1
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,760
Speaker 1: Let us pray. And there was a very sore battle

2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:08,039
Speaker 1: that day, and Abner was beaten, and the men of

3
00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:15,160
Speaker 1: Israel before the servants of David second Samuel two seventeen. Lord,

4
00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,560
Speaker 1: I know you value relationships, and because I desire to

5
00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,600
Speaker 1: walk in your footsteps, relationships will be a focal point

6
00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:28,440
Speaker 1: for my life. In moments of strife and contention with friends,

7
00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,159
Speaker 1: my heart will seek to do what's right rather than

8
00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:36,720
Speaker 1: to be right. Mercy and kindness will be the companions

9
00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:41,320
Speaker 1: of my words. Love and understanding will be the chaperones

10
00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:45,319
Speaker 1: of my heart. For I now realize that two are

11
00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,320
Speaker 1: better than one. I realize that I can accomplish more

12
00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:55,680
Speaker 1: united with like minded relationships than by myself. Pride will

13
00:00:55,720 --> 00:01:00,000
Speaker 1: not cloud my judgment. Anger will not drive my emotions.

14
00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:04,280
Speaker 1: For I decree and declare that I am not run

15
00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:09,400
Speaker 1: by emotions but by your spirit God. Like Joe ab

16
00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:14,520
Speaker 1: in today's reading, I will stop future relationship casualties because

17
00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,720
Speaker 1: I realize we are all your children, God, and that

18
00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,320
Speaker 1: we are on the same team. With this truth, I

19
00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:29,720
Speaker 1: say in Jesus' name, Amen, listening to these daily prayers

20
00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,600
Speaker 1: strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing from the Lord

21
00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:37,800
Speaker 1: by listening to today's Bible in a Year, brought to

22
00:01:37,840 --> 00:02:01,040
Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year dot com.

23
00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:54,960
Speaker 2: The best of Friends fight. In our last story, we

24
00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:59,120
Speaker 2: learned about the fall of Saul and Jonathan. Their deaths

25
00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:02,960
Speaker 2: signified in ending to David's exile, and now a new

26
00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,520
Speaker 2: era of Israel can emerge to the glory of God.

27
00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,640
Speaker 2: Now we learn about David's messy ascension to the throne

28
00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,000
Speaker 2: as he is crowned King of Judah while Ishbosheth, the

29
00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,600
Speaker 2: son of Saul, is made King of Israel. David is

30
00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:21,480
Speaker 2: forced to rule within a divided nation, and his trusted commander,

31
00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,880
Speaker 2: Joe ab displays an incredible act of mercy as inspired

32
00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:27,800
Speaker 2: by the Book of Second Samuel.

33
00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,680
Speaker 3: Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the

34
00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,600
Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. In yesterday's story, we heard

35
00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:38,880
Speaker 3: about the deaths of Saul and three of his sons,

36
00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:43,680
Speaker 3: including Jonathan, on the battlefield. Their death fulfilled what God

37
00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,560
Speaker 3: had told Saul would happen, and it meant that David

38
00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:50,400
Speaker 3: would no longer live in exile. He would no longer

39
00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,360
Speaker 3: be fearful of Saul. He could return to Israel and

40
00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,720
Speaker 3: begin his kingship to lead God's people. But we'll learn

41
00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,680
Speaker 3: today that Israel is now an died nation, with Saul's

42
00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,680
Speaker 3: son Ishboshev thrust under the throne of Israel and David

43
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,519
Speaker 3: ruling in Judah. We'll also hear how Joab, one of

44
00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,000
Speaker 3: the mighty men who had served alongside of David, will

45
00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,359
Speaker 3: be chosen as commander of Judas's army, and like David

46
00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,440
Speaker 3: did so many times with Saul, Joab will display incredible

47
00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:23,239
Speaker 3: mercy towards his enemies. So let's listen to today's word.

48
00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:29,079
Speaker 2: Israel was in ruin. War and turmoil with the Philistines

49
00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,840
Speaker 2: had scarred the Hebrew nation, and peace seemed like a

50
00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:37,080
Speaker 2: distant memory. Their time under King Saul was marked by

51
00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:42,240
Speaker 2: constant battle and captivity. The Philistines now occupied many territories

52
00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,720
Speaker 2: within Israel and Judah. Now that Saul and Jonathan had

53
00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:48,520
Speaker 2: been slain in battle, it was time for Israel to

54
00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,640
Speaker 2: have their new king. However, Israel had become divided as

55
00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:57,240
Speaker 2: a nation. Civil discourses and disagreements over territory had led

56
00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,840
Speaker 2: to a split among the country. The nation of Israel

57
00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:05,800
Speaker 2: had split into two kingdoms, Judah and Israel, both in

58
00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,520
Speaker 2: desperate need of a king. To lead them. Still hidden

59
00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,200
Speaker 2: away in Ziklag, David sat with the Lord in silence.

60
00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,480
Speaker 2: It had been years since he called Israel his home.

61
00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:19,880
Speaker 2: Now that Saul was no longer pursuing him, he was

62
00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,760
Speaker 2: free to return. But how would they receive him? Would

63
00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,080
Speaker 2: they sing his praises as before? Would they cast him

64
00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,599
Speaker 2: out for dwelling with the Philistines. David looked at the

65
00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:34,280
Speaker 2: stars and asked himself these questions. He drew a deep

66
00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:38,080
Speaker 2: breath and prayed, Lord, should I go back to the

67
00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,680
Speaker 2: land of Judah. God met him in the quiet, as

68
00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,320
Speaker 2: he used to in the wilderness. He strengthened David's heart

69
00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,159
Speaker 2: and sent him forth to return to his homeland. That

70
00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,800
Speaker 2: next morning, David ventured forth with his family and mighty

71
00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:56,920
Speaker 2: men towards Hebron in the territory of Judah. As Joshua

72
00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,520
Speaker 2: had once led the Hebrews out of the wilderness and

73
00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:04,000
Speaker 2: into promised land, David led his band of Mistreit warriors

74
00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:08,160
Speaker 2: and their families back to the land of Judah. It

75
00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,000
Speaker 2: was midday when David and his people walked through the

76
00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,640
Speaker 2: gates of Judah. David's eyes widened as he saw a

77
00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:18,720
Speaker 2: parade of people awaiting him. Women were dancing in the streets,

78
00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:22,679
Speaker 2: and music was being played in every alley of the city. Men,

79
00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,680
Speaker 2: women and children cheered as David walked through the streets.

80
00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,320
Speaker 2: Never had David felt such a rush of love and

81
00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,800
Speaker 2: a fiction. They led him to the great courts and

82
00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:38,279
Speaker 2: anointed him their king before the entire nation. David crumbled

83
00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,760
Speaker 2: before them and the Lord, with tears streaming down his

84
00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:45,320
Speaker 2: cheeks and a smile beaming from his face. David was

85
00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:52,840
Speaker 2: finally crowned king. Meanwhile, Abner, the commander of Sal's army,

86
00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,600
Speaker 2: took ash Bochef, the illegitimate son of Saul, and thrust

87
00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,400
Speaker 2: him onto the throne of Israel. Abner ruled through him

88
00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,720
Speaker 2: and used his position to leverage rule over Israel. David

89
00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,760
Speaker 2: would not seize the mantle of king by force. He

90
00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,200
Speaker 2: had waited for years in the wilderness in Ziklag. He

91
00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:14,240
Speaker 2: trusted that God would hand him the entire kingdom in

92
00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:18,560
Speaker 2: due time. For now, David ruled Judah as well and

93
00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,719
Speaker 2: helped restore them to stability and safety. One of his

94
00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:27,680
Speaker 2: mighty men, Joab, was elected as his commander. Together, Joab

95
00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:31,680
Speaker 2: and David drove out the enemies of Judah. Philistines were

96
00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:36,640
Speaker 2: driven out and peace was slowly being won day by day. However,

97
00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,400
Speaker 2: conflict was still lurking within the country. As Abner plotted

98
00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,159
Speaker 2: his takeover, Abner rose up to meet Joab at the

99
00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,920
Speaker 2: pool of Gibeon. The two commanders stood on opposite ends

100
00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:52,000
Speaker 2: of the water, with their armies behind them. Abner's brows

101
00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:56,240
Speaker 2: furrowed as he looked at Joab. Abner was a decorated soldier.

102
00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:00,000
Speaker 2: He was grisly and battle hardened. He was right hand

103
00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,840
Speaker 2: and to the king, and used to governing a nation

104
00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:06,760
Speaker 2: on his own. Joab was the nephew of David Younger

105
00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,640
Speaker 2: and used to being on the run. He looked at Abner,

106
00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:13,360
Speaker 2: knowing full well he was stronger and able to crush him.

107
00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,480
Speaker 2: Yet he did not want to. Being with David for

108
00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,760
Speaker 2: so long had taught him mercy. He saw killing as

109
00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:24,800
Speaker 2: a last resort. Abner shouted to Joab, saying, send twelve

110
00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:28,000
Speaker 2: of your best men forward, and they shall fight between us.

111
00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,320
Speaker 2: Joab paused and looked back at his men. They nodded,

112
00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:36,520
Speaker 2: understanding that the unity of Israel was at stake. Joab

113
00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:40,480
Speaker 2: looked back at Abner and said, let them rise. So

114
00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,440
Speaker 2: twelve men from each army came forth, each team rushed

115
00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:48,000
Speaker 2: into battle beside the water. They were equals blow for blow.

116
00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,600
Speaker 2: Each swipe of their sword was blocked, and every attempt

117
00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,520
Speaker 2: at a stab was thwarted. The twenty four men were

118
00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,240
Speaker 2: so evenly matched that each of them fell by each

119
00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,920
Speaker 2: other's swords. Each man grabbed the other head and thrust

120
00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:05,200
Speaker 2: their blades into the other, causing both to fall. Abner

121
00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,119
Speaker 2: watched as his men fell, so he sent his army

122
00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:13,280
Speaker 2: after Joabs. The battle was fierce. Israel's army, led by Abner,

123
00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:18,240
Speaker 2: was organized, tactful, and tested. Judah's army, led by Joab

124
00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:22,040
Speaker 2: was raw, scrappy, and trained by years in the wilderness

125
00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:25,480
Speaker 2: with David. Abner and the men of Israel were succumbing

126
00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,520
Speaker 2: to the weight of David's men. Though their armor and

127
00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:32,160
Speaker 2: swords were more polished, they lacked the direction and heart

128
00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:38,360
Speaker 2: that David imparted. Joab's brother Abashai and Ashahel were fighting

129
00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:42,360
Speaker 2: alongside him. Together they chopped through the enemy, gliding with

130
00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:46,400
Speaker 2: precision and ferocity. Asha Hell was swift and was well

131
00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,720
Speaker 2: known for his speed. While the battle was raging, aha

132
00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:52,840
Speaker 2: Hell honed in on Abner and began to pursue him.

133
00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,840
Speaker 2: Frightened at the sight of him, Abner fled the battle

134
00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:59,400
Speaker 2: towards the canyons. Abner knew aha Hell and did not

135
00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:02,839
Speaker 2: want to fight him. Abner shouted, do not follow me,

136
00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:05,600
Speaker 2: Asha Hell, I do not want to kill you. Yet

137
00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,880
Speaker 2: asha Hell kept on running towards him. Abner was a

138
00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,360
Speaker 2: hardened man, but he did not want to kill asha

139
00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:15,720
Speaker 2: Hell needlessly. As asha Hell leaped forward to strike down Abner,

140
00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:18,720
Speaker 2: he lifted up his spear and thrust it straight through

141
00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:22,360
Speaker 2: his stomach. Aha Hell fell to the ground and choked

142
00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:26,000
Speaker 2: on his blood. Joe Ab and Abishai stood still as

143
00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:30,199
Speaker 2: they watched their brother bleed below Abner. Abieschell was first

144
00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,880
Speaker 2: to yell. He picked up his spear and ran towards Abner.

145
00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,760
Speaker 2: Joeab pursued behind him. As the sun was setting over

146
00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,800
Speaker 2: the canyon, Joe Ab and Abishell worked their way through

147
00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,839
Speaker 2: the sea of men between them and Abner. One by

148
00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,800
Speaker 2: one they fell as Abner was backed into a corner

149
00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,959
Speaker 2: with many of his men behind him. The armies of

150
00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:53,400
Speaker 2: Judah advanced, and Joe Ab and Abishell were closer to

151
00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:57,240
Speaker 2: taking Abner's life. It was growing dark and the battle

152
00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:01,600
Speaker 2: became sloppy and gory. Abner ye to Joab, shall we

153
00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,800
Speaker 2: do this forever? How long will we devour one another?

154
00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:09,200
Speaker 2: Are we not brothers of Israel? Joabs stopped his men.

155
00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,720
Speaker 2: The army of Judah had backed Israel into the hills.

156
00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,520
Speaker 2: It was almost over. Judah looked back at his men

157
00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,600
Speaker 2: and said, if you had not spoken, my men would

158
00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,280
Speaker 2: have continued to kill you throughout the night. Joab paused again.

159
00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,320
Speaker 2: He took the trumpet off his belt and blew it

160
00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:29,600
Speaker 2: for the entire valley to year. The battle was over,

161
00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:34,640
Speaker 2: and Joab showed Abner's army mercy. Joab's army had killed

162
00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:38,400
Speaker 2: three hundred and sixty of Israel's men, while only nineteen

163
00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:42,000
Speaker 2: of Judah's men had fallen. Joab picked up his brother's

164
00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,600
Speaker 2: body and walked away from the battle. This first act

165
00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,400
Speaker 2: of mercy would make a ripple in the entire country

166
00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,280
Speaker 2: of Israel. Joab spared the lives of hundreds of men.

167
00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,360
Speaker 2: Mercy gives birth to peace.

168
00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,400
Speaker 3: As we began end today's story, Israel is in trouble.

169
00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,520
Speaker 3: The Philistines have occupied large amounts of territory in Israel

170
00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,400
Speaker 3: and Judah King Saul is dead along with three of

171
00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,440
Speaker 3: his sons, and the nation is deeply divided split into

172
00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:17,360
Speaker 3: two kingdoms, Judah and Israel. They both desperately wanted a king,

173
00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,400
Speaker 3: but more than anything, they needed a godly ruler to

174
00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:24,480
Speaker 3: lead them. David, still at Ziklag, got word that Saul

175
00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,360
Speaker 3: and his sons had died, and after confirming that the

176
00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:29,800
Speaker 3: news was true, David tore his clothes and mourned the

177
00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,120
Speaker 3: death of his loved ones. But when the crying was over,

178
00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:38,080
Speaker 3: David turned his attention towards his home to Judah. He

179
00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:41,000
Speaker 3: sought God's counsel, asking if he should return to Judah,

180
00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:45,360
Speaker 3: and God answered telling him to go. Seeking God's will

181
00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:48,600
Speaker 3: has been and will continue to be a marker in

182
00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,760
Speaker 3: David's life. Though he would fail and fall at times,

183
00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:57,000
Speaker 3: David's heart always returns to the Lord to seek his wisdom,

184
00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:01,000
Speaker 3: his guidance, his governance, and so oh with God's blessing,

185
00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:05,199
Speaker 3: David gathers his people and crosses back into Judah, his home.

186
00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,720
Speaker 3: The men of Judah quickly came to David's side and

187
00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:12,560
Speaker 3: anointed him king of Judah. But to the north, in

188
00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:16,040
Speaker 3: the kingdom of Israel, Abner, the commander of Saul's army,

189
00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,840
Speaker 3: was scheming for power. He took the illegitimate son of

190
00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,679
Speaker 3: Saul Ishbosheth and placed him on the throne of Israel.

191
00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,080
Speaker 3: There would be no peace or unity in the divided nation.

192
00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:31,600
Speaker 3: David would one day rule a unified Israel, but he

193
00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,800
Speaker 3: would not do so by force. So for the moment

194
00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,839
Speaker 3: he ruled Judah, and ruled well, and took back more

195
00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,000
Speaker 3: and more territory from the Philistines, driving them out of

196
00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,680
Speaker 3: the land. At his side was a man named Joab,

197
00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,640
Speaker 3: who had fought with David for many years and witnessed

198
00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:53,000
Speaker 3: David's courage in battle, but also his mercy. Meanwhile, Abner

199
00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,920
Speaker 3: was still scheming for power, and he would resort to

200
00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,000
Speaker 3: force and violence in order to get his way. He

201
00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,360
Speaker 3: met Joab at the Pool of Gibbeon, ready to go

202
00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:04,360
Speaker 3: to battle. Abner challenged joe Ab to send his twelve

203
00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:07,400
Speaker 3: best men to fight against Abner's twelve, and so he did,

204
00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,760
Speaker 3: and so the two armies clashed in battle. David's army,

205
00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,520
Speaker 3: led by Joe Abb, was much more powerful, and Abner's

206
00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:19,760
Speaker 3: men were defeated. Abner fled in fear, but Joeab's brother

207
00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:24,120
Speaker 3: Ashiel pursued him. Ashuel was fast, but Abner was a

208
00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,440
Speaker 3: better fighter, and he didn't want to kill the young man.

209
00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,280
Speaker 3: He knew this would anger Joe Ebb and would surely

210
00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:34,000
Speaker 3: be his death. He urged AshEL to relent, but he didn't.

211
00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:38,320
Speaker 3: So Abner killed Ashiel with his spirit, and just as

212
00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:41,880
Speaker 3: he had feared, Joe Ebb and his other brother, Abishai

213
00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:45,480
Speaker 3: gave chase. They closed in on Abner, ready to strike

214
00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,640
Speaker 3: him down. Abner cried out to Joe ab appealing to

215
00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:51,840
Speaker 3: their brotherhood as men of Israel. Would they continue to

216
00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:55,080
Speaker 3: kill each other until none were left. Joe ab took

217
00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:58,520
Speaker 3: mercy on his enemy, who was one of his own countrymen.

218
00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,880
Speaker 3: And in Second Samuel two twenty eight we read this,

219
00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,480
Speaker 3: So Joe ab blew the trumpet, and all the men

220
00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,400
Speaker 3: stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.

221
00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,880
Speaker 3: Just like David, when given a chance to wipe out

222
00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,880
Speaker 3: his enemy, one who had done him great wrong, joeb

223
00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:19,240
Speaker 3: chose the path of mercy. Rather than take many lives,

224
00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:22,560
Speaker 3: he spared them. It was an act that would resonate

225
00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,400
Speaker 3: throughout both kingdoms and begin to pave the way for

226
00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:30,200
Speaker 3: unity and peace under the rule of King David. Let's pray,

227
00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:33,640
Speaker 3: Dear God, thank you for today's story and how It

228
00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,920
Speaker 3: shows us the path of mercy and of your justice.

229
00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:39,760
Speaker 3: Help us not to be quick to anger or to

230
00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,400
Speaker 3: seek revenge, but always always in you, Lord, to extend

231
00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:48,360
Speaker 3: grace and mercy to those who have wronged us. In Jesus' name. Amen,

232
00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,560
Speaker 3: thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.

233
00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:57,600
Speaker 3: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Please download Theprey

234
00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,880
Speaker 3: dot com app and make Bible study and prayer a

235
00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:04,520
Speaker 3: priority in your life. And if you enjoyed this podcast,

236
00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,280
Speaker 3: share it with someone you love. And if you want

237
00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:11,280
Speaker 3: more resources as to how to live abundantly in Jesus Christ,

238
00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:15,240
Speaker 3: be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless

239
00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:15,360
Speaker 3: you