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Speaker 1: Thy Kingdom. Come, Thy will be done in earth as

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Speaker 1: it is in heaven. Matthew Sixten, Father, I thank you

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Speaker 1: that you care so much about me, you want to

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Speaker 1: come into my life then radically change it. You aren't

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Speaker 1: sitting back watching me struggle, leaving me to my own devices.

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Speaker 1: You are actively working in and through me and all

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Speaker 1: around me, working everything for your glory and my good. Daily,

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Speaker 1: you are molding me and shaping me, transforming me into

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Speaker 1: the person you created me to be. Your word says

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Speaker 1: you have a plan and a purpose for my life.

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Speaker 1: You've brought me into your family and into your kingdom,

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Speaker 1: and you are using me to do your will here

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Speaker 1: on earth, just as it is done in heaven. This

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Speaker 1: is a high and holy calling. Help me to be

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Speaker 1: worthy of it. Help me to be faithful, because I

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Speaker 1: am a citizen of heaven, a citizen of your royal kingdom.

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Speaker 1: I live daily in your presence, your power, your peace.

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Speaker 1: I experience your goodness and faithfulness and love. I walk

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Speaker 1: in freedom and confidence and in authority. Lord, Bring your

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Speaker 1: kingdom to earth through me to day. Let heaven invade

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Speaker 1: my own life and the lives of my friends and family,

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Speaker 1: invade my work place and my community bring the light

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Speaker 1: of your kingdom, its beauty and glory to every dark place.

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Speaker 1: In the name of Jesus, I pray.

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Speaker 2: Amen.

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Speaker 1: Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever

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Speaker 1: told from prey dot COM's podcast, Heroes in the Bible.

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Speaker 3: Hello. My name is Matthew Potter, co founder of Prey

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Speaker 3: dot com, and before we start today's episode of Heroes

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Speaker 3: in the Bible, I wanted to ask, do you know

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Speaker 3: what your bank does with your money? At America's Christian

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Speaker 3: Credit Union, your everyday banking helps grow churches, expand the

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Speaker 3: reach of missions agencies, and supports fellow believers across the country.

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Speaker 3: Learn more about specials for switching to ACCU and their

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Speaker 3: nationwide banking capabilities at America's Christian cu dot Com Forward

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Speaker 3: slash Prey plus the peace of mind knowing that this

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Speaker 3: credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

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Speaker 2: Hi.

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Speaker 4: I'm doctor Tony Evans, and welcome to the epic Adventure

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Speaker 4: of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, friendship, love, scandal,

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Speaker 4: and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,

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Speaker 4: few know about David the Man. This episode is a

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Speaker 4: tale of David's greatest failure. There could be no understanding

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Speaker 4: just how far the king falls in this episode. From

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Speaker 4: the very beginning of this tale, you will barely be

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Speaker 4: able to recognize David. Nothing about this episode seems normal.

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Speaker 4: His failure can be jarring for us and difficult to understand,

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Speaker 4: But there have been breadcrumbs bringing us to this moment.

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Speaker 4: Small hints and details in David's story have been warning

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Speaker 4: us that this might happen. This episode is tragic, but

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Speaker 4: remember what I've been reminding you of this whole time.

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Speaker 4: David is not the ultimate hero of this story. His

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Speaker 4: collapses a warning to us all small compromises over time

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Speaker 4: can lead to huge defeats. Many of our most egregious

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Speaker 4: sins were committed in our hearts before the actual moment

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Speaker 4: we acted. This is exemplified in our prelude as we

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Speaker 4: get a glimpse into the inner dialogue of Eve. Her

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Speaker 4: conversation with the serpent reflects our own dangerous dance with

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Speaker 4: sin and pride. Take this episode in for all it

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Speaker 4: is allow yourself to feel the weightiness of what's happening.

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Speaker 4: We can't shy away from the difficult stories, for within

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Speaker 4: them are profound truths and serious warnings. If we come

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Speaker 4: in with humble and reflective hearts, we will be better

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Speaker 4: off for the mission ahead of us. No more pretense.

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Speaker 4: His episode twenty four Lust and Murder.

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Speaker 5: Prelude to Chapter twenty four. All was at peace. Birds

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Speaker 5: sang to the song of new Creation, animals roamed the

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Speaker 5: planes unafraid, and humanity danced under the protective canopy of

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Speaker 5: the garden. A cool mist blew through the forest, dispersing

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Speaker 5: the sunlight in a thousand different directions. Every part of

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Speaker 5: Creation was working together like a symphony towards its creator.

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Speaker 5: Adam and Eve joined in the symphony, glorifying God with

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Speaker 5: their laughter, love, and labor. Together they tended to the

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Speaker 5: garden and stewarded the new world. Creator and Creation were

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Speaker 5: in perfect harmony, perfect shalom. Adam and Eve enjoyed the

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Speaker 5: loving embrace of their God and the purpose that came

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Speaker 5: with being stewards over his creation. But what is love

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Speaker 5: without choice? What is a relationship without free will? In

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Speaker 5: his divine love, God gave his image bearers a choice.

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Speaker 5: In the midst of the garden was a tree. Its

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Speaker 5: leaves were bright and vibrant, and its fruit hung low.

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Speaker 5: At eye level, the tree represented a choice. Mankind could

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Speaker 5: avoid the tree's fruit and continue to enjoy a life

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Speaker 5: unified with God, or they could eat the fruit and

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Speaker 5: be given the potential for evil. Their hearts would be

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Speaker 5: corrupted with the knowledge of good and evil, light and darkness.

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Speaker 5: To eat of the tree would be to choose their

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Speaker 5: own will over God's. Adam and Eve knew this. They

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Speaker 5: had been warned of its danger and knew it would

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Speaker 5: unravel them. In the shadow of the tree lurked another creature,

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Speaker 5: His claws dug into the bark as his scaly body

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Speaker 5: wrapped around its trunk. His scales were arrayed with beautiful

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Speaker 5: colors of blue, gold, and red. As Adam and Eve

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Speaker 5: walked the path of the tree, the serpent's eyes opened

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Speaker 5: and reflected the morning light. The creature's body tightened around

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Speaker 5: the tree, and a crooked smile appeared on the sides

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Speaker 5: of its head. Calm close, the serpent whispered from underneath

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Speaker 5: the tree. Eve was the first to stop. As Adam

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Speaker 5: continued to walk up the path. She looked back at

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Speaker 5: the tree and looked closely.

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Speaker 2: Who's there, she asked pensively.

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Speaker 5: The serpent's long body slithered up the trunk of the tree,

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Speaker 5: and his neck poked out.

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Speaker 2: From the leaves.

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Speaker 6: Close Eve, he hissed again, I have a question for you.

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Speaker 5: Eve was intrigued by the serpent's brilliant colors. She stepped

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Speaker 5: closer to him and looked up at his sparkling yellow eyes.

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Speaker 5: The serpent smiled and met eve eye do.

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Speaker 6: Why did God really say you shall not eat of

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Speaker 6: any tree in the garden, he asked, That seems rather cruel.

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Speaker 7: Astant God has told us we can eat any.

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Speaker 8: Fruit in the garden.

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Speaker 7: She replied, Only we can't eat of this tree, nor

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Speaker 7: shall we touch it lest we die.

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Speaker 5: Eve's memory had failed her, for God said nothing of

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Speaker 5: touching it. Already her interaction with the serpent was throwing

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Speaker 5: her off course. Nonsense, he said, with a smile, You.

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Speaker 8: Will not die.

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Speaker 9: God knows that when you eat this fruits, you will

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Speaker 9: be like him. He does and want you to be

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Speaker 9: powerful like he is.

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Speaker 8: He doesn't want you in control.

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Speaker 7: He doesn't want me to be powerful.

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Speaker 5: Eve whispered, her brow furrowed and her lips pursed. She

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Speaker 5: was unsure of what she was hearing.

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Speaker 8: If I eat this, will I be like God?

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Speaker 2: She asked? The serpent. Yes, he lied.

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Speaker 9: All knowledge of good and evil, You will.

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Speaker 2: Be just like him.

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Speaker 5: The serpent retreated back into the shadow of the tree.

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Speaker 5: When he saw Adam approaching down the path, he saw

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Speaker 5: his wife at eye level with the fruit, reaching out

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Speaker 5: to it. What are you doing, Adam asked. Eve looked

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Speaker 5: back to her husband, then back of the fruit. Her

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Speaker 5: heart had already committed to the act. The temptation was

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Speaker 5: too strong. She reached her hand to the fruit and

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Speaker 5: plucked it off the branch. Adam did nothing to stop her.

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Speaker 5: He simply watched in curiosity. She felt the fruit in

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Speaker 5: her hand and saw that it was fine to eat.

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Speaker 5: She placed it on her lips and took a bite.

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Speaker 5: The fruits juice dripped from her lips to her chin.

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Speaker 5: The serpent remained in the shadows. Pleased that his lies

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Speaker 5: had worked, Eve turned to Adam and placed the fruit

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Speaker 5: in his hands.

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Speaker 8: If we eat it, we will be like God.

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Speaker 5: She said, with an excited grin. Adam took the fruit

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Speaker 5: from his wife's hand and pondered. Like Gode, he whispered

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Speaker 5: to himself, Adam, the one who God formed from the

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Speaker 5: dust of the earth and gave his spirit to joined

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Speaker 5: Eve in eating the fruit. In doing so, Adam and

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Speaker 5: Eve gave into the great lie that they could be

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Speaker 5: like God. They believed they could be the masters of

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Speaker 5: their own fate and rulers of their own lives. They

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Speaker 5: had set in motion an unbreakable chain of events that

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Speaker 5: would tear the very fabric of creation. As they ate

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Speaker 5: of the fruit, shame crept into their hearts. The souls

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Speaker 5: of men and women would be corrupted for generations to come,

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Speaker 5: giving into the temptation towards Godhood. Even the bravest souls

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Speaker 5: would believe the lie that they can be like God.

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Speaker 5: The serpent crawled away, believing that he had won, but

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Speaker 5: he hadn't. A greater hero would come and vanquish the

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Speaker 5: sin caused by Adam and Eve. He would crush the

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Speaker 5: serpent's head. Chapter twenty four, Lust and Murder. The light

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Speaker 5: spring sun rested in the middle of the sky over Jerusalem.

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Speaker 5: Its mild rays were uninterrupted by clouds, and a beautiful

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Speaker 5: spring breeze carried in the scent of newly bloomed flowers.

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Speaker 5: David lay on a small bed of cushions in the sun,

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Speaker 5: on the balcony of his roof, soaking in the warmth

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Speaker 5: of the day, the sun warmed his skin, and the

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Speaker 5: slight coolness of the breeze kept him from overheating. David

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Speaker 5: was half asleep, enjoying a perfectly peaceful afternoon and resting

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Speaker 5: his bones. After a long battle. After his conquest of

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Speaker 5: the Syrians, David returned home to rest and enjoy a

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Speaker 5: break from the chaos of war. However, the Ammonites were

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Speaker 5: still a threat to Israel. King Hanoon and his army

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Speaker 5: were preparing their next attack, so David sent Joe ab

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Speaker 5: Abeshi and Uriah to fight on his behalf. There were

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Speaker 5: good reports back from Rabah. Apparently they had subdued the

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Speaker 5: armies encamped on the borders and were close to ravaging Ammon.

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Speaker 5: Although it was his duty as king to be present

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Speaker 5: in battle, David thought he had earned a break. He

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Speaker 5: stretched his weary body out on the pillows and yawned.

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Speaker 5: This was the first pause he had given himself since

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Speaker 5: becoming king. Up until then, he had been consumed with

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Speaker 5: battles and trays agreements. He lounged in the sun and

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Speaker 5: sipped on a cup of wine, allowing lethargy to set in.

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Speaker 5: He stood to his feet and balanced himself on the railing.

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Speaker 5: He closed his eyes and drew in the sweet spring air.

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Speaker 5: His head was foggy and his mind was indolent from

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Speaker 5: all his napping. The king perused the city below, sipping

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Speaker 5: on his wine and smiling at the people below. David's

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Speaker 5: mind wandered as he looked out of the city. He

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Speaker 5: did not think of his men at war, nor did

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Speaker 5: he consider the victory God had just given him. He

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Speaker 5: was content to simply look out and forget he was king.

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Speaker 5: He turned his cheek to the sun and stretched out

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Speaker 5: his arms. Another lethargic yawn exhaled from his mouth, and

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Speaker 5: just as he was about to retreat back into his home,

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Speaker 5: something caught his eye. A woman was bathing in a

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Speaker 5: tub on her roof, also enjoying the warmth of the

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Speaker 5: sun on her skin. David did not look away. He

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Speaker 5: leaned even further over the railing and took in the view.

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Speaker 5: She was breath takingly beautiful. David's slightly ineborated mind did

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Speaker 5: not think twice about staring to him. She was an

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Speaker 5: actress in a play, and he was her single audience member.

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Speaker 5: Chills rose up David's back, and he felt the subtle

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Speaker 5: cues of lust making a home in his heart. Although

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Speaker 5: David had his pick of women, and more wives than

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Speaker 5: one man should have, he felt drawn to her. Perhaps

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Speaker 5: it was because she wasn't his and he wanted what

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Speaker 5: he couldn't have. Perhaps it was because he felt he

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Speaker 5: deserved a gift after having been so faithful. Whatever the

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Speaker 5: thought was, it possessed David to near madness. He grew

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Speaker 5: anxious with desire and could not remove the woman from

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Speaker 5: his gaze. Every single movement of hers enraptured him. Finally,

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Speaker 5: the woman was finished bathing, She wrapped herself up and

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Speaker 5: descended back into her home. The play was over, but

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Speaker 5: David was hoping for a second act. I must have her,

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Speaker 5: David whispered to himself.

220
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Speaker 8: She must be mine.

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Speaker 5: He turned back and beckoned his servant to come near.

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Speaker 5: He gestured to the home where the woman was. I

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Speaker 5: need to know.

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Speaker 8: Who lives then at home, find out for me, and

225
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Speaker 8: come back with haste.

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Speaker 5: The servant did as he was told. He left the

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Speaker 5: house of David and went to investigate. David laid back

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00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,640
Speaker 5: down on the pillows and looked up into the sky.

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00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:29,120
Speaker 5: Such beauty, he sighed to himself, Such beauty, David closed

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Speaker 5: his eyes and soaked and moored. The sunlight and the

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00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:37,240
Speaker 5: breeze gently hummed him to sleep. My Lord David woke

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Speaker 5: up to his servant standing over him.

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Speaker 10: My Lord, I have returned with news.

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Speaker 5: The king rubbed his eyes and looked up. The sun

235
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Speaker 5: had begun its descent and the warmness of the day

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Speaker 5: was barely lingering in the air. The servant continued, saying,

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Speaker 5: the only.

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Speaker 10: One currently in the home is Bathsheba, the wife of Riah,

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Speaker 10: the heat Tite, one of your mighty men. He is

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Speaker 10: away with Joab, so she is alone.

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Speaker 5: David nodded and held back an excited smile. He was

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Speaker 5: silent for a moment, considering what he was about to do.

243
00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,600
Speaker 5: On the surface, it seemed like just one decision. However,

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Speaker 5: up until now, David had a pattern of recklessness in

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Speaker 5: his romantic relationships. He acquired many wives and concubines without

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Speaker 5: consideration of what it would do to his heart and theirs.

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Speaker 5: This one moment was the climax of a thousand small compromises.

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Speaker 5: David looked up at a servant and said, bring her

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Speaker 5: to me. The servant said nothing, He simply bowed his

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Speaker 5: head and left. David stood up, straightened out his royal robes,

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Speaker 5: and went down to his bed chambers to prepare the

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00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,320
Speaker 5: light of the beautiful spring. Sky slowly dissolved into darkness,

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Speaker 5: and the moon appeared in full brightness. David did not

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Speaker 5: look up at the sky, as he often did. He

255
00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,080
Speaker 5: did not want to look up, for then he would

256
00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,640
Speaker 5: be forced to think of his God, the author of

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Speaker 5: his faith and convictions. Instead, he settled his gaze upon

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Speaker 5: the fireplace. The intense heat radiated into the rest of

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Speaker 5: the room. David's lust burned in his heart like the

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Speaker 5: heat of the flames. The burning passion made him drunk.

261
00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,320
Speaker 5: He did not notice the coals falling outside the fireplace.

262
00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,280
Speaker 5: The hot coal simmered until finally dying outside the flames,

263
00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:23,080
Speaker 5: David paid no attention. He heard a knock at the door.

264
00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,240
Speaker 5: The large double door built of cedar and iron opened slowly.

265
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Speaker 5: The light emanating from the flames illuminated the room just

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Speaker 5: enough for him to see her. She wore a linen

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Speaker 5: dress that fell straight over her curves. Her brown, wavy

268
00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:41,200
Speaker 5: hair was laying over her shoulders. He watched every move

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00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:44,520
Speaker 5: of her hips as she walked forward, back and forth.

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00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:48,360
Speaker 5: They went like a pendulum, keeping David's full and undivided attention.

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Speaker 5: There was a silence for a short while as they

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00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:56,160
Speaker 5: stood there and stared at one another. Bathsheba was clearly nervous,

273
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Speaker 5: unwilling to meet David's objectifying eye. She directed her attention

274
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Speaker 5: to the tapestries mounted on David's walls. They were beautifully woven,

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Speaker 5: telling stories through images. The king cleared his throat and

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00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:10,360
Speaker 5: broke the silence.

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Speaker 8: They were woven by an Egyptian needleworker.

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Speaker 5: He said, gesturing to the tapestries, a gift from the Pharaoh.

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00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:23,280
Speaker 5: Bathsheba smiled and continued to peruse David's room. She looked

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Speaker 5: at the sword mounted above his fireplace.

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Speaker 8: Is this it?

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Speaker 2: She asked?

283
00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:29,480
Speaker 7: Is this the sword of Goliath?

284
00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:36,800
Speaker 5: It is, David replied. Bathsheba remained silent, uncomfortable and intimidated

285
00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,840
Speaker 5: by the king. She knew there would be no option out.

286
00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:43,639
Speaker 5: She was caught in an undefined space between honored guest

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00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:47,600
Speaker 5: and prisoner. He stepped forward, and she stepped to the

288
00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:51,840
Speaker 5: side and kept looking around the room. David smirked. It

289
00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,200
Speaker 5: was like a mating dance. David took two steps forward,

290
00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,920
Speaker 5: then she took another step forward, then two away from him.

291
00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:03,240
Speaker 5: The dance was exhilarating to David. Finally, they both found

292
00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:06,560
Speaker 5: themselves at the foot of the bed. She was within reach,

293
00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,560
Speaker 5: yet David waited for the perfect moment. He stood there

294
00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,880
Speaker 5: with heavy breath, waiting for Bathsheba to give him a signal.

295
00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,159
Speaker 5: She didn't, but David was determined to find anything to

296
00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:22,400
Speaker 5: give him license to take her. Her hazel eyes shimmered

297
00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:27,119
Speaker 5: in the firelight. They were wide and bright if behind

298
00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,879
Speaker 5: them was a sense of mystery. David wanted to explore

299
00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,760
Speaker 5: that mystery. He wanted to take all of her in.

300
00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:36,399
Speaker 5: Bathsheba turned away for a moment.

301
00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,040
Speaker 8: I should not be here, she whispered.

302
00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,560
Speaker 5: David took his hand and gently placed it on her chin,

303
00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:46,560
Speaker 5: directing her face back at his. As the flickering flame

304
00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:52,119
Speaker 5: continued to burn, David leaned in and kissed her. David

305
00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:56,159
Speaker 5: wrapped his arms around Bathsheba and kissed her passionately. The

306
00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,320
Speaker 5: two of them were caught up in a passionate and

307
00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,760
Speaker 5: sinful affair, but David did not care. In the moment,

308
00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,240
Speaker 5: as the knight drew on and their naked bodies wrapped

309
00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:10,159
Speaker 5: around one another, David willingly compromised his integrity in the

310
00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,720
Speaker 5: heat of passion, he did not think of his family.

311
00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:17,400
Speaker 5: In the forbidden pleasure, David enjoyed every second of his sin.

312
00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:22,200
Speaker 5: He felt invisible, untouchable, and immune to the effects of

313
00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:29,840
Speaker 5: his actions. He was gravely mistaken. Weeks passed and David

314
00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:31,760
Speaker 5: did his best to remove the knight of sin from

315
00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:35,520
Speaker 5: his mind, but he could not. He thought about Bathsheba

316
00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,440
Speaker 5: more and more as the days rolled on. He did

317
00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,560
Speaker 5: not think of how he loved her or cared for her.

318
00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,159
Speaker 5: He simply loved the pleasure she brought him. It was

319
00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,960
Speaker 5: a low point for God's anointed. After his midnight escapade

320
00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,760
Speaker 5: with Bathsheba, David continued to shirk his responsibilities as king.

321
00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:55,600
Speaker 5: The battle against the Ammonite still raged, and Joe Abana's

322
00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:58,800
Speaker 5: men continued their fight, but the king remained at home.

323
00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:03,560
Speaker 5: He rationalized his absence with matters of domestic need. He

324
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Speaker 5: met with the treasury and storehouse managers. He convened with

325
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Speaker 5: the judges and priests in the land. Yet he did

326
00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:11,840
Speaker 5: not do the primary thing he was called to do

327
00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:16,879
Speaker 5: as a king, protect and fight. Instead, he was content

328
00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:19,439
Speaker 5: to spend a few hours a day working and the

329
00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:22,800
Speaker 5: rest of the day lazily lounging in the sun. He

330
00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:26,240
Speaker 5: spent more time with the King's harem than usual, desperately

331
00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,760
Speaker 5: trying to relive the exhilaration of his affair, But the

332
00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:33,120
Speaker 5: pleasure escaped him. There was a lingering emptiness he could

333
00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:36,400
Speaker 5: not seem to fill. A void was created in him

334
00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:39,360
Speaker 5: the night of his affair, and he was woefully unaware

335
00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:42,000
Speaker 5: of how to fill it. David looked out on the

336
00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,520
Speaker 5: top of his roof again. He did not look at

337
00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:47,359
Speaker 5: the stars. He did not bask in the majesty of

338
00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:51,800
Speaker 5: the heavens and sing songs like he usually did. No. Instead,

339
00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:55,359
Speaker 5: he looked down down at the city, down at the

340
00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:59,200
Speaker 5: streets of Jerusalem, and down at the home of Bathsheba.

341
00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,520
Speaker 5: He wanted if he should beckon her again. Surely she

342
00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,520
Speaker 5: would not refuse him. David stood to his feet and smiled.

343
00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:10,240
Speaker 5: He descended down the ladder back into his bedroom. He

344
00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,639
Speaker 5: gestured to his servant and said, bring me Bathsheba again.

345
00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,720
Speaker 5: Tell her I desire to speak with her. The servant

346
00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:21,000
Speaker 5: paused and gave a nervous stir. He twiddled his thumbs

347
00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:24,919
Speaker 5: and looked away, considering what he should say next. My Lord,

348
00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:26,120
Speaker 5: he mumbled, I.

349
00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,320
Speaker 10: Have been given word that Bethsheba desires to speak with you.

350
00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,280
Speaker 10: She has requested that she come immediately.

351
00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:35,000
Speaker 5: Excellent news, David exclaimed.

352
00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:39,840
Speaker 8: Then bring her to me. I shall prepare, and, as always,

353
00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:41,280
Speaker 8: tell no one of this.

354
00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:45,160
Speaker 5: The servant knew what David did not. However, he thought

355
00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,360
Speaker 5: it best for the king to be told by Bathsheba,

356
00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:50,640
Speaker 5: so he sent for her, and in the secrecy of night,

357
00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,280
Speaker 5: the young woman was brought into his chambers. David ran

358
00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:57,760
Speaker 5: his hands through his curls and smiled. You look radiant,

359
00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:02,080
Speaker 5: he said, softly, reaching to wrap her hand. However, she

360
00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:04,760
Speaker 5: pulled away and looked at him with fearful eyes.

361
00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:12,479
Speaker 2: What is wrong, David asked, my king, I.

362
00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:11,840
Speaker 7: I am pregnant.

363
00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:15,919
Speaker 5: Bathsheba said with a broken voice. Tears welled up in

364
00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,600
Speaker 5: her eyes, and she began to weep. David stepped back

365
00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:23,719
Speaker 5: and leaned against the table. His heart began to pound heavily,

366
00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,320
Speaker 5: and for the first time in weeks, he felt completely sober.

367
00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:31,680
Speaker 5: Are you sure, David asked desperately. Could it be Uriah's

368
00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:33,960
Speaker 5: Bathsheba looked at David angrily.

369
00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,439
Speaker 7: Of course it is yours. My husband has been fighting

370
00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:40,240
Speaker 7: on your behalf against the Ammonites. I have not seen

371
00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:45,120
Speaker 7: him in months. Now look at the mess you have created.

372
00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:46,880
Speaker 2: She was right.

373
00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:50,120
Speaker 5: David took advantage of a lonely woman without her husband.

374
00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:53,040
Speaker 5: He used his charm and status to lure her in,

375
00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:57,280
Speaker 5: and now he found himself in an irreversible mess. Now

376
00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,439
Speaker 5: would normally be the time when David leaned on the

377
00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:03,679
Speaker 5: wisdom of God and repented. However, he had already created

378
00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:07,080
Speaker 5: a habit of leaning on his own desires. He ignored

379
00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:11,560
Speaker 5: his initial instinct to pray, and instead frantically reassured Bathsheba

380
00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:14,120
Speaker 5: that he would handle everything. Do not worry, my dear,

381
00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:18,040
Speaker 5: David said, nervously. I shall make this right. You will

382
00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:21,159
Speaker 5: not be cast aside, and all will be well again.

383
00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:23,560
Speaker 5: He kissed her on the forehead and had her sent

384
00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:26,720
Speaker 5: back home to rest. The king sat down at his

385
00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:29,639
Speaker 5: table and pulled at his hair. He called in his

386
00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:34,400
Speaker 5: servant and said, send word to Joab. I need Uriah

387
00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,920
Speaker 5: to be taken from battle and brought back to me.

388
00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:38,680
Speaker 2: He said.

389
00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:41,760
Speaker 5: The servant bowed his head and did as he was told.

390
00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,040
Speaker 5: The battle was grueling and seemed to drag on for

391
00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:50,800
Speaker 5: an eternity. The spring rains came early, and the valley

392
00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:54,360
Speaker 5: where the battle took place was soaking and muddy. Joab

393
00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:56,760
Speaker 5: and the army of Israel were able to breach the

394
00:23:56,840 --> 00:24:00,359
Speaker 5: enemy lines, but the weather inhibited them from taking hold

395
00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,479
Speaker 5: of the city. Rain descended like arrows on them, and

396
00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:09,000
Speaker 5: the wind howled with ferocity. Ab Abishai, Joshubin, and Uriah

397
00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:12,199
Speaker 5: were huddled in a tent strategizing their next attack.

398
00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,840
Speaker 8: Perhaps we can take the battle elsewhere, Abishai said, there's

399
00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,120
Speaker 8: no point in trudging through this mud any longer.

400
00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,240
Speaker 5: Joe Abb agreed. His men were growing weary and the

401
00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,800
Speaker 5: enemy was securely entrenched in the city. They were able

402
00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:27,600
Speaker 5: to recover with food and shelter. However, the army of

403
00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:29,800
Speaker 5: Israel dwindled in strength day by day.

404
00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:32,159
Speaker 11: If we marched to the forest on the west of

405
00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:34,600
Speaker 11: the Raba, perhaps we will have a better chance.

406
00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:38,560
Speaker 12: Joe Ab said, do we have the strength Josha be masked.

407
00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:42,720
Speaker 12: We have successfully weakened Amen. Would it not be wise

408
00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:46,120
Speaker 12: to retreat, regain our strength, then finish them off at

409
00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:46,760
Speaker 12: another time?

410
00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:48,840
Speaker 11: We must finish what.

411
00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:49,520
Speaker 8: We have started.

412
00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:53,119
Speaker 11: Uriah said, the integrity of our nation is at stake.

413
00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:56,240
Speaker 11: They shamed our king and continue to mock us I

414
00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:58,320
Speaker 11: for one desire to press forward.

415
00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,280
Speaker 5: Uriah was known as the kindness of the mighty men.

416
00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:05,199
Speaker 5: He was a man of honor, integrity, and strength. No

417
00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:09,479
Speaker 5: one quarreled with Uriah. They elevated him and trusted his thoughts.

418
00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:12,720
Speaker 5: The rest of the men nodded and directed their attention

419
00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,240
Speaker 5: back to the map. Very well, joe Ab said.

420
00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:17,920
Speaker 11: If we are to press forward, we need to find

421
00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:20,639
Speaker 11: better ground to finish them off. I still think our

422
00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:23,159
Speaker 11: best chance is on the western front. We would be

423
00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:26,320
Speaker 11: especially successful if David would send us reinforcements in the

424
00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:26,840
Speaker 11: next week.

425
00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:30,000
Speaker 8: Have you heard anything from the king regarding reinforcements.

426
00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:33,280
Speaker 11: I have sent word, but still no reply. It's not

427
00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:36,040
Speaker 11: like the king to ignore these things, joe Ab said.

428
00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,439
Speaker 12: It is not like him to not be here with

429
00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:39,720
Speaker 12: us in the mud and dirt.

430
00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:44,320
Speaker 5: Joshubemin added. As the men continued to strategize, a messenger

431
00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:45,800
Speaker 5: from Jerusalem entered the tent.

432
00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:48,840
Speaker 10: Joe Eb, I have a request from the king to

433
00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,800
Speaker 10: send Uriah the heat type back to Jerusalem. He wishes

434
00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:52,720
Speaker 10: to speak with him.

435
00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:56,080
Speaker 5: All eyes were on Uriah. It was an odd request,

436
00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:57,960
Speaker 5: and Uriah shrugged in ignorance.

437
00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:00,000
Speaker 11: Do you know why I have been?

438
00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:01,320
Speaker 2: Uriah asked.

439
00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:03,920
Speaker 10: He wishes to hear about the battle in greater detail.

440
00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:07,439
Speaker 10: The messenger replied, I have been told times of the essence.

441
00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:08,720
Speaker 2: Uriah.

442
00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:11,400
Speaker 11: You must implore the king to send us more men.

443
00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,080
Speaker 11: Joe Ab said, the rain and wind has made everything

444
00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:16,119
Speaker 11: a struggle, and we need fresh legs if we are

445
00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:17,840
Speaker 11: to push forward and end this battle.

446
00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:21,680
Speaker 5: Uriah nodded and gathered his belongings. He mounted his horse

447
00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:26,160
Speaker 5: and rode with the messenger back to Jerusalem. The king

448
00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:28,920
Speaker 5: sat on his throne, listening to the elders give reports

449
00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:31,919
Speaker 5: on their tribes. He took note of the small disputes,

450
00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:36,160
Speaker 5: glaring needs, and successful growth. David was always adept at

451
00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:38,680
Speaker 5: listening to the elders and considering the wisdom they had

452
00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,240
Speaker 5: to offer regarding the kingdom. It was a trait that

453
00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:45,080
Speaker 5: he hoped to pass down to his son Absalom, heir

454
00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:49,639
Speaker 5: to the throne. Yet today David's mind was elsewhere. He

455
00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:53,160
Speaker 5: was thinking about his new child in Bathsheba's womb. He

456
00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:57,200
Speaker 5: was anxious and nervously awaited the arrival of Uriah. After

457
00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:00,240
Speaker 5: the elders departed, the doors opened up and the messinger

458
00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:03,760
Speaker 5: walked in with Uriah. His hair was dirty and soaked,

459
00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:07,680
Speaker 5: his armor was stained red. And caked with mud. David's

460
00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:10,560
Speaker 5: heart beat profoundly at the sight of him. Euriah was

461
00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:13,480
Speaker 5: a loyal friend, one of his mighty men that followed

462
00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,520
Speaker 5: him in the wilderness. Yet the desire to cover up

463
00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:19,520
Speaker 5: his sin was greater than his conviction, and it took

464
00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,639
Speaker 5: David no time at all to begin his lies.

465
00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:24,560
Speaker 8: Uriah, I am glad you have come.

466
00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:26,800
Speaker 5: He stepped down and embraced him.

467
00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:30,240
Speaker 8: You must be weary from your travels. Go and wash

468
00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:34,280
Speaker 8: yourself and greet your wife. When you have bathed and

469
00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:38,760
Speaker 8: embraced her, we shall talk about the battle. Uriah pursed

470
00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:40,000
Speaker 8: his lips and shook his head.

471
00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,639
Speaker 11: With all due respect, my king, I would like to

472
00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:47,480
Speaker 11: update you on the battle and request reinforcements. Then I

473
00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:49,520
Speaker 11: would like to return to the men they need me.

474
00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:53,800
Speaker 5: David winced at Eri's noble heart. Pangs of conviction began

475
00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:56,720
Speaker 5: to bubble up, but he ignored them. He would not

476
00:27:56,840 --> 00:27:59,879
Speaker 5: admit his fault. He needed to continue in his manipulation.

477
00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:04,480
Speaker 8: I admire your spirit, David replied, However, I have much

478
00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:09,560
Speaker 8: to do before tomorrow. Let us convene tomorrow. Go home,

479
00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,439
Speaker 8: enjoy a warm bed with your wife, and we shall

480
00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:14,639
Speaker 8: speak tomorrow.

481
00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,400
Speaker 5: The king left the throne room, hoping your eye would

482
00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:21,119
Speaker 5: go home to Bathsheba. No doubt Bathsheba would know to

483
00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:24,240
Speaker 5: take your Rye into the bed. That way, your eye

484
00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:27,399
Speaker 5: would think the child within her was his. However, your

485
00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:30,439
Speaker 5: Ryah did not do what he was told. He waited

486
00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:33,000
Speaker 5: outside the king's house and rested his head against the

487
00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:36,199
Speaker 5: stone walls. He closed his eyes and breathed in the

488
00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,360
Speaker 5: spring air. It had been a long time since he

489
00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:42,320
Speaker 5: had the sun shine on his face. Ammon had been

490
00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:45,400
Speaker 5: covered by clouds for over a week. Your eye's weary

491
00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:49,080
Speaker 5: bones relaxed outside, and he fell asleep near the steps.

492
00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:50,680
Speaker 2: David was up.

493
00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:53,640
Speaker 5: All night anxiously pacing back and forth near the fire.

494
00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:58,120
Speaker 5: He would be more comfortable knowing your Rye was with Bathsheba. However,

495
00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:02,600
Speaker 5: until he had confirmation, he continued to nervously walk in circles.

496
00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:05,600
Speaker 5: In all the anxiety and waiting, it did not occur

497
00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:08,480
Speaker 5: to him to seek the Lord. The shame in his

498
00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:12,440
Speaker 5: heart kept him from approaching his God. Instead of confessing

499
00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:14,680
Speaker 5: and bringing his sin to the altar of the Lord,

500
00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:17,640
Speaker 5: he buried his shame and sought to cover up his sin.

501
00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,120
Speaker 5: After a sleepless night in his room, he rose up

502
00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:24,600
Speaker 5: at sunrise to walk the garden. The morning fog was thick,

503
00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:26,960
Speaker 5: and a dark figure sat in the front of his home.

504
00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:31,840
Speaker 5: To David's dismay, it was Euriah sleeping on the floor Uriah.

505
00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:33,840
Speaker 5: David shouted, startling him, awake.

506
00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:36,920
Speaker 8: What are you doing here? Why have you not gone

507
00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:38,000
Speaker 8: home to your wife?

508
00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:41,600
Speaker 5: You had a long journey. Why would you not allow

509
00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:45,720
Speaker 5: yourself to rest? Euriah stood at attention. He was shorter

510
00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:48,480
Speaker 5: than David, yet somehow seemed a hundred feet taller.

511
00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:52,680
Speaker 11: The ark of the Covenant dwells in a tent. Joe

512
00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:55,200
Speaker 11: Ab and the others are camping in the mud, with

513
00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:59,800
Speaker 11: arrows being fired at them. For me to eat, drink

514
00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:02,640
Speaker 11: and lie with my wife would be a disgrace. How

515
00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:05,400
Speaker 11: could I live with myself knowing that they are cold

516
00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:06,200
Speaker 11: and vulnerable?

517
00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:11,320
Speaker 5: Well, I am warm and full. David was growing irritated

518
00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:14,320
Speaker 5: with Euriah's righteousness. It vexed him to be in the

519
00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:18,040
Speaker 5: presence of someone so devoted It made his own shortcomings

520
00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:21,480
Speaker 5: all the more real. He forced a smile and placed

521
00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:22,800
Speaker 5: a hand on your Rayah's shoulder.

522
00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:26,360
Speaker 8: What a blessing it is to have you as a

523
00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:31,560
Speaker 8: brother in arms. Uriah. Come, let us eat and discuss

524
00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:35,000
Speaker 8: the war. You shall stay with me today and I

525
00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:36,600
Speaker 8: shall send you back tomorrow.

526
00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:39,320
Speaker 5: The two of them entered the courtroom and spoke about

527
00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:43,040
Speaker 5: the war. How are the men faring, David asked, gritting

528
00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:44,440
Speaker 5: his teeth, suffering.

529
00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:48,040
Speaker 11: Euriah said, we were able to overpower their army on

530
00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:51,200
Speaker 11: the battlefield, but complications with the weather have kept us

531
00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:54,840
Speaker 11: from advancing forward. They are fortified in the city while

532
00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:56,520
Speaker 11: we are rotting away in the cold.

533
00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:00,880
Speaker 8: Is there no way to proceed surely outnumber them?

534
00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:05,240
Speaker 11: David said, yes, but terrain inhibits us greatly. There was

535
00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:07,320
Speaker 11: a plan to attack from the west, but our chances

536
00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:09,080
Speaker 11: would be greater if we had reinforcements.

537
00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:13,080
Speaker 8: I am not sure I can spare more men, David said, frankly.

538
00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:15,800
Speaker 8: We have sent many to the battle, and if we

539
00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:18,520
Speaker 8: sin more, we leave our borders vulnerable.

540
00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:23,240
Speaker 11: I understand, my King, However, this could be over quickly

541
00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:25,120
Speaker 11: if we had just a few hundred extra men.

542
00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:28,960
Speaker 5: David paused and considered what Yourriah was saying. Over quickly,

543
00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:33,280
Speaker 5: he said in a whisper. Darkness was slithering into David's heart.

544
00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:38,640
Speaker 8: Yes, I do desire for this to be over quickly,

545
00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:42,400
Speaker 8: he said in a stern voice, you will have your reinforcements,

546
00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:48,480
Speaker 8: Riah rest assured you have convinced me. Now come have

547
00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:51,720
Speaker 8: a drink with me, and we shall send you off properly.

548
00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:55,560
Speaker 11: I couldn't Lord, not while the other men, I insist,

549
00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:58,680
Speaker 11: David interrupted, You are an old friend.

550
00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:03,240
Speaker 8: And a loyal soldier. I would very much like to

551
00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:07,320
Speaker 8: enjoy your company before sending you off. The more rested

552
00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:09,920
Speaker 8: you are, the better off you will be in battle.

553
00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:12,160
Speaker 8: Now drink and eat.

554
00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:15,960
Speaker 5: So Uryah did as the king asked. David had meats,

555
00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:18,800
Speaker 5: cheeses and wine brought in. He told the servants to

556
00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:22,480
Speaker 5: always keep Eurya's cup full. To the best of David's ability,

557
00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:24,240
Speaker 5: he tried to get the man drunk.

558
00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:28,480
Speaker 8: More wine for my friend, he ordered, with a laugh,

559
00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:32,920
Speaker 8: Come drink up and enjoy this last night.

560
00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:36,200
Speaker 5: So Uriah continued to drink. As soon as the man

561
00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:39,360
Speaker 5: was sufficiently drunk. David leaned over and said.

562
00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:44,920
Speaker 8: You must miss your wife, dearly Uryah. She is beautiful.

563
00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:48,320
Speaker 5: Oh yes, Uriah said, with a sleepy slur.

564
00:32:48,760 --> 00:32:52,600
Speaker 11: She is the love of my life, a cool spring

565
00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:53,960
Speaker 11: in a desolate desert.

566
00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:57,080
Speaker 5: His poetic description of his wife did not help with

567
00:32:57,160 --> 00:32:58,000
Speaker 5: David's guilt.

568
00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:04,400
Speaker 8: Go home, Uryah, embrace her as her husband. No doubt

569
00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:06,240
Speaker 8: you are anxious to bed her.

570
00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:11,480
Speaker 5: Again, David said. However, Euriah, even while inebriated, shook his head.

571
00:33:11,920 --> 00:33:13,320
Speaker 5: I will not, he said.

572
00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:18,360
Speaker 11: She is a delicacy If I bed her while my

573
00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:21,760
Speaker 11: comrades lie in the dirt. What kind of man am I?

574
00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:27,120
Speaker 11: Why should I bathe in gold when they bathe in filth? No,

575
00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:30,560
Speaker 11: I shall sleep here and then leave in the morning.

576
00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:34,200
Speaker 5: Euriah stumbled up onto his feet, knocking over his cup

577
00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:39,240
Speaker 5: in the process. He stated himself and focused. After composing himself,

578
00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:42,640
Speaker 5: he waddled over to a nearby lounging area and fell

579
00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:46,720
Speaker 5: face first into the cushions. David walked over and tried

580
00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:50,840
Speaker 5: to shake him awake, but he was fast asleep. The

581
00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:53,800
Speaker 5: king was frustrated at the situation he found himself in.

582
00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:56,800
Speaker 5: Uriah would not sleep with his wife in time to

583
00:33:56,800 --> 00:34:00,720
Speaker 5: cover up their affair. David found himself at a crossroads.

584
00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:04,000
Speaker 5: He could either give up the charade and confess, or

585
00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:06,280
Speaker 5: continue to get tangled in the web of lies he

586
00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:10,680
Speaker 5: had spun. Furious, David began to storm off, knocking over

587
00:34:10,719 --> 00:34:14,120
Speaker 5: the iron cood polls they spilled onto the floor away

588
00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:17,239
Speaker 5: from the fire. One of them burned his foot. He

589
00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:21,719
Speaker 5: yelled and cursed, clean this up. The Chosen King of

590
00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:24,759
Speaker 5: God was losing the battle. Sin had a hold of

591
00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:27,400
Speaker 5: him like a predator, and it was sinking its teeth

592
00:34:27,480 --> 00:34:31,799
Speaker 5: deeper into his neck. David stormed out, nearly breaking the

593
00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:35,640
Speaker 5: wooden door. He clenched his fists and tensed his whole body.

594
00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:39,600
Speaker 5: He had so much rage boiling up in him. All

595
00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:42,840
Speaker 5: Uriah had to do was sleep with his wife. David

596
00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:46,239
Speaker 5: found it effortless to sleep with Bathsheba, but Uriyah was

597
00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:49,840
Speaker 5: able to maintain his conviction. Why did Uriah have to

598
00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:54,399
Speaker 5: make things difficult? Ah, David screamed into the dark night.

599
00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:57,120
Speaker 5: He took a stone from the floor and threw it

600
00:34:57,160 --> 00:34:59,719
Speaker 5: at the fence near the garden. He punched at the

601
00:34:59,719 --> 00:35:02,520
Speaker 5: air and screamed into the voice. What am I going

602
00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:06,280
Speaker 5: to do? He thought to himself, He has ruined everything.

603
00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:09,440
Speaker 5: David was unable to see that Uriah had done nothing wrong.

604
00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:13,799
Speaker 5: It was he who got himself into this situation. He

605
00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:16,280
Speaker 5: paused his clamoring for a moment and drew a deep breath.

606
00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:20,520
Speaker 5: He closed his eyes and thought about his options. Then

607
00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:24,239
Speaker 5: an idea came to him. In all his years, he

608
00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:27,880
Speaker 5: had never considered something so hideous and sinful. Yet he

609
00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:30,560
Speaker 5: had already trained his mind to ignore the voice of God.

610
00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:34,360
Speaker 5: Without a second thought. David re entered his home and

611
00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:36,160
Speaker 5: began to write a message to Joab.

612
00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:39,480
Speaker 8: Joe Ab, it has come to my attention that the

613
00:35:39,480 --> 00:35:43,239
Speaker 8: front lines are in need of more soldiers after Uriah's visit.

614
00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:47,719
Speaker 8: I have decided to send you reinforcements. However, I am

615
00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:51,440
Speaker 8: also requesting something from you. It is a matter of

616
00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:56,080
Speaker 8: great importance and will require your secrecy. As my commander

617
00:35:56,560 --> 00:36:00,799
Speaker 8: and right hand set Uriah at the forefront of the

618
00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:05,439
Speaker 8: harshest parts of the battlefield when he marches, in order

619
00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:11,040
Speaker 8: the other soldiers to delay before following him. I need

620
00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:16,080
Speaker 8: Uriah to fall from the battlefield. Considering my forgiveness of

621
00:36:16,120 --> 00:36:19,680
Speaker 8: your crimes against Abner, I trust that you will obey

622
00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:22,720
Speaker 8: me without question. King David.

623
00:36:23,239 --> 00:36:26,040
Speaker 5: David sealed the letter with his royal emblem and had

624
00:36:26,040 --> 00:36:29,480
Speaker 5: his messenger leave immediately to Joab. He sat back in

625
00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:32,879
Speaker 5: his seat, contemplating what he had just done. He had

626
00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:36,400
Speaker 5: set in motion something that could not be Undone tomorrow,

627
00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:40,000
Speaker 5: Urai would leave to fight, and he would never return again.

628
00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:44,920
Speaker 5: Nothing would ever be the same. The army of Israel

629
00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:48,680
Speaker 5: marched behind Joab to besiege the city. They marched from

630
00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:52,080
Speaker 5: the west, where the terrain was easier to traverse. The

631
00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:55,000
Speaker 5: Ammonite army was postured in front of the city ready

632
00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:58,400
Speaker 5: to defend it. They were wrapped around the walls, covering

633
00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:01,720
Speaker 5: every entrance. In order to get within the city borders,

634
00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:05,399
Speaker 5: they needed to fight through them. Joab looked out at

635
00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:08,480
Speaker 5: the vast army inside. He gripped the letter from the

636
00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:10,800
Speaker 5: king in his hands and crumpled it in his fist.

637
00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:13,359
Speaker 5: He was grieved at what he was about to do.

638
00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:17,160
Speaker 5: Abishai was on his right and Uriah was on his left.

639
00:37:17,640 --> 00:37:19,640
Speaker 5: He gestured to the two of them, saying.

640
00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:23,400
Speaker 11: Abishai, you will lead a group straight on into the fray. Uriah,

641
00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:25,440
Speaker 11: you and I will lead a smaller band of men

642
00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:26,400
Speaker 11: around the perimeter.

643
00:37:27,239 --> 00:37:31,000
Speaker 5: Both of them nodded, and the battle was underway. Abishai

644
00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:33,719
Speaker 5: led the charge directly in front of the gates. The

645
00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:37,120
Speaker 5: two armies clashed and began to battle. Joe Ab and

646
00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:39,360
Speaker 5: Uriah led a group of one hundred men around the

647
00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:42,759
Speaker 5: perimeter to pick off the city guard. Joab knew that

648
00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:45,560
Speaker 5: there were archers at the top of the walls. It

649
00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:49,040
Speaker 5: happened quickly. Uriah ran around the corner of the wall

650
00:37:49,360 --> 00:37:52,280
Speaker 5: and immediately saw a shower of arrows fall from above.

651
00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:56,000
Speaker 5: All Joab could hear was the clamoring of guards and

652
00:37:56,040 --> 00:37:59,800
Speaker 5: the sudden screen of Uriyah. Tears streamed down his face,

653
00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:02,400
Speaker 5: and he called for his men to turn the corner

654
00:38:02,440 --> 00:38:08,120
Speaker 5: and fight. Joab fought with rage, anguish, and heartbreak. Uriah

655
00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:11,719
Speaker 5: was beloved and an honorable man. He did not know

656
00:38:11,760 --> 00:38:13,120
Speaker 5: why he deserves such a fate.

657
00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:17,360
Speaker 11: The blood of Uriah is on David's hands, not mine,

658
00:38:17,640 --> 00:38:18,680
Speaker 11: he thought to himself.

659
00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:25,480
Speaker 10: The men gained advantage over our army, but we managed

660
00:38:25,480 --> 00:38:26,959
Speaker 10: to drive them back all the way to the edtrance

661
00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:27,520
Speaker 10: of the gates.

662
00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:29,200
Speaker 5: The messenger told David.

663
00:38:29,400 --> 00:38:32,120
Speaker 10: Joab is confident that another attack will finally allow them

664
00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:32,880
Speaker 10: to breach the city.

665
00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:35,279
Speaker 5: King David nodded and looked up.

666
00:38:35,960 --> 00:38:39,680
Speaker 2: Were there many who were lost? He asked, yes, my King.

667
00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:43,720
Speaker 10: According to Joab, they had many archers set on the walls.

668
00:38:44,080 --> 00:38:45,160
Speaker 10: Many soldiers were dead.

669
00:38:45,719 --> 00:38:48,560
Speaker 2: Any of note, David asked, just.

670
00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:52,799
Speaker 10: One, my King, Uriah. The heat sight one of your

671
00:38:52,840 --> 00:38:55,040
Speaker 10: mighty men, he has fallen.

672
00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:58,680
Speaker 5: David fained shocked and stood to his feet. It was

673
00:38:58,719 --> 00:39:02,080
Speaker 5: a terrible performance, but the messenger fell for it. He

674
00:39:02,120 --> 00:39:03,560
Speaker 5: put a hand over his forehead.

675
00:39:03,560 --> 00:39:09,160
Speaker 8: Inside a tragedy, he said, Tell Joab to not let

676
00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:13,479
Speaker 8: this matter discourage him. The sword devours one person now

677
00:39:13,920 --> 00:39:17,600
Speaker 8: and then another. Tell him to strengthen his attack against

678
00:39:17,640 --> 00:39:21,799
Speaker 8: the city. I shall send even more men. Encourage him

679
00:39:22,080 --> 00:39:24,600
Speaker 8: and tell him well done.

680
00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:29,520
Speaker 5: The messenger bowed his head and departed. When the door closed,

681
00:39:29,719 --> 00:39:33,239
Speaker 5: David released his breath. He panted heavily and fell on

682
00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:38,080
Speaker 5: to his knees. Euriah was dead, and he killed him.

683
00:39:38,719 --> 00:39:41,560
Speaker 5: Word was sent to Bathsheba that Uriah had been killed

684
00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:45,400
Speaker 5: in battle. Her lament was great. She knew that David

685
00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:47,920
Speaker 5: had a hand in it. The guilt of her affair

686
00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:50,359
Speaker 5: and the sorrow of her loss was almost too much

687
00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:54,520
Speaker 5: to bear. She shot herself out for days, not allowing

688
00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:57,760
Speaker 5: any one to enter her chambers. At night, she cried

689
00:39:57,800 --> 00:40:02,000
Speaker 5: herself to sleep, unable to bear the measurable guilt. Her

690
00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:04,920
Speaker 5: sorrow was David's doing, since he had been unable to

691
00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:08,480
Speaker 5: control himself. Yet, even in her mourning, she knew that

692
00:40:08,560 --> 00:40:11,920
Speaker 5: time was of the essence. Euriah's death would be meaningless

693
00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:15,239
Speaker 5: unless her and David were married. Once the period of

694
00:40:15,280 --> 00:40:18,520
Speaker 5: mourning was over, and before Bathsheba began to show signs

695
00:40:18,520 --> 00:40:21,960
Speaker 5: of pregnancy, David sent for her. She took off her

696
00:40:22,040 --> 00:40:24,600
Speaker 5: veil of mourning and exchanged it for a wedding veil.

697
00:40:25,160 --> 00:40:27,800
Speaker 5: She was carried out gently on a wedding seat lifted

698
00:40:27,880 --> 00:40:31,360
Speaker 5: high in the air. The entire city watched as she passed,

699
00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:34,080
Speaker 5: whispering and wondering who she was to have won the

700
00:40:34,120 --> 00:40:37,440
Speaker 5: affections of the king. She was brought to the King's house.

701
00:40:38,040 --> 00:40:40,600
Speaker 5: Attending the wedding were a few of David's mighty men,

702
00:40:41,080 --> 00:40:47,480
Speaker 5: Shama Eliezar, Naya, Joe ab Abeshi, and Joshubin. Also in

703
00:40:47,560 --> 00:40:51,000
Speaker 5: attendance was Nathan the Prophet. He remained in the back

704
00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:54,719
Speaker 5: of the courtyard, leaning against the fountain. He watched as

705
00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:57,320
Speaker 5: David held his bride's hand and looked her in the eyes.

706
00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:01,000
Speaker 5: He watched his eyes drift from her face down to herbelli.

707
00:41:01,640 --> 00:41:04,279
Speaker 5: It was at that moment Nathan felt the prompting of

708
00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:08,400
Speaker 5: God's voice. The anger of God was awakened, and Nathan

709
00:41:08,440 --> 00:41:11,760
Speaker 5: feared the worst for the young king. It was early

710
00:41:11,800 --> 00:41:14,520
Speaker 5: in the morning, and David arose before the sunrise to

711
00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:17,319
Speaker 5: walk the garden. He rolled out of his bed and

712
00:41:17,360 --> 00:41:21,080
Speaker 5: looked at his new bride beside him. It all seemed

713
00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:24,680
Speaker 5: much more empty and pointless now the anxiety of covering

714
00:41:24,760 --> 00:41:28,600
Speaker 5: up their affair had left them exhausted. David had a

715
00:41:28,640 --> 00:41:32,480
Speaker 5: disquieted soul, but he did not know it. The radical

716
00:41:32,520 --> 00:41:36,400
Speaker 5: self reflection he once had was gone. His conscience was

717
00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:40,359
Speaker 5: like an unsharpened blade, rusty and dull. He had spent

718
00:41:40,480 --> 00:41:43,120
Speaker 5: so much time quieting the voice of God's spirit within

719
00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:45,719
Speaker 5: him that it was nearly impossible for him to feel

720
00:41:45,719 --> 00:41:49,560
Speaker 5: guilty anymore. He wrapped himself in his royal robes and

721
00:41:49,640 --> 00:41:52,880
Speaker 5: left the house to stroll among the gardens. The mild

722
00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:55,400
Speaker 5: spring air was slowly giving way to the heat of summer.

723
00:41:56,120 --> 00:41:59,000
Speaker 5: David could sense it would be a warm day. He

724
00:41:59,080 --> 00:42:01,840
Speaker 5: walked the gardens, humming an old tune and listening to

725
00:42:01,880 --> 00:42:06,400
Speaker 5: the birds. Then, almost out of nowhere, Nathan the Prophet appeared.

726
00:42:06,960 --> 00:42:10,319
Speaker 8: Ah ah, Nathan, you startled.

727
00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:12,640
Speaker 5: Me, the king said, with laughter. He placed a hand

728
00:42:12,719 --> 00:42:13,960
Speaker 5: on his shoulder and smiled.

729
00:42:14,440 --> 00:42:17,000
Speaker 8: It was great to see you at the wedding baths.

730
00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:20,320
Speaker 8: Sheeba and I were pleased to have you there. Nathan

731
00:42:20,360 --> 00:42:23,239
Speaker 8: nodded and forced a smile. I wouldn't have missed it,

732
00:42:23,360 --> 00:42:26,799
Speaker 8: my son. However, I wish I could carry all in

733
00:42:26,840 --> 00:42:33,440
Speaker 8: the celebration, but alas I cannot. I have heard disturbing news.

734
00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:38,120
Speaker 8: But what troubles you, David asked ignorantly. The old man

735
00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:40,799
Speaker 8: gestured for the king to sit down. The two of

736
00:42:40,840 --> 00:42:43,680
Speaker 8: them sat beside one another, sulking in the new rays

737
00:42:43,680 --> 00:42:47,399
Speaker 8: of the morning. Nathan sighed and said, there were two

738
00:42:47,480 --> 00:42:51,080
Speaker 8: men who lived in the same village he began. One

739
00:42:51,080 --> 00:42:55,120
Speaker 8: of them was very rich, the other was very poor.

740
00:42:56,200 --> 00:43:00,360
Speaker 8: The rich men had many flocks of sheep, goats, and

741
00:43:00,520 --> 00:43:04,719
Speaker 8: herds of oxen, but the poor man had nothing but

742
00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:08,600
Speaker 8: one single little lamb. He had bought this lamb with

743
00:43:08,719 --> 00:43:12,800
Speaker 8: money he had saved for quite some time. He nursed

744
00:43:12,840 --> 00:43:17,360
Speaker 8: the lamb, bathed it, and nurtured it. In fact, the

745
00:43:17,440 --> 00:43:20,200
Speaker 8: little lamb would even sleep with his children at night.

746
00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:24,760
Speaker 8: The lamb was like a daughter to this poor man.

747
00:43:25,520 --> 00:43:28,800
Speaker 5: Nathan smiled and looked at David. The king was clearly

748
00:43:28,880 --> 00:43:31,680
Speaker 5: enjoying the story thus far, and Nathan knew he had

749
00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:34,799
Speaker 5: his attention. Nathan frowned and said.

750
00:43:34,840 --> 00:43:40,120
Speaker 8: However, something disturbing happened to that poor man. One day

751
00:43:40,520 --> 00:43:43,640
Speaker 8: a traveler came to visit the rich man. Now, the

752
00:43:43,760 --> 00:43:46,680
Speaker 8: rich man wanted to feed his guest, but he did

753
00:43:46,719 --> 00:43:50,040
Speaker 8: not want to prepare any of his own animals. So

754
00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:53,000
Speaker 8: in the middle of the night, the rich man went

755
00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:57,400
Speaker 8: into the poor man's home and stole the little lamb.

756
00:43:58,560 --> 00:44:02,800
Speaker 8: He killed it and prepared it to feed his guest,

757
00:44:03,239 --> 00:44:06,640
Speaker 8: and the poor man was left with nothing.

758
00:44:07,640 --> 00:44:11,400
Speaker 5: David was utterly distraught at the news. What he exclaimed,

759
00:44:11,680 --> 00:44:14,799
Speaker 5: who is this man? As the Lord lives, the man

760
00:44:14,840 --> 00:44:18,640
Speaker 5: who has done this deserves to die. I will restore

761
00:44:18,680 --> 00:44:22,360
Speaker 5: the lamb forfold to the poor man. What eager, maniacal

762
00:44:22,520 --> 00:44:23,719
Speaker 5: monster would.

763
00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:24,200
Speaker 8: Do such a thing.

764
00:44:24,640 --> 00:44:27,000
Speaker 5: Nathan stood to his feet and held out a finger

765
00:44:27,040 --> 00:44:30,560
Speaker 5: to the king. His eyes were filled with righteous indignation.

766
00:44:31,360 --> 00:44:34,439
Speaker 5: The old prophet boomed his voice downward towards the king.

767
00:44:34,960 --> 00:44:36,920
Speaker 8: You are that man, King, David.

768
00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:41,080
Speaker 5: Nathan's voice carried and echoed across the garden. It sent

769
00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:42,560
Speaker 5: chills down David's spine.

770
00:44:43,200 --> 00:44:45,279
Speaker 2: What do you mean, David asked.

771
00:44:45,640 --> 00:44:48,359
Speaker 8: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel and the

772
00:44:48,400 --> 00:44:52,839
Speaker 8: God of Justice. I anointed you king over the nation,

773
00:44:53,440 --> 00:44:56,480
Speaker 8: and I delivered you from the wrath of Saul. I

774
00:44:56,560 --> 00:45:00,040
Speaker 8: gave you a grand home, wives, and the entire the

775
00:45:00,040 --> 00:45:03,400
Speaker 8: house of Israel and Judah. And if this were too little,

776
00:45:03,760 --> 00:45:08,279
Speaker 8: I have also added victories and conquests to you. Why then,

777
00:45:08,360 --> 00:45:11,920
Speaker 8: have you despised my word and done what is evil?

778
00:45:12,320 --> 00:45:15,760
Speaker 8: You have struck down your Raiah the Hittite, a child

779
00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:16,800
Speaker 8: of Israel.

780
00:45:16,760 --> 00:45:21,120
Speaker 5: Had taken his wife. David was shaken to his core.

781
00:45:21,960 --> 00:45:25,640
Speaker 5: Nathan spoke with the authority of God. He could feel

782
00:45:25,640 --> 00:45:28,080
Speaker 5: the Lord's anger bubbling over Lord.

783
00:45:28,480 --> 00:45:32,640
Speaker 8: He murmured, Ah, I just hear the word of the Lord,

784
00:45:33,040 --> 00:45:33,960
Speaker 8: giant slayer.

785
00:45:34,239 --> 00:45:37,160
Speaker 5: Nathan interrupted, Behold.

786
00:45:37,320 --> 00:45:40,920
Speaker 8: The sword shall never depart from your house because of

787
00:45:41,000 --> 00:45:45,360
Speaker 8: the violence you enacted against your Rayah. Violence will plague

788
00:45:45,400 --> 00:45:49,920
Speaker 8: your household, and strife will come upon you. I will

789
00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:52,760
Speaker 8: raise up evil against you out of your own home.

790
00:45:53,440 --> 00:45:57,480
Speaker 8: Your wives will scorn you, take on other lovers, and

791
00:45:57,520 --> 00:46:01,040
Speaker 8: they will do so publicly and in the son. For

792
00:46:01,200 --> 00:46:05,320
Speaker 8: you did it secretly. But I will punish you before

793
00:46:05,440 --> 00:46:08,080
Speaker 8: all Israel and for the world to see.

794
00:46:08,600 --> 00:46:11,239
Speaker 5: David fell on to his knees. He wept at the

795
00:46:11,239 --> 00:46:12,000
Speaker 5: feet of Nathan.

796
00:46:12,719 --> 00:46:17,640
Speaker 8: Ah, I have sinned, Lord, he whimpered, I have no excuse.

797
00:46:18,320 --> 00:46:21,279
Speaker 5: Nathan knelt down and touched David on the shoulder. He

798
00:46:21,360 --> 00:46:24,880
Speaker 5: spoke in a gentle voice, saying, the Lord will forgive

799
00:46:24,920 --> 00:46:29,800
Speaker 5: you my king. You will not die, and your kingdom

800
00:46:29,880 --> 00:46:35,680
Speaker 5: shall remain. Nevertheless, because of all the strife and chaos

801
00:46:35,719 --> 00:46:39,319
Speaker 5: this is caused, the child who is born to you,

802
00:46:39,400 --> 00:46:43,960
Speaker 5: out of sin, shall die. David darted his eyes up

803
00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:47,880
Speaker 5: to Nathan. He shook his head in disbelief, but Nathan

804
00:46:47,920 --> 00:46:50,960
Speaker 5: had nothing left to say. He rose and went back

805
00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:54,760
Speaker 5: to his house, leaving David in emotional and spiritual disarray.

806
00:46:55,560 --> 00:46:56,439
Speaker 2: What have I done?

807
00:46:57,040 --> 00:46:59,960
Speaker 5: David whispered to himself. He looked up at the sky

808
00:47:00,239 --> 00:47:01,560
Speaker 5: for the first time in weeks.

809
00:47:01,920 --> 00:47:02,840
Speaker 8: Where have I gone?

810
00:47:03,360 --> 00:47:05,799
Speaker 5: It was as if a fog was cleared from David's head,

811
00:47:06,200 --> 00:47:08,200
Speaker 5: and he was finally able to see what he had

812
00:47:08,200 --> 00:47:11,200
Speaker 5: gotten himself Caught up in he placed his face in

813
00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:12,120
Speaker 5: his hands and.

814
00:47:12,080 --> 00:47:14,880
Speaker 8: Wept, Who who have I become?

815
00:47:17,320 --> 00:47:20,880
Speaker 5: Weeks turned into months, and David trudged around Jerusalem in

816
00:47:20,920 --> 00:47:25,560
Speaker 5: the melancholy days. As Bathsheba's belly grew larger, so did

817
00:47:25,640 --> 00:47:29,240
Speaker 5: David's dread. He placed his hand on her pregnant belly

818
00:47:29,280 --> 00:47:29,799
Speaker 5: and held his.

819
00:47:29,800 --> 00:47:33,160
Speaker 2: Head to it. Oh, little one, he whispered.

820
00:47:33,200 --> 00:47:36,759
Speaker 8: Oh, how I pray The Lord does not follow through.

821
00:47:36,520 --> 00:47:37,200
Speaker 2: With his word.

822
00:47:37,840 --> 00:47:41,480
Speaker 5: Tears streamed down his cheeks, and Bathsheba held his head close.

823
00:47:42,280 --> 00:47:44,319
Speaker 5: Both of them wept, for they knew it was only

824
00:47:44,360 --> 00:47:46,759
Speaker 5: a matter of time before their sins finally caught up

825
00:47:46,760 --> 00:47:50,880
Speaker 5: to them. Only days after her ninth month of pregnancy,

826
00:47:51,320 --> 00:47:55,320
Speaker 5: Bathsheba went into labor. It was a long and painful berth,

827
00:47:55,680 --> 00:48:00,160
Speaker 5: drawing out for hours. David paced outside the room where

828
00:48:00,200 --> 00:48:03,239
Speaker 5: Bathsheba and the nurse maids labored. He listened to her

829
00:48:03,280 --> 00:48:06,680
Speaker 5: shrieks of agony echoed down the halls. He leaned his

830
00:48:06,760 --> 00:48:09,440
Speaker 5: back against the walls and slid down onto the floor,

831
00:48:09,680 --> 00:48:15,720
Speaker 5: covering his ears in shame. Keep them safe, he prayed, please. However,

832
00:48:15,760 --> 00:48:20,080
Speaker 5: the painful screams continued until finally, in the sixteenth hour

833
00:48:20,640 --> 00:48:24,480
Speaker 5: they ceased. David darted into the room to find Bathsheba

834
00:48:24,560 --> 00:48:27,520
Speaker 5: lying down with her baby wrapped in her arms. It

835
00:48:27,640 --> 00:48:31,040
Speaker 5: was a boy, a beautiful baby, boy with light ruddy

836
00:48:31,080 --> 00:48:34,720
Speaker 5: hair like his father. David knelt down beside his wife

837
00:48:34,760 --> 00:48:38,880
Speaker 5: and child. He stroked the baby's cheek. He wasn't crying,

838
00:48:39,680 --> 00:48:43,799
Speaker 5: he was silent, seeming to struggle for breath. David and

839
00:48:43,840 --> 00:48:47,080
Speaker 5: Bathsheba leaned their heads against one another and wet. They

840
00:48:47,160 --> 00:48:51,800
Speaker 5: knew the boy didn't have much time left. Bathsheba nursed

841
00:48:51,840 --> 00:48:55,040
Speaker 5: her son, and David stood to his feet. He furrowed

842
00:48:55,080 --> 00:48:58,000
Speaker 5: his brow and looked out the window. I am going

843
00:48:58,040 --> 00:49:01,160
Speaker 5: to speak with the Lord, David said, with a determined tone.

844
00:49:01,640 --> 00:49:04,800
Speaker 8: I have been silent towards him for too long.

845
00:49:05,920 --> 00:49:09,600
Speaker 5: So David left and walked outside. The evening was dry

846
00:49:09,680 --> 00:49:13,080
Speaker 5: and crisp. David could see his breath in the coolness

847
00:49:13,080 --> 00:49:16,759
Speaker 5: of the air. He removed his royal robes and outstretched

848
00:49:16,800 --> 00:49:20,160
Speaker 5: his arms to God. I am here, Lord, he said,

849
00:49:20,200 --> 00:49:25,879
Speaker 5: with a cracked voice. You have my attmption. David fell

850
00:49:25,920 --> 00:49:29,360
Speaker 5: to his knees into the dust. He violently buried his

851
00:49:29,400 --> 00:49:32,600
Speaker 5: face into the dirt and moaned to the Lord. He

852
00:49:32,680 --> 00:49:36,000
Speaker 5: wrestled to gain connection with God once again. He had

853
00:49:36,000 --> 00:49:39,920
Speaker 5: strayed so far from him that he feared reconciliation was impossible.

854
00:49:40,840 --> 00:49:45,320
Speaker 5: But God was near. God heard every incoherent and bumbling prayer.

855
00:49:46,560 --> 00:49:50,000
Speaker 5: David prostrated before God and would not remove himself from

856
00:49:50,040 --> 00:49:53,400
Speaker 5: the dirt all day and night. He lay there, calling

857
00:49:53,440 --> 00:49:57,240
Speaker 5: out to God and lamenting his sin. Save my child,

858
00:49:57,480 --> 00:50:01,640
Speaker 5: he shouted, I beg you, Lord, David remained in the

859
00:50:01,719 --> 00:50:06,000
Speaker 5: dust for days, refusing to remove himself. He did not eat.

860
00:50:06,440 --> 00:50:09,680
Speaker 5: Only occasionally would he drink water. The rest of the

861
00:50:09,719 --> 00:50:13,280
Speaker 5: time he was on his face before God. His body

862
00:50:13,320 --> 00:50:15,760
Speaker 5: was covered in dust, and below him was a puddle

863
00:50:15,800 --> 00:50:19,279
Speaker 5: of mud from the dust mixed with David's tears. His

864
00:50:19,360 --> 00:50:21,640
Speaker 5: prayer and fasting were not tools to get whatever he

865
00:50:21,719 --> 00:50:25,440
Speaker 5: wanted from God. They were demonstrations of radical submission and

866
00:50:25,520 --> 00:50:28,879
Speaker 5: surrender to God's power and will. David knew he could

867
00:50:28,920 --> 00:50:32,000
Speaker 5: not deter the direction of God's will. The elders of

868
00:50:32,040 --> 00:50:33,799
Speaker 5: his house approached him each day and.

869
00:50:33,760 --> 00:50:36,160
Speaker 2: Stood beside him o a king.

870
00:50:36,480 --> 00:50:41,680
Speaker 5: They would say, get up and eat before you perish. However,

871
00:50:41,719 --> 00:50:44,200
Speaker 5: he would not be raised from the ground. Though they

872
00:50:44,200 --> 00:50:46,600
Speaker 5: would try and rip him away from his place of prayer,

873
00:50:47,040 --> 00:50:51,680
Speaker 5: David refused. At night, he endured the biting cold. During

874
00:50:51,680 --> 00:50:55,440
Speaker 5: the day, he endured the blistering sun. His entire body

875
00:50:55,480 --> 00:50:58,920
Speaker 5: shook from lack of food and exposure to the elements. Then,

876
00:50:59,000 --> 00:51:01,560
Speaker 5: on the seventh day, the elders approached him.

877
00:51:01,440 --> 00:51:03,120
Speaker 2: Again, Lord David.

878
00:51:03,480 --> 00:51:07,680
Speaker 5: They said gently. However David did not respond. They whispered

879
00:51:07,719 --> 00:51:10,480
Speaker 5: among themselves, not sure how to say what they needed

880
00:51:10,480 --> 00:51:10,880
Speaker 5: to say.

881
00:51:11,480 --> 00:51:12,080
Speaker 2: Look at him.

882
00:51:13,120 --> 00:51:15,399
Speaker 8: How are we supposed to tell him that his son

883
00:51:15,520 --> 00:51:19,120
Speaker 8: has passed? He might kill himself if he finds out.

884
00:51:19,400 --> 00:51:22,480
Speaker 5: However, David could hear their whispers. It was early in

885
00:51:22,520 --> 00:51:25,280
Speaker 5: the morning, and the sunrise was cresting over the city

886
00:51:25,480 --> 00:51:29,160
Speaker 5: like a messenger of joy. The gentle morning breeze caressed

887
00:51:29,200 --> 00:51:32,080
Speaker 5: David's cheek and he could once again feel the presence

888
00:51:32,120 --> 00:51:35,440
Speaker 5: of God returning to him. He stood to his feet,

889
00:51:35,719 --> 00:51:39,080
Speaker 5: knees quivering from lack of movement. The elders rushed to

890
00:51:39,160 --> 00:51:42,080
Speaker 5: him to help him up. David stumbled and they caught him.

891
00:51:42,560 --> 00:51:46,000
Speaker 5: He was panting and weak from starvation. With a raspy

892
00:51:46,080 --> 00:51:52,160
Speaker 5: and frail voice, he asked, is my son dead? They

893
00:51:52,200 --> 00:51:58,080
Speaker 5: remained silent, afraid of what David might do. David nodded

894
00:51:58,239 --> 00:52:01,200
Speaker 5: and limped back into the palace. He poured himself a

895
00:52:01,239 --> 00:52:04,279
Speaker 5: warm basin of water and washed himself from head to toe.

896
00:52:04,920 --> 00:52:07,480
Speaker 5: The water was a pleasant bomb to his damaged skin.

897
00:52:08,160 --> 00:52:11,239
Speaker 5: He anointed his head with oil. The fragrance filled his

898
00:52:11,320 --> 00:52:14,680
Speaker 5: lungs and he felt clean once again. His servants stood

899
00:52:14,680 --> 00:52:16,920
Speaker 5: outside his room, ready to care for him. At a

900
00:52:16,960 --> 00:52:21,040
Speaker 5: moment's notice, David opened the door and gave a gentle smile.

901
00:52:21,640 --> 00:52:25,680
Speaker 5: Would you please retrieve me some food? He asked. They

902
00:52:25,719 --> 00:52:29,080
Speaker 5: did as they were told and brought him some cured meat, figs,

903
00:52:29,120 --> 00:52:33,600
Speaker 5: and bread. David ate silently by himself, filling his belly

904
00:52:33,719 --> 00:52:38,320
Speaker 5: and thanking the Lord. The servants were confused by David's behavior.

905
00:52:39,000 --> 00:52:42,000
Speaker 5: For an entire week, he was broken and prostrated before

906
00:52:42,000 --> 00:52:45,480
Speaker 5: the Lord, begging for the child to be healed. Now

907
00:52:45,520 --> 00:52:49,160
Speaker 5: he was clean, eating and smiling. What are you doing,

908
00:52:49,360 --> 00:52:50,879
Speaker 5: one of the servants asked.

909
00:52:51,040 --> 00:52:53,680
Speaker 10: You fasted and wept while the child was still alive,

910
00:52:54,320 --> 00:52:56,440
Speaker 10: and now that he is dead, you are eating.

911
00:52:56,960 --> 00:52:59,400
Speaker 5: David looked up from his food and considered the question.

912
00:53:00,360 --> 00:53:03,560
Speaker 5: He held himself like a man at peace. He shruddened

913
00:53:03,600 --> 00:53:04,280
Speaker 5: and said.

914
00:53:04,360 --> 00:53:08,320
Speaker 8: While the child was still alive, I fasted and prayed

915
00:53:09,200 --> 00:53:12,319
Speaker 8: for I thought, who knows whether the Lord will be

916
00:53:12,440 --> 00:53:17,399
Speaker 8: gracious to me or not. Perhaps the child will live.

917
00:53:19,080 --> 00:53:23,160
Speaker 8: But now that he is dead, why should I weep

918
00:53:23,200 --> 00:53:26,040
Speaker 8: and fast? Can I bring him back?

919
00:53:26,080 --> 00:53:26,400
Speaker 2: Again?

920
00:53:27,880 --> 00:53:31,000
Speaker 8: One day, when I passed from this life, I shall

921
00:53:31,040 --> 00:53:35,000
Speaker 8: see my baby again, but he will not come back

922
00:53:35,040 --> 00:53:38,959
Speaker 8: to me in this life. So I will sit here

923
00:53:39,360 --> 00:53:43,960
Speaker 8: and regain my strength. Then I will go to comfort

924
00:53:44,040 --> 00:53:49,560
Speaker 8: my wife. Then I will repent and be devoted to

925
00:53:49,640 --> 00:53:50,840
Speaker 8: the Lord once again.

926
00:53:51,680 --> 00:53:54,759
Speaker 5: The servants departed, and David stood up and picked up

927
00:53:54,760 --> 00:53:58,239
Speaker 5: his lyre. During his seven days in the dust, a

928
00:53:58,360 --> 00:54:01,160
Speaker 5: song was put on his heart, a song of pain,

929
00:54:01,719 --> 00:54:05,719
Speaker 5: suffering and redemption, a song that would echo into eternity

930
00:54:05,840 --> 00:54:09,360
Speaker 5: as an anthem of repentance. He sat down by his

931
00:54:09,440 --> 00:54:13,200
Speaker 5: window and plucked the lyre. With his voice still rasping

932
00:54:13,239 --> 00:54:14,680
Speaker 5: from days without food.

933
00:54:15,000 --> 00:54:23,279
Speaker 8: He sang, have mercy on me, O God, according to

934
00:54:23,440 --> 00:54:31,160
Speaker 8: your unfailing love for me, according to your abundant mercy,

935
00:54:33,040 --> 00:54:41,640
Speaker 8: Blot out my transgressions, Wash me from my dress pests,

936
00:54:42,640 --> 00:54:53,440
Speaker 8: and cleanse me from my against you and you alone,

937
00:54:53,719 --> 00:55:04,160
Speaker 8: have I said my evil as before you. Please, O Lord,

938
00:55:04,719 --> 00:55:16,040
Speaker 8: be pure in your judge. Behold you delight in truth.

939
00:55:16,239 --> 00:55:22,360
Speaker 8: In the end, would be you teach me wisdom in

940
00:55:22,440 --> 00:55:31,960
Speaker 8: the hidden chambers of my heart. Purge me and wash

941
00:55:32,440 --> 00:55:41,759
Speaker 8: me clear, Wash me wider than snow. Let me hear

942
00:55:42,000 --> 00:55:49,680
Speaker 8: a song of gladness from you. Let these bones that

943
00:55:49,960 --> 00:55:58,400
Speaker 8: you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins

944
00:55:59,160 --> 00:56:08,560
Speaker 8: and blood my evil deeds. Create in me clean heart,

945
00:56:09,320 --> 00:56:14,239
Speaker 8: O God, renew your righteous spirit within me.

946
00:56:16,520 --> 00:56:21,680
Speaker 13: Do not cast me out of your presence, and do

947
00:56:21,880 --> 00:56:27,720
Speaker 13: not take away your spirit. Restore to me the joy

948
00:56:28,000 --> 00:56:34,000
Speaker 13: of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing heart.

949
00:56:35,920 --> 00:56:41,799
Speaker 13: Deliver me, o, God, God of my salvation, Deliver me.

950
00:56:44,360 --> 00:56:49,560
Speaker 8: My tongue will sing aloud your righteousness. Open up my lips,

951
00:56:49,880 --> 00:56:54,600
Speaker 8: and I will declare your praise. For I know now

952
00:56:54,640 --> 00:57:02,279
Speaker 8: that you do not delight in sacrifice, Oh burnt offerings,

953
00:57:03,760 --> 00:57:13,560
Speaker 8: The true sacrifices of God are a bro spear broken,

954
00:57:15,239 --> 00:57:21,600
Speaker 8: and contrite heart. Do good to your nation in Zion,

955
00:57:23,240 --> 00:57:27,040
Speaker 8: build up the walls of Jerusalem.

956
00:57:29,120 --> 00:57:31,920
Speaker 5: After David finished his song to the Lord, he looked

957
00:57:31,920 --> 00:57:36,400
Speaker 5: over Bathsheba was standing at the doorway listening. Her eyes

958
00:57:36,440 --> 00:57:39,960
Speaker 5: were red from tears. He beckoned her over, and she

959
00:57:40,040 --> 00:57:43,880
Speaker 5: sat at his feet. He sang the song again, this

960
00:57:43,960 --> 00:57:47,280
Speaker 5: time with his wife beside him. He knew he had

961
00:57:47,280 --> 00:57:51,120
Speaker 5: failed her. He knew he may fail her again. However,

962
00:57:51,160 --> 00:57:54,240
Speaker 5: he would not depart from the Lord again. He would

963
00:57:54,240 --> 00:57:57,120
Speaker 5: not leave his presence and forsake the guidance of his spirit.

964
00:57:57,800 --> 00:58:00,400
Speaker 5: The two of them developed love for one another, and

965
00:58:00,440 --> 00:58:04,000
Speaker 5: that love bore a new baby boy whose name was Solomon.

966
00:58:04,720 --> 00:58:07,640
Speaker 5: And the Lord loved Solomon and would be faithful to

967
00:58:07,720 --> 00:58:11,200
Speaker 5: him for all of his days. The tragedy caused by

968
00:58:11,280 --> 00:58:15,160
Speaker 5: David was not beyond the redemption of God through Solomon.

969
00:58:15,440 --> 00:58:18,320
Speaker 5: A temple would be built, and the presence of God

970
00:58:18,440 --> 00:58:22,320
Speaker 5: would burst forth from the heart of Jerusalem. One day,

971
00:58:22,560 --> 00:58:25,960
Speaker 5: through his lineage, a new king would be born, a

972
00:58:26,040 --> 00:58:29,280
Speaker 5: king that would not fail like David did, a king

973
00:58:29,360 --> 00:58:34,000
Speaker 5: that would reign with righteousness, love and compassion, A king

974
00:58:34,120 --> 00:58:37,080
Speaker 5: whose strength would topple the greatest enemy of them all,

975
00:58:37,480 --> 00:58:42,240
Speaker 5: sin itself. This king would be the greater David. He

976
00:58:42,280 --> 00:58:44,160
Speaker 5: would succeed where David could not.

977
00:58:47,000 --> 00:58:50,200
Speaker 4: James, the brother of Jesus, gave us great insight when

978
00:58:50,200 --> 00:58:52,840
Speaker 4: he said, let no one say what he is tempted.

979
00:58:52,880 --> 00:58:56,000
Speaker 4: I am being tempted by God. For God cannot be

980
00:58:56,080 --> 00:58:59,640
Speaker 4: tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But

981
00:59:00,000 --> 00:59:03,200
Speaker 4: which person is tempted when he is lured and enticed

982
00:59:03,440 --> 00:59:07,160
Speaker 4: by his own desire? Then desire, when it is conceived,

983
00:59:07,280 --> 00:59:10,920
Speaker 4: gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown,

984
00:59:11,080 --> 00:59:14,720
Speaker 4: brings forth death. I think this is a perfect place

985
00:59:14,760 --> 00:59:17,840
Speaker 4: for us to begin as we unpack the decisions made

986
00:59:17,880 --> 00:59:21,480
Speaker 4: by King David. God did not tempt David, nor was

987
00:59:21,520 --> 00:59:24,960
Speaker 4: this a test to prove David's ability to resist temptation.

988
00:59:25,880 --> 00:59:29,400
Speaker 4: David was lured and enticed by his own desire. He

989
00:59:29,440 --> 00:59:32,600
Speaker 4: had given fuel to his desire ever since becoming king.

990
00:59:33,160 --> 00:59:36,960
Speaker 4: He accumulated more wives and grew the king's harem, and

991
00:59:37,040 --> 00:59:41,000
Speaker 4: ignored warnings from his subjects. We were warned that something

992
00:59:41,160 --> 00:59:44,840
Speaker 4: like this might happen. Desire is like a newly conceived

993
00:59:44,880 --> 00:59:48,360
Speaker 4: baby in its mother's wound. After a while, desire grows,

994
00:59:48,840 --> 00:59:52,400
Speaker 4: eventually being birthed into what we know as sin. What

995
00:59:52,440 --> 00:59:54,480
Speaker 4: does this mean for us and what did it mean

996
00:59:54,520 --> 00:59:58,520
Speaker 4: for David? It means that oftentimes the sins we commit

997
00:59:58,880 --> 01:00:02,520
Speaker 4: are in accumulation of thoughts and desires that have grown

998
01:00:02,560 --> 01:00:06,640
Speaker 4: over time. David had made small compromises in his family

999
01:00:06,960 --> 01:00:11,280
Speaker 4: that made this decision easier. He increased his harem and

1000
01:00:11,360 --> 01:00:15,160
Speaker 4: accumulated more wives, diluting his judgment when it came to lust.

1001
01:00:15,600 --> 01:00:18,120
Speaker 4: He had also allowed himself to stay back and enjoy

1002
01:00:18,200 --> 01:00:22,760
Speaker 4: creature comforts while his men suffered. These decisions alone set

1003
01:00:22,840 --> 01:00:26,760
Speaker 4: David up for failure. Just like even the prelude. It

1004
01:00:26,840 --> 01:00:30,280
Speaker 4: seemed like their hearts were committed to sin before they

1005
01:00:30,360 --> 01:00:36,640
Speaker 4: ever acted. This episode provided commentary on David's decision, It said,

1006
01:00:36,880 --> 01:00:40,640
Speaker 4: on the surface, it seemed like just one decision. However,

1007
01:00:40,840 --> 01:00:44,160
Speaker 4: up until now, David had a pattern of recklessness in

1008
01:00:44,200 --> 01:00:48,880
Speaker 4: his romantic relationships. He acquired many wives and concubines without

1009
01:00:48,920 --> 01:00:52,080
Speaker 4: consideration of what it would do to his heart and theirs.

1010
01:00:52,800 --> 01:00:56,880
Speaker 4: This one moment was the climax of a thousand small compromises.

1011
01:00:57,320 --> 01:01:00,320
Speaker 4: You see, we think our sin is just one decison,

1012
01:01:00,400 --> 01:01:04,600
Speaker 4: but it isn't. It's a thousand small decisions that build

1013
01:01:04,640 --> 01:01:09,280
Speaker 4: into hundreds of larger decisions, ultimately leading to one large

1014
01:01:09,400 --> 01:01:14,840
Speaker 4: and irreversible decision. Earlier episodes gave us some hints that

1015
01:01:14,880 --> 01:01:17,600
Speaker 4: this was going to happen. Did you listen again and

1016
01:01:17,640 --> 01:01:22,080
Speaker 4: hear them? In episode twenty three, we're told the entire

1017
01:01:22,200 --> 01:01:25,479
Speaker 4: continent knew once and for all that David was king,

1018
01:01:25,600 --> 01:01:29,600
Speaker 4: elevated by God, and no one would defeat him, no

1019
01:01:29,680 --> 01:01:33,480
Speaker 4: one from the outside. That is, after this statement, there

1020
01:01:33,560 --> 01:01:36,080
Speaker 4: is a scene with David leaning over the balcony of

1021
01:01:36,120 --> 01:01:39,560
Speaker 4: his roof. People who know the story of David might

1022
01:01:39,600 --> 01:01:42,520
Speaker 4: have thought that that would be the moment he saw Bathsheba.

1023
01:01:42,800 --> 01:01:47,280
Speaker 4: In episode twenty David asked Abner to bring Michael to him,

1024
01:01:47,280 --> 01:01:51,320
Speaker 4: and Benaya tries to warn him. I know just the thing.

1025
01:01:51,880 --> 01:01:55,080
Speaker 4: David stepped forward and said to the messenger, tell your

1026
01:01:55,120 --> 01:01:58,560
Speaker 4: master that I will accept his request to meet. However,

1027
01:01:58,560 --> 01:02:01,520
Speaker 4: I have a condition. She'll not see my face until

1028
01:02:01,520 --> 01:02:05,520
Speaker 4: he first brings me my first wife, Michael Saul's cruelty

1029
01:02:05,640 --> 01:02:08,040
Speaker 4: turned her away from me, and she will be given

1030
01:02:08,080 --> 01:02:11,400
Speaker 4: to another man. I slaid one hundred Philistines for the

1031
01:02:11,520 --> 01:02:16,360
Speaker 4: right to marry her, and I desire her back another wife.

1032
01:02:16,600 --> 01:02:20,280
Speaker 4: But now I'm mumbo. Be careful, my friend. David ignored

1033
01:02:20,520 --> 01:02:24,640
Speaker 4: his friend's jab. In episode thirteen, the day after they

1034
01:02:24,720 --> 01:02:29,040
Speaker 4: ball had been killed, David seeks out Abigail. He felt

1035
01:02:29,040 --> 01:02:32,320
Speaker 4: a flutter in his stomach and smiled. Abigail with a

1036
01:02:32,400 --> 01:02:36,040
Speaker 4: breathtaking woman, he thought to himself. David closed his eyes

1037
01:02:36,080 --> 01:02:38,800
Speaker 4: and smiled. He shook his head and lifted his hands

1038
01:02:38,880 --> 01:02:41,680
Speaker 4: to heaven. He sprinted out of the woods and retrieved

1039
01:02:41,720 --> 01:02:45,760
Speaker 4: the horse without telling his men. David galloped to Nabo's home.

1040
01:02:46,040 --> 01:02:48,960
Speaker 4: It was late and the stars were brightly arrayed over

1041
01:02:49,000 --> 01:02:52,640
Speaker 4: the horizon. David rode to Abigail's home and looked up.

1042
01:02:53,080 --> 01:02:56,640
Speaker 4: Abigail was once again sitting at her window. Do you

1043
01:02:56,680 --> 01:03:00,320
Speaker 4: see what's been happening. David has already been making a

1044
01:03:00,360 --> 01:03:04,160
Speaker 4: habit to take someone else's wife. Michael was married to

1045
01:03:04,200 --> 01:03:08,040
Speaker 4: another man, and David took her away from him. Abigail

1046
01:03:08,080 --> 01:03:12,080
Speaker 4: had just been widowed and David wooed her. David's patterns

1047
01:03:12,120 --> 01:03:15,160
Speaker 4: have been subtle and under the radar, But now we

1048
01:03:15,240 --> 01:03:19,280
Speaker 4: are seeing the accumulation of seemingly small decisions, and we

1049
01:03:19,320 --> 01:03:23,880
Speaker 4: are realizing that David has been ignoring those clues. Up

1050
01:03:23,960 --> 01:03:27,400
Speaker 4: until now, David seemed to be immune to the entitlement

1051
01:03:27,440 --> 01:03:30,520
Speaker 4: of the throne. But in his weaken and inebriated state,

1052
01:03:30,960 --> 01:03:34,000
Speaker 4: we see his character slip. He fell into the trap

1053
01:03:34,040 --> 01:03:36,640
Speaker 4: of I deserve this, and I work hard enough to

1054
01:03:36,720 --> 01:03:40,240
Speaker 4: indulge every once in a while. This is how sin

1055
01:03:40,480 --> 01:03:44,840
Speaker 4: often begins with entitlement. For whatever reason, our hearts can

1056
01:03:44,920 --> 01:03:48,760
Speaker 4: convince themselves that they deserve to indulge, no matter who

1057
01:03:48,840 --> 01:03:52,880
Speaker 4: gets hurt. David's mind is made up, and he sends

1058
01:03:52,920 --> 01:03:56,840
Speaker 4: for Bathsheba. She obeys, but we must not mistake what's

1059
01:03:56,880 --> 01:04:00,960
Speaker 4: happening here for a mutual affair. Is the most powerful

1060
01:04:01,000 --> 01:04:04,800
Speaker 4: man in the country. Ultimately, we don't know how Basheba

1061
01:04:04,840 --> 01:04:08,640
Speaker 4: felt about this. David used his status to bring her

1062
01:04:08,680 --> 01:04:11,600
Speaker 4: to him. At this point in the story, it is

1063
01:04:11,640 --> 01:04:15,600
Speaker 4: important for us to consider a few difficult things. It

1064
01:04:15,680 --> 01:04:19,120
Speaker 4: is hard to believe that Bathsheba's relationship with David was consensual.

1065
01:04:19,760 --> 01:04:23,640
Speaker 4: Whether Bathsheba desired David or not, he used his status

1066
01:04:23,680 --> 01:04:27,440
Speaker 4: to lure her in. He was the king, and you

1067
01:04:27,560 --> 01:04:31,080
Speaker 4: don't disobey the king. Let's say Bathsheba didn't want to

1068
01:04:31,080 --> 01:04:34,120
Speaker 4: sleep with David, what choice does she have but to

1069
01:04:34,200 --> 01:04:37,640
Speaker 4: come when he calls? And often unspoken sin in this

1070
01:04:37,720 --> 01:04:41,040
Speaker 4: story is that David leveraged his title to get a

1071
01:04:41,080 --> 01:04:44,040
Speaker 4: woman to do what he wanted. He put her in

1072
01:04:44,080 --> 01:04:48,440
Speaker 4: a vulnerable position, and God's anger will be kindled against

1073
01:04:48,520 --> 01:04:52,160
Speaker 4: him for it. David took advantage of Bathsheba, and there

1074
01:04:52,200 --> 01:04:55,200
Speaker 4: is nowhere around it. We do not know her state

1075
01:04:55,240 --> 01:04:58,160
Speaker 4: of mind, but the fact is she didn't have a

1076
01:04:58,240 --> 01:05:02,320
Speaker 4: choice either way. This hideous sin be a reminder that

1077
01:05:02,400 --> 01:05:05,680
Speaker 4: nobody is immune to sin and pride, not even the

1078
01:05:05,760 --> 01:05:10,400
Speaker 4: giant Slayer himself. As terrible as David's affair was, it

1079
01:05:10,480 --> 01:05:14,040
Speaker 4: was not even his most egregious sin. After failing to

1080
01:05:14,040 --> 01:05:16,880
Speaker 4: cover up his sin, he sent Uriah to the front

1081
01:05:16,920 --> 01:05:20,320
Speaker 4: lines to be killed David was safe from the judgment

1082
01:05:20,400 --> 01:05:23,400
Speaker 4: of man, all the while invoking the judgment of God.

1083
01:05:24,080 --> 01:05:27,000
Speaker 4: One of the worst parts about this episode is that

1084
01:05:27,080 --> 01:05:30,280
Speaker 4: even after his night with Bshiba, we are given this

1085
01:05:30,440 --> 01:05:33,120
Speaker 4: sense that the death of URII could have been avoided.

1086
01:05:33,680 --> 01:05:37,360
Speaker 4: Remember when God saved David from joining forces with the Philistines.

1087
01:05:37,920 --> 01:05:40,800
Speaker 4: God has proven time and time again to David that

1088
01:05:40,880 --> 01:05:44,320
Speaker 4: he will deliver him from his poor decisions, but David

1089
01:05:44,400 --> 01:05:47,680
Speaker 4: refuses to reach up to God. He refuses to ask

1090
01:05:47,720 --> 01:05:52,120
Speaker 4: for forgiveness. Instead, he frantically tries to cover up his mistakes.

1091
01:05:52,720 --> 01:05:56,320
Speaker 4: In this episode, King David bears an uncanny resemblance to

1092
01:05:56,400 --> 01:05:59,840
Speaker 4: King Saul. He wears a false smile, he uses him

1093
01:05:59,840 --> 01:06:03,600
Speaker 4: when manipulative tone, and he refuses to face God like

1094
01:06:03,640 --> 01:06:06,880
Speaker 4: a man. David has forgotten who he is, which is

1095
01:06:06,960 --> 01:06:10,960
Speaker 4: exemplified in all the references to his royal robes. Did

1096
01:06:11,000 --> 01:06:13,960
Speaker 4: you notice that he is wearing his royal robes and

1097
01:06:14,000 --> 01:06:17,320
Speaker 4: not the ones Jonathan gave him. This was a smaller

1098
01:06:17,360 --> 01:06:20,600
Speaker 4: reminder that David had forgotten the shepherd who sang to

1099
01:06:20,640 --> 01:06:23,560
Speaker 4: God the blood of you Riah was on his hands.

1100
01:06:23,920 --> 01:06:29,280
Speaker 4: But David continued lying to everyone and himself self deception

1101
01:06:29,440 --> 01:06:32,400
Speaker 4: is a powerful thing. Our minds do not like the

1102
01:06:32,480 --> 01:06:35,200
Speaker 4: stress of guilt, so we come up with all sorts

1103
01:06:35,200 --> 01:06:38,200
Speaker 4: of excuses and distractions to keep us from feeling shame.

1104
01:06:39,040 --> 01:06:41,560
Speaker 4: David was living as if he hadn't just gotten another

1105
01:06:41,600 --> 01:06:44,720
Speaker 4: man's wife pregnant and then killed him to cover it up.

1106
01:06:45,280 --> 01:06:48,520
Speaker 4: Can I say something slightly uncomfortable for a moment, I

1107
01:06:48,640 --> 01:06:51,680
Speaker 4: promise it will lead us to a good place. Back then,

1108
01:06:52,200 --> 01:06:54,960
Speaker 4: it was a king's prerogative to take whoever he wanted

1109
01:06:55,040 --> 01:06:58,480
Speaker 4: and kill whoever he wanted. It wasn't right, but it

1110
01:06:58,520 --> 01:07:01,160
Speaker 4: was not uncommon for a king in those days to

1111
01:07:01,200 --> 01:07:04,560
Speaker 4: take other men's wives and kill them. Since this was

1112
01:07:04,600 --> 01:07:09,000
Speaker 4: a monarchy and not a democracy, nobody held the king accountable.

1113
01:07:09,560 --> 01:07:12,480
Speaker 4: Kings of other nations would get away with something like

1114
01:07:12,520 --> 01:07:15,840
Speaker 4: this because it was commonplace, but not the king of

1115
01:07:15,960 --> 01:07:21,680
Speaker 4: God's nation, not God's chosen hero. Perhaps speaking from personal experience,

1116
01:07:22,120 --> 01:07:25,880
Speaker 4: David's son Solomon said, for the Lord disciplines him who

1117
01:07:25,920 --> 01:07:28,919
Speaker 4: he loves like a father to a son, and whom

1118
01:07:28,920 --> 01:07:32,120
Speaker 4: he delights, God loves David too much to let him

1119
01:07:32,120 --> 01:07:35,600
Speaker 4: get away with his sin. The episode continued down a

1120
01:07:35,600 --> 01:07:39,320
Speaker 4: tragic course. Nathan confronts David by telling him about a

1121
01:07:39,440 --> 01:07:42,680
Speaker 4: rich man who took a poor man's lamb. The king's

1122
01:07:42,680 --> 01:07:46,000
Speaker 4: outrage revealed just how ignorant he was to his own sin.

1123
01:07:46,800 --> 01:07:49,560
Speaker 4: This is an important lesson for us. When we cut

1124
01:07:49,560 --> 01:07:52,360
Speaker 4: out the voice of God in our hearts, the outrage

1125
01:07:52,360 --> 01:07:54,880
Speaker 4: we are supposed to have toward our own sin is

1126
01:07:54,960 --> 01:07:59,040
Speaker 4: pointed at others. David recognized the sin of the rich man,

1127
01:07:59,400 --> 01:08:02,840
Speaker 4: but had no clue it was really about him. Nathan

1128
01:08:02,920 --> 01:08:07,120
Speaker 4: gave David a chilling rebuke followed by a curse. Behold,

1129
01:08:07,200 --> 01:08:09,840
Speaker 4: the sword shall never depart from your house because of

1130
01:08:09,880 --> 01:08:13,560
Speaker 4: the violence you enacted against you, Riah. Violence will plague

1131
01:08:13,560 --> 01:08:16,800
Speaker 4: your household, and strife will come upon you. I will

1132
01:08:16,920 --> 01:08:20,160
Speaker 4: raise up evil against you out of your own home.

1133
01:08:20,720 --> 01:08:23,639
Speaker 4: Your wives will scorn you and take on other lovers,

1134
01:08:24,000 --> 01:08:26,679
Speaker 4: and they will do so publicly and in the sun,

1135
01:08:27,240 --> 01:08:30,080
Speaker 4: for you did it secretly. But I will punish you

1136
01:08:30,160 --> 01:08:34,280
Speaker 4: before all Israel. This curse will turn out to be true.

1137
01:08:34,880 --> 01:08:37,920
Speaker 4: Violence is going to plague his household, and David will

1138
01:08:37,920 --> 01:08:40,760
Speaker 4: find himself drowning in a sea of his own mistakes.

1139
01:08:41,560 --> 01:08:44,320
Speaker 4: At this point in the story, we're getting too many

1140
01:08:44,400 --> 01:08:50,080
Speaker 4: flashbacks to King Saul David has become just like him, corrupt, selfish,

1141
01:08:50,360 --> 01:08:53,720
Speaker 4: and ignorant to his own pride. Is hope lost for

1142
01:08:53,760 --> 01:08:57,120
Speaker 4: our hero? Is he destined to fade away into darkness

1143
01:08:57,200 --> 01:08:57,880
Speaker 4: like Saul did?

1144
01:08:58,600 --> 01:08:58,760
Speaker 8: No.

1145
01:08:59,320 --> 01:09:02,880
Speaker 4: In fact, we're reminded about some of the main differences

1146
01:09:02,920 --> 01:09:06,320
Speaker 4: between David and Saul. David, when faced with this sin,

1147
01:09:06,439 --> 01:09:11,280
Speaker 4: repents immediately. He is despondent, repentant, and completely submissive to

1148
01:09:11,320 --> 01:09:15,080
Speaker 4: God's correction. It has often been said that the maturity

1149
01:09:15,120 --> 01:09:18,280
Speaker 4: of our faith isn't always measured in how often we sin,

1150
01:09:18,920 --> 01:09:21,439
Speaker 4: but how long it takes us to repent after we

1151
01:09:21,520 --> 01:09:25,680
Speaker 4: have sinned. David's heart is reconnected with God's and they

1152
01:09:25,720 --> 01:09:30,080
Speaker 4: begin to rebuild their fractured relationship. David will still need

1153
01:09:30,120 --> 01:09:34,120
Speaker 4: to answer for his sins, tragedy will befall his household,

1154
01:09:34,560 --> 01:09:37,639
Speaker 4: and David's weakened character may prove to make it worse.

1155
01:09:38,439 --> 01:09:41,000
Speaker 4: I wish I could say our story gets brighter from here,

1156
01:09:41,200 --> 01:09:44,120
Speaker 4: but it doesn't. There is more darkness to walk through

1157
01:09:44,160 --> 01:09:47,479
Speaker 4: before we see any light. Join us next time for

1158
01:09:47,600 --> 01:09:52,120
Speaker 4: episode twenty five The Exiled Sun. Thanks again for listening

1159
01:09:52,520 --> 01:09:56,120
Speaker 4: for more inspiring stories, daily prayers and wisdom to last

1160
01:09:56,120 --> 01:09:59,839
Speaker 4: the lifetime go to pray dot com and to expand

1161
01:09:59,840 --> 01:10:03,400
Speaker 4: you your heroes in the Bible journey, download the Heroes

1162
01:10:03,439 --> 01:10:08,080
Speaker 4: of the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org Forward slash Heroes.

1163
01:10:08,680 --> 01:10:11,880
Speaker 4: Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify to get the

1164
01:10:11,920 --> 01:10:15,439
Speaker 4: newest episodes right as they come out, and always be

1165
01:10:15,560 --> 01:10:18,520
Speaker 4: inspired by the Bible. God bless.

1166
01:10:21,040 --> 01:10:21,280
Speaker 13: Hello.

1167
01:10:21,479 --> 01:10:24,240
Speaker 3: My name is Matthew Potter, co founder of Prey dot com.

1168
01:10:24,400 --> 01:10:27,439
Speaker 3: I wanted to ask do you know what your bank

1169
01:10:27,640 --> 01:10:31,120
Speaker 3: does with your money? At America's Christian Credit Union, your

1170
01:10:31,240 --> 01:10:35,520
Speaker 3: everyday banking helps grow churches, expand the reach of missions agencies,

1171
01:10:35,760 --> 01:10:38,160
Speaker 3: and supports fellow believers across the country.