1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,080 Good morning. Please be seated. 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:05,720 And turn in. Your Bibles. 3 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,119 To First Samuel. Chapter 12. 4 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:10,880 It's page 2. 19 in the black church. 5 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:15,440 Bible, page 2. 19 First Samuel. 12 It's so good to see you all. 6 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,960 This morning I know that you meant to get more rest last 7 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:23,240 night, but then you stayed up. Watching baseball? 8 00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:25,520 Or something else that was more important. 9 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,480 And I'm glad you came anyways. To this early service. 10 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,880 And I'm glad. To be able to share this feast 11 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,560 day. All Saints Day with you welcome. 12 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,560 We're going to be talking now from this sermon series we've 13 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,600 been in for Samuel and looking at this. 14 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,520 Chapter 12 Today's. Lesson is about putting God 15 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:53,720 first in our lives, trusting Him, obeying Him, and choosing 16 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:55,600 Him above. All others so as we. 17 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,480 Turn to this. Passage together, let's pray. 18 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,720 We thank you Almighty God. That you do speak to us through 19 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:04,959 your word. Again and again. 20 00:01:05,519 --> 00:01:07,520 Week by week, day by. Day, thank you. 21 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,520 For this gift. Thank you that you are here in 22 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,160 our midst and that you. Are. 23 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,560 Taking us apart and putting us back together in your image. 24 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:21,120 We. Turn to you as the Maker of all 25 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,920 things and the Redeemer of the world and the Redeemer of us, 26 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,160 and we trust. You to guide us. 27 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:35,200 And heal us and help us. So give us ears to hear. 28 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,440 And. Hearts to obey. 29 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,760 And follow and we will give. You all the. 30 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:44,520 Praise and. Glory for we. 31 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,480 Pray in Jesus name, Amen. So today's. 32 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,880 Lesson comes during. The peaceful. 33 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,320 Transfer of leadership from Samuel. 34 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:59,600 To Saul. And the transition of polity 35 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:04,520 from judges to kings. And what we read here in chapter 36 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:07,400 12 of First Samuel. Is his. 37 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:12,880 Valediction Farewell speeches often crystallize what is most 38 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:15,320 important, especially in the Bible. 39 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:18,320 Think for example. Of the Yeshua. 40 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,760 In the Old Testament, Joshua. His last words. 41 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:23,960 When he. Gathered all Israel. 42 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:26,520 And he said to them, Choose this day whom you? 43 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,160 Will serve. But As for me and my house? 44 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:34,640 We will serve Yahweh the Lord. We will serve the Lord. 45 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,960 Crystal clear, right? Or think about. 46 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,160 The words of. Yeshua in the New Testament at 47 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:42,800 the end of Matthew. Jesus is. 48 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,240 Closing words. All authority is. 49 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,640 In heaven and on earth has been given to me. 50 00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:50,960 Go therefore and make. Disciples of. 51 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,760 All nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the 52 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,680 Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all I 53 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,720 have commanded you, and behold, I am with you. 54 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:03,360 Always to the. End of the. 55 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:10,440 Age crystal clear. And Samuel's valediction here at 56 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:15,840 the end of his time as a judge in First Samuel 12 touches on 57 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,720 the same theme. So it makes it relevant for us. 58 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:20,480 Today. Just as much as when he first 59 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,600 gave it, and because of the. Focus. 60 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,080 Particularly on government, I think. 61 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,760 It's especially. Relevant to our context here in 62 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,040 Washington. So let's take a closer look 63 00:03:31,640 --> 00:03:35,920 beginning at the beginning. Verse one and Samuel. 64 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:37,960 Is the last. Of the judges. 65 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,280 And so we shouldn't be. Surprised that his farewell 66 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:45,440 address is. Focused on justice and in fact, 67 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:46,200 it's. Really. 68 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,760 Three trials? A trial of himself? 69 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,240 A trial of God. And a. 70 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:57,960 Trial of us, the people of God. And so verse one begins with 71 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,840 Samuel putting himself on. Trial as their. 72 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,440 Leader for many years. In verse three, he asks the 73 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,400 nation. All the people, whether he ever. 74 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:09,920 Broke any of. God's laws. 75 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,000 For example, did he? Ever covet? 76 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,120 His neighbor's. Livestock Did he ever defraud 77 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:18,440 people or. Oppress them. 78 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,720 Or accept bribes. In other words. 79 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,200 He says. Here's your chance to hold me 80 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:28,600 accountable. Speak now, or forever or. 81 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:32,360 Else forever hold your peace. And how do the people respond? 82 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,600 Well. They they regard. 83 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:38,080 Him as innocent on all counts. Look at verse 4. 84 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:40,400 You haven't done any of these things they say. 85 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,800 And Sam Samuel's happy. With this verdict verse 5. 86 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,040 Then he names 2 witnesses because everything must. 87 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,200 Be established by. Two or more witnesses he names 88 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,480 the Lord and his anointed, that is, King Saul. 89 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,880 Who is their? Present for this ceremony and 90 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,160 should there be any? Future question. 91 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,440 Of his innocence you can refer to them. 92 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,320 So let's pause. For a moment and think about 93 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,320 this, you know how exceptional it. 94 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,520 Is. For a national. 95 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:15,560 Leader to retire? Honorably with a clean record. 96 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:20,400 How many times has this happened in your lifetime, I wonder? 97 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:24,240 It's amazing to think about Samuel being able. 98 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:26,240 To retire here. After. 99 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,240 Decades of public. Service and no one charges him 100 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:34,920 with any crimes. It's pretty amazing, but listen. 101 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:41,120 Trustworthy, faithful stewardship is what we were all. 102 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,560 Made to do. It's. 103 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:46,800 Our Calling to. We were created. 104 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,520 In God's image. We were created. 105 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:53,880 To obey and serve him as his honorable vice Regent, sent out 106 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,640 into the. World to steward over all that. 107 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,600 He had made, we were made. To be faithful. 108 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:02,800 Junior kings and Queens under him. 109 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:05,560 But we're also rebels as the Bible. 110 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,560 Tells from Genesis 3 onward. We prefer to run our own. 111 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,600 Lives rather. Than putting God. 1st. 112 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:15,200 We think. Ourselves, the. 113 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:19,160 Senior kings and Queens, we think we know better than God 114 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,160 and we rebel against his rule, and that's why. 115 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,400 Very few leaders retire with spotless. 116 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:30,400 Records and so Samuel isn't just a model. 117 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:34,320 Leader. Samuel is a miracle leader. 118 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:37,360 Samuel is a miracle. Leader. 119 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:38,920 A leader. Like him doesn't happen 120 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,640 naturally anymore since Genesis 3. 121 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:46,920 It only happens through divine intervention. 122 00:06:47,840 --> 00:06:50,600 Because what usually? Happens again and again. 123 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:54,360 Through all these old. Testament stories and on down. 124 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,000 Through history to today, what usually. 125 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,760 Happens is we tend to get the. Leaders we deserve. 126 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:04,880 And that's especially. What this part? 127 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,440 Of first Samuel is teaching us, we tend to. 128 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:11,640 Get the leaders that we deserve. But Samuel was different. 129 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,360 And if you've been with us since chapter one of First Samuel, 130 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,400 you'll know why he was different. 131 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:21,280 And it wasn't because there was this massive revival across the 132 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:29,040 nation, but rather it was 1 broken hearted woman, one barren 133 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,800 woman. Who prayed? 134 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,080 Who put God first? She poured. 135 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:38,520 Out her heart to him so much. So that Eli the. 136 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,640 Blind and wayward. Priest thought that. 137 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:45,000 She was drunk, but she wasn't drunk at all. 138 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,200 It was like on the 1st Pentecost. 139 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:48,760 Hannah wasn't drunk. She was filled. 140 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:52,040 With the Holy Spirit. And so she cried out to the Lord 141 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:55,960 for help. And then God gave her a son who 142 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:59,360 grew in wisdom and stature. Before the Lord. 143 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:04,080 And Samuel became the miracle. Leader that Israel. 144 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,200 Desperately needed, but didn't at all. 145 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:13,040 Deserve, aren't you? Tired of national? 146 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:19,320 Leaders who break God's laws. And who defraud and oppress? 147 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:24,320 The people they serve, we get what we deserve. 148 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,560 How? Do we work around this? 149 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:33,120 We put God first. We pour. 150 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:37,799 Out our hearts and beg Him for miracles for the leaders we need 151 00:08:38,159 --> 00:08:40,360 not. The leaders we deserve. 152 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,240 The next. Trial is God himself. 153 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:51,360 Starting in verse 6, God is on. Trial because he's. 154 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,600 The one who made our. World He. 155 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,240 Created us in his image. He gave us. 156 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:58,960 This innate desire. To. 157 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,880 Take charge of things and to. Lead So why do we? 158 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:05,920 Keep stumbling into. Slavery, rather. 159 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,360 Than taking authority. Maybe it's. 160 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,320 God's fault. Somehow that we keep getting 161 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:15,560 into the same mess. Well, Samuel here puts on his 162 00:09:15,560 --> 00:09:18,840 prophet hat in verse 6. He speaks on God. 163 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,280 'S behalf. Giving God's defense and of. 164 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:23,280 Course, the record shows that God. 165 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:28,080 Is not to blame either every time his people cry out to him 166 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,320 in prayer, he comes to their. Rescue. 167 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,480 Look at verse 8. When they were enslaved by the 168 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:35,680 Egyptians, their. Fathers cried out to. 169 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:39,800 The Lord and he sent Moses and Aaron who delivered them from 170 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:43,440 bondage and brought them to the promised land and then look at 171 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,360 verse 9 they. Forgot the Lord. 172 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,640 And so they fell into the hands of wicked overlords from all the 173 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:55,040 surrounding nations, one after another after another after 174 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:56,200 another. And so they cried. 175 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,800 Out to God. Again and again look at verse 10 176 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,400 saying we have forsaken the Lord, we have. 177 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,120 Served the balls. And the Ashtarot. 178 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,480 These are the male and female deities of the Canaanites. 179 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:10,160 We have served. Them rather than serving the 180 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:11,760 Lord. But now they say. 181 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,080 Deliver us. And again and again God sent 182 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:19,960 judges to deliver them. Verse 11, Jerobo. 183 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:25,440 That's Gideon and Bedon, which is probably Samson and Jephthah 184 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:31,560 and finally Samuel himself. So God's. 185 00:10:31,560 --> 00:10:35,560 Defense in these. Verses leads us. 186 00:10:35,560 --> 00:10:38,920 To a very similar conclusion as Samuel's defense in verses one 187 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,040 through 5 and 1st. It's that God. 188 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:47,040 Isn't the cause. But he is the cure for wicked. 189 00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:51,480 Tyrannical leaders. That's the first point, and the 190 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:53,320 second point is that such. Leaders are. 191 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:57,240 Often symptomatic of another root problem, which is. 192 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,440 Idolatry. In our rebellion, we turn away 193 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:01,560 from God. We devote. 194 00:11:01,560 --> 00:11:05,440 Ourselves to created. Things to profit and. 195 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,120 Pleasure and prestige. And power. 196 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,480 And then over time, the idols and. 197 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:16,760 Vices of our. Leaders increasingly reflect. 198 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:22,560 Those of the people. Whom they represent, in other 199 00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:25,200 words, we tend to get. The leaders we deserve. 200 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:31,160 But again, verse 10, when God's people confess their sins and 201 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:32,360 they cry. Out to God. 202 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,960 He rescues them by sending. Miracle leaders, rather. 203 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:37,640 Than the. Leaders we deserve. 204 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:41,120 So no, it's not Samuel's fault, and no, it's not God's. 205 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:43,200 Fault either. In fact, he's. 206 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:47,120 The one who keeps coming to the rescue and getting them after 207 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:51,800 out of one jam after another. Which means that now it's our 208 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:56,400 turn to take the stand, starting in verse. 12. 209 00:11:56,680 --> 00:11:59,520 It's Israel and us, the. People of God. 210 00:11:59,560 --> 00:12:04,400 Who are on the stand and have to give a defense in verse 12 I 211 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:06,400 think is the answer. Key to what? 212 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,040 Has been happening. Over several chapters. 213 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,640 Now in this story makes sense of everything that's happened since 214 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:15,080 chapter. 8. If Samuel was doing such a. 215 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:16,760 Great job. Why did? 216 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,960 Israel demand a king like all the other nations. 217 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,320 It's because. As it says in verse 12, when 218 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:24,440 Nakash. The. 219 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,080 Serpent. That's what Nakash means. 220 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:30,600 It's the same word as Genesis chapter 3, when the serpent king 221 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:34,720 of the Ammonites came against. Israel, they said. 222 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:39,360 No, but a king shall reign over us, and they did this when the 223 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:40,840 Lord. Was already their. 224 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,000 King, when the Lord had already gotten them out of jam after 225 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:47,160 jam, and Samuel had been doing a fine. 226 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:51,640 Job as judge. And God's vice Regent over 227 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,560 Israel He hadn't. Oppressed or defrauded? 228 00:12:54,560 --> 00:12:58,000 Anyone but he was more. Of a preacher. 229 00:12:58,440 --> 00:12:59,960 Than. A warrior. 230 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,880 And the people wanted. A warrior. 231 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,960 And when news of the serpent Nakash came. 232 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,920 To the people. They wanted a great. 233 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:13,840 Warrior leader to. Stand against the Serpent King 234 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,800 and that might sound reasonable to an outsider, but to anyone 235 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:22,400 who knows the story coming up to this point when over and over 236 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,600 again God has responded to the. People's. 237 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:28,240 Prayers and he has delivered them, and God is the one who's 238 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,120 seen again and again as. The deliverer this. 239 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:33,360 Turns out to be a jarring rejection. 240 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,960 Of their true Savior, our true Savior, the God who delivers, 241 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:40,960 the God who. Delivered them from Egypt in the 242 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:44,720 Philistines and so on. But what's really? 243 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:47,920 Extraordinary about this moment. Is that God? 244 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,920 Doesn't storm away angry. He's really a. 245 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,480 Loving father to his frightened people, He knows they're scared 246 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:55,760 and so instead. He says. 247 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:58,160 In verse 13, let's find a way forward. 248 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,960 Together, here's the. King, you requested. 249 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,960 Like all of. You he's made in my image and he 250 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,520 has. The capacity to rule faithfully. 251 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,600 Or to turn away and do. Evil so. 252 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,000 And you would think he would say at this point, what is he going 253 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,720 to do? But instead. 254 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,800 The Lord says which way will you choose? 255 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:28,080 Which way will you choose? That is y'all the people of God. 256 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:33,440 Verse 14 for if. Y'all will fear the Lord. 257 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,640 And serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against his 258 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:37,840 word. It will go. 259 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:39,640 Well, for you and your national leader. 260 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:44,240 But verse 15, if you rebel against the Lord, then God's 261 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:47,600 hand will be against you and your national leader. 262 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:52,120 So the choice is really up to you, all the people of God, for 263 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:55,400 you usually get the leader you deserve. 264 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:00,480 And for those of us who know. How this? 265 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:02,680 Story ends How Saul's story ends. 266 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,400 It's easy to think of him. As a flat. 267 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,200 One-dimensional character. Who? 268 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:10,440 Who's? Born bad and is. 269 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:12,560 Always bad. All the way to the end. 270 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,560 But that's a big mistake, because at this point in the 271 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:19,200 story, King. Saul has a perfect record. 272 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:25,400 He has done nothing wrong and he has been a hero in fighting off 273 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:30,280 Nahash the serpent. He's not predestined to fail. 274 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:34,360 He could follow in Samuel's. Footsteps, but the choice. 275 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:40,640 Is up to him and to. God's people, because he will 276 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:44,240 probably be just about as faithful as they are. 277 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:52,880 Verse 17 just to show that Samuel isn't making all of. 278 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:55,160 This up. Speaking for the Lord here, he 279 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:58,960 gives them a sign, he says, in the middle of the wheat harvest 280 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:03,360 this June. Thereabouts in Israel when it 281 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,880 never rains, they'll go for months without a single drop. 282 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:11,680 Samuel prays and the Lord sends a thunderstorm and that 283 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:15,320 certainly gets their attention. And so verse 19, in response to 284 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:26,320 the people beg Sam, Sam, Samuel, we're friends, beg Sammy to to 285 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:29,800 pray for them and he promises to do that. 286 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:32,360 But he also. Stays on point, Yes I will. 287 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:35,960 Pray for you, but. Listen to what I say, you know? 288 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:38,280 He gets to the prayer part later. 289 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:41,880 He says listen to what? I say because this is his 290 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,200 valediction, this is his farewell speech. 291 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:49,680 He knows what they most need, and that is to be reoriented to 292 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:51,120 God. Themselves so he. 293 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:55,960 Says verse 20. Do not turn aside from 294 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:57,680 following. The Lord. 295 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:00,320 But serve him with all of your. Heart. 296 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:05,400 And do not turn aside after empty things, for they cannot. 297 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,960 Profit or deliver? Why? 298 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:12,200 Because. They are empty now. 299 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:16,200 Today is All Saints Day. Or we celebrate it this this 300 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:17,560 day. It was yesterday, actually. 301 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:19,640 What we celebrated on this day. Together. 302 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:25,400 And we are feasting in memory of that innumerable cloud of 303 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,200 witnesses who have gone before us into. 304 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,920 Glory they trusted. In the Lord, and now they are 305 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,640 with him in. Paradise this started. 306 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:36,800 With the martyrs in the early church. 307 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:40,160 And there was 1 and we knew his name. 308 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:41,840 And then there was another and we knew his name. 309 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:46,360 But soon there were more, more martyrs than there were days in 310 00:17:46,360 --> 00:17:50,120 the year, and the early Church thought in their wisdom to bring 311 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:54,400 it all together into one day, All Saints Day to remember. 312 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,840 All of those. Who've gone before us, not just 313 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,720 the martyrs, but. All those believers who have 314 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,360 died trusting. In the Lord. 315 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:04,920 And so in the colic, we said just moments. 316 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:08,440 Ago we prayed. Give us grace, Lord. 317 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,960 We're not praying for them. They've gone to be with the Lord 318 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:18,360 in glory. We pray for us, give us grace so 319 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:22,120 to follow your Blessed. Saints in all, virtuous and 320 00:18:22,120 --> 00:18:25,840 godly living, that we may come to those ineffable. 321 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:30,320 Joys that you've prepared for those who truly love you through 322 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:35,000 Jesus Christ our Lord. That's the key part of the 323 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:40,480 prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord, for Jesus is the Savior. 324 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,440 And King, we don't. Deserve. 325 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:48,680 In the fullness of time, his mother, Mary. 326 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,840 Put God first. She was filled with the Holy. 327 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:57,680 Spirit, like Hannah and God gave her a son who grew in wisdom and 328 00:18:57,680 --> 00:18:59,480 stature. Before the Lord. 329 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:01,400 He suffered under Pontius Pilate. 330 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:05,160 He was crucified for us. He rose again on the third day, 331 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:08,760 and Jesus became the miracle. Leader. 332 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:11,920 We desperately need, but we don't. 333 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:16,520 Deserve. So today is the day. 334 00:19:17,360 --> 00:19:19,680 Today's. The day to turn to him with. 335 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:25,040 All our hearts, with all that we have, today is the day to put 336 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,720 away. Everything that is restraining 337 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:33,120 us from running the race with him, we often live. 338 00:19:33,120 --> 00:19:34,720 As practical atheists. Don't we? 339 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:35,840 We. Say that we love. 340 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:38,080 God, and in the way that we. Live looks so. 341 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:40,560 Different. We put created things like 342 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:44,680 profit and pleasure and prestige and power first in our lives 343 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:49,240 here on Sundays, but then back in the week. 344 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:51,760 It's about these. Other created things. 345 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:56,160 When we live this way, God becomes smaller and smaller and 346 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:00,120 smaller in our lives. We become junior kings and 347 00:20:00,120 --> 00:20:03,640 Queens, but not. As the Lord would have us. 348 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,280 We become like the false. Gods that we worship. 349 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:10,280 Instead, and they end up tyrannizing us. 350 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:13,480 They've become the. Leaders we deserve. 351 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:20,160 Our Anglican brothers in the global. 352 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:21,840 South. Brothers and sisters in the 353 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:23,320 global. South have a. 354 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,560 Expression. I don't know if they made it up, 355 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:29,280 but I heard it first in Rwanda. If you focus. 356 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,520 On your problems, God becomes small. 357 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:34,880 But if you. Focus on God. 358 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,160 Your problems become small. If you focus. 359 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,560 On your problems, God becomes small, but if you focus on God, 360 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:47,960 your problems become small. What do you believe? 361 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:52,320 Do you believe that our God is so big so. 362 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:56,960 Strong and so mighty, there's nothing our God cannot do if. 363 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:03,360 You believe this? Do you live as if it's true if 364 00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:06,920 we love God first? Then our problems will shrink in 365 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:12,240 comparison and we will grow in His likeness and live. 366 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,920 As his vice. Regents, as he intended. 367 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:20,440 We will have peace with God. And with one another and Jesus, 368 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:23,960 our miracle King will defend and protect. 369 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,440 Us. This is the. 370 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:29,280 Choice that Samuel. Set before Saul. 371 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:32,560 And the people of God on this day long ago. 372 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:35,800 And it's the. Choice he sets before us today. 373 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,120 Let's pray. Thank you. 374 00:21:39,120 --> 00:21:41,800 Lord for your. Holy Word and. 375 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,480 For your. Salvation in Jesus. 376 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:49,640 He is the miracle king that we do not deserve. 377 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:54,160 But we're so grateful that you. Sent him anyways, and we pray 378 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:56,800 for the courage and strength to follow him. 379 00:21:57,520 --> 00:21:59,920 To love you with. All that we are and have. 380 00:22:01,360 --> 00:22:04,720 To trust. You with every problem and for 381 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:06,080 you to. Grow great. 382 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:10,680 In our minds and hearts, and this we pray in Jesus name, 383 00:22:11,360 --> 00:22:11,800 Amen.