WEBVTT 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:12.720 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:31.519 Apostle James punctuates a long, long line of biblical truth when he writes, Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:41.600 He says that just after quoting Proverbs 3.34, where the Proverb writes, Towards the scorners or the proud, he that is God is scornful. 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:43.759 To the humble, he gives favor. 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:49.679 Another Proverb, chapter 29, 23, confirms this basic reality. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:52.799 One's pride will bring him low. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:58.799 But he who is lowly or humble in spirit will obtain honor. 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:09.599 This line of biblical truth continues through the psalmist who sang of this truth about God in 138, verse 6, for though the Lord is high, he regards the low. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:11.200 That is the humble. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:15.840 But the haughty or proud, he knows from afar. 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:29.760 John the Baptist's father picks up this theme in Luke chapter 1, verse 52, when Zechariah prophesies, he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:35.840 And of course, our Lord taught this truth as well, for after all, it's his truth. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:04.000 Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:12.080 Was also the lesson of that great parable Christ told to those who trusted him themselves that they were righteous. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:18.879 As the tax collector cries for mercy to God, he goes down to his house justified. 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:22.560 And the Pharisee who boasts of his deeds does not. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:31.599 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:36.719 That's why James writes, humble yourselves. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:38.159 Now in a command. 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:44.319 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:47.360 Friends, these are gospel words. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:48.319 They really are. 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:53.759 For what is repentance and faith but the humbling of one's pride and unbelief? 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:54.719 We just sang it. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:55.919 I'm gonna mess it up. 00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:56.879 Let me grab my music. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:59.520 I don't have chords as much as I normally do. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:01.759 We just sang it, right? 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:10.159 But as I ran my hellbound race and different to the cost, you looked upon my helpless state and led me to the cross. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:15.120 So we can describe salvation this way I beheld God's love displayed. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:22.960 You suffered in my place, you bore the wrath reserved for me, and now all I know is grace. 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:35.680 That is to say, look upon Christ crucified, look at Jesus hanging on the tree, see how much he loves you, see how your sins are pinned to the cross through his hands and feet, and it will humble you. 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:45.599 407 years or so ago, Richard Baxter wrote, Can pride look a crucified Savior in the face? 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:48.159 Of course not. 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:53.520 I've heard it said, there's no room for arrogance at the foot of the cross. 00:03:55.280 --> 00:04:06.319 And when you're humbled like that, Scripture says that your God loves to bend his knee and lift the chins of little children thus humbled by his love. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:17.279 Look them in the eyes, and full forgiveness meets their gaze and honors them, exalts them with his face shining upon them. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:22.560 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:24.800 Friends, this is a gospel promise. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:31.759 It might even be, if I speak a little hyperbolically, it might even be the gospel promise. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:38.560 God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:40.959 Yeah. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:43.600 That is last week's slide, isn't it? 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:48.319 My sermon title for this morning is Walking Humbly with Our God. 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:50.720 What of humility? 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:53.279 Isn't that simple after all? 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:57.120 Did you turn with me to the book of Colossians? 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:00.800 Book of Colossians. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:09.279 If you were here last week, you observed my attempt, as the slide shows, to open up the entire letter of Colossians before you. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:12.800 We saw how Christ is all and above all things. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:21.279 For by him all things were created through him and for him, and by his blood all things were reconciled to him, that includes all of you. 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:24.639 He's the firstborn heir of the people of God. 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:37.199 We saw Paul's concern in communicating this to the Colossians that he wanted to shore up their fortifications against false teaching, calling them back to walk in Christ Jesus just as they received him by faith. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:49.839 Rooted in and built up in Christ, established in the faith, just as they were taught, abounding in thanksgiving, putting off the body of the flesh as they did at first, and putting on Christ's likeness, as Scott led us to pray. 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:51.199 The Colossians. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:58.240 The Colossians were being renewed in knowledge after the image of their Creator, who is Christ. 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:06.720 But seeing the forest from the window of an airplane, as we did last week, I'm sure it will come to no surprise to you that I missed some things. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:08.399 I didn't get it all. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:18.079 And one peculiar curiosity has bothered me in this epistle for months now. 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:32.319 In chapter 3, verse 12, Paul writes, Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:38.879 And this verse, Paul uses a Greek word for humility that's only used seven times in the New Testament. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:50.000 There are several words for humility, but this one, which means something more like humble-minded or lowliness of mind, this one's only used seven times in the whole New Testament. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:07:01.680 Once in Acts, once in Ephesians, excuse me, once in Philippians, and it is that time, once in 1 Peter, and then three times here in Colossians. 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:03.120 Three times. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:14.480 Which is odd, because the English Standard Bible, the New American Standard Bible, and most of your Bibles, only have humility in there once. 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:19.360 Now I think, I wonder if the guys are scrambling frantically for my slides. 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:20.480 You don't have them? 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:21.120 Okay. 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:22.560 That's on me, friends. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:24.879 We'll have to talk through it instead of me showing you. 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:25.519 You ready? 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:28.959 Chapter 2, verse 18. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:37.120 Let no one disqualify you insisting on asceticism. 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:39.920 The New American says self-abasement. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:42.480 The NIV says false humility. 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:45.040 That word right there for asceticism. 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:47.600 It's the same exact word. 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:50.000 It's the word for humble-mindedness. 00:07:50.160 --> 00:08:00.319 And again, in verse 23 of chapter 2, these have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and humility. 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:02.000 Humility. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:07.519 Asceticism, self-abasement, maybe false humility if you have the New America, New International Version. 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:13.439 They have the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism. 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:16.399 But that word's the same word. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:24.000 It's even how Paul describes his service among the Ephesians in Acts chapter 20. 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:27.040 He says, I serve the Lord with all humility. 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:32.399 This is the humility in which the Philippians are to count others more significant than themselves. 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:36.159 In chapter 2, verse 3, it eventually points to Jesus there, right? 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:44.559 In 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 5, all of us, all of you are commanded to clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:45.440 It's the same word. 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:53.440 But here in Colossians, on the one hand, Paul condemns people who insist upon humility. 00:08:53.600 --> 00:09:00.639 And then he turns around and in chapter 3, he himself insists on humility, does he not? 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:02.480 Chapter 3, verse 12, right? 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:05.279 Put on then humility. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:08.000 Now what do we do? 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:13.600 I think if we take Scripture at its word, we have to conclude. 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:24.399 And a kind of humility that makes a mockery of him. 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:30.879 Or, as I've titled my first point, a wretched humility. 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:37.600 There must be two kinds of humility, at least in Paul's mind here in Colossians. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:42.639 A wretched humility, and as we'll see later, a glorious humility. 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:45.679 But chapter 2, verse 18, again, let's dive into it. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:53.600 We find this wretched humility, this asceticism that Paul says in the ESV ought not to be insisted upon. 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:58.960 The CSV actually translates it as delighting in instead of insisting on. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:00.000 I think that's better. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:01.039 It's a much better translation. 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:09.039 It reads like this Let no one condemn you by delighting in humility and the worship of angels. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:13.840 You see, Paul is not warning the Colossians about judgmental people. 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:16.320 He's already done that in verse 16. 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:18.000 This is something different. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:19.279 He's doing something different. 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:22.159 Here he warns them concerning their own behavior. 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:32.559 The Colossians were at risk of disqualification, of delighting, delighting in humility in the worship of angels. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:35.519 Like an athlete who cheats to win the prize. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:41.120 This kind of wretched humility, whatever it is, this kind of wretched humility disqualifies. 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:43.919 And the victory no longer counts. 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:48.559 So what then does the worship of angels have to do with it? 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:50.240 The worship of angels, right? 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:55.039 And delighting in humility and worship of angels. 00:10:55.279 --> 00:11:00.559 It seems likely that this phrase, the worship of angels, is about a kind of broken Judaism. 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:08.240 A broken Judaism that had decided the humble thing to do was to worship the angels also. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:16.399 So the humble thing to do is just worship the angels also. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:18.559 And I think that also is important. 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:31.440 I'm stressing it on purpose because throughout Israel's history, throughout Israel's history, when we see them go after other gods, Baal, Asherah, Molech, you name it, they didn't forsake the worship of Yahweh completely or necessarily. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:34.080 They just supplemented it, right? 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:36.559 They just added something else. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:37.919 And that's no good. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:38.639 That's no good. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:47.600 As Pastor Anton read for us in Deuteronomy chapter 6, before the nation even entered the promised land, Moses told them, It is the Lord your God you shall fear. 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:50.720 Him you shall serve, and by his name you shall swear. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:56.320 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you. 00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:59.440 For the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:06.000 Lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:08.559 That's chapter 6, verse 13 and 15. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:18.639 And so here in Colossians we have this false sort of worship, this idolatrous worship of angels that's according to human traditions. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:20.159 They made it up. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:26.559 And they it presented itself as humble-minded. 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:35.360 And so Paul says, in effect, don't be so humble that you go after other gods and disqualify yourselves. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.200 And that would be condemning, right? 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:38.240 Would it not? 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:39.919 It would be a big deal. 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:42.720 Our joy in Christ would be robbed. 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:47.759 We'd mess it all up if we went after other gods. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:54.559 And it might even indicate that you're not holding fast to the head at all, and maybe you don't really know the real Jesus. 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:56.000 It's that sharp. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:57.519 Language is that sharp. 00:12:57.600 --> 00:13:06.639 So don't be so humble, so nice, so kind, that you go after other gods too. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:09.519 We feel this pressure all the time. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:13.519 It feels a little distant from us in this worship of angels thing, but we hear these things. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:18.320 Don't be so boastful as to think that your way to God is the only way. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:22.720 People don't like that we say Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, right? 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:26.320 Country artist Zach Brown band sings, now you know me. 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:28.879 He sings, Jesus preached the golden rule. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:30.080 Buddha taught it too. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:33.279 Gandhi said, eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:36.559 So with a little understanding, a little humbleness of mind, right? 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:40.399 With a little understanding, we can break these chains that we've been handed. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:42.399 I've got the remedy, says Zach Brown. 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.200 He's figured it out. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.360 I've got the remedy, the medication. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:48.000 Love is the remedy. 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:50.559 Just humble yourselves a little bit. 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:53.200 Or my favorite, just live your truth. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:55.519 Let other people live their truths. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:14:02.799 Now, this stuff, it might be politically advantageous for a governmental system, but that's about as far as that stuff goes. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:05.600 Because, my friends, there is but one God. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:08.960 The eternally uncreated one, right? 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:11.519 In chapter one, the firstborn. 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:12.720 The preeminent one. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:13.840 There's only one God. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.120 He is who he is. 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.799 He does not share his glory. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:19.360 He is a jealous God and a consuming fire. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:23.360 Because if he shared his glory, the whole world would fall apart. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:23.919 Right? 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:28.960 Again, back in chapter one, it's God in Christ who holds everything together. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:37.519 In fact, sharing his glory with other gods is the very temptation that your Lord faced in the wilderness, or at least in part. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:45.919 Satan offered Jesus the whole world without the cross to share the glory with Satan. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.159 Or maybe just give all of it to him. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:49.519 It'd start there. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:52.159 He'd grab for more, right? 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:53.120 No. 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:54.720 No, no, no. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:56.240 Little Colossians. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:15:00.879 Dividing your worship between God and anything else. 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:02.399 It's bad news. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:04.000 It's bad news. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:08.879 God sends people into exile over that kind of thing. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:15.279 But now, on to humility, which is connected with humiliation, right? 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:18.960 The humble are the humiliated. 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:26.159 So then when somebody says they've humbled themselves, the effect is that they've humiliated themselves. 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:30.159 We don't usually put these two words together because we don't like it. 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:32.159 We're kind of independent people, right? 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.919 But they go together. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:38.080 Humility has more letters in common with humiliation than humble. 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:40.080 They're the same. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:41.120 They go together. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:45.919 We often separate them, and I understand why, but the people of the Old Testament did not. 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:48.799 Did not, hardly at all like we did. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:16:05.840 When Ezra and the people of Israel up with him went up from Babylonia into back to the promised land in chapter 8, Ezra says, Then I proclaimed a fast there before they set out, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:22.559 Fasting was this expression of self-humiliation, a way to communicate, perhaps, that God was so much higher than them, that they would wait upon his word, at the ready, ready for his instruction, so faithfully attentive to the Lord that they would stand ready apart from their food. 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:25.759 They'd stand there through lunch, were waiting upon the Lord. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:32.320 Imagine a faithful servant so submissive, he doesn't eat unless his leader, his master, or his God gives him leave. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:38.159 That's one part, maybe in a larger part than we usually give it credit, of the picture of fasting. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:41.679 Or another, Judges chapter 16. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:57.679 The Philistines came up to Delilah and said to her, Seduce Samson and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:00.320 Bind him to humble him. 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:03.360 And we'll give you 1100 pieces of silver. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:09.920 Samson was surely brought low by the Philistines, was he not? 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.920 A humiliated man. 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:14.640 His head shaved, his eyes plucked out. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:24.079 What about falling prostrate with one's face to the ground, a posture of such weakness that it leaves one defenseless and at another's mercy? 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:34.880 That's how Joseph's brothers humbled themselves when they returned to Egypt with Benjamin, fearful of death because they thought they'd accidentally stolen from Pharaoh. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:40.720 They humbled themselves, they fell on their faces, they were as low as the dirt before you. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:18:00.640 But all of these things, all of these things, to borrow a phrase, are just an outward expression of an inward reality. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:06.160 These are ways to say I'm humble by humiliating oneself. 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.279 Right? 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:14.160 Physical humiliation in these kind of ways is meant to point to a humility of the mind. 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:15.279 Right? 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:17.119 And that's what Paul's after here. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:20.240 That's why he uses the specific word, humble-mindedness. 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:29.759 And so it's not necessarily the acts of humiliation that Paul's after. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:35.680 He really is after this posture of the mind in the worship of angels. 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:40.799 Or at least with and the worship of angels. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:49.039 And so there is then a genuine, an inward, a true sense of humility of mind. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:57.920 That's wretched, it's idolatrous, miserable, pathetic, even. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:02.400 I'd like to show you an extended example. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:05.920 Would you turn with me to the book of 1 Samuel? 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:11.200 In chapter 9. 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:13.920 Book of 1 Samuel in chapter 9. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:26.480 Israel here at this point in the in the story has asked the Lord for a king. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:29.759 Samuel the prophet grows old. 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:32.880 We'll begin in verse 15. 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:36.319 1 Samuel chapter 9. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:51.039 Now, the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel, tomorrow about this time, I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:56.319 He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines, for I've seen my people because their cry has come to me. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:58.240 What a compassionate God. 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:04.240 But when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, Here is the man of whom I spoke to you. 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:07.039 He it is who shall restrain my people. 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:13.519 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, Tell me, where is the house of the seer? 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.880 Verse 19. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:18.160 Samuel answered Saul, I am the seer. 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:25.039 Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and tell you all that is on your mind. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:30.319 As for your donkeys that were lost two days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they've been found. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:34.000 And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.200 For whom is that? 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:37.839 Is it not for you and for all your father's house? 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:40.960 In other words, all of Israel's good things are yours already. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.960 Saul, you're gonna be the king. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:44.240 All of it's for you. 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:46.160 So don't worry about some donkeys. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.680 We'll take care of that. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.359 And Saul answers. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:51.039 Saul answers. 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.440 Verse 21. 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:57.279 Am I not a Benjamite? 00:20:57.599 --> 00:21:00.640 From the least of the tribes of Israel? 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:04.000 And is not my clan the humblest? 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.039 There it is, right? 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:08.160 The humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:10.559 Why have you spoken to me in this way? 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:16.319 After his anointed king, Saul's, of course, too humble to accept the position, right? 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:19.599 He hides in the baggage, his nation, his country. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:25.119 They call him to the highest and most noble forms of service, not just his nation, but his God. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.799 You want to talk about God and country? 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:32.960 God and country have called Saul by the casting of the lots and the word of the prophets to his duty. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:36.799 And he hides in the baggage. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:40.319 He's just, he's, this is a humble man. 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:44.400 But is it really humble to hide from God? 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:48.480 Then Saul goes up to fight the Philistines. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:49.680 Turn to chapter 13. 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.720 Goes up to fight the Philistines. 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:59.279 And in chapter 13, verse 8, he sins a little bit through there, right? 00:21:59.440 --> 00:21:59.839 Verse 9. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:05.200 Actually, verse 9, he sins grievously, for he does not offer the right sacrifices. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:09.519 But instead, Saul offers an unlawful sacrifice. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:13.039 He doesn't want the Lord to fail to save his neck. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:23.039 I mean, all of Israel's neck, but Saul's neck most of all, because he doesn't want the Lord to not come through because Samuel was late and didn't offer the sacrifices in time. 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:25.359 And so he does what he has to do. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:35.759 But notice, notice how quickly this man who defies God in disobedience humbles himself when Samuel arrives. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:39.039 You can almost hear him stammer in verse 11. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:47.119 I saw that the people were scattering, and I said to myself that this is going very badly, very badly indeed, and goodness me. 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:50.240 Being a little hyperbolic, but you get the point. 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:52.480 I hadn't sought the favor of the Lord. 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:55.519 So I offered, no, I forced myself. 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:57.039 I didn't want to do it, Samuel. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.400 Oh buddy, but I did. 00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:03.359 I forced myself to do the humble thing and offer the sacrifice. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:08.000 Samuel's not impressed by this show, and frankly, neither is the Lord. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:12.480 The kingdom will not remain with Saul's house forever. 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:16.720 You see this fake humility? 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.000 Lord. 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:22.400 This real humility? 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.440 What is it? 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:25.680 Turn to chapter 15. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.559 Chapter 15. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:41.599 Saul neglects, neglects to obey, he disobeys, rather, the command of the Lord in verse 3. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:47.200 God tells him to strike down the Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:52.880 But Saul keeps Agag their king alive, verse 8. 00:23:53.440 --> 00:24:01.680 As well as the best of the sheep and of the oxen, fine, the fattened calves too, and oh the lambs, sure, but just the nice ones, just the night, just the nice ones. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.599 The rest will devote to destruction. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:12.000 And the Lord sends Samuel to the scene, and hear the humility in Saul's words, verse 13. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:14.960 Saul says, I performed the commandment of the Lord. 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.480 I did it. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:21.759 And then Samuel asks after the bleeding of the sheep in his ears and the lowing of the oxen. 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:27.359 And Saul says in verse 15, Oh, that, that was the people, but I did the rest of it the right way. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:33.599 And then Samuel said to Saul, verse 16, Stop! Enough. 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:38.319 I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night. 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:43.680 And he asked, Why did you not obey the voice of the Lord? 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:47.039 Then in verse 20, Saul turns on the people. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:51.839 He doubles down and he hides behind the people he's supposed to protect. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.400 Right? 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:54.079 I've obeyed the voice of the Lord. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:55.599 I've gone on the mission. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:59.279 It was the people. 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:03.359 And then, yeah, there it is, verse 21. 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:04.960 But the people took of the spoil. 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:06.799 It was the people, Samuel. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:16.880 And so Samuel prophesies against Saul, concluding, Because you've rejected the word of the Lord, he also has rejected you from being king. 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.920 And Saul confesses. 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.880 Saul owns up, verse 24. 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:27.440 And frankly, apart from Saul's track record, it looks pretty good. 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:31.359 It looks like a good and honest and true confession in verse 24. 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:39.599 I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:40.559 He gets deep. 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:42.880 He gets underneath the surface of his sin, right? 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:45.440 He feared the people and obeyed, huh? 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:48.960 But then verse 25 starts to feel just a little funny. 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:50.319 Alright, he says that. 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:52.079 Says that in verse 24. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:54.720 Because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:59.759 Now, now, therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me. 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:03.680 It's like this that's settled. 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.960 Got that taken care of. 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:05.839 Let's just move on. 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.720 Let's just move on. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.440 Huh, Sam? 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:09.680 Can we just go back to like it was before? 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.960 And Samuel says no. 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:16.880 He turns to leave, but Saul's lost it. 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:19.119 It's over in this moment. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:24.480 And the king of Israel raised his hand against the prophet of the Lord. 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:29.839 From his knees, he seized the skirt of Samuel's robe to force the prophet. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.720 His robe tore. 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:35.920 And so the kingdom was torn from Saul. 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.519 It's really over. 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:40.640 Or is it? 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:42.799 Notice in verse 29. 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:49.359 After all of that, what's Saul's biggest concern? 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:51.599 What's Saul most worried about? 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:54.000 He says, I have sinned. 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.440 I know. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:27:01.759 Yet honor me now before the elders of my people. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:07.519 What a wretched picture of humility this is. 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:11.119 Saul, frankly, he does all the right things. 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:14.640 He confesses, he repents, he baldly acknowledges his sin. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:19.680 And yet, time and time again, Saul makes it clear his heart is not humble toward the Lord his God. 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:22.559 His heart is humble toward the people for fear of the people. 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:24.400 His heart is not humble toward the Lord his God. 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:26.640 His heart is humble towards his own throne. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:28.880 He's humble towards Samuel and the Lord. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:34.559 He'll humiliate himself if it helps him keep his position, if it helps him hold on to the nation. 00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:40.160 Because I think, you guys, I think Saul is most humble towards himself. 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:43.119 Towards himself. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:56.640 And simply groveling and abasing oneself for the fear of the consequences of your sin, like losing the kingdom or ruining your marriage, or flunking out of school, falling on your knees, squeezing out great tears. 00:27:56.880 --> 00:28:00.640 That's not a humility that pleases God. 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:04.240 It's a humility that pleases you. 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:14.000 A humility, to return to Colossians in our mind, that's a humility according to human traditions. 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:16.960 Your traditions. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:34.079 Making ready confession of your faults and weaknesses, being the first to tell people about your shortcomings because you hope they'll forgive you and forget about it and pretend like it never happened, like Saul, who let just a bit more slip out each time Samuel challenged him. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:38.960 And then when he finally fessed up, it was like Saul thought Samuel owed him his restoration. 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:43.680 That's, friends, that's not a humility that pleases the Lord, no. 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:47.119 Humility that uses people like that. 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:50.079 That's it's not God's way. 00:28:50.880 --> 00:29:01.279 It's not God's way, or merely bewailing your own sinfulness at the horror and the terror that you're more sinful than you realized you were. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:03.359 That also does not please God. 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.720 That's all Judas did. 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:12.240 That's all Judas did when he threw the silver back into the temple and fled to the field to mourn the ruin that he'd made of his life. 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.920 What have I done? 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:16.960 I can't believe I said that. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:21.519 How could I ever think that about my friend? 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:25.599 All three of those are about you and me. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:38.240 Saul's self-made humility, our self-made humility leads nowhere good. 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:48.640 Notice that Saul's wretchedness, maybe, led him to the same end as Judas. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:57.680 When Saul realized all of his pride and all of his foolishness was coming down on his head. 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:03.039 It's a wretched, a miserable humility. 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:06.480 Turn back to Colossians chapter 2 with me. 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:10.880 What's really going on? 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:15.680 What's really going on with this wretched humility? 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:18.160 It's a real humility, alright? 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:22.799 It's genuine self-abasement, it's a sincere lowliness of mind. 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:29.680 But dear friends, it's a humility before the wrong things. 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:36.400 It's a humility before idols crafted with your own ingenuity or your own hands. 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:42.000 The Colossian church was facing pressure to be more humble-minded. 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:45.039 Don't think you have it all figured out, those false teachers said. 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:47.119 The angels surely know better than we do. 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:49.920 These angels, they surely know better than we do. 00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:50.960 They pushed them. 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:52.880 False teachers pushed the Colossians. 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:54.000 Oh, come on. 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.240 Be more humble. 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:58.319 Don't think so much of yourselves. 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:58.960