1
00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,040
Speaker 1: Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans and I'm excited for you

2
00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,960
Speaker 1: to join me on Heroes in the Bible. Please be

3
00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:09,239
Speaker 1: sure to follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify so

4
00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,680
Speaker 1: you get the newest episodes right as they come out.

5
00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:20,680
Speaker 1: Welcome to the epic Adventure of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,

6
00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,720
Speaker 1: and murder. While most people know of David the myth,

7
00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,200
Speaker 1: few know about David the man. In this episode, the

8
00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:32,640
Speaker 1: aging David suffers an identity crisis. Through famines, political unrest, wars,

9
00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:37,000
Speaker 1: and broken promises, David feels himself losing control. Loss of

10
00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:40,040
Speaker 1: control is not always a bad thing. When our fragile

11
00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,800
Speaker 1: lives are shaken up, it can draw us closer to

12
00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:46,640
Speaker 1: the Lord. In this episode, David wrestles with that process.

13
00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,680
Speaker 1: He struggles with the loss of his youthful strength, and

14
00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,040
Speaker 1: the weight of the crown is heavy on his head.

15
00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:56,320
Speaker 1: Even as David's bones become brittle and his voice loses

16
00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:00,560
Speaker 1: its volume, we still get glimpses into his remaining in strength.

17
00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:05,360
Speaker 1: In this episode, David deals with famines, broken covenants, and

18
00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,640
Speaker 1: a mounting Philistine attack. Although he makes some mistakes, we

19
00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,560
Speaker 1: will be coveted to hear David's honest and courageous heart.

20
00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,360
Speaker 1: Before we dive into the episode, we will have a prelude,

21
00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:19,240
Speaker 1: a story taken from another time when the Israelites were

22
00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:23,600
Speaker 1: wondering in the wilderness. The people had multiplied. The victories

23
00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,919
Speaker 1: under Joshua had made them feared in the ancient world.

24
00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,880
Speaker 1: They made a covenant under false pretenses, but it was

25
00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,479
Speaker 1: a covenant all the same. This episode will remind us

26
00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,800
Speaker 1: that God is serious about keeping promises. He holds his

27
00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,119
Speaker 1: people accountable to their word. We are reaching the end

28
00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:44,679
Speaker 1: of our hero's journey. We only have two episodes left.

29
00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,560
Speaker 1: Let's enjoy this time together with Episode twenty nine, The

30
00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:49,480
Speaker 1: Heart of a King.

31
00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:59,680
Speaker 2: Prelude to chapter twenty nine. The Israelite slaves have been

32
00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,760
Speaker 2: free from the clutches of Egypt by the mighty power

33
00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,120
Speaker 2: of their Lord. The Egyptians were crushed, and all who

34
00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,320
Speaker 2: sought to harm the children of God were vanquished. The

35
00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,480
Speaker 2: Israelites walked with the grace of God before them. In

36
00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,600
Speaker 2: every battle, the Lord upheld them. In every storm, the

37
00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:20,320
Speaker 2: Lord covered them by night. The Lord guided them, and

38
00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,880
Speaker 2: when they were hungry, the Lord fed them. After forty

39
00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,000
Speaker 2: years in the wilderness, being upheld only by the mercy

40
00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,679
Speaker 2: of God. It was time for the Israelites to take

41
00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:33,480
Speaker 2: the land promised to them. They had grown massive in numbered,

42
00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,240
Speaker 2: and the smaller kingdoms of the east feared them greatly.

43
00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,200
Speaker 2: Among those small nations was Gibeon. They had heard of

44
00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:44,120
Speaker 2: God's mighty fist toppling down the walls of Jericho and trembled.

45
00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,000
Speaker 2: The Gibeonites were afraid of Israel. They were great in

46
00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,639
Speaker 2: number and had the military leadership of Joshua.

47
00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,919
Speaker 3: We do not stand a chance against Israel, they said.

48
00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:56,480
Speaker 4: If they choose to storm our gates, we will be

49
00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:58,160
Speaker 4: consumed in a matter of seconds.

50
00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,200
Speaker 2: The elders were stirred greatly. They knew they needed to

51
00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,639
Speaker 2: gain the favor of the Israelites. However, they did not

52
00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,840
Speaker 2: want to be seen as threats, so the inhabitants of

53
00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,400
Speaker 2: Gibeon acted on their cunning. They wore worn out sacks

54
00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:15,200
Speaker 2: and only carried weathered supplies. They exited their villages and

55
00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,320
Speaker 2: post as lowly travelers. In need of safety, they ventured

56
00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,160
Speaker 2: to Gilgal, where the millions of Israelites were camping. They

57
00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,400
Speaker 2: held their heads low and groaned as they spoke.

58
00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:30,760
Speaker 4: Men of Israel they shouted, please show your servants grace.

59
00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,639
Speaker 2: Joshua and the other warriors sprang up immediately and drew

60
00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:38,680
Speaker 2: out their swords. Not a step further, Joshua shouted, who

61
00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,320
Speaker 2: are you and why have you come into our camp.

62
00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,200
Speaker 2: The Gibeonites raised their hands in the air and bent

63
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:45,120
Speaker 2: down in submission.

64
00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,320
Speaker 4: Please do not harm us. We have come from a

65
00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:51,760
Speaker 4: distant country. Please make a covenant with us so we

66
00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:53,320
Speaker 4: might dwell together in peace.

67
00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,280
Speaker 5: How are we supposed to know you aren't dwellers of

68
00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:57,920
Speaker 5: this land and out to kill.

69
00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,400
Speaker 2: Us, Joshua replied, with his sword still directed at them.

70
00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,680
Speaker 6: Please, we are at your service.

71
00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:04,400
Speaker 3: They said.

72
00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,400
Speaker 4: We are from a distant country, and we heard a

73
00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,960
Speaker 4: report of your god and what he did in Egypt.

74
00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:12,640
Speaker 4: So the elders of our lamb sent us to you

75
00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:14,960
Speaker 4: so that we might dwell with you and make a

76
00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:17,719
Speaker 4: covenant with you. If you do not believe us, just

77
00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,679
Speaker 4: look at our supplies. Our bread was warm when we left,

78
00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,640
Speaker 4: but now it is dry and crumbling. Look at our clothes,

79
00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,120
Speaker 4: they are tattered and worn from a long journey.

80
00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,840
Speaker 2: Joshua turned to his commanders. They retreated for a time

81
00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,520
Speaker 2: to discuss what to do, but they did not inquire

82
00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,280
Speaker 2: of the Lord. They worked off of instinct and their

83
00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:40,520
Speaker 2: own knowledge, a mistake they would later regret. Joshua went

84
00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:41,520
Speaker 2: back and said.

85
00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,039
Speaker 5: We will make peace with you. Stay here, and we

86
00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,520
Speaker 5: will make a covenant to protect you and exchange for

87
00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:48,159
Speaker 5: your service.

88
00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,200
Speaker 2: So the Israelites and the Gibeonites made an unbreakable covenant.

89
00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,479
Speaker 2: Israel was now bound to care for and protect the

90
00:04:55,480 --> 00:05:00,600
Speaker 2: Gibeonites despite their deception. When the truth about the Gibbianites

91
00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:05,760
Speaker 2: came to life, the people were enraged, but Joshua was confused, Why.

92
00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,880
Speaker 5: Did you deceive us like this? Before you were your

93
00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:13,680
Speaker 5: own small nation, independent and free, but now you are servants,

94
00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:18,760
Speaker 5: woodcutters and drawers of water. I sacrifice your freedom to

95
00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:19,320
Speaker 5: be here.

96
00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,600
Speaker 4: Because we know God has given you all of this

97
00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:26,640
Speaker 4: land to inhabit. You outnumber us one hundred to one,

98
00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:28,960
Speaker 4: and if you desired to conquer us, we would have

99
00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,760
Speaker 4: no chance to defend ourselves. We choose to live as

100
00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,040
Speaker 4: your servants rather than die as your enemies.

101
00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,719
Speaker 6: But if you see fit to destroy us anyways.

102
00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:39,640
Speaker 1: Do it.

103
00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:42,520
Speaker 4: We are at your mercy.

104
00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,960
Speaker 2: Joshua was taken back by the Gibei knightes honesty. He

105
00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,920
Speaker 2: sympathized with their situation. He shook his head and said,

106
00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,960
Speaker 2: now we have made a covenant with you. As the

107
00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,320
Speaker 2: Lord lives. The people of Israel will not harm the Gibeonites.

108
00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,000
Speaker 2: You will be more than servants, but less than brothers.

109
00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,880
Speaker 2: Our people may quarrel at times, but rest assured that

110
00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:08,159
Speaker 2: you will be protected under us. So the Gibeonites served

111
00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,920
Speaker 2: the Israelites until they inhabited the land. For years, they

112
00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:16,000
Speaker 2: co existed in harmony, mutually benefiting from each other, until

113
00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:22,520
Speaker 2: King Saul came to the throne. Chapter twenty nine. The

114
00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:26,520
Speaker 2: heart of a king cursed was the ground of Israel

115
00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,400
Speaker 2: delighted by famine for three years, the people were beginning

116
00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:34,120
Speaker 2: to starve. King David gripped the edge of his balcony,

117
00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,039
Speaker 2: deep in thought regarding the soory state of his nation.

118
00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,799
Speaker 2: His hands shook in the cold. He was getting old

119
00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,000
Speaker 2: and his bones ached. He was now over the age

120
00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,800
Speaker 2: of sixty, and not sure how much more tragedy his

121
00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:51,360
Speaker 2: old heart could handle. What shall I do? He whispered

122
00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:57,080
Speaker 2: into the cold night. Lord, why is this happening? He

123
00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,520
Speaker 2: sought the wisdom of God. Famines were a common occurrence

124
00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,520
Speaker 2: and a natural dip in the rhythm of life. However,

125
00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:05,920
Speaker 2: it was not common for a famine to last more

126
00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:09,920
Speaker 2: than two years. The reserves were running low, and David

127
00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,040
Speaker 2: feared for God's people, So we stayed up all night,

128
00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,720
Speaker 2: seeking God and inquiring for answers. David was at a

129
00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:20,720
Speaker 2: loss and knew the Lord was their only hope. The

130
00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:24,440
Speaker 2: frigid night air filled the King's lungs, the stars peppered

131
00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:26,880
Speaker 2: the night sky, and David could feel the still and

132
00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:32,679
Speaker 2: quiet voice of God. Blood guilt, he whispered. The King's

133
00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,200
Speaker 2: eyes were shut desperately trying to listen.

134
00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:40,440
Speaker 3: There is blood guilt on soul and on his house.

135
00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,320
Speaker 3: That is why there is famine.

136
00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:45,720
Speaker 2: David perked up.

137
00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:50,360
Speaker 3: Who is all wrong to warrant such a famine?

138
00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:55,160
Speaker 2: How can it be made right? God spoke, saying, during

139
00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:59,600
Speaker 2: the red of Saul, he ravaged the dwellings of the

140
00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:07,880
Speaker 2: Gummea and smattered members of the family, thus breaking the

141
00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:14,400
Speaker 2: ancient promise made between them and Yesswhere it all made

142
00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:18,440
Speaker 2: sense now, David remembered hearing long ago that Saul had

143
00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,600
Speaker 2: taken the sword to the Gibeonites, slaughtering their men and

144
00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:25,520
Speaker 2: a few of their children. Saul, in his nationalistic zeal

145
00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,960
Speaker 2: persecuted the gibe Kites and left them even more poor

146
00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:34,480
Speaker 2: than before. God desired justice for them. David sighed and

147
00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,280
Speaker 2: lifted his head to the heavens. I will make this right,

148
00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:41,360
Speaker 2: he whispered, but I do not like what may come

149
00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,840
Speaker 2: of it. The next morning, David called for the leaders

150
00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:47,800
Speaker 2: of the gibe Kites to visit his home. The elders

151
00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,360
Speaker 2: wore traditional Gibeonite clothing. He noticed the frowns on their

152
00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,360
Speaker 2: faces and how they wore their sorrow for all to see.

153
00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,640
Speaker 2: He gathered them around his table. There they enjoyed wine

154
00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,679
Speaker 2: and a few figs. However, there was nothing lavish for

155
00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:05,640
Speaker 2: the king to offer. The famine had affected even him.

156
00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:10,800
Speaker 2: He placed his hands on the table inside. Ah, my friends,

157
00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:15,320
Speaker 2: he began. The memory of Saul's crimes against you have

158
00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:20,720
Speaker 2: been recently brought to the forefront of my mind. His

159
00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:25,240
Speaker 2: slaughter of your people was a hideous break in the

160
00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:30,719
Speaker 2: covenant between us. Please tell me what I can do

161
00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:36,360
Speaker 2: for you. How shall I make atonement? How can we

162
00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:40,240
Speaker 2: make things right so that you might once again trust

163
00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,840
Speaker 2: in the heritage of the Lord. The elders were taken

164
00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:48,040
Speaker 2: back by David's sincerity, His aged voice was gentle and sweet.

165
00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:50,959
Speaker 2: Their chief leaned over the table and looked the king

166
00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:51,640
Speaker 2: in the eyes.

167
00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:55,360
Speaker 4: There is no gold or silver that can bring back

168
00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,720
Speaker 4: our people, King David, he said, nor is there any

169
00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,520
Speaker 4: land that will satisf the desires of our hearts.

170
00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:06,120
Speaker 2: What did David replied in a frustrated voice. Do we

171
00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,920
Speaker 2: allow the people of Israel to starve? Would you rather

172
00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:12,600
Speaker 2: I just kill them now? Not at all, my king,

173
00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:14,560
Speaker 2: the chief said, far.

174
00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,640
Speaker 4: Be it from us to put any of your people

175
00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:21,880
Speaker 4: to death. However, there is blood that was spilled, and

176
00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:23,240
Speaker 4: blood is required.

177
00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,720
Speaker 2: David winced. He hated revenge. He thought it was beneath

178
00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:31,520
Speaker 2: God's people to hold grudges. However, he understood that when

179
00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:35,400
Speaker 2: a covenant is broken, blood is required to reconcile. What

180
00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:39,560
Speaker 2: shall I do for you, then, David asked, calmly. The

181
00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:41,520
Speaker 2: Chief rose to his feet and said.

182
00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,960
Speaker 4: Saul is the one who consumed us, destroyed us, and

183
00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,760
Speaker 4: ensured that we had no home in Israel. He owes

184
00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:49,559
Speaker 4: us a debt.

185
00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:54,120
Speaker 3: He is dead, David replied, So who shall pay this debt?

186
00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:56,319
Speaker 4: Seven of his descendants?

187
00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:58,440
Speaker 2: He said, plainly, give us.

188
00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:02,080
Speaker 4: Seven male descendants of Saul, so that we might hang

189
00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,920
Speaker 4: them for their grandfather's crimes. It is the only way

190
00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:08,439
Speaker 4: we will be satisfied. We will hang them before the Lord,

191
00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:10,800
Speaker 4: and then it shall be over.

192
00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:15,080
Speaker 2: David paused for a long while. There were several descendants

193
00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:19,920
Speaker 2: of Saul still alive, mostly illegitimate children and grandchildren from concubines.

194
00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:24,040
Speaker 2: Yet they had done nothing wrong. The crime was their fathers,

195
00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,800
Speaker 2: not theirs. It was yet another example of the generational

196
00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:31,880
Speaker 2: turmoil caused by the sins of a father. David considered

197
00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,600
Speaker 2: his own sins and how his children would be forever

198
00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:38,800
Speaker 2: blighted with bloodshed because of them. The king sighed and replied,

199
00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:45,200
Speaker 2: I will give them to you. I will find Saven

200
00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:50,240
Speaker 2: who Saul's descendants, and bring them before you. The elders

201
00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,800
Speaker 2: bowed their heads and left. When the door closed, David

202
00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:57,160
Speaker 2: buried his face in his hands. Life was more simple

203
00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:59,680
Speaker 2: when he fled from Saul in the wilderness. There were

204
00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,200
Speaker 2: any it means to be vanquished and villages to be saved.

205
00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:06,600
Speaker 2: He knew who his enemies were, and they deserved to die.

206
00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:10,760
Speaker 2: Now life was more complicated as a king. No one

207
00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,800
Speaker 2: was merely an enemy and no one was merely an ally.

208
00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:19,520
Speaker 2: All was blurred and confused. There was a knock at

209
00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:23,520
Speaker 2: David's door, Come in, he said in a weary voice.

210
00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:27,559
Speaker 2: Vanya entered the room and bowed. However, the king did

211
00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,199
Speaker 2: not turn to him. He was gazing into the fire,

212
00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,840
Speaker 2: watching its light slowly fade as the coals turned to ash.

213
00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:38,120
Speaker 2: Thank you for coming, Benya, David said, his face was

214
00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:39,600
Speaker 2: still facing the flickering light.

215
00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:42,160
Speaker 3: I am afraid I need to ask you to do

216
00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:48,120
Speaker 3: something for the kingdom, something that may seem cruel.

217
00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:53,360
Speaker 2: David looked down, unwilling to make eye contact. Nayah took

218
00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:55,120
Speaker 2: a deep breath and replied.

219
00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,600
Speaker 7: I am at your service until the very end, King David,

220
00:12:58,800 --> 00:12:59,720
Speaker 7: what would you have me do?

221
00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:01,400
Speaker 2: There was a long pause.

222
00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,880
Speaker 3: Find me seven remaining descendants of Saul, he commanded. I

223
00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:09,360
Speaker 3: know there are some who were born to risba Is concubine.

224
00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:15,240
Speaker 3: There are others born from Merab, Saul's daughter. Find them

225
00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,240
Speaker 3: and give them over to the Gibeonites.

226
00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:22,840
Speaker 2: Beniah was silent. He had questions, but he also had

227
00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:23,600
Speaker 2: faith in his king.

228
00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,480
Speaker 7: Is there anything else?

229
00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:32,680
Speaker 3: He asked, solemnly, spare me fibishe Jonathan's son. I shall

230
00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:37,599
Speaker 3: not break the covenant I made with Jonathan. Broken covenants

231
00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:39,920
Speaker 3: are how we got into this mess.

232
00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:44,200
Speaker 2: Beniga bowed and left the room. The door closed, and

233
00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,600
Speaker 2: David finally let the tears out. He leaned over his seat,

234
00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:53,320
Speaker 2: weeping over the fading flames. The clouds cover the morning

235
00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,680
Speaker 2: sun and fog rolled in from the west, slithering through

236
00:13:56,679 --> 00:14:00,240
Speaker 2: the forest leading up to the mountain. The Gibeonites marched

237
00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:02,920
Speaker 2: up the mountain with seven of SAAL's descendants behind them,

238
00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:06,240
Speaker 2: bound in rope. There were no trumpets of victory or

239
00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:10,480
Speaker 2: loud processions of praise, only a silent and ominous hike

240
00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,360
Speaker 2: up the mountain. They reached the summit, and there stood

241
00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,520
Speaker 2: a tree that was darker and more foreboding than the others.

242
00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:21,720
Speaker 2: Its branches were jagged, thick, and stretched over the earth below.

243
00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,960
Speaker 2: No light broke through its leaves, leaving everything below covered

244
00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:30,320
Speaker 2: in darkness. The elders tied nooses around the men's necks

245
00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:34,040
Speaker 2: and threw the ropes over the branches. The men struggled

246
00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,240
Speaker 2: and yelled to be free, but the Gibeonites remained silent.

247
00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,080
Speaker 2: The cries of the suns of Saul dissipated into the wilderness.

248
00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,840
Speaker 2: No one could hear their screams, no one would come

249
00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,880
Speaker 2: to their aid. The nooses were secured around their necks,

250
00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:51,800
Speaker 2: and platforms were erected underneath the branches to keep the

251
00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,920
Speaker 2: men standing. The elders looked up at the suns of

252
00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:59,640
Speaker 2: Saul and said blood for blood, and with those words

253
00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,960
Speaker 2: they removed the platforms supporting them. One by one. The

254
00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,280
Speaker 2: descendants wiggled and swung in place, gasping for breath, until

255
00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:11,680
Speaker 2: finally losing air. The seven descendants perished together in the shadows,

256
00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:16,640
Speaker 2: and the Gibeonite blood was avenged. It was hardly a

257
00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:20,000
Speaker 2: victory for King David. The constant blood shed and revenge

258
00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:24,160
Speaker 2: weighed heavily on his soul. For nearly forty years he

259
00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,400
Speaker 2: had reigned as king, and the accumulated lives that had

260
00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:31,040
Speaker 2: been slain by him or his men were uncountable. He

261
00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,400
Speaker 2: understood why the Lord would not allow him to build

262
00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:36,200
Speaker 2: the temple. His hands were stained with the blood of

263
00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:40,520
Speaker 2: many enemies and even some friends. David longed for relief,

264
00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:44,160
Speaker 2: and he prayed for peace within his soul. He looked

265
00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:47,120
Speaker 2: out the large window of his room overlooking the horizon.

266
00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,880
Speaker 2: The clouds were still heavy in the sky, hovering over

267
00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:54,080
Speaker 2: the blighted land. As the winds began to pick up

268
00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:57,440
Speaker 2: and the new rains began to fall. David strummed his

269
00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:01,040
Speaker 2: lyre and played a new tune. His voice was not

270
00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:03,880
Speaker 2: as smooth as it once was. It was soft, like

271
00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,600
Speaker 2: worn in leather, but still just as beautiful. To the Lord,

272
00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:15,320
Speaker 2: you visit the earth and water, you enrich. The ground below.

273
00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:22,240
Speaker 2: The River of God is filled with water, ready to overflow.

274
00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:31,520
Speaker 2: Your water furrows abundantly, settling its ridges. You soften the

275
00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:38,480
Speaker 2: earth with showers and bless it as it grows. You

276
00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:46,240
Speaker 2: crown the year with bounty, and your love overflows the

277
00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:53,920
Speaker 2: pastures of you. Wilderness stretches forevermore. The hills gird themselves

278
00:16:53,960 --> 00:17:00,000
Speaker 2: in joy, and it is you they adore. The meadow

279
00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:07,240
Speaker 2: hills clothed themselves with flocks s abundantly. The valleys are

280
00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:13,119
Speaker 2: filled with that rain. They shout for joy and sing

281
00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:20,359
Speaker 2: together for your gracious summer rain. There was great mourning

282
00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,320
Speaker 2: from the family of Saul from the loss of their sons.

283
00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:26,320
Speaker 2: David could not bring them back, nor could he console

284
00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:30,040
Speaker 2: the family. However, there was one final act David could

285
00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,359
Speaker 2: do to honor the king and his son. He mounted

286
00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:35,320
Speaker 2: his horse and left with a few of his men.

287
00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:40,040
Speaker 2: The rain continued to pour abundantly, refreshing the scorched earth below.

288
00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,640
Speaker 2: They had gone long without rain, and the entire nation

289
00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:48,520
Speaker 2: was outside celebrating the faithfulness of God. David continued to ride,

290
00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,720
Speaker 2: not taking time to stop or eat. He rode from

291
00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:55,720
Speaker 2: Jerusalem to Javishkilead. He rode through the city, ignoring the

292
00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:59,760
Speaker 2: onlookers watching him pass. Finally, he came to a small

293
00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:01,960
Speaker 2: cave carved out of a hill on the outskirts of

294
00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:06,600
Speaker 2: the city. He dismounted and approached the tomb. A stone

295
00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:09,080
Speaker 2: was placed in front of the cave. He and his

296
00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:12,080
Speaker 2: men pushed the stone away, feet sliding in the mud.

297
00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,320
Speaker 2: David knelt down and looked inside. Lying in the small

298
00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:20,440
Speaker 2: opening with the bones of Saul and Jonathan. Their bodies

299
00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:23,280
Speaker 2: had been mocked by the Philistines, and their corpses had

300
00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,400
Speaker 2: hung for months in the hot sun. They never received

301
00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:30,520
Speaker 2: a proper burial. David whispered. He had his servants wrapped

302
00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,000
Speaker 2: the bones in cloth and strapped them to their horses.

303
00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,040
Speaker 2: They rode back to the land of Benjamin and prepared

304
00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:41,160
Speaker 2: the ceremony. Saul, Jonathan, and their seven descendants were brought

305
00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,480
Speaker 2: to the homeland of Saul and buried in the tomb

306
00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:47,600
Speaker 2: of Kish, his father. The stormy skies opened up for

307
00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,439
Speaker 2: a moment, allowing for a brief ray of sunlight to

308
00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,800
Speaker 2: shine down. David turned his cheek to the sky. The

309
00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:58,680
Speaker 2: reassuring presence of God was upon him. God had responded

310
00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,800
Speaker 2: to the faithfulness of David. God was going to heal

311
00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:08,760
Speaker 2: the land and would continually uphold his chosen king. Peace

312
00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:12,280
Speaker 2: was elusive for the Kingdom of Israel. Every few years,

313
00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:16,120
Speaker 2: another large nation would mount an attack against them. David,

314
00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,080
Speaker 2: even in his aging years, was on high alert for

315
00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,680
Speaker 2: the safety of God's people. In the many years since

316
00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:26,800
Speaker 2: David's victory over Akish, the Philistine nation had quietly prepared

317
00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:31,520
Speaker 2: itself for another attack. David welcomed the challenge, knowing that

318
00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:35,080
Speaker 2: the Lord would provide victory. He gathered his men and

319
00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,680
Speaker 2: marched with them to face the horde of uncircumcised fiends.

320
00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,879
Speaker 2: As they marched, David could feel the discomfort of age

321
00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,560
Speaker 2: creeping up on him. His armour weighed heavier on his shoulders,

322
00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,320
Speaker 2: and as steps dragged more than they did in his youth.

323
00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,840
Speaker 2: Abshid took notice of this and made sure to stay

324
00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,960
Speaker 2: close to the king. They had finally made it to

325
00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,240
Speaker 2: the place of meeting. David stood in front of his army,

326
00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:01,440
Speaker 2: postured opposite of the Philistines a couple hundred yards away.

327
00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:05,040
Speaker 2: The jagged and rocky valley between them would serve as

328
00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:09,440
Speaker 2: the battleground. This was David's sacred space. This is where

329
00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:13,560
Speaker 2: he truly felt like the King of Israel. David unsheathed

330
00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,400
Speaker 2: his sword and pointed it at the enemy. His hand

331
00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:17,879
Speaker 2: shook as he held up the sword.

332
00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,399
Speaker 3: These Philistines have been a plague to our people for generations.

333
00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:27,680
Speaker 3: Let us remind them that we are a people protected

334
00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:31,000
Speaker 3: and empowered by the God of all creation.

335
00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,840
Speaker 2: The army yelled behind him, fueled by their king's passion.

336
00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:39,120
Speaker 2: The Philistines roared on the other side, banging on their

337
00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:42,240
Speaker 2: shields and swaying to the beat of a drum. David

338
00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:45,800
Speaker 2: knew this rituoman. He recognized it from years ago when

339
00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:49,159
Speaker 2: he was just a boy. The hordes scoffed and spat

340
00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:54,000
Speaker 2: in Israel's direction. Then the army parted to make room.

341
00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:57,240
Speaker 2: From the middle of the Philistine ranks emerged a giant

342
00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,560
Speaker 2: is Ish by Beanob was the infamous descendant of the

343
00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:06,320
Speaker 2: Giants of Old, a remnant of Goliath's tribe. Flashbacks of

344
00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:11,240
Speaker 2: Goliath rushed in David's mind, his massive frame, his thundering roar,

345
00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:15,280
Speaker 2: in his look of complete hatred. His spear weighed three

346
00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,359
Speaker 2: hundred sheckles and bronze and hung on his back. His

347
00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,080
Speaker 2: armor was hewn from the fires of gaff, made of

348
00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:24,680
Speaker 2: steeled and refined bronze. His sword was the size of

349
00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:28,000
Speaker 2: a man's abdomen and hung securely on his belt, ready

350
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:31,960
Speaker 2: to be used at any moment. David's heart began to

351
00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:32,679
Speaker 2: pound heavily.

352
00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:38,720
Speaker 3: I will remind them of my name, giant slayer.

353
00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,879
Speaker 2: He whispered to himself. His sword was still held up,

354
00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:46,200
Speaker 2: his hand trembling in place. David turned to his men

355
00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:47,000
Speaker 2: and said.

356
00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:49,600
Speaker 3: With the glory of our God and the love of

357
00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:50,160
Speaker 3: our nation.

358
00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,399
Speaker 2: And as he yelled this, the king burst forward with

359
00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:56,800
Speaker 2: all his might. The old king ran towards the enemy,

360
00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:59,800
Speaker 2: without regard to who was behind him. The children of

361
00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:03,080
Speaker 2: his Israel followed and quickly caught up to him. The

362
00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,720
Speaker 2: two armies clashed against one another. Blood poured out onto

363
00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:09,720
Speaker 2: the jagged rocks below, and the screams of young men

364
00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:13,399
Speaker 2: could be heard from robos. David was thrilled to be

365
00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:17,280
Speaker 2: back in battle, although his body ached two philistines kin

366
00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:20,320
Speaker 2: at him, but David toppled them with two swift spreads

367
00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:24,040
Speaker 2: of his blade. Three more Philistines approached, and David fought

368
00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:26,720
Speaker 2: them tooth and nail, slowly gaining the advantage with his

369
00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:31,080
Speaker 2: superior swordsmanship. He kept his foundation low and slashed their

370
00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:34,800
Speaker 2: legs while keeping his shield over him. Then, like a

371
00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:38,439
Speaker 2: bolt of lightning striking from above, David was hit and

372
00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,359
Speaker 2: thrown in the air. He landed on his back and

373
00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,359
Speaker 2: the air flew out of his locks. David gasped and

374
00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,520
Speaker 2: tried to regain his composure. He looked up and tried

375
00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:51,400
Speaker 2: to focus. His vision was blurry, but he could make

376
00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:56,720
Speaker 2: out the massive frame of Ishbay Beinop running towards him.

377
00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:01,159
Speaker 2: The giant yelled as he ran forward to spear at David.

378
00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:04,560
Speaker 2: He ducked, but the spear grazed his shoulder and tore

379
00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,480
Speaker 2: his armor. He screamed in pain, but had no time

380
00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,080
Speaker 2: to tend to it. The giant was close to striking.

381
00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,200
Speaker 2: David held up his shield just in time to block

382
00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:16,520
Speaker 2: east by being Out's first globe. He felt his elbowed

383
00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,359
Speaker 2: crack under the pressure, and his arm gave out, and

384
00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:22,639
Speaker 2: David screamed. And slashed at the giant's ankles, but he

385
00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:25,439
Speaker 2: was quickly met with a kick to the side. The

386
00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:28,200
Speaker 2: king was sent flying through the air again, landing in

387
00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:34,200
Speaker 2: a pile of rocks. The giant was filled with bloodthirsty rage.

388
00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,359
Speaker 2: He roared like a ravenous lion and leapt forward as

389
00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:41,639
Speaker 2: David again. This time, David jumped forward and deflected the

390
00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:45,320
Speaker 2: giant's sword. He parried the next attack, attempting to slash

391
00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:48,880
Speaker 2: the giant in his set. However, every time David attacked

392
00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,879
Speaker 2: from beaker in the earth, his head became heavy with

393
00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,240
Speaker 2: lacking loxygen and his entire body burned from the afrot.

394
00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:59,840
Speaker 2: The giant swung down with his sword and David blocked

395
00:23:59,880 --> 00:24:02,919
Speaker 2: it again with a shield. He stumbled onto the ground

396
00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:05,960
Speaker 2: and lifted a shield again to block another strike. The

397
00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:09,440
Speaker 2: giant was like a hand, swinging down constantly on David's

398
00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:13,240
Speaker 2: broken body. This is the end, David thought to himself,

399
00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:17,760
Speaker 2: this is where I fall. The giant swung his sword

400
00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:20,360
Speaker 2: to the side and David's shield was knocked.

401
00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:22,679
Speaker 3: Off his arm. But David would not give up.

402
00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:25,440
Speaker 2: He threw his body at the giant, trying to knock

403
00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,080
Speaker 2: him down, but the giant grabbed hold of his throat

404
00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:31,760
Speaker 2: and began to squeeze. David felt a life slowly leaving

405
00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:35,119
Speaker 2: his body. He didn't have the strength to treble. His

406
00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:38,359
Speaker 2: body hung limp as the giant clapped down on his throat.

407
00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:41,760
Speaker 2: This by Bina brought his sword in close and placed

408
00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:43,000
Speaker 2: the tip on David's armor.

409
00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:48,560
Speaker 3: I'm going to kill you, though, giant slayer, he said.

410
00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:52,040
Speaker 6: Your name will forever be hated.

411
00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:57,119
Speaker 2: Is by Bina popped his shoulder back to drive the

412
00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:01,520
Speaker 2: sword into David, but his move was interrupted by a

413
00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:06,919
Speaker 2: swift slash to the cat ish by Banum's shot. He

414
00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:10,159
Speaker 2: dropped David to the ground and turned around. As his

415
00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,680
Speaker 2: head turned, Abishid delivered a punch to the jug, knocking

416
00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,960
Speaker 2: the giants out. Ish By Banam stood up and leapt

417
00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,800
Speaker 2: at abershot, and the two thought among the sharp rocks.

418
00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:23,160
Speaker 2: David crawled out of the way, watching his young commander

419
00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:27,399
Speaker 2: fight to protect him. Abishai still had the flame of

420
00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:31,359
Speaker 2: youth burning within him. He ferociously stepped forward, keeping the

421
00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:34,280
Speaker 2: giant on his heels. His sword would swipe and his

422
00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:38,439
Speaker 2: shield would strike continually, keeping the giant backing away. He

423
00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:41,119
Speaker 2: backed near a pile of large stones, stacked higher than

424
00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:45,280
Speaker 2: the giant's head. Ishbai binab was frustrated and threw his

425
00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:49,320
Speaker 2: sword downward at Abshok. He dodged it, leapt onto one

426
00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:51,800
Speaker 2: of the stones, then launched off it to strike the

427
00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:55,760
Speaker 2: giant from above. His sword drove downward through the giant's

428
00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:59,640
Speaker 2: shoulder and into his heart. Abishi fell with the giant

429
00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:00,679
Speaker 2: onto the round.

430
00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:01,560
Speaker 3: And rolled away.

431
00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:05,480
Speaker 2: He stood up embraced himself for another strike. That the

432
00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:09,480
Speaker 2: giant lay lifeless in the dirt. Abishi immediately took his

433
00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:11,560
Speaker 2: sword out of the giant and ran back to David.

434
00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:14,600
Speaker 6: Are you all right, by king, he shouted.

435
00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:18,560
Speaker 2: David shook his head and winced in pain. Ah, I

436
00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:21,639
Speaker 2: am not sure. David tried to get up, but his

437
00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:25,399
Speaker 2: body was too exhausted. Abishi lifted him up onto his

438
00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:29,240
Speaker 2: shoulders and ran for safety. He finally laid him down

439
00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:31,920
Speaker 2: behind a few stones, and the two of them watched Joe,

440
00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:35,399
Speaker 2: ab and the others overwhelm the Philistines. The Army of

441
00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,919
Speaker 2: Israel had once again been saved by the faithfulness.

442
00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:38,879
Speaker 3: Of the Lord.

443
00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:45,560
Speaker 2: David steadied his breathing and propped himself up. Thank you, Abishai,

444
00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:51,000
Speaker 2: he whispered. Abishi turned to him and smiled, you.

445
00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:54,200
Speaker 6: Shall no longer go out with us into battle. If

446
00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:57,920
Speaker 6: you die, the flame of Israel will be snuffed out.

447
00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:01,879
Speaker 2: David nodded in agreement. He was unable to finish his

448
00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:05,240
Speaker 2: final war. The young men trained up by him would

449
00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:09,480
Speaker 2: go on to slay their own giants. David was no

450
00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:13,040
Speaker 2: longer a warrior, The thought echoed in his mind.

451
00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:16,119
Speaker 3: If I did not have the thrill of battle or

452
00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,800
Speaker 3: the ministry of the sword, what do I have?

453
00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,920
Speaker 2: He limped onto his balcony, still feeling the lingering pain

454
00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:30,200
Speaker 2: of his near death experience against ishbay Beinab. He held

455
00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:32,880
Speaker 2: his ribs and winced. He looked out onto the great

456
00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:36,879
Speaker 2: city of Jerusalem, the city of David. Perhaps one of

457
00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:41,080
Speaker 2: his greatest victories was claiming this city. He breathed in

458
00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:44,920
Speaker 2: deeply and considered his legacy. If he was not a warrior,

459
00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:47,160
Speaker 2: then how was he to measure himself as a king.

460
00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:51,760
Speaker 2: The enemy began to creep into his mind and whisper

461
00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:56,280
Speaker 2: words of insecurity. David felt the temptation many kings felt,

462
00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,880
Speaker 2: the temptation to be known as great. If he could

463
00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,280
Speaker 2: not measure his greatness through conquest or battle, he wanted

464
00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:05,480
Speaker 2: to measure it by the people who dwelled within his nation.

465
00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:09,320
Speaker 2: It was out of this misplaced identity that David had

466
00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:13,320
Speaker 2: the idea for a census. A census was clearly forbidden

467
00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:17,280
Speaker 2: in the law of Moses, especially without some sort of ransom.

468
00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:21,040
Speaker 2: If David counted the people, he would be expressing ownership

469
00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:24,879
Speaker 2: over them. Moses warned that plagues and pestilence could be

470
00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:28,200
Speaker 2: sent as a result, and as David knew, they were

471
00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,880
Speaker 2: not ultimately his people anyways, they were the lords. Yet

472
00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:34,119
Speaker 2: the king still had within him a burning desire to

473
00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:37,720
Speaker 2: be validated as king. He wanted to measure his greatness,

474
00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:41,880
Speaker 2: so he sent for Joab, the old and grizzled commander

475
00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:44,920
Speaker 2: of Israel. Stepped into the presence of the king. David

476
00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:46,640
Speaker 2: propped himself up and said.

477
00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:50,920
Speaker 3: Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba,

478
00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:55,240
Speaker 3: and number the people. I desire to know how my

479
00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:59,440
Speaker 3: country has grown and how many able men have been

480
00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:03,080
Speaker 3: added to our ranks. I want the world to know

481
00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:04,840
Speaker 3: how large we are.

482
00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:07,760
Speaker 2: Joeab tilted his head to the side and peered at

483
00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:11,320
Speaker 2: the king. He cleared his throat and spoke softly, saying.

484
00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:15,680
Speaker 7: My King, it is my prayer that God adds to

485
00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:18,120
Speaker 7: the people a hundred times as many as there are now,

486
00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:20,840
Speaker 7: and I pray you live long enough to see this

487
00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:23,280
Speaker 7: country multiply beyond all imagination.

488
00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:27,200
Speaker 2: Joe Ab paused and contemplated how to ask his question.

489
00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:31,560
Speaker 7: Why would this delight you? Are you not content with

490
00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:32,800
Speaker 7: what the Lord has provided?

491
00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:37,320
Speaker 2: Thus for, the King shrugged off Joab's question, I am king, Joeab,

492
00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:41,280
Speaker 2: I desire to know how many men I am commanding.

493
00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:45,000
Speaker 2: Joeab did not protest again. He bowed his head and

494
00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:47,920
Speaker 2: left the room. He gathered the commanders of the Lord's

495
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:52,200
Speaker 2: armies and sent them far across the country. They crossed

496
00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:55,000
Speaker 2: the Jordan to a Roar, from a Rower to Gad,

497
00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:59,400
Speaker 2: from God to Yazir, from Yazir to Gilead, and from

498
00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:03,600
Speaker 2: Gilead to Kadesh. They crossed the entire country, passing through

499
00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:07,640
Speaker 2: all the tribes, villages, and cities. Not one able bodied

500
00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:11,320
Speaker 2: man was left uncounted. Joab finally returned to the king

501
00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:14,280
Speaker 2: and gave him the count of eight hundred thousand valiant

502
00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:18,000
Speaker 2: men from Israel and five hundred thousand from Judah. The

503
00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:21,280
Speaker 2: ward pleased the king. However, the act of insecurity and

504
00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:25,240
Speaker 2: blatant disobedience did not go unnoticed by the Lord. A

505
00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:30,640
Speaker 2: reckoning would be required of him. One morning, David perused

506
00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:33,640
Speaker 2: the law of the Lord. He meditated on its statutes

507
00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:37,240
Speaker 2: and took in its commands. However, he was cut to

508
00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:40,400
Speaker 2: the heart when he stumbled upon a word from Moses saying.

509
00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:43,160
Speaker 4: When you take the census of the children of Israel

510
00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:46,280
Speaker 4: for their number, then every man shall give a ransom

511
00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:49,160
Speaker 4: for himself to the Lord when you number them, that

512
00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:52,000
Speaker 4: there may be no plague among them when you number them.

513
00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:56,000
Speaker 2: The King's heart began to pound heavily. He realized the

514
00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:58,880
Speaker 2: sin he had committed, and he was struck with conviction.

515
00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:02,400
Speaker 2: Knelt before the Lord and said, I.

516
00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:09,680
Speaker 3: Have sinned greatly. Oh Lord, please take away my iniquity,

517
00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:12,960
Speaker 3: for I have acted foolishly.

518
00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:17,800
Speaker 2: David's prayer, as honest as it was, did not blought

519
00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:21,640
Speaker 2: out the consequences stored up for him. Early the next morning,

520
00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:25,360
Speaker 2: David walked among the garden, still reeling over his failure.

521
00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:29,840
Speaker 2: His anxious thoughts kept him from enjoying the newly bloomed

522
00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:34,560
Speaker 2: flowers and freshly grown saplings. He walked the gardens distracted

523
00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:37,720
Speaker 2: and consumed with his own guilt, until finally passing by

524
00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:41,360
Speaker 2: the olive trees. Underneath a tree stood the prophet Gad.

525
00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:45,080
Speaker 2: He was an old man, more wrinkled and weathered than David.

526
00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:49,280
Speaker 2: The King knew that his presence did not signal good fortune.

527
00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:52,720
Speaker 2: Gad had brought a word from the Lord. David was

528
00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:55,960
Speaker 2: silent as he approached him. He knelt down before him

529
00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:59,280
Speaker 2: and awaited the word from the Lord. Gad placed a

530
00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:01,080
Speaker 2: hand on his shoulder and said.

531
00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:06,640
Speaker 6: Thus says the Lord, three things I offer you as penance.

532
00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:11,400
Speaker 6: Choose one of them that I may act.

533
00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:14,240
Speaker 2: Gad held out three fingers and said.

534
00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:21,320
Speaker 6: One, three years of famine shall blight the land. Two

535
00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:26,640
Speaker 6: you will flee for three months while your enemies pursue you.

536
00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:33,920
Speaker 6: And three there shall be three days pestilence in the land.

537
00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:36,760
Speaker 2: Gad paused and looked down at David.

538
00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:40,840
Speaker 6: Consider which you shall choose.

539
00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:45,120
Speaker 2: David's heart sank as he considered his options. He shook

540
00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:47,440
Speaker 2: his head in shame and lifted his hands to heaven.

541
00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:52,520
Speaker 3: This is too much for my heart to bear. Let

542
00:32:52,520 --> 00:32:55,800
Speaker 3: the Lord do as he wills, for I know his

543
00:32:56,200 --> 00:33:04,120
Speaker 3: mercy endures forever. However, I asked this, did I not

544
00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:08,160
Speaker 3: fall by the sword or by the hands of men,

545
00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:12,120
Speaker 3: And so it was by David's word the Lord sent

546
00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:16,000
Speaker 3: to pestilence on Israel. The next morning, sickness and death

547
00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:19,040
Speaker 3: scour the earth like a flood. The great nation that

548
00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:22,240
Speaker 3: the king basted over was diminished by seventy thousand in

549
00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:26,160
Speaker 3: just a matter of three days. David regretted ever counting

550
00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:29,800
Speaker 3: the people. They were not his, They were the Lord's,

551
00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:33,320
Speaker 3: and this was a gross reminder of that. On the

552
00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:36,760
Speaker 3: third day, David opened his arms to heaven and yelled

553
00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:41,240
Speaker 3: to God, behold, I have sinned. Look at me and

554
00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:45,720
Speaker 3: my iniquity. I have done wickedly in your sight. But

555
00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:52,400
Speaker 3: these poor sheep, what have they done? They are innocent. Please, Lord,

556
00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:57,520
Speaker 3: put your hand against me. Instead, kill me and wipe

557
00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:00,280
Speaker 3: out my household. Leave the people alone.

558
00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:02,880
Speaker 2: David built an altar for the Lord and made a

559
00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:06,640
Speaker 2: sacrifice for the sins he committed against the Lord. He

560
00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:09,680
Speaker 2: prayed and sought the heart of the Lord. David embraced

561
00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:13,160
Speaker 2: the struggle in his relationship with God. He leaned into

562
00:34:13,160 --> 00:34:16,120
Speaker 2: the difficulty and engaged in the darker parts of his heart.

563
00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:21,480
Speaker 2: Although he stumbled, sinned, and fell continually, he continued to repent,

564
00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:25,080
Speaker 2: even in his old age, He never dug his heels

565
00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:28,960
Speaker 2: deeper into his own pride. He lifted his voice in repentance,

566
00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:34,880
Speaker 2: He made his sacrifice, and he continued in faith. This

567
00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:37,320
Speaker 2: was the heart that God saw in the small shepherd

568
00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:40,920
Speaker 2: boy so long ago, a heart that was after the

569
00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:44,120
Speaker 2: heart of the Lord, a heart of a king.

570
00:34:46,239 --> 00:34:50,000
Speaker 1: Something David has not had to deal with yet. Its famines, hunger,

571
00:34:50,040 --> 00:34:52,640
Speaker 1: and poverty. He has been a man of war for

572
00:34:52,719 --> 00:34:55,960
Speaker 1: so long that the other aspects of governance have not

573
00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:59,120
Speaker 1: been on the forefront of his mind. That we know

574
00:34:59,239 --> 00:35:02,160
Speaker 1: of the length of his famine comes as a surprise

575
00:35:02,239 --> 00:35:04,920
Speaker 1: to David, and since he is attuned to the voice

576
00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:09,160
Speaker 1: of God, he receives insight. God is withholding his blessings.

577
00:35:09,239 --> 00:35:12,520
Speaker 1: Since there is still unpaid debt for what Saul did

578
00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:15,520
Speaker 1: to the Gibeonites, it is up to David to correct

579
00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:19,680
Speaker 1: the mistakes made by his predecessor. This is an important

580
00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:22,920
Speaker 1: thing to consider. The consequences of our sin do not

581
00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:26,400
Speaker 1: disappear when we die. What we have done can sometimes

582
00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:30,440
Speaker 1: live beyond us and affect the next generation. Saul's mistake

583
00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:34,640
Speaker 1: caused suffering for Israel decades after his death. David, who

584
00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:38,960
Speaker 1: is getting older, needs to consider this seriously. His decisions

585
00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:42,400
Speaker 1: will affect his son Solomon, and Solomon's decisions will affect

586
00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:45,640
Speaker 1: his son rare Bom. The success of our children can

587
00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:48,680
Speaker 1: be undermined by our poor decisions, so we are to

588
00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:52,360
Speaker 1: seriously consider what we are passing down as a heritage.

589
00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:56,480
Speaker 1: David does what he needs to do. When covenants are broken,

590
00:35:56,680 --> 00:36:00,279
Speaker 1: blood is required. This is why sacrifices were made for

591
00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:03,320
Speaker 1: the people's sins, and while the blood of Jesus covers

592
00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:06,920
Speaker 1: our sin. When a promise made be for God or

593
00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:11,080
Speaker 1: to God is severed, it must be taken seriously. David

594
00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:13,880
Speaker 1: doesn't take any pleasure in giving up the descendants of Saul,

595
00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:17,520
Speaker 1: but he does so because being the king requires sacrifice.

596
00:36:18,239 --> 00:36:21,000
Speaker 1: David is someone with firm convictions and a black and

597
00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:24,319
Speaker 1: white view of righteousness, and it must be exhausting for

598
00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:27,760
Speaker 1: him to constantly live in this gray area between what's

599
00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:31,520
Speaker 1: right and what's wrong. David pined, after the simpler times

600
00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:34,440
Speaker 1: in the wilderness, there were enemies to be vanquished and

601
00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:37,480
Speaker 1: villages to be saved. He knew who his enemies were,

602
00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:41,520
Speaker 1: and they deserved to die. Now life was more complicated

603
00:36:41,560 --> 00:36:45,080
Speaker 1: as a king. No one was merely an enemy, and

604
00:36:45,160 --> 00:36:49,080
Speaker 1: no one was merely an ally. All were blurred and confused.

605
00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,480
Speaker 1: This is a sad reality that comes with the complex

606
00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:55,840
Speaker 1: life of a king. Life becomes less black and white,

607
00:36:56,200 --> 00:37:00,640
Speaker 1: and David is tired with the nuance. David was a

608
00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:02,759
Speaker 1: man of war, and a man of war can have

609
00:37:02,840 --> 00:37:06,239
Speaker 1: trouble when he isn't certain who the enemy is. The

610
00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:10,280
Speaker 1: battlefield was less nuanced. The enemy is on one side

611
00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:13,160
Speaker 1: and you are on the other. David drew a lot

612
00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:15,520
Speaker 1: of comfort from the fact that he knew who the

613
00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:20,040
Speaker 1: enemy was. In this episode, the enemy was another giant,

614
00:37:20,520 --> 00:37:24,840
Speaker 1: ish Banab. His features resembled Goliath, calling us back to

615
00:37:24,920 --> 00:37:28,960
Speaker 1: episode six, when David was just a shepherd. The presence

616
00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:32,560
Speaker 1: of another giant is purposefully placed in this story the

617
00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:35,960
Speaker 1: age David is face to face with the same foe

618
00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:39,680
Speaker 1: that thrust him into prominence. Being the giant slayer is

619
00:37:39,719 --> 00:37:42,840
Speaker 1: what made him great, and if he can still defeat

620
00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:46,280
Speaker 1: a giant in battle, that means David can still be great.

621
00:37:47,120 --> 00:37:50,040
Speaker 1: The battle initially goes well, but it becomes a parent

622
00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:54,160
Speaker 1: that David is outmatched against ish b Banab. He is

623
00:37:54,239 --> 00:37:58,440
Speaker 1: nearly killed, but Abaisha comes to the rescue. Abisha is

624
00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:01,120
Speaker 1: now a Giant Slayer and has a hard time coming

625
00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:04,680
Speaker 1: to terms with his defeat. We all deal with crisis

626
00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:07,719
Speaker 1: of identity in different ways. Some people change the way

627
00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:10,640
Speaker 1: they dress, Others look for a new job. Some people

628
00:38:10,719 --> 00:38:15,440
Speaker 1: take radical measures like move cities in relationships or change names.

629
00:38:16,239 --> 00:38:19,200
Speaker 1: David is going through his own identity crisis. He is

630
00:38:19,239 --> 00:38:22,319
Speaker 1: wrestling with his legacy and what he will be known for.

631
00:38:23,239 --> 00:38:26,319
Speaker 1: If he is no longer the Giant Slayer, then who

632
00:38:26,440 --> 00:38:29,600
Speaker 1: is he. This would have been a perfect time for

633
00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:33,600
Speaker 1: David to seek God and be reassured of his calling. However,

634
00:38:34,040 --> 00:38:37,600
Speaker 1: David looks elsewhere for validation. He disobeys the law of

635
00:38:37,640 --> 00:38:41,240
Speaker 1: Moses and an acts a census. You may be wondering

636
00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:44,960
Speaker 1: why that was so wrong. Well, to have a census

637
00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:48,120
Speaker 1: back then was to declare ownership over the people, and

638
00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:51,960
Speaker 1: they were not David's to own. But David desperately wanted

639
00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:54,719
Speaker 1: to measure his greatness based on how many people were

640
00:38:54,719 --> 00:38:58,000
Speaker 1: in his kingdom. The people of Israel are punished, and

641
00:38:58,120 --> 00:39:01,120
Speaker 1: David begs the Lord to punish him in Instead, he

642
00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:03,160
Speaker 1: reveals the true heart of a king. At the end

643
00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:07,080
Speaker 1: of the episode, repenting before God and accepting responsibility for

644
00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:10,200
Speaker 1: his mistakes. The end of the episode is a beautiful

645
00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:14,720
Speaker 1: homage to David's relationship with God. It says David embraced

646
00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:17,839
Speaker 1: the struggle in his relationship with God. He leaned into

647
00:39:17,880 --> 00:39:21,359
Speaker 1: the difficulty and engaged in the darker parts of his heart.

648
00:39:21,960 --> 00:39:26,319
Speaker 1: Although he stumbled, sinned, and fell continually, he continued to

649
00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:29,440
Speaker 1: repent even in his old age. He never dug his

650
00:39:29,480 --> 00:39:32,840
Speaker 1: heels deeper into his own pride. As we age, we

651
00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:36,600
Speaker 1: can become more set in our ways, immovable in our

652
00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:40,480
Speaker 1: opinions and habits. David was a wonderful example of someone

653
00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:43,680
Speaker 1: who grew softer and more correctible as he reached the

654
00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:46,680
Speaker 1: end of his life. May we all be so faithful

655
00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:50,759
Speaker 1: to end even more humbly than we began. In our

656
00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:54,560
Speaker 1: next episode, the end finally comes for David, and we

657
00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:57,239
Speaker 1: end our series with a glimmer of hope. But that

658
00:39:57,320 --> 00:40:00,520
Speaker 1: hope is not in whoever succeeds David is king. We

659
00:40:00,680 --> 00:40:03,400
Speaker 1: know better by now. The hope we find is in

660
00:40:03,480 --> 00:40:07,520
Speaker 1: the promised successor to David's throne. Only this descendant will

661
00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:10,959
Speaker 1: exchange his throne for a cross. Join us next time

662
00:40:11,080 --> 00:40:14,320
Speaker 1: for our final episode, the Death of a Hero, for

663
00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:18,760
Speaker 1: more inspiring stories, daily prayers and wisdom to last a lifetime.

664
00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:22,360
Speaker 1: Go to pray dot com. And to expand your heroes

665
00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:25,480
Speaker 1: in the Bible journey, download the Heroes of the Faith

666
00:40:25,560 --> 00:40:30,279
Speaker 1: devotional at Tonyevans dot org. Forward slash Heroes. Follow the

667
00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:34,640
Speaker 1: podcast on Apple or Spotify to get the newest episodes

668
00:40:34,719 --> 00:40:38,080
Speaker 1: right as they come out, and always be inspired by

669
00:40:38,120 --> 00:40:39,600
Speaker 1: the Bible. God bless