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Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Good morning. We are glad to be gathered to worship this morning. We're going to begin with a word of prayer and then a reading from the 63rd Psalm. Father in heaven, I thank you for your salvation. I thank you for your patience. I thank you for your goodness. So I ask as we gather for worship this morning That you would give us strength That you would help us to see those areas in life That we need to turn away from And that you would call us to turn to you Help us to see your goodness and your grace We thank you for how you have worked in our lives We just ask that you be with us as we worship together It is in Jesus' name we pray, amen We're going to begin this morning by reading from the 63rd Psalm, and as we move into our

second to last sermon, from this section of the book of Samuel, we are going to see the beginnings of repentance and restoration and the salvation of God on behalf of His people. And so as Samuel calls the Israelites to turn their hearts toward God, we want to do The same thing for us as we begin to worship. So we're going to stand, and let's read from the 63rd Psalm together. O God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live.

In your name I will lift up my hands. This is the word of the Lord. So we're going to start by singing the Lion and the Lamb, this picture from the book of Revelation that pictures both the strength and the power of Jesus and also his humility and sacrifice on our behalf followed by singing The Battle Belongs One minute. All right. I'm going to restart this. Let's see if I'm fine.

He's coming on the clouds Kings and kingdoms will bow down Every chain will break His broken hearts declare His praise Who can stop the Lord Almighty? Our God is the Lion, the Lion of Judah. He's roaring with power and fighting our battles. Every knee will bow before Him. Our God is the Lamb, the Lamb that was slain. For the sins of the world, His blood breaks the chains. Every knee will bow before the lion and the lamb. Every knee will bow before his. Open up the gates. Make way before the king of kings. God who comes to save is here to set the captives free. Who will stop the Lord Almighty? Our God is the Lion, the Lion of Judah He's roaring with power and fighting our battles Every knee will bow before Him Our God is the Lamb, the Lamb that was slain

For the sins of the world, His blood breaks the chains Every knee will bow before the lion and the lamb Every knee will bow before him Who can stop the Lord Almighty? Who can stop the Lord Almighty? Who can stop the Lord Almighty? Who can stop the Lord? Our God is the lion, the lion of Judah He's roaring with power and fighting our battles Every need will bow before Him Our God is the lamb, the lamb that was slain For the sins of the world His blood breaks the chains Every knee will bow before the lion and the lamb Every knee will bow before Him

When all I see is the battle, you see my victory When all I see is the mountain, you see a mountain moved And as I walk through the shadow, your love surrounds me There's nothing to fear now For I am safe with you So when I fight I'll fight on my knees With my hands lifted high Oh God, the battle belongs to you And every fear I lay at your feet I'll sing through the night Oh God, the battle belongs to you And if you are for me Who can be against me?

For Jesus, there's nothing impossible for you. When all I see are the ashes, you see the beauty. When all I see is a cross, God, you see the empty tomb.

So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees with my hands lifted high. Oh, God, the battle belongs to you. And every field I lay at your feet, I'll sing through the night. Oh, God, the battle belongs to you.

Almighty fortress, you go before us. Nothing can stand against the power of our God. You shine in the shadow, you win every battle. Nothing can stand against the power of our God. Almighty fortress, you go before us. Nothing can stand against the power of our God You shine in the shadow You win every battle Nothing can stand against the power of our God So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees With my hands lifted high Oh God, the battle belongs to you In every field I lay at your feet I'll sing through the night Oh God, the battle belongs to you Oh God, the battle belongs to you you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm here to come to the table this morning and sing a glorious day.

One day when heaven was filled with His praises, one day when sin was as black as could be, Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin, dwelt among men, my example is He. The Word became flesh and the light shined among us. His glory revealed. Living, He loved me. Dying, He saved me. Married, He cared me. My sins far away. Rising, He justified. Freely, forever. One day, He's coming. Oh glorious day, oh glorious day One day they led him up Calvary's mountain One day they nailed him to die on a tree Suffering anguish, despised and rejected Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree And took the nails for me Living He loved me, dying He saved me Buried he carried, my sins far away Rising he justified, freely forever

One day he's coming, oh glorious day Oh glorious day One day the grave could conceal him no longer One day the stone rolled away from the door Then he arose over death he had conquered now is ascended my Lord evermore death could not hold him the grave could not keep him rising again living he loved me dying he saved me buried he carried my sins far away Rising he justified freely forever One day he's coming Oh glorious day Oh glorious day Glorious day One day the trumpet will sound for His coming One day the skies with His glories will shine Wonderful day my beloved one bringing My Savior Jesus is mine Living He loved me Dying, He saved me. Buried, He carried my sins far away. Rising, He justified freely forever. One day, He's coming. Oh, glorious day.

Oh glorious day, oh glorious day, oh glorious day. Beginning to come to the realization of something that Rachel has been telling me probably for about two years is that I think I might finally need new glasses. I've been in denial about this for a very long time. Yesterday, as we were singing at this funeral, we were singing out of hymn books, and so Rachel was holding it kind of out here, and I'm like, I can't really see it from here. So I was like, well, I'll take my glasses off, and then I'll be able to see it, because usually that helps, and unfortunately, I couldn't see it then either, and so thankfully, these were songs that I had sung most of my life, and so I knew most of the words, but I began to realize that I could not see quite as clearly as I had thought,

and maybe Rachel was right all along. I've learned that about a lot of areas of life. As we come to the Lord's Supper, when Spurgeon speaks of this meal for the church, one of the ways that he explained it to his church is that this is a moment like glasses that help us see clearly. He refers to them as speckles. He says the bread and the cup help us and focus us, and they help us to see clearly who Jesus is. Paul, in 1 Corinthians, the 11th chapter, in a very familiar passage, says, For what I received from the Lord, that which I also delivered to you, the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, which is for you. Do this and remember it to me.

In the same way, also, he took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it. remembrance of him. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. And as we partake of bread and cup this morning, one of the ways that it helps us to see clearly is it turns our eyes toward the cross. We see the body and the blood of Jesus that was given in our place for our sins. So that through grace and mercy, we can stand in the presence of God without all those things we see in Genesis 3, behind the excuses. So because of the cross of Jesus, we can stand before God. But it also turns us, not just to the cross, but it turns us to a day in the future.

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. That this is a proclamation, that our hope is continual, that it's ongoing. That as we celebrate and partake in our nourishment of this meal, our hope is not simply in the past, but it is in the present and in the future. One of the issues in the Corinthian church is they part up in this community that surrounded them. Some were struggling in regards to lunch. Some were struggling in regards to not enough. Paul says, wait for one. In the very next part of this letter, he reminds them of their community. For just as the body is one, it has been done. All the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

For in one spirit, all were baptized in one body, Jews, Greeks, and slaves. And all were made to be treated with one spirit. So as we partake in this world, we look at the cross for our salvation. We look to the return of Jesus and the hope. I look around at our brothers and sisters who are trying to say that we are not alone. Father, I thank you for your work, for your spirit, for your son. I thank you for being a prophet. We are taken together to be a spirit and a grace. Help us to see you in the use of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You would understand the suffering, just a small way of what took place in our life. You would encourage our lives, our lives, our strength, our kindness, our gain, our love, our love. I ask that you bless this bread, Mr. God. May we proclaim Jesus in His name.

Take bread with me, as Paul says, reminded us of what Jesus said. This is my body. This cup, which is the new covenant in the blood of Jesus.

As we remember, we also proclaim that our hope is not in the things of this world or in our accomplishments or in our strength or in our goodness, but our hope is in Jesus, in salvation and in his return. So we proclaim that, not just in this moment, but in all of us. So just a picture of where we're going this Sunday and next Sunday. We are finishing up this first section in 1 Samuel. We're just going to spend the summertime. And so this is kind of the natural breaking point in the book is 1 Samuel chapter 7. So we're going to talk, first of all, about the repentance that we see happening in Israel this week. And then we will come back again to this chapter next week and take a look at some water and a lamb and an altar.

and the wonderful pictures of symbolism that are present in this repentance that are so wonderfully encouraging and helpful. So if you want to turn and follow along, you can do so. There's a handout in the bulletin, or in 1 Samuel chapter 7, we'll have some of these verses on our screen as we walk through this story. So let's pray before we dive into it. Father in heaven, thank you for watching over us. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for this call to repentance. Help us to see. Don't break through your knees. Don't throw out every place. so help us this morning repentance in our life all of our heart, soul, strength, mind if we are discouraged this morning look at the brokenness of the world even in the darkest moments In gravity and sin, there is hope.

Help us as we see this picture quietly in the midst of the service of this Lord. Call us to live like sinners. Live like sinners. Quietly, faithfully. We need it in those times. So, encourage our hearts. Draw us new. Bring us new repentance. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. There are, for most of us, probably a lot of ways we can find ourselves in trouble. And I think, maybe surprising to some, but I think over the years I've probably discovered most of the ways, maybe not all of them, but a lot of the ways that you can get yourself in trouble. Sometimes we find ourselves in trouble just simply because of the ignorance. We don't think about what's happening. Maybe we don't understand what's happening. Maybe it's just the fact we don't know. And I think about this, and it happens to me almost every year,

that first day where it gets down really, really cold below freezing just for a little while, and I walk out the steps of the house, and almost every year without fail, that front edge of our steps because of the moisture in the air is just a pure edge of ice, and you can't really see it, and you don't really think about it, and you come out and your foot hits that, and there's just that moment of panic. I didn't know about it, didn't know the steps were icy, but come out and find myself in trouble. But then there's times we can find ourselves in trouble because we take on or try to carry more than we are able to. You might find yourself in a church utility room, and you're working on the new hot water heater that's kind of on demand but kind of gone,

and maybe the bracket was a little wiggly, and you go to try to straighten it on the bracket. Next thing you know, the hot water heater has fallen, and you're holding it. And it's not just the hot water heater, but the eight gallons of water. And all the plumbing is attached to it, so you don't want to drop it. And your phone with those fancy voice-activated features is somehow in your office with the door closed. And all of a sudden, you realize maybe you've bit off a little bit more than you should. And so sometimes we find ourselves in trouble if we take on more than we can. Or maybe we find ourselves in trouble because of our pride, right? My urgent appointment, it matters more than the speed limit and the safety of everyone else on the road.

And so now instead of me being five minutes late, right, you're 20 minutes late, you're having a conversation with a dying community. Sometimes we end up in trouble because we're scared. And we don't know how to react. A couple months ago, or maybe last year, we were helping with the horse, the girl's horse riding lessons. His legs had been cut, and I was holding the front of this horse as they were trying to kind of disinfect and clean those cuts. And she didn't know what was going on. All she knew was her, and she started rearing up, and she was terrified. Everybody's running away. That's not a reaction that she needs to the horse. So this morning, we probably can identify with some of these ways of getting in trouble. Probably some of you can add to them as well.

But the kind of trouble that I want us to see in 1 Samuel chapter 7 is that it's not lighthearted. It's not a joke. It's not something that we can kind of look back on in the future and laugh about. The kind of trouble we find ourselves in this text that we see throughout much of 1 Samuel is a blatant rejection. And as 1 Samuel chapter 7 opens, you find God's people are no longer worshipping in Shiloh. This is because Shiloh has been destroyed by the Philistines. The Ark of the Covenant, which testifies to God's presence and to God's power and God's provision for his people, is on a house, in a house on a hill in Kirith-Jerim. 1 Samuel 7 says this, In that day the Ark was lodged in Kirith-Jerim. A long time passed, some 20 years,

And all of the house of Israel has lamented after 20 years, between the end of 1 Samuel chapter 6 and the beginning of 1 chapter 7. And Israel finds itself in home. Not because they tried to handle too much or they didn't understand, but they have blatantly turned their back. And what we will find is that sin isn't just about a rule or a policy that we bring. It's about a rejection of the one who has created us, who knows us, and who loves us, and says, here is the way in which to live, in which will bring you joy and a relationship with me. And we respond sort of sarcastically with, great, I know more than you do. I don't care about you, and I'm going to do my own thing regardless of what you say.

And this is interesting because this doesn't happen all at once, right? It's a gradual decline over time. It's a little decision after a little decision. Nobody wakes up one morning worshiping God and then by afternoon goes, you know what, I'm going to turn my back on him and I'm going to dive headfirst into sin and I'm going to adopt the idolatrous practices of the nations that surround me, and I am going to ignore God. That's not what happens in Israel, and it's not what happens in God. You see, our little decisions matter. Because over time, they add out big decisions. And so throughout the book of 1 Samuel, we've seen this sort of gradual decline. This book doesn't begin with blatant disregard for God and his worship. In fact, it begins with the opposite. It begins very quietly with a family who comes to worship God in Shiloh.

And they're not a perfect family. There are problems with this family. They have not been faithful in all areas of their life. But by and large, the picture is this, that they seek God faithfully and sacrificially year after year after year. And in this family, there's a lady named Hannah. She comes to worship God with her open heart. And in verse 10 of chapter 1, you find her at the door of the tabernacle, and she's just pouring out her heart to God. And this is where we begin to glimpse the spiritual decline of God's people. Not in Hannah, but in Eli the priest. You see, the Eli the priest, the one who is to shepherd and care for God's people, sees this woman, and he doesn't identify her sorrow and her sadness. In fact, he doesn't even speak to her. He just assumes that she's drunk. So Eli, daily assuming she's drunk, begins.

Now, this does say something about the general condition and spiritual issues in Israel. Because if that's his first conclusion, what do you think Eli's experience has been to the important chapter? If this is the first thing that he jumps to when he sees strange behavior, it's likely that this has happened before. That those who have enjoyed too much wine or have sought their own pleasure have come and they're behaving badly. You're glimpsing in Eli's reaction not just the decline in the leadership of God's people, but in God's people themselves. What's interesting, as Eli begins to engage with Hannah, and they begin to talk, it becomes very clear that there is a difference between Eli and Hannah. That Hannah, as she pours out her heart, she speaks to God. She's speaking to him, and Eli, as he speaks, he knows.

But he doesn't necessarily know God's heart. And there are the first contrasts, one of the first contrasts in this book is he and us, we know God's grace about God. And so the problem of the heart for Eli is that his knowledge of God has simply become a list of facts. But also his sons have been terrible priests. They steal from God's people. They threaten God's people. They live in morally taking advantage of those women who serve at the entrance of the tabernacle. And I don't think they end up there all at once. But likely, Eli, who knows a lot about God, doesn't know God himself. He doesn't even know a lot about God. They begin to compromise. We see the result of that in chapter 2. And what's interesting is Eli calls his sons to account in chapter 2.

It seems his primary problem is not that they are disrespecting God. It's not that they are stealing from God. It's not that they're taking advantage of these women who have come to serve in the temple. His primary problem is that everybody is talking bad about his family. And it's embarrassing. And we see a few minutes later and a few verses later that he understands this. In a brief sort of moment of clarity, he says, Who can stand between a man and God when his sons don't listen? In chapter 3, you find this sad common care among the people of God. Now, the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli, and the word of the Lord was rare in those days, and there was no frequent vision. The people have not sought God, they have not heard God.

And before long, Israel is threatened by the Philistines. And in desperation, they bring the Ark of the Covenant in hopes that it will bring them victory. They don't pray. They don't seek God. They simply treat God as a good luck charm for the coming battle. And what you find is the Ark is lost. Eli, the blind watchman standing at the road, Just as he's been a blind shepherd, his physical vision is a picture of his spirit. He dies. His son is a God. The last words of his daughter-in-law is the glory of the heart of Israel. The heart of God has been created. This lady, in her sorrow, she means the glory of his heart. The ark will remain with the Philistines for the next seven months, and eventually they return it. Now here in chapter 6, it seems like things have taken a turn.

The people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, so it's a good day. The harvest is coming in. You're going to be able to eat. You're going to be able to celebrate. And they lift up their eyes, and they saw the ark, and they rejoiced to see it. And we say, man, everything's going the right way. There's a harvest. The ark has returned. God's people are rejoicing. But what we find, these people who are Levites specifically, of the division of Levites who are to deal with the Ark of the Covenant, to carry it and protect it, we treat the Ark so disrespectfully. We treat it like a good luck charm or like a kind. Chapter 6 ends with God's book, 7 of these.

What's supposed to be a joyous moment is turned to sorrow. And the heart is sent away in 20 years of silence. It doesn't happen all at once. It's a compromise here and a compromise there. I mean, for long, everything is broken. And it's not just them, it's us. The Lord Isaiah says, all we are glad that we have lost. And so we have come to the middle of this place where their decisions, little decision after little decision, has brought them to darkness. And we come to 1 Samuel chapter 7. From the day the ark was lodged at Kireth-Jerim, a long time past, some 20 years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. Now this doesn't sound like there's a lot of hope. God's people are far from him. And maybe we look at our life and we feel like we're far from him as well.

What kind of hope can there be? First of all, we see that there is hope. Providence. What is happening in Israel during this decline into sin and idolatry? The first thing we see is that there are still people who are faithful to God, and they are quietly faithful. In fact, the book begins with this family, Elkanah, who consistently worshiped and sacrificed to God. This unknown prophet in chapter 2 and verse 27 who brings a message from God. Samuel, after these 20 years of silence, has been serving God. In fact, at the end of his line, here's what he says. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me, that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. And at the end of his life, he says, I'm not dead yet, and I'm going to keep praying for you,

and I'm going to keep instructing you just as I have my entire life. And I imagine through these 20 years, he was quietly and faithfully praying and pouring his heart out for God, just like his mother did. Not for a child, but for the salvation of God's children. We find that in the Samuel 7, he's been on a circuit-riding preacher, and I imagine that is not even for Samuel 7. you see in the midst of this darkness there are still people who are quietly additionally we see that God has been at work even in the midst of all the idolatry and all the disobedience one of the ways he's been at work is in the life of Samuel now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of eli beginning of chapter three and the word of

Lord was rare in those days, and there was no frequent vision. Nobody is hearing from God. And by the end of chapter 3, hear the difference. And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord. And what we find is even as Eli's sons are treating God and his people with contempt, God is working to establish Samuel as a prophet by the word of the Lord. And we've seen hints of this hope. In fact, this is one of the biggest hints of this hope, but in 1 Samuel chapter 7, we see it realized.

Samuel said to the house of Israel, if you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve Him only. And He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreth and they serve the Lord only. I want you to think about this. How could Samuel have responded? It's been 20 years, 20 years where the people are not worshiping God. They're worshiping on us. 20 years since the ark has gone into exile with the Philistines, come back, and they have treated the ark with such a disgraceful manner. 70 have died, and now the ark is in somebody's house on a hill. There's just that silence.

I don't know about you, but my first response might be, I told you so, right? That would be my first sermon. Everybody shows up and goes, what do we do? And I go, well, let's take a look at what I've said previously, right? It would be so easy for Samuel to simply say, I told you so. Or angrily, like if you idiots would have listened, or passively, aggressively, right? Oh, now you want to follow God. Or maybe you cried, where were you in the last 20 years where I was walking faithfully with God? Because I taught you and I prayed for you what you find. He doesn't say, I told you so. He doesn't pat himself on the back. Instead, he says, return to the Lord with all your heart. He's pleading with them and instructing them.

And in these words, there is such wonderful hope. If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away your foreign gods from among you. Direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only. There is hope. You're lost in your strength. The first thing Samuel says is, he says, turn. And the picture here is that you're changing course. They have been pursuing their own desires through these false gods. And he says, put him down and turn around. And there is hope. We might look at these people if we were in Samuel's shoes and say, they're too far gone. It's been two decades. How can God forgive? How can God restore? But there is hope. I love this picture. There is hope for those who are lost in strength. But there's also hope for those who are longing to speak to the lives of those that they love.

Say, after 20 years, well, you really messed up. There's nothing that we can do. There is repentance. And maybe you are and have been pouring your heart out to God in the prayer that he would bring repentance and transformation into the life of someone you love. And it feels like it's on and on. Samuel's been there. For 20 years, he has served God quietly and faithfully, praying and teaching God's people. And after 20 years, they're coming back. There's not just hope for the lost. There's hope for those who desire the salvation of the lost. And there is hope for those who feel alone. I quietly think for these 20 years, we know that we're there. Do you know what God says to Elijah? As he says, I'm the only one. And God says, not just you, but I've got 10,000 who have not bowed and need to bail.

We tend to see all the broken things. We know that there are people who are quiet and faithful. And they are not alone. God, it's still a word that he's told. From this hope, this hope for the lost, this hope for those who desire the salvation of the lost, the hope for those who feel alone and feel like their labor is so small and there have been no results and they're too weak and it's not big enough. Samuel says there's hope and then he calls to you. Let's hear his call of repentance. And it's remarkable in its simplicity. Samuel said to the house of Israel, he says, If you want to return to the Lord, if you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, first of all, put away the foreign gods, direct your heart to the Lord,

and serve all of you. Right? The calling of Jesus is so simple but also so beautiful and also so transformational, right? Put those down, turn toward God, and run to him with all your might, not just in your thoughts or your feelings, but in your actions as well. See, repentance includes our head, our mind, our thoughts, our heart, our feelings, our desires, and our hands and actions. My repentance has to start with how we think. How do I know what's right or wrong? I have to have some knowledge of that before I can say this is right or this is wrong or I was wrong, I have to know. Before you can turn around, you have to know you're going in the wrong direction. And so repentance starts with this understanding that they have pursued all of the wrong things

and gone in the wrong direction, and in our life it is the same, that we have pursued those things that are contrary to the will of God. But it's not just in knowledge, it has to be felt in our hearts and in our desires. Because I can know something is wrong, and just not take it. And so yesterday, the crazy busy morning, I headed up to West Virginia, had to eat lunch, so we stopped at my favorite place for a burger in all the world, Slanesville General Store. I ate my cheeseburger. That was so good. My attitude is restored. My heart is full, right? We had enough fuel. Two hours later, I was like, well, you have a story right there, right? I could have another double cheeseburger, and it would be fine. And Rachel's like, that's a terrible idea.

And she was right. But you know what? My heart did not care, right? You can be intellectually right, and my heart's like, I'm going to do it anyway. You see, the knowledge without the heart to go with it, right, you just do it anyway. And so repentance has to encompass how we think and what we know, but also the feeling and desires that don't think about the transformation and power of God. In fact, all we've talked about is godly sorrow. And I'm just sorry I got caused. Or like I said one time when I was a kid, and mom says, apologize for calling your sister stupid. And I said, sorry. But where you really see this, right, so it's essential that it's in our head, it's essential that our hearts are transformed, but then it is seen through our actions.

Direct your heart to the Lord and serve you. Let me show you an example of this. I'm going to read verses 5 through 11. Then Samuel said, Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you. So they gathered at Mizpah, drew water, poured it out before the Lord, fasted on that day, and said, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the people at Mizpah. Now, when the Philistines had heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the leaders of those five cities went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the people of Israel said to see, And you'll do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he might save us from the hand of the Philistines.

What happens in chapter 4 when this same exact scenario happens? Right? They don't insult God. They go into battle. They lose. They say, Oh, you know what? Maybe let's grab the Ark of the Covenant. No prayer. No focusing their heart on God. And notice how this has changed. Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us that he might save us, that salvation belongs to the Lord. They've been transformed. So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering. And Samuel cried out to the Lord, praise you, and the Lord answered it. And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to a tap. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion. They were confused for Israel.

And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them as far below as Beth-bar. Notice the difference. Chapter 4, and on the other side. and we'll see this next week in this stone where they gather in chapter 4 where they are gathering and receiving the stone and where it is in chapter 4, chapter 7 Samuel's call for repentance, his prayer, his faithfulness, should move our hearts. And maybe we say, wouldn't it be wonderful if someone would stand like that for us? Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone like Samuel called, not harshly, but gently? In Isaiah 42, we hear these words. He will not cry aloud, or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street, a bruised reed he will not break, a faintly burning wick he will not quench, he will faithfully bring forth justice, he will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established his justice here.

And the coastlands wait for his law. Isaiah says, there is one coming. He says, those people who are priests, we don't understand this culture. But the trees, the flax, they were bent, they were moved, right? They were bent, they were moved, they didn't stand back up. You're weaving, you're making fibers, you have that appropriate bridge, It's of no good. Nobody can fix it. And Isaiah says, there are some of you who are bruised and broken reeds. Like, people look at you and say, they can't be fixed. You look at you and you say, I can't be fixed. There's nothing good but to break them and throw them away. There is one coming who will take that one who seems so far beyond any help. We don't light with lamps a lot. But a faintly burning wick or a smoldering wick, in this context, in the oil lamp, the way to fix it would be to snuff it out and start all over again.

And Isaiah, through God, is saying, God through Isaiah is saying, it feels like you can't get hurt. Your light hasn't gone out, but it sure feels like you're running out. Here comes one.

This is beautiful. In Matthew 12, there's all kinds of controversy, specifically about the Sabbath. Jesus heals a man with a withered hand in the middle of the synagogue. The religious leaders seek to destroy him. And so Jesus leaves, and everybody follows him. All of these people who have seen him heal this man with a withered hand, and they're all sick, and they're hurting, and they're broken. He doesn't expect, he doesn't shout about his greatness. He doesn't expect things in return. And you say, why would Jesus do this wonderful thing so quietly? Why would he tell them?

Why Jesus, I'm doing all these people. Let me shout out. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet. Behold my servant whom I have chosen. My beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him. And he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud. Nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. Listen to this God, Jesus. You're not afraid. It's smoldering that you're not. You reach justice in different ways. You reach justice in different ways. Maybe you're in love with me. I feel like you're trying to fix yourself. There is one. He calls you to repentance, to put your eyes and your heart upon him. And there are many of you who are listening to this morning. Don't feel like you're strong. Don't feel like you're good enough. Don't feel like you're strong.

Do I quarrel or cry aloud, or will anyone hear his voice in the streets? Please read the Bible, please read the Bible. You're smoldering in the name of Jesus. You, from that weakness and that darkness, why you're bound to go back, Jesus. Thank you. We're going to stand and sing Living Hope.

How great the chasm between us How high the mountain did not climb In desperation I turned to heaven And spoke your name into the night Then through the darkness Your loving kindness Tore through the shadows of my soul The work is finished The end is written Jesus Christ, my living hope Who could imagine so great a mercy What heart could fathom such boundless grace The God of ages Step down from glory To wear my sin And bear my shame The cross has spoken I am forgiven The King of kings calls me his own Beautiful Savior, I'm yours forever Jesus Christ, my living hope Hallelujah, praise the one who set me free Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me You have broken every chain There's salvation in your name Jesus Christ, my living hope Then came the morning

That sealed the promise Your buried body began to breathe Out of the silence, the roaring lion Declared the grave has no claim on me Then came the morning that sealed the promise Your buried body began to breathe Out of the silence The roaring lion Declared the grave Has no claim on me Jesus, yours is the victory Hallelujah Hallelujah, praise the one who set me free. Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me. You have broken every chain. There's salvation in your name. Jesus Christ, my living hope. Hallelujah, praise the one who set me free. who set me free, hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me, you have broken every chain, there's salvation in your name, Jesus Christ, my living hope, Jesus Christ, my living hope, Oh, God, you are my living hope. All right, a couple of quick announcements.

First of all, Wednesday night Bible study. We've been going through the book of Colossians. We're in the middle of a section where Paul is both defending what he is and he is calling us to live in such a way and encouraging us to have strength in Christ. That's Wednesday at 6 p.m. And also coming up in September, which is not as far away, September 21st. There is no men's breakfast this month, but September 21st, 9 a.m. here at the church, we'll be having men's breakfast. Invite a friend, invite a neighbor to come and share some food, fellowship, and some of the word of God. Also, and we'll send out an email about this this week and announce it in more detail next week and in the bulletin. But September, I think we figured out what the 15th, Greg, is kind of the midpoint in September.

But it's also, nationally, there's a group who's put together a kind of a campaign. They'll be advertising associated with it in regard to kind of back to church Sunday. So we are wanting to encourage them and also to invite some friends. We'll have a meal after church and we're going to begin a series on that Sunday about following Jesus. We're going to walk through Jesus' followers and see from the skeptical to the struggling, from the Jewish zealot against the Romans to the tax collectors to see what it means to follow Jesus. So that's September 15th, and so we're going to go ahead and have a word of prayer, and then we will sing the doxology. Father and people, Jesus, we thank you for how there is always hope. Whether we have strayed from you, call us to repentance, whether you're calling us for the first time,

whether we are struggling or fearful, remind us that you are our living hope. And so your sons need you today. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below. Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.