1 Samuel
St. Paul's Anglican Church Chatswood - SermonsOctober 11, 201327:1723.02 MB

1 Samuel

1 Samuel

Speaker: Sam Low

Date: 12th October 2013

Passage: 1 Samuel 5:1-12


00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Father God, we thank you for bringing us together.
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 We thank you for gifting us in different ways
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 and for the chance to serve one another when we gather like this.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 Lord, I ask right now that you would speak, that it would be your words,
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 and that as we look at these passages in 1 Samuel,
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 that we would see you more clearly,
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 and the result would be we would love you rightly.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:19 Amen.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 Sometimes perception doesn't line up with reality.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:30 And this can be sometimes in good ways and sometimes in bad ways.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 It could be that you are driving and your perception is
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 that the gap is small enough for you to get through,
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 and reality may not be that.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 It could be something more personal.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 Your perception might be that you need to lose some weight
00:00:45 --> 00:00:46 to be attractive to other people,
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 but the reality might be far from that.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 Perception and reality don't always line up,
00:00:52 --> 00:00:56 and that's a problem if it's true of how we see God.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:01 If we are following a God who's more something that we've designed
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 in our own mind, a version of God, if you like,
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 than it is the God of the Bible,
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 then we set ourselves up for a fall.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:14 In 1 Samuel, Israel has been told that judgment is coming
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 as we work through these first four chapters,
00:01:16 --> 00:01:20 and we've seen the judgment in chapter 4 that we read last week
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 and in chapter 4.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 They've been told God's not happy,
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 but if you get to just before the bit that Ali read out,
00:01:28 --> 00:01:29 at the end of chapter 3,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 even though they've been told judgment is coming,
00:01:32 --> 00:01:36 from where they sit, their perspective is a little bit different.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 Everything still seems to be going okay.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 They're about to lose a significant battle,
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 but if you just, the day before the battle even,
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 they're living in the country they want to live in.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 Hophni and Phinehas are eating well as priests.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:52 They've got lots of girlfriends,
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 so they're happy with how things are going.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:55 Everything seems fine,
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 and so they hear God, judgment's coming,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 but their perspective is,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 we don't actually believe you,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:04 because life's good.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 And so their perception and their reality don't line up.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 Even though God's been revealing himself to Israel
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 right throughout their history,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:16 instead of listening,
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 they've kind of modelled their own version of him.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 They've come up with what they think he is like
00:02:22 --> 00:02:23 and how they think he should act,
00:02:23 --> 00:02:24 and what they've done
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 is they've made him accountable to them
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 instead of the other way around.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 They've kind of set what they think should be his agenda,
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 and basically what they think God should do
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 is whatever they want and when they want it.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 So if they want protection in a battle,
00:02:39 --> 00:02:40 that's what God is required to do.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 If they want food or riches,
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 that is what God is required to do.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 And the result, of course,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 of having that sort of a God
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 is they shout with confidence
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 when he enters the army's camp.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:53 Even having lost battle,
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 they get very, very excited.
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 I remember when I was much younger,
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 and I really emphasise much younger
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 because this story's a little on the embarrassing side,
00:03:03 --> 00:03:04 much younger,
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 I got invited to a formal with a girl that I kind of knew.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 She was a fairly attractive girl,
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 but I didn't know her very well,
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 and so it struck me as a little bit strange
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 that she had invited me to her formal.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 Now, the way my brain processed that was,
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 I must be a pretty attractive guy.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 Attractive girl asked me to the formal,
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 I don't know her well,
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 so she doesn't know if I'm funny or interesting
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 or boring or arrogant, as the case was.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 So, my conclusion was,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 I must be attractive.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 Now, what this did was
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 mean that I was very relaxed about the whole event.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:40 I thought, she's so into me
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 that I don't have to put any effort into this formal,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:42 I'll just rock up.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 And so, the date of the formal came around,
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 and so to prepare myself,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 aesthetically, I went for a surf.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 And then I got out of the water
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 about 20 minutes before I had to be at her house,
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 went past a mate's place,
00:03:56 --> 00:03:57 picked up a suit that sort of fit,
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 put a shirt on without a tie or a bow tie
00:04:00 --> 00:04:01 or anything like that.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 Didn't really feel like wearing leather shoes,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 so I put my just skate shoes on,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 on the bottom of the suit.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08 I thought, well, you know,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:08 she's into me,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 so it's not going to be an issue.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 And I arrived at the front door of her house,
00:04:14 --> 00:04:15 thinking she's just going to be so excited
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 that I'm here.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 She's probably feeling really privileged,
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 she's probably been counting down the days,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 she's probably got a calendar on a wall
00:04:22 --> 00:04:23 with crosses through it.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 And I walked in,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 and she kind of looked at me,
00:04:26 --> 00:04:26 didn't say anything,
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 and walked into the next room.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 And I discovered that she had spent
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 three hours at the hairdresser,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 had a headache because her hair
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34 was a little bit too tight,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 was looking amazing
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 in a fantastic formal dress
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 and other things.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:39 And actually,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:40 she wasn't that into me,
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 she just had a ticket,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 and the guy she'd asked couldn't go,
00:04:42 --> 00:04:43 and she thought,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 why not ask Sam?
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 He seems nice enough.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 The problem when we have a false perception
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 is that it leads to false confidence.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 If we have an understanding
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 of something that is incorrect,
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 we can set ourselves up for a fall.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 And in the same way,
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 Israel has this perception of God
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 that He needs them,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 rather than the other way around.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 They've kind of figured out
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 that God is somebody
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 who is as much dependent on them
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 as a country and on their army
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 as they are a nation
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 that's dependent on Him.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 And so they set themselves up for a fall.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 And what God does in this passage
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 is really important.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 It's more than just judgment
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 on Hophni and Phinehas,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 which we looked at a couple of weeks ago.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 We see the true character of God
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 come out in these verses in chapter 4.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 God would rather be shamed.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 That's what's happening here.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 Even though we know otherwise,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 everybody who heard about this battle
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 would have assumed that God lost.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 It's what the Philistines thought.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 It's what the other nations around
00:05:45 --> 00:05:45 would have thought.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 God would rather be embarrassed
00:05:47 --> 00:05:51 than confirm Israel
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 in their wrong perception of Him.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 He could have won the battle
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 and everybody else would have
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 continued to think God was great,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 but he was more interested
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 in correcting Israel's wrong perception
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 because God answers to no one.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 He doesn't answer to Israel.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 He doesn't answer to you.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 He doesn't answer to me.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 And He has His own agenda.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 Just because we might think
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 we know what God wants
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 and we know when God's going to work
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 or how God's going to work,
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 He has His own agenda.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 And it's been His agenda
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 since the beginning of creation
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 and it will be His agenda
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 until Jesus comes back.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 It's this.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 God wants to reveal His glory
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 and He wants to call people
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 into a relationship with Him.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 A right relationship,
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 not a relationship
00:06:36 --> 00:06:36 where we invent
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 what we think God is like,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 a relationship where we know Him
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 and we worship Him
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 and we obey Him.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 And if you're following
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 a version of God
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 that has more to do
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 with what you think
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 than it does to do
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 with what God
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 has shown Himself to be like,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 then on one level
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 you're following a false God.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 You could even say
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 you're not following any God at all.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 And the problem with that is
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 a false God or a fake God
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 can't do anything for you.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 There's this scary
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 but amazing passage
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 in the New Testament
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 where these people
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 are really confident
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 that they've been following God.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 They talk about the miracles
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 they did in God's name.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:22 They talk about
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 all the good deeds they did
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 and at the end of the passage
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 Jesus says,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:27 get away from me,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 I never knew you.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 If you have a fake idea
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 of God
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 close enough
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 is not good enough.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 There's great confidence
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 for those who know God
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 and His power in their life.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 That's what we looked at last week.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 At the confidence we have
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 with God's presence
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 and power working through us.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 But there's only pain
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 and frustration
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 if instead of following
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 the God of Scripture
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 you're following some sort of God
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 that you have control over,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 that you dictate to,
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 that you instruct.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 We need to look to the reality
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 of who God is
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 as He has revealed Himself
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 not as we decide
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 or we make up.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 The first danger
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 when perception and reality
00:08:13 --> 00:08:13 are different
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 is that false perception
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 leads to false confidence
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 and false confidence
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 leads to disaster.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 But the second danger
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 when we have perception
00:08:23 --> 00:08:23 and reality
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 that don't line up
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 concerning God
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 is the issue
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 that the Philistines face
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 in chapter 5.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 If your vision of God
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 is not the real vision of God,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 is not true reality,
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 then you will end up
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 replacing God
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 with a cheap substitute.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:40 The Philistines
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 had a vision of God
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 if you like,
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 a perception of Him
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 which assumed
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 that He had to defend Israel.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 That was their understanding
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 of how God's work.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 It's Israel's God
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 so He's bound,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:54 He's like contractually obligated
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 to win the battle for them.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 And so we know
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 they had a dodgy view of God
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 because just in the last chapter
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 they figured they could beat Him
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 just by manning up.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 So granting them
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 a little bit of grace
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 that they're not very sharp,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 they assumed
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 God's Israel
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 had to do certain things.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 They had an idea
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 of how God's worked,
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 they had an idea
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 of how their God's worked
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 and so they projected that
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 onto the God of Israel
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 and so when they win,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 for them
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 that confirms everything.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 Suddenly the God of Israel
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 Israel is pretty weak
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 because he's being beaten
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 by their God.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 That's their process
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 and so they bring
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 the ark
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 which represents God,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 they stick it in their God
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 Dagon's temple
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 almost like a trophy
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 to show off
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 how much better
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 their God is.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 Now the problem
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 with having wrong perceptions
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 of God
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 is that
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 when He doesn't live up
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 to those expectations
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 that we have
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 which are wrong expectations,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 then we start looking
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 somewhere else.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 for somebody
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 to meet those needs.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 But we somehow feel
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 like we've been let down
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 so we start looking
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 for something
00:09:59 --> 00:09:59 or someone else
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 that we can trust in
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 and in the end
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 we settle for something
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 less than God,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 something less powerful
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 than God,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 something that is actually
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 unable to help us.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 Now on one level
00:10:15 --> 00:10:15 I want to be sympathetic
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 to the Philistines
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 in this passage
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 because
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 our perceptions of God
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 are not very dissimilar
00:10:22 --> 00:10:22 to theirs.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 When we started this series
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 in 1 Samuel
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 looking at chapter 1
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 we asked the question
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 where is God
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 when things go wrong
00:10:30 --> 00:10:30 in my life?
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 That was our starting point
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 as we got into this book
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 and it resonates for us
00:10:35 --> 00:10:35 because we know
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 when things are bad
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 we want to shake our fist
00:10:38 --> 00:10:38 at God
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 and say fix it.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 Say this isn't fair.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 If you're God
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 and you're good
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 and you're powerful
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 fix this.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 When life is hard
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 we're tempted
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 to look for something else
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 to satisfy us.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 We're tempted
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 to find identity
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 in the job
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 that we have.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:54 We're tempted
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 to be fulfilled
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 in relationships
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 or in significance
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 or in money
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 or in power.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 When things aren't
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 going well
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 we sometimes think
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 alright God
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 you failed
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 I'll find something else.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 And that is exactly
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 what Israel does.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 Things have gone wrong
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 and so the Philistines
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 assume Israel's God
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 must be even lower
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 than their God
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 Dagon.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 But look at how
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 God responds
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 in verse 1.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 After the Philistines
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 had captured
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 the Ark of God
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 they took it
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 from Ebenezer
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 to Ashdod.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 Then they carried
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 the Ark
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 into Dagon's temple
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 and set it
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 beside Dagon.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 When the people
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 of Ashdod
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 rose early
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 the next day
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 there was Dagon
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 fall on his face
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 on the ground
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 before the Ark
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 of the Lord.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 They took Dagon
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 and put him back
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 in his place.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 But the following
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 morning when they
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 rose
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 there was Dagon
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 fallen on his face
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 on the ground
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 before the Ark
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 of the Lord.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 His head and hands
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 had been broken off
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 and were lying
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 on the threshold
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 only his body
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 remained.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 That's why to this
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 day neither the
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 priests of Dagon
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 nor any others
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 who entered
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 Dagon's temple
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 at Ashdod
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 step on the threshold.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 God's response
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 to being put on par
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 in fact being put
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 under this God
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 Dagon
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 is that the people
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 wake and find Dagon
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 flat on his face.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 In fact
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 this powerful
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 victorious God
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 Dagon
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 needs his people
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 to lift him up
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 and put him back
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 where he's supposed
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 to be.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 And just to make
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 sure that we're
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 really clear
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 the next day
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 he's not only
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 on his face
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 again
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 but he has no
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 hands
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 and no head.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 God's making
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 an example
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 of this pathetic
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 other God
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 which literally
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 hours earlier
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 the Philistines
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 would have been
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 celebrating
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 confident in.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 this Dagon
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 is now
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 headless
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 handless
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 and helpless.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 He has no power.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 He can't do
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 anything
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 he can't say
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 anything
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 and next to the
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 God of heaven
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 he's pathetic
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 he's just a statue.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 The God of the Bible
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 is not like us
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 he doesn't think
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 like us
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 he's not accountable
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 to us
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 and he doesn't
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 always work
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 in the way
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 that we would
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 expect him to
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 but that doesn't
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 mean he stopped
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 working.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 It doesn't
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 mean he has
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 lost power
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 it doesn't
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 mean he's
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 beaten
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 he doesn't
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 require an
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 army to
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 defend him
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 he doesn't
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 need to be
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 put back in
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 his place
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 when he
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 falls over
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 he doesn't
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 need his
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 people to
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 stroke his
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 ego so
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 that he
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 knows that
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 he's
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 loved
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 Israel's
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 God
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 our God
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 needs
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 nothing
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 even
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 without the
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 army he
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 is quite
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 capable of
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 defending
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 himself
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 look at
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 verse 6
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 the Lord's
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 hand was
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 heavy upon
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 the people
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 of Ashdod
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 and its
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 vicinity
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 he brought
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 devastation
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 upon them
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 and afflicted
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 them with
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 tumors
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 when the men
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 of Ashdod
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 saw what
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 was happening
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 they said
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 the ark
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 of the
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 God of
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 Israel
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 must not
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 stay here
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 with us
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 because
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 his hand
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 is heavy
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 upon us
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 and upon
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 Dagon
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 our God
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 so they
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 called together
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 all the
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 rulers of
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 the Philistines
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 and asked
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 them
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 what shall
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 we do
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 with the
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 ark of
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 the God
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 of Israel
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 and they
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 answered
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 have the
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 ark of
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 the God
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 of Israel
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 moved to
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 Gath
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 so they
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 moved the
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 ark of
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 the God
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 of Israel
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 now it
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 basically cycles
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 on
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 issues
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 bump it
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 to the
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 next town
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 more issues
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 bump it
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 to the
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 next town
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 but I
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 want to
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 show you
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 a couple
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 of things
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 really
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 importantly
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 Dagon
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 had no
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 head
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 and no
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 hands
00:14:21 --> 00:14:24 and straight
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 away we
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 hear about
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 a God
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 who does
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 have the
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 power to
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 act
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 did you
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 notice
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 that
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 Dagon
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 has his
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 head
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 and hands
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 removed
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 and in
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 verse 6
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 the first
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 thing we
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 hear is
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 that the
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 Lord's
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 hand
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 is heavy
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 upon the
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 people
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 of Ashdod
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 the writer
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 sets this
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 up on
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 purpose
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 in one
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 corner we've
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 got headless
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 handless
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 Dagon
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 the cheap
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 substitute
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 God
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 and then on the
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 other side we have
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 Yahweh
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 Israel's God
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 whose hand
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 is active
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 and heavy
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 and powerful
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 in judgment
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 on the
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 Philistines
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 the Philistines
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 are even
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 worried for
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 Dagon
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 now
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 quick send
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 God away
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 because Dagon
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 is struggling
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 while this
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 God is
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 around
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 God wins
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 the victory
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 that Israel
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 can't
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 he's not
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 just a
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 passive
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 bystander
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 while all
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 this is
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 going on
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 he used
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 the Philistines
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 to bring
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 judgment
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 on Israel
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 but now
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 he's showing
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 the Philistines
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 what true
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 reality is
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 just as he
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 would not
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 give in
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 to Israel's
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 false
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 perception
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 he will
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 not allow
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 the Philistines
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 to assume
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 that they
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 are more
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 powerful
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 than he
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 is
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 he will
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 not let
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 them think
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 that Dagon
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 is some
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 great and
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 mighty God
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 and so
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 true reality
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 in the words
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 of Hannah
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 from chapter
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 2
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 there is no
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 one holy
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 like the
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 Lord
00:15:37 --> 00:15:40 there is no
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 one like
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 our God
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 all creation
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 is his
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 all creation
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 answers to
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 him and
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 not by
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 strength
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 will one
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 prevail
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 when our
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 perception of
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 God doesn't
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 line up with
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 reality
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 it's easy
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 to settle
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 for a
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 cheap
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 substitute
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 when we
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 put wrong
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 expectations
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 on God
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 and then
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 feel like
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 he's let
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 us down
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 we are
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 tempted to
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 look for
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 other
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 substitutes
00:16:04 --> 00:16:07 but unfortunately
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 wherever we
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 look we get
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 disappointed
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 because all we
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 find are
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 headless
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 handless
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 helpless
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 powerless
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 cheap
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 imitations
00:16:16 --> 00:16:19 if our
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 perception of
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 God is
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 wrong
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 then like
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 Israel
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 it starts
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 to damage
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 the way
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 we interact
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 with him
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 the relationship
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 gets distorted
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 if God is
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 somebody who
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 needs my
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 help
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 then serving
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 him as
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 part of a
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 ministry or
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 church in
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 my life
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 obeying him
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 becomes something
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 that I do
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 for his
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 benefit
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 as a
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 favour to
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 him because
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 I'm just
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 that kind
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 of person
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 if God
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 is someone
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 who needs
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 my help
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 then instead
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 of trusting
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 him with
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 my life
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 I'll look
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 after me
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 and then
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 once that's
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 done I'll
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 see what
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 God needs
00:16:48 --> 00:16:51 but the
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 reality of
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 God is
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 shown here
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 again in
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 this passage
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 it's shown
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 over and
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 over through
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 all of
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 scriptures
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 and throughout
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 human history
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 God is in
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 control
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 God is
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 sovereign
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 he is
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 all powerful
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 all knowing
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 his love
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 is beyond
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 measure
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 and he is
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 good
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 and anything
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 that I offer
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 to God
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 any service
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 any obedience
00:17:13 --> 00:17:16 is for my
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 sake
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 not for him
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 anything that
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 I do for
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 God is a
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 gift from
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 him for
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 me
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 the opportunity
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 to obey
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 him
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 the opportunity
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 to know
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 him
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 the opportunity
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 to serve
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 him
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 the opportunity
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 to give
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 finances
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 all of it
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 is a gift
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 from God
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 for me
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 because our
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 God needs
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 nothing
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 all creation
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 is his
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 already
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 all creation
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 will answer
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 to him
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 ultimately
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 and so we
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 must not
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 let our
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 perceptions
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 block our
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 view of the
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 reality of
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 God
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 when we see
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 who he
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 really is
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 we get
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 released from
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 these delusions
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 of self
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 importance
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 and instead
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 we can replace
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 that with the
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 joy of security
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 in a God
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 who is good
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 and a God
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 who is in
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 control
00:18:05 --> 00:18:08 when perception
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 and reality
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 don't line up
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 we get into
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 trouble
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 but that begs
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 the question
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 how do we
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 focus on
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 reality
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 how do we
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 avoid the
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 perceptions
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 which our
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 society is
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 filled with
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 well let me
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 suggest two
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 things
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 I'm sure that
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 many of you
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 are familiar
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 with the
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 story of
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 Troy
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 whether you're
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 familiar with
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 the mythology
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 version or the
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 Brad Pitt version
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 doesn't really
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 matter
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 the point
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 of it is
00:18:33 --> 00:18:35 that the
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 Greeks are at
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 war with the
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 Trojans
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 and the
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 battle's been
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 raging and
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 raging and so
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 the Greeks
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 come up with a
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 plan
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 let's pretend
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 that we've
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 left
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 let's leave
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 this statue
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 of a horse
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 as like an
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 offering
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 and they
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 stick some
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 soldiers hiding
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 inside it
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 and the
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 Trojans come
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 down to the
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 beach the
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 next morning
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 and think
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 we've won
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 we're fantastic
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 let's take
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 this statue
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 up inside
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 our city
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 walls
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 and celebrate
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 this victory
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 that we've
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 had
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 and sure
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 enough that
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 night the
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 soldiers sneak
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 out open the
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 gates and the
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 entire Greek
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 army descends
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 on Troy and
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 destroys it
00:19:10 --> 00:19:13 two things when
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 it comes to
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 focusing on
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 reality beware
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 false victory
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 just like the
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 Trojan Israelites
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 marched off into
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 battle in chapter
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 four assuming
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 that victory was
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 good
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 assuming that
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 victory was
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 guaranteed because
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 up to this
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 point life was
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 going fine
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 up to this
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 point nothing
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 bad had
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 happened and
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 so they
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 assumed that
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 meant God
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 endorsed the
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 way they were
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 living they
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 assumed that
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 meant everything
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 was fine it's
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 the same with
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 the Philistines
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 they win a
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 battle against
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 Israel and
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 they assume
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 that means
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 Dagon is
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 equally powerful
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 with Israel's
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 God but
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 both times the
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 victories proved
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 to be false
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 proved to be
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 short-lived
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 Israel's confidence
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 is defeated by
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 the Philistines
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 and in turn the
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 Philistines are
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 afflicted by
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 God
00:20:01 --> 00:20:04 beware false
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 victories
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 so often in our
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 lives and in the
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 lives of those
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 around us we
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 let our
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 situation and
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 our circumstance
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 dictate our
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 perception of
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 God
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 so if life is
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 good that means
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 God's good
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 that means God's
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 happy with me
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 if life's bad
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 either God's
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 powerless to fix
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 it or he's not
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 good or he
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 doesn't care
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 and so our
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 situation dictates
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 what we think
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 God is like
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 but learn the
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 lesson from
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 Israel beware of
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 false victories
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 don't let the
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 situation dictate
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 your circumstance
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 there is another
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 parable that Jesus
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 tells in Luke 16
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 about a rich man
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 and a beggar
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 the rich man is
00:20:45 --> 00:20:47 wealthy and the
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 story describes him
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 as being someone who
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 enjoys fine foods
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 and fine things in
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 all of his life
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 and Lazarus is a
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 beggar who sits
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 outside this rich
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 man's house
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 begging for
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 anything even the
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 scraps from this
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 rich man's table
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 and to look at the
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 two it would be
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 easy to guess that
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 maybe God is happier
00:21:03 --> 00:21:05 with the rich man
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 than he is with
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 this beggar
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 even the dogs
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 lick the sores of
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 Lazarus
00:21:09 --> 00:21:11 and then it fast
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 forwards to the
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 end
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 Lazarus sits in
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 heaven with God
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 and the rich man
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 is in hell
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 begging for
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 relief
00:21:19 --> 00:21:22 God is good
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 God is powerful
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 and he is
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 fulfilling his
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 plan whether it
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 looks like that to
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 us or not
00:21:29 --> 00:21:31 his will of
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 revealing himself
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 and calling people
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 into a relationship
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 with himself
00:21:35 --> 00:21:38 will not fail
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 no matter how
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 it looks
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42 we must be
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 careful
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 not to be
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 convinced by
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 false victory
00:21:46 --> 00:21:49 even as Israel
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 fails to be the
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 instrument that
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 reveals God to
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 the nations around
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 he is still
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 revealed
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 we finished last
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 week with a sad
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 conclusion from the
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 woman giving birth
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 that the glory has
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 departed Israel
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 just a couple of
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 verses later we
00:22:03 --> 00:22:05 find that glory being
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 revealed in the
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 temple at Ashdod
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09 God reveals that he
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 is still in control
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 he is still more
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 powerful than
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 whatever else anyone
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 may put their trust
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 in regardless of
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 how it might look
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 God is fulfilling
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 his plan and
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 purpose and even
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 in our world which
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 denies that God is
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 even there God
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 will have his way
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29 even in a world
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 full of wrong
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 perceptions about
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 God eventually all
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 will see him all
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 will recognize him
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 all will bow before
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 his majesty and
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 his holiness
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 how do we focus on
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 reality we beware of
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 false victories
00:22:45 --> 00:22:48 and secondly we look
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 to the place where
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 God has revealed
00:22:50 --> 00:22:53 himself we look to
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 Jesus in Hebrews
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 chapter 1 says that
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 in the past God
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 spoke to our
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 ancestors through the
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 prophets at many
00:22:59 --> 00:23:01 times and in various
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 ways but in these
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 last days he's spoken
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 to us by his son
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 whom he appointed
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 heir of all things
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 and through whom he
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 made the universe
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 the sun is the
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 radiance of God's
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 glory and the exact
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 representation of his
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 being
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 Colossians 1
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 the sun is the
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 image of the
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 invisible God
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 John 1
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 no one has ever
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 seen God but the
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 one and only son who
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 is himself God and
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 is in closest
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 relationship with the
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 father has made him
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 known
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 in Jesus you see God
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 shining brightest
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 if you want to see
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 the reality of God
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 there is only one
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 place to look and
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 that is where God
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 has shown himself
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 and that is in
00:23:40 --> 00:23:42 Jesus his power
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 his love his
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 righteous judgment
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 his patience with
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 sinful people his
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 provision his
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 faithfulness it's all
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 on display in Jesus
00:23:50 --> 00:23:52 life and death on
00:23:52 --> 00:23:55 the cross now for
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 everyone else the
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 cross looks like the
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 moment where God
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 loses for the
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 Romans at that point
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 that was where they
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 stamped out this
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 annoying little sect
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 that was starting up
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 this new church this
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 new religion for the
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 Jewish leaders they
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 finally got rid of
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 the competition for
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 Satan he thought he'd
00:24:11 --> 00:24:14 won as Jesus hung
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 there dying it looked
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 like God was either
00:24:17 --> 00:24:20 powerless or he didn't
00:24:20 --> 00:24:24 care but beware false
00:24:24 --> 00:24:27 victory in the empty
00:24:27 --> 00:24:29 tomb God is vindicated
00:24:29 --> 00:24:32 not even death can stop
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 God's plan not
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 not soldiers not
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 plotting politicians
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 not rebellious people
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 nothing can stop the
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 will of God
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 nothing can stop what
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 he is doing and his
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 will is that all
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 might see his glory and
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 honor him as God
00:24:47 --> 00:24:50 that is his plan that is
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 his desire and the joy
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 for us is that the
00:24:53 --> 00:24:55 reality of who God is
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 far exceeds any
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 perception that we
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 might invent God is
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 more loving than we
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 hope God is more
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 powerful than we
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 imagine God is more
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 in control than we
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 can begin to
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 understand our false
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 perceptions of God
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 fall so far short of
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 who he really is the
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 watered-down versions
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 miss out on so much
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 goodness and holiness
00:25:19 --> 00:25:24 and love and mercy if
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 your perception of God
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 doesn't drive you to
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 your knees in humble
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 dependence on his
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 power while at the
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 same time drive you
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 into the air leaping
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 for joy and singing
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 with thankfulness in
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 light of his unfailing
00:25:37 --> 00:25:40 love then look again
00:25:40 --> 00:25:43 look again at Jesus
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 look again at the
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 empty cross and the
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 empty tomb look again
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 at the risen Savior look
00:25:50 --> 00:25:53 again at God because
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 the reality far exceeds
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 any perception that we
00:25:57 --> 00:26:00 could invent far exceeds
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 any vision we might
00:26:01 --> 00:26:07 hope for look again at
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 Jesus
00:26:07 --> 00:26:12 Father God we thank and
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 praise you that you
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 have chosen to reveal
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 yourself that we don't
00:26:15 --> 00:26:17 have to guess at what
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 you're like but God we
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 want to confess that when
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 things don't go our way
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 when things aren't
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 exactly the way we want
00:26:23 --> 00:26:25 them to be that so often
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 we begin to doubt you
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 God help us to see in
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 Jesus the limitless love
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 that you have for us
00:26:31 --> 00:26:33 help us to trust your
00:26:33 --> 00:26:35 goodness and your power
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 and your sovereignty
00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 God if there are blind
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 spots in our vision of
00:26:39 --> 00:26:41 you if there are things
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 that are wrong about the
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 way that we see you and
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 the way that we love you
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 and the way that we
00:26:45 --> 00:26:47 follow you show us
00:26:47 --> 00:26:50 Jesus help us to see you
00:26:50 --> 00:26:52 clearly so that we might
00:26:52 --> 00:26:54 love you as you deserve
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 and so that we might
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 know the joy that is
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 only found in the one
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 true God
00:26:59 --> 00:27:02 Father we thank you that
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 in Jesus we pray
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 confident
00:27:03 --> 00:27:07 in Jesus we know that it
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 is done
00:27:07 --> 00:27:10 in Jesus our hope is
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 secure
00:27:10 --> 00:27:13 Father open our eyes
00:27:13 --> 00:27:15 help us to look again
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 Amen
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 Amen
00:27:17 --> 00:27:19 God right
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 Amen
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 Amen
00:27:21 --> 00:27:25 Amen
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 Amen
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 Amen
00:27:26 --> 00:27:28 Amen
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 Amen
00:27:30 --> 00:27:32 Amen
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 Amen
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 Amen
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 Amen
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 Amen
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 Amen
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 Amen
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 Amen
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 Amen
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 Amen
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 Amen
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 Amen
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 Amen
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 Amen
00:27:41 --> 00:27:43 Amen
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 Amen
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 Amen
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 Amen
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 Amen
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 Amen
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 Amen