Samuel 18:10, 11.
00:37:07.27\00:37:11.85
That Saul tried to kill David.
00:37:11.88\00:37:14.04
Anger is now manifesting
itself in an evil action,
00:37:14.07\00:37:17.29
because that's
why the bible says
00:37:17.32\00:37:19.10
that he who is
angry with his brother
00:37:19.13\00:37:20.85
has already
committed murder in his heart.
00:37:20.88\00:37:23.93
It says there "And it
happened on the next day
00:37:23.96\00:37:26.31
that the distressing
spirit from God came upon Saul,
00:37:26.34\00:37:30.62
and he
prophesied inside the house.
00:37:30.65\00:37:33.01
So David played
music with his hand,
00:37:33.04\00:37:35.55
as at other times."
00:37:35.58\00:37:36.74
But now notice the
music is not going to
00:37:36.77\00:37:39.27
casts out this evil
spirit whose tormenting.
00:37:39.30\00:37:42.47
It says "So David
played music with his hand,
00:37:42.50\00:37:45.46
as at other times,
00:37:45.49\00:37:46.75
but there was a
spear in Saul's hand.
00:37:46.78\00:37:49.22
And Saul cast the
spear, for he said,
00:37:49.25\00:37:51.95
'I will pin David to the wall!'
00:37:51.98\00:37:54.82
But David escaped
his presence twice."
00:37:54.85\00:37:59.60
And then of course
Saul uses other means
00:37:59.63\00:38:01.95
to try and get rid of David.
00:38:01.98\00:38:03.30
He sends him on
a dangerous mission
00:38:03.33\00:38:05.38
among the Philistines
00:38:05.41\00:38:06.53
with the hope
that he'll get killed.
00:38:06.56\00:38:08.39
That's 1 Samuel 18:17
00:38:08.42\00:38:10.84
"Then he gives David
his daughter in marriage."
00:38:10.87\00:38:14.30
So that he has
closer access to David.
00:38:14.33\00:38:17.47
And then of course we have
the story in 1 Samuel 19:5, 6
00:38:17.50\00:38:21.76
where Saul tries to pin David
to the wall the second time.
00:38:21.79\00:38:24.86
We're told in verses 9
and 10 regarding this event
00:38:24.89\00:38:29.28
when he wanted to hurl his spear
or actually hurled his at David.
00:38:29.31\00:38:33.25
It says "Now the
distressing spirit
00:38:33.28\00:38:35.07
from the Lord came upon Saul
00:38:35.10\00:38:37.53
as he sat in his house
with his spear in his hand.
00:38:37.56\00:38:41.66
And David was
playing music with his hand.
00:38:41.69\00:38:45.11
Then Saul sought to pin David
to the wall with the spear,
00:38:45.14\00:38:49.06
but he slipped away
from Saul's presence,
00:38:49.09\00:38:52.55
and he drove the
spear into the wall.
00:38:52.58\00:38:55.02
So David fled and
escaped that night."
00:38:55.05\00:38:59.70
And then of course
you see the terrible
00:38:59.73\00:39:01.23
the horrendous character of
Saul and how much how far Saul
00:39:01.26\00:39:05.96
so-to-speak Saul has gone
00:39:05.99\00:39:07.98
with the experience that
happen in the City of Nob.
00:39:08.01\00:39:11.87
I mean, Saul had
the high priest killed,
00:39:11.90\00:39:15.07
he had 85 of the priests killed,
00:39:15.10\00:39:18.16
he had every man,
women and child slain
00:39:18.19\00:39:21.53
and erased the city
to the ground simply
00:39:21.56\00:39:24.28
because he
suspected that the high priest
00:39:24.31\00:39:27.53
was sympathizing
with David his enemy.
00:39:27.56\00:39:31.68
And so in the next
chapters of 1 Samuel
00:39:31.71\00:39:34.34
you'll find David
being persecuted by Saul
00:39:34.37\00:39:37.79
relentlessly like a wild beast.
00:39:37.82\00:39:41.44
And then you come to the
00:39:41.47\00:39:42.61
tragic end of Saul's life.
00:39:42.64\00:39:44.29
Isn't this a sad
story? I mean, it's so sad,
00:39:44.32\00:39:50.65
you know, I shed a
tear too last night
00:39:50.68\00:39:52.94
when I was
sitting and finalizing
00:39:52.97\00:39:55.69
what I was gonna share
00:39:55.72\00:39:56.75
with the
congregation this morning.
00:39:56.78\00:39:58.28
Someone who had
such a brilliant start,
00:39:58.31\00:40:01.39
but because of
serious flaws in his character
00:40:01.42\00:40:03.64
which he did not allow
the Holy Spirit to overcome
00:40:03.67\00:40:06.66
and to conquer in his life
he went down the slippery slope
00:40:06.69\00:40:10.78
to distraction and prediction.
00:40:10.81\00:40:13.70
So now comes the final
chapter of Saul's life.
00:40:13.73\00:40:16.02
Do you remember
rebellion is as What?
00:40:16.05\00:40:18.78
Is as witchcraft.
00:40:18.81\00:40:20.17
Now Saul is gonna
live the words of Samuel.
00:40:20.20\00:40:24.37
In 1 Samuel
Chapter 28 we find Saul
00:40:24.40\00:40:29.98
going to contact a witch,
00:40:30.01\00:40:35.64
rebellion is as witchcraft.
00:40:35.67\00:40:39.58
He's rebelled against God,
00:40:39.61\00:40:41.06
he's trampled on
the commandments of God,
00:40:41.09\00:40:42.99
he's justified himself,
he's filled with jealousy,
00:40:43.02\00:40:46.02
he's filled with anger,
00:40:46.05\00:40:47.52
he's allowed all
of the evil trades
00:40:47.55\00:40:49.61
of his character
to manifest themselves
00:40:49.64\00:40:52.47
when he should have
allowed the subduing
00:40:52.50\00:40:53.86
influence of the
spirit to overcome them
00:40:53.89\00:40:56.12
and now comes the
climax of his life.
00:40:56.15\00:40:58.81
God does not
answer by hearing him
00:40:58.84\00:41:00.64
or thumbing or by
prophets or by in anyway
00:41:00.67\00:41:03.18
any of the traditional ways.
00:41:03.21\00:41:04.75
So he goes to
consult the witch of Endor.
00:41:04.78\00:41:11.30
And it's interesting I'm
not gonna read the verses,
00:41:11.33\00:41:13.66
in but do you know
the word witchcraft
00:41:13.69\00:41:15.37
that we read
00:41:15.40\00:41:19.41
is the identical
Hebrew word kesem
00:41:19.44\00:41:23.35
which is used
00:41:23.38\00:41:26.83
where Saul says to the
witch please divine for me.
00:41:26.86\00:41:33.45
What is going to happen tomorrow
00:41:33.48\00:41:34.91
the word divine there
is practice witchcraft
00:41:34.94\00:41:38.15
and trying
communicate with the dead
00:41:38.18\00:41:40.26
to tell me what's gonna happen,
00:41:40.29\00:41:41.66
because the Lord is
not telling me anymore.
00:41:41.69\00:41:46.18
Rebellion leads to what?
00:41:46.21\00:41:49.30
To witchcraft.
Rebellion is as witchcraft.
00:41:49.33\00:41:53.86
And stubbornness is as idolatry.
00:41:53.89\00:41:58.29
An amazing statement it
says in 1 Samuel 28:8, 9
00:41:58.32\00:42:03.63
"So Saul disguised himself
and put on other clothes,
00:42:03.66\00:42:07.36
and he went, and
two men with him,
00:42:07.39\00:42:09.72
and they came to
the woman by night.
00:42:09.75\00:42:11.42
And he said,
'Please conduct a seance."
00:42:11.45\00:42:13.83
This is of the New
King James translation.
00:42:13.86\00:42:16.51
"Please conduct a seance."
00:42:16.54\00:42:19.77
Actually it's
the same word divine.
00:42:19.80\00:42:22.91
Divine not as in
God being divine,
00:42:22.94\00:42:24.73
but to do work of divination.
00:42:24.76\00:42:30.31
"Devine for me
and bring up for me
00:42:30.34\00:42:32.99
the one I shall name for you."
00:42:33.02\00:42:34.94
And so of course the purported
spirit of Samuel comes up
00:42:34.97\00:42:38.78
although it's not really Samuel.
00:42:38.81\00:42:41.28
It's an evil spirits,
its Satan disguise as Samuel
00:42:41.31\00:42:44.86
who now is going
to speak to Saul.
00:42:44.89\00:42:47.77
Ellen White has a very
perceptive comment on this.
00:42:47.80\00:42:51.22
She says in
Conflict Encourage, Page 172.
00:42:51.25\00:42:56.21
"Saul knew that
in this last act,
00:42:56.24\00:43:01.07
of consulting
the witch of Endor,
00:43:01.10\00:43:04.04
he cut the last shred
which held him to God."
00:43:04.07\00:43:10.60
See up till this point
he still could have been
00:43:10.63\00:43:13.87
influenced by the Holy Spirit.
00:43:13.90\00:43:16.54
"He knew that if
he had not before
00:43:16.57\00:43:20.71
willfully
separated himself from God,
00:43:20.74\00:43:23.93
this act sealed that
separation, and made it final.
00:43:23.96\00:43:30.34
He had made an
agreement with death,
00:43:30.37\00:43:33.56
and a covenant with hell.
00:43:33.59\00:43:36.64
The cup of his
iniquity was full."
00:43:36.67\00:43:43.14
And then do I need to tell
you about the final end of Saul?
00:43:43.17\00:43:48.45
He committed suicide by
falling on his own sword.
00:43:48.48\00:43:54.66
His body then was found by
the Philistines in the field.
00:43:54.69\00:43:58.76
They strip the
body of its armor,
00:43:58.79\00:44:01.88
they cut off the
head, they took their head
00:44:01.91\00:44:06.64
to the Temple a
Dagon and exhibited it
00:44:06.67\00:44:11.12
they hung it in
the temple of Dagon
00:44:11.15\00:44:14.33
and then they
dragged his body to Beth-shan
00:44:14.36\00:44:17.60
and hung it up by chains
for the birds of the air to eat.
00:44:17.63\00:44:21.95
And if it hadn't been for
00:44:21.98\00:44:23.11
some friends of
his from Jabeshgilead
00:44:23.14\00:44:25.74
that rescued his body and
gave it an honorable burial,
00:44:25.77\00:44:29.60
he would have been
eaten by the birds of the air.
00:44:29.63\00:44:34.28
Tragic story, a
story that speaks to us,
00:44:34.31\00:44:40.56
because we might
have had a good beginning,
00:44:40.59\00:44:43.41
but the Bible
says he who perseveres
00:44:43.44\00:44:46.00
onto the end will be saved.
00:44:46.03\00:44:47.51
Ellen White says
that one sin cherish
00:44:47.54\00:44:51.07
will annoy all the power
of the gospel in our lives.
00:44:51.10\00:44:56.57
And by the way I would
be remised not to introduce
00:44:56.60\00:45:00.57
what we're gonna
speak about in the next
00:45:00.60\00:45:02.54
sermon in the series.
00:45:02.57\00:45:04.34
There's a striking parallels
between Judas and Saul.
00:45:04.37\00:45:09.63
Both had a good beginning,
both were chosen by God,
00:45:09.66\00:45:16.04
both overshadowed
00:45:16.07\00:45:18.18
all of the other disciples
in stature and ability.
00:45:18.21\00:45:22.05
I want to share this with you.
00:45:22.08\00:45:24.09
But both were
filled with arrogance
00:45:24.12\00:45:26.15
and pride and
thirsted for power,
00:45:26.18\00:45:29.70
both desired to be
praised and eulogized,
00:45:29.73\00:45:33.57
both were constantly
warring against the will of God.
00:45:33.60\00:45:38.71
In both the devil
entered their hearts,
00:45:38.74\00:45:43.45
in both they have
an attempt to kill.
00:45:43.48\00:45:47.74
In one case David and
the other the son of David.
00:45:47.77\00:45:53.14
In both cases after
the fact they both repent,
00:45:53.17\00:45:58.54
but it's a false repentance
and both commit suicide.
00:45:58.57\00:46:04.89
And in the case of Judas
00:46:04.92\00:46:07.91
the Bible says that
the dogs ate his body
00:46:07.94\00:46:11.25
just like the birds
were to eat the body of Saul,
00:46:11.28\00:46:14.63
because both of
these individuals
00:46:14.66\00:46:16.27
went down the same road.
00:46:16.30\00:46:18.16
In our next sermon
we're gonna study about
00:46:18.19\00:46:20.12
the character of
Judas in the gospels.
00:46:20.15\00:46:23.69
It's interesting to
notice that in Psalm 109
00:46:23.72\00:46:28.11
which is speaking
about the experience of Saul
00:46:28.14\00:46:33.47
and it's quoted by
Jesus about Judas as well,
00:46:33.50\00:46:37.05
it speaks about
somebody taking his office,
00:46:37.08\00:46:40.26
somebody taking Saul's
office, it's applied by Jesus
00:46:40.29\00:46:44.29
to speak about
somebody taking Judas's office
00:46:44.32\00:46:47.47
when Matthias was elected.
Let me read that for you.
00:46:47.50\00:46:49.73
Psalm 109:6-9.
00:46:49.76\00:46:52.82
It says "Set a
wicked man over him,
00:46:52.85\00:46:56.01
and let an accuser
stand at his right hand.
00:46:56.04\00:46:59.62
When he is judged."
This is the betrayer.
00:46:59.65\00:47:02.56
"When he is judged,
let him be found guilty,
00:47:02.59\00:47:06.06
and let his prayer become sin."
00:47:06.09\00:47:09.05
That's true of Saul.
"Let his days be few."
00:47:09.08\00:47:13.02
In other words,
he's not gonna reach
00:47:13.05\00:47:15.03
the full number of his years.
00:47:15.06\00:47:17.33
"And let another"
what? "Take his office.
00:47:17.36\00:47:21.78
Let his children be fatherless,
and his wife a widow."
00:47:21.81\00:47:27.08
That is a divine
prophecy about Judas.
00:47:27.11\00:47:29.44
But according to
scholars the historical context
00:47:29.47\00:47:32.82
is the context of
the experience of Saul,
00:47:32.85\00:47:37.03
because Saul prefigures
the experience of Judas.
00:47:37.06\00:47:42.32
Now folks, the Bible tells
us that it is risky business
00:47:42.35\00:47:49.41
to go beyond
the word of the Lord
00:47:49.44\00:47:51.08
to change the words of the Lord,
00:47:51.11\00:47:52.49
to substitute
the word of the Lord,
00:47:52.52\00:47:54.33
to not follow
the word of the Lord
00:47:54.36\00:47:56.07
as it is written,
as God speaks it to us.
00:47:56.10\00:48:00.96
Do you realize if you go with me
00:48:00.99\00:48:02.88
to 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2,
00:48:02.91\00:48:04.97
2 Thessalonians Chapter 2
00:48:05.00\00:48:06.91
that this same thing is
gonna happen at the end of time.
00:48:06.94\00:48:11.45
2 Thessalonians 2:9
00:48:11.48\00:48:14.54
it's speaking about
the final antichrist.
00:48:14.57\00:48:18.39
2 Thessalonians 2:9.
00:48:18.42\00:48:22.09
Notice what it says.
00:48:22.12\00:48:24.44
"The coming of the lawless one
00:48:24.47\00:48:25.92
is according to
the working of Satan
00:48:25.95\00:48:28.74
with all power and
signs and lying wonders,
00:48:28.77\00:48:33.56
and with all unrighteousness or
00:48:33.59\00:48:35.85
unrighteous deception
among those who perish."
00:48:35.88\00:48:38.90
Notice, why do they perish?
00:48:38.93\00:48:42.00
"Because they did not
receive the love of the truth,
00:48:42.03\00:48:45.49
that they might be saved."
00:48:45.52\00:48:47.83
And because they did not
receive the truth like Saul,
00:48:47.86\00:48:51.88
because they did not obey
the commands of God like Saul.
00:48:51.91\00:48:55.63
It says "And for this reason
God will send them," what?
00:48:55.66\00:49:01.02
"Strong delusion."
00:49:01.05\00:49:02.08
Doesn't mean
that God deludes them,
00:49:02.11\00:49:03.68
it means that they step
back from God and as a result
00:49:03.71\00:49:06.80
God allows Satan to come in
and control, just like Saul.
00:49:06.83\00:49:11.72
It says "And for this reason
00:49:11.75\00:49:13.57
God will send
them strong delusion,
00:49:13.60\00:49:16.44
that they
should believe the lie,
00:49:16.47\00:49:19.98
that they all may be condemned
00:49:20.01\00:49:21.99
who did not believe the truth
00:49:22.02\00:49:24.00
but had pleasure
in unrighteousness."
00:49:24.03\00:49:28.13
So at the end of
time we're told that
00:49:28.16\00:49:29.86
those who do not
receive the love of the truth
00:49:29.89\00:49:32.46
eventually God will step back
00:49:32.49\00:49:34.34
and a strong
illusion will overtake them,
00:49:34.37\00:49:36.67
just like with the case of Saul.
00:49:36.70\00:49:40.02
That's the reason why
in Revelation Chapter 18,
00:49:40.05\00:49:43.38
if you go with me
there Revelation Chapter 18
00:49:43.41\00:49:45.76
speaking about Babylon.
00:49:45.79\00:49:47.29
By the way, Babylon
is prostate Christianity.
00:49:47.32\00:49:49.75
You're aware of that right?
00:49:49.78\00:49:51.28
Babylon is a
prostate Christianity
00:49:51.31\00:49:53.71
those who trample upon
the Sabbath of the Lord
00:49:53.74\00:49:56.79
even though God
says the seventh day
00:49:56.82\00:49:58.55
is the Sabbath of
the Lord your God.
00:49:58.58\00:50:01.39
At the end of time
they're gonna be many
00:50:01.42\00:50:03.16
who are gonna say we're
gonna substitute our word
00:50:03.19\00:50:05.40
instead of the word of God
00:50:05.43\00:50:06.75
and they trample
under direct command of God.
00:50:06.78\00:50:09.27
Notice what happens as a result.
00:50:09.30\00:50:11.71
Revelation 18:2 "
00:50:11.74\00:50:14.50
"And he cried mightily
with a loud voice, saying,
00:50:14.53\00:50:16.78
'Babylon the great
is fallen is fallen,
00:50:16.81\00:50:19.53
and has become a
dwelling place for'" what?
00:50:19.56\00:50:23.10
"Demons, a prison
for every foul spirit,
00:50:23.13\00:50:27.42
and a cage for every
unclean and hated bird!"
00:50:27.45\00:50:32.59
That's quite a
description of Babylon,
00:50:32.62\00:50:35.04
because she has
rejected the truth of God.
00:50:35.07\00:50:37.41
She has filled with what?
00:50:37.44\00:50:39.27
With demons according to this.
00:50:39.30\00:50:42.05
In other words,
he who does not allow
00:50:42.08\00:50:44.08
his life to be
under the control of God
00:50:44.11\00:50:46.09
will inevitably be under
the control of another spirit.
00:50:46.12\00:50:52.74
Allow me to read you a
couple of statements in closing.
00:50:52.77\00:50:56.76
Great Controversy, Page 36.
00:50:56.79\00:51:00.16
"Every ray of light rejected,
00:51:00.19\00:51:04.06
every warning
despised or unheeded,
00:51:04.09\00:51:08.21
every passion indulged,
00:51:08.24\00:51:11.95
every
transgression of the law of God,
00:51:11.98\00:51:16.23
is a seed sown
00:51:16.26\00:51:19.00
which yields its
unfailing harvest.
00:51:19.03\00:51:23.52
The Spirit of God
persistently resisted,
00:51:23.55\00:51:28.41
is at last
withdrawn from the sinner,
00:51:28.44\00:51:31.74
and then there is left no power
00:51:31.77\00:51:35.31
to control the evil
passions of the soul,
00:51:35.34\00:51:38.41
and no
protection from the malice
00:51:38.44\00:51:41.45
and entity of Satan."
00:51:41.48\00:51:44.23
It's a powerful statement.
00:51:44.26\00:51:46.40
That's why the Bible
says if you hear His voice
00:51:46.43\00:51:48.52
do not harden your heart today,
00:51:48.55\00:51:50.71
if you hear His voice.
00:51:50.74\00:51:53.61
In another statement Ellen White
00:51:53.64\00:51:54.93
speaks about the
unpardonable sin.
00:51:54.96\00:51:58.02
You know, some people wonder
00:51:58.05\00:51:59.08
what is the unpardonable sin?
00:51:59.11\00:52:00.36
The unpardonable
sin was when Saul
00:52:00.39\00:52:04.17
reached the point of
consulting to witch of Endor
00:52:04.20\00:52:08.72
at that point it
was unpardonable,
00:52:08.75\00:52:10.20
up to that point he
went down, down, down,
00:52:10.23\00:52:12.30
harden, harden, harden, harden.
00:52:12.33\00:52:14.44
But when he went
and consulted the witch,
00:52:14.47\00:52:16.38
rebellion and
witchcraft blended together.
00:52:16.41\00:52:21.10
The unpardonable sin
is simply the culmination
00:52:21.13\00:52:23.62
of a series of disobedience
is to the will of God.
00:52:23.65\00:52:27.53
Ellen white says "The same law
00:52:27.56\00:52:29.04
obtains in the spiritual
as in the natural world.
00:52:29.07\00:52:33.06
He who abides in darkness
00:52:33.09\00:52:36.17
will at last lose
the power of vision."
00:52:36.20\00:52:41.48
That's true,
that's physically true.
00:52:41.51\00:52:45.64
"He who abides in darkness
00:52:45.67\00:52:47.18
will at last lose
the power of vision.
00:52:47.21\00:52:50.25
He has shut in by a
deeper than midnight blackness
00:52:50.28\00:52:54.25
and to him the brightest
noontide can bring no light.
00:52:54.28\00:52:59.28
He walketh in darkness,
00:52:59.31\00:53:01.08
and knoweth not
whither he goeth,
00:53:01.11\00:53:03.67
because that darkness
hath blinded his eyes.
00:53:03.70\00:53:08.31
Through
persistently cherishing evil,
00:53:08.34\00:53:11.71
willfully disregarding
the pleadings of divine love
00:53:11.74\00:53:15.92
the sinner loses
the love for good,
00:53:15.95\00:53:18.71
the desire for God,
00:53:18.74\00:53:20.74
the very capacity to
receive the light of heaven.
00:53:20.77\00:53:24.80
The invitation of
mercy is still full of love,
00:53:24.83\00:53:28.14
the light is shining as brightly
00:53:28.17\00:53:30.16
as when it first
dawned upon his soul,
00:53:30.19\00:53:33.31
but the voice
falls on deaf ears,
00:53:33.34\00:53:36.20
the light on blinded eyes.
00:53:36.23\00:53:39.81
No soul is ever
finally deserted of God
00:53:39.84\00:53:44.18
given up to his own ways
00:53:44.21\00:53:46.36
so long as there is
any hope of his salvation.
00:53:46.39\00:53:50.64
'Man turns from
God not God from him.'
00:53:50.67\00:53:54.92
Our heavenly Father
follows us with appeals
00:53:54.95\00:53:57.80
and warnings and
assurances of compassion
00:53:57.83\00:54:01.32
until further opportunities
00:54:01.35\00:54:03.21
and privileges
would be holy in vain.
00:54:03.24\00:54:06.99
The responsibility
rests with the sinner.
00:54:07.02\00:54:10.80
By resisting the
Spirit of God today
00:54:10.83\00:54:14.25
he prepares the way for a
second resistance of light
00:54:14.28\00:54:18.22
when it comes
with my dear power.
00:54:18.25\00:54:21.00
Thus he passes out
00:54:21.03\00:54:22.21
from one stage of
resistance to another
00:54:22.24\00:54:26.22
until at last the
light will fail to impress
00:54:26.25\00:54:30.23
and he will cease to
respond in any measure
00:54:30.26\00:54:33.09
to the Spirit of God.
00:54:33.12\00:54:34.92
Then even ' the
light that is in thee'
00:54:34.95\00:54:38.61
has become darkness.
00:54:38.64\00:54:40.27
The very truth we do
know has become so perverted
00:54:40.30\00:54:44.90
as to increase the
blindness of the soul."
00:54:44.93\00:54:49.90
Sobering words.
00:54:49.93\00:54:52.58
It's kind of
like an alarm clock.
00:54:52.61\00:54:55.36
What happens if you sleep
00:54:55.39\00:54:56.87
through an alarm
clock enough times?
00:54:56.90\00:55:00.81
The time comes when
the alarm clock sounds
00:55:00.84\00:55:04.17
and you can't hear it.
00:55:04.20\00:55:06.85
You see the voice of
God is like an alarm clock
00:55:06.88\00:55:10.30
says wake-up give Me your sins,
00:55:10.33\00:55:14.06
allowing our spirit to come in
00:55:14.09\00:55:16.23
and subdue the
passions of your life,
00:55:16.26\00:55:19.02
the defects of your character.
00:55:19.05\00:55:20.57
Allow Me to come
in and rectify it.
00:55:20.60\00:55:23.91
Unfortunately many times
people say well, you know,
00:55:23.94\00:55:26.86
I can do this one time
and I'll overcome it later.
00:55:26.89\00:55:32.62
Reminds me of the
story of Gulliver.
00:55:32.65\00:55:34.15
You remember Gulliver's Travels?
00:55:34.18\00:55:36.35
When he went into the land
00:55:36.38\00:55:37.52
of little small
people and stature
00:55:37.55\00:55:43.59
and they started
tying him up with threads,
00:55:43.62\00:55:46.25
you remember that?
00:55:46.28\00:55:48.02
And, you know,
Gulliver says oh thread,
00:55:48.05\00:55:51.52
I can break thread.
00:55:51.55\00:55:54.40
But what happens if you
have enough threads around you.
00:55:54.43\00:55:57.86
The thread becomes rope,
00:55:57.89\00:56:00.36
because a rope is
composed of a bunch of threads.
00:56:00.39\00:56:04.15
And so what happens is
00:56:04.18\00:56:06.27
we're tide
according to the Bible
00:56:06.30\00:56:08.17
with the coats of our own
sins and there is no escape.
00:56:08.20\00:56:13.75
And that's what the
Lord wants to prevent
00:56:13.78\00:56:18.96
from happening in our lives.
00:56:18.99\00:56:22.98
Are we listening
to the voice of God?
00:56:23.01\00:56:26.55
Are we obeying every known duty?
00:56:26.58\00:56:30.37
The voice of
mercy and compassion
00:56:30.40\00:56:32.32
is open before us today.
00:56:32.35\00:56:35.03
All we have to
do is hear His voice
00:56:35.06\00:56:37.90
and walk out in
faith in the path
00:56:37.93\00:56:40.50
that He has established for us.
00:56:40.53\00:56:44.54
Folks, I pray to God
00:56:44.57\00:56:46.53
that none of us will
go down the road of Saul.
00:56:46.56\00:56:50.99
Tragic story, a life that
began with true conversion,
00:56:51.02\00:56:56.32
a new heart, the
spirit and the life,
00:56:56.35\00:56:59.50
but because he did not allow
the spirit to come in to subdue
00:56:59.53\00:57:03.57
the cherry sins and his life
00:57:03.60\00:57:05.87
they overtook his life
and eventually destroyed him.
00:57:05.90\00:57:11.70
May we listen to God's voice
00:57:11.73\00:57:14.80
and may God through His Spirit
00:57:14.83\00:57:17.24
refine and noble and overcome
00:57:17.27\00:57:22.53
the defects our characters.
00:57:22.56\00:57:24.64