1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Let us pray. Then the children of Israel did put 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: away Baalim and Ashtaroth and served the Lord only first 3 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: Samuel seven. For dear Heavenly Father, to day is spring cleaning. 4 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: To day is the day that I am taking inventory 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,319 Speaker 1: of what's in my heart. And if there are any 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: idols that I've allowed to stay, idols like jealousy, unforgiveness, 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: people pleasing, and spiritual compromise, I break at the altar 8 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: of your presence. I confess that if I'm not in 9 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: spiritual alignment, I lose battles that You've already spoken victory over. However, 10 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: the days of losing battles because of idols are gone. 11 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: I decree and declare that my heart only longs for 12 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: you and your ways. I declare that I am sinked 13 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: and aligned with your ways. I will will not fall 14 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: to fear when the clouds of trials descend upon me. 15 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: I know, like thunder, you will roll through my life 16 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 1: and hand victory to me. I declare that all fear, doubt, anxiety, 17 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: and worry will melt under the hand of the Almighty. 18 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,759 Speaker 1: I will not look for any other king to rule 19 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: my life, but you lead me and guide me. To 20 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: your desired outcome for my life. In Jesus' name. Amen. 21 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: Thanks for making prayer a priority in your life. To 22 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: hear the Bible come to life. Stay tuned for the 23 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: Bible in a Year brought to you by Bible in 24 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: a Year dot com. 25 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: Israel's return to God. In our last story, we learned 26 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 2: of God's victory over the Philistines and his return to Israel. 27 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 2: He plagued them with tumors and made it known that 28 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 2: He was the God above all other gods. Now we 29 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 2: see Israel turn away from their old idolatry and pursue 30 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: God with their whole heart. Victory and prosperity follows them, 31 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 2: but idolatry still creeps in the darkness of their hearts. 32 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 2: Inspired by the Book of First Samuel. 33 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 3: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 34 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year. In yesterday's reading, we heard about 35 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 3: how God punished the Philistines, judged them for stealing the 36 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 3: Ark and attempting to use God for their own benefit. 37 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 3: After being afflicted with terrible tumors in two different cities, 38 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 3: the terrified Philistines returned the Ark along with guilt offerings 39 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 3: to Israel. The people of God rejoiced and praised God 40 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 3: for returning the Ark to them. Today, we'll hear how 41 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 3: they turned back to God and try to follow him 42 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 3: with the entilty of their hearts. They will experience prosperity 43 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 3: and success in battle as long as they remain committed 44 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 3: to the Lord. But Israel is still plague by a 45 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 3: desire to be like other nations. They will insist on 46 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 3: a king, despite God's promise to rule over them. God 47 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 3: will hear them and eventually give them what they want, 48 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 3: but they don't understand for what they are asking or 49 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 3: what they will receive. Let's listen now to today's story. 50 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 2: The Ark of the Covenant had been returned to Israel, 51 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 2: but the Philistine gods were not destroyed completely. Many Israelites 52 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 2: clung to many different gods. They kept idols in their 53 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: homes and used idle worship as an excuse to sin. 54 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 2: Samuel spoke to the people as a loving and strong leader. Listen, 55 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 2: he shouted among them. The crowd grew silent as they 56 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 2: listened to Samuel. 57 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 3: They hung on. 58 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 2: Every word he said. Samuel spoke the word of God 59 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 2: over the sea of people, saying, if you truly want 60 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 2: to return to the Lord. Direct your hearts towards him, 61 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 2: Pursue what is meaningful and good for your souls. Serve 62 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 2: Him only, and you will have victory over the Philistines. 63 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 2: So the people of Israel burned their idols to Baal 64 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 2: and Astroth. It was as if the walls of Jericho 65 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 2: crumbled in their own hearts. The heaviness of their idle 66 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 2: worship dissipated, and they began to worship God freely once again. 67 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 2: Samuel took the children of Israel to Mizpah to worship God. 68 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 2: There they sang to him, recounted his laws, and made sacrifices. However, 69 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 2: the Philistine wolves caught scent of their vulnerability and sought 70 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 2: to attack Israel while they were worshiping. The Philistine army 71 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 2: gathered like storm clouds across the valley below Mizpah. They 72 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: rolled through in great numbers, and their battle cries could 73 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 2: be heard only a few miles away. The Philistines were 74 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 2: in hot pursuit. The Israelites grew terrified. Their marches shook 75 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 2: the earth, and the clanging of their armor pierced their ears. 76 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 2: They were fast approaching. If Israel had still been worshiping 77 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 2: their idols, they would have fallen to their fear. Instead, 78 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 2: they brought their cries before God. They bowed before him 79 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 2: and asked Samuel to continue to pray and make sacrifices. 80 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: Samuel took a nursing lamb and raised it high for 81 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: all to see. Samuel drove a blade across its throat. 82 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 2: The blood of the lamb was shed before the people. 83 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 2: Years ago, the blood of a lamb was shed to 84 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 2: cover the door posts in Egypt, and years before that, 85 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 2: the blood of the lamb was accepted by Abel before God. 86 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: Deliverance followed the blood of a lamb. The Philistines were 87 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 2: close enough to see the sweat on their brows and 88 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 2: the glimmer of their blades. As Samuel was sacrificing the lamb, 89 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 2: the Lord rolled into the valley like thunder, and a 90 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 2: great boom shook the earth in Skyes Philistines fell in 91 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: every direction, and the people of Israel descended upon them 92 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 2: like the armies of Heaven. Their swords swayed through the 93 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 2: confused Philistines, and victory was handed to Israel on a 94 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 2: silver platter by God. The Philistine army, once terrifying and powerful, 95 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 2: melted underneath the magnitude of the Almighty. Every city that 96 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 2: the Philistines had taken from Israel had been won back, 97 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 2: and slaves were set free. Freedom followed the blood of 98 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 2: the Lamb. Samuel judged over Israel and guided them with 99 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 2: kindness and wisdom until his old age. Israel prospered under him, 100 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 2: and the Lord was glorified amongst his people once again. 101 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 2: When Samuel grew too old to judge over Israel, he 102 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 2: appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, to judge over them. 103 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 2: Yet they did not share in their father's heart. They 104 00:06:56,080 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: quarreled with the people, took bribes, and dishonored God. God 105 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 2: God despised how they perverted justice and would rule unkindly. 106 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 2: The elders of Israel gathered together with Samuel. They were 107 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 2: irate at the state of Israel under his sons. Look 108 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 2: at your sons, Samuel, they yelled, They are nothing like you, 109 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 2: and judge unfairly. Appoint us a king to rule over 110 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 2: us like other nations. Samuel was devastated when he heard 111 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 2: these words. It grieved him that the people would want 112 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 2: a king like other nations. What have I done wrong? 113 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: Samuel thought to himself. God spoke kindly to Samuel, saying, 114 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 2: do as they ask, Samuel, for they have not rejected you, 115 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 2: but they have rejected me as their king. Though Samuel 116 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 2: did not hear the voice of God as Moses once did, 117 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 2: he could sense grief in God's words. He spoke, saying, 118 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 2: from the day I saved them from Egypt, till now 119 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 2: they have sought after other gods. Now they do the 120 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 2: same in wanting a king. Do as they say, but 121 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 2: warn them that they were will never have a king 122 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 2: like the lord. Samuel stood before the people, tears filled 123 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 2: his eyes and dripped down his old cheeks. You will 124 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 2: have a king, as you asked, but remember this. A 125 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 2: king takes more than he gives. Soon your property will 126 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 2: be his, and your goods will be taken as tax. 127 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 2: The best of your young men will be taken for 128 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 2: his armies, and your young women will be forced to 129 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 2: work to sell goods. And one day you will cry 130 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 2: out to God because of your king. You will ask 131 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 2: him to take your kings away, but you will not 132 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 2: be answered. The Israelites paid no attention to Samuel's warning. 133 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 2: They longed to be ruled by a king. They had 134 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 2: thrown away their old idols, and now their hearts desired 135 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 2: a king to worship instead. The human heart is in 136 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 2: constant pursuit of something to rule over it. It wants safety, 137 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,239 Speaker 2: so it grasps for the easiest form of comfort. It confined. 138 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 2: God would allow the people to put their hope in 139 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 2: a kingdom. He is not a God that begs for relationship. 140 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 2: He would wait faithfully for their new idols to fail them. 141 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 2: He would raise up redemption for his people, as he 142 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 2: always has before, for God's glorified when his people are redeemed. 143 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,839 Speaker 3: Today's scripture begins with the people turning back to God. 144 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 3: The ark has been restored to them. But God tells 145 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 3: the people through Samuel that the Philistines must still be 146 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 3: dealt with, and he says, as long as they abandon 147 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 3: their idolatry and look only to Him by faith, they 148 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 3: will have victory. So they burned their false idols and 149 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:46,199 Speaker 3: devoted themselves to God and to Samuel's leadership as judge. 150 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 3: As they worshiped and offered sacrifices. The Philistines then attacked. 151 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 3: Their army was great and would have easily defeated the Israelites, 152 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 3: but this time God showed up for them, and with 153 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,959 Speaker 3: thunderous sounds from the heaven, he confused the Philistine army. 154 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 3: Israel defeated their enemy that day and took back every 155 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 3: city and every slave taken by their pagan enemy. Samuel 156 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 3: then ruled as God's representative for many years. It was 157 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 3: a time of great prosperity. The people sought after God 158 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 3: and obeyed his commands, but there was still a seed 159 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 3: of doubt within them. They never stopped being jealous of 160 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:27,439 Speaker 3: other nations who were led by mighty kings. So when 161 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 3: Samuel grew old and appointed his sons to judge over Israel, 162 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 3: things began to change. Samuel's sons weren't the noble, god 163 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 3: seeking rulers that their father had been. Much like Eli's sons, 164 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:45,680 Speaker 3: they sought only their personal interests and indulgences, taking bribes 165 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 3: and making a mockery of justice. So now the people 166 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 3: tell Samuel that his sons weren't like him. They didn't 167 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 3: want another judge, they wanted a king. What they failed 168 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 3: to recognize was that God was already the king, and 169 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 3: unlike all the other nations, their king was always good 170 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 3: and always acted in their best interests. But none of 171 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 3: that mattered to the Israelites. They wanted to be like 172 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 3: everyone else. When we try to do things the world's way, 173 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 3: we are telling God that his best for us is 174 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 3: not good enough. We're not looking to him by faith 175 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 3: and finding fulfillment in the things that really matter. But 176 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:26,959 Speaker 3: we're looking to the world and how the world can 177 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 3: satisfy the cravings of our heart. And that's where Israel's 178 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 3: heart was when they asked Samuel to give them a king, 179 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 3: just like the other nations, just like the world. Samuel 180 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 3: wasn't happy about this, and he went to God seeking wisdom. 181 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 3: Here is God's response in First Samuel eighty seven. Obey 182 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 3: the voice of the people in all that they say 183 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 3: to you, for they have not rejected you, but they 184 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 3: have rejected me from being king over them. God allowed 185 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 3: the children of Israel to have a king. He tells 186 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 3: Samuel to give them what they want. But Samuel is 187 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 3: to warn them. The clear warning was that the king 188 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 3: would not satisfy what they really wanted. He would not 189 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:13,319 Speaker 3: treat them kindly and lovingly as God always does. Undeterred 190 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,959 Speaker 3: by the warning, the people insist give us what we want, 191 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 3: so God does. It's a case of be careful what 192 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 3: you wish for that will play out over many years, 193 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 3: and we'll hear about that the next time. Lord, we 194 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 3: believe that you are a perfect, good, loving and righteous king. 195 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 3: You are our Lord and Savior through Jesus Christ, and 196 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 3: you always know what is best for us. We ask 197 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 3: you to rule in us, govern our lives, and help 198 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 3: us not to look to the world for answers, but 199 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 3: only to you in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for 200 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 3: listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor 201 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 3: Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray dot Com app 202 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 3: and make Bible study and prayer a priority in your life. 203 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 3: If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with someone 204 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,679 Speaker 3: you know because it can make a genuine, even eternal 205 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:10,559 Speaker 3: difference in their lives. And if you want more resources 206 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 3: on how you can know the power of God through 207 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 3: Jesus Christ, then visit Jack Graham dot org. 208 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 209 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality. Welcome 210 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: to the pre News podcast, where Hope is our only bias. 211 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 2: Each day we'll unpack the most prominent stories happening in 212 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 2: the news and offer a Christian perspective. 213 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: We won't shy away from the hard topics, and we 214 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 1: won't dilute the hopeful message of Christ. This is more 215 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 1: than a daily brief on the news. 216 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 2: It's a way to be informed and transformed. 217 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: Listen to pre news on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 218 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,319 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.