1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Let us pray be of good courage, and let us 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: play the men for our people and for the cities 3 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: of our God and the Lord. Do that which seemeth 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: Him good. Second Samuel ten twelve. Dear God, etch in 5 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: the foundations of my heart that I am a giant 6 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 1: killer like David and Second Samuel ten. I will not 7 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: cower and run away when I am faced with challenges 8 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: and limiting mindsets that try to loom over areas of 9 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: my life. As I build my faith on your word, 10 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: my feet will move with purpose and speed in the 11 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,160 Speaker 1: direction of my calling, knowing that the armies of Heaven 12 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 1: are backing my life like the army of Israel backed 13 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: King David. To day, I make nome the truth that 14 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: I am not afraid to fight for what God has 15 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: spoken over my life. I make g nome the fact 16 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: that I will fight for the dignity of others through 17 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: the battles and blows of life. I will stay on 18 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: the battlefield until God gives me the victory. I am 19 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: fighting the fight of faith for the Lord. I am 20 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 1: fighting for more. I am fighting for peace, and I 21 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: am fighting to become the highest version of Me in 22 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: Jesus name. 23 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 2: Amen. 24 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: Listening to these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. 25 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: Continue hearing from the Lord by listening to today's Bible 26 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 1: in a Year, brought to you by Bible in a 27 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: Year dot Com. 28 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 3: Victory after victory. In our last story, David came to 29 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 3: the realization that the Lord should have a. 30 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 4: Temple built for him. 31 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 3: Nathan, the Prophet, agreed and spoke for the Lord, saying 32 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 3: his kingdom would be established forever. The Lord blessed all 33 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 3: of David's exploits, and the Kingdom of Israel continued to 34 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:18,079 Speaker 3: grow day by day. In this story, hanan king of Aman, 35 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 3: will humiliate David's servants and the Ammonites learn that David 36 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,799 Speaker 3: is not a king to be trifled with. As inspired 37 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 3: by Second Samuel and First Chronicles. 38 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 5: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 39 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 5: Bible in a Year podcast. In our last episode, we 40 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 5: saw David's heart to honor God and build the Lord 41 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 5: a home, a temple where his glory could be on 42 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 5: display for all the world to see. As a result 43 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 5: of his faithfulness, David received a message from God through 44 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 5: the prophet Nathan. The message was this God would establish 45 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,959 Speaker 5: a lasting kingdom through David God blessed both as king 46 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 5: and as a warrior, and today will continue to see 47 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 5: the victories that God gives to David. We'll also hear 48 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 5: how the King of Ammon meets David's act of kindness 49 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 5: with distrust and disrespect, and discovers that David is not 50 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 5: a king to be mocked. 51 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: Or toyed with. 52 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 5: And as always, through it all God's name will be 53 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 5: made known, not just among the Israelites, but to all 54 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 5: the nations. 55 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 2: Let's listen now to today's reading. 56 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 3: Not too far away from Israel, na Hash, the king 57 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 3: of the Ammonites, had died. Trumpets sounded in the distance, 58 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 3: and the Ammonite people mourned the death of their king. Hanan, 59 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 3: his son took the throne after his father and surrounded 60 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 3: himself with counsel. David heard of Nahash's death and remembered 61 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 3: the kindness he showed David. While in the wilderness, there 62 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 3: was historic blood between the Ammonites and the Israelites. However, 63 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 3: David was determined to usher in a new era of peace. 64 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 3: David gathered some of his men to go and console 65 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 3: Hanan with gifts and good will. The servants entered the land. 66 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 3: There was a slight eeriness in the city when they entered. 67 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 3: Being Israelites in the land of the Ammonites was uncomfortable, 68 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 3: and whispers filled the streets as they passed. Nevertheless, the 69 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 3: men walked into the halls of Hanan, determined to comfort him. 70 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 3: The princes and counselors sat beside Hannan as David's men entered. 71 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 3: One of them leaned over to Hanan and whispered, do 72 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 3: you really think David sent comforters because of your father? 73 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 3: You know they are here to spy on our land. 74 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:45,479 Speaker 3: It is a ruse. My King Hanan gave a slight nod, 75 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 3: not taking his eyes off the men. As they entered 76 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 3: the room. The men bowed before Hanan and laid gifts 77 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 3: at his feet. However, corruption and paranoia had easily gripped 78 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 3: Hanan's mind. He stood to his feet and ordered the 79 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 3: servants to be taken at once. The servants were confused 80 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 3: at his intentions. Hanan slipt a devious smile and ordered 81 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 3: his men to shave off half of their beards and 82 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 3: cut the lower half of their robes, exposing their genitalias 83 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 3: before everyone. Then they cast them out into the streets 84 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 3: for all to see Ammonite cackles filled the city's streets 85 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 3: as the men ran in embarrassment. Tears of shame filled 86 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 3: their eyes, and they hid themselves in Jericho. They sent 87 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 3: word to David and told him what happened. David did 88 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 3: not send men to get them. He went himself. David 89 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 3: rode to his men swiftly, as a father would to 90 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 3: his hurting children. David found them hiding in Jericho and 91 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 3: comforted them, remain here until your beards grow back. Here 92 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 3: are supplies and new robes. So David left them and 93 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 3: relieved them of their duties until they recovered their dignity. 94 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 3: He mounted his horse and left the area. He rode 95 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 3: fast and aggressively. He looked forward with fury in his eyes. 96 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 3: David would not forgive the humiliation of his servants. Unlike Hanan, 97 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 3: David was a king with actual power. Hannan would soon 98 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 3: learn this for himself. The Ammonites heard that David was 99 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 3: outraged by Hanan's disrespect. They wanted to attack him before 100 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 3: he attacked them, so they hired twenty thousand Syrian mercenaries 101 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 3: to join their army. They also allied with a neighboring 102 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 3: city to gain an extra thirteen thousand men. Soon a 103 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 3: vast army prepared themselves for David's retaliation. Unperturbed, David sent Joab, 104 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 3: his Mighty Men, and a portion of his army to 105 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 3: face them. Joab scooped out the field and saw that 106 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: the Ammonites and the Syrians split up to ambush them 107 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 3: on both ends. Joab and the Mighty Men decided to 108 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 3: march towards the Syrians while the army of Israel took 109 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 3: on the Ammonites. Joab shouted to his men with his 110 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 3: spear in the air and said, protect one another. If 111 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 3: one side proves to be too strong, we will come 112 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 3: to each other's aid. Joab looked to the battlefield. He 113 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 3: longed for battle, craved it, but the armies were large 114 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 3: and his men were few. Be strong and courageous, Joab 115 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 3: yelled again, for you are the city of God. Hurroar 116 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 3: followed Joab's words, and the men of Israel descended upon 117 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 3: the Syrians and Ammonites. Joab and the Mighty Men reached 118 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 3: the Syrians first. Their speed caught the Syrians completely off guard. 119 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 3: Never had they seen men fight with such unity. Months 120 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 3: of training with David in the wilderness. 121 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 4: Honed them in. They battled as a single unit, as 122 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 4: if they were one body. 123 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 3: They overwhelmed the Syrians within minutes, and they began to flee. 124 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 3: The Ammonites saw their mercenaries flee and became scared. They 125 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 3: fled from the battle and hid behind their city gates. 126 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 3: Joab returned with the soldiers and awaited orders from David 127 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 3: for the next move. The Syrians threw their weapons on 128 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 3: the floor in frustration. 129 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 4: They had been caught completely off guard. 130 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 3: Though they were hired hands, they would not allow themselves 131 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 3: to be. 132 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 4: Beaten and humiliated by Israel. 133 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 3: They rallied and gathered their allies from beyond the Euphrates. Schobach, 134 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 3: their commander, led them to Helam and awaited David for battle. 135 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 3: Schobach stood taller than all the other men under his command. 136 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 3: He was fierce and a brilliant swordsman and tactician. The 137 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 3: Syrians feared him and. 138 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 4: Followed him into battle. 139 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,559 Speaker 3: This time, David did not send Joab and his men. 140 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 3: David rode out with his army behind. 141 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 4: Him to Helam. 142 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 3: Thousands of Syrian horsemen and soldiers stood before David on 143 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 3: the opposite end of the field. David drew his sword 144 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 3: and without saying word, ran headfirst into battle. The men 145 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 3: of Israel stood in awe of their king. He ran 146 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 3: like a lion, shortening the gap between him and his prey. 147 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 3: The Syrian chariots rushed in first. For a moment, it 148 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 3: seemed as though it was David running towards a sea 149 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 3: of chariots on his own. His men followed behind him, 150 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 3: inspired by their warrior king. David's fighting was like poetry. 151 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 3: His sword slashed the legs of horses, sending the horsemen 152 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 3: flying through the air. His shield absorbed every blow, and 153 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 3: his blade returned with twice the force. David's sword seemed 154 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 3: to dance in his hand as he fought his way 155 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 3: through the Syrian lines. 156 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 4: Schobach had David in. 157 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 3: His line of vision. He ran towards David, toppling other 158 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 3: soldiers on his way. David barely saw Schobach at the 159 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 3: corner of his eye before. 160 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 4: He struck a blow to his side with his shield. 161 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 3: David flew into the air and landed on his back. 162 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 3: Schobach did not stop and ran toward David with his 163 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 3: sword in the air. David dodged the second attack and 164 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 3: swiped Schobach's calf The two fought ferociously, yet Chobak's strength 165 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 3: was no match for David's skill. David allowed Shobach to 166 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 3: come close, grabbed the hilt of his sword, and drove 167 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 3: his blade into Schobach's side. 168 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 4: He stumbled back, holding his stomach. 169 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 3: Frightened that David might slay him where he stood, Schobach 170 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 3: ran away, bleeding from his stomach. Schobach ran through the 171 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 3: battle looking for safety. Growing faint, he fell to his 172 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 3: knees and bled out on the battlefield. 173 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 4: The battle was won. 174 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 3: David and his men killed seven hundred chariots and forty 175 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 3: thousand horsemen. David raised his spear into the air and 176 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 3: roared a mighty cry of victory. With the blood of 177 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 3: his enemy laced on his face and clothes. The men 178 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 3: of Israel shouted and chanted to God. The kings of 179 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 3: the East trembled in fear of David and made peace 180 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 3: with Israel. David used his sword to make a statement, 181 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 3: but he would go no further than protecting his people. 182 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 3: David was not a conqueror and had no interest in 183 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 3: enslaving other kingdoms. He wanted peace and welcomed any kingdom 184 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 3: that desired the same. 185 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 4: David's bravery became renowned in all the land. 186 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 3: Yet even the bravest of kings can be undone by 187 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 3: the smallest of temptations, a lesson David. 188 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 4: Would soon learn. 189 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 5: Today's passage begins with the death of the Ammonite king. 190 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 5: His son Hannuin was his successor, and when David heard 191 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:49,319 Speaker 5: of the death of the man who had once been 192 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 5: kind to him when he was in exile, he wanted 193 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 5: to show his respect and return the kindness. So he 194 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 5: sent some of his men on a peaceful mission into 195 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 5: the land of the Ammonites, his enemies of Israel. Though 196 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 5: he was a very powerful king with a great army, 197 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 5: David wanted to rule with peace whenever possible. But as 198 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 5: his men entered the palace of Hanun, there they were 199 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 5: met with distrust and paranoia. Now, for sure, a certain 200 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 5: amount of trepidation on the part of the Ammonite king 201 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,839 Speaker 5: would have been understandable, But rather than give the men 202 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 5: a chance to speak, he had them seized immediately. 203 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 2: Their beards were shaved, an act. 204 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 5: Of humiliation in itself in those days, and their robes 205 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 5: were cut off at the waist, exposing them to ridicule. 206 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 5: As they were cast into the streets. The men fled 207 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 5: in embarrassment and hid in Jericho. Second Samuel ten to 208 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 5: five tells us how David reacted. We read when it 209 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 5: was told to David, he sent to meet them, for 210 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 5: the men were greatly ashamed, and the king said, remain 211 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 5: in Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return. 212 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 2: Now. Don't miss the significance of this passage. 213 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:01,079 Speaker 5: First, it tells us that David was primarily concerned with 214 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 5: his men. As a king, he could have focused first 215 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 5: on the disrespect shown to him by Hanoun. He could 216 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 5: have immediately departed to attack the Ammonites to punish them 217 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 5: for their mockery. But he went first to his men 218 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:18,680 Speaker 5: to care for their needs and comfort them. Secondly, David 219 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,680 Speaker 5: went to them himself. A great leader is never above 220 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 5: serving those who follow him. 221 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 2: Jesus gave us the best. 222 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 5: Example of this, as he washed his own disciples feet. 223 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 5: David surely could have sent someone else to reach his men, 224 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 5: but he went to see them himself. So, with the 225 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 5: first priority handled, David then turned to the Amonites, for 226 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 5: their offense could not be unanswered. David gathered his men 227 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 5: with his faithful commander joeab in charge. Joeb wisely was 228 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 5: careful in his plan of attack. He'd learned from David, 229 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 5: a skillful and wise military leader, and rather than rush 230 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 5: into the war, Joab surveyed the battlefield. He saw there 231 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 5: were two fronts on which to fight, so he prepared 232 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,079 Speaker 5: his men and they resolved to fight as one unit, 233 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 5: supporting each other. Where any weakness arose. Joeb's men were 234 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,199 Speaker 5: strong and ready for battle, and the enemy was quickly 235 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 5: defeated and the Syrian mercenaries driven off. When the Syrians 236 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 5: realized they were in a large fight, they gathered their allies, 237 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 5: and this time David himself led the Israelite army into battle. God, 238 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 5: as he had been doing since David rose to the throne, 239 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 5: gave David a convincing victory and the Syrians were defeated 240 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 5: and driven away, And rather than use this as an 241 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 5: opportunity to increase his territory and kill his enemies, David 242 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 5: made peace with the Syrians and their allies, who knew 243 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 5: now that David and God's people were not to be abused. 244 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 5: But as David's fame and power grew, a complacency began 245 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 5: to creep in, and with it, temptation was just around 246 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 5: the corner. We'll discover the tragic consequences of that in 247 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 5: our next reading. Dear God, we thank you for today's 248 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 5: passage on survance leadership. Help us always be willing to 249 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 5: serve those around us and to help those that we 250 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 5: lead and love. May we show kindness even to our enemies, 251 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 5: as Jesus taught us, and it is in his name 252 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 5: that we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's 253 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 5: Bible in a Year podcast. I hope you are enjoying 254 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 5: it as much as i am. This is Pastor Jack 255 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 5: Graham from Dallas, Texas. You can download the pray dot 256 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 5: com app and make prayer the priority in your life. 257 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 5: And if you have enjoyed this podcast, share it with 258 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 5: someone you love. By sharing this podcast, you can make 259 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 5: a difference in someone's life. This podcast is being listened 260 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 5: to all over the world by millions of people, and 261 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 5: we are celebrating the fact that God's word is being heard. 262 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 5: And if you want more resources on how to tap 263 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 5: into God's power for living, be sure to visit Jack 264 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 5: Graham dot org. 265 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 2: God bless you.