Dudley Rutherford - Kings And Kingdoms (Part 1)

January 29, 2026 | 27:29

Pastor Dudley Rutherford seeks to “lift up the name of Jesus across the country and the world through uncompromising biblical teaching.”

Closed captions

Show Timecode
| Dudley Rutherford - Kings And Kingdoms (Part 1) | January 29, 2026
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.788
  • ...
  • 00:00:02.255 --> 00:00:05.158
  • Male announcer: from the beginning of creation
  • 00:00:12.098 --> 00:00:14.300
  • To the fall of man,
  • 00:00:14.434 --> 00:00:16.469
  • Through it all, the hope of a savior.
  • 00:00:16.603 --> 00:00:19.773
  • This fall, experience the bible like never before.
  • 00:00:19.906 --> 00:00:20.874
  • Join dudley rutherford on a journey of a lifetime.
  • 00:00:24.210 --> 00:00:28.248
  • If you've ever wanted to understand the bible
  • 00:00:28.248 --> 00:00:30.383
  • From beginning to end, this is your chance.
  • 00:00:30.383 --> 00:00:34.087
  • Don't just read the story, live it.
  • 00:00:34.087 --> 00:00:37.457
  • Coming up next on "lift up jesus,"
  • 00:00:37.457 --> 00:00:39.959
  • "a journey of a lifetime."
  • 00:00:39.959 --> 00:00:42.095
  • Pastor dudley rutherford: and i just want you to know
  • 00:00:44.097 --> 00:00:45.432
  • You don't have to be a rocket scientist
  • 00:00:45.432 --> 00:00:46.766
  • To see a common thread throughout the entire bible--
  • 00:00:46.766 --> 00:00:50.236
  • That any time you choose to obey god's word
  • 00:00:50.236 --> 00:00:52.806
  • And you faithfully serve and honor him and glorify him,
  • 00:00:52.806 --> 00:00:56.076
  • God will put his hand of blessing on your life,
  • 00:00:56.076 --> 00:01:00.280
  • And any time you choose to disobey god and dishonor god,
  • 00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:04.751
  • God can and will remove his hand of blessing,
  • 00:01:04.751 --> 00:01:08.321
  • And you will miss out on his best plans for you.
  • 00:01:08.321 --> 00:01:12.092
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:14.794 --> 00:01:27.040
  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
  • 00:01:17.030 --> 00:01:32.078
  • Pastor dudley: thank you so much for joining me here today
  • 00:01:33.847 --> 00:01:36.649
  • On "lift up jesus."
  • 00:01:36.649 --> 00:01:38.284
  • I'm pastor dudley rutherford,
  • 00:01:38.284 --> 00:01:40.086
  • And i'm so glad that you've chosen to tune in
  • 00:01:40.086 --> 00:01:42.722
  • To our television broadcast.
  • 00:01:42.722 --> 00:01:44.991
  • Let me ask you this question.
  • 00:01:44.991 --> 00:01:46.359
  • Do you ever visit southern california?
  • 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:50.396
  • If you do, consider this a personal invitation
  • 00:01:50.396 --> 00:01:53.833
  • To visit us here at shepherd church.
  • 00:01:53.833 --> 00:01:56.736
  • You'll meet some amazing people,
  • 00:01:56.736 --> 00:01:59.038
  • And it would be an honor to have you drop by.
  • 00:01:59.038 --> 00:02:01.875
  • Visit our website at liftupjesus.com
  • 00:02:01.875 --> 00:02:05.178
  • To get service times and locations.
  • 00:02:05.178 --> 00:02:08.281
  • And now, let's get right to today's message
  • 00:02:08.281 --> 00:02:11.417
  • Because i believe it's a word that you need to hear.
  • 00:02:11.417 --> 00:02:14.587
  • So grab your bible, your notes, and a pen and let's begin.
  • 00:02:14.587 --> 00:02:18.491
  • Pastor dudley: now, i want you to take your bibles
  • 00:02:22.529 --> 00:02:24.397
  • And turn to 1 samuel.
  • 00:02:24.397 --> 00:02:26.132
  • I want you to find 1 samuel and turn to chapter 8.
  • 00:02:26.132 --> 00:02:30.103
  • 1 samuel chapter 8.
  • 00:02:30.103 --> 00:02:33.339
  • Today, i want to talk to you about that period in the bible,
  • 00:02:33.339 --> 00:02:40.713
  • The period of the kings, the period of the kings.
  • 00:02:40.713 --> 00:02:44.551
  • Now, many of you know that my oldest daughter
  • 00:02:44.551 --> 00:02:46.719
  • Gave me four grandsons.
  • 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:48.588
  • I got a picture of them, and i call these boys the four kings.
  • 00:02:48.588 --> 00:02:57.363
  • You--most of you know this. they call them the four kings.
  • 00:02:57.363 --> 00:03:01.034
  • And then just a few months ago
  • 00:03:01.034 --> 00:03:02.735
  • My son and his wife had their first child,
  • 00:03:02.735 --> 00:03:06.573
  • And he's a boy, and so he's king number five.
  • 00:03:06.573 --> 00:03:11.344
  • And they all know their number. i'm training them right, okay?
  • 00:03:11.344 --> 00:03:15.748
  • King number one, king number two,
  • 00:03:15.748 --> 00:03:17.217
  • King number three, king number four,
  • 00:03:17.217 --> 00:03:18.952
  • And king number five.
  • 00:03:18.952 --> 00:03:20.820
  • And then my youngest daughter, she's never had a child,
  • 00:03:20.820 --> 00:03:25.091
  • And she's about five months pregnant.
  • 00:03:25.091 --> 00:03:27.527
  • She's about four months away,
  • 00:03:27.527 --> 00:03:30.296
  • And she told me not to tell people
  • 00:03:30.296 --> 00:03:33.233
  • The sex of the child.
  • 00:03:33.233 --> 00:03:34.567
  • She hasn't revealed it yet.
  • 00:03:34.567 --> 00:03:36.202
  • Okay, okay.
  • 00:03:36.202 --> 00:03:39.906
  • And i don't wanna reveal the sex of that sixth child,
  • 00:03:39.906 --> 00:03:43.710
  • But i will tell you this.
  • 00:03:43.710 --> 00:03:45.044
  • I have a starting five on my basketball team,
  • 00:03:45.044 --> 00:03:49.249
  • And i have a sub coming in off that bench here
  • 00:03:49.249 --> 00:03:52.285
  • In about four months, just want you to know.
  • 00:03:52.285 --> 00:03:54.887
  • I'll let you put two and two together there.
  • 00:03:54.887 --> 00:03:58.658
  • So we wanna look at this period in the bible
  • 00:03:58.658 --> 00:04:00.493
  • Known as the period of the kings.
  • 00:04:00.493 --> 00:04:02.228
  • Last week we looked at the judges.
  • 00:04:02.228 --> 00:04:04.631
  • We start with this in your sermon--your notes:
  • 00:04:04.631 --> 00:04:08.001
  • God's people make a demand.
  • 00:04:08.001 --> 00:04:10.103
  • God's people make a demand,
  • 00:04:10.103 --> 00:04:13.373
  • And this is found in 1 samuel chapter 8.
  • 00:04:13.373 --> 00:04:16.876
  • Now, in order for you to understand
  • 00:04:16.876 --> 00:04:20.246
  • This entire message, anything about the kings,
  • 00:04:20.246 --> 00:04:23.416
  • We have to go back to last week,
  • 00:04:23.416 --> 00:04:25.918
  • Just to catch you up to speed, when we looked at the judges,
  • 00:04:25.918 --> 00:04:30.423
  • And the judges were the bridge between moses and joshua,
  • 00:04:30.423 --> 00:04:35.928
  • What they accomplished and what we're looking at today,
  • 00:04:35.928 --> 00:04:39.365
  • Which is the period of the kings.
  • 00:04:39.365 --> 00:04:41.567
  • But go back to those judges.
  • 00:04:41.567 --> 00:04:42.935
  • I wanna just think about them just to catch you up to speed.
  • 00:04:42.935 --> 00:04:48.374
  • That whole period, last week as we studied that,
  • 00:04:48.374 --> 00:04:51.110
  • Was a period about 350 years of history.
  • 00:04:51.110 --> 00:04:56.382
  • Going before that, back to moses,
  • 00:04:56.382 --> 00:04:58.918
  • That's when israel had been in bondage
  • 00:04:58.918 --> 00:05:01.521
  • For over 450 years.
  • 00:05:01.521 --> 00:05:04.691
  • They were in egypt and under bondage of pharaoh,
  • 00:05:04.691 --> 00:05:09.062
  • And god raised up a man named moses,
  • 00:05:09.062 --> 00:05:11.864
  • Who led them out of egypt and brought them
  • 00:05:11.864 --> 00:05:15.935
  • Right up to the edge of the promised land,
  • 00:05:15.935 --> 00:05:18.838
  • And joshua was the one that actually led them
  • 00:05:18.838 --> 00:05:21.641
  • Into the land that we know today
  • 00:05:21.641 --> 00:05:23.843
  • As the land of israel, where they settled.
  • 00:05:23.843 --> 00:05:26.245
  • Now, on that journey from egypt to israel,
  • 00:05:26.245 --> 00:05:30.049
  • God gave them the ten commandments,
  • 00:05:30.049 --> 00:05:33.853
  • Gave them the word, gave them the 613.
  • 00:05:33.853 --> 00:05:38.057
  • There's not ten.
  • 00:05:38.057 --> 00:05:39.392
  • There's 613 commandments in that old testament,
  • 00:05:39.392 --> 00:05:42.362
  • And that's what they were supposed to live by.
  • 00:05:42.362 --> 00:05:44.931
  • And so last weekend we looked at the period of the judges,
  • 00:05:44.931 --> 00:05:49.736
  • And what happened in that period
  • 00:05:49.736 --> 00:05:51.070
  • Is that moses is dead and long gone,
  • 00:05:51.070 --> 00:05:54.073
  • Joshua is dead and long gone, and god had made this covenant.
  • 00:05:54.073 --> 00:06:00.713
  • And if god makes a covenant with you,
  • 00:06:00.713 --> 00:06:02.315
  • You don't need anything else.
  • 00:06:02.315 --> 00:06:03.983
  • It's you and god.
  • 00:06:03.983 --> 00:06:05.985
  • God made a covenant with his people.
  • 00:06:05.985 --> 00:06:07.787
  • Now, he gave them the rules, the rules to the covenant,
  • 00:06:07.787 --> 00:06:11.557
  • And god said, "i'm gonna keep my end of the bargain,
  • 00:06:11.557 --> 00:06:13.726
  • But you gotta keep your end of the bargain."
  • 00:06:13.726 --> 00:06:16.429
  • Well, the nation of israel without moses, without joshua--
  • 00:06:16.429 --> 00:06:21.167
  • We talked about this last week--
  • 00:06:21.167 --> 00:06:22.502
  • There was this cycle that kept repeating itself.
  • 00:06:22.502 --> 00:06:25.405
  • They would start to ignore god's word.
  • 00:06:25.405 --> 00:06:28.274
  • They would begin to sin,
  • 00:06:28.274 --> 00:06:29.709
  • Fall into idolatry and immorality.
  • 00:06:29.709 --> 00:06:32.812
  • So god would allow a foreign nation
  • 00:06:32.812 --> 00:06:34.680
  • To come in and oppress them and basically conquer them--
  • 00:06:34.680 --> 00:06:40.820
  • The enemies of god.
  • 00:06:40.820 --> 00:06:42.822
  • And after god let them suffer long enough
  • 00:06:42.822 --> 00:06:45.658
  • For discipline purposes,
  • 00:06:45.658 --> 00:06:47.260
  • He would raise up a judge to deliver them.
  • 00:06:47.260 --> 00:06:50.596
  • And that cycle happened again and again and again.
  • 00:06:50.596 --> 00:06:54.066
  • So then we come to the period of the kings.
  • 00:06:54.066 --> 00:06:55.968
  • I just want you to write this down.
  • 00:06:55.968 --> 00:06:57.370
  • This whole period is, like, 500 years.
  • 00:06:57.370 --> 00:07:03.309
  • It's not 350. it's not 475.
  • 00:07:03.309 --> 00:07:06.779
  • This is a period of 500 years.
  • 00:07:06.779 --> 00:07:11.284
  • If you go down and look at the very last judge, number--
  • 00:07:11.284 --> 00:07:13.686
  • Judge number 15, his name was samuel.
  • 00:07:13.686 --> 00:07:17.723
  • And at this period of time at the end of the judges,
  • 00:07:17.723 --> 00:07:20.226
  • As we begin the kings,
  • 00:07:20.226 --> 00:07:22.495
  • The hebrew people were looking at other nations,
  • 00:07:22.495 --> 00:07:27.400
  • And they saw that other nations were ruled by kings,
  • 00:07:27.400 --> 00:07:31.103
  • And they decided that they wanted to be ruled by a king.
  • 00:07:31.103 --> 00:07:34.574
  • They were tired of the judges.
  • 00:07:34.574 --> 00:07:37.176
  • The judges weren't enough for them.
  • 00:07:37.176 --> 00:07:39.479
  • They were tired of being oppressed.
  • 00:07:39.479 --> 00:07:41.614
  • They thought to themself, "hey, our neighbors have a king.
  • 00:07:41.614 --> 00:07:44.684
  • We wanna have a king." they wanted structure.
  • 00:07:44.684 --> 00:07:48.421
  • They no longer wanted to just each person follow god
  • 00:07:48.421 --> 00:07:53.459
  • And let the spirit of god lead through that whole thing.
  • 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:56.596
  • They said, "no, we want structure."
  • 00:07:56.596 --> 00:07:59.165
  • Instead of just glorifying god each and every day, they said,
  • 00:07:59.165 --> 00:08:02.535
  • "no, we wanna have a government of some sort."
  • 00:08:02.535 --> 00:08:06.506
  • Instead of living by a covenant,
  • 00:08:06.506 --> 00:08:08.274
  • They said, "no, we want-- we wanna be controlled."
  • 00:08:08.274 --> 00:08:11.210
  • So the people go to that last judge, to samuel,
  • 00:08:11.210 --> 00:08:15.715
  • And they demand that they have a king.
  • 00:08:15.715 --> 00:08:18.885
  • So let's read this story,
  • 00:08:18.885 --> 00:08:20.953
  • Starting in 1 samuel chapter 8, verse number 4.
  • 00:08:20.953 --> 00:08:26.092
  • The bible says, "so all the elders of israel
  • 00:08:26.092 --> 00:08:28.227
  • Gathered together,
  • 00:08:28.227 --> 00:08:29.562
  • And they came to samuel at ramah
  • 00:08:29.562 --> 00:08:31.430
  • And they said to him, 'you are old,
  • 00:08:31.430 --> 00:08:37.303
  • And your sons do not walk in your ways.'"
  • 00:08:37.303 --> 00:08:41.340
  • "so we're not gonna follow you any longer.
  • 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:43.142
  • We're not gonna follow your sons any longer.
  • 00:08:43.142 --> 00:08:46.779
  • Here's what we want." they make this demand.
  • 00:08:46.779 --> 00:08:50.483
  • "'appoint a king to lead us,
  • 00:08:50.483 --> 00:08:54.053
  • Such as all the other nations have.'
  • 00:08:54.053 --> 00:08:57.557
  • When they said, 'give a king to lead us,'
  • 00:08:57.557 --> 00:09:00.293
  • This displeased samuel."
  • 00:09:00.293 --> 00:09:02.295
  • It hurt his feelings a little bit.
  • 00:09:02.295 --> 00:09:05.031
  • "so he prayed to the lord.
  • 00:09:05.031 --> 00:09:07.066
  • And the lord told him:
  • 00:09:07.066 --> 00:09:08.401
  • 'listen, samuel, all that the people are saying to you;
  • 00:09:08.401 --> 00:09:13.372
  • It is not you they have rejected,
  • 00:09:13.372 --> 00:09:15.174
  • But they have rejected me as their king.'"
  • 00:09:15.174 --> 00:09:20.146
  • Just remember when you go and share your faith
  • 00:09:20.146 --> 00:09:22.682
  • With someone
  • 00:09:22.682 --> 00:09:24.050
  • And someone says no to you, they're not rejecting you,
  • 00:09:24.050 --> 00:09:25.751
  • They're rejecting jesus is who they're rejecting.
  • 00:09:25.751 --> 00:09:28.087
  • Just remember that.
  • 00:09:28.087 --> 00:09:29.655
  • Verse 8, god says, "as they have done,
  • 00:09:29.655 --> 00:09:33.225
  • They have been rejecting me, from the day--
  • 00:09:33.225 --> 00:09:37.597
  • Go all the way back.
  • 00:09:37.597 --> 00:09:39.065
  • You remember moses and joshua and i got them out of egypt?
  • 00:09:39.065 --> 00:09:43.936
  • I got them out of slavery, performed all those miracles,
  • 00:09:43.936 --> 00:09:48.174
  • Gave them the land, provided for them every day?
  • 00:09:48.174 --> 00:09:51.711
  • Well, these people, these--"
  • 00:09:51.711 --> 00:09:53.045
  • I can see him just shaking his head.
  • 00:09:53.045 --> 00:09:54.380
  • "these people from the day i brought them out of egypt
  • 00:09:54.380 --> 00:09:58.417
  • Until this day, they have been forsaking me
  • 00:09:58.417 --> 00:10:02.154
  • And serving other gods,
  • 00:10:02.154 --> 00:10:04.490
  • And so they are doing the same thing to you."
  • 00:10:04.490 --> 00:10:08.060
  • Now, ladies and gentlemen, i want you to write this down.
  • 00:10:08.060 --> 00:10:10.963
  • They rejected god's kingship for human power.
  • 00:10:10.963 --> 00:10:15.935
  • God's original plan is that they would live.
  • 00:10:15.935 --> 00:10:18.504
  • I believe this.
  • 00:10:18.504 --> 00:10:19.839
  • His original--just like i believe his original plan
  • 00:10:19.839 --> 00:10:21.974
  • Was for adam and eve to live in that garden
  • 00:10:21.974 --> 00:10:23.909
  • In perfect paradise, but sin ruined all that.
  • 00:10:23.909 --> 00:10:28.481
  • And in the same way, god's plan was that israel would live
  • 00:10:28.481 --> 00:10:32.118
  • In that land flowing with milk and honey
  • 00:10:32.118 --> 00:10:34.987
  • And that those people would follow his laws
  • 00:10:34.987 --> 00:10:38.424
  • And that they would keep their end of the deal
  • 00:10:38.424 --> 00:10:40.359
  • And he was gonna keep his end of the covenant.
  • 00:10:40.359 --> 00:10:42.995
  • He was gonna provide for them, protect them, and bless them.
  • 00:10:42.995 --> 00:10:46.732
  • But instead of them obeying god, they chose to disobey god.
  • 00:10:46.732 --> 00:10:50.903
  • They started to turn to foreign nations.
  • 00:10:50.903 --> 00:10:53.139
  • They falsely believed that human ideas
  • 00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:56.575
  • And human powers are better than god's plans.
  • 00:10:56.575 --> 00:11:01.247
  • And i just want you to know
  • 00:11:01.247 --> 00:11:02.581
  • That any time you have a decision to make
  • 00:11:02.581 --> 00:11:04.850
  • Between choosing what man wants
  • 00:11:04.850 --> 00:11:07.019
  • And choosing what god wants and you choo--
  • 00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:09.922
  • You decide to ignore god's plans and follow man's plans,
  • 00:11:09.922 --> 00:11:13.125
  • I just want you to know that will never end well for you,
  • 00:11:13.125 --> 00:11:17.630
  • And it didn't end well for them.
  • 00:11:17.630 --> 00:11:20.099
  • God tells samuel, "they're not rejecting you;
  • 00:11:20.099 --> 00:11:21.667
  • They're rejecting me.
  • 00:11:21.667 --> 00:11:23.402
  • They've been doing this-- for the last 400 years,
  • 00:11:23.402 --> 00:11:26.038
  • They've been doing this."
  • 00:11:26.038 --> 00:11:28.240
  • So god says one thing to him in verse 9.
  • 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:30.209
  • He says, "samuel, just make sure you warn them,
  • 00:11:30.209 --> 00:11:33.813
  • And let them know what's gonna happen
  • 00:11:33.813 --> 00:11:35.147
  • If i give them a king."
  • 00:11:35.147 --> 00:11:37.783
  • And i want you to write this down
  • 00:11:37.783 --> 00:11:39.118
  • On that next bullet.
  • 00:11:39.118 --> 00:11:40.453
  • Be careful what you wish for.
  • 00:11:40.453 --> 00:11:44.023
  • They said, "we want a king."
  • 00:11:44.023 --> 00:11:47.460
  • God said, "samuel, samuel, you better tell them
  • 00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:49.395
  • What's gonna happen if i give them a king."
  • 00:11:49.395 --> 00:11:52.398
  • You have any idea what's gonna happen
  • 00:11:52.398 --> 00:11:54.533
  • If you stop just following god's word
  • 00:11:54.533 --> 00:11:56.902
  • And you go get a man-made king?
  • 00:11:56.902 --> 00:12:00.606
  • Do you know? have you read it?
  • 00:12:00.606 --> 00:12:06.612
  • You gonna think you're reading today's newspaper
  • 00:12:06.612 --> 00:12:08.314
  • When i read this to you.
  • 00:12:08.314 --> 00:12:11.283
  • Let's start with verse 11.
  • 00:12:11.283 --> 00:12:14.653
  • "he said--" this is samuel to the people.
  • 00:12:14.653 --> 00:12:19.091
  • "this is what the king who will reign over you will do:
  • 00:12:19.091 --> 00:12:23.295
  • He's gonna take your sons.
  • 00:12:23.295 --> 00:12:26.198
  • He's gonna make them serve with his chariots and horses."
  • 00:12:26.198 --> 00:12:29.802
  • They're go--in other words, they're gonna have to serve
  • 00:12:29.802 --> 00:12:31.137
  • In the military.
  • 00:12:31.137 --> 00:12:32.838
  • "and some of them are gonna have to run out there
  • 00:12:32.838 --> 00:12:34.440
  • In front of the chariot."
  • 00:12:34.440 --> 00:12:37.276
  • Verse 12, "some he's gonna sign to be commanders of thousands
  • 00:12:37.276 --> 00:12:41.480
  • And commanders of fifties,
  • 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:42.815
  • And others to plow his ground and reap his harvest,
  • 00:12:42.815 --> 00:12:46.819
  • And still others he's going to use
  • 00:12:46.819 --> 00:12:48.320
  • To make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots."
  • 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:53.092
  • And then verse 13, "not only is he gonna take your sons,
  • 00:12:53.092 --> 00:12:56.295
  • He's gonna take your daughters and they're gonna be," what?
  • 00:12:56.295 --> 00:13:00.432
  • "perfumers and cooks and bakers.
  • 00:13:00.432 --> 00:13:05.004
  • And he will take not only your sons and your daughters,
  • 00:13:05.004 --> 00:13:08.207
  • He's gonna take your fields, the best of your fields
  • 00:13:08.207 --> 00:13:11.477
  • And your vineyards and your olive groves
  • 00:13:11.477 --> 00:13:13.412
  • And give them to his attendants.
  • 00:13:13.412 --> 00:13:16.148
  • And then he's gonna take a tenth of your grain.
  • 00:13:16.148 --> 00:13:18.350
  • He's gonna start taxing you.
  • 00:13:18.350 --> 00:13:20.119
  • He's gonna take your grain and of your vintage
  • 00:13:20.119 --> 00:13:23.589
  • And give it to his officials and his attendants."
  • 00:13:23.589 --> 00:13:26.592
  • And then verse 16, "your menservants and maidservants
  • 00:13:26.592 --> 00:13:30.129
  • And the best of your cattle and the donkeys
  • 00:13:30.129 --> 00:13:32.431
  • He will take for his own use.
  • 00:13:32.431 --> 00:13:34.433
  • And then he will take a tenth of your flocks,
  • 00:13:34.433 --> 00:13:37.269
  • And you yourselves will become his slaves."
  • 00:13:37.269 --> 00:13:42.241
  • And on top of all that, verse 18,
  • 00:13:42.241 --> 00:13:45.244
  • "when that day comes, you will end up crying for relief
  • 00:13:45.244 --> 00:13:51.784
  • From the king you have chosen."
  • 00:13:51.784 --> 00:13:55.688
  • And here's the worst of the worst:
  • 00:13:55.688 --> 00:13:58.190
  • "and the lord will not answer you in that day."
  • 00:13:58.190 --> 00:14:04.964
  • And after explaining all that, verse 19, "the people--"
  • 00:14:04.964 --> 00:14:09.668
  • This is just hard for me, but i see it in our land.
  • 00:14:09.668 --> 00:14:12.538
  • "the people refused to listen to samuel.
  • 00:14:12.538 --> 00:14:14.907
  • 'no!' they said. 'we want a king over us.'"
  • 00:14:14.907 --> 00:14:21.380
  • And then verse 20, "we'll be like all the other nations,
  • 00:14:21.380 --> 00:14:23.315
  • With a king to lead us and to go out before us
  • 00:14:23.315 --> 00:14:25.618
  • And fight our battles for us."
  • 00:14:25.618 --> 00:14:27.853
  • Boy, not much has changed over the last 3,000 years.
  • 00:14:27.853 --> 00:14:33.292
  • How many people do you know in our country
  • 00:14:33.292 --> 00:14:34.627
  • That put more faith in elected officials
  • 00:14:34.627 --> 00:14:36.762
  • Than they do trusting in the lord god almighty,
  • 00:14:36.762 --> 00:14:40.266
  • Who reigns in heaven above?
  • 00:14:40.266 --> 00:14:42.668
  • I will tell you this, and i believe this firmly.
  • 00:14:42.668 --> 00:14:45.204
  • It's our duty to vote.
  • 00:14:45.204 --> 00:14:47.339
  • It's our privilege to vote, and don't let anybody,
  • 00:14:47.339 --> 00:14:52.111
  • Any entity try to suggest that, because you're a christian,
  • 00:14:52.111 --> 00:14:56.982
  • You shouldn't have anything to do with politics.
  • 00:14:56.982 --> 00:14:59.718
  • God wants us as believers to be the salt and the light
  • 00:14:59.718 --> 00:15:04.957
  • Of the entire earth,
  • 00:15:04.957 --> 00:15:06.759
  • And that means you need to get involved in
  • 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:08.761
  • Every area of society.
  • 00:15:08.761 --> 00:15:10.930
  • You need to be involved in hollywood.
  • 00:15:10.930 --> 00:15:13.399
  • You need to get involved in the educational system
  • 00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:16.001
  • Of america.
  • 00:15:16.001 --> 00:15:17.336
  • I think you need to get involved in politics.
  • 00:15:17.336 --> 00:15:19.738
  • You need to get involved in the corporate world.
  • 00:15:19.738 --> 00:15:22.207
  • You need to get involved with your neighborhood
  • 00:15:22.207 --> 00:15:24.410
  • And what happens there
  • 00:15:24.410 --> 00:15:25.744
  • 'cause god has called you to be the salt and light
  • 00:15:25.744 --> 00:15:27.680
  • Of the entire earth.
  • 00:15:27.680 --> 00:15:29.581
  • But i will tell you this.
  • 00:15:29.581 --> 00:15:30.916
  • Don't--let me say this.
  • 00:15:30.916 --> 00:15:32.851
  • Don't ever start down a path where you think that man's ways
  • 00:15:32.851 --> 00:15:36.188
  • Are going to be better than god's ways,
  • 00:15:36.188 --> 00:15:40.559
  • Because that's just not true.
  • 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:41.894
  • God's ways are always the best ways, amen?
  • 00:15:41.894 --> 00:15:44.997
  • So even after they're warned of their consequences,
  • 00:15:44.997 --> 00:15:47.399
  • "your sons and your daughters will be taken,
  • 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:50.035
  • Your land will be confiscated, you will be taxed to death,
  • 00:15:50.035 --> 00:15:54.039
  • You're gonna end up slaves as-- yourself, and not only that,
  • 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:57.543
  • The worst, god's gonna stop answering your prayers,"
  • 00:15:57.543 --> 00:16:00.546
  • They still asked for a king.
  • 00:16:00.546 --> 00:16:04.950
  • And god says, "you want a king?" "yes, we want a king."
  • 00:16:04.950 --> 00:16:07.286
  • So guess what god does?
  • 00:16:07.286 --> 00:16:09.621
  • He gives them a king, and his name is saul.
  • 00:16:09.621 --> 00:16:12.424
  • Everybody say, "saul."
  • 00:16:12.424 --> 00:16:14.326
  • This leads us to point two of our story.
  • 00:16:14.326 --> 00:16:17.596
  • God's people are then ruled by a disobedient king.
  • 00:16:17.596 --> 00:16:21.567
  • They get their king, but he's a disobedient king.
  • 00:16:21.567 --> 00:16:25.270
  • He's impressive outwardly, he looks the part,
  • 00:16:25.270 --> 00:16:29.942
  • And if you saw him you'd vote for him,
  • 00:16:29.942 --> 00:16:33.412
  • But he's shallow on the inside.
  • 00:16:33.412 --> 00:16:35.814
  • King number one is saul.
  • 00:16:35.814 --> 00:16:38.917
  • He was voted in high school most likely to succeed.
  • 00:16:38.917 --> 00:16:44.256
  • He had that "it" factor working for him.
  • 00:16:44.256 --> 00:16:47.860
  • He was young.
  • 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:53.799
  • He was tall.
  • 00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:58.637
  • He looked like a king.
  • 00:16:58.637 --> 00:17:01.373
  • The bible says in 1 samuel chapter 9--
  • 00:17:01.373 --> 00:17:03.409
  • Here's what the bible says:
  • 00:17:03.409 --> 00:17:04.977
  • "saul was an impressive young man without equal
  • 00:17:04.977 --> 00:17:09.114
  • Among the israelites,
  • 00:17:09.114 --> 00:17:10.716
  • And he was a head taller than all of them."
  • 00:17:10.716 --> 00:17:15.487
  • So 1 samuel chapter 10, verse 1, samuel takes a flask of oil,
  • 00:17:15.487 --> 00:17:20.659
  • And oil in the old testament is a picture of the holy spirit.
  • 00:17:20.659 --> 00:17:24.830
  • And he takes this flask of oil, and he pours it--
  • 00:17:24.830 --> 00:17:27.566
  • He had to reach real high.
  • 00:17:27.566 --> 00:17:28.934
  • He pours it over saul's head,
  • 00:17:28.934 --> 00:17:31.870
  • And he anoints saul to be the first king of israel,
  • 00:17:31.870 --> 00:17:35.441
  • And that's in 1 samuel chapter 10
  • 00:17:35.441 --> 00:17:38.077
  • The very first verse.
  • 00:17:38.077 --> 00:17:39.511
  • And by the time you get to the end of chapter 10,
  • 00:17:39.511 --> 00:17:42.981
  • The entire nation is shouting, "long live the king!
  • 00:17:42.981 --> 00:17:46.485
  • Long live the king!"
  • 00:17:46.485 --> 00:17:48.921
  • And saul does some good things.
  • 00:17:48.921 --> 00:17:50.722
  • He leads them to several victories.
  • 00:17:50.722 --> 00:17:52.858
  • The problem is, like many people,
  • 00:17:52.858 --> 00:17:55.494
  • He looked good on the outside,
  • 00:17:55.494 --> 00:17:57.396
  • But on the inside there were still some transgressions
  • 00:17:57.396 --> 00:18:00.699
  • And some carnality.
  • 00:18:00.699 --> 00:18:02.768
  • We know for a fact that god never measures a man
  • 00:18:02.768 --> 00:18:05.037
  • By his stature, but he always measures a man
  • 00:18:05.037 --> 00:18:07.840
  • By whether or not he has surrendered to him--to god.
  • 00:18:07.840 --> 00:18:12.111
  • And eventually-- it's too long to tell--
  • 00:18:12.111 --> 00:18:14.179
  • Through a series of wrong decisions
  • 00:18:14.179 --> 00:18:16.415
  • And a series of sinful mistakes,
  • 00:18:16.415 --> 00:18:19.051
  • The same samuel that anointed saul
  • 00:18:19.051 --> 00:18:21.487
  • Comes back and rebukes saul.
  • 00:18:21.487 --> 00:18:24.123
  • So by the time you get to 1 samuel chapter 13,
  • 00:18:24.123 --> 00:18:27.493
  • The story doesn't end well.
  • 00:18:27.493 --> 00:18:29.128
  • In verse 13, samuel says, "you have acted foolishly."
  • 00:18:29.128 --> 00:18:33.332
  • Everybody say, "foolishly." samuel said.
  • 00:18:33.332 --> 00:18:38.570
  • And how has he acted foolishly?
  • 00:18:38.570 --> 00:18:40.439
  • "you have not kept the command the lord god has given to you.
  • 00:18:40.439 --> 00:18:45.377
  • If you had--" now, watch this.
  • 00:18:45.377 --> 00:18:48.013
  • "if you had simply chosen to obey god's command,
  • 00:18:48.013 --> 00:18:51.583
  • He would have established your kingdom over israel
  • 00:18:51.583 --> 00:18:55.821
  • For all time."
  • 00:18:55.821 --> 00:18:58.323
  • But then god says this in verse 14:
  • 00:18:58.323 --> 00:18:59.758
  • "but now your kingdom will not endure.
  • 00:18:59.758 --> 00:19:04.062
  • Instead, the lord has sought out a man--"
  • 00:19:04.062 --> 00:19:06.064
  • This will be king number two in a few--a little bit.
  • 00:19:06.064 --> 00:19:08.767
  • "he has sought out another man after his own heart
  • 00:19:08.767 --> 00:19:11.303
  • And anointed him the leader of his people,
  • 00:19:11.303 --> 00:19:13.639
  • Because you have not kept the lord's command."
  • 00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:17.009
  • I want you to write this down.
  • 00:19:17.009 --> 00:19:18.410
  • Saul is told, "your foolishness has derailed your destiny.
  • 00:19:18.410 --> 00:19:24.616
  • Your foolishness, your disobedience,
  • 00:19:24.616 --> 00:19:28.287
  • Ignoring god's word has derailed your destiny."
  • 00:19:28.287 --> 00:19:34.993
  • And i just want you to know
  • 00:19:34.993 --> 00:19:36.328
  • You don't have to be a rocket scientist
  • 00:19:36.328 --> 00:19:37.663
  • To see a common thread throughout the entire bible--
  • 00:19:37.663 --> 00:19:41.099
  • That any time you choose to obey god's word
  • 00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:43.735
  • And you faithfully serve and honor him and glorify him,
  • 00:19:43.735 --> 00:19:46.905
  • God will put his hand of blessing on your life,
  • 00:19:46.905 --> 00:19:51.176
  • And any time you choose to disobey god and dishonor god,
  • 00:19:51.176 --> 00:19:55.647
  • God can and will remove his hand of blessing,
  • 00:19:55.647 --> 00:19:59.117
  • And you will miss out on god-- what god had his plans--
  • 00:19:59.117 --> 00:20:02.988
  • What he had, his best plans for you.
  • 00:20:02.988 --> 00:20:06.892
  • Your destiny will not be blessed,
  • 00:20:06.892 --> 00:20:09.995
  • And that is true for any nation.
  • 00:20:09.995 --> 00:20:14.366
  • Can someone say, "amen"?
  • 00:20:14.366 --> 00:20:16.368
  • It's true for any family in here today.
  • 00:20:16.368 --> 00:20:20.138
  • It's true for any marriage. it's true for any church.
  • 00:20:20.138 --> 00:20:23.775
  • It's true for any company. it's true for any university.
  • 00:20:23.775 --> 00:20:27.312
  • It's true for any political party.
  • 00:20:27.312 --> 00:20:29.548
  • It's true for you. it's true for me.
  • 00:20:29.548 --> 00:20:32.818
  • If we will follow god, honor god, obey god,
  • 00:20:32.818 --> 00:20:36.822
  • And serve god, he will honor and bless us.
  • 00:20:36.822 --> 00:20:39.691
  • And if we choose not to,
  • 00:20:39.691 --> 00:20:41.026
  • Then god will remove that hand of blessing.
  • 00:20:41.026 --> 00:20:44.129
  • The psalmist said in psalm 14, verse 2--
  • 00:20:44.129 --> 00:20:45.831
  • I don't know if you've ever seen this verse.
  • 00:20:45.831 --> 00:20:47.499
  • It says that the lord looks down from where?
  • 00:20:47.499 --> 00:20:48.967
  • Where's the lord looking down from?
  • 00:20:48.967 --> 00:20:50.602
  • He's looking down from heaven,
  • 00:20:50.602 --> 00:20:52.170
  • And he's looking on the sons of men.
  • 00:20:52.170 --> 00:20:53.705
  • And what is he looking for?
  • 00:20:53.705 --> 00:20:55.407
  • He's looking to see if there are any who understand.
  • 00:20:55.407 --> 00:20:58.644
  • Are there anyone--is there anyone who's seeking after him?
  • 00:20:58.644 --> 00:21:04.483
  • I believe god right now is looking down,
  • 00:21:04.483 --> 00:21:05.951
  • And he knows whether or not we are truly seeking him or not.
  • 00:21:05.951 --> 00:21:09.655
  • Now, i'm looking at an audience here.
  • 00:21:09.655 --> 00:21:11.823
  • You appear to have it all together.
  • 00:21:11.823 --> 00:21:15.761
  • You look marvelous. you're looking at a pastor.
  • 00:21:15.761 --> 00:21:20.032
  • At first glance, you might say,
  • 00:21:20.032 --> 00:21:21.366
  • "it appears as though he has it all together."
  • 00:21:21.366 --> 00:21:26.438
  • Don't let appearances fool you.
  • 00:21:26.438 --> 00:21:29.708
  • Don't let outward appearances define you.
  • 00:21:29.708 --> 00:21:33.578
  • 'cause everything god does in our lives,
  • 00:21:33.578 --> 00:21:35.247
  • He does from the inside out.
  • 00:21:35.247 --> 00:21:38.884
  • Now, we see the outside. i can't see the inside.
  • 00:21:38.884 --> 00:21:43.522
  • We have to look at each other's outside.
  • 00:21:43.522 --> 00:21:46.491
  • That's just the way it is.
  • 00:21:46.491 --> 00:21:48.493
  • But god sees the inside, and the inside is the real you.
  • 00:21:48.493 --> 00:21:54.800
  • So then we come to point three.
  • 00:21:54.800 --> 00:21:56.368
  • God's people then follow an anointed monarch
  • 00:21:56.368 --> 00:22:03.208
  • Named david.
  • 00:22:03.208 --> 00:22:04.543
  • Everybody say, "david." this is king number two.
  • 00:22:04.543 --> 00:22:08.647
  • Now, king number two is polar opposite
  • 00:22:08.647 --> 00:22:10.649
  • Of king number one.
  • 00:22:10.649 --> 00:22:12.818
  • Saul is impressive outwardly and shallow inwardly.
  • 00:22:12.818 --> 00:22:18.123
  • David, he's still good looking,
  • 00:22:18.123 --> 00:22:19.991
  • But he's unqualified if you look at him from the outside.
  • 00:22:19.991 --> 00:22:25.530
  • But on the inside, david is devoted to god.
  • 00:22:25.530 --> 00:22:30.435
  • He is known as a man who had a heart fixed and devoted
  • 00:22:30.435 --> 00:22:35.574
  • To god.
  • 00:22:35.574 --> 00:22:37.242
  • 1 samuel chapter 16, we jump all the way to the 16th chapter.
  • 00:22:37.242 --> 00:22:41.780
  • The lord comes to samuel and he says--
  • 00:22:41.780 --> 00:22:45.951
  • I'll turn over there in chapter 16
  • 00:22:45.951 --> 00:22:48.186
  • In that first verse,
  • 00:22:48.186 --> 00:22:49.521
  • "how long will you mourn for saul,
  • 00:22:49.521 --> 00:22:51.123
  • Since i've rejected him as king over israel?"
  • 00:22:51.123 --> 00:22:53.558
  • The lord said to samuel, "here's what i want you to do.
  • 00:22:53.558 --> 00:22:56.828
  • The same way you anointed saul, i want you to go get that horn,
  • 00:22:56.828 --> 00:22:59.831
  • Fill it up with oil, be on your way.
  • 00:22:59.831 --> 00:23:02.434
  • I'm sending you down the road to a man named jesse
  • 00:23:02.434 --> 00:23:05.337
  • Who lives there in bethlehem,
  • 00:23:05.337 --> 00:23:07.339
  • And i have chosen one of his sons--"
  • 00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:09.841
  • He had eight.
  • 00:23:09.841 --> 00:23:11.176
  • "i've chosen one of his sons to be the next king of israel."
  • 00:23:11.176 --> 00:23:15.080
  • So samuel runs down there to bethlehem,
  • 00:23:15.080 --> 00:23:16.681
  • To the house of jesse.
  • 00:23:16.681 --> 00:23:19.184
  • He's got these eight boys.
  • 00:23:19.184 --> 00:23:21.853
  • They march them all out in front of him.
  • 00:23:21.853 --> 00:23:23.889
  • The first son, his name is eliab, eliab.
  • 00:23:23.889 --> 00:23:28.593
  • He's tall warrior.
  • 00:23:28.593 --> 00:23:30.529
  • He does crossfit every single day.
  • 00:23:30.529 --> 00:23:35.033
  • He could be on the cover of "gq magazine."
  • 00:23:35.033 --> 00:23:38.703
  • He could be a quarterback for the rams.
  • 00:23:38.703 --> 00:23:42.641
  • And samuel looks at this kid and thinks to himself,
  • 00:23:42.641 --> 00:23:45.110
  • "this--now, this guy could be king."
  • 00:23:45.110 --> 00:23:49.681
  • And yet god says to him in 1 samuel 16, verse 7,
  • 00:23:49.681 --> 00:23:53.785
  • "the lord says to samuel,
  • 00:23:53.785 --> 00:23:55.320
  • 'samuel, do not consider his appearance.'"
  • 00:23:55.320 --> 00:23:58.390
  • "we did that on the last king."
  • 00:23:58.390 --> 00:24:00.392
  • "do not consider his appearance or his height,
  • 00:24:00.392 --> 00:24:03.028
  • For i have rejected him.
  • 00:24:03.028 --> 00:24:04.763
  • The lord does not look at the things that man looks at.
  • 00:24:04.763 --> 00:24:07.933
  • Man looks at the outward appearance."
  • 00:24:07.933 --> 00:24:09.534
  • But god says, "i look at the heart."
  • 00:24:09.534 --> 00:24:14.206
  • Now, look, that's just his first boy.
  • 00:24:14.206 --> 00:24:16.541
  • He had eight sons altogether.
  • 00:24:16.541 --> 00:24:19.144
  • Verse 10, "jesse had seven of his sons--"
  • 00:24:19.144 --> 00:24:22.647
  • And there's eight,
  • 00:24:22.647 --> 00:24:23.982
  • But he only had seven of his sons
  • 00:24:23.982 --> 00:24:25.317
  • Pass before samuel.
  • 00:24:25.317 --> 00:24:27.018
  • "samuel said to him, 'the lord has not chosen any of these.'"
  • 00:24:27.018 --> 00:24:32.858
  • "well, it's just gotta be one of these."
  • 00:24:32.858 --> 00:24:34.392
  • "no, i--god--the lord hadn't chosen this one,
  • 00:24:34.392 --> 00:24:37.295
  • This one, this one, this one, this one or this one
  • 00:24:37.295 --> 00:24:41.800
  • Or that one.
  • 00:24:41.800 --> 00:24:43.134
  • Do you have any more?"
  • 00:24:43.134 --> 00:24:44.469
  • "well," verse 11, "are these all the sons you have?"
  • 00:24:44.469 --> 00:24:47.372
  • He says, "well, i got this runt. he's the youngest.
  • 00:24:47.372 --> 00:24:54.579
  • He's about 14 years old, maybe 15."
  • 00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:58.049
  • "well, where's he?"
  • 00:24:58.049 --> 00:24:59.384
  • "well, he's out tending the sheep."
  • 00:24:59.384 --> 00:25:01.887
  • Everybody say, "tending the sheep."
  • 00:25:01.887 --> 00:25:06.258
  • Pastor dudley: oh, aren't you so glad
  • 00:25:10.095 --> 00:25:11.429
  • That god is faithful in all that he does,
  • 00:25:11.429 --> 00:25:14.466
  • That he's full of unfailing love,
  • 00:25:14.466 --> 00:25:17.302
  • And that he alone saves?
  • 00:25:17.302 --> 00:25:19.838
  • I'm so thankful we serve a god like that, amen?
  • 00:25:19.838 --> 00:25:23.441
  • Amen.
  • 00:25:23.441 --> 00:25:25.043
  • Every week here at "lift up jesus,"
  • 00:25:25.043 --> 00:25:26.878
  • We study god's word and we get to know him better,
  • 00:25:26.878 --> 00:25:30.248
  • And we want to take the truth of god's word
  • 00:25:30.248 --> 00:25:33.051
  • To the four corners of the world through radio, television,
  • 00:25:33.051 --> 00:25:37.055
  • And the internet.
  • 00:25:37.055 --> 00:25:38.623
  • If you'd like to partner with our ministry
  • 00:25:38.623 --> 00:25:40.425
  • Through prayer or financial giving,
  • 00:25:40.425 --> 00:25:43.228
  • Please call the number on the screen below
  • 00:25:43.228 --> 00:25:46.164
  • Or visit our website at liftupjesus.com.
  • 00:25:46.164 --> 00:25:49.834
  • It's our goal to reach as many people as possible
  • 00:25:49.834 --> 00:25:53.305
  • With the gospel, which has the power to heal hearts,
  • 00:25:53.305 --> 00:25:57.309
  • Restore lives, and to save souls.
  • 00:25:57.309 --> 00:26:00.478
  • We'd be honored if you'd join us
  • 00:26:00.478 --> 00:26:02.347
  • In this mission.
  • 00:26:02.347 --> 00:26:03.949
  • Thank you for spending this time with me today,
  • 00:26:03.949 --> 00:26:06.251
  • And please tune in again next week,
  • 00:26:06.251 --> 00:26:08.553
  • Same time, same place.
  • 00:26:08.553 --> 00:26:10.388
  • And remember, whatever you're doing
  • 00:26:10.388 --> 00:26:12.123
  • And wherever you're going,
  • 00:26:12.123 --> 00:26:14.059
  • Don't forget to always lift up jesus.
  • 00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:17.629
  • Announcer: research proves that it's the regular hearing
  • 00:26:19.464 --> 00:26:21.299
  • And teaching of the word of god
  • 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:23.768
  • That takes our christian life to a new level.
  • 00:26:23.768 --> 00:26:26.438
  • That's why we invite you to meet dudley rutherford every week
  • 00:26:26.438 --> 00:26:29.441
  • On this station for another powerful message
  • 00:26:29.441 --> 00:26:31.910
  • Straight from the bible.
  • 00:26:31.910 --> 00:26:33.812
  • You can also visit liftupjesus.com to sign up
  • 00:26:33.812 --> 00:26:36.581
  • For a monthly email devotional, discover pastor dudley's books
  • 00:26:36.581 --> 00:26:40.752
  • And other resources, and see our national tv
  • 00:26:40.752 --> 00:26:43.655
  • And radio schedule.
  • 00:26:43.655 --> 00:26:45.657
  • And don't hesitate to reach out on the phone or online.
  • 00:26:45.657 --> 00:26:48.660
  • Pastor dudley has a passion and vision to reach more people
  • 00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:52.497
  • With the message of hope.
  • 00:26:52.497 --> 00:26:54.532
  • And if you'd like to partner with us to touch the world,
  • 00:26:54.532 --> 00:26:57.202
  • We'd love to hear from you.
  • 00:26:57.202 --> 00:26:59.004
  • Your financial gift will do so much to help us impact
  • 00:26:59.004 --> 00:27:01.973
  • The nations for christ.
  • 00:27:01.973 --> 00:27:04.042
  • And if you're ever in the southern california area,
  • 00:27:04.042 --> 00:27:06.344
  • We invite you to visit us at shepherd church
  • 00:27:06.344 --> 00:27:08.680
  • Here in los angeles.
  • 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:10.315
  • It's an amazing experience you'll never forget.
  • 00:27:10.315 --> 00:27:13.118
  • Until next time, remember to always lift up jesus.
  • 00:27:13.118 --> 00:27:17.455
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:17.455 --> 00:27:21.993
  • ...
  • 00:27:23.795 --> 00:27:23.795