1
00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:05,040
Speaker 1: Haven't I commanded you be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid,

2
00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:09,800
Speaker 1: don't be dismayed. For Yahweh, your God is with you

3
00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:18,000
Speaker 1: wherever you go. Joshua one nine Father, to day, I

4
00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:22,400
Speaker 1: welcome whatever comes my way because I know that in

5
00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,959
Speaker 1: your love for me, you have already prepared for me.

6
00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:30,560
Speaker 1: You have been at work in every part of my

7
00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,880
Speaker 1: heart and my life. My down time has been my

8
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:40,000
Speaker 1: prep time. You've been teaching me and testing me, developing me,

9
00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:44,960
Speaker 1: and strengthening me. You knew in advance the wisdom and

10
00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:48,680
Speaker 1: skill that I would need, and you have provided it

11
00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:53,680
Speaker 1: to me. To day, I walk in obedience to everything

12
00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:57,720
Speaker 1: you have commanded me. If you have commanded it, I

13
00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,720
Speaker 1: stand on it, I carry it out. I see it

14
00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:06,000
Speaker 1: through because you are my God, and every one of

15
00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:10,720
Speaker 1: your promises is true. You have gone before me, and

16
00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:15,039
Speaker 1: even now you are with me every single step of

17
00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:19,640
Speaker 1: the way. I know you are leading me on this journey.

18
00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,080
Speaker 1: I don't have to be afraid of anyone or anything.

19
00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:27,240
Speaker 1: No matter how big the challenge, how great the obstacle,

20
00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,720
Speaker 1: or how tall the giants that are standing in my way,

21
00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:36,560
Speaker 1: I will overcome them all. Because of you, I have

22
00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:41,640
Speaker 1: victory Today I stake my claim to the fulfillment of

23
00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:46,360
Speaker 1: every dream you have given me, every aspiration or goal

24
00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,720
Speaker 1: that you have called me to achieve. And it's in

25
00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:52,160
Speaker 1: Jesus's name, I pray.

26
00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:54,520
Speaker 2: Amen.

27
00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,960
Speaker 1: Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever

28
00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:04,240
Speaker 1: told from prey dot COM's podcast, Heroes in the Bible.

29
00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:06,280
Speaker 2: Hello.

30
00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,240
Speaker 3: My name is Matthew Potter, co founder of Prey dot com,

31
00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,040
Speaker 3: and before we start today's episode of Heroes in the Bible,

32
00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,200
Speaker 3: I wanted to ask do you know what your bank

33
00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,919
Speaker 3: does with your money? At America's Christian Credit Union, your

34
00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:23,280
Speaker 3: everyday banking helps grow churches, expand the reach of missions agencies,

35
00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:27,360
Speaker 3: and supports fellow believers across the country. Learn more about

36
00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:32,240
Speaker 3: specials for switching to ACCU and their nationwide banking capabilities

37
00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:39,160
Speaker 3: at America's christiancu dot Com Forward slash Prey plus the

38
00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,040
Speaker 3: peace of mind knowing that this credit union is federally

39
00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,120
Speaker 3: insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

40
00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:46,400
Speaker 2: Hi.

41
00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,280
Speaker 4: I'm doctor Tony Evans and I'm excited for you to

42
00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,440
Speaker 4: join me on Heroes in the Bible. Please be sure

43
00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,720
Speaker 4: to follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify so you

44
00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,520
Speaker 4: get the newest episodes right as they come out. Welcome

45
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:07,520
Speaker 4: to the Adventure of David. A story of honor, battle, chealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,

46
00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,800
Speaker 4: and murder. While most people know of David the myth,

47
00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:14,720
Speaker 4: few know about David the man. In this episode, David

48
00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,600
Speaker 4: is given another chance to seize the throne and end

49
00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:22,360
Speaker 4: his misery. Opportunities to end his suffering constantly present themselves,

50
00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:27,920
Speaker 4: yet David has always refused to take them. Our hero

51
00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:33,000
Speaker 4: can be frustratingly noble, sometimes defying basic logic to stick

52
00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,400
Speaker 4: to his principles. How many times will he keep saying

53
00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:40,320
Speaker 4: no to his convictions? When will he finally decide enough

54
00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,960
Speaker 4: is enough? Everyone has their limit, and this could be David's.

55
00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,440
Speaker 4: Saul is going to mount another attack and David will

56
00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:51,440
Speaker 4: once again stand over his sleeping body poised to strike.

57
00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:56,800
Speaker 4: This episode features a more callous David. The constant disrespect

58
00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,240
Speaker 4: from Saul is starting to get to him, and you

59
00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,800
Speaker 4: get the sense that his patience is wearing thin. Look

60
00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:07,080
Speaker 4: for signs of volatility from David and question whether he

61
00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:10,440
Speaker 4: can last much longer in the wilderness. The events of

62
00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,520
Speaker 4: this episode lead him to a much darker period of

63
00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,719
Speaker 4: his life, and we cannot help but feel sorry for

64
00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,400
Speaker 4: the giant slayer at the end. So far his noble

65
00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,680
Speaker 4: acts have gotten him nowhere. It's time for him to

66
00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,840
Speaker 4: indulge a little and take command. Before we find out

67
00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,480
Speaker 4: the answer, we will begin with the prelude. This prelude

68
00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:35,120
Speaker 4: features Jonah, an angry and bitter prophet. Many cute Bible

69
00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,200
Speaker 4: stories have been told about him, but he is no hero.

70
00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,680
Speaker 4: He has a callous heart and would rather have judgment

71
00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,680
Speaker 4: than mercy. God reveals his heart in an interesting way

72
00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,920
Speaker 4: to Jonah. We would be wise to take his message

73
00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:53,359
Speaker 4: to heart. Let's get into it. Here's chapter fourteen, The

74
00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:54,200
Speaker 4: King's Spear.

75
00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:06,039
Speaker 2: Prelude to chapter fourteen. Jonah anxiously awaited the demise of

76
00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:10,200
Speaker 2: the city. He sat in great anticipation, waiting for fire

77
00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,920
Speaker 2: to fall from the heavens, or a burst of lightning

78
00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:16,440
Speaker 2: and rain to dissent from the skies. Yet there was silence.

79
00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,200
Speaker 2: No divine judgment was cast down on the city of Nineveh.

80
00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,400
Speaker 2: The wicked people did not receive the wrath that Jonah

81
00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:27,160
Speaker 2: had hoped, and he hated God for it. Jonah picked

82
00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:29,839
Speaker 2: up a stone and threw it towards the city. He

83
00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,760
Speaker 2: yelled and cried out to God waving his fist high

84
00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:33,400
Speaker 2: in the air.

85
00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:36,200
Speaker 5: They deserved to die, he yelled.

86
00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:38,159
Speaker 6: They are bad people.

87
00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,240
Speaker 4: I fled from you because I knew you would show

88
00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:44,359
Speaker 4: them mercy and spare them if I came here and

89
00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:45,400
Speaker 4: you did.

90
00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,320
Speaker 2: Is it right for you to have this anger Jonah?

91
00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,240
Speaker 2: God asked with a gentle tone. Jonah was angry. He

92
00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:57,080
Speaker 2: paced back and forth, raging against God. He placed himself

93
00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,760
Speaker 2: underneath the shade of a tree. Its long brainches provided

94
00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,120
Speaker 2: a pleasant shade from the harsh sun. Jonah settled in

95
00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,960
Speaker 2: underneath it and crossed his arms. His blood was boiling

96
00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,600
Speaker 2: with anger. He breathed in deeply and closed his eyes.

97
00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,279
Speaker 2: The tree enveloped him in shade, shielding him from the

98
00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:19,680
Speaker 2: scorching sun. About in that moment, he loved that tree

99
00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:23,080
Speaker 2: more than anything else on earth. He let his mind wander,

100
00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:27,360
Speaker 2: dreaming over simpler times. As Jonah rested in its arms,

101
00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,600
Speaker 2: he fell into a deep and peaceful sleep. That night,

102
00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:34,800
Speaker 2: the Lord sent a worm to gnaw at the tree's roots,

103
00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:39,320
Speaker 2: taking away its life. It infected the tree and caused

104
00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,960
Speaker 2: its leaves to wither and fall. The tree shriveled in

105
00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,359
Speaker 2: its place, and the lush and vibrant sanctuary for Jonah

106
00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:50,320
Speaker 2: was reduced to rotting bark and fruit. Jonah awoke to

107
00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,640
Speaker 2: see his beloved tree dead. Even more anger fell upon him.

108
00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,280
Speaker 2: Hot air blew in from the east, and his skin

109
00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,800
Speaker 2: began to crack and blister. Jonah threw himself onto the

110
00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:02,360
Speaker 2: floor and banged the ground.

111
00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:07,520
Speaker 4: Why God, first you spare my enemies, now you take

112
00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:08,920
Speaker 4: away my only comfort?

113
00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,920
Speaker 2: Why do you torture me so? Jonah wept and whispered.

114
00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:18,240
Speaker 5: It would be better for me to just die.

115
00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,680
Speaker 6: Are you justified in your anger about the plant? God

116
00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,920
Speaker 6: asked Jonah, you pity this plant for which you did

117
00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:32,040
Speaker 6: not plant. You did not help it grow, You did

118
00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:37,160
Speaker 6: not want or care for it, Yet you loved it

119
00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:42,640
Speaker 6: and wanted it to live. Should I not care more

120
00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:47,520
Speaker 6: for Nineveh? It is not a plant, but a city

121
00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:53,080
Speaker 6: with more than one hundred twenty thousand people who do

122
00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:58,600
Speaker 6: not know what is right or wrong? Shouldn't I care

123
00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:01,960
Speaker 6: more for them than your precious tree.

124
00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:06,240
Speaker 2: In God's questions to Jonah, an important and ancient truth

125
00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:11,080
Speaker 2: was revealed. God is a god of second chances. He

126
00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:17,120
Speaker 2: desires for life, repentance, and true transformation, while Jonah desired

127
00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,480
Speaker 2: quick and swift justice for his enemies. The true hero

128
00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:25,120
Speaker 2: of God desires for restoration. He will patiently wait for

129
00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,679
Speaker 2: those who are far to come back to the Lord,

130
00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:34,040
Speaker 2: no matter how painful the journey may be. Chapter fourteen,

131
00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:39,440
Speaker 2: The King spear. The royal city of Gibea rested under

132
00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:44,320
Speaker 2: the blackened skies. The twinkling stars were covered by dark clouds.

133
00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,840
Speaker 2: The light was hidden from King Saul. Even as he

134
00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:50,560
Speaker 2: sat by the fire, there was no warmth for his

135
00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,400
Speaker 2: cold and darkened soul. He stared at the flames flickering

136
00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:58,520
Speaker 2: before his eyes, reeling over his last encounter with David,

137
00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:01,240
Speaker 2: the young shepherd he had seen, sought for so many months,

138
00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,280
Speaker 2: had the upper hand, yet chose to show him mercy.

139
00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:08,560
Speaker 2: He did not love him for it. Rather, Saul hated

140
00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:12,520
Speaker 2: David even more for his compassion. David held the heart

141
00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:15,480
Speaker 2: of a true king, and with every act of mercy,

142
00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:20,400
Speaker 2: Saul despised him all the more. Saul's paranoid and anxious

143
00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,520
Speaker 2: thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his chamber doors.

144
00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,200
Speaker 2: Come in, the king said, gripping the shaft of his spear.

145
00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:30,840
Speaker 2: The door opened. A man from Zif was brought in

146
00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,679
Speaker 2: by one of his guards. The king gestured to the

147
00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,080
Speaker 2: seat across from him. Sit He said shortly, tell me

148
00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:39,080
Speaker 2: what you have discovered.

149
00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:40,840
Speaker 5: I was promised payment.

150
00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:42,480
Speaker 2: The man said, with a sly grin.

151
00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,240
Speaker 5: If you want what I know, I expect a payment

152
00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:46,000
Speaker 5: that was promised.

153
00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,040
Speaker 2: The king rolled his neck back and gritted his teeth.

154
00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,080
Speaker 2: He stood to his feet and grabbed a dagger from

155
00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:56,559
Speaker 2: the table. Without warning, the king slammed the dagger downward

156
00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:59,640
Speaker 2: under the Ziphy's hand. The board cried out in ad

157
00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:02,400
Speaker 2: screaming for the king to release his hand.

158
00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:04,080
Speaker 5: Please, please stop.

159
00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:07,600
Speaker 2: The King drove the knife down even deeper, leaning over

160
00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:11,040
Speaker 2: and snarling in the boy's face. Tell me what you know.

161
00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:16,000
Speaker 6: Your payment shall be my mercy, Saul growled, Tell me

162
00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:17,280
Speaker 6: where David is hiding.

163
00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,959
Speaker 2: As if eyed. Man winced in pain and screamed.

164
00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:22,280
Speaker 5: He is hiding on the hill of Hachilah.

165
00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:26,240
Speaker 2: The boy could barely breathe, yet Saul leaned down even

166
00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:27,319
Speaker 2: more on the blade.

167
00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,959
Speaker 7: It is east of Jesseimon. You will find him there

168
00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:34,200
Speaker 7: in the wilderness. He his men and their families are

169
00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,640
Speaker 7: hiding out and fortified. You won't need at least a

170
00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:38,200
Speaker 7: thousand men to fight them.

171
00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:41,960
Speaker 2: Saul released the blade from the man's hand. The boy

172
00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:45,040
Speaker 2: keeled over, holding his hand and crying leave me.

173
00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:49,720
Speaker 6: I will have my God give you your.

174
00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:54,520
Speaker 2: Payments, Saul said quietly and without remorse. His callous heart

175
00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:58,360
Speaker 2: had already fallen too low to repent. Saul had surrendered

176
00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,840
Speaker 2: himself to cruelty. To him, there was no amount of

177
00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:05,480
Speaker 2: violence he would not commit in pursuit of David. He

178
00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,319
Speaker 2: wiped off his blade and called in his captain, Abner.

179
00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,360
Speaker 2: The captain stood at attention, pretending not to hear the

180
00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,080
Speaker 2: cries of pain exiting the halls.

181
00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,960
Speaker 6: Abner ready three thousand chosen men.

182
00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:19,880
Speaker 2: King Saul commanded, I.

183
00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:23,760
Speaker 6: Will take no more chances in pursuit of David. We

184
00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,000
Speaker 6: will wipe him and his band.

185
00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:30,560
Speaker 2: Of rebels out. Abner nodded and left immediately to assemble

186
00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:33,800
Speaker 2: the army. Saul walked outside on to his balcony and

187
00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,240
Speaker 2: looked out. The rain clouds were blowing in from the east,

188
00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,560
Speaker 2: and the cold wind bit at his face. Yet the

189
00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:43,760
Speaker 2: king could feel nothing but the burning hatred deep within

190
00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:48,559
Speaker 2: his belly. The vast armies of Saul encamped beside the

191
00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:51,400
Speaker 2: hill of Hachilah, east of the road leading to Jeshamon.

192
00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,079
Speaker 2: The sun was beginning to make its descent, and the

193
00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:57,800
Speaker 2: king was anxiously preparing his men for battle on the

194
00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:01,160
Speaker 2: other side of the mountain. He knew that David was

195
00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,760
Speaker 2: trapped there on the other side, and it was only

196
00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,200
Speaker 2: a matter of time before he had his head. Sitting

197
00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:09,680
Speaker 2: on the tip of his spear, the king methodically sharpened

198
00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:12,679
Speaker 2: his spear, imagining what it would finally be like to

199
00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:16,000
Speaker 2: pin the giant slayer to the ground. He gave a

200
00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:19,280
Speaker 2: debased and evil smile as he checked the sharpness of

201
00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,520
Speaker 2: the spear. Then he rested it on the ground beside

202
00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:27,079
Speaker 2: his bed. Soon enough he would have David. Soon enough,

203
00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:30,600
Speaker 2: his weary mind could finally rest, and the whole world

204
00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:33,319
Speaker 2: would know that he was the true King of Israel.

205
00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:36,920
Speaker 2: Hiding in the shadows of the stones at the base

206
00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,120
Speaker 2: of the mountain was Abishai and a Himelech, two of

207
00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:44,360
Speaker 2: David's most trusted companions. They peered over the stones, counting

208
00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,760
Speaker 2: the number of men Saul had brought up against.

209
00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:48,439
Speaker 5: Them, over three thousand.

210
00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,040
Speaker 6: Abishi whispered, they outnumber us five to one.

211
00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,120
Speaker 2: A Himelek said, the only hope we have a striking

212
00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,400
Speaker 2: them before they have a chance to match. Abishi shook

213
00:12:58,440 --> 00:12:59,719
Speaker 2: his head even.

214
00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:01,920
Speaker 5: Their nightmare Watch is larger in number than our men.

215
00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:04,600
Speaker 5: We would need a miracle for them to be cut off.

216
00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:08,440
Speaker 2: Guard a Himelek shrugged and gestured up the mountain. We

217
00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:12,000
Speaker 2: serve God's anointed, he said, with a chuckle. If anyone

218
00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,120
Speaker 2: will see be saved by a miracle, is it not?

219
00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,680
Speaker 2: David Abieshi could not argue with them. The favor of

220
00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:21,240
Speaker 2: God seemed to follow David wherever he went. He and

221
00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:24,400
Speaker 2: the others followed their commander with a type of chaotic optimism.

222
00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,439
Speaker 2: No matter what kind of trouble they found themselves in,

223
00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:31,559
Speaker 2: Grace and mercy seemed to follow them. God was continually

224
00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:35,439
Speaker 2: before them, protecting them and saving them. The two men

225
00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,920
Speaker 2: escaped back into the mountains where David was with the

226
00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:41,920
Speaker 2: rest of the men. They had built an encampment fortified

227
00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:45,680
Speaker 2: with wooden spears cut down from tree branches. Their families

228
00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,400
Speaker 2: resided in the caves only a few hundred yards away.

229
00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:53,280
Speaker 2: Abishai and Ahimelech made it to David. He was training

230
00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:55,120
Speaker 2: with a few of the men on the flat area

231
00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,320
Speaker 2: at the base of the other side of the mountain Ah.

232
00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:02,240
Speaker 2: David faced four menanced with their swords, seeking to disarm him,

233
00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,600
Speaker 2: but David was too quick with his brave He parried

234
00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,400
Speaker 2: their advances and was able to disarm too and knock

235
00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:10,680
Speaker 2: the other two down with swift kicks to the knees

236
00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:14,040
Speaker 2: and stomach. David was not easy on his men. He

237
00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,280
Speaker 2: trained them constantly, ensuring that when the time came for

238
00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:20,760
Speaker 2: them to defend themselves, they were ready. He trained them

239
00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:25,520
Speaker 2: in combat, military tactics, and group formations. He engendered a

240
00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,520
Speaker 2: great deal of loyalty in his men. They followed him

241
00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:31,920
Speaker 2: anywhere without question because they knew he was a leader

242
00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,720
Speaker 2: that would lay down his life for them. Ambishai and

243
00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:39,160
Speaker 2: a Himelek interrupted David's training with the news of Saul's arrival.

244
00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,920
Speaker 5: David, the King is on the other side of this

245
00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,360
Speaker 5: mountain with over three thousand men.

246
00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:46,000
Speaker 2: A Himelek said, by the.

247
00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:49,080
Speaker 5: Looks of it, they planned to march at tomorrow's first light.

248
00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,800
Speaker 2: David strapped his sword onto his back and tightened his armor.

249
00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,680
Speaker 2: He looked back at Benaiah, who was training with him.

250
00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,520
Speaker 6: Benaiah, get the men ready for battle. Make sure they

251
00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:03,160
Speaker 6: are poison to defend themselves. I will be back at

252
00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:04,400
Speaker 6: first night tomorrow.

253
00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:09,080
Speaker 2: Beniya nodded and began assembling the men. David moved past

254
00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,800
Speaker 2: Abashi and a Himelech and began hiking up the base

255
00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:15,440
Speaker 2: of the mountain. The two of them followed, David, Where

256
00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:19,520
Speaker 2: are you going, Abishi asked. David looked back and gestured

257
00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:20,520
Speaker 2: to the top of the mountain.

258
00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:24,040
Speaker 6: Saul looked me in the eye and told me he

259
00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:28,920
Speaker 6: would no longer pursue me. Clearly he has broken his word.

260
00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:33,960
Speaker 6: I will go and remind him of his disgrace. Do

261
00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:35,840
Speaker 6: either of you wished to go with me?

262
00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,040
Speaker 2: Abishi held the hilt of his sword tightly and nodded

263
00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:39,520
Speaker 2: at David.

264
00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:43,040
Speaker 5: I will go with you, David very well.

265
00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,600
Speaker 2: David said, follow me. So the two of them scaled

266
00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:49,800
Speaker 2: the mountain. The sun's rays were beginning to retreat behind

267
00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,440
Speaker 2: the western hills, and the light of day was replaced

268
00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:56,480
Speaker 2: by the flickering torchlight of Saul's camp. David and Abishi

269
00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:59,960
Speaker 2: climbed down the mountain and hid themselves out of view. Together,

270
00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:03,640
Speaker 2: they watched the patterns of the night watch, hundreds of

271
00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,680
Speaker 2: men posted up around the perimeter of camp. They were

272
00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:10,880
Speaker 2: upright and at attention, without any sign of wavering. Abshi

273
00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,000
Speaker 2: looked over at David. He was sitting completely still scanning

274
00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,240
Speaker 2: every inch of the camp before it fell under the

275
00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:22,000
Speaker 2: shroud of night. David remained there silently, occasionally mumbling to

276
00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:27,120
Speaker 2: himself and stroking his beard. What are you doing, Abishai asked, praying,

277
00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,680
Speaker 2: David said, the Lord will go before us and present

278
00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,040
Speaker 2: an opportunity to enter the camp.

279
00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:35,280
Speaker 6: We need only to wait.

280
00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:39,040
Speaker 2: So wait they did. Abishai and David held their position

281
00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:43,080
Speaker 2: overlooking the enemy camp. The cloud covered sky slowly began

282
00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,840
Speaker 2: to break, and the gray haze over the expanse of

283
00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:50,080
Speaker 2: the heavens cleared. Bright and lustrous stars covered the firmament,

284
00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:54,120
Speaker 2: and the brisk midnight air settled in their lungs. David

285
00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,880
Speaker 2: closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. He exhaled a

286
00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,920
Speaker 2: praise to his God, then gestured forward to the camp.

287
00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:06,200
Speaker 2: Abushi marveled at what he saw before him. The entire

288
00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:09,480
Speaker 2: night Watch had retreated to their tents. God had gone

289
00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,959
Speaker 2: into camp and shut the eyes of Sal's men. David

290
00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,199
Speaker 2: smirked and stood to his feet. He fastened his weapons

291
00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:19,359
Speaker 2: securely onto his back and began to run towards the tent.

292
00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:22,919
Speaker 2: The two men stealthily made their way to the center

293
00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,639
Speaker 2: of camp, where Sal's tent was. David and Abishi crouched

294
00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:29,439
Speaker 2: at the entrance of Sal's tent and looked around. Not

295
00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:33,119
Speaker 2: a soul was watching them. Abner, the captain of Sal's

296
00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,120
Speaker 2: guard and commander of his army, was fast asleep only

297
00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:39,640
Speaker 2: ten feet away. David held his finger to his lips,

298
00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:43,679
Speaker 2: ensuring Abishi did not make a sound. He then lifted

299
00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:47,600
Speaker 2: the tent entrance to reveal Saul sleeping soundly beside his spear.

300
00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:52,119
Speaker 2: David closed the entrance and began to stealthily leave this

301
00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:56,359
Speaker 2: confused Abishai, what are you doing, Abishi, whispered, God.

302
00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,040
Speaker 5: Has given your enemy's head on a silver platter. Why

303
00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,199
Speaker 5: not take this opportunity unity and kill him with his

304
00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:01,840
Speaker 5: own spear.

305
00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:03,679
Speaker 2: David shook his head.

306
00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:07,760
Speaker 6: I will not touch him. He is the Lord's anointed.

307
00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:10,520
Speaker 6: I shall not kill the king of Israel.

308
00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,720
Speaker 5: Then, by God, let me do it.

309
00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:14,320
Speaker 2: Ambush, I whispered intensely.

310
00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:16,560
Speaker 5: Let me pin his head to the ground for you.

311
00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:19,560
Speaker 5: I will even strike him twice to make sure it's done.

312
00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,480
Speaker 6: You will do no such thing, Abashi. No one can

313
00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:27,840
Speaker 6: kill the Lord's king and be guiltless. I will not.

314
00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,560
Speaker 2: Have you do it. Abishin was noticeably frustrated and began

315
00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:34,960
Speaker 2: to lose control. David put his hand on his shoulder

316
00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:39,320
Speaker 2: and smiled. His day will come. The Lord is the

317
00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:43,720
Speaker 2: one who decides who sits on the throne, not I.

318
00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,919
Speaker 2: If I take the throne by force, what does that

319
00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:51,160
Speaker 2: say about the Lord's favor in my life? It says

320
00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,520
Speaker 2: only that I know how to kill, not how to lead.

321
00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,560
Speaker 2: Ambitsh I shook his head and sighed. He agreed with David,

322
00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,600
Speaker 2: of course, However, it was hard for him to concede

323
00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:06,760
Speaker 2: this opportunity. David, of all people, understood his frustration. He

324
00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:09,640
Speaker 2: was tired from running, He was weary from the constant

325
00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:12,640
Speaker 2: fear of being captured or attacked. He wished he could

326
00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:16,159
Speaker 2: convince Saul somehow that he was not a threat to him.

327
00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:19,000
Speaker 2: He felt like he had already proven it before, but

328
00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:22,880
Speaker 2: it did not seem to be enough. David's eyes widened,

329
00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,399
Speaker 2: and he opened the tent back up to see Saul

330
00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:30,120
Speaker 2: sleeping beside his spear. He had an idea. David entered

331
00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,479
Speaker 2: in and crouched next to Saul. He took Saul's spear,

332
00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,600
Speaker 2: along with a jar of water resting beside his blankets.

333
00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,520
Speaker 2: David crouched out of the tent with the spear and

334
00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:42,840
Speaker 2: the jar of water. No man saw him or woke

335
00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,200
Speaker 2: from their sleep. He and Abshire retreated back with the

336
00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:49,480
Speaker 2: King's spear and water. They stood far off at the

337
00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:51,879
Speaker 2: top of the hill. There was a great deal of

338
00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:55,440
Speaker 2: space in between them and the camp. There, David waited

339
00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:56,520
Speaker 2: for the sun to rise.

340
00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:01,040
Speaker 5: David, why aren't we going back to camp? The men

341
00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:03,840
Speaker 5: will be up soon. We do not want three thousand

342
00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:04,800
Speaker 5: men to attack us.

343
00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:09,359
Speaker 6: David shook his head. No more running, he said adamantly.

344
00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:13,520
Speaker 6: This morning I will humiliate Saul in front of his men.

345
00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:16,679
Speaker 6: All of them will see that I am not a

346
00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:21,200
Speaker 6: threat to him. If he continues to pursue me, he

347
00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:23,399
Speaker 6: will look like a fool in front of his men.

348
00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:27,119
Speaker 6: Abish I was busibly nervous. It was a strange plan,

349
00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,080
Speaker 6: Yet these things seemed to usually work out for the

350
00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:33,199
Speaker 6: giant slayer abitsh I had no reason to question him.

351
00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,920
Speaker 6: Now the sun peeked over the mountain, and a bright

352
00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,159
Speaker 6: orange hue covered the tents below. The men began to

353
00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,440
Speaker 6: stir awake, and David stood tall for all to see him.

354
00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:48,280
Speaker 6: He called out with a loud and booming voice, Abner, Abner,

355
00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,520
Speaker 6: are you truly worthy to be called the right hand

356
00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:53,040
Speaker 6: of the king.

357
00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:57,040
Speaker 2: Abner burst out of his tent. King Saul emerged from

358
00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:59,720
Speaker 2: his tent as well. Both of them looked up to

359
00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,359
Speaker 2: see David standing proudly on the hill for all of

360
00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,880
Speaker 2: them to see. Saul seethed with anger at the very

361
00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:10,119
Speaker 2: sight of him. But before he could say anything, David continued.

362
00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:14,400
Speaker 6: Abner, how dare you call yourself a warrior of Israel

363
00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,320
Speaker 6: when you could not even keep watch over your king.

364
00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:23,159
Speaker 6: King Saul is precious and worth protecting. Yet you and

365
00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:27,920
Speaker 6: your men have slept on the job you dishonor yourselves

366
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:31,680
Speaker 6: and your position. Come down and fight me, you coward.

367
00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:37,560
Speaker 2: Abner said, Oh, but Abner, I already was down last

368
00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:43,120
Speaker 2: night when you were fast asleep. David taunted, Why they

369
00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:47,159
Speaker 2: are not lies, David shouted. He then gestured to the

370
00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:48,360
Speaker 2: king and said.

371
00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,919
Speaker 6: My King, Saul, go ahead and see where your spear is.

372
00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:57,360
Speaker 6: You will find it is not beside your bed, but

373
00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:01,200
Speaker 6: rather next to me, in your jar of water.

374
00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,840
Speaker 2: Saul looked behind him, and in his tent, no spear

375
00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:08,320
Speaker 2: and no jar of water. It was standing upright in

376
00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,800
Speaker 2: a jar of water beside David. The king was flustered

377
00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:15,520
Speaker 2: and embarrassed. Once again, David had the perfect opportunity to

378
00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:19,560
Speaker 2: slay him, yet he showed him mercy. Again and again

379
00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:24,880
Speaker 2: David showed him mercy. Saul wrestled with feelings of relief, gratitude,

380
00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:28,119
Speaker 2: and hatred all at once. He looked up to David

381
00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:29,080
Speaker 2: and shouted.

382
00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:31,720
Speaker 6: Is that really you, my son?

383
00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:37,440
Speaker 2: David? It is my king? David paused abish. I could

384
00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:40,719
Speaker 2: sense the hurt in David's voice. He wanted to be strong,

385
00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,240
Speaker 2: but there was clearly sorrow in his heart that he

386
00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:47,280
Speaker 2: was trying to hold back. David outstretched his arms and yelled,

387
00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:51,080
Speaker 2: why does the king pursue his servant? What have I

388
00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:55,320
Speaker 2: done to you to warrant such hatred? Hear me, O, King,

389
00:22:56,080 --> 00:23:00,320
Speaker 2: as I plead with you one last time, in the

390
00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:03,760
Speaker 2: presence of your loyal soldiers, let it be known that

391
00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,840
Speaker 2: this is twice now that I have had the opportunity

392
00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:13,840
Speaker 2: to slay you, and twice now I have shown you mercy.

393
00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,639
Speaker 2: Even though you seek to take my life, I have

394
00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:21,639
Speaker 2: not raised a hand against you. If it is the

395
00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:25,560
Speaker 2: Lord who has inspired this hunt after me, may he

396
00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:29,959
Speaker 2: aid you in your quest. Yet, if it is man

397
00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:34,240
Speaker 2: who has whispered lies in your ears. Let them be

398
00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:38,800
Speaker 2: cursed before the Lord, for you seek my blood to

399
00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:42,760
Speaker 2: spill forth on this earth. When I am clearly innocent.

400
00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:48,639
Speaker 2: Silence overcame the whole camp. Saul's men were still as

401
00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:52,119
Speaker 2: they awaited a response from their king. All this time

402
00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:54,879
Speaker 2: they had been told to believe that David was planning

403
00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:59,080
Speaker 2: a rebellion against Israel. Yet now King Saul was exposed

404
00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,920
Speaker 2: as a petty man seeking to take David's life out

405
00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:06,679
Speaker 2: of jealousy. With arms stretched out, Saul spoke with a

406
00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:08,600
Speaker 2: trembling voice, saying.

407
00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:13,040
Speaker 6: I I have sinned against you, David.

408
00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:17,760
Speaker 2: I was wrong. The entire camp stirred as they heard

409
00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:21,040
Speaker 2: the words come out of Saul's mouth. Tears fell down

410
00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:23,880
Speaker 2: Saul's cheeks as he lamented before David, saying.

411
00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:28,680
Speaker 6: I have acted foolishly, my son, Return or I shall

412
00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:30,959
Speaker 6: not pursue you any further.

413
00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,760
Speaker 2: David shook his head and sighed. As much as he

414
00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,680
Speaker 2: desired to trust the king, he did not. David took

415
00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:41,200
Speaker 2: the king's spear in his hands and lodged it into

416
00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:41,679
Speaker 2: the ground.

417
00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:46,439
Speaker 6: May God be judged between you and I. Saul, Come

418
00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:51,200
Speaker 6: and take your spear. I pray it serves you well.

419
00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,760
Speaker 2: With those words, David retreated back into the wilderness with

420
00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:59,720
Speaker 2: his men. Abeshi I was surprised at David's unrelenting mercy

421
00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:01,720
Speaker 2: to we toward Saul, and he feared it would be

422
00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:05,440
Speaker 2: his undoing. David knew that Saul would not pursue him

423
00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:08,879
Speaker 2: that day. If he did, his men would surely question

424
00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:12,280
Speaker 2: this judgment. However, he did not trust Saul to keep

425
00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:15,080
Speaker 2: a level head for long. He must plan for the

426
00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:18,640
Speaker 2: time when the king strikes again. David gathered as men

427
00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:21,560
Speaker 2: and they packed their things. David was about to make

428
00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,280
Speaker 2: a decision that would alter the course of his heart.

429
00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:28,119
Speaker 2: He was about to enter into the land of the Philistines.

430
00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:34,560
Speaker 4: God is a god of second chances. This basic and

431
00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,840
Speaker 4: longstanding truth applies to the city of Nineveh, and it

432
00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:42,760
Speaker 4: applies to King Saul. We've been conditioned throughout superhero movies

433
00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:45,359
Speaker 4: to think that the hero always has a right to

434
00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,679
Speaker 4: destroy the villain. It makes for a quick movie, but

435
00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:52,000
Speaker 4: it is a poor representation of how our world works.

436
00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:55,760
Speaker 4: The Bible teaches us that the real villains are Satan

437
00:25:55,880 --> 00:26:00,440
Speaker 4: and the evil dwelling within the heart of humanity. Yel's

438
00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:02,840
Speaker 4: lurk at the edge of our doorsteps, looking for an

439
00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:06,399
Speaker 4: opportunity to strike. If David kills Saul, it would be

440
00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:09,520
Speaker 4: out of revenge and nothing else. As evil as Saul

441
00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:12,600
Speaker 4: has become, he is not the real enemy. The real

442
00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:16,600
Speaker 4: enemy is sin and the slow deterioration of character. David

443
00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:19,520
Speaker 4: doesn't want to be defeated by bitterness, compromise, and sin.

444
00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:22,600
Speaker 4: It can be frustrating for us to see Saul get

445
00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,800
Speaker 4: another chance, just like it was frustrating for Jonah to

446
00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:29,280
Speaker 4: see NINEV get another chance. But if Jonah was after

447
00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:32,080
Speaker 4: the heart of God, like David, he would have seen

448
00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:35,639
Speaker 4: what God sees. God sees the potential for good in

449
00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:38,920
Speaker 4: every human being and the beauty that can be birthed

450
00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:43,359
Speaker 4: from mercy. Where would you be if nobody ever gave

451
00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:47,480
Speaker 4: you more chances? Aren't you grateful for receiving mercy when

452
00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:51,080
Speaker 4: you know you didn't deserve it. David will certainly need mercy,

453
00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:54,520
Speaker 4: and a lot of it in the coming episodes. After

454
00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:58,119
Speaker 4: the prelude, we are brought into a familiar space, the

455
00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:03,119
Speaker 4: royal city of Gibbea. In Saul's palace, A familiar scene

456
00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:07,199
Speaker 4: is set before us, with King Saul brooding near a

457
00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:12,199
Speaker 4: fire and plotting David's demise. The Shepherd's previous acts of

458
00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:16,360
Speaker 4: compassion have only made Saul hate him more, since righteousness

459
00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:21,520
Speaker 4: always angers unrighteousness. In this opening scene, Saul is gripping

460
00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:25,000
Speaker 4: his spear tightly. The story reminds us of the spear

461
00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:28,640
Speaker 4: several times in this episode. His weapon is mentioned more

462
00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:32,040
Speaker 4: than a dozen times because it is a key metaphor.

463
00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:36,200
Speaker 4: The spear represents the throne of Israel and the mantle

464
00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:40,680
Speaker 4: of king. Saul anxiously holds on to it and weighs

465
00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:45,800
Speaker 4: it around haphazardly. He fantasizes about using it to destroy David,

466
00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:48,520
Speaker 4: but in the end David ends up with it in

467
00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:52,520
Speaker 4: his possession. David gets the spear easily as if it

468
00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,520
Speaker 4: was handed to him. At the end of the episode,

469
00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:58,639
Speaker 4: David gives it back to Saul and leaves. This is

470
00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:02,240
Speaker 4: a grand metaphor of David and Saul's relationship to the throne.

471
00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:05,760
Speaker 4: Saul anxiously keeps it with him at all times, but

472
00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:08,480
Speaker 4: David is able to take it in an instant but

473
00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:11,240
Speaker 4: refuses to keep it as long as it belongs to Saul.

474
00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:15,160
Speaker 4: The kingdom is David's for the taking. It was prophesied

475
00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,120
Speaker 4: by Samuel on in episode three, the Lord has sought

476
00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:20,719
Speaker 4: out another to replace you. He has sought out a

477
00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:23,560
Speaker 4: man who is after his own heart. He has sought

478
00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:25,720
Speaker 4: out a man who cares more about pleasing the heart

479
00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:29,040
Speaker 4: of God than looking for the approval of man. This

480
00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:32,280
Speaker 4: king shall be prince over the Lord's people. He shall

481
00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:35,000
Speaker 4: steward God's people well, and it will be his kingdom

482
00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:39,800
Speaker 4: that continues into eternity. An episode four, Samuel mentions it again,

483
00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:43,840
Speaker 4: saying this kingdom will go to another. God has already

484
00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,680
Speaker 4: chosen him. He is a man that seeks after the

485
00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:49,920
Speaker 4: heart of God more than the heart of people. David

486
00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:53,280
Speaker 4: has been given the kingdom. Saul is just barring it

487
00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:56,400
Speaker 4: for a while. If David truly wanted to seize that

488
00:28:56,480 --> 00:29:01,000
Speaker 4: he could just like the spear of the throne is

489
00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:05,160
Speaker 4: another theme explored in this chapter. In this episode, Abishah

490
00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,240
Speaker 4: is like us, wondering why David won't take him out.

491
00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:11,520
Speaker 4: Some of you may feel similarly and would also encourage

492
00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,680
Speaker 4: David to just kill Saul and take the throne, But

493
00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:18,680
Speaker 4: David says something interesting that we haven't heard before. Abishah

494
00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:21,960
Speaker 4: begs David to kill Saul, but he responds saying his

495
00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:24,680
Speaker 4: day will come. The Lord is the one who decides

496
00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:27,280
Speaker 4: who sits on the throne, not I. If I take

497
00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:30,320
Speaker 4: the throne by force, what does that say about the

498
00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:33,480
Speaker 4: Lord's favor in my life? It says only that I

499
00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:37,080
Speaker 4: know how to kill, not how to lead. David wants

500
00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,479
Speaker 4: the throne of Israel to be more like a spoil

501
00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:42,640
Speaker 4: of war. If he kills Saul to take command, it

502
00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:45,960
Speaker 4: communicates that the throne goes to the strongest man, not

503
00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:50,160
Speaker 4: the favored man. David wants God to be who establishes

504
00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:54,280
Speaker 4: his king that conquest. David won't kill Saul because if

505
00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:56,360
Speaker 4: he really is chosen by God to be the king,

506
00:29:56,760 --> 00:30:00,640
Speaker 4: he will be the king at the right time. Integrity

507
00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:03,840
Speaker 4: inspire you or annoy you, it should do a little

508
00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:06,920
Speaker 4: bit of both. The strength of David's character is an

509
00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:10,480
Speaker 4: inspiration to us, while also challenging our hearts to be better.

510
00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:14,400
Speaker 4: Jesus does this as well. He comforts us and reminds

511
00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:17,800
Speaker 4: us of his mercy. It is encouraging to know we

512
00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,760
Speaker 4: have a strong and mighty God on our side who

513
00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:24,320
Speaker 4: loves us and accepts us. However, the character of Christ

514
00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,960
Speaker 4: also challenges us and calls us up to be better

515
00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:30,840
Speaker 4: and walk with more integrity. We live in a world

516
00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,360
Speaker 4: where people expect you to either be affirming or challenging,

517
00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:38,560
Speaker 4: but Jesus managed to be both. David managed to be

518
00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:42,680
Speaker 4: both with Saul. He honored, respected, and praised Saul, but

519
00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:46,520
Speaker 4: he also called him out on his sin. In this episode,

520
00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,239
Speaker 4: it seemed like David was able to balance truth and

521
00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:52,960
Speaker 4: love in his hands. Paul says in Ephesians, speaking the

522
00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:55,680
Speaker 4: truth in love, we are to grow up in every

523
00:30:55,720 --> 00:31:00,960
Speaker 4: respects into Him who is the head. Into Christ was honest, truthful,

524
00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:04,400
Speaker 4: and challenging in his speech, but he never once wavered

525
00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:08,840
Speaker 4: in showing Saul love. Both are required for genuine transformation

526
00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:13,360
Speaker 4: to occur. At the end of this episode, David secures

527
00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,920
Speaker 4: a little more safety for himself and his men. Saul's

528
00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:19,960
Speaker 4: men see that David isn't a threat, and it definitely

529
00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:24,360
Speaker 4: brought the King's motives into question. David has ensured that

530
00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:29,400
Speaker 4: Saul won't march against him without some sort of mass manipulation. However,

531
00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:32,200
Speaker 4: David also realizes that he can no longer stay in

532
00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:35,000
Speaker 4: Israel while SAULI is king, so he takes his men

533
00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:37,720
Speaker 4: out of the land and into the territory of the Philistines.

534
00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:42,120
Speaker 4: What adventures and events await the giant slay of air.

535
00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,480
Speaker 4: We will find out in our next episode, a friend

536
00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:50,080
Speaker 4: of the Enemy. Thanks again for listening. For more inspiring stories,

537
00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:53,480
Speaker 4: daily prayers and wisdom to last the lifetime, go to

538
00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:56,520
Speaker 4: pray dot com. And to expand your heroes in the

539
00:31:56,560 --> 00:32:00,400
Speaker 4: Bible Journey, download the Heroes of the Faith devotional at

540
00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:05,480
Speaker 4: Tonyevans dot org. Forward slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on

541
00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:08,840
Speaker 4: Apple or Spotify to get the newest episodes right as

542
00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:12,280
Speaker 4: they come out, and always be inspired by the Bible.

543
00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:13,320
Speaker 4: God bless