Our King Will Not Be Mocked

We need to be reminded that the world not just in its social perspectives.

But even in its political perspectives never intended to be a friend of the church in outline anyway. Today John launches a brand-new study that is going to help you make sense of well the confusion and the chaos and the unrighteousness that seems to have reached new heights these days were calling the series, the world versus the kingdom of God. John, the messages were going to be looking at over the next few weeks you originally preached these sermons more than a year ago, back when the covert controversy was at its peak, and there's been a lot of upheaval in society. Since then, but if anything, these messages are actually more timely today and I think that's a reflection of the fact that the issues that prompted this series are still all around us, and now as much as ever, we need biblical wisdom to deal with these things yeah and this again speaks filled to the issue that Scripture is eternally relevant. It is more relevant than anything it's more relevant than the latest blogger the latest book are the latest newscaster the latest anything. It is the living and eternal word of God.

And when you look into the word of God, to understand the world and life in the world you're getting a timeless answer and that's exactly what this series turned out to be.

I was trying to help our church people understand covert. I was trying to help them understand what was going on with the government and with the nation and with the world and every week I would come up with another thing to try to give them understanding from the word of God as we went week after week after week after week, we accumulated this sort of body of content that does seem today.

Maybe even more relevant because we understand more how true those biblical realities really are. So the title of this brand-new series is the world versus the kingdom of God the world versus the kingdom of God. I don't think any of us need to be convinced or living in a dark time spiritually increasing social unrest, violence, crime, corruption, church is falling into social issues and abandoning the purity of the gospel and a lot of other things that you are well aware of in light of these evidences of really what is not just the evidence of the fallenness of men. The evidence of the corruption of society, the evidence of the presence of Satan. But as the evidence also of the judgment of God's judgment of letting the sinner go to the consequence of his own sinful choices were seeing all that play out and so this series the world versus the kingdom of God is a timely take on what the Bible clearly teaches about these two kingdoms that exist in parallel to one another. The kingdom of God, which is the kingdom of light. The kingdom of the world which is the kingdom of darkness. This will help you understand the world in which you are living encouragement from the word of God is never been more necessary. The truth is never been more powerful and you're going to find these messages helpful. So stay with us through the series yesterday with us friend the world is changing fast and seems unrecognizable, but biblical truth that gives peace and hope even in the darkest times. Thankfully that never changes. So to take you to God's word. Now, here is John MacArthur launching his new study. The world versus the kingdom of God. I'm going to challenge a little bit really going to the word of God and going to ask that you go with me and stay with me in this, and I can promise you the reward will be this exactly what you would expect. When you give attention to the word of God. I think we need to be reminded that the world not just in its social perspectives. But even in its political perspectives never intended to be a friend of the church or an ally in any way listen to the words of our Lord in John 1518.

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. There is the issue. If you decide that you love the world, you can wiggle your way into it and draw out some level of affection but because you are not of the world, and I chose you out of the world.

Because of this the world hate you if you are who I chose you to be you will be hated by the world that does not thwart the purpose of God for his church in the world. We don't need laws, we don't need politicians for Christ to build his church in John 1633. In the next chapter he said in this world you will have tribulation photo last week, we lose right now.

For now, in this world you will have the… Pressure, tribulation blood, he said, I have overcome the world.

The end of the story Christ wins and we win in Christ, but losing now and winning then has nothing to do with any political help. So here's another surprise to add to that one.

The Bible doesn't recommend prefer or even discuss democracy. The ancient world had teams know the form of government appears either in the Old Testament or the New Testament kings were a common grace.

We talk about God giving common grace and government is common grace to bring order to society.

We understand that, but you also understand that the most common common grace of governmental character is a monarchy.

In fact, so common were kings that we find in the Old Testament. No nation under any other kind of government so normal was it to have a king that the epic tragedy of Israel in the Old Testament was that they wanted a king like all other pagan nations was Israel a democracy never was it. It was a theocratic monarchy and God was king. Yahweh was there. King the covenant God was there. King the Lord Yahweh was Israel's king forever. You would think that would be enough right if you don't think sin makes you stupid. Get ready for the story under attack from the Midianites. Israel decided they wanted a king.

They wanted king you mean they want him another king other than God, Yahweh, the God of the universe, the true King judge Redeemer yes it one of the king will who was who was overseeing life in Israel before they had a king God. It was a theocratic kingdom and Godhead agents.

Those agents were judges and prophets. One of those judges turn your Bible to Judges chapter 8 was a very familiar man by the name of Gideon. We don't have time for the entire story, but it's an incredible story of how God used Gideon and it leads us into chapter 8 verse 22. Gideon had just had a great victory.

The minute Israel said to Gideon rule over us both you and your son. Also, your son's son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian. Let's start. Let's start a family monarchy, you will be our king. Gideon said to them, I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you why it's a the Lord shall rule over you will trade him in for me that's insane. The last of the judges was a man named Samuel turn to first Samuel chapter 3 and were going to go through the story misses an astonishing story in a sense, it's the end of the rain of God over Israel.

Chapter 3 verse 19 it says that Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fail all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord serves as judge and prophet in the Lord appeared again at Shiloh because the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord. So this is exactly the way the kingdom should operate right.

God is the King and he mediates his kingdom through the words that he gives to his prophets learned had his way, the Lord had his way with Samuel.

Then we come to chapter 4 monumental the word of Samuel came to all Israel.

Now Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camp beside Ebenezer while the Philistine army camp today for the Pharisees grew up in battle array to meet Israel. When the battle spread.

Israel was defeated before the Philistines are killed about 4000 men on the battlefield. When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines.

Let us take to ourselves. This from Shiloh, the ark of the covenant of the Lord. That is the symbol of God's presence. That's his throne. Let let's take that that it may come among us and deliver us from the power of her enemies. So now what you know is happened is that the ark which was the symbol of the actual presence of God in the midst of his covenant people has become a good luck charm.

Sin has made these people stupid and even with his noble, a prophet judge as Samuel their stupidity cannot be avoided, so they lost the battle and lost lives and they said we need to get God down there get the box so the people sent to Shiloh and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord who sits above the cherubim in remotely reminding them that this is the throne of God and the two sons of Eli-Anthony Hass were there with the ark of the covenant of God is the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout so that the earth resounded. Why, because God showed up the good luck charm.

The Philistines heard the noise. They said was the noise of this great shout in the camp of Hebrews mean then they understood that the ark of the Lord to come into the camp Philistines were afraid for this that God has come into the camp and the civil will to us for nothing like this has happened before they feared the God of Israel because he knew the history of his power. They feared him more than Israel loved him. Woe to us, they said, who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods. These are the gods are smote the Egyptians all kinds of plagues in the wilderness, take courage and be Menno Philistines are you will become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been slaves to you therefore event Fiserv pep talk can't be intimidated by this God not to go to war so the Philistines fought Israel was defeated the room and fled to his tent in the slaughter was very great and their fellow of Israel 30,000 foot soldiers got a scene not using me as a magic charm the ark of God. Verse 11 was taken.

Philistines took God and the two sons of Eli-Anthony has died didn't turn out so well that in some recent good. God will win a guy God, and they were massacred. What happened what happened to verse 19 verse 18 first Eli fell over backward broke his neck and died as a result in heavy his daughter-in-law often have's wife was pregnant.

About to give birth in when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken that her father-in-law and her husband died. She kneeled down and gave birth for her pains came upon her.

At about the time of her death. The women who stood by her said her not be afraid, for you have given birth to a sensor she dies in childbirth-if any hazard that Eli's dead 30,000 soldiers are dead is what the wife within Hass is giving birth. She's dead. The child lives by the time of her death.

They said don't be afraid you given birth to a son. She didn't answer. Pay attention. Listen to this, you call the boy, Ichabod, which means the glory has departed from Israel because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband said the glory has departed from Israel the ark of God was taken you know she means God's gone, we may have a box we don't have God. Chapter 5 if you think that's a problem for Israel. Imagine what her problem is for the Philistines not have God Philistines took the ark of God product Ebenezer into Ashdod Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon said by Dagon Dagon was a kind of a reverse mermaid mail fish head human legs bizarre idle. So when the acid bites rose in the morning after setting God.

Imagine the ark of the covenant next to Dag on the Kimberly in the morning and I got to followto the ground for the ark of the Lord miss it all suddenly knocked them over the took Dagon said in his place when they rose next morning, behold, I cannot fallto the ground before the ark.

The Lord only this time the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold in the trunk of Dagon was left to him.

Somebody decapitated that idle you not putting him in the same place with the true and living God. Well, that was the end of the religion of Dagon obviously so verse five says knew the priest of Dagon are all who enter Dagon's house, turn on the threshold of Dagon and Ashdod to this day.

That religion went out of existence immediately made if the God of Israel can whack off your head in your hands. We don't need you. So the minute Ashdod saw that it was so nice of the ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us for send a severe illness on Dagon. Our garden so they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said what you would do with the ark of the God of Israel, and they said let the ark of God B) to guess and it adheres into another 10. Guess that's where Goliath was from.

So they took the ark to And then they brought around in the hand of the Lord was against that city with very great confusion. He smote the men of the city on the notes of the tumors broke out on them so they say get that thing out of town a centipede run.

The ark can be grown. The grenades cried out.

Yikes. They brought the ark of the God of Israel around to us to kill us and our people. This is a problem to have God on your hands and to be mocking God and dishonoring God in all these ways is a very deadly kind of activity so they had a meeting in verse 11, they gathered all the lords of the Philistines and send away the ark of the God of Israel and a return to its own place, so it will not kill us and our people, for there was a deadly confusion throughout the city the hand of God was very heavy. There in the men who didn't die were smitten with tumors in the private city went up to heaven that God is just leaving the slaughter everywhere the ark goes chapter 6 is the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines for seven months.

Philistines called for the priests and the diviners say, which we do with the ark of the Lord. Tell us how we shall send it to its places is most interesting. They said if you send away the ark of the God of Israel do not send an empty but you shall surely return to him a guilt offering one of these are pagan saying this. Don't just send that back send that back with a guilt offering what you mean send it back with something that indicate you know you violated that God admit that what happened to you was what you deserve because you violated that God what would what would we send fascinating. They said well what should be the guilt offering, which we return to him and they said five golden tumors and five of Mike's wife. That's called a votive offering you create something that resembles the punishment the mice because the play the tour because the tumor so they were making mice and tumors to send back as a way to say to the offended God, please. We recognize that we have offended you. Verse five Serta sums it up.

If we give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will ease his hand from you your gods in your land that God out of here. Don't send it back empty. Send him back with recognition that you sinned against him. Go to chapter 6, verse 17. These are the golden tumors.

This is getting more serious. They are so afraid.

Afraid of this duty that they start making these votive representations of his judgment in gold golden tumors and golden mice may set it on the ark. Verse 18.

Send it back not just rehearse the history. Okay, they have God as their king to the God who led them through the plagues in Egypt drowned the entire Egyptian army brought them through the years in the wilderness, brought them into the promised land.

Given victory over their enemies God who is just put on his power display slaughtering all kinds of alien pagans. They now have God back to have a faithful judge.

Maybe this is permanent right chapter 8 came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel.

The name of his firstborn was Joel in the name of the second was a budget. They were judging in Beersheba. His sons however didn't walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain through bribes and perverted justice.

Okay, here we have crooked politicians, so listen to this, then all the elders of Israel gathered together all the elders of Israel gathered together came to Samuel at Raima and said to him, now you've grown old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations that this is clear and complete apostasy. We we don't want God as our king thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said give us a king to judge us and Samuel prayed to the Lord.

Every nation had a king lease.

These these two sons sandlot word answer will give us a king. We want a king like everybody else is a king in chapter 8 verse seven Lord said to Samuel, listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have what injected me from being king over them. Sin make you stupid or what but listen to their voice solemnly warn them, tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them for send this book all the words of the Lord to the people who asked of him became his, you know, this can mean you know what you're doing your trading in the Redeemer king for an evil anti-God. Narcissistic autocratic dictator. Verse 21 after Samuel had heard all the words of the people he repeated them in the Lord's hearing. He said what I can't believe this family thing what they said as if the Lord and here the Lord said to Samuel, listen to their voice in making him a king. Chapter 12 verse 12 says a king shall reign over you although the Lord your God was your king.

This is the epic apostasy of Israel. Enter you know who Saul Saul is going to be there can go to chapter 10, they selected Saul will go through all that story but Samuel verse 17 Egyptian calls of people together. Ms. Bonnie said to the sons of Israel. Thus says the Lord God of Israel, I hey I brought Israel up from Egypt. I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you, but you have today rejected your God, who delivers you from all your calamities and your distresses yet you have said no but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your plans. Thus, Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot, by the way, any king in Israel supposed to be from the tribe of Judah. Many brought the tribe of Benjamin nearby, its families in the may try family was taken, install the son of Kish, was found Saul, why him while we we already know because verse 23 says he was taller than anybody else, and more. Her tall dark and handsome and cowardly. Verse 22 says were Saul, he's hiding in the baggage spoke great.

We got a tall dark handsome guy in the baggage hiding. By the way, what did he do. He looked for lost donkeys. That was his job. Unfortunately didn't do very well confined him. He went from one end of the land of the other end of life and find some decent other order back home tall dark handsome cowardly donkey finder sin make you stupid make you make stupid choices about leadership who trades in the eternal God for a tall dark handsome stupid donkey finder who wants to hide in the baggage. So why did God allow this is a judgment understand that as a judgment you want to king give you king give you the king that will show you how foolish you are, to turn from God. Saul is the anti-king is the illustration of the worst kind of ruler that's God's whole point Saul was a complete disaster and we know the sad story of this is grace to you with John MacArthur. Thanks for being with us today. John began a brand-new study. He's titled the world versus the kingdom of God. And now, this study is really important. The themes are so timely, it's critical that you know how to think biblically about the cultural chaos that is all around to download the world versus the kingdom of God, or to order these messages on CD. Contact us today. You can purchase the seven CD album by calling 855 grace or go to TTY.org. That's our website and that's where you'll find the MP3s and the transcripts and they are available free of charge. Look for the series titled the world versus the kingdom of God as well as the rest of John's 3500 sermons they're all available to download for free@tty.org. Also, let me encourage you to drop us a note and let us know how God is using grace to you in your life and let us know how you hear our broadcast mentioning this radio station is a big help. Our email address is letters@tty.org that's letters@tty.org or you can reach us by regular mail. That address is box 4000 panorama city, CA 91412, and to keep up-to-date with what's ahead on our radio and TV broadcasts follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and check out our YouTube channel as well. Now for John MacArthur. I'm Phil Johnson inviting you to be here tomorrow when John continues to show you the truth you need to know if you want to survive in a culture that's becoming more and more hostile to the truth. It's another 30 minutes of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on grace to you