1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: And David said unto all his servants that were with 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: him at Jerusalem, arise and let us flee, for we 3 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 1: shall not else escape from Absalom. Make speed to depart, 4 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: lest he overtake us suddenly and bring evil upon us 5 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: and smite the city with the edge of the sword 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:26,639 Speaker 1: Second Samuel fifteen fourteen. Father, when others come for my 7 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 1: position and influence like Absalom, I will not worry or 8 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: be dismayed. Instead, I will take David's lead in Second 9 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: Samuel seventeen seventeen and remember a very vital truth that 10 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: what's for me is for me. Because this truth is 11 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: my reality, it gives me the advantage because I know 12 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: that your hand is on me and for me. Therefore, 13 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: when people plot against me, they are actually going against 14 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: you and your sovereign plans for my life. No matter 15 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: what my current position is, everything will turn around and 16 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: work out for my good titles and accolades don't deter 17 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 1: me from declaring my destined future. I will continue to 18 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: boldly prophesy and speak life over my family, finances, and 19 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: future because you have already co signed on me and 20 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: everything that you have prepared for my life long before 21 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 1: I took my first breath. What is mine is mine. 22 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: Then I thank you God that you will see to it, 23 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: that it comes to me under your grace in a 24 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: perfect way. In Jesus Name. Amen. Listening to these daily 25 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing from the 26 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: Lord by listening to today's Bible in a Year, brought 27 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 1: to you by Bible In a Year, Absalom comes for 28 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: the throne. In our last story, Joab convinced David to 29 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: allow his son Absalom to return from exile. Absalom returned 30 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: not as a reformed or changed man, but more bitter 31 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 1: than ever. Absalom displayed evil tendencies by burning Joab's fields 32 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: and is reunited with David. Now we witness the true 33 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: heart of Absalom as he dethrones his father and sends 34 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: David into the wilderness. David, fleeing from his life again, 35 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: is met with true loneliness and comforted by the spirit 36 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 1: of God. Has inspired by the Book of Second Samuel. Hello, 37 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: this is Pastor Jack Graham once again with today's episode 38 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 1: of the Bible in a Year. In yesterday's episode, we 39 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: heard how Joe Ab convinced David to allow Absalom to 40 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: return to Israel. David eventually allowed his banished son to return, 41 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:14,399 Speaker 1: but did not welcome him with open arms. Instead, Absalom 42 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 1: lived for two years without speaking to his father. In 43 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: that time, his anger and bitterness only grew stronger and stronger. 44 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,920 Speaker 1: When David finally reconnected with his son, the damage was 45 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 1: done and evil had filled Absalom's heart. He was determined 46 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: to kill his own father and take the throne. Today 47 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: will learn how he overthrows King David and sends his 48 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: father into exile into the wilderness. David will once again 49 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: taste the bitterness of separation from his home and the 50 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: fear of being hunted by another man. But even as 51 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 1: he flees for his life, God will remain faithful to 52 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: him and comfort him in his loneliness and grief. So 53 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:03,559 Speaker 1: let's listen now to today's reading. Ambition, greed and revenge. 54 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: Thoughts of sitting on the throne consumed Absalom into the night. 55 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: Back and forth, he would pace the halls of his home, 56 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: plotting how he might seize the title of king from 57 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 1: his father. Slowly and methodically, he began to take action 58 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: against David. It began with a few purchasers. Absalom acquired 59 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 1: a few chariots and horses and added them to his collection. Later, 60 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: he hired men to ride them. Yet he did not 61 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: storm the city of Jerusalem and take his father's throne 62 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: by force. No Absalom knew he needed the love and 63 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 1: favor of the people. So Absalom would rise early in 64 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: the morning to stand at the gates of Jerusalem. When 65 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: men and women in need would come to visit the king, 66 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: Absalom would comfort them. He would spin lies and tales 67 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: about David's ineptitude and weariness. You have so many needs. 68 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 1: You are right to seek counsel from the king, Absalom 69 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: would tell them. It is a sh shame. He has 70 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 1: no time or appointed people to hear your cries. If 71 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: only I were set as king over the land, every 72 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: man and woman would be loved and listened to. Absalom 73 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: did this often, and day by day people began to 74 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: adore him. Absalom was violent, spiteful, and filled with pride. However, 75 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: he was a patient man. For four years, he stood 76 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: at the gates and sowed discord among the people. For 77 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: four years, he planted seeds of doubt and bitterness towards 78 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: the king for four years. Absalom slowly built a small 79 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 1: army able to overtake Jerusalem. Absalom traveled to Hebron, far 80 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 1: away from the city of Jerusalem, and hired men and 81 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: women to spread rumors that Absalom had been named the 82 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: new king over Israel. It was only a matter of 83 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: time before Absalom could make his final push for the 84 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: throne and life of David. The streets began to rumble, hushed, 85 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: whispered as soon became chance. As the people of Israel 86 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: called for Absalom to be king. It was music to 87 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: Absalom's ears. A sly smile came across his face. It 88 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: was time. Absalom gathered his men and began parading through 89 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: the streets of Jerusalem. He postured himself, sending a clear 90 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 1: message to David. The message was received. David and his 91 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 1: servants knew that Absalom would come for David's life. David 92 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: would not allow the city of Jerusalem to become a battleground. 93 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 1: He would not risk the lives of innocent people in 94 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: a civil war. He gathered his things and fled through 95 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 1: the back of the palace. David ran towards the wilderness. 96 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: When he saw dozens of people waiting on the outskirts 97 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: of the gates. David marveled as a gathering of different 98 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: tribes stood there, foreigners that David had welcomed in, David's 99 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 1: personal bodyguard, and mighty men and the priests with the 100 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: ark of the Covenant stood there, ready to die. If 101 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: it meant falling, David, you should leave. It may mean 102 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: death for you all, David said, doing his best to 103 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: hold back tears. Wherever you are, whether in death or 104 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: in life, we will be as well, they said. David 105 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: was overwhelmed by their faithfulness, so they ventured forth across 106 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: the brook of Chidren towards the Mount of Olives. The 107 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: trees swayed back and forth as the sun began to set. 108 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: The people behind David began to set up camp, but 109 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: David went ahead to kneel before God. There in the 110 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 1: coolness of the night, David wept before his Lord. He 111 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: prayed earnestly and painfully. The air was crisp, and the 112 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: stars were visible in between the trees. It was in 113 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: this very place, on the Mount of Olives, that one 114 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: of David's descendants would pray to God as well. He 115 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: would pray earnestly and painfully. Then he would cross the 116 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 1: brook towards his enemies and be crucified. David and his 117 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: people ventured a little further into the wilderness. As they 118 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: passed through the country side, they were met with kindness 119 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: and curses. Some remembered the courageous and compassionate leadership of 120 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: David and helped him. Others were loyal to Absalom and 121 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: threw rocks, sticks, and curses toward them. It was a 122 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: humbling season for David. He longed to lead his people again. 123 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: He longed to see his family. He longed to see 124 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: the Lord unleash his justice. Meanwhile, back in Jerusalem, Absalom 125 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: sat upon the throne. He gave out a deep sigh 126 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 1: of contentment and laughed. It had been a long and 127 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: drawn out plan, but it was worth it. Absalom was 128 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:50,119 Speaker 1: finally king over Israel, although David was still alive. Absalom 129 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,079 Speaker 1: set up a tent on the roof of the palace 130 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,680 Speaker 1: and slept with all his father's servants. He began his 131 00:08:55,800 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: hostile and lustful takeover of Israel. Absalom called Ahithofel and 132 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: Hushai to his side. The two were once counselors to David, 133 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: and now Absalom sought their advice. What should be our 134 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: plan of attack for David? He asked. A Hithofel was 135 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: a weak man. His loyalty was not to David or 136 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: to Absalom, but to whoever would provide for him and 137 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:23,559 Speaker 1: keep him safe. A Hithofel rubbed his hands together and said, 138 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: you ought to choose twelve thousand men and pursue David 139 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:30,199 Speaker 1: to night. Do not give him time to regain his strength. 140 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: You should move now while he is discouraged. Absalom enjoyed 141 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: the advice and began to make arrangements. He called Hushai 142 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: and asked him the same question. Hushai was a strong 143 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 1: man and dedicated to God and David. He spoke to 144 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: Absalom as a loyal servant, although his true allegiance was 145 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: to David. Your father is no fool, Hushai said. You 146 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: forget that he and his men are mighty warriors. You 147 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: would not be able to ambush him so easily. In fact, 148 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 1: you may not be able to find him at all. 149 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:06,839 Speaker 1: I think you should hold a ralligh with the people 150 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: of Israel, gather them all together and motivate them. Then, 151 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:14,439 Speaker 1: with their cheers and support behind you, you should ride 152 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: into battle against David. For if you are the true king, 153 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 1: you should be able to defeat David yourself. Hushai appealed 154 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,679 Speaker 1: to Absalom's vanity. The ralligh would buy David more time 155 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: to prepare. Then, if Absalam rode into battle, it would 156 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: give David the opportunity to get rid of the problem himself. 157 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:39,439 Speaker 1: Absalam agreed, and Hushai secretly sent word to David. When 158 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:44,200 Speaker 1: Absalom prepared his ralligh, David prepared his people. He fed them, 159 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 1: clothed them, and tended to them as a shepherd would 160 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: his sheep. David knew something that Absalom did not. The 161 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: anointing of God is what makes a man king. No title, 162 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 1: no army, and no influence would ever replace the hand 163 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 1: of God upon day. He had learned this when facing Goliath, 164 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: he learned it facing the Philistines. Had he learned it 165 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: in the wilderness fleeing from Saul. Nothing and Noah would 166 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,959 Speaker 1: harm David, for the God of all heaven and earth 167 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: was with him. This was something Absalom would learn soon enough. 168 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,839 Speaker 1: Our passage begins with a bitter and hateful Absalom, setting 169 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: in motion an evil plan to force David, his own father, 170 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: off the throne. We know that Absalom is willing to 171 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: wait for his time of vengeance. He waited two years 172 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: to exact revenge on his brother Amnon, and this time 173 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: he will do the same. He waits, he begins to 174 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 1: amass horses and chariots and men to ride with him 175 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: when the time was right. But before he can make 176 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 1: his move, Absalom knew he needed to weaken the foundations 177 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 1: of David's rule, and so, like the serpent in the 178 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: garden of Eden, Absalom began to whisper lies, questioning the 179 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: goodness of the king. Day after day, he would meet 180 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 1: people who came to see the king, and he would 181 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: fill their heads with lies, seducing the people into believing him, 182 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: eroding their loyalty to David and his rule. For four years, 183 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 1: he worked to undermine the king, all the while building 184 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: his own army. But he didn't stop with the lies 185 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: in Jerusalem. He spread rumors and false tales across the land, 186 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: leading people to believe that he was already king of Israel. 187 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: In time, Absalom was ready to strike. David saw the 188 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 1: writing on the wall, and though he counted on loyal 189 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: and courageous men, he was not willing to turn the 190 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: City of God into a battleground or to put the 191 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: lives of his people in danger. It's been said that 192 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: it takes a bigger man to walk away from a 193 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,719 Speaker 1: fight than to start one, and David demonstrates that he 194 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 1: is the bigger man. So he left the palace for 195 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,559 Speaker 1: the wilderness. It was something that he had done when 196 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: Saul wanted to kill him, but this time he was 197 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: leaving the throne, his home, and the place where God's 198 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: temple was. But even in the wilderness, he knew that 199 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 1: he was not alone. God was with him as always, 200 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 1: but so were many faithful Israelites who believed in him, 201 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: along with priests who brought the Ark of the Covenant. 202 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: But David was not willing to see the ark removed 203 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 1: from its rightful place in Jerusalem. He trusted God enough 204 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: to send it back to the city, knowing that if 205 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 1: it was God's will, that he would return one day. Clearly, 206 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: this was a time of great challenge for David. He 207 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: is running for his life. His son is sitting on 208 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 1: the throne of Israel, an illegitimate king, who was not 209 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 1: annointed or blessed by God. And it grieved David, as 210 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: did the fact that he was so far from the 211 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: place of worship, the temple, the symbol of God's presence, 212 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: and the place that he loved to worship his Creator. 213 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: In Second Samuel sixteen, verse thirty, we get a sense 214 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 1: of David's sorrow and grief when we read David went 215 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,319 Speaker 1: up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as 216 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: he went barefoot and with his head covered. And all 217 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: the people who were with him covered their heads, and 218 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:13,679 Speaker 1: they went up, weeping as they went. Through this time, 219 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: God comforted David's heart and strengthened him. And from David's 220 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: exile we have some of the most heartfelt and beautiful 221 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 1: psalms poems that speak of David's longing to be in 222 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: the dwelling place of the Lord again. And even as 223 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: David endured loneliness and sadness, God was preparing the way 224 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: for his return. For as Absalom surrendered himself with advisers 225 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: and sought their counsel, his vanity kept him from seeing 226 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 1: that some in his midst were loyal to David and 227 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 1: would set the stage for Absalom's downfall, and we will 228 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: hear all about that the next time. Dear God, we 229 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: thank you that when we are lonely and broken, or 230 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 1: in times when we are as strange from loved ones 231 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: and friends, when we are grieving, when we are hurting, 232 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: that you always comfort us. We know that we can 233 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: seek you and find you as you have promised. When 234 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: we face our trials and our struggles and our difficulties, 235 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: when we are betrayed by even people that we love, 236 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: we pray that your presence will always fill us with 237 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: your grace and peace. In the name of Jesus, who 238 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 1: is the Prince of Peace. Amen, thank you for listening 239 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 1: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Pastor Jack Graham, 240 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: and we appreciate so very much your interest, your prayers, 241 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: and your involvement in this wonderful effort to walk through 242 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: the Bible. I would encourage you to download the Prey 243 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 1: dot com app and make prayer a true priority in 244 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: your life along with the study of God's word. If 245 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: you appreciate and have enjoyed this podcast, it would be 246 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: very helpful if you would share it with someone you love, 247 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 1: because it will make a huge difference. In their lives 248 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: and if you want to know more about how you 249 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: can know Jesus and follow him how you can live 250 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: the Christian life, be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. 251 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: Thank you and God bless you. This episode is sponsored 252 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 1: by Medician, an innovative health care solution for Christians to 253 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: save money without sacrificing quality