Brothers and sisters, if you would, turn in your copies of God's word to 1 Samuel chapter 10, as we resume our consideration of 1 Samuel this evening, picking up together in chapter 10. And I would say you may be seated if you would like, as it is a rather long passage this evening. 1 Samuel chapter 10, we'll begin reading at verse one. We'll read the entirety of the chapter. This is the word of our God. Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord, and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage. When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelza. And they will say to you, the donkeys that you went to seek are found. And now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you saying, what shall I do about my son? Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hands. After that, you shall come and go, or come to Gibeath Elohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harps, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. Then go down before me to Gilgal, and behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait until I come to you and show you what you shall do. When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, what has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? And a man of that of the place answered, and who is his father? Therefore it became a proverb, is Saul also among the prophets? When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place. Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, Where did you go? And he said, To seek the donkeys. And when we saw that they were not to be found, we went to Samuel. And Saul's uncle said, Please, tell me what Samuel said to you. And Saul said to his uncle, he told us plainly that the donkeys had been found. But about the matter of the kingdom, which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him anything. Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mitzvah. And he said to the people of Israel, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I brought you up out of the land of Egypt and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you. But today you have rejected your God who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses. And you have said to him, set a king over us. Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands. Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by Lot. He brought the tribes of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matorites was taken by Lot. And Saul the son of Kish was taken by Lot. But when they sought him they could not, or rather he could not be found. So they inquired again of the Lord, Is there a man still to come? And the Lord said, Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage. Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. And Samuel said to all the people, Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people. And the people shouted, Long live the king. Then Samuel told the people the rights and the duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book, and lay it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. Saul also went to his home at Gibeah. And with him went men of valor whose hearts the Lord, or rather God, had touched. But some worthless fellows said, How can this man save us? And they despised him and brought him no present, but he held his peace. This is the word of our Lord. Let us pray. Father God, as we return our attention this evening to your word, particularly to this book of 1 Samuel, we pray that you would guide and direct our consideration of this text. We pray, Lord, that you would show forth to us your sovereignty, your rule, and your reign over your people so that we might be reminded of the sufficient savior that we have. that we might be reminded of the rule and reign of the Lord Jesus, and that we might never forsake you. We pray, Father, that you would press upon us your glory and your grace. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, dependent upon God's promises, beget observation of God's precepts. These are the words of Thomas Manton, the Puritan, as he explores in one of his works the intimate connection that exists between trusting God and obeying God. It's a truth that I think all of us know very well. It goes on, he says that they who distrust God's promises will not for long keep his precepts. And we understand that, don't we? We know that if someone does not trust in the Lord God, in His word, in His promises, they will be prone to sin against Him. We could think of some very practical ways in which this might work itself out. Just think for a second about how you might feel if you found yourself in a desperate situation where you didn't have enough money to feed your family. And if you didn't trust in the Lord to give you your daily bread, what might you be tempted to do? You might be tempted to go out and to steal from others to provide for yourself and for your household. But if you believed God, if you trusted His promises, if you remembered that He was always faithful to provide and to protect His people, you would find yourself insulated from that particular temptation and sin. Now that's a rather obvious way in which this might work itself out but One of the most dramatic ways, perhaps, that this principle, that dependence upon God's promises begets observation to God's precepts, and the reverse, that distrust of God's promises will not produce obedience in God, but rather will produce disobedience, is probably found here in the book of 1 Samuel, beginning in chapter 8. Just think about what we've read thus far as we've entered into this section of the book which deals particularly with this man Saul. This man who we know is going to become the king of Israel. This section began rather sadly, with the nation of Israel facing two particular fears. On the one hand, they were facing the fear of perhaps descending yet again into utter chaos and anarchy. They were facing that fear in a very legitimate way, right? Because they were looking at the fact that the two judges, the young judges, who were living in the nation of Israel at that time were Samuel's two sons, who, like Eli's two sons, had become corrupt and wicked. And they saw that Samuel, a godly, faithful, and just man, was growing old. And so they knew, sooner or later, we are going to find ourselves in a situation where our leadership is totally corrupted again. And because of that fear, and because of another fear, They plead with Samuel to bring them a king. That other fear, as you remember, is the fear that the Ammonites would come and conquer them. It's not actually explicitly stated there in 1 Samuel 8, but we will see that that's the case when we come to 1 Samuel 12. These two fears that the people of Israel were facing caused them to distrust God and therefore to disobey Him. And that began that cycle that we have seen since then, this situation in which we have entered into this place in the text where we are dealing now with this man Saul. They have cried out to God to give them a king, a king like the nations, and the Lord God is giving them what they have asked for. And yet, as we'll see, even as we saw last week in chapter 10 of 1 Samuel, The Lord God by no means ceases to be the ultimate king and ruler over the nation of Israel. even though his people have begun to disobey him in this really rather horrific way. If you think about it for a moment, what have they done? They have distrusted God and they have sought to displace his kingship and to establish a human king. They have sought after someone who would be like the kings of the Philistines and the Ammonites and those who are around them instead of like God who has proved himself time and time again to be fateful and to be able to provide and to protect them in everything they face. They have rejected Him because of their distrust and they have sought after this man Samuel. And as God gives them, this man Saul rather, as God gives them what they have asked for here, we see that chapters 9 and 10 make it utterly clear to us that while He will indeed provide them a man like the one they desire, He will do so in such a way that He makes it incredibly clear that He is by no means relinquishing His power, His control, and His provision and protection over the nation of Israel. And we see that clearly in chapter 10 as we begin to consider the chapter because everywhere we look in the chapter we see God. We see God acting. We see God is orchestrating and He is arranging every aspect of the ascendancy of this man Saul to the throne of Israel. And in particular, we see that in three particular things that God does in chapter 10 before us this evening. On the one hand, we see, as we begin to look at the passage in verses one through eight, that it is God, through his prophet, who appoints this new king over the nation of Israel. God appoints the king. We see that in verses one through eight. But then as we move on from verses 1 through 8, and we come to verses 9 through 16, we find that God not only appoints the king, but it is the Lord God of Israel who also empowers the king of Israel. You notice that there. It is by the Spirit of God rushing upon him, it is by God giving him a new heart, it is by God making him a new man, that this king will be empowered to do the work which God has appointed him to do. And then last of all, as we come to verses 17 through 27, we find that not only has God empowered and appointed the king, but ultimately, here at the end of the chapter, even as this king attempts to flee and hide from his duties, God is the one who reveals the king of Israel. Again, through his prophet Samuel. So as we begin to look at these three things that God does here in the passage, I want you to look at these things and to remember the main point that I want you to see tonight. God is still at work. God is still ruling, even though this human king is being established to stand, as it were, as a figurehead in the nation of Israel. Nevertheless, God's power has not been diminished. His providence has not been hindered, and His plan for the nation of Israel continues to unfold, just as He has always decreed it to do. So look with me here first at verses 1 through 8, and let's consider how God's prophet, or through His prophet, appoints the King of Israel. verse 1 we considered last week as we studied together from chapter 9 that wonderful chapter where we saw the remarkable events of God's providence which led this man Saul who had just gone out to look for some lost donkeys into the path of Samuel wherein he became clear to Saul as it was anticipated by Samuel that this is the man whom God would have to be king over the nation of Israel. But here we see in verse 1 of chapter 10 that the prophet of God is anointing the king that God has sent. Look with me at what the verse says. Then Samuel took a flask of oil, and he poured it on his head. And he kissed him, and he said, Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? Now before we go any further, let us just think about the statement that Samuel has made here to Saul. And first you notice, even before we get to the statement, the actions which Samuel has taken. The first thing he does here is he takes a flask of oil and he pours it on Saul's head. Now, if you remember back at the very beginning of the book of 1 Samuel, this should jump out to you. as something very significant because there at the beginning of the book, especially in that first section where we were considering together Hannah's song or Hannah's prayer, remember that she had prophesied really in that song a time where God would bring forth an anointed one. which he would use for the salvation of his people. Now here we see God has brought forth one whom his prophet has now anointed with oil. This is the first time in the history of the nation of Israel that a king has been anointed by a prophet. And you notice the words that Samuel speaks to him as he does this action. He says, has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And just meditate on that phrase for just a moment. Has not the Lord anointed you? This is not some action done simply by the prophet of God because he just wants to do it. Of course not. The prophet is acting on behalf of God and it is therefore God who is actually anointing Samuel as Samuel does this or anointing Saul as Samuel performs this ceremonial act of pouring out oil upon his head. It is God who is anointing Saul and he is anointing him to be what? To be the prince. You notice that Samuel doesn't like to use the word king. the prince over his people Israel." Now you notice the Lord is in no way giving up His claim over the people, the nation of Israel. He has anointed Him, His King, to be over His people. And he goes on, you shall reign over the people of the Lord, and you will save them from the hands of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be a sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage. Nothing could be more utterly clear than the fact that God is still the one who is in possession of his covenant people. These are still His people. He is still the ultimate King of the nation. He is putting Saul in this place to act as a figurehead because they desire it. But nevertheless, God is still the King. He is still the King over Israel. And for that matter, He is still the King over all of creation. But he says here at the end of verse 1, you notice there the last sentence, and this shall be the sign to you. that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over His heritage. And then he begins to lay out in the following verses, really verses 2 through 8, a series of elaborate signs through which God will confirm His appointment of Saul to the position of kingship. You notice the first sign that he lays out there in verse 2. He tells him, simply as a summary, that Saul will go out and that he will meet two men by the tomb of Rachel. And these men will tell him that his father is worried. Now there's a couple of interesting things to note here. On the one hand, we've already seen that Saul is worried about the potential that his father is concerned about him instead of the donkeys at this point, because he's been gone so long. It's a reasonable thing to assume on Saul's part, but you notice that these two men, seem to appear out of nowhere. It doesn't seem clear to us why these men would have any information about who Saul was or any information about Saul's father being worried about him. But nevertheless, as he comes to this particular place, this tomb of Rachel, he will meet these two men who randomly, it seems, will know about his situation and will communicate to him the heart of his father. It's a rather profound and a rather specific sign. And we've seen, of course, throughout chapter nine that God's providence is unfolding in a very precise manner. And of course, we'll see that again as we make our way through these signs here. So that's the first sign. It's also probably not accidental that these two men will meet him in the territory of Benjamin, it says, but they will meet him, right, by Rachel's tomb. Now, if you just think about your Old Testament history for a moment, you might remember that Rachel died giving birth to which of the sons of Israel? Benjamin. It's an interesting little note here that we have, an indication, perhaps even part of the foreboding that we are meant to feel here in chapter 10, which we'll see much more of as we get to the end of the chapter. But that's the first sign. The second sign, again, is rather elaborate. Saul will meet three men, we learn in verses three and four, who are going to Bethel, and they will have very particular gifts. They are going up, no doubt, to worship the Lord. They have some of the instruments that you would have with you as you went to worship the Lord. In particular, they, of course, have these They have these animals with them and they have bread and they have wine. And you notice what they'll do here. They give to him, none of the goats, none of the wine, but they give to him simply two pieces of bread, two loaves of bread. Again, an oddly specific sign. And in verses 5 and 6 lay out for us the third sign that Saul will meet with on the way. And this is the one that is perhaps most memorable for us and perhaps for all the history of the nation of Israel. It is the episode where Saul will encounter a group of prophets coming down from the high places worshiping the Lord it appears as they come. And as he encounters them, the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon him, and he himself will prophesy with them. Now verse 7 though, tells us this. Samuel speaking to Saul here, he says, Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. It's an interesting verse. Commentators are rather divided about the meaning of it. What does it mean that you were to do what your hand finds to do? Some, for instance, think that what God is calling through his prophet Saul to do is to immediately go out and attack the enemies of Israel, perhaps even the garrison of the Philistines, which was mentioned earlier. Others are less clear about what exactly God is calling him to do, but what is also interesting is that we don't actually see whether or not Saul does this. We're not sure. It doesn't actually appear that he does, as we'll see in just a few moments. But regardless of how you want to interpret this verse, we do see something very important. that Saul is meant, after experiencing the fulfillment of these signs, to have an assurance, a confirmation, that God is with him. He is meant to know that it is by the Lord's power that he will go about the work of the kingdom of Israel. Then, of course, Samuel tells him to wait. The prophet appoints the king. He appoints him by anointing. He tells him about the signs of the confirmation of his appointing. Then Saul leaves him in verse 9. As he does, we get a summary of what takes place here at the beginning of this section. Verse 9 tells us that he turned his back to leave Samuel. And when he did, what happened? God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. Indeed, verse 10 tells us in particular that that third sign came to pass. And when it came to pass, of course, Saul began to prophesy. Now, let me just note it here, something extremely significant. And of course, you probably have already made the connection between these two things, but we read in Matthew chapter three, verses 13 through 17, about the baptism of the Lord Jesus. And you remember what takes place there. When Jesus is baptized and he comes out of the water, what happens to him? Well, the Spirit of God rushes upon him. And as the Spirit of God rushes upon him, we hear that language being echoed from Psalm 2, which we sung just a few moments ago by the Lord himself, as he speaks about how Jesus is his beloved son. Now, if you think about that for a moment, you can see the connection that's going on here. Jesus' anointing at his baptism indicates to us that he is the beloved son of Psalm 2, which indicates to us that he is the rightful king of Israel. Remember what the word Christ, remember what the word Messiah actually means. It simply means anointed one, right? And so as we see the image that's happening here, as Saul is anointed and as he goes forth and he begins to prophesy, the Spirit of God comes upon him, we are reminded not only of how he will accomplish all that he will do for the kingdom, but we are also reminded, looking forward, of what David will do as he is gifted the Holy Spirit of God at his anointing, and then of course we are also forced to look forward. to what the Lord Jesus Christ will do through the power of the Holy Spirit in his earthly ministry as the fulfillment, as the ultimate king over God's people. I can't pass that without making those connections. The Spirit of God rests upon him. Verses 11 through 13 tell us about what happens as a result of him prophesying. People see this and they ask the question, is Saul also among the prophets? There's a confirmation not only to Saul but also to those who are around him that something radical has happened to Saul. He has become a new man, another man. God has given to him another heart. He's radically changed. by this experience. And yet, as we come to verses 14 through 16, we find that as he reconnects, as it were, with his family, in particular with his uncle here, he doesn't mention anything that Samuel has spoken to him. He simply tells him about Samuel's information that he gave him concerning his father's donkeys. But concerning the matter of the kingdom, he doesn't tell them anything. And so just as soon as the king has been appointed and empowered, he conceals himself. In verse 17 though, we see Samuel coming back into the picture. Verse 17, we find Saul, of course, still in hiding, at least we would assume, but we find that Samuel here is calling the people together to the Lord, once again, at Mitzvah. Now, if you just think about that for a moment, you can perhaps think of why that is significant immediately. There are actually several reasons why this is significant. First, it's significant because you remember that this is where they met in 1 Samuel 7, when Samuel called them together and they were repenting before the Lord. And they were really renewing, in a sense, their covenantal relation with the Lord. And what happened while they were there? The Philistines came out and tried to attack them. But while they were there, while Samuel was there worshiping, the Lord, as they went out to fight against the Philistines, came out and fought against the Philistines for them. And so as Samuel calls them together at this particular place, in one sense, he's reminding them, remember what the Lord has done for you. Remember how he has recently fought for you. Remember how he has recently delivered you. But perhaps there's something else going on here as well. As they gather in this place, they would also perhaps have been reminded of another time when Israel gathered there in Judges chapter 20 verse one. when the tribes of Israel gathered to go to war against the tribe of Benjamin because of the wickedness of that tribe. And so this is a significant location. It's a location which includes a significant amount of foreboding in its mention. It's a reminder of God's fatefulness. It's also a reminder of the people's sin. He gathered the people of Israel here and we see something of the character of the preaching of the prophet. He does not give any kind of fluffy introduction, it doesn't appear. Verse 18, he speaks to the people of Israel and he says, thus says the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you. But you today have rejected your God who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses. And you have said to him, Set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands." Samuel really doesn't seem to have any time for the people of Israel at this point. As soon as they arrive at this place, He confronts them with their own sin. It is you who have rejected the Lord after everything that He's done for you. He delivered you from your bondage in Egypt in the past, and just in recent days, He has preserved and protected you from all of your enemies, but you continually distrust His promises, distrust His word, distrust His character, and you've rejected Him. And so you now come and present yourself before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands. Samuel brings all the tribes of Israel near. And you notice what they do here in verse 20 and following. They draw lots and they cast lots. it's actually pretty common in the Bible that we see the people of God casting lots to seek to discern God's plan. But in this particular case, it's notable that there's really only one time other than this in the Old Testament where the people of Israel draw together as the tribes and lots are cast. And that's actually, if you remember back in the book of Joshua, that's when Achan had stolen from the city that they had destroyed, that they had gone to war with. And there is here in this occasion, this particular method that Samuel picks, again, a sense of foreboding. They draw the lots and as it gets narrower and narrower, they narrow it down from all the tribes to simply Benjamin. Now, particularly you can imagine as they see that it is Benjamin is coming forward, there would have been significant connections being made by them. Wait, we were here before to destroy Benjamin. Now Benjamin is the tribe that's being brought forth. Wait, this is not the tribe of Judah from which we know from the book of Genesis, that the king of Israel is really meant to permanently come from, but instead it's a different tribe. You can think of what it must have been like for the knowledgeable Israelite, at least to see the action unfolding before him. He's thinking, all of these things that are happening, they don't seem like good things, they seem like rather bad things. And as the lots continue to be cast, as it gets narrower and narrower, eventually they get to the point where they get to Saul, the son of Kish. And yet he could not be found. So what do they do? They inquire again of the Lord. That's funny isn't it? You can see God's providence so clearly in everything that is happening here. the God who they were trying to reject because they didn't trust Him, because they didn't believe He was able to defend and to provide for them against all the enemies of the nations around them. He is the One who has appointed the King, He is the One who has empowered the King, and now He is the One who is in the process of revealing the King through this rather elaborate set of circumstances. And here they come, and they can't find Saul, so they inquire of the Lord. The Lord says, behold, he's hidden himself among the baggage. Now, you can imagine that if you were following the action, and you were kind of thinking about all the negative connotations of things that are happening, this would probably not be a very reassuring turn of events. Because the man you're looking for, he's hiding. He's hiding. from the office that God has appointed him to. And to be fair, it's unclear why he's hiding. Is he hiding because he realizes his weakness, his humility, the fact that he's not really suited for this particular calling? Is he hiding simply because he's come to the understanding of what the people of Israel are doing here? I don't know about you, but if everybody got together at the church and they said, you know, we wanna replace God and we wanna replace him with you, I would be a little concerned, a little reluctant to step into that place. But regardless, you can see, you can see the ridiculousness of what the people of Israel are doing here. This is the man that they want. This is the man that they would rather have than God. They would cast off the God who delivered them time after time after time after time. The God who destroyed all their enemies before them, who gave to them the promised land in which they live. The God who has shown himself to be gracious and true, to be loving and steadfast in his mercy towards them. They are rejecting him for a guy who is hiding in the baggage. It's not good. And yet, as so often is the case, as I reflect upon the ridiculousness of the nation of Israel, I have to reflect upon my own ridiculousness. I have to think to myself, how often have I ignored the Word of God, forgotten His character, even times subtly perhaps sought to replace Him in my own heart with a substitute which was clearly and obviously unworthy. Perhaps we haven't rejected God in the way that the nation of Israel has. But perhaps we've tried to put somebody or something else in that place before. Perhaps we've tried to put money or comfort or success, you name it, Perhaps we're not guilty of the kind of rejection of the Lord that the people of Israel are. There's no doubt in my mind that every one of us has tried to usurp the kingship of Christ in our own lives and in our own hearts at some time or another in our life. We sought to cast off the God of all the universe He sought to cast off the God of inexhaustible and immeasurable grace for some pathetic substitute. And that's what they're doing. But of course, it's not the way they see it. In verse 23, what do they do? They run. They take him from there and when he stood among the people, he was taller. than any of the people from his shoulders upward. Remember this is a regal looking man. And what does Samuel say to all the people? He knows of course this is the king that God has chosen for them and he says, Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people He is saying, look at him, just look at him. Look at how handsome he is, look at how tall he is. He looks like the king. This is the king that you were looking for. He looks like a king of the nations. This is the man who you desire to rule over you and God, He has given you what you asked Him to give you. There is none like Him among the people. And what do the people do? They shouted Long live the king. It's a stunning series of events. Samuel has just preached a sermon to them, the theme of which is you are about to reject God. They do not appear bothered by that in any way, shape, or form. But they run instead headlong towards this pathetic substitute. As Samuel tells all the people, of course, the rights and the duties of the kingship, he writes them in a book, he puts them before the Lord, he sends all the people home and he sends Saul away to his home as well. And of course, even as this section of the story of Saul comes to a conclusion, even as he has been acknowledged by the nation, by God, and by his prophet to be the one whom God has set over them, already, here in verse 23, or rather 27, there are those who are against him. Worthless fellows, it says, who are not pleased with the choice that God has made. And yet he holds his peace, we see. He seems to be aware that there's already dissension in the ring, but the time is not right to deal with it. So interestingly, as we come to chapter 10, to the conclusion, rather, of chapter 10, we see that the people have gotten what they want, and yet at least some of the people are still, they're still not happy after God has given them what they've asked for. But as we reflect on this chapter, we see, we see the reality of God's rule, don't we? We see clearly the Lord has anointed this king. We see that the Lord has empowered this king. And we see that the Lord has revealed this king. And thus, even as they have sought to escape, in some sense, from the rule of God, His sovereignty is inescapable. And they're reminded of that. And friends, I think it's appropriate for us to be reminded of that. for us to be reminded when we are tempted, we are tempted by the trials, the difficulties, the fears of this world, which come upon us on a regular basis, not to distrust God and therefore to begin to disobey God, but rather to cultivate trust, faith, and obedience to our God, who always rules and reigns over his people, for their good and for his glory. Amen. Let's pray. Heavenly Father we thank you and we praise you for your word and for the testimony that it is to us of your faithfulness, your mercy, your kindness towards us. We thank you Father that even here as we see your people and we see their sins against you, we are reminded that we serve a God who never changes. That we serve a God who is always merciful. That we serve a God who is long-suffering and who always draws His people, His covenant people, back to Himself. Father, we pray this evening that You would remind us always of Your power and of Your faithfulness. and that you would protect and watch over us so that we would not be prone to wonder from you and to seek frail, empathetic substitutes for your glory and for your protection and provision. We ask now, Lord, that you would teach us to trust and that we would look and that we would look with confidence upon our King the Lord Jesus for all that we need in this world. We pray these things in His precious name. Amen.