YP Address—C. Lunden
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Oh Jesus, grand, unfailing, how dear to me.
Our cares or fears of sailing. I find my strength in thee. Why should my feet grow weary of this? My Pilgrim way, Rough though the path and dreary it ends in perfect days #16 In the back of the book.
I wonder, as we sang that sixth verse, if we.
Really sung this from the heart.
For every tribulation.
For every sore distress.
In Christ I've full salvation sure help.
Some quiet rest.
No Fear of false prevailing.
I triumph, Lord, in thee.
All Jesus friend unfailing.
How dare art thou to me?
Shall we turn to the Lord?
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Shall we turn to the 15th chapter of First Samuel?
You know, just before this meeting, your brother said to me.
Why were there two trumpets, especially in the 10th chapter of Numbers?
And I'll have to confess, I've never thought of it, but I answered him this way, that it's the same as it is in the second chapter of Joel.
For God is going to recover his people.
There's a trumpet of alarm.
And then there is a trumpet of calling together the assembly for blessing.
Well, we need these two trumpets.
God's grace and God's government.
And we have it in the Word of God.
This afternoon I'd like to speak a little bit along these lines.
And then this 15th chapter of First Samuel.
There are things that bring back memories in my own life of over 40 years.
When I sat in a meeting room in Los Angeles.
And I listen to dear old brother Nersbaugh. Some of you may remember him.
And he took up this chapter.
I was quite young then.
But it made a lasting impression on my soul.
It was one of those times in my life when I needed the Word of God in a very special way.
Because of problems and exercises.
And isn't it wonderful that God has principles that fit every need of his people?
And if we seek His face, He will, in the right time and in the right way, give us that which we need.
There are two things that I would like to emphasize this afternoon as we read this and as we speak together.
The two things that mark Christianity out in a very special way.
And one of them is dependence.
And the other is obedience.
Those are not hard things to remember.
And so I would like to read a little bit about Saul.
And also about David?
But I'd like to read about times of crisis.
In their lives.
When decisions had to be made.
And the way they made these decisions.
And then the end of their lives as the result of these decisions. Oh dear young people, you're at the time, perhaps now when you're making decisions.
What are they going to be?
With the old who were all saved, they will affect your eternal destiny.
You are Christians.
Decisions that you make at this time will affect your happiness down here in Christ.
And it will affect whether you go on triumphantly as a Christian, as a testimony.
Or whether your lives are wasted.
The 15th chapter of First Samuel.
Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore hearken down to the voice of the words of the Lord.
The Lord of hosts. I remember that which Amlich did to Israel, how he laid waste for him in the way when he came up from Egypt.
Now go on smite Hamlets and utterly destroy all that they have.
Spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ***.
We saw gathered the people together and numbered them in the Lamb. 200,000 footmen.
10,000 men of Judah.
And Saul came to a city of Amalek and laid weight in the valley.
And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them.
For Ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.
So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
And sausage both the Amalekites from a villa until thou comest too sure it is over against Egypt.
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And he took Agag, the king of the Malachites, alive and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
But Saul and the people spared A gag. And the best of the sheep and of the oxen, of the fatlings and the lambs.
And all of us good would not utterly destroy them.
But everything that was vile and refuse.
That they destroyed utterly. Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying.
It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back through following me, and hath not before my commandments.
And it greens Samuel and he cried with the Lord all night.
And when Samuel rose up to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel saying Saul came to Carmel.
Behold, he set him up a place, and has gone about and passed on, and gone down to Gilgor Gilgal.
And Samuel came to Saul. Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou the Lord.
I have performed the commandment of the Lord.
And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleeding of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
Saul said they have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice them to the Lord thy God, and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay.
And I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night.
And he said unto him, Say on.
Samuel said when I was little in thine own sight.
Was thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel?
And the Lord anointed the king over Israel, and the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
Wherefore then dost thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but this fly upon the spoil, and this evil in the sight of the Lord?
Saul said unto Samuel, Yeah, I have a bade the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and a broad agag, the king of Amalek.
And have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
But the people took of the spoiled sheep and oxen the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed.
To sacrifice unto the Lord thy God and Gilgal.
And Samuel said.
Half the Lord is great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord.
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of Rams.
For rebellion was as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He also hath rejected thee from being king.
And Saul said unto Samuel.
I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and thy words, because I fear the people and obey their voice.
Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.
And Samus said unto Saul, I will not return with thee.
For thou hast rejected the word of the Lord.
And the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
And as Samuel turned about to go away, he Lloyd to hold upon the skirt of his mantle in a rent.
And Samuel said unto him of the Lord, that hath read the Kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and has given it to the to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou.
And also the strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man that he should repent.
Then he said, I have sinned yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people.
And before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.
So Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
Then said Samuel.
Bring ye hit her to me, Agag, the king of the Amalekites.
And a guy came unto him delicately, and Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
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Samuel said, as thy sword hath made women childless.
So shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel Hugh de Gag and pieces before the Lord and Gilgal.
Samuel went to Rama, and Saul went up to his house to give you of Saul.
And Sam became no more to see Saul the day of his death. Nevertheless, Samuel mourned for Saul.
And the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Now I'll turn to Second Samuel with me please. And the 12Th chapter, few verses.
We find David here.
Has come to a crisis in his life. He sinned.
And now the prophet comes to David.
The seventh verse.
And Nathan said to David.
Thou art the man.
Thus saith the Lord God of Israel. I anointed the King over Israel.
And I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul.
And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives unto thy bosom, gave thee the House of Israel and the Judah.
And if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord to do evil in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with a sword, and has taken his wife to be thy wife, and has slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
Now, therefore.
Swords will never depart from thine house.
Because thou has despised me and has taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
Now the 13th verse.
David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord.
And Nathan said unto David, The Lord has put away thy sin, thou shalt not die.
Albeit because by this deed thou has given great occasions, the enemies of the Lord to blasphemy.
In the 24th chapter, a few verses.
We find David comes to another crisis.
Another time in his life when he failed.
And the Prophet comes to him with three things, that he has a choice.
Three things.
The tan reverse of the 24th chapter.
And David's heart smote him after that. He had numbered the people.
And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done.
And now I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant, for I've done very foolishly.
For when David was up in the morning, the word of the Lord came unto the prophet Gad David's ear, saying.
Go and say unto David, Thus saith the Lord, Ioffer thee three things.
Choose the one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
So God came to David and told him, said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land?
Or wilt thou flee 3 months before thine enemies while they pursue thee?
Or that there be 3 days of pestilence in thy land. Now advise and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
David said unto Gad, I am in a great Strait. Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord, for his mercies are great.
And let me not fall into the hand of man.
We find in the 9th chapter of one Samuel.
Possibly the first note of Saul.
And in connection with his household, he came from a family of faith.
He was the son of Ke$ha, powerful man in Israel.
Well, now we find this afternoon that in this room there are many young people.
Who have come from families of faith.
They have had many advantages that this.
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The young people of this world have never had.
And of course, when God gives life, he expects something of man.
We find that Saul when he was going to seek his father's *****.
He was suddenly finds himself.
Before the prophet Samuel.
And so unexpected to himself.
Samuel tells him that he's the one to be chosen to be the king of Israel.
Well, this was rather a surprise to Samuel, I'm sure.
And when he finally was set before the people, they couldn't find him. He was hiding in a tent.
Timothy. He was little in his own sight.
At the beginning.
But you know, it wasn't for two years.
And this mighty man whose head and shoulders above all the rest, a man that was the choice of the people.
Goodly to look upon a man that could be held up as an ideal.
Turned away from following the Lord.
Who was it that chose him in the 1St place for blessing?
Why was the Lord?
But couldn't the Lord expect dependence and obedience?
From what he had chosen.
Oh dear, young people, remember dependence and obedience.
Is what characterizes.
A believer's walk down here. It's the way of happiness.
It is the way of blessing and fruitfulness.
It is that which before God manifests fruit.
In the believer Christ replaced in the vessel.
You will get the doctrine of it in Hebrews the 5th chapter.
Was what characterized the Lord Jesus as the captain of our salvation.
Dependence and obedience, even to the cross.
But Saul was a man after the flesh.
And although God had given him every opportunity, he had been privileged, brought up with this background. Yet there was something lacking.
He probably was like the young man in the Gospel of Mark.
The Lord could say, as he looked upon him and he loved him, one thing thou lackest.
Oh dear young people, is there one thing you're lacking?
Just because you are brought up in a Christian household doesn't mean you will see that glory land.
Oh no.
There has to be personal faith and trust in the Lord Jesus. Owning yourself as a Sinner in the presence of a holy God. You have to have a Savior.
You have to be born again.
Because without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, and the Lord Jesus came down from the glory so that he might.
Die and take your place and do a work that you never could do before. A holy God.
That you might be presented.
In God's presence, without spotter stain.
That's the first thing.
I'm not trying this afternoon to tell you that Saul was not a saved manner, that he was. I'm not going into that.
The subject we have here is God's ways, his government.
In the Old Testament, those things are not brought before us like they are in the new.
But it is the pattern of his life that we want to notice this afternoon.
And what was that pattern?
Disobedience.
Yes, and independence.
Oh, how important these two things are.
And how they mark out a man either for blessing or sorrow in this world.
In connection with the things of God.
How was it with David?
Ah, David replaces Saul.
He takes his Kingdom. He was a man after God's own heart.
But we have noticed also that the record of David as a man.
Could hardly be spoken of as any better than Saul's.
No, David gave occasion to the enemies.
Of God's people.
To blasphemy.
David's life was checkered with sin.
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And the government of God was upon him, and followed him all his days because of it.
A solemn this is.
For those who look at David's life and they say, well, David did it.
I certainly. It wouldn't be too bad if I sinned too, remember?
God's government is sure.
And all the sorrows.
Year after year as a result of disobedience to the Word of God.
Taking up our own pathway and independence. Disobeying the Word of God.
There is a verse in the book of Mark that tells us everyone shall be salted with fire and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Well, I can't say all that that means, but I believe it means this at least.
That everyone who professes to be one of God's people are going to be tested.
To see whether they have that character or not. To see where there is a new nature that responds to the things of God, that loves the things of God.
You know what the Prophet says in the 119 Psalm? Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore doth my soul love them. Oh no, he doesn't.
Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore does my soul keep them.
Hate them?
The Lord God is the Son and shield. No good thing will He withhold from them. That what?
Walk up rightly.
Oh, how good these things are to be reminded of them.
And now Saul is being tested.
Turn to the 13th chapter just for a moment.
We find that Saul is in trouble here.
And he hasn't been king very long.
We find also that Samuel had appointed certain days for solitary and weight to get a word from God as to what he should do.
And so he did wait till seven days, but he couldn't wait a minute longer, not a minute longer. He was impatient.
And notice what he says in the 12Th verse.
Now this is what characterizes the flesh.
12 verse I forced myself therefore an offer to burnt offering.
I forced myself. Is that dependence?
Do you think God would ever call you to walk in a path that he wouldn't sustain you in?
May I add one more thought, supposing that you had failed.
You think God will leave you?
All you might feel is government, but dear ones, he'll never, never, never leave you.
Never leave you.
And he will open the way for you, even though you have sinned.
If you own your sin.
If you don't think so, read in detail the third Psalm. There you'll see David.
Another experience in his life where he married a Syrian woman and he had that son, Absalom.
That took the throne away from.
That was disobedience.
But in that lovely third Psalm we see David's heart just blossoming like a flower in the midst of all the government of God that was upon him, still running from his Son.
Oh Lord, thou art is shield from me.
Oh how the Lord loves to see in His children faith.
A little simply trust Him no matter what. Hasn't he taken us up for blessing? Didn't he know what we were? Oh dear young people, put your trust in Him. Dependence.
How lovely to see David in his extremity in second.
Kings. He finds himself in a dilemma. He has three choices.
Because he had numbered the people.
You know this could have been David's greatest sin.
The number of the people without giving to God a ransom for Him.
Piece of silver.
Yes, and now his heart had smitten him, he realizes, having a nature that's of God, he realized that he'd sinned.
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And so he tells the prophet, he says.
Have God take away my sins. But God can't do that, you know?
It is only through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that it can be put away.
But the government of God was upon David.
And so God says I will give you 3 choices.
Why? Because he was going to test David so that David could learn where his heart was.
Yes, just like a flower to the sun, David's heart turns to the Lord.
And that precious?
Is that where your heart is turned and your extremity today?
Don't say there are no extremities.
Because there are in this very room this afternoon, I'm sure, with some of these dear young people.
Problems.
Yes, I have letters at home to prove it problems.
Are you turning to the Lord in your extremity? Are you giving up? Are you saying it's no use?
Ah, there is a way for faith.
And David gives us, even though he had failed himself, David gives us these.
Principles in his life because he was a man after God's own heart. Why?
He loved.
To have mercy shown to him, and he loved to show mercy.
And besides that.
The moment his sin was brought to life, he confesses it and he gets down before God.
Turneth me to the 51St Psalm.
Now this is the Psalm that was written.
When David was in trouble.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness.
According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sins ever before me.
Against thee the only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified when our speakers, and be clear when our judges. Behold, I was shaping an iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desireth truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part. Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Herds me with hyssop.
And I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness at the bones which thou hast broken. May rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence.
And take not thy Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Thy holiness from me.
Restart of me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free spirit.
And so on.
We find David here pouring out his soul to God as a result.
Of what? The Prophet?
I had said to him.
Thou art the man.
But now, going back to our 15th chapter, you'll notice a few things.
15th Chapter. First Samuel.
We find in the ninth verse.
That everything vile and refuse.
Saul destroyed.
And he thought that he had done the Lord's bidding.
Because he was acting according to the dictates of his natural heart.
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And you know, that's a fatal thing for a Christian to do.
If it were a case of mathematics.
Or something that had to do.
With such things.
God has given wisdom in these things in a natural way.
But when it comes to moral issues and that which has to do with God.
There's only one place that we can get instruction for our path, and that's the word of God.
Never, never has there has there have been a thought in man's mind, naturally, that please God, not one.
The only thought that could please God would be that which is the result of reading God's word.
Because when man fell, he was left immoral, derelict. There's not one thought towards God, and it's only the instruction of God's precious words that enables him to walk pleasing to God down here.
And saw a man after the flash.
You know what Paul says about the flesh in Romans 8.
If you live after the flesh, you shall die. That is eternal death.
But after the spirit life.
Yes, the one who was after the flesh is in the path of death.
Well, Saul gives us that pattern then in his life.
Of one who walked according to the flesh instead of according to the word of God.
He didn't follow the path as we see in the 13th chapter of Dependence.
Nor did he follow in the path of obedience as we see in this chapter.
Dependence and obedience.
Oh, how important they are.
And the spirit that David showed.
Of his heart, clinging to the Lord is what preserves the soul.
In this bath.
Is Christ the object of our hearts?
All may be sought continuously.
And if that be the case, as we have in the.
In the 27th Psalm, the Lord is my light. Here's the strength of my life. But how does David end the Psalm? Wait.
I say on the Lord that's dependent 7 days, yes.
Then keep on waiting.
Keep on waiting.
That is what Elijah did, and when he waited, then the word of the Lord came to him.
And if you wait, and if I wait, then the word of the Lord will come to us.
That Saul in this chapter, he doesn't obey the word of the Lord, he just partly obeys it.
And those things that seem so pleasant to the natural eye.
Oh, he thought, won't this be wonderful to offer to the Lord?
Is that right?
Oh, you say, yes, he made a mistake, but how about your life and mine now?
These are principles, aren't they, that are for us.
How about those things in our life that belong to this world that we have allowed?
Do you think God can use them in our lives?
By taking part of the world and linking up with that which is of God.
No, the cross was severed between the believer in the world. There's a distinct separation.
The Word of God is that which determines whether The thing is right or whether it's wrong in our lives.
Not our own thoughts.
Not that would seem so good that we could offer to the Lord. No one has to go.
Just as much as that which is via.
And I believe the enemy is coming in the last days.
As an Angel of light to deceive souls.
And to partly use natural wisdom.
And partly use the things of God.
And so I believe the Spirit of God would encourage us this afternoon in this scripture.
To examine the Word of God and to see what it says.
And then to seek grace, to act on it in his fear.
And if we have fail.
That we might return immediately.
Confess our sins.
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The 28th of Proverbs says.
He that hideth this sin shall not prosper, but he that confesseth and forsake of them shall find mercy.
And when you get time, read the next verse too. It's important.
Well, now we find that the crisis has come and solves life.
Saul has been tested.
He's been tested as to dependents. He's been tested as to obedience.
And his sin is manifest.
Here is the bleeding of the sheep that were supposed to be destroyed. So on the evidence is here.
Before the prophet, you know, it's remarkable how things come out in the presence of God.
When we're alone, we think things are right.
But get into the presence of God.
When you young people are seeking companions.
And you have your little times together. Do you get into the presence of God together? Do you do that?
Or you leave God out of it.
Oh, you'll say you're going too far, aren't you? No, I don't think so.
Are you bringing the Lord in at the very start?
You're going to end up the way you start, remember that.
You're going to end up the way you start.
Are you bringing the Lord into everything in your life? Is it a practical thing with you?
And now this 22nd verse.
You know Saul.
Is quite ready to blame the people, isn't he?
Before we read this verse, I'd just like to comment on that.
The people have taken.
Doesn't that sound?
Like Adam?
Doesn't that sound like the old man?
What did David say?
Again, Steve, the only have I sinned?
Done us evil in thy sight.
Oh, what a difference of spirit.
The willingness to take the low place and to be nothing that we find to David.
Why? Because he was a man after God's own heart.
God had wrought in his soul, and he had seen the end of himself, at least in measure.
But that's all. He blames the people. He wants to justify himself. He wants himself to look as good as possible.
But that's the wrong spirit.
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord his great delight and burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken.
Than the facts of Rams.
This is God's estimate of it.
To obey His voice is far better than anything you could ever bring to God.
You know when just a little thing to notice when the people anointed.
Or accepted Saul as king. They had peace offerings.
That's liberty in God's presence.
But when Saul went to offer ahead of time, he asked the people to bring a bird offering at peace offerings.
But you'll notice he didn't offer the peace offerings.
He didn't have liberty.
He forced himself.
That's the 4th chapter of Philippians.
You have peace with God, or you have the peace of God, and you have the God of peace.
In the 4th chapter, Philippians.
Ah, dear young people, do you have the peace of God in your hearts by putting all your cares upon Him?
Do you have the God of peace with you because you obey His word?
Are you walking in peace?
Are you going on day by day in peace, or is your conscience smiting you because of unjudged sin?
Or it may be a little thing you say.
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But that's what's hindering your joy in Christ.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Is it a little thing?
You sent a little thing just disobeying the word of God. A little thing.
It is as the sin of witchcraft.
Why does the word of God put that in?
Well, in the 10th chapter, First Chronicles, you will see why.
Where does Saul spend his last days?
The last night he passed over Shunam.
Shunam, that city that was specially blessed of Issachar.
Remember where that great woman lived? Unum.
And he saw that rest was good, and the land that was pleasant. That was the prophecy concerning Issachar.
But Saul goes over Pastors Shunam that night to search out the counsel of a witch.
And here the Spirit of God tells him ahead of time.
What his course will be.
Oh how solemn it is to disobey the Word of God.
Yes, Saul ends up asking counsel of a witch.
But how does David end his life?
Not in possession of the Kingdom.
And the one who has an heir promised that would sit on his throne forever.
That's the way David ends his life.
And what was the difference?
Ah, the spirit. It was in David.
That God gave him its truth, but that willingness to take a low place and own what was true of himself.
To to own when he'd sinned.
And to honor God in it. He was a man after God's own heart. And then to seek the mercy of God.
Oh dear ones, it is only mercy that will do for four sinners ourselves saved by grace, mercy, mercy to save us, and mercy to keep us day by day till we're home in the Father's house.
May God give us that tender, tender spirit to wait upon Him continually.
No matter what it is in our lives. Even though we've failed.
Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.
And now Samuel Saul tells out before Samuel.
His very character and what is it?
Honor me now before the people.
That was the.
Motive behind his actions?
You know there is a difference in repentance.
There is such a thing as being sorry for your sin.
And it may not go very deep.
How many a person that was unsaved has been sorry for their sin?
But just being sorry for the sin, you may repeat it.
That there came a time, you know, in Peter's life, when the Lord called him before all the others on the 21St of John.
And he said, Peter, do you love me more than these?
Peter said he had, you know that much. To say he was better than the rest was pride.
And now the Lord is getting down to the roots of it, and Peter was going to have to judge the roots.
It's only that blessed Savior is our advocate that can restore our souls and to give us to see light as He sees it.
And to be not only sorry for our sin.
About to judge the very roots of it.
To be free of it, Oh, how good would it be.
The Lord to give that with each of us.
Honor me now.
Before the people.
And that I may worship the Lord.
Worship the Lord. Think of Saul worshipping the Lord.
Harmony today think they can worship the Lord.
But to worship the Lord?
It must be in sincerity, It must be in truth.
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In spirit and truth.
To worship the Lord.
We find David after he's confessed his sins.
In Second Kings there he has an altar.
It is not in Israel, though it is on the threshing floor of a run of the Jebusite, the Gentile.
David owns that according to the instructions of God. He owns that the blessing must come on the ground of God's sovereignty.
Then he offers burnt offerings.
But he also offers peace offerings.
Oh, how good it is to again have liberty in the presence of God, because that's what peace offerings would suggest. Liberty to have the soul completely restored and have liberty. David had that.
But not solve.
But instead, Saul had a jealous spirit the rest of his days.
Besides that.
He took his dagger to throw at David what he played before him in the heart.
David ran for his life.
Never again in the House of Saul did he have a heart.
The harp was gone.
It suggests to us the replacing of the Spirit of God with an evil spirit in the life of Saul.
Oh, how sad.
The end of that man who stood head and shoulders above all the rest.
That man who came out of a Christian heritage, shall we say, with every.
Thing behind him.
That would mark him out as the man of the hour.
The end of Saul was terrible.
He takes his own life, you know.
And as he dies, not only do the rest of his sons.
Fall but dear Jonathan.
Do.
Taken with him, the whole family wiped out, as it were.
Of his immediate sons.
As the enemy takes over the land at the death of Saul.
But we say again, it wasn't so with David.
In his latter end.
No, David ends his life and blessing.
Because there was true repentance that was owning himself.
Before God is just exactly what he was.
32nd verse tells us how Samuel takes care of Agag.
What God was going to do to slay all the Amalekites children of Esau, you know.
Unless their king was gone.
No, the king has to go.
The king has to go.
And Samuel isn't isn't through with this matter until Agag is slain and the will of the Lord has to be done.
And now the children of Israel are free from that which was a menace to them, the Amalekites.
Well, may the Lord use these few scriptures then that we have read.
To remind us of how important it is.
Each one to take our place in dependence upon God, to realize that the only source that we have is that supply which we get from heaven, and we get it through His precious Word and on our knees before God. But also to seek grace to walk in the truth.
That we have received.
Because remember, the first step of departure is to hear the word of God and refuse to act on it.
And the second is.
To find ourselves in paths that are not according to the word of God.
And the third is the wicked heart of unbelief that departs from the living God.
That we find in Hebrews 3.
Yes, the pattern of turning away from God starts with refusing to act on the known truth that we have. May God give us grace then, dear young people and all.
To to act on the truth.
He's bought us with his precious blood and the right place for a creature.
Dependence and obedience.
01:00:00
Shall we sing that little hymn #10 in the back of the book?