WEBVTT 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:06.000 Turn your Bibles this morning to 1 Samuel chapter 18. 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:15.519 And last week we looked at the story, probably the most familiar story that's used in Scripture, David and Goliath. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:24.719 And I kind of purposefully jumped past some things about him, but I want to just build you up a little bit of a character of David this morning as we jump in. 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:29.600 David is probably a lot more like you and me than we think. 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:35.200 David is a roller coaster of a Christian, and we'll see that through his life story. 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:38.640 You know, he started out, what we know of him is he's a shepherd boy. 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:47.200 He goes from shepherd boy just minding the sheep out in the field, sort of nothing little kid, who then is called to be a cheese carrier to war, right? 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:54.320 And he brought these sandwiches to his brothers, and he goes from shepherd boy sort of nothingness to giant slayer. 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:57.920 I mean, what a hill on the roller coaster of life. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:05.200 And he goes from giant slayer into becoming Saul's captain in an army. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:07.920 He goes giant slayer, captain of an army. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:08.959 Thank you, Joe. 00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:14.400 And then he becomes an in-law who becomes an outlaw. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:16.879 Y'all got anything like that in your families? 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:20.400 So he's an in-law who becomes an outlaw. 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:31.840 He goes from that to become a king, to become a king who's an adulterer, who's a murderer, but he's known throughout all of this as a man after God's own heart. 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:37.040 And so, really, when we look through slave for the next several weeks, we want to get to that. 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:48.159 How can we go through life's hills and valleys and ups and downs and relate to us where we're at and still, in the midst of all that stuff, be after God's heart. 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:55.280 And so that's what I hope through the story of David and all that he is that we figure out in these next few weeks. 00:01:55.439 --> 00:02:04.719 So in 1 Samuel chapter 18, we're gonna park there for a few minutes and go back and build some of the characters before Goliath a little bit this morning. 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:06.000 Let me pray. 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:11.360 Father God, uh we just thank you for your presence already. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:19.199 And we thank you, God, that we do not take for granted when you show up in a place. 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:23.520 God, that is special, that's needed. 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:30.159 God, otherwise, if we're here and we don't meet with you, then God, what are we doing? 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:39.039 Lord, we don't need a habit, we don't need a ritual, we don't need a tradition, we need the presence of your spirit in this place. 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:46.080 God, the people that came in here, I have no doubt, came in carrying luggage and baggage from the weeks before them. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:48.319 Maybe a lot of weeks. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:56.080 And then we hear worship of you being the way maker, God, who's working and we don't even understand. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:05.520 So, God, I pray that you would continue to bless us with an overwhelmingness of your presence this morning. 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:10.479 Let this word speak to us and get us out of our own way. 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:12.000 In Jesus' name. 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:12.960 Amen. 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:20.639 So in 1 Samuel chapter 18, I want you to look down at verse number 7. 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:22.960 This is where we're gonna kind of build the text. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:25.360 And uh look at what it says. 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:35.360 So the women sang as they danced and said, Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:46.319 This is gonna become a marker of some pretty crazy things that happen throughout this text, but I want you to understand, number one this morning is this man creates measurements. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:48.159 Man creates measurements. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:56.159 And so when Saul heard this song, it says right after that, verse 8, then Saul was very angry. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:04:02.000 He did not like this song that was being sung, and it's because it felt to him like a comparison. 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:05.120 And so I brought you some of my tools today. 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:07.919 Uh, very lightly used, looks brand new, okay? 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:08.960 Right? 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:12.639 So Saul, this is what's happening. 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:14.240 Man makes measurement. 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:16.879 Man looks at the tape, right? 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:23.120 Man takes measurements, and so when man looks at man, man goes, okay, let's see how we size up here. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:24.639 Okay, tall. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:25.600 Uh-uh. 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:26.240 Okay. 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:30.240 And so man makes measurements, and man uses the tape. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:38.319 And so we see man creates measurements, and he hears this song, and this is what I want you to know about it. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:40.560 There's an outward appearance, letter A. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:45.439 Outward appearances are a big deal in the culture and life that we lead. 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:47.120 And it's going all the way back. 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:48.079 I want you to look. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:49.759 We're going to build some background here. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:51.279 Look at 1 Samuel chapter 8. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:54.800 I want you to see a couple of verses and see what's happening. 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:56.720 How do we get to this point in place? 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:58.639 1 Samuel chapter 8. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:04:59.199 Okay. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:02.560 Verse 4, we're going to start at and look at a couple of verses. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:04.720 But the outward appearance thing, this is what happened. 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:13.279 In Israel, verse 4, then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:18.319 Now make us a king to judge us like all the other nations. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:18.879 Okay? 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:20.639 You see that verse 6 and 7. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:24.000 This displeased Samuel when they said this, give us a king to judge. 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:25.120 Samuel prayed to the Lord. 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:30.240 And the Lord said to Samuel, listen to the voice of the people and what they say to you. 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:35.920 For they have not rejected you, Samuel, and your words, but they have in fact rejected me. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:39.439 Verse 19, as you go through that text, it builds, but this is what it says. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:42.879 Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:47.839 And they said, We will have a king over us, like all the other nations. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:56.959 So outwardly, Israel is watching the rest of the world and judging what the rest of the world is doing, and they're saying, We want a system like theirs. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:06.720 We know, maybe they're not understanding that they have the God who creates kings, but they want a king to judge them. 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:10.720 And so they say, We want what everybody else has, Samuel. 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:12.000 We want what they got. 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:13.920 We don't have that, we want that. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:16.160 Sound like some children, right? 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:22.160 It's heartbreaking how we settle because of how we measure things. 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:22.879 Right? 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:24.480 They're taking a measurement. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:28.639 This is what the rest of the world has, Samuel, and we don't have it. 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:30.240 We need what they got. 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:33.600 And so it's a measurement of things. 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:36.240 I want you to understand the measurement doesn't stop there. 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:38.639 Turn over to 1 Samuel chapter 9. 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:40.000 We're building here. 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:40.800 Stay with me. 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:41.839 We're going to get somewhere. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:43.279 1 Samuel chapter 9. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:46.000 So Samuel goes out looking for a king. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:47.920 Well, what does he do looking for a king? 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:50.000 Look at 1 Samuel 9, 1 and 2. 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:57.279 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abel, the son of Zarar, the son of all these sons with big names. 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:59.199 A Benjamin, a mighty man of power. 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:00.240 And he had a choice. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:01.439 Listen to this. 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:06.319 And he had a choice and handsome son, whose name was Saul. 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:10.639 There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:11.519 Listen to this. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:16.319 From his shoulders upward, he was taller than all the other people. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:18.720 And so Samuel went out looking for a king. 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:24.399 And he said, This one, shoulders and measured high above any other. 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:27.279 And he looked at his outward appearance, and it said, How many times? 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:28.079 Two, three times. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:28.959 He's handsome. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:30.560 He was good to look upon. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:32.319 And so there was a measurement. 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:33.279 Here is Saul. 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:36.000 Saul is tall and handsome. 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:42.000 And I bet when Saul walked by, the women went, woo! They probably cat called him, right? 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:44.160 Woo! Woo! Look at Saul. 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:49.839 And then the children, the children, he walked by and they're like, There's Saul. 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:51.360 Guys, look, here comes Saul. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:52.399 Big Saul. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:53.120 Here he comes. 00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:54.480 Big tall Saul. 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:57.600 The men, when Saul walked by, they felt more like men. 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:00.639 And when they saw Saul, they tried to throw out Fence Bump Saul. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:02.079 You still lifting, bro? 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:02.560 Yeah. 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:04.000 There goes Saul. 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:07.680 In fact, in all of my research this week, I found a picture. 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:14.560 I had to go through a lot of digging and finding, and I actually found what I think is a real close replica of what Saul looked like. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:16.240 If you guys would throw that up. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:21.199 There's Saul right there. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:22.879 I've seen some ladies. 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:25.439 They got ready to have their cat call right there. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:35.279 You see, the problem for us is we take the tape and we measure life based on this outward appearance. 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:39.600 And so the problem with the tape is this, 1 Samuel chapter 16. 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:40.960 I want you to turn there real quick. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:42.639 I know we're bouncing around. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:43.919 We'll get back to the text. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:44.639 We got a bill. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:48.399 1 Samuel chapter 6, 16, verse 6 and 7. 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:56.159 You remember last week I said I'm not going to get into it, but we have a story of when Samuel came and he was looking to anoint the next king. 00:08:56.320 --> 00:09:01.440 And he came to Jesse's house and he said, It must be Eliab, right? 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:10.720 Eliab the oldest one, the one that looked the part, and he got to Eliab verse 6, and when he came to him and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:13.759 Listen to this, because this is going to be a big thing throughout the text. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:14.720 Verse 7. 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:22.720 But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:26.159 For the Lord, listen, does not see as man sees. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:30.799 Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:38.639 And so even Samuel the prophet, who walked with the Lord, still, when he came to anoint, the first thing he did, huh? 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:40.559 This fits the mold. 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:42.159 This is going to be the next king. 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:45.200 And so he had an outward appearance thing. 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:48.000 And listen, I want you to understand something today. 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:51.600 God is not about human measurement. 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:53.759 God is about heaven's measurement. 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:54.879 Okay, hear me. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:58.399 It's not about human outward measurement with God. 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:00.320 It's about heaven's measurement. 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:03.840 People will look at you and say, They're that tall. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:06.159 People will look at you and look at your shoes. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.559 People will look at you and look at your clothes. 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:10.879 People will look at you and look at your walk. 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:12.480 They'll look at your purse, ladies. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:13.759 They'll look at your wallet. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:15.200 They'll look at your car. 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:22.960 People will measure every which way, trying to figure out what they are based on outward appearance. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:29.360 But God says, listen to me, Saul was tall, but God doesn't look at height, he looks at heart. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:38.639 And let me tell you, Ephesians 3 says that you may be able to comprehend the width and length and depth and height of the love of Christ. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:41.519 Not your faith, but your faith. 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:44.159 Not your followers, but your faith. 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:46.559 Not your fans, but your faith. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:49.600 Not your fitness, but your faith. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:52.080 Not your friendships, but your faith. 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:55.519 He's looking at your faith, not your finances. 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:58.159 He's looking at your faith, what's in here. 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:01.200 And so God has a different measuring system. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:03.279 He gets this out, right? 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:06.799 And he goes, let me check. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:08.399 Let me check there. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:10.960 Let me see what's inside. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:13.679 God's measurement system isn't the tape. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:17.360 You see, church, he's checking about what's in that heart. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:18.960 What's beyond your appearance? 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:21.120 He can use anyone for anything. 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:26.159 He doesn't care about your height, your weight, or what advantage you think you have or what's in your wallet. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:28.080 It got there because of him anyway. 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:32.000 He is concerned about that heart. 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:35.200 And so, man, his measurement is off. 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:38.240 The measuring tape. 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:40.320 We're all about the measuring tape. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:42.720 But he measures with a scope. 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:44.000 He measures the heart. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:47.120 You see, the measuring tape, this is all about comparison. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:54.720 When I use this, all I can do is look at someone and say, Well, this is what I'm like, this is what they're like, and I'm comparing. 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:56.399 And I want you to know this. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:59.600 Comparison is the thief of contentment. 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:01.600 I'll say that again. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:05.200 Comparison is the thief of contentment. 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:09.840 And as long as you're looking at the measuring tape, you won't measure up. 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:13.519 You're never going to be able to measure up as long as you're looking at the tape. 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:21.039 So we see, even starting into Saul's story, there was an outward appearance problem, there was a measurement problem. 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:24.720 But then we get to this point where he hears this singing. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:26.799 And let me read again. 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:28.480 Saul has slain his thousands. 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:31.200 David is ten thousand, eighteen, verse seven. 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:34.559 Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:44.960 And he said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have only ascribed thousands. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:48.480 Now what more can he have but the kingdom? 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:52.080 So Saul eyed David from that day forward. 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:54.480 And so letter B is this this morning. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:57.360 Saul was concerned about open approval. 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:00.639 This open approval was at issue for him. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:07.360 When that song went off, he heard that approval and he was wroth with anger. 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:09.360 He was filled with rage. 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:14.240 And these women, they had no idea what this little song was doing. 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:15.279 They had no clue. 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:20.399 Have you ever just blurted out something and you went, oh, every man better just go ahead. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:21.759 Let me see a hand raise, okay? 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:24.960 If you're married, whatever, you've blurted some stuff out. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:28.159 And so they blurted this song out singing. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:30.080 They didn't think nothing about it. 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:37.279 One lady at my former church said to the pastor one day, she was saying, I can't believe it still. 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:39.840 She said, You know, you remind me of somebody. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:42.159 When I hear you preach, you remind me of somebody. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:44.000 And she goes, she's like thinking about it. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:45.679 She goes, That's who it is. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:47.840 You remind me of Joyce Meyer. 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:54.879 And I'm like, bro, no, what she means is like a more manly version of Joyce, brother. 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:59.360 That's not what she means, but she meant like, you know, the way that he was speaking. 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:02.080 I'm like, dude, why would you blurt that out? 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:03.039 Don't say that. 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:12.480 A lady in the lobby at church one time to my very beautiful pregnant wife said, Do you think you have triplets in there? 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:16.240 I'm like, don't listen. 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:18.240 I'm gonna give everybody a favor here. 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:21.360 Just don't talk to pregnant ladies about their pregnancy. 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:22.879 It's just always dumb. 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:26.320 Unless you're gonna say something nice, just keep it shut. 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:28.559 You don't know what it takes to do all that. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:30.080 Man, just don't go there. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.279 Triplets. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:33.679 I'm like, oh lady, come on. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:36.159 The next three days are gonna be bad because of you. 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:37.039 Why? 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:39.840 Don't just blurt something out. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:44.480 This song became David's run and hide theme. 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:49.840 Because of this song, the rest of David's life around Saul would change. 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:52.320 Now, I want you to understand something today, church. 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:56.240 People need, we have the need of affirmation. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:59.279 And there's nothing wrong with affirmation. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:06.240 In fact, there's a book called The Five Love Languages, if you haven't read it, words of affirmation, they say will keep your marriage. 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:16.960 And so, listen, husbands, if you're married today and your spouse hasn't received much affirmation, she might be tempted to go find it. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:21.840 You give your wife affirmation. 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:27.120 Sir, tell her she's pretty, even if you've done it 150 times. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:28.399 Tell her again. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:34.080 Tell her she's appreciated, even though it's become natural and normal. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:35.759 Say thank you again. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.759 Say she's done good again. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.759 Ma'am, listen to me. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:43.600 Tell him all he wants to do is be your hero. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.200 Tell him. 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:46.639 Tell him he's handsome. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:49.120 Even if you just think it and you hadn't said it. 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:49.840 Tell him. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.240 Words of affirmation are important. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.840 So affirm. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:56.559 We need affirmation. 00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:58.879 We need all that. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.639 Well, I can tell you this. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:11.600 In 16 years of working in church ministry, I haven't had one wife or one husband on the other side of my desk saying, Pastor, they just over-affirm me. 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:13.279 I'm so sick of it. 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:14.399 Compliment. 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.519 Thanksgiving. 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:16.320 Compliment. 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:17.519 It's just too much. 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:20.639 One more compliment, and it's going to be last draw. 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:27.039 I've never once, Pastor, have you had this? 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:27.840 No. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:31.519 Man, she's just filling my cup up too much. 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:44.399 Listen, but Christians, hear me, Christians, if someone else gets affirmation, you don't have to get all in your feelings measuring, well, what about me? 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:47.120 They did good, but hold on. 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:49.600 What about what about what I did? 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.200 You see, that's what happens here. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.360 Saul gets all in his feelings. 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:55.039 Why are they saying that? 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.679 Why do they even have to bring up numbers? 00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:59.679 Why are they bringing up numbers in their song? 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:00.799 Why does that have to happen? 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:02.240 What about me, the king? 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:07.279 The only thing left from here is David's gonna be had the whole kingdom. 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.240 See? 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:13.839 Saul is king, but he wants what David has. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:18.559 He is the king of all of the land. 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:26.640 I mean he has everything, but he looks at the shepherd boy who's slain a giant and goes, but I want what he has. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:33.359 I got a picture that I want you to see of Michael Jordan when he was here in Birmingham. 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:36.000 Um look at this picture, okay? 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:40.000 Looks like Michael Jordan's trying to play baseball there, doesn't it? 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.440 Y'all see that? 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:52.079 Michael Jordan, the greatest arguably basketball player that ever has lived, played baseball for a season and uh had had uh batted 2-0. 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:56.400 Two out of ten tries, he would get a hit. 00:17:56.559 --> 00:18:01.119 He had 114 strikeouts in his minor league season. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:06.160 Like, Mike, you're the greatest there's ever been in basketball. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:08.000 Stay in your lane. 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.200 Y'all with me? 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:13.119 It's amazing, though, in professional sports that he did what he did do. 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:15.440 Like, what he did do was pretty incredible. 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:18.960 Not many people could even do that, but he wasn't great at it. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:26.720 It's like, stay in your lane, know who you are, and be content with what you're great at, what God gave you. 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:37.279 You see, Saul's pouting and can't be happy when the war that David is out there fighting, slaying the ten thousands is directly benefiting him, king of all the land. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:41.920 His enemies are staying at bay, and he's jealous. 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:44.880 He's jealous, church. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:47.599 Jealousy reveals our deepest loves. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:50.880 And Saul was in love with himself. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:55.839 And so we've seen that, that it was about outward appearance and open approval. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:58.400 That takes us to the second point this morning. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:04.480 Popularity conceals purpose, popularity. 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:10.319 And so he heard this song and got so angry, got so consumed. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:15.279 I was thinking about popularity and purpose, and God gave me this thought. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:26.319 I would sacrifice, I would rather sacrifice popularity on the altar of man's hand clap than one moment of God's purpose in my life. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:33.519 I can have every day filled with man's hand clap, and I'll sacrifice it on the altar of purpose. 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:36.400 You can lose all your status, I'll give it all up. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:39.039 I want God's purpose in my life. 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:41.519 Saul had a purpose. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:43.839 He was missing the mark. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:51.680 He was concerned more about ovation than obedience. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:52.960 That's letter A. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.240 Ovation. 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:57.039 Saul chose ovation over obedience. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:01.039 I want you to go back because there's a little history with Saul in this. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:03.519 It's not just falling apart at this moment. 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:08.240 Saul became king, and for a while Saul led the nation well. 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:09.920 He was walking with the Lord. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:14.799 But in 1 Samuel chapter 15, some things started to fall apart. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:16.960 I want you to see these scriptures here. 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:19.680 13 through 19, we'll read through. 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:21.680 It's a little story about what's happened. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.960 Then Samuel went to Saul. 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:26.640 There had been a fight, there had been a battle, and there were instructions about it. 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:31.039 Okay, and Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, Blessed are you of the Lord. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:33.039 I have performed the commandment of the Lord. 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:33.920 Verse 14. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:38.720 But Samuel said, Well, what then is this bleeding of the sheep in my ears? 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:41.039 And the lowing of the oxen which I hear. 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:44.000 They were supposed to get rid of all of it, but Saul held back. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:48.720 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people, look at what he does, he points a finger. 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:55.519 The people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have utterly destroyed. 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:58.640 Then Samuel said to Saul, Be quiet. 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:00.880 He puts him in his place. 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:04.000 And I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night. 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:05.759 And he said to him, Speak on. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:11.440 So Samuel said, Were you, when you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:13.759 And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel? 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:20.319 Now the Lord sent you on a mission and said, Destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, fight against them until they are consumed. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:23.599 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:28.480 Why did you swoop down on the spoil and do evil in the sight of the Lord? 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:30.559 And so we see this back and forth. 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:32.880 And what Saul greets Samuel, right? 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:35.759 And he's trying to get ovation, even in his greeting. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:38.640 He's trying to give them spiritual words that he puts on. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.640 Greeting in the name of the Lord, brother. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:42.000 I'm so glad to see you. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.839 And Samuel's no dummy. 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:48.079 He sees through it because he hears what's going on, the sheep in the background. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:50.400 And Samuel hears and sees it. 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:54.720 And Saul, what happens is he struggled being told what to do. 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:57.359 So he blames it on the people. 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.640 And you know what that does? 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.759 It sets off the preacher. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:02.319 Samuel gets angry with him. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:04.240 He says, Be quiet, Saul. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:06.880 Like I can't hear these animals back here. 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:09.599 You are not the king, and now you're blaming this on the people. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.680 Look at verse 22 and 23. 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:15.200 Now the preacher's about to preach to him, so get ready and hear what he has to say. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:16.000 Listen to him. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:21.279 So Samuel says, As the Lord has great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice. 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:23.920 Yes, you've got these animals to sacrifice, they're here. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:33.119 But as in obeying the voice of the Lord, behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:35.519 And this is where it gets preachy at him, verse 23. 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:38.799 Rebellion, Saul, is like witchcraft. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:42.480 Stubbornness is like sin and idolatry. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:49.200 Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he also has rejected you from being king. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:53.920 And so Saul's choice in this moment, right? 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:56.079 It was a slip-up, it was a mess up. 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:59.519 He says, This is costing you the kingdom. 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:05.759 What you've done here, God said to do something, you didn't do it, and you've got a consequence. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:08.240 Well, look at verse 24. 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:16.720 Then Saul says to Samuel, I've sinned, I've transgressed from the commandment of the Lord and your words because I feared, it was because I feared the people. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:18.720 He's still making an excuse. 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:20.160 And obeyed their voice. 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:26.079 Please, therefore, pardon my sin, listen, and return with me that I may worship the Lord. 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.599 He says, Let's go back. 00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:28.319 And here's why. 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:29.839 You think, well, that sounds nice. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.960 He's making a confession. 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:35.839 He wanted to go back before the people and have a worship celebration of the battle. 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:38.880 And the people look at the king and go, here is our king. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:40.720 And he says, Samuel, come on. 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:42.559 I'm sorry I sinned. 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:45.359 Let's go back and have the celebration. 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:47.200 You say, Well, where do you get that? 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:48.880 Go down to verse 30. 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:54.960