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Speaker 1: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness,

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Speaker 1: and self control. Against such things there is no law

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Speaker 1: Galatians five twenty two and twenty three. Father, I thank

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Speaker 1: you for sending your Holy Spirit to live within me.

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Speaker 1: It's your spirit that empowers me to daily live a

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Speaker 1: life that pleases you. I thank you for the fruit

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Speaker 1: of the Spirit in my life, the result the evidence

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Speaker 1: that you are working in and through me.

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Speaker 2: To day.

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Speaker 1: I am especially grateful that you enable me to walk

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Speaker 1: in love. Jesus, you said that the world will know

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Speaker 1: that I belong to you because of the love I

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Speaker 1: show others. So I purpose in my heart to day

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Speaker 1: to love others as you love them, freely and unconditionally.

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Speaker 1: Thank you for the opportunity to be your hands and

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Speaker 1: feet to love and to give and serve, just as

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Speaker 1: you did during your earthly ministry. Open my eyes to

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Speaker 1: the hurting people around me. Then use me to be

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Speaker 1: a force of love in the lives of those who

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Speaker 1: need it, especially those who are the most difficult or challenging.

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Speaker 1: Help me to give of myself to day and to

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Speaker 1: sacrifice for others who cannot repay me. Lead me, Holy

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Speaker 1: Spirit to greater heights and depths of love. Each day

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Speaker 1: I live, I surrender all that I am and all

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Speaker 1: that I have to you to be used for your

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Speaker 1: kingdom and your glory in Jesus name. Amen, thank you

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Speaker 1: for praying with me today. Stay tuned to immerse yourself

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Speaker 1: in the greatest stories ever told from prey dot COM's podcast,

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Speaker 1: Heroes in the Bible.

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Speaker 3: Hello.

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Speaker 4: My name is Matthew Potter, co founder of Prey dot com,

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Speaker 4: and before we start today's episode of Heroes in the Bible,

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Speaker 4: I wanted to ask do you know what your bank

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Speaker 4: does with your money? At America's Christian Credit Union, your

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Speaker 4: everyday banking helps grow churches, expand the reach of missions agencies,

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Speaker 4: and supports fellow believers across the country. Learn more about

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Speaker 4: specials for switching to ACCU and their nationwide banking capabilities

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Speaker 4: at America's christiancu dot com forward slash prey plus the

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Speaker 4: peace of mind knowing that this Credit Union is federally

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Speaker 4: insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

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Speaker 5: Hi, I'm back to Tony Evans, your host for Heroes

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Speaker 5: in the Bible. If you've been enjoying this series, please

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Speaker 5: please write a review and let us know how this

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Speaker 5: podcast has impacted your life. Welcome to the epic Adventure

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Speaker 5: of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,

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Speaker 5: and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,

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Speaker 5: few know about David the Man. I'm glad you're here

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Speaker 5: with me as we mind the depths of this renowned tale.

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Speaker 5: In this episode, we are introduced to a very important

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Speaker 5: new character, Jonathan, the first born of Saul. Jonathan is pure,

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Speaker 5: courageous and has the loyalty of his men. In this episode,

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Speaker 5: Jonathan's righteousness and trust in God is contrasted with Saul's

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Speaker 5: growing pride and self absorption. Like a ruler held up

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Speaker 5: to a jagged line. Looking at Jonathan gives us a

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Speaker 5: better understanding of just how crooked Saul is becoming. Jonathan's

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Speaker 5: humility will reveal just how prideful Saul has become. Jonathan's

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Speaker 5: sober mind will show us just how DuRane Saul's mind

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Speaker 5: has become. And lastly, Jonathan's devotion to God will show

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Speaker 5: us just how far from God Saul has fallen. This

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Speaker 5: episode is filled with vivid scenes of epic battles, but

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Speaker 5: none of them are won by Saul. In fact, he

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Speaker 5: will be more of a hindrance than a help. We

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Speaker 5: will start to see just how much of a weight

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Speaker 5: bad leaders can be. This episode begins with a prelude,

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Speaker 5: a glimpse into another space and time when God proved

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Speaker 5: himself faithful. We are shown that God does not need

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Speaker 5: vast armies or charismatic leaders to carry out his purposes.

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Speaker 5: At the end of this episode, we will be faced

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Speaker 5: with a tense moment between Saul and Jonathan. A sword

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Speaker 5: will be aimed at Jonathan's throat, and Saul will find

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Speaker 5: himself captive to his own pride. Will Jonathan's story end

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Speaker 5: before we even get a chance to know him. Will

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Speaker 5: Saul's quick descent into paranoia proof fatal for the people

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Speaker 5: of Israel. Let's find out together in episode three of

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Speaker 5: our series through David, the failed King and Warrior Son.

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Speaker 2: Prelude to chapter three wake Up, Gideon yelled, arise from

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Speaker 2: your beds, for God will give his victory over the

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Speaker 2: Midianites tonight. Gideon took his three hundred men and divided

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Speaker 2: them into three companies. He armed them not with swords,

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Speaker 2: but with trumpets, empty jars, and torches. He scanned his

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Speaker 2: modest army. They were greatly outnumbered. God had dwindled down

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Speaker 2: their number from thirty two thousand to three hundred in

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Speaker 2: a matter of hours. Gideon was the weakest man from

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Speaker 2: the weakest tribe, leading an army of three hundred against

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Speaker 2: an army of thousands. However, there was a confidence welling

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Speaker 2: up with him Gideon. He knew that the Lord had

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Speaker 2: gone before them. Gideon split the three companies and had

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Speaker 2: them placed on every side of the canyons, overlooking the

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Speaker 2: enemy camp. Look at me and do as I do.

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Speaker 3: When I blow my trumpet, you will do the same

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Speaker 3: on every.

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Speaker 2: Side, he said. Above Their torches made the light disperse,

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Speaker 2: giving the illusion of thousands instead of hundreds. Gideon looked

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Speaker 2: down at the Midianite horde below. They were vast, like

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Speaker 2: the sea. Gideon gulped and closed his eyes. This is it,

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Speaker 2: he said to himself. He looked across the hills and

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Speaker 2: saw his three hundred men surrounding the camp. All was

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Speaker 2: quiet for a moment. Then Gideon raised his trumpet to

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Speaker 2: his mouth and blew. It echoed across the canyons, and

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Speaker 2: three hundred trumpets.

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Speaker 3: Joined in for the Lord and Gideon.

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Speaker 2: The men shouted, the sound of trumpets ballowed and quaked

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Speaker 2: across the canyons. The sounds of war shook the ground,

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Speaker 2: and the midi Knite army awoke in a confused frenzy.

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Speaker 2: The Israelites broke the jars in their hands, and the

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Speaker 2: piercing sounds of broken glass frightened the livestock and came.

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Speaker 2: The animals rose and began to knock their tents into fires.

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Speaker 2: The Midianites were flustered and did not know whether d

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Speaker 2: are themselves or retrieve their animals. The trumpets continued to

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Speaker 2: wail and make it difficult to think. It was dark,

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Speaker 2: but the torchlights from the hill scattered in a million

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Speaker 2: directions over the camp. They had the appearance of fiery arrows,

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Speaker 2: armed and ready to descend on the camp.

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Speaker 3: A sword for the Lord and.

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Speaker 2: Gideon, every man shouted. The Midianites began to flee in

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Speaker 2: every direction. The confusion sent them into a frenzy, and

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Speaker 2: they began to draw their swords out and fight one another.

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Speaker 2: Gideon listened as the cries of dying soldiers filled the canyon.

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Speaker 2: Gideon sent his arm down, and the small number of

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Speaker 2: soldiers picked off the vast army with ease. He sent

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Speaker 2: messengers up to the rest of Israel, saying.

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Speaker 3: The Midianites are fleeing in every direction. Raise up your

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Speaker 3: swords and slaughter them.

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Speaker 2: So the rest of Israel joined in finding scared Midianites

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Speaker 2: and slaying them. God revealed something to Gideon that night.

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Speaker 2: He revealed he is able to use the weak and

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Speaker 2: small than number to accomplish great things. He does not

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Speaker 2: need a vast army of soldiers in glimmering armor. He

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Speaker 2: desires a willing hand, a humble spirit, and a heart

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Speaker 2: that seeks him. Chapter three, The Failed King and Warrior Son.

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Speaker 2: The iron pulsed with heat as the blacksmith gently took

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Speaker 2: it out of the flame. For hours, he attentively forged

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Speaker 2: the metal into finally crafted scales. Each iron scale was

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Speaker 2: placed on a thick leather armour, then laced with newly

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Speaker 2: molten gold. The breastplate was magnificent, truly a wonder to behold.

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Speaker 2: Its meticulously crafted scales shimmered brightly in the sunlight. It

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Speaker 2: was heavy, bright, and could not be missed on the battlefield.

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Speaker 2: Saul held up his new armor with awe and splendor.

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Speaker 3: Now there will be no mistaking who is king when

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Speaker 3: we march into battle.

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Speaker 2: He whispered to himself. The heavy mail was placed on

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Speaker 2: his back and chest. Then the breastplate was strapped tightly

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Speaker 2: to him. It fit perfectly. Saul puffed out his chest

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Speaker 2: and held his sword firmly at his side. He truly

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Speaker 2: felt like a king, and he awaited the day he

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Speaker 2: could ride into battle as the anointed ruler of Israel.

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Speaker 2: As Saul admired himself in the mirror, a messenger came

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Speaker 2: in through the tent.

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Speaker 6: My king, the Philistines had formed a garrison in Gaba.

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Speaker 2: Saul turned around in surprise.

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Speaker 3: They were supposed to be headed here to Mickmash. Are

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Speaker 3: you sure they have occupied Giba completely?

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Speaker 6: Yes, my lord, they have settled there and fortified. The

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Speaker 6: inhabitants of Gabe were unable to defend themselves. The Philistines

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Speaker 6: marched right in and took it.

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Speaker 2: Saul stormed out of his tent with a messenger behind him.

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Speaker 2: Two thousand soldiers of his newly formed army had marched

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Speaker 2: with him to Micmash in order to meet the Philistines.

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Speaker 3: Are they planning to march any further?

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Speaker 2: Saul asked the messenger. The young man shook.

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Speaker 6: His head even if they were were, I doubt they

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Speaker 6: would get far. Your son, Jonathan has plent of march

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Speaker 6: with a thousand men you put under his command.

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Speaker 2: Saul stopped in his tracks. How did you hear of this?

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Speaker 2: Saul demanded.

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Speaker 6: Jonathan sent me himself, my king. When he got word

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Speaker 6: of the Philistine horde taking the city, he marched his

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Speaker 6: men straight to Gaba.

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Speaker 2: Saul was speechless. He took his crown off his head

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Speaker 2: and looked at it. Its weight almost seemed too heavy.

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Speaker 2: For a moment, he brushed his fingers against the engravings.

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Speaker 2: My son is outmatched, he said, we will march to

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Speaker 2: his aid. He thanked the messenger, then gathered his commanders.

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Speaker 3: Brothers, we are marching south to Giba. We leave at dawn.

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Speaker 2: Saul prepared his men to march to his son's aid

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Speaker 2: at Giba, but first he made sure his armor was

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Speaker 2: sufficiently finished. The firelight illuminating from the Philistine garrison blocked

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Speaker 2: out the stars. The night watch marched round the encampment.

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Speaker 2: Every hour. Runken cackles could be heard from behind the

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Speaker 2: short wooden walls. The Philistines had marched into Giba without resistance,

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Speaker 2: and they were celebrating the ease of their conquest. Fifty

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Speaker 2: yards south of the walls, behind the reeds in the swamp,

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Speaker 2: Jonathan stood with water up to his neck. The mud

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Speaker 2: covered him head to toe as he spied on the

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Speaker 2: Philistine garrison. He counted every guard meticulously and timed every

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Speaker 2: march around the fortress. For hours, he stood completely still

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Speaker 2: in the cold water. Finally, when he had enough of

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Speaker 2: a look, he waited quietly back to his camp. Upstream

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Speaker 2: from the Philistine garrison, tucked behind the stony hills, was

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Speaker 2: Jonathan's army. A thousand men crouched under the moonlight. There

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Speaker 2: was no fire. They did not want to be seen

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Speaker 2: by the Philistine horde a few hundred yards away. Jonathan

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Speaker 2: greeted his men with a smile. Mud dripped from his

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Speaker 2: leather armor. He smelled of swamp and dirt. The men

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Speaker 2: covered their noses as he approached. Although Jonathan was not

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Speaker 2: the king himself, he had the loyalty of his men.

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Speaker 2: They followed Jonathan willingly and joyfully wherever he led. Jonathan

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Speaker 2: crouched down on the ground and beckoned for his commanders

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Speaker 2: to kneel as well. He drew a square in the dirt,

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Speaker 2: symbolizing the garrison. He drew an ax on the front

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Speaker 2: of the square and.

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Speaker 7: Pointed, the southernmost side of the garrison is heavily guarded.

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Speaker 7: That is the side facing the road.

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Speaker 2: Then Jonathan drew a curved line around the square.

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Speaker 7: However, there is a stream that circles around the western

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Speaker 7: side that is unmanned. It ends in a swamp that

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Speaker 7: sits less than fifty yards from the enemy. They will

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Speaker 7: not expect an ambush from that end.

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Speaker 2: The commanders were in agreement, and they assembled their men.

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Speaker 2: Jonathan stood before them. The moon illuminated his muddied face.

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Speaker 2: He raised his sword in the air and said.

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Speaker 7: For too long the Philistines have subjugated our people. They

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Speaker 7: have taken our land, kidnapped our children, and had their

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Speaker 7: way with our women. We shall not meekly rendered to

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Speaker 7: them any longer. We will stand and fight for the Lord.

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Speaker 7: Our God is with us.

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Speaker 2: The men stood firm in silence, ready to follow Jonathan

218
00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:13,680
Speaker 2: into battle. Jonathan cleaned his sword, sheathed it, and led

219
00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:18,000
Speaker 2: his men back into the stream. The moon's presence retreated

220
00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,400
Speaker 2: back into the horizon as dawn approached. Still under the

221
00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:24,559
Speaker 2: cover of darkness, Jonathan led his army through the swamp

222
00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,400
Speaker 2: and close to the enemy garrison. They waited for the

223
00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:31,120
Speaker 2: precise moment when the knight watch shifted. Then, with the

224
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Speaker 2: command of Jonathan, the men charged. Jonathan was the first

225
00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,600
Speaker 2: to burst through. Although he did not have his father's size,

226
00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,480
Speaker 2: no one in all of Israel had better sword work.

227
00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:45,320
Speaker 2: Jonathan swung his sword like a brush to canvas. With

228
00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:49,079
Speaker 2: every swing, the Philistines grew more afraid to approach him.

229
00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:53,079
Speaker 2: The thousand men shouted aloud and stormed the fortress, catching

230
00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:56,760
Speaker 2: nearly every Philistine off guard. It only took a few

231
00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,959
Speaker 2: hours for Jonathan and his men to overpower the Philistine camp.

232
00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:04,440
Speaker 2: Every man was either killed or fled back west. Jonathan

233
00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,400
Speaker 2: stood at the gates of the garrison, freeing each family

234
00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,720
Speaker 2: that had been taken captive. As he united them and

235
00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,200
Speaker 2: escorted them back to their homes, nobody knew he was

236
00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:18,760
Speaker 2: the prince of Israel. Saul and his army of two

237
00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:22,240
Speaker 2: thousand marched swiftly to Geba. Plumes of smoke rose in

238
00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,920
Speaker 2: the distance, and Saul feared the worst for his son.

239
00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:27,560
Speaker 2: The men settled at the top of the hills above

240
00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:31,080
Speaker 2: Giba and camped there. Saul sent out man discout of

241
00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:34,440
Speaker 2: the battlefield to ensure it was safe. They returned to

242
00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:39,080
Speaker 2: report Jonathan's victory. Saul smiled, puffed out his chest with pride,

243
00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,400
Speaker 2: and rode with his men down into the fortress. He

244
00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,880
Speaker 2: came in with trumpets sounding and flags waving. His arms

245
00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,720
Speaker 2: were stretched out wide as he entered the garrison with

246
00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:49,800
Speaker 2: a booming laugh.

247
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Speaker 3: He shouted, ha ha, ha, ha ha. Let all the Hebrews

248
00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:55,520
Speaker 3: hear of our victory.

249
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Speaker 2: The men behind him cheered. Jonathan was nursing the groom

250
00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,040
Speaker 2: of a few men when he saw his father enter.

251
00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:06,080
Speaker 2: The son reflected his father's shimmering new armor. It was

252
00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:09,080
Speaker 2: blinding for the men who had had a long night. Father,

253
00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:13,360
Speaker 2: Jonathan said, with a tired smile. He beckoned Saul to

254
00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,920
Speaker 2: come near. Saul dismounted his horse and greeted his son.

255
00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:20,920
Speaker 7: He should have seen the men's bravery, Father, They were excellent.

256
00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:22,800
Speaker 7: The Lord was before us this.

257
00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:27,560
Speaker 2: Day, Jonathan said, gesturing to his men. Saul embraced his

258
00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:28,680
Speaker 2: son and laughed.

259
00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:32,600
Speaker 3: All of Israel will know of our victory.

260
00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,520
Speaker 2: Here. Saul exclaimed, this is the victory.

261
00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,920
Speaker 3: We needed to let the Philistines know we are not

262
00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:42,200
Speaker 3: a weak nation that can be trampled upon this is

263
00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,480
Speaker 3: the victory that will get more men to join our army.

264
00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,160
Speaker 2: Jonathan bowed humbly as his father left to gather messengers.

265
00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,280
Speaker 2: He pulled them in close and said, take trumpets into

266
00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:56,360
Speaker 2: every city of Israel. Tell them of my victory here,

267
00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:00,680
Speaker 2: and have more men gather with me at Gilgal. Philistines

268
00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:04,120
Speaker 2: will be looking to retaliate, and we must be ready.

269
00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,160
Speaker 2: The messengers took trumpets into every city, village, and town

270
00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:12,960
Speaker 2: in Israel, proclaiming Saul's victory over the Philistine garrison. Every

271
00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,520
Speaker 2: Israelite heard it said that it was Saul who stormed

272
00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:19,440
Speaker 2: the fortress. No one heard of Jonathan's bravery, nor did

273
00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:21,760
Speaker 2: Jonathan care to have the glory in the first place.

274
00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,520
Speaker 2: The name of Israel became a stench to the Philistines.

275
00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,560
Speaker 2: Before Saul's army, the people of God were militiamen and

276
00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:36,080
Speaker 2: farmers with swords. However, Jonathan's defeated the garrison had provoked

277
00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:40,320
Speaker 2: them to anger. Their hatred was ignited. In a matter

278
00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:43,600
Speaker 2: of weeks, the Philistines amassed an army of over three

279
00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:47,400
Speaker 2: thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen to press up against

280
00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:51,120
Speaker 2: the nation of Israel. Their foot soldiers were like the

281
00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:55,360
Speaker 2: sands of the shore, too great to count. Their presence

282
00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:58,640
Speaker 2: was fierce, like a wild beast prowling at their door.

283
00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:01,960
Speaker 2: Panic began to settle into the hearts of the people,

284
00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:04,919
Speaker 2: and the men who followed Saul doubted their ability to

285
00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:10,080
Speaker 2: succeed against such a vast army. The Philistines were wise tacticians,

286
00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:14,840
Speaker 2: not lacking in skill or strategy. Slowly, over the weeks

287
00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:18,359
Speaker 2: they sent assassins to kill and kidnap the blacksmiths of Israel,

288
00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,960
Speaker 2: forcing the armies of Salt to carry farming tools, axes

289
00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:26,040
Speaker 2: and daggers. Victory was within reach, and the Philistines had

290
00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:29,359
Speaker 2: not even begun the battle. They came up and encamped

291
00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:33,080
Speaker 2: in Micmash, to the east of beth Haven. Messengers of

292
00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,199
Speaker 2: Israel gazed upon the vast army. They were like a

293
00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:39,920
Speaker 2: swarm of locusts, prepared to devour everything in their way.

294
00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,720
Speaker 2: Israel feared them, and they knew it. Fear was their

295
00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:49,520
Speaker 2: first weapon. Saul called the people to join him at Gilgal,

296
00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:52,840
Speaker 2: the same place where he was ordained as king. Before them,

297
00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:55,879
Speaker 2: Samuel would make a sacrifice to God on behalf of

298
00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,960
Speaker 2: the people, and then Israel would descend into battle against

299
00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:03,360
Speaker 2: the Philistine Horde. However, Saul's confidence began to wane as

300
00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:06,280
Speaker 2: he saw his army diminish. By the day, men hid

301
00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,680
Speaker 2: themselves like dogs in the caves and cisterns. Other men

302
00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,080
Speaker 2: had fled into the lands of Gad and Gilead with

303
00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:16,600
Speaker 2: their families. Saul marched up the hill towards Gilgal. He

304
00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,840
Speaker 2: could sense the men behind him trembling with fear. He

305
00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,320
Speaker 2: knew it was only a matter of time before they

306
00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:26,919
Speaker 2: too left him. When they arrived at Gilgall, Saul gathered

307
00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,520
Speaker 2: the people and lifted his arms. The Son's glare bounced

308
00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:33,800
Speaker 2: off his armor, nearly blinding them. Saul stood tall, with

309
00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:37,000
Speaker 2: an air of confidence in his voice. He raised his

310
00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:39,320
Speaker 2: sword high in the air and shouted.

311
00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,760
Speaker 3: Men of Israel, do not fear the Horde of Philistines

312
00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:46,760
Speaker 3: lurking at our borders. Samuel is coming to make a

313
00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:51,120
Speaker 3: sacrifice on our behalf. He will lead us in worship

314
00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,400
Speaker 3: to our God, and we will descend with the strength

315
00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,600
Speaker 3: of the Lord on our side. Believe in me, as

316
00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,440
Speaker 3: your King, I shall deliver you.

317
00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:04,080
Speaker 2: The men listening perked up with hope. They were comforted

318
00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:07,639
Speaker 2: by their king's words and eagerly awaited Samuel's arrival to

319
00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:11,840
Speaker 2: make the sacrifice. Every hour spent away from battle was

320
00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:14,760
Speaker 2: more time for the Philistines to gather strength and for

321
00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:19,240
Speaker 2: Israel to grow more fearful. Saul needed Samuel to come quickly.

322
00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,560
Speaker 2: He cared less for the sacrifice unto God. He cared

323
00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:26,639
Speaker 2: more about what it would do for moral However, Samuel's

324
00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:30,080
Speaker 2: donkey was nowhere on the horizon. Seven days was the

325
00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,920
Speaker 2: anointed time for Samuel to arrive, but it had been

326
00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:34,880
Speaker 2: a week and there was still no side of him

327
00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:37,960
Speaker 2: on the road. Saul paced the camp of his soldiers,

328
00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:42,000
Speaker 2: growing concerned about their lack of passion. Men began to

329
00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:46,879
Speaker 2: scatter and leave camp. Saul felt his control waning time

330
00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:51,600
Speaker 2: not the Philistines was becoming his true enemy. Each night,

331
00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:55,399
Speaker 2: Saul gathered his men to strategize. However, he had lost

332
00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:59,320
Speaker 2: their ears. More reports had come in of the Philistine army,

333
00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,400
Speaker 2: More men were being added to their numbers by the day,

334
00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:06,960
Speaker 2: and Saul was losing control of his men's hearts. The

335
00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:09,280
Speaker 2: sun had begun its descent over the horizon on the

336
00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,679
Speaker 2: seventh day, and Saul sat at the stone where he

337
00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:15,160
Speaker 2: was ordained as king. He remembered the lightning falling from

338
00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,399
Speaker 2: the sky, and the people scattering in fear. From the

339
00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:22,600
Speaker 2: very beginning, Saul felt out of control. Even his own

340
00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:26,119
Speaker 2: coronation had been interrupted. Now on the eve of his

341
00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:31,000
Speaker 2: greatest battle, yet Samuel was absent. Saul felt the surge

342
00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,000
Speaker 2: of paranoia well up from within him. The people will

343
00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:37,080
Speaker 2: leave me, he thought to himself. They need to know

344
00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,879
Speaker 2: that the Lord is on my side. They need to

345
00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:43,840
Speaker 2: know that I am just as anointed and blessed as Samuel.

346
00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,600
Speaker 2: Saul measured the sun's distance from the horizon. He only

347
00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:51,399
Speaker 2: had an hour left before nightfall. Saul stood to his feet.

348
00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:54,879
Speaker 2: His heart was racing and his hands were sweating. His

349
00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,359
Speaker 2: eyes darted over to the altar, where Samuel would make

350
00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:01,919
Speaker 2: sacrifices to God. Samuel the appointed priest of Israel and

351
00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:05,840
Speaker 2: chosen by God to represent them. However, he was not there,

352
00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:09,600
Speaker 2: and Saul needed his men to trust him, so, out

353
00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:13,240
Speaker 2: of paranoia and distrust in God's providence, Saul sent for

354
00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:17,119
Speaker 2: an animal. Bring me the burnt offerings and the peace offerings,

355
00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:21,119
Speaker 2: he said to his servants. The servants were perplexed, but

356
00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,520
Speaker 2: did as they were told. Saul gathered the people together

357
00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:28,240
Speaker 2: at the altar, He cleaned, prepared, and made the sacrifice

358
00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:32,600
Speaker 2: before them. He had the violent and savage touch of

359
00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:36,280
Speaker 2: a soldier. He butchered the animal without delicacy or grace.

360
00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:40,960
Speaker 2: The beautiful and honorable practice of burnt offerings was reduced

361
00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:45,199
Speaker 2: to a frantic act of paranoia. Saul's voice lifted up

362
00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:48,760
Speaker 2: to the heavens with vain and repetitious platitudes. As the

363
00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:52,359
Speaker 2: burnt offerings ascended and smoked to the sky, Saul could

364
00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:55,520
Speaker 2: feel the people's anxiety lifting as they saw their king worship.

365
00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:59,520
Speaker 2: All he wanted was for their approval. For years, he

366
00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:01,600
Speaker 2: had been seen seeking the praise they gave him during

367
00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:06,200
Speaker 2: his coronation. He longed for their worship. He craved their approval.

368
00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:11,400
Speaker 2: Samuel ascended the hill at Gilgall. He looked to the horizon.

369
00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:14,639
Speaker 2: He was pleased that he had arrived before the seventh

370
00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:18,360
Speaker 2: day was over. Samuel's old legs slowly made their way

371
00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:22,320
Speaker 2: up the hills. He meticulously moved forward, avoiding the holes

372
00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:25,840
Speaker 2: and rocks along the way. He reached the encampment of Gilgall.

373
00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,000
Speaker 2: Winded from his long journey, Samuel paused and scanned the area.

374
00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:32,720
Speaker 2: Most of the men had left their sights and gathered

375
00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,600
Speaker 2: at the camp's edge near the altar. He heard chants

376
00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,400
Speaker 2: and prayers being lifted to the Lord. Samuel walked closer,

377
00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,320
Speaker 2: afraid of what he was going to find. Smoke rose

378
00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:46,080
Speaker 2: to the heavens in the center of the crowd. As

379
00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:49,200
Speaker 2: he approached the group, Samuel saw Saul at the altar

380
00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:53,240
Speaker 2: amidst the sacrifice. He was smiling ear to ear, basking

381
00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:57,439
Speaker 2: in the praise of the people. Samuel's blood boiled with

382
00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,840
Speaker 2: righteous anger. It was not saul place to make a

383
00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,439
Speaker 2: sacrifice on behalf of the people. He had overstepped and

384
00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,320
Speaker 2: disgraced the practices of the priesthood with his vain worship.

385
00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,240
Speaker 2: The people made their way back to their tents. They

386
00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:15,160
Speaker 2: left with smiles on their faces, reassured that the Lord

387
00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,840
Speaker 2: was on Saul's side. However, Samuel knew the real heart

388
00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:22,479
Speaker 2: of God. He leaned underneath the cypress tree, waiting for

389
00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:28,280
Speaker 2: Saul to approach. Saul watched the people retreat for the night.

390
00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:32,520
Speaker 2: He was pleased with his ability to comfort them. The

391
00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:36,080
Speaker 2: flames continued to rise on the altar. He wiped the

392
00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:38,520
Speaker 2: blood off his hands and rested the filthy rag on

393
00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:42,280
Speaker 2: the altar, knocking over some coals onto the floor. The

394
00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:46,200
Speaker 2: rag burned immediately, and the burning red coals turned cool.

395
00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,760
Speaker 2: He turned and saw Samuel leaning against the tree with

396
00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:53,520
Speaker 2: his arms folded. Saul, being caught up in the delusion

397
00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:56,280
Speaker 2: that he was a priest of the Lord, approached Samuel

398
00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:57,399
Speaker 2: with a priestly greeting.

399
00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,159
Speaker 3: Samuel, the Lord bless you and keep you.

400
00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,240
Speaker 2: His blessing was a counterfeit greeting. It was as empty

401
00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:07,639
Speaker 2: and meaningless as the sacrifice he had just made on

402
00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:12,600
Speaker 2: the altar. Samuel peered at him silently. God warned them,

403
00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:16,120
Speaker 2: he thought to himself, a prideful king for a prideful nation.

404
00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,879
Speaker 2: Saul began to place his hand on Samuel's shoulder, but

405
00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:24,280
Speaker 2: it was quickly batted away. Samuel stood up straight. Although

406
00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:27,440
Speaker 2: Saul was a head taller than Samuel, the priest's presence

407
00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:30,399
Speaker 2: seemed to be looming over the king. What have you done,

408
00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:34,520
Speaker 2: Samuel asked. Saul feigned confusion for a moment, then looked

409
00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,439
Speaker 2: back at the altar. Oh, you mean the sacrifice, he

410
00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:41,280
Speaker 2: asked ignorantly. The people were losing heart, Samuel. They were

411
00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:44,240
Speaker 2: scattering from me and retreating to the hills for safety,

412
00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:46,760
Speaker 2: and you had not come when you said you would,

413
00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,480
Speaker 2: so I took action. Saul paused to look for validation

414
00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:55,400
Speaker 2: from Samuel, yet he received none. Growing nervous, Saul continued

415
00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:55,919
Speaker 2: to ramble.

416
00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:59,679
Speaker 3: The Philistines have mustered a large army at Mickmash. A

417
00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:03,760
Speaker 3: choice was sent before me as king. I could march

418
00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:06,760
Speaker 3: down without the favor of God, or I could lead

419
00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,680
Speaker 3: the people to the altar of the Lord and make

420
00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:15,640
Speaker 3: an offering. Naturally, I chose to honor God. I forced

421
00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:18,520
Speaker 3: myself to take on the role of priest.

422
00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:22,560
Speaker 2: Forced yourself, Samuel asked. Saul nodded and shroud.

423
00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:27,240
Speaker 3: Yes, Samuel, I would have preferred you arrived sooner so

424
00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:31,880
Speaker 3: you could perform the sacrifice. However, I had to do

425
00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:33,480
Speaker 3: what I had to do.

426
00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:36,000
Speaker 2: You are a fool, Samuel snapped.

427
00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:39,959
Speaker 8: You have disregarded the command of the Lord, your God.

428
00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:44,080
Speaker 2: He shook his head at Saul and sighed, Saul.

429
00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:47,600
Speaker 8: Your kingdom would have been established forever you had the

430
00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:50,679
Speaker 8: opportunity to see the glory and mercy of God bless

431
00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:55,080
Speaker 8: your hands. But now your kingdom shall not continue. Saul's

432
00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:57,520
Speaker 8: eyes widened as he listened to the old priest speak.

433
00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:04,120
Speaker 3: But Samuel, these are my people. They are God's people, Saul, not.

434
00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:08,760
Speaker 2: Yours, Samuel yelled. His voice was booming like the very

435
00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:12,080
Speaker 2: wrath of God. Samuel took his staff and pointed it

436
00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:13,640
Speaker 2: at Saul, saying, the.

437
00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:17,360
Speaker 8: Lord has sought out another to replace you. He has

438
00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,400
Speaker 8: sought out a man who is after his own heart.

439
00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:22,240
Speaker 8: He has sought out a man who cares more about

440
00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:25,320
Speaker 8: pleasing the heart of God than looking for the approval

441
00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:29,840
Speaker 8: of man. This king shall be prince over the Lord's people.

442
00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:33,919
Speaker 8: He shall steward God's people well, and it will be

443
00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:36,480
Speaker 8: his kingdom that continues into eternity.

444
00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:41,680
Speaker 2: Saul stood silently, looking down at Samuel. His words rang

445
00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:45,040
Speaker 2: in his ears. He looked back at the altar. The

446
00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:48,199
Speaker 2: flames had dissipated and the wood had split and fallen

447
00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:51,800
Speaker 2: off the edge. Before Saul could ask forgiveness or give

448
00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:56,439
Speaker 2: a defense for himself, Samuel departed. All the empty words

449
00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:58,960
Speaker 2: Saul desired to give him would remain in his mouth.

450
00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,919
Speaker 2: The priest had left. The people were ignorant of Samuel's

451
00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,520
Speaker 2: words to Saul. They did not know that the Lord

452
00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:09,199
Speaker 2: had turned his face from him. However, Saul knew. He

453
00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:12,200
Speaker 2: knew his days as king were numbered, Yet he would

454
00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:14,040
Speaker 2: hold on to the throne for as long as he

455
00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:19,119
Speaker 2: possibly could. The next day, Saul and Jonathan mobilized what

456
00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:22,120
Speaker 2: was left of the men. The army of three thousand

457
00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:25,960
Speaker 2: men had dwindled down to a measly six hundred. Saul's

458
00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:30,040
Speaker 2: inability to inspire left his army and nemic. They marched

459
00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:33,320
Speaker 2: to the borders of mcmash and camp there. The Philistine

460
00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:35,600
Speaker 2: horde was only a few miles over the other side

461
00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:39,040
Speaker 2: of a small mountain. That night, Saul paced by the

462
00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:42,200
Speaker 2: fire restlessly. He did not want to go into battle.

463
00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:46,159
Speaker 2: The Philistines outnumbered them six to one. He knew that

464
00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:49,159
Speaker 2: they were no match for them without more men. He

465
00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:52,600
Speaker 2: did not call for reinforcements, nor did he strategize on

466
00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:55,919
Speaker 2: how to use his men. He simply paced around the fire,

467
00:27:56,200 --> 00:28:02,960
Speaker 2: paralyzed by fear and faithlessness. Jonathan arose early in the

468
00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:05,800
Speaker 2: morning to be with the Lord. He scaled the tall

469
00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:09,800
Speaker 2: mountain swiftly, seeking to beat the sunrise. He raced the

470
00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:12,320
Speaker 2: sun up the summit and placed himself on a stone

471
00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:16,040
Speaker 2: resting at the very top. The sun's rays spread across

472
00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:19,439
Speaker 2: the valley below, splashing the land with different shades of

473
00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:23,480
Speaker 2: orange and yellow. Jonathan basked in the glory of God.

474
00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:26,720
Speaker 2: He closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh morning air.

475
00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:30,720
Speaker 2: He knelt down, seeking God's strength for the coming battle.

476
00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:34,960
Speaker 2: Jonathan knew that the battle would come sooner or later. However,

477
00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:37,840
Speaker 2: he feared that it would be the Philistines to attack first.

478
00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,160
Speaker 2: His father had been paralyzed by fear for weeks. Now.

479
00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:45,920
Speaker 2: Instead of strategizing or gathering more men, he lounged underneath

480
00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:50,400
Speaker 2: the pomegranate tree. God's presence brought solace to Jonathan's mind.

481
00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:53,960
Speaker 2: He scanned the land below with the sober eye, able

482
00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:55,800
Speaker 2: to take in the terrain that led down to the

483
00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:59,600
Speaker 2: camp of the Philistines. Their numbers were growing by the day.

484
00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,560
Speaker 2: With each passing moment, the strength of the Philistines grew,

485
00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,320
Speaker 2: and the hope of Israel waned. As he scanned the land,

486
00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:10,880
Speaker 2: Jonathan saw a narrow path through the pass, with large

487
00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:14,320
Speaker 2: sharp rocks on either side. The path lit all the

488
00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,360
Speaker 2: way up to the northern side of camp, where the

489
00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:19,560
Speaker 2: enemy set a watch. The path was wide near the

490
00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:24,560
Speaker 2: Philistine garrison, then bottleneck closer to the mountain. Jonathan studied

491
00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:25,160
Speaker 2: it closely.

492
00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:28,720
Speaker 7: A few men could easily fight a much larger number.

493
00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:32,360
Speaker 2: Here Jonathan thought to himself. He drew the path in

494
00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:36,600
Speaker 2: the sand and pondered. Jonathan felt the surge of prompting

495
00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:39,720
Speaker 2: from God. He knew that the Lord would not abandon

496
00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:43,000
Speaker 2: his people. He had faith that if he marched forward,

497
00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:48,080
Speaker 2: it didn't matter how outnumbered he was. Jonathan descended down

498
00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:50,880
Speaker 2: the mountain back to camp. Many of the men were

499
00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:55,560
Speaker 2: still sleeping below, including his young, armor bare Cobis. Jonathan

500
00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:58,040
Speaker 2: stuck into his tent and woke him. He placed his

501
00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:00,320
Speaker 2: finger over his mouth and whispered.

502
00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:02,880
Speaker 7: Quick, put on your armor and gather your weapons.

503
00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:05,960
Speaker 2: Are remarching, Cobys asked, rubbing his eyes.

504
00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:08,600
Speaker 7: You and I are going over the Philistine garrison on

505
00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:09,680
Speaker 7: the other side of the mountain.

506
00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:13,360
Speaker 2: Jonathan said intensely. There was a joy in his voice

507
00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:17,680
Speaker 2: that Cobos had heard before. Cobys chuckled and scratched his head.

508
00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:21,400
Speaker 2: At your word, Jonathan smiled, and the two began their

509
00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,240
Speaker 2: ascent up the hill. They reached the top of the

510
00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:27,880
Speaker 2: mountain and crouched down. Jonathan pointed out the sharp rocks

511
00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:30,600
Speaker 2: and the path between them. One of the rocks faced

512
00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:34,640
Speaker 2: northward opposite of Micmash, and the other southward, opposite of Gibea.

513
00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:39,280
Speaker 2: The large jagged rocks crossed one another. Arching over the path,

514
00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:43,760
Speaker 2: Jonathan and Cobys could approach the garrison unseen. Then, when

515
00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:46,360
Speaker 2: they were ready, they could lure the enemy in and

516
00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:49,400
Speaker 2: fight them in a smaller number. The two of them

517
00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:51,640
Speaker 2: descended the mountain and hid under the arch of the

518
00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:55,400
Speaker 2: two rocks. They remained there for the day, watching the

519
00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:58,160
Speaker 2: guard of the Philistines march around the perimeter of the camp.

520
00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:03,000
Speaker 2: Jonathan smirked. They had learned their lesson from before. No

521
00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:06,520
Speaker 2: sight of camp was left unmanned. The warrior's spirit in

522
00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:09,120
Speaker 2: Jonathan was pleased that he had left such an impression

523
00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:12,440
Speaker 2: on them. Noon had passed and the later hours of

524
00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:13,680
Speaker 2: the day took away the heat.

525
00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:16,360
Speaker 6: Shall we report back to Saul.

526
00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:20,200
Speaker 2: And tell him what we have found, Cobys asked. Jonathan

527
00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:23,240
Speaker 2: did not respond right away. His eyes were locked on

528
00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:26,520
Speaker 2: the camp. He was lost in thought, wrestling in his

529
00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:29,920
Speaker 2: heart about what the next step should be. Jonathan turned

530
00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:31,680
Speaker 2: to his servant with an intense gaze.

531
00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:33,760
Speaker 7: Does anything restrain God?

532
00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:38,120
Speaker 2: He asked. Cobys did not answer. He knew the point

533
00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:41,400
Speaker 2: Jonathan was making. Jonathan gestured to the garrison.

534
00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:45,280
Speaker 7: Let us go over these uncircumcised philistines, the Lord may

535
00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:47,760
Speaker 7: work for us. If the Lord is for us, it

536
00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:51,040
Speaker 7: does not matter whether two or two thousand men charge

537
00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:51,560
Speaker 7: against them.

538
00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:54,640
Speaker 2: The armor bearer placed his hand on his master's shoulder

539
00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:56,920
Speaker 2: and nodded. Do what is in your heart, my lord,

540
00:31:57,080 --> 00:32:00,320
Speaker 2: he said, reassuringly, I and my hammer are with you.

541
00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:06,000
Speaker 2: Jonathan slapped his servant's shoulder and laughed. Very well, he exclaimed.

542
00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:08,560
Speaker 2: He pointed forward and said.

543
00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:10,800
Speaker 7: Let us cross over to these men that are on

544
00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:13,719
Speaker 7: the Northern Guard. We will reveal ourselves to them and

545
00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:16,400
Speaker 7: make ourselves known. If they tell us to wait where

546
00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:19,800
Speaker 7: we are, we will know to retreat. However, if they

547
00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:22,080
Speaker 7: tell us to come to them, we will take that

548
00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:24,520
Speaker 7: as a sign from God and charge forward.

549
00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:29,280
Speaker 2: Jonathan felt the confidence in his decision. He was prompted

550
00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:32,520
Speaker 2: by faith. He did not demand to know the entire

551
00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:35,720
Speaker 2: strategy of God in advance. He was willing to take

552
00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:38,200
Speaker 2: it one step at a time and let the Lord

553
00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:42,000
Speaker 2: unveil his will with each passing moment. Jonathan did not

554
00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:45,240
Speaker 2: need the whole plan, He only needed one more step.

555
00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:49,440
Speaker 2: The two of them stood up and marched forward. Jonathan

556
00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:52,880
Speaker 2: wore his leather armor with bronze strappings. His sword was

557
00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:56,160
Speaker 2: securely sheathed on his left side. He did not look

558
00:32:56,200 --> 00:33:00,360
Speaker 2: like a prince or carry himself like royalty. Kobus marched

559
00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:03,200
Speaker 2: in pace behind him. His armor was lighter and more

560
00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:06,360
Speaker 2: afraid of the edges since the blacksmiths had been taken

561
00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:08,840
Speaker 2: away from them. He wore a hammer strapped to his

562
00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:11,960
Speaker 2: side and three cooking knives strapped to his ankles in waist.

563
00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:16,840
Speaker 2: They carried themselves like simple messengers. The Philistines might even

564
00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:19,920
Speaker 2: believe they had abandoned Saul and gone to them. Many

565
00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:24,640
Speaker 2: others had already done that very thing. The Philistine camp

566
00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:26,520
Speaker 2: was resting on a small hill at the mouth of

567
00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:30,520
Speaker 2: the trail. The watch saw them immediately. One of the

568
00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:31,680
Speaker 2: men shouted to the others.

569
00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:35,400
Speaker 3: Two Hebrews approaching the north side. A few of them

570
00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:39,680
Speaker 3: chuckled look at them like rats. Emerging from their holes.

571
00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:44,560
Speaker 2: They leaned against one another, unthreatened by their presence. Have

572
00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:48,840
Speaker 2: you come to seek refuge Hebrews, they chided, come here

573
00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:52,440
Speaker 2: to us, and we'll show you our camp. Their invitation

574
00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:55,480
Speaker 2: was out of jest, but it was the exact sign

575
00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:59,160
Speaker 2: Jonathan was looking for. He turned to his armor bare

576
00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:03,479
Speaker 2: and nodded, follow me. The Lord has already given us victory.

577
00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:06,320
Speaker 2: The two of them climbed up the hill on all fours.

578
00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:10,320
Speaker 2: Once they reached the garrison, the Philistine guards were chuckling

579
00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:13,560
Speaker 2: at them. One of them came close to mock Jonathan more,

580
00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:17,120
Speaker 2: but before he could say a word, Jonathan's sword was

581
00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:19,279
Speaker 2: taken out of its sheath and swung upwards of the

582
00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:23,160
Speaker 2: man's head. With a quick swipe of his sword, Jonathan

583
00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:26,520
Speaker 2: cut the Philistine's head clean off his body. The other

584
00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:30,520
Speaker 2: guards stumbled back in surprise. Jonathan gave them no time

585
00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:33,680
Speaker 2: to compose themselves. He ran forward, like a lion to

586
00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:37,160
Speaker 2: its prey. He launched himself into the men, swinging into

587
00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:41,360
Speaker 2: their flesh with ploracity, and Hobus was close behind him,

588
00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:45,480
Speaker 2: swinging his hammer with momentum. The Philistines drew their swords

589
00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:49,239
Speaker 2: and attacked, but Jonathan was too quick for them. With

590
00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:51,560
Speaker 2: each advance, he was able to cut them at their

591
00:34:51,640 --> 00:34:56,200
Speaker 2: legs and ribs. Cobys then came from behind and smashed

592
00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:59,680
Speaker 2: their heads in. Jonathan's speed was unlike anything that had

593
00:34:59,719 --> 00:35:03,080
Speaker 2: ever seen before. One of the Philistines swung down at

594
00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:06,440
Speaker 2: Jonathan with an axe. Jonathan pivoted to his left and

595
00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:08,360
Speaker 2: shabbed the man with a hilt of his sword and

596
00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:12,480
Speaker 2: cracking two of his ribs. Jonathan pushed him forward, throwing

597
00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:15,640
Speaker 2: him bright into the swing of Kobus's hammer. The two

598
00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:19,000
Speaker 2: of them were in tandem, frustrating every new Philistine that

599
00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:23,120
Speaker 2: approached them. Jonathan and Kobis slowly backed into the bottleneck

600
00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:27,520
Speaker 2: trail outside the camp. The Philistines took the bath. Men

601
00:35:27,560 --> 00:35:30,480
Speaker 2: were only able to enter three at a time. Each time,

602
00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:33,280
Speaker 2: the two Hebrews were able to handle them with ease.

603
00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:37,120
Speaker 2: One Philistine was able to gain an advantage over Cobis,

604
00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:40,280
Speaker 2: pressing the shaft of the spear against his throat. Cobus

605
00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:43,000
Speaker 2: gasped for air, drew the knife from his side, and

606
00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:46,880
Speaker 2: thrust it into the man's ribs. Jonathan gained an advantage

607
00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:50,120
Speaker 2: over men twice in size. Over twenty men were killed

608
00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:53,520
Speaker 2: before panic began to set into camp. The garrison of

609
00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:56,759
Speaker 2: the Philistines could hear the slaughter coming from the outside.

610
00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:00,000
Speaker 2: Judging by the sounds of the screams, they were convinced

611
00:36:00,239 --> 00:36:02,439
Speaker 2: that they had been attacked with over one thousand men.

612
00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:08,240
Speaker 2: The two men of God held their ground. Jonathan dodged

613
00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:12,480
Speaker 2: every attack and blocked every advance. No Philistine could quench

614
00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:16,120
Speaker 2: the fire of God's spirit within him. The Philistines gathered

615
00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:19,319
Speaker 2: hundreds of men to run outside the garrison. The two

616
00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:23,000
Speaker 2: men saw a large group running towards them. At that moment,

617
00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:26,960
Speaker 2: the Lord of all creation shoined in the battle. As

618
00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:29,840
Speaker 2: if the fist of God itself had slammed against the earth,

619
00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:34,080
Speaker 2: the ground began to shake. A mighty earthquake shook the garrison,

620
00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,840
Speaker 2: causing a panic to erupt among the Philistines. The earth

621
00:36:37,920 --> 00:36:44,240
Speaker 2: itself was God's hammer. The watchmen of Saul's army peered

622
00:36:44,239 --> 00:36:47,680
Speaker 2: closely at the Philistine garrison below. He could see that

623
00:36:47,719 --> 00:36:50,359
Speaker 2: there was a commotion in the enemy camp. He could

624
00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:52,879
Speaker 2: hear the battle raging, but could not make out which

625
00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:57,000
Speaker 2: warriors had charged. He saw a multitude of Philistines retreating.

626
00:36:57,680 --> 00:37:00,160
Speaker 2: The watchmen brought news to Saul that a platoon of

627
00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:03,960
Speaker 2: men must have attacked the Philistines. Saul numbered his men.

628
00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:07,520
Speaker 2: All were accounted for except Jonathan and his armor bear.

629
00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:11,520
Speaker 2: Panic began to set in for Saul. Jonathan had set

630
00:37:11,560 --> 00:37:14,160
Speaker 2: an attack in motion, forcing Saul to attack.

631
00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:15,680
Speaker 3: Bring the ark of God.

632
00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:18,000
Speaker 2: Saul said to one of the priests.

633
00:37:17,719 --> 00:37:20,719
Speaker 3: Pray to God and cast lots to see if we

634
00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:21,880
Speaker 3: should into the battle.

635
00:37:22,200 --> 00:37:24,480
Speaker 2: As the priest began to pray with the Urim and

636
00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:28,120
Speaker 2: the Thumbim, the noise of the battle below grew definitely loud,

637
00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:31,800
Speaker 2: So loud it was impossible for Saul to wait any longer.

638
00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:34,880
Speaker 2: Saul drew his sword and let his men around the mountain.

639
00:37:35,280 --> 00:37:37,520
Speaker 2: It was at that moment when Saul and his army

640
00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:40,840
Speaker 2: could feel the trembling of the ground beneath them. God

641
00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:44,440
Speaker 2: was already in the battle. The Philistines had been tossed

642
00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:47,280
Speaker 2: into such a confusion that they were attacking one another.

643
00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:51,280
Speaker 2: Jonathan and his servant were nowhere to be seen. However,

644
00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:55,120
Speaker 2: it was apparent that the battle could be won. Saul

645
00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:58,440
Speaker 2: wasted no more time. He charged into battle with his men,

646
00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:02,560
Speaker 2: taking advantage of the Philistine means confused frenzy, Saul rode

647
00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:05,360
Speaker 2: atop a white horse with his armored killering in the sun.

648
00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:08,879
Speaker 2: Even the Hebrew slaves who were captive under the Philistines

649
00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:12,520
Speaker 2: joined in the battle. It was a glorious slaughter, and

650
00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:16,200
Speaker 2: the drums of war echoed across the valley. Men who

651
00:38:16,239 --> 00:38:18,520
Speaker 2: had hidden in the mountains heard the battle cries of

652
00:38:18,520 --> 00:38:22,600
Speaker 2: their brethren, inspired by the sound of victory, they grabbed

653
00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:27,120
Speaker 2: their weapons and joined saw the Philistines outnumbered the Hebrews,

654
00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:30,880
Speaker 2: but they were severely outmatched by the God of all creation.

655
00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:34,280
Speaker 2: The god who had split the seas so long ago,

656
00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:37,239
Speaker 2: was able to split the enemy in half with the

657
00:38:37,280 --> 00:38:41,400
Speaker 2: power of a few faithful men. Victory belonged to Israel

658
00:38:41,480 --> 00:38:45,040
Speaker 2: that day, and the battle shifted across the valley to Bethaven.

659
00:38:47,480 --> 00:38:51,640
Speaker 2: Saul became bloodthirsty in battle. His frustration over what had

660
00:38:51,640 --> 00:38:55,560
Speaker 2: happened in Gilgol fueled him in battle. He wanted vengeance,

661
00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:59,960
Speaker 2: He wanted to feel powerful. Although his men were beginning

662
00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:02,919
Speaker 2: to grow faint and in need of food, Saul ordered

663
00:39:02,960 --> 00:39:04,240
Speaker 2: them to press in further.

664
00:39:04,760 --> 00:39:07,960
Speaker 3: Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening

665
00:39:08,239 --> 00:39:12,520
Speaker 3: before I have had my vengeance on the Philistines.

666
00:39:12,280 --> 00:39:16,080
Speaker 2: He shouted. Saul withheld food from his men and led

667
00:39:16,120 --> 00:39:19,200
Speaker 2: them further into the battle. He placed them under an

668
00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:22,800
Speaker 2: oath that would doom them to fatigue. Saul's forced oath

669
00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:26,480
Speaker 2: came from a deep insecurity. He felt powerless and as

670
00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:30,040
Speaker 2: if his authority was weakened by Samuel's words, so he

671
00:39:30,120 --> 00:39:33,800
Speaker 2: imposed his will on the soldiers. Their strength was waning,

672
00:39:34,040 --> 00:39:38,839
Speaker 2: and they became more discouraged by the minute. Jonathan had

673
00:39:38,840 --> 00:39:41,400
Speaker 2: not heard his father's orders. He was far ahead of

674
00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:44,960
Speaker 2: the rest, sabotaging the Philistines who had retreated in the forest.

675
00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:48,279
Speaker 2: Jonathan had been fighting longer and harder than the rest

676
00:39:48,280 --> 00:39:51,000
Speaker 2: of the men, so when he saw honey dripping from

677
00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:53,320
Speaker 2: the trees in the forest, he took it and ate.

678
00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:57,040
Speaker 2: He filled his belly with honey, and his countenance brightened.

679
00:39:57,640 --> 00:40:01,360
Speaker 2: One of the men following him saw Jonathan eating and said, your.

680
00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:05,520
Speaker 3: Father, the king has ordered us not to eat. What

681
00:40:05,719 --> 00:40:06,399
Speaker 3: have you done.

682
00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:11,080
Speaker 2: Jonathan continued to eat the honey and march forward. He

683
00:40:11,120 --> 00:40:13,200
Speaker 2: turned to the man and responded, saying.

684
00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:16,839
Speaker 7: My father has burdened you. I have eaten and now

685
00:40:16,840 --> 00:40:19,120
Speaker 7: feel like I have the strength to press in further.

686
00:40:19,840 --> 00:40:21,719
Speaker 7: If my father had allowed you to eat from the

687
00:40:21,719 --> 00:40:25,120
Speaker 7: Philistine rations we raided, we would have victory much quicker.

688
00:40:25,600 --> 00:40:27,920
Speaker 2: Jonathan did not spend too much time on the matter.

689
00:40:28,320 --> 00:40:31,680
Speaker 2: He was determined to press further into enemy territory. He

690
00:40:31,719 --> 00:40:35,800
Speaker 2: could see victory was close. He ran forward with renewed vigor,

691
00:40:36,200 --> 00:40:39,880
Speaker 2: jabbing his sword into the heart of the enemy. Resisting

692
00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:42,720
Speaker 2: food became a battle in itself, for the army of Israel.

693
00:40:43,160 --> 00:40:45,680
Speaker 2: The men had grown so hungry that when the day

694
00:40:45,719 --> 00:40:48,279
Speaker 2: had ended, they rushed on the spoil of war and

695
00:40:48,320 --> 00:40:52,200
Speaker 2: took sheep, oxen, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground,

696
00:40:52,320 --> 00:40:56,120
Speaker 2: eating the meat raw like animals. It was a ghastly sight,

697
00:40:56,680 --> 00:40:59,120
Speaker 2: and the eating of the blood was directly against the

698
00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:03,399
Speaker 2: law of Moses. Saul's rash vow had led his men

699
00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:07,839
Speaker 2: to desperation. Out of that desperation, he caused them to sin.

700
00:41:08,760 --> 00:41:11,719
Speaker 2: Saul's insecurity as a leader had caused his people to

701
00:41:11,760 --> 00:41:16,279
Speaker 2: disobey the law of God. Instead of repenting, Saul duck

702
00:41:16,320 --> 00:41:18,279
Speaker 2: his heels in deeper, saying.

703
00:41:18,520 --> 00:41:24,400
Speaker 3: You treacherous people, compose yourselves and handle the meat correctly.

704
00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:27,200
Speaker 2: So he led them to make an altar to the Lord,

705
00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:31,200
Speaker 2: sacrifice the animals, and eat the meat correctly. The entire

706
00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:34,680
Speaker 2: army rested that night before advancing further against the Philistines.

707
00:41:35,800 --> 00:41:39,120
Speaker 2: That night, Saul brooded in his tent. They had the

708
00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:41,840
Speaker 2: Philistines on the run, and the king was anxious to

709
00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:45,239
Speaker 2: finish the battle. Saul sat beside the priest who was

710
00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:48,240
Speaker 2: with him, and asked, shall we continue to go down

711
00:41:48,640 --> 00:41:53,680
Speaker 2: after the Philistines? Will God bless me if I continue.

712
00:41:53,760 --> 00:41:56,800
Speaker 2: The priest inquired of God, but there was no answer.

713
00:41:57,320 --> 00:42:00,920
Speaker 2: All of Saul's prayers were met with silence. The lord

714
00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:04,120
Speaker 2: had turned his face from the king. Saul buried his

715
00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:07,000
Speaker 2: face in his hands and shook his head. Instead of

716
00:42:07,040 --> 00:42:10,000
Speaker 2: looking inward, he lifted his head and looked outward.

717
00:42:10,719 --> 00:42:14,560
Speaker 3: Some one here must have sinned for God to meet us.

718
00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:18,040
Speaker 2: With silence, Saul said to himself. He stood to his

719
00:42:18,120 --> 00:42:21,200
Speaker 2: feet and gathered the elders and chiefs who were with him.

720
00:42:21,440 --> 00:42:24,319
Speaker 2: Saul's eyes were tired, his hair was disheveled, and his

721
00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:27,560
Speaker 2: beard was haggard. The king drew out his sword.

722
00:42:27,280 --> 00:42:29,520
Speaker 3: And yelled, who among you has sinned?

723
00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:33,319
Speaker 2: The paranoia of Saul was leaking out. He swung his

724
00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:36,799
Speaker 2: sword violently. The elder stepped back in fear as the

725
00:42:36,840 --> 00:42:38,920
Speaker 2: flustered king raged in front of them.

726
00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:42,080
Speaker 3: Who broke my oath? Who among you was the traitor?

727
00:42:42,480 --> 00:42:46,239
Speaker 3: I will slaughter him where he stands. I will kill

728
00:42:46,480 --> 00:42:48,640
Speaker 3: even my own son if I have to.

729
00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:52,920
Speaker 2: The people were silent. They all knew that Jonathan had

730
00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:56,400
Speaker 2: broken the oath to Saul. However, they were more loyal

731
00:42:56,440 --> 00:42:59,720
Speaker 2: to him than they were to their king. They said nothing,

732
00:43:00,280 --> 00:43:03,560
Speaker 2: even if it meant enduring the wrath of Saul. The

733
00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:06,440
Speaker 2: king cast lots to see who was responsible for breaking

734
00:43:06,440 --> 00:43:10,080
Speaker 2: the oath first, and the lots fell on Jonathan. The

735
00:43:10,160 --> 00:43:12,799
Speaker 2: rest of the men stepped back, and Jonathan stood in

736
00:43:12,800 --> 00:43:17,040
Speaker 2: front of his father. Saul's jaw quivered and his nostrils flared.

737
00:43:17,560 --> 00:43:19,719
Speaker 2: He marched up to his son and looked down at him.

738
00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:21,600
Speaker 3: What have you done?

739
00:43:21,800 --> 00:43:25,480
Speaker 2: He snarled. Jonathan looked up at his father unashamed.

740
00:43:25,960 --> 00:43:29,560
Speaker 7: I ate, honey, he said, plainly. If that means death,

741
00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:32,880
Speaker 7: then so be it. Kill me where I stand, father,

742
00:43:32,960 --> 00:43:34,000
Speaker 7: make an example of me.

743
00:43:34,360 --> 00:43:39,239
Speaker 2: Jonathan's calm demeanor was contrasted to Saul's frantic raves. Saul

744
00:43:39,320 --> 00:43:42,759
Speaker 2: lifted his sword to Jonathan's neck. Anger filled his heart

745
00:43:43,239 --> 00:43:47,880
Speaker 2: very well, Saul said, harshly, it shall be done. Saul

746
00:43:47,960 --> 00:43:50,919
Speaker 2: drew his shoulders back, prepared to kill his own son.

747
00:43:51,880 --> 00:43:54,560
Speaker 2: As the sword came closer to his son's neck, the

748
00:43:54,600 --> 00:43:55,880
Speaker 2: men interrupted.

749
00:43:55,520 --> 00:44:00,560
Speaker 3: Shall Jonathan die? After all he did for us? They yelled,

750
00:44:00,960 --> 00:44:02,400
Speaker 3: give us victory today.

751
00:44:02,680 --> 00:44:05,640
Speaker 2: The men stepped forward and placed themselves in front of Jonathan.

752
00:44:06,360 --> 00:44:09,799
Speaker 2: Saul stepped back in dismay. The men protected him and

753
00:44:09,880 --> 00:44:14,640
Speaker 2: put themselves in danger. For him. Jonathan held the loyalty

754
00:44:14,719 --> 00:44:19,320
Speaker 2: and praise he so desperately craved. Saul put his sword

755
00:44:19,360 --> 00:44:22,680
Speaker 2: back in the sheath without a word. He retreated to

756
00:44:22,719 --> 00:44:23,200
Speaker 2: his tams.

757
00:44:30,320 --> 00:44:33,879
Speaker 5: A new hero has risen through the ranks. Jonathan has

758
00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:36,480
Speaker 5: come onto the scene and proves himself to be a

759
00:44:36,520 --> 00:44:40,920
Speaker 5: man worth fighting for. He is brave, humble, and close

760
00:44:41,000 --> 00:44:45,680
Speaker 5: to God. In the prelude, we were reminded through Gideon's

761
00:44:45,719 --> 00:44:49,440
Speaker 5: life that God doesn't need flash elitas and huge armies

762
00:44:49,440 --> 00:44:53,960
Speaker 5: to accomplish his will. He needs willing hands, humble spirits,

763
00:44:53,960 --> 00:44:58,600
Speaker 5: and hearts that seek him. Jonathan imbidies these qualities excellently,

764
00:44:58,719 --> 00:45:02,560
Speaker 5: while Saul strays from away from them. This episode is

765
00:45:02,600 --> 00:45:07,359
Speaker 5: all about contrast. The disjointed army of Israel is contrasted

766
00:45:07,440 --> 00:45:11,880
Speaker 5: with the organized army of the Philistines. The undying loyalty

767
00:45:11,920 --> 00:45:15,680
Speaker 5: of Jonathan's men are contrasted with the flighty followers of Saul.

768
00:45:16,360 --> 00:45:20,040
Speaker 5: Even the humble leather armor of Jonathan is supposed to

769
00:45:20,040 --> 00:45:24,320
Speaker 5: be contrasted with Saul's flashy, golden armor. It is clear

770
00:45:24,360 --> 00:45:27,160
Speaker 5: by the end of this episode that Jonathan is everything

771
00:45:27,360 --> 00:45:31,080
Speaker 5: Saul was supposed to be, but sadly isn't. The beginning

772
00:45:31,120 --> 00:45:33,960
Speaker 5: of the episode shows us how Saul has crumbled under

773
00:45:33,960 --> 00:45:37,560
Speaker 5: the pressure. With a few years as king under his belt,

774
00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:41,719
Speaker 5: Saul has become more vain and image obsessed. Remember what

775
00:45:41,800 --> 00:45:45,560
Speaker 5: we talked about last episode. Saul is like a golden calf,

776
00:45:45,760 --> 00:45:49,520
Speaker 5: a replacement for God. The people worshiped him, therefore putting

777
00:45:49,600 --> 00:45:52,640
Speaker 5: undue pressure on him. It is only fitting that he

778
00:45:52,719 --> 00:45:58,080
Speaker 5: paraded himself around in gold scaled armor. Saul's armor is

779
00:45:58,120 --> 00:46:01,160
Speaker 5: going to be an important icon in this series. It

780
00:46:01,200 --> 00:46:03,880
Speaker 5: will weave into the story in later episodes, so be

781
00:46:04,000 --> 00:46:07,120
Speaker 5: sure to look for it. After getting a glimpse at

782
00:46:07,160 --> 00:46:11,040
Speaker 5: the growing pride of Saul, we're introduced to Jonathan, the

783
00:46:11,080 --> 00:46:15,640
Speaker 5: Prince of Israel. He storms a Philistine garrison out number

784
00:46:15,680 --> 00:46:18,680
Speaker 5: two to one. It is clear through Jonathan's words and

785
00:46:18,760 --> 00:46:21,880
Speaker 5: actions that he is a simple man whose only ambition

786
00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:25,160
Speaker 5: is to honor God and protect his country. Jonathan has

787
00:46:25,200 --> 00:46:29,040
Speaker 5: no clear ambition for the throne, glory, or praise. This

788
00:46:29,200 --> 00:46:31,799
Speaker 5: is exemplified in the way he allows Saul to take

789
00:46:31,840 --> 00:46:35,239
Speaker 5: credit for his victory. Saul takes credit for an achievement

790
00:46:35,280 --> 00:46:39,280
Speaker 5: he did not earn, but Jonathan doesn't care. All Jonathan

791
00:46:39,320 --> 00:46:42,920
Speaker 5: cared about was the battle God set before him. Saul

792
00:46:43,080 --> 00:46:46,520
Speaker 5: and Jonathan are placed before us as two completely different leaders.

793
00:46:47,120 --> 00:46:50,520
Speaker 5: Jonathan has the undying loyalty of his men. He has

794
00:46:50,600 --> 00:46:54,240
Speaker 5: no fear and no sense of self importance. Saul, however,

795
00:46:54,560 --> 00:46:57,680
Speaker 5: feels the need to be seen and validated by everyone

796
00:46:57,719 --> 00:47:02,120
Speaker 5: around him, even for acts he did not commit. Ironically,

797
00:47:02,440 --> 00:47:06,640
Speaker 5: he finds himself continually battling for people's attention, where soldiers

798
00:47:06,920 --> 00:47:10,640
Speaker 5: naturally gravitate toward Jonathan. This is a theme in scripture

799
00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:14,160
Speaker 5: and will be a theme further explored when we meet David.

800
00:47:14,719 --> 00:47:17,680
Speaker 5: Those who are primarily concerned with the approval of people

801
00:47:17,800 --> 00:47:21,600
Speaker 5: rather than the approval of God will find themselves without either.

802
00:47:21,800 --> 00:47:24,840
Speaker 5: In the end, Saul desperately wants the people to worship

803
00:47:24,920 --> 00:47:28,160
Speaker 5: him again, so when he feels their support waning, he

804
00:47:28,239 --> 00:47:31,920
Speaker 5: makes a grave mistake. Samuel is late to bless the army,

805
00:47:32,239 --> 00:47:35,080
Speaker 5: so the men become unsure if Saul even has the

806
00:47:35,080 --> 00:47:38,360
Speaker 5: favor of God. Saul, in an attempt to gain their trust,

807
00:47:38,440 --> 00:47:42,040
Speaker 5: makes the sacrifice himself. This is an egregious error and

808
00:47:42,160 --> 00:47:45,279
Speaker 5: proof that Saul doesn't truly respect God's law at all.

809
00:47:45,840 --> 00:47:49,120
Speaker 5: Saul cares more about the appearance of holiness than being holy.

810
00:47:49,640 --> 00:47:53,040
Speaker 5: He cares more about the image of righteousness than being righteous.

811
00:47:53,480 --> 00:47:56,000
Speaker 5: He plays the role of priests and tricks his men

812
00:47:56,040 --> 00:47:59,240
Speaker 5: into thinking he is a conduit for God. He gained

813
00:47:59,239 --> 00:48:03,040
Speaker 5: the people's true at the expense of God's favor. Samuel

814
00:48:03,080 --> 00:48:06,920
Speaker 5: finally enters the scene, rightfully enraged when he sees Saul's

815
00:48:06,960 --> 00:48:11,120
Speaker 5: sloppy sacrifice filled on the altar. All his nightmares of

816
00:48:11,200 --> 00:48:14,960
Speaker 5: a prideful and manipulative king are coming true before his eyes.

817
00:48:15,600 --> 00:48:18,960
Speaker 5: Saul has sullied the name of God for cheap applause,

818
00:48:19,239 --> 00:48:21,000
Speaker 5: and he will not let him get away with it.

819
00:48:21,560 --> 00:48:23,560
Speaker 5: And did you notice the coals?

820
00:48:24,320 --> 00:48:24,680
Speaker 2: Saul?

821
00:48:24,840 --> 00:48:28,400
Speaker 5: When he sees Samuel knock some coals away from the fire,

822
00:48:29,000 --> 00:48:32,920
Speaker 5: he is oblivious to them, and they fizzle out behind him.

823
00:48:33,440 --> 00:48:37,480
Speaker 5: Saul is deep in his own delusion, but Samuel cuts

824
00:48:37,520 --> 00:48:40,239
Speaker 5: through with a warning. He looks at Saul with his

825
00:48:40,320 --> 00:48:43,759
Speaker 5: staff in his hand and says, Saul, your kingdom would

826
00:48:43,760 --> 00:48:47,040
Speaker 5: have been established forever you have the opportunity to see

827
00:48:47,080 --> 00:48:49,520
Speaker 5: the glory and mercy of God bless your hands. But

828
00:48:49,680 --> 00:48:53,520
Speaker 5: now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought

829
00:48:53,560 --> 00:48:56,440
Speaker 5: out another to replace you. He has sought out a

830
00:48:56,480 --> 00:48:59,200
Speaker 5: man who is after his own heart. He has sought

831
00:48:59,239 --> 00:49:01,839
Speaker 5: out a man who cares more about pleasing the heart

832
00:49:01,880 --> 00:49:05,120
Speaker 5: of God than looking for the approval of man. This

833
00:49:05,280 --> 00:49:07,960
Speaker 5: king shall be a prince over the Lord's people. He

834
00:49:08,080 --> 00:49:10,759
Speaker 5: shall steward God's people well, and it will be his

835
00:49:10,880 --> 00:49:15,279
Speaker 5: kingdom that continues into eternity. Who is this mysterious king

836
00:49:15,480 --> 00:49:18,880
Speaker 5: Samuel is speaking of. There is another rising hero who

837
00:49:18,960 --> 00:49:22,080
Speaker 5: hasn't made his appearance yet, but we won't speak of

838
00:49:22,160 --> 00:49:26,240
Speaker 5: him quite yet. Episode three ends with a great battle.

839
00:49:26,760 --> 00:49:30,200
Speaker 5: Jonathan and his armor bear takes on a horde of

840
00:49:30,239 --> 00:49:33,359
Speaker 5: Philistines on their own, proving that God does not need

841
00:49:33,400 --> 00:49:37,399
Speaker 5: flashy leaders and large armies to accomplish his purposes. Two

842
00:49:37,480 --> 00:49:40,680
Speaker 5: faithful men who were able to stir up an entire army, huh,

843
00:49:40,719 --> 00:49:44,799
Speaker 5: which is pretty incredible. We didn't need more reasons to

844
00:49:44,880 --> 00:49:47,680
Speaker 5: root for Jonathan, but he certainly gives us plenty more

845
00:49:47,719 --> 00:49:51,279
Speaker 5: reasons when we hear about his fighting skills. But more

846
00:49:51,400 --> 00:49:54,520
Speaker 5: than that, his sensitivity to God's spirit is put in

847
00:49:54,600 --> 00:49:58,759
Speaker 5: contrast to Saul's ignorance. Jonathan is very attuned to the

848
00:49:58,760 --> 00:50:02,640
Speaker 5: will of God. Saul seems oblivious to it. This is

849
00:50:02,680 --> 00:50:05,919
Speaker 5: further exemplified by the way Samuel acts. When he enters

850
00:50:05,960 --> 00:50:10,200
Speaker 5: the battle. Drunk with power, Sauw makes a rash oath, saying,

851
00:50:10,360 --> 00:50:13,600
Speaker 5: cursed is the man who eats any food until evening

852
00:50:13,680 --> 00:50:17,160
Speaker 5: before I have made my vengeance on the Philistines. It

853
00:50:17,239 --> 00:50:21,480
Speaker 5: is a preposterous oath and completely unnecessary. In fact, it

854
00:50:21,560 --> 00:50:25,000
Speaker 5: causes way more harm than good. Saul is seeking control

855
00:50:25,360 --> 00:50:28,000
Speaker 5: because he was late to the battle. At the end

856
00:50:28,080 --> 00:50:31,640
Speaker 5: of the episode, Jonathan goes against Saul's warning and eats

857
00:50:32,280 --> 00:50:35,440
Speaker 5: Saul in a mad frenzy to maintain the respect of

858
00:50:35,480 --> 00:50:39,400
Speaker 5: his men, draws a sword to Jonathan's throat. This is

859
00:50:39,440 --> 00:50:43,680
Speaker 5: the most intense image we have explored yet. Saul, in

860
00:50:43,840 --> 00:50:46,960
Speaker 5: this moment, is prepared to kill his own son for

861
00:50:47,000 --> 00:50:49,560
Speaker 5: the sake of his pride. But Saul is not just

862
00:50:49,640 --> 00:50:52,360
Speaker 5: pointing a sword at his son. He is pointing a

863
00:50:52,480 --> 00:50:56,759
Speaker 5: sword at the small sliver of righteousness that remains in

864
00:50:56,800 --> 00:51:01,480
Speaker 5: his heart. Jonathan represents Saul's last remaining connection to God.

865
00:51:01,600 --> 00:51:03,840
Speaker 5: If he kills him, that will be the end of

866
00:51:03,880 --> 00:51:09,160
Speaker 5: it all. Jonathan's men come to his defense, Saul, embarrassed, leaves.

867
00:51:09,719 --> 00:51:12,000
Speaker 5: We're all left at the end of this episode with

868
00:51:12,080 --> 00:51:14,640
Speaker 5: a bad taste in our mouths, and a growing sense

869
00:51:15,000 --> 00:51:18,080
Speaker 5: that Saul's prideful heart is bound to get the best

870
00:51:18,120 --> 00:51:21,400
Speaker 5: of him. He has darker moments ahead of him. In

871
00:51:21,440 --> 00:51:24,080
Speaker 5: the next episode, we will see him at his lowest

872
00:51:24,160 --> 00:51:27,799
Speaker 5: and we will witness God's patience wearing thin. When is

873
00:51:27,840 --> 00:51:31,800
Speaker 5: this promised king going to show up? Hopefully soon? Thanks

874
00:51:31,840 --> 00:51:35,640
Speaker 5: again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers, and

875
00:51:35,680 --> 00:51:39,000
Speaker 5: wisdom to last a lifetime, go to pray dot com.

876
00:51:39,360 --> 00:51:42,360
Speaker 5: If you've been enjoying this series, please write a review

877
00:51:42,480 --> 00:51:45,880
Speaker 5: and let me know how this podcast has impacted your life.

878
00:51:46,120 --> 00:51:46,760
Speaker 2: God bless