1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and the men of David said, unto him, 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,559 Speaker 1: behold the day of which the Lord said, unto thee, behold, 3 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand, that thou 4 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: robe privily first Samuel twenty four four. Thank you Lord 7 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: for continually keeping my heart clean and pure when others 8 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: try to obtain advancement by deceitful means. I praise you 9 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: that even when it seems like I have suffered another setback, 10 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: like David, through my tears, my worship will remain a 11 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: light in the midst of my darkness. I decree and 12 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: declare that, no matter what happens, my desire will always 13 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: remain to dwell in your presence and to live in 14 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: divine obedience to your plan for my life. And when 15 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 1: I have the opportunity to get revenge and get even 16 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: against my accusers, I will remain true to myself and 17 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: declare that it is the Lord that rights the wrongs 18 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:18,279 Speaker 1: against me through my kindness. Lord, like Saul and David, 19 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: you will reward my mercy and forgiveness because it restores 20 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: peace on a troubled mind. To day is the day 21 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: I declare that I am free from the wrong doings 22 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 1: of others, because love and forgiveness now floods my heart 23 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: in Jesus name. Amen, thank you for making prayer a 24 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: priority in your day. To learn more about the Bible, 25 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: stay tuned for today's story, brought to you by Bible 26 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: in a year dot. 27 00:01:53,480 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 2: Com, David's Kindness towards Saul. Previously, we learned about David's 28 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 2: escape from Saul. David had to lie to priests, pretend 29 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 2: to be insane to kings, and escape to caves in 30 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 2: order to preserve his life. However, God continued to bless David. Outcasts, misfits, 31 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 2: and debaters from Israel began to band around him in 32 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 2: the forests of Judah. David began to lead a community 33 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 2: of over three hundred mighty men. Meanwhile, Saul was held 34 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 2: bent on killing all who aided David. Saul slaughtered nearly 35 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 2: one hundred priests and their families for helping David. In 36 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 2: this story, David and Saul meet for the first time 37 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:50,519 Speaker 2: since David's escape. We will witness the madness of King 38 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 2: Saul as he goes after David. Yet even in Saul's 39 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 2: complete wickedness, David cannot help but feel connected to Saul 40 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 2: like a son has. Inspired by the Book of First Samuel. 41 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the 42 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. In our most recent episode, 43 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 3: we followed David through his encounter with Alimelech, into the 44 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 3: Pelictine country of Gath and into the caves of Adullum. 45 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 3: God saw David through each step of the way, providing 46 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 3: for him and keeping him safe from the hand of Saul. 47 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 3: David began to gather a following of outcasts that would 48 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 3: become his army. Saul, who was blinded to all reason 49 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 3: by his hateful desire to kill David, continued to hunt 50 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 3: him down, an even slaughtered priest and their families, who 51 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 3: he believed had betrayed him when they helped David. Today, 52 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 3: we will continue to see Saul seething with rage pursuing David. 53 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 3: But even when given the chance to harm Saul, David 54 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 3: shows the puritess and integrity of his heart and the 55 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 3: tenderness that he would show toward his enemy. Lets now 56 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 3: listen to God's word today. 57 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 2: David and his ragtag group of men continued to build 58 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 2: their community in the forests of Judah. The social outcasts 59 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:17,040 Speaker 2: and misfits had found purpose in taking care of one another. 60 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 2: They had been rejected by Israel, but accepted by David. 61 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 2: Because of this, they followed him without question. One day, 62 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 2: the men were building homes in the shade among the trees. 63 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: Some men lounged near the streams, while others wove baskets 64 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 2: or hunted. Life was peaceful until David was given a 65 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 2: message that the Philistines were robbing the village of Kila. 66 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 2: After months of hiding, David's heroic nature re emerged within him. 67 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 2: The innocent villagers were being tormented, raped, and robbed by 68 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 2: the sworn enemies of Israel. Saul was so busy pursuing 69 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 2: David that he had neglected to protect his people. David 70 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:00,080 Speaker 2: took his band of outcasts up against the armies of 71 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 2: the Philistines. Together they delivered a great blow and saved Kayla. 72 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 2: The men, once rejected by Israel, were now responsible for 73 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 2: saving it. Once Kayla was delivered, Saul came up to 74 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 2: pursue David. David and his men fled back into the wilderness, 75 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:23,599 Speaker 2: back into exile. They returned to the caves among the mountains, dirty, 76 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 2: tired and dejected. The joy of saving the village was 77 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 2: replaced with fear of being captured once again. David anguished 78 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 2: over the loss of freedom for him and his men. 79 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,479 Speaker 2: In the darkness of the caves, David wept before God. 80 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 2: David battled day after day with his own hopelessness and 81 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:46,359 Speaker 2: self worth. At night, he would sing songs to God, 82 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 2: reminding his soul to maintain hope. David's poetry and music 83 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 2: was honest, raw, and filled with praise. It would be 84 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 2: these psalms that would bring hope to millions of people 85 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 2: all throughout history. For that time, they comforted the storm 86 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:07,239 Speaker 2: in David's heart. The sweet songs of praise kept David's 87 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 2: heart alive in him and gave his men's strength to continue. 88 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: In the stillness of the evening, the men would lay 89 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 2: down and listen to David's voice echo throughout the caves 90 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 2: as he sung The Lord is my Light, whom shall 91 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 2: I fear? He is my fortress, whom shall I fear? 92 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 2: When the wicked seek to devour me, it is they 93 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 2: who will fall, Though armies seek my life. My heart 94 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 2: shall not fear though war comes to me. I will 95 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 2: be confident. Just one thing I ask is that I 96 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 2: may dwell in the presence of the Lord forever all 97 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 2: the days of my life. I want to gaze upon 98 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: the beauty of my God, for in the day of trouble, 99 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 2: he will keep me safe. He is my shelter forever. 100 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,359 Speaker 2: As David sang in the night to the Lord, Saul 101 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 2: stowed in his own hatred. He became obsessed with killing 102 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 2: David and raised an army of three thousand soldiers to 103 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 2: rise up against David and his men. Saul's army camped 104 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: outside the caves, not knowing that David and his men 105 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 2: dwelled inside. Saul and his men set up camp, and 106 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: Saul went into the entrance of the cave to rest 107 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 2: and attend to his own needs. David's men whispered to him, saying, 108 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 2: now is your chance. God has given Saul to you 109 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 2: on a silver platter. David approached Saul quietly. Saul was 110 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 2: dozing off, an easy target. It would be nothing for 111 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 2: David to cut his throat and be done with the madness. 112 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 2: David stood over Saul in the darkness of the cave 113 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 2: for a few moments. Quietly, David drew his blade and 114 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 2: crouched down next to Saul. He grabbed a part of 115 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 2: his robe, raised the blade, and cut off a small 116 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 2: sliver of his robe. Then David left quietly and did 117 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 2: not disturb Saul any further. David walked back into the 118 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 2: cave where his men were waiting for him. Illuminated by 119 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 2: the fire, small tears could be seen on David's cheeks. 120 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 2: David looked at them and said, I shall not put 121 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 2: my hand against God's anointed. I should not have laid 122 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 2: even a finger on him. So David persuaded his men 123 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 2: to not harm Saul. Back at the entrance of the cave. 124 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 2: Saul rose up at dawn and went on his way 125 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 2: to continue his search for David. David watched Saul pack 126 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 2: up and begin his departure. His stomach was a knots 127 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 2: and his hands were shaking. David had faced Goliath, a 128 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:40,199 Speaker 2: giant unlike anyone has ever seen, and slew him. David 129 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 2: had faced enemies of great force and number. David had 130 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: slain thousands of men with bravery. Yet now David stood 131 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 2: at the entrance of the cave, about to do the 132 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 2: bravest thing he had ever done. David arose after Saul 133 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 2: and went out of the cave. My king, he shouted. 134 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 2: As Saul was mounting his horse horse. Assaul looked behind him. 135 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 2: David bowed his face into the dirt. David beat his 136 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 2: chest and spoke to Saul, saying, why do you listen 137 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 2: to those who say I would mean you harm. David 138 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 2: then lifted up the piece of his robe he tore 139 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:17,839 Speaker 2: off and said, I was standing above you in the cave. 140 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 2: I could have taken your life, but I dared not 141 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 2: lay a hand on you. I have not sinned against you. 142 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 2: I have been nothing but faithful. My life has been yours, 143 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 2: and now you seek to end it. David stood to 144 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 2: his feet, threw his sword on to the floor, and 145 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: spread his arms. May God judge between you and me. 146 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 2: He may punish you, but I will not. Saul stood 147 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 2: there in silence. He looked at David, now grizzled and 148 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 2: dirty for months of battle and exile. He was then 149 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 2: reminded of the young boy who once tried on his armor. 150 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 2: He remembered the young boy who would play music to 151 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 2: calm his soul. Saul's hardened heart began to melt under 152 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 2: the warm mercy of David. Saul dismounted his horse and 153 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 2: walked towards David, trembling. His lips were quivering and his 154 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 2: eyes began to water. The dark clouds over Saul's mind 155 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 2: began to part, and he began to weep. Is that 156 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 2: you my son, David? Saul whispered, and the two of 157 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 2: them embraced. As Saul wept, Saul fell into David's arms 158 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 2: as if he had been carrying a weight on his 159 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 2: shoulders for years. David held Saul. God had rewarded David's mercy, 160 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 2: for mercy restores peace to a weary mind. Saul held 161 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 2: David's face and said, you are far more righteous than I. David, 162 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 2: God put me in your hands and you did not 163 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 2: kill me. Saul's eyes met David's, and he said, you 164 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 2: will be a better king than I. The entire kingdom 165 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 2: of Israel will thrive under your care, though I do 166 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 2: not deserve it. Please show me in my house kindness. 167 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 2: So David made his promise to Saul. Saul left with 168 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 2: his army back home, but David returned to the wilderness 169 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 2: with his men. David experienced the comforts and mercies of 170 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:15,080 Speaker 2: God alone in the wilderness. In that same place, he 171 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,959 Speaker 2: had the courage to show Saul mercy. David was chosen 172 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 2: by God to be king, not because he was mighty 173 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 2: strong or courageous, but because David's heart was continually seeking 174 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 2: after God's. 175 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 3: We begin today's story with David leading a community in 176 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 3: the wilderness. These people that had been rejected and cast 177 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 3: out had bonded to David and will follow him and 178 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 3: be faithful to him wherever he goes. David then hears 179 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 3: that a nearby village is being attacked and terrorized by 180 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 3: the Felicites. His loving shepherd's heart is stirred and he 181 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 3: knows God's people must be protected. But rather than rushing 182 00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 3: into battle, David seeks God first for guidance. God confirms 183 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 3: the calling and tells David he must save Keila from 184 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 3: the Philistines. This should have been Saul's job is king, 185 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 3: but he was so intent on killing David that his 186 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 3: people's cries mattered nothing to him. So David assembled an 187 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 3: army of the faithful men that he was leading, and 188 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 3: they rescued Keela from the enemy. Their success. God saw 189 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 3: his attention and he came in pursuit of David once again. 190 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 3: Despite David having just saved the city, God told him 191 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 3: that when Saul arrived, the people of Keeli would hand 192 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 3: him over to Saul. This was because they feared what 193 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 3: Saul would do to them if they refused. So David 194 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 3: and his men fled back into the wilderness in exile. 195 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 3: This was a very dark time for David, and we 196 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 3: know that it is in this period that he prayed 197 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 3: and sought God. David wrote many psalms praising God and 198 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 3: lamenting this situation, this time in the desert when God 199 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 3: seemed so far away, at times when he was under attack. 200 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 3: But no matter his circums dances, David never abandoned God, 201 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 3: and he would always praise God and wrote the most 202 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 3: profound and beautiful poems we know as the psalms. Saul 203 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 3: did not give up, however, he continued to pursue David 204 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 3: with an army of three thousand. The madness of the 205 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:18,959 Speaker 3: king consumed him and they went up into the mountains 206 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 3: after David and his men. They set up camp outside 207 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 3: the very caves where David and his men were hiding. 208 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 3: Then that night Saul retreated into the quietness of a 209 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 3: cave to relieve himself. David's men told him that this 210 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 3: was his chance. God had given his enemy Saul into 211 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 3: his hands, but David could not bring himself to kill 212 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 3: the king, the one that God had previously anointed evil 213 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:48,559 Speaker 3: or not. Saul meant something to David, and most of all, 214 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 3: God's will and God's purposes overruled his heart. So instead 215 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 3: he secretly came into where Saul was and cut a 216 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 3: piece of his robe and retreated into the darkness of safety. 217 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 3: But even this act troubled David's heart, and in First 218 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 3: Samuel twenty four, verse six, we read this he said 219 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 3: to his men, the Lord forbid that I should do 220 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 3: this thing to the Lord's anointed, to put out my 221 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 3: hand against him, seeing he is the Lord's anointed. But 222 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 3: David understood something very very important to us. Not every 223 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 3: opportunity is necessarily from God. He could have easily justified 224 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 3: taking Saul's life, but David, always the man after God's heart, 225 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 3: was willing to have mercy on his enemy and leave 226 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 3: vengeance to the Lord. David then revealed himself to Saul, 227 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 3: showing him the strip of his robe as proof that 228 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 3: he could have easily ended his life in that moment 229 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 3: Saul is broken, he recognizes the worthiness of David and 230 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 3: the evil of his own sin. The two men embrace 231 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 3: and weep, and David promises that whatever God God does 232 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 3: to punish Saul, it will not be by his hand 233 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 3: that carries out the justice. This is the heart that 234 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 3: God saw in young David years before in Jesse's home, 235 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 3: a heart that seeks God's wisdom, that obeys God at 236 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 3: all costs, that lives in love and mercy. In that moment, 237 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 3: David showed us how he was everything Saul was not, 238 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 3: and why he was fit and ready to be king, 239 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 3: a man after God's own heart. Dear Lord, help us 240 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 3: to learn from David's example of mercy. Help us also 241 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 3: to seek your wisdom and guidance always and never to 242 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 3: take the easy way just because it may make sense 243 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 3: to us. May we have a heart of compassion for 244 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 3: even our enemies. As Jesus told us, we know that 245 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 3: you have had immeasurable compassion and mercy on us. Thank 246 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 3: you for your love that went to the cross to die, 247 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 3: and that you lived to be our savior and Lord. 248 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 3: In your name, we pray Amen. Thank you for listening 249 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 3: to today's Bible in a year podcast. I'm Jack Graham 250 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 3: from Dallas, Texas. Download Theprey dot com app and make 251 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 3: prayer and Bible study a priority in your life. If 252 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 3: you enjoy this podcast, share it with someone you love 253 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 3: or know. And by sharing this podcast, we can get 254 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 3: the word of God to the world. And if you 255 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 3: want more resources on how to tap into God's power 256 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 3: for Christian living, be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. 257 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 3: God Bless you. 258 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 2: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 259 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 2: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality. 260 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Premius Podcast, where hope is our only bias. 261 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 2: Each day, we will unpack the most prominent stories happening 262 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 2: in the news and offer a Christian perspective. 263 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: We won't shy away from the hard topics, and we 264 00:16:56,280 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: won't dilute the hopeful message of Christ. This is more 265 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: than a daily brief on the news. 266 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 2: It's a way to be informed and transformed. Listen to 267 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 2: Pray News on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 268 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 2: you get your podcasts.