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Speaker 1: Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans and I'm excited for you

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Speaker 1: to join me on Heroes in the Bible. Please be

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Speaker 1: sure to follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify so

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Speaker 1: you get the newest episodes right as they come out.

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Speaker 1: Welcome to the Epic Adventure of David. A story of honor, battle, chealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,

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Speaker 1: and murder. While most people know of David the myth,

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Speaker 1: few know about David the man. In this episode, David

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Speaker 1: is given another chance to seize the throne and end

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Speaker 1: his misery. Opportunities to end his suffering constantly present themselves,

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Speaker 1: yet David has always refused to take them. Our hero

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Speaker 1: can be frustratingly noble, sometimes defying basic logic to stick

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Speaker 1: to his principles. How many times will he keep saying

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Speaker 1: no to his convictions? When will he finally decide enough

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Speaker 1: is enough? Everyone has their limit and this could be David's.

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Speaker 1: Saul is going to mount another attack and David will

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Speaker 1: once again stand over his sleeping body poised to strike.

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Speaker 1: This episode features a more callous David. The constant disrespect

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Speaker 1: from Saul is starting to get to him, and you

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Speaker 1: get the sense that his patience is wearing thin, look

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Speaker 1: for signs of volatility from David, and question whether he

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Speaker 1: can last much longer in the wilderness. The events of

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Speaker 1: this episode lead him to a much darker period of

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Speaker 1: his life, and we cannot help but feel sorry for

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Speaker 1: the giant slayer at the end. So far, his noble

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Speaker 1: acts have gotten him nowhere. It's time for him to

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Speaker 1: indulge a little and take command. Before we find out

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Speaker 1: the answer, we will begin with the prelude. This prelude

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Speaker 1: features Jonah An angry and bitter profit. Many cute Bible

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Speaker 1: stories have been told about him, but he is no hero.

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Speaker 1: He has a callous heart and would rather have judgment

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Speaker 1: than mercy. God reveals his heart in an interesting way

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Speaker 1: to Jonah. We would be wise to take his message

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Speaker 1: to heart. Let's get into it. Here's Chapter fourteen, The

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Speaker 1: King's Spear.

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Speaker 2: Prelude to Chapter fourteen. Jonah anxiously awaited the demise of

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Speaker 2: the city. He sat in great anticipation, waiting for fire

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Speaker 2: to fall from the heavens, or a burst of lightning

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Speaker 2: and rain to dissent from the skies. Yet there was silence.

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Speaker 2: No divine judgment was cast down on the city of Nineveh.

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Speaker 2: The wicked people did not receive the wrath that Jonah

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Speaker 2: had hoped, and he hated God for it. Jonah picked

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Speaker 2: up a stone and threw it towards the city. He

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Speaker 2: yelled and cried out to God, waving his fist high

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Speaker 2: in the air.

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Speaker 3: They deserved to die, he yelled.

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Speaker 4: They are bad people.

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Speaker 1: I fled from you because I knew you would show

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Speaker 1: them mercy and spare them if I came here.

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Speaker 4: And you did suit right for.

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Speaker 2: You to have this anger, Jonah, God asked with a

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Speaker 2: gentle tone. Jonah was angry. He paced back and forth,

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Speaker 2: raging against God. He placed himself underneath the shade of

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Speaker 2: a tree. Its long branches provided a pleasant shade from

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Speaker 2: the harsh sun. Jonah settled in underneath it and crossed

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Speaker 2: his arms. His blood was boiling with anger. He breathed

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Speaker 2: in deeply and closed his eyes. The tree enveloped him

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Speaker 2: in shade, shielding him from the scorching sun. About in

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Speaker 2: that moment, he loved that tree more than anything else

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Speaker 2: on earth. He let his mind wander, dreaming over simpler times.

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Speaker 2: As Jonah rested in its arms, he fell into a

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Speaker 2: deep and peaceful sleep. That night, the Lord sent a

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Speaker 2: worm to gnaw at the tree's roots, taking away its life.

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Speaker 2: It infected the tree and caused its leaves to wither

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Speaker 2: and fall. The tree shriveled in its place, and the

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Speaker 2: lush and vibrant sanctuary for Jonah was reduced to rotting

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Speaker 2: bark and fruit. Jonah awoke to see his beloved tree dead.

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Speaker 2: Even more anger fell upon him. Hot air blew in

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Speaker 2: from the east, and his skin began to crack and blister.

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Speaker 2: Jonah threw himself onto the floor and banged at the ground.

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Speaker 5: Why God, first you spare my enemies, now you take

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Speaker 5: away my only comfort.

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Speaker 2: Why do you torture me so? Jonah wept and whispered,

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Speaker 2: It would be better for me to just die.

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Speaker 4: Are you justified in your anger about the plant?

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Speaker 6: God asked Jonah. You pity this plant for which you

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Speaker 6: did not plant. You did not help it grow, You

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Speaker 6: did not want or care for it, Yet you loved

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Speaker 6: it and wanted it to live.

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Speaker 7: Should I not care more for Nineveh? It is not

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Speaker 7: a plant, but his city with more than one hundred

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Speaker 7: twenty thousand people who do not know what is right

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Speaker 7: or wrong? Shouldn't I care more for them than your

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Speaker 7: precious tree?

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Speaker 2: In God's questions to Jonah, an important and ancient truth

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Speaker 2: was revealed. God is a god of second chances. He

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Speaker 2: desires for life, repentance, and true transformation. While Jonah desired

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Speaker 2: quick and swift justice for his enemies. A true hero

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Speaker 2: of God desires for restoration. He will patiently wait for

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Speaker 2: those who are far to come back to the Lord,

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Speaker 2: no matter how painful the journey may be. Chapter fourteen,

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Speaker 2: The King Spear. The royal city of Gibea rested under

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Speaker 2: the black and skies. The twinkling stars were covered by

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Speaker 2: dark clouds. The light was hidden from King Saul. Even

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Speaker 2: as he sat by the fire, there was no warmth

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Speaker 2: for his cold and darkened soul. He stared at the

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Speaker 2: flames flickering before his eyes, reeling over his last encounter

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Speaker 2: with David, the young shepherd he had sought for so

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Speaker 2: many months, had the upper hand, yet chose to show

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Speaker 2: him mercy. He did not love him for it. Rather,

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Speaker 2: Saul hated David even more for his compassion. David held

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Speaker 2: the heart of a true king, and with every act

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Speaker 2: of mercy, Saul despised him all the more. Saul's paranoid

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Speaker 2: and anxious thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his

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Speaker 2: chamber doors. Come in, the king said, gripping the shaft

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Speaker 2: of his spear. The door opened. A man from Zif

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Speaker 2: was brought in by one of his guards. The king

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Speaker 2: gestured to the seat across from him sit He said, shortly,

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Speaker 2: tell me what you have discovered.

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Speaker 3: I was promised payment.

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Speaker 2: The man said, with a sly grin.

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Speaker 3: If you want what I know, I expect a payment

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Speaker 3: that was promised.

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Speaker 2: The king rolled his neck back and gritted his teeth.

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Speaker 2: He stood to his feet and grabbed a dagger from

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Speaker 2: the table. Without warning, the king slammed the dagger downward,

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Speaker 2: bounded the Ziphite's hand. The boy cried out in agony,

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Speaker 2: screaming for the king to release his hand.

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Speaker 3: Please, please stop.

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Speaker 2: The king drove the knife down even deeper, leaning over

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Speaker 2: and snarling in the boy's face.

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Speaker 4: Tell me what you know Your payment shall be my mercy,

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Speaker 4: Saul growled. Tell me where David is hiding.

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Speaker 2: The zif eyed man winced in pain and screamed.

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Speaker 5: He is hiding on the hill of Hachilah.

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Speaker 2: The boy could barely breathe, yet Saul leaned down even

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Speaker 2: more on the blade.

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Speaker 5: It is east of Jesseemon you will find him there

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Speaker 5: in the wilderness. He his men, and their families are

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Speaker 5: hiding out and fortified. You won't need at least a

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Speaker 5: thousand men to fight them.

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Speaker 2: Saul released the blade from the man's hand. The boy

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Speaker 2: keeled over, holding his hand and crying leave me. I

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Speaker 2: will have my guard give you your payments, Saul said

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Speaker 2: quietly and without remorse. His callous heart had already fallen

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Speaker 2: too low to repent. Saul had surrendered himself to cruelty.

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Speaker 2: To him, there was no amount of violence he would

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Speaker 2: not commit in pursuit of David. He wiped off his

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Speaker 2: blade and called in his captain, Abner. The captain stood

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Speaker 2: at attention, pretending not to hear the cries of pain

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Speaker 2: exiting the halls.

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Speaker 4: Abner ready three thousand chosen men. King Saul commanded, I

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Speaker 4: will take no more chances in pursuit of David. We

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Speaker 4: will wipe him and his band.

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Speaker 2: Of rebels out. Abner nodded and left immediately to assemble

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Speaker 2: the army. Saul walked outside on to his balcony and

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Speaker 2: looked out. The rain clouds were blowing in from the east,

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Speaker 2: and the cold wind bit at his face. Yet the

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Speaker 2: king could feel nothing but the burning hatred deep within

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Speaker 2: his belly. The vast armies of Saul encamped beside the

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Speaker 2: hill of Hachilah, east of the road leading to Jeshamon.

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Speaker 2: The sun was beginning to make its descent, and the

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Speaker 2: king was anxiously preparing his men for battle on the

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Speaker 2: other side of the mountain. He knew that David was

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Speaker 2: trapped there on the other side, and it was only

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Speaker 2: a matter of time before he had his head. Sitting

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Speaker 2: on the tip of his spear, the king methodically sharpened

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Speaker 2: his spear, imagining what it would finally be like to

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Speaker 2: pin the giant slayer to the ground. He gave a

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Speaker 2: debased and evil smile as he checked the sharpness of

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Speaker 2: the spear. Then he rested it on the ground beside

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Speaker 2: his bed. Soon enough, he would have David. Soon enough,

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Speaker 2: his weary mind could finally rest, and the whole world

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Speaker 2: would know that he was the true King of Israel.

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Speaker 2: Hiding in the shadows of the stones at the base

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Speaker 2: of the mountain was Abeshi and a Himelech, two of

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Speaker 2: David's most trusted companions. They peered over the stones, counting

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Speaker 2: the number of men Saul had brought up a against

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Speaker 2: them over three thousand, Abishi whispered, they outnumber us five

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Speaker 2: to one. A Himmelek said, the only hope we have

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Speaker 2: a striking them before they have a chance to match.

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Speaker 2: Abishi shook his head.

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Speaker 3: Even their night watch is larger in number than our men.

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Speaker 3: We would need a miracle for them to be cut

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Speaker 3: off guard.

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Speaker 2: A Himelek shrugged and gestured up the mountain. We serve

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Speaker 2: God's anointed, he said, with a chuckle. If anyone will

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Speaker 2: see be saved by a miracle, is it not? David

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Speaker 2: Abishi could not argue with them. The favor of God

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Speaker 2: seemed to follow David wherever he went. He and the

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Speaker 2: others followed their commander with a type of chaotic optimism.

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Speaker 2: No matter what kind of trouble they found themselves in.

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Speaker 2: Grace and mercy seemed to follow them. God was continually

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Speaker 2: before them, protecting them and saving them. The two men

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Speaker 2: escaped back into the mountains where David was with the

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Speaker 2: rest of the men. They had built an encampment fortified

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Speaker 2: with wooden spears cut down from tree branches. Their families

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Speaker 2: resided in the caves only a few hundred yards away.

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Speaker 2: Abishai and a Himelek made it to David. He was

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Speaker 2: training with a few of the men on the flat

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Speaker 2: area at the base of the other side of the mountain.

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Speaker 2: Ah David faced four men. They advanced with their swords,

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Speaker 2: seeking to disarm him, but David was too quick with

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Speaker 2: his grave. He parried their advances and was able to

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Speaker 2: disarm two and knock the other two down with swift

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Speaker 2: kicks to the knees and stomach. David was not easy

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Speaker 2: on his men. He trained them constantly, ensuring that when

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Speaker 2: the time came for them to defend themselves, they were ready.

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Speaker 2: He trained them in combat, military tactics, and group formations.

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Speaker 2: He engendered a great deal of loyalty in his men.

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Speaker 2: They followed him anywhere without question because they knew he

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Speaker 2: was a leader that would lay down his life for them.

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Speaker 2: Abishai and a Himelek interrupted David's training with the news

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Speaker 2: of Saul's arrival.

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Speaker 3: David the King is on the other side of this

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Speaker 3: mountain with over three thousand men.

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Speaker 2: A Himmelek said, by the looks it.

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Speaker 3: They planned to march at tomorrow's first light.

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Speaker 2: David strapped his sword onto his back and tightened his armor.

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Speaker 2: He looked back at Beniah, who was training with him.

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Speaker 4: Benaiyah, get the men ready for battle. Make sure they

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Speaker 4: are poised to defend themselves. I will be back at

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Speaker 4: first light tomorrow.

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Speaker 2: Benia nodded and began assembling the men. David moved past

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Speaker 2: Abashi and Ahimelech and began hiking up the base of

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Speaker 2: the mountain. The two of them followed, David, Where are

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Speaker 2: you going, Abishi asked. David looked back and gestured to

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Speaker 2: the top of the mountain.

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Speaker 4: Saul looked me in the eye and told me he

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Speaker 4: would no longer pursue me. Clearly he has broken his word.

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Speaker 4: I will go and remind him of his disgrace. Either

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Speaker 4: of you wish to go with me.

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Speaker 2: Abishi held the hilt of his sword tightly and nodded

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Speaker 2: at David. I will go with you, David very well,

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Speaker 2: David said, follow me. So the two of them scaled

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Speaker 2: the mountain. The sun's rays were beginning to retreat behind

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Speaker 2: the western hills, and the light of day was replaced

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Speaker 2: by the flickering torchlight of Saul's camp. David and Abishi

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Speaker 2: climbed down the mountain and hid themselves out of view.

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Speaker 2: Together they watched the patterns of the night Watch, hundreds

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Speaker 2: of men posted up around the perimeter of camp. They

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Speaker 2: were upright and at attention, without any sign of wavering.

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Speaker 2: Abshi looked over at David. He was sitting completely still,

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Speaker 2: scanning every inch of the camp before it fell under

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Speaker 2: the shroud of night. David remained there silently, occasionally mumbling

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Speaker 2: to himself and stroking his beard. What are you doing,

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Speaker 2: Abishai asked, praying, David said, the Lord will go.

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Speaker 4: Before us and present an opportunity to enter the camp.

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Speaker 4: We need only to wait.

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Speaker 2: So wait they did. Abishai and David held their position

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Speaker 2: overlooking the enemy camp. The cloud covered sky slowly began

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Speaker 2: to break, and the gray haze over the expanse of

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Speaker 2: the heavyans cleared. Bright and lustrous stars covered the firmament,

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Speaker 2: and the brisk midnight air settled in their lungs. David

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Speaker 2: closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. He exhaled a

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Speaker 2: praise to his God, then gestured forward to the camp.

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Speaker 2: Abusheim marveled at what he saw before him. The entire

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Speaker 2: night Watch had retreated to their tents. God had gone

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Speaker 2: into camp and shot the eyes of Sal's men. David

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Speaker 2: smirked and stood to his feet. He fastened his weapons

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Speaker 2: securely onto his back and began to run towards the tent.

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Speaker 2: The two men stealthily made their way to the center

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Speaker 2: of camp, where Sal's tent was. David and Abishi crouched

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Speaker 2: at the entrance of Sal's tent and looked around. Not

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Speaker 2: a soul was watching them. Abner, the captain of Sal's

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Speaker 2: guard and commander of his army, was fast asleep only

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Speaker 2: ten feet away. David held his finger to his lips,

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Speaker 2: ensuring Abishi did not make a sound. He then lifted

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Speaker 2: the tent entrance to reveal Saul sleeping soundly beside his spear.

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Speaker 2: David closed the entrance and began to stealthily leave this

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Speaker 2: confused Abishai, what are you doing, Abishy, whispered.

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Speaker 3: God has given your enemy's head on a silver platter.

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Speaker 3: One not take this opportunity and kill him with his

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Speaker 3: own spear.

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Speaker 4: David shook his head. I will not touch him. He

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Speaker 4: is the Lord's anointed. I shall not kill the king

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Speaker 4: of Israel.

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Speaker 3: Then, by God, let me do it.

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Speaker 2: Ambushin whispered intensely.

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Speaker 3: Let me pin his head to the ground for you.

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Speaker 3: I will even strike him twice to make sure it's done.

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Speaker 4: You will do no such thing, Abashi. No one can

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Speaker 4: kill the Lord's king and be guiltless.

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Speaker 2: I will not have you do it. Abishin was noticeably

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Speaker 2: frustrated and began to lose control. David put his hand

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Speaker 2: on his shoulder and smiled. His day will come. The

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Speaker 2: Lord is the one who decides who sits on the throne,

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Speaker 2: not I. If I take the throne by force, what does

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Speaker 2: that say about the Lord's favor in my life? It

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Speaker 2: says only that I know how to kill, not how

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Speaker 2: to lead. Abish I shook his head and sighed. He

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Speaker 2: agreed with David, of course. However, it was hard for

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Speaker 2: him to concede this opportunity. David, of all people, understood

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Speaker 2: his frustration. He was tired from running. He was weary

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Speaker 2: from the constant fear of being captured or attacked. He

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Speaker 2: wished he could convince Saul somehow that he was not

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Speaker 2: a threat to him. He felt like he had already

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Speaker 2: proven it before, but it did not seem to be enough.

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Speaker 2: David's eyes widened, and he opened the tent back up

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Speaker 2: to see Saul sleeping beside his spear. He had an idea.

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Speaker 2: David entered in and crouched next to Saul. He took

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Speaker 2: Saul's spear, along with a jar of water resting beside

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Speaker 2: his blankets. David crouched out of the tent with the

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Speaker 2: spear and the jar of water. No man saw him

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Speaker 2: or woke from their sleep. He and abish I retreated

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Speaker 2: back with the King's spear and water. They stood far

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Speaker 2: off at the top of a hill. There was a

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Speaker 2: great deal of space in between them and the camp. There,

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Speaker 2: David waited for the sun to rise.

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Speaker 3: David, why aren't we going back to camp? The men

300
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Speaker 3: will be up soon. We do not want three thousand

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Speaker 3: men to attack us.

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Speaker 4: David shook his head. No more running, he said adamantly.

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Speaker 4: This morning I will humiliate Saul in front of his men.

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Speaker 4: All of them will see that I am not a

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Speaker 4: threat to him. If he continues to pursue me, he

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Speaker 4: will look like a fool in front of his men.

307
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Speaker 2: Abishi was busibly nervous. It was a strange plan, yet

308
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Speaker 2: these things seemed to usually work out for the giants.

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Speaker 2: Layer Abitshi had no reason to question him. Now, the

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Speaker 2: sun peeked over the mountain, and a bright orange hue

311
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Speaker 2: covered the tents below. The men began to stir awake,

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Speaker 2: and David stood tall for all to see him. He

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Speaker 2: called out with a loud and booming.

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Speaker 4: Voice, Abner, Abner, are you truly worthy to be called

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Speaker 4: the right hand of the king?

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Speaker 2: Abner burst out of his tent. King Saul emerged from

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Speaker 2: his tent as well. Both of them looked up to

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Speaker 2: see David standing proudly on the hill for all of

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Speaker 2: them to see. Saul seethed with anger at the very

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Speaker 2: sight of him, But before he could say anything, David continued.

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Speaker 4: Abner, how dare you call yourself a warrior of Israel

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Speaker 4: when you could not even keep watch over your king.

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Speaker 4: King Saul is precious and worth protecting. Yet you and

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Speaker 4: your men have slept on the job you dishonor yourselves

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Speaker 4: and your position. Come down and fight me, you coward.

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Speaker 2: Abner said, Oh, but Abner, I already was down last

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Speaker 2: night when you were fast asleep. David taunted, Why they

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Speaker 2: are not lies, David shouted. He then gestured to the

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Speaker 2: king and said.

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Speaker 4: My King, Saul, go ahead and see where your spear is.

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Speaker 4: You will find it is not beside your bed, but

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Speaker 4: rather next to me. In your jar of water.

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Speaker 2: Saul looked behind him, and in his tent, no spear

334
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Speaker 2: and no jar of water. It was standing upright in

335
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Speaker 2: a jar of water beside David. The King was flustered

336
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Speaker 2: and embarrassed. Once again, David had the perfect opportunity to

337
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Speaker 2: slay him, yet he showed him mercy. Again and again

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Speaker 2: David showed him mercy. Saul wrestled with feelings of relief, gratitude,

339
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Speaker 2: and hatred all at once. He looked up to David

340
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Speaker 2: and shouted.

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Speaker 4: Is that really you, my son?

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Speaker 2: David?

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Speaker 4: It is my king?

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Speaker 2: David paused abish. I could sense the hurt in David's voice.

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Speaker 2: He wanted to be strong, but there was clearly sorrow

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Speaker 2: in his heart that he was trying to hold back.

347
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Speaker 2: David outstretched his arms and yelled, why.

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Speaker 4: Does the king pursue his servant? What have I done

349
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Speaker 4: to you to warrant such hatred? Hear me, O, King,

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Speaker 4: As I plead with you one last time, in the

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Speaker 4: presence of your loyal soldiers, let it be known that

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Speaker 4: this is twice now that I have had the opportunity

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Speaker 4: to slay you, and twice now I have shown you mercy,

354
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Speaker 4: even though you seek to take my life. I have

355
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Speaker 4: not raised a hand against you. If it is the

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Speaker 4: Lord who has inspired this hunt after me, may he

357
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Speaker 4: aide you in your quest. Yet, if it is man

358
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Speaker 4: who has whispered lies in your ears, let them be

359
00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:52,639
Speaker 4: cursed before the Lord, for you seek my blood to

360
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Speaker 4: spill forth on this earth. When I am clearly innocent.

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Speaker 2: Silence overcame the whole camp. Saul's men were still as

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Speaker 2: they awaited a response from their king. All this time

363
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Speaker 2: they had been told to believe that David was planning

364
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Speaker 2: a rebellion against Israel. Yet now King Saul was exposed

365
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Speaker 2: as a petty man seeking to take David's life out

366
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Speaker 2: of jealousy. With arms stretched out, Saul spoke with a

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Speaker 2: trembling voice, saying.

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Speaker 4: I I have sinned against you, David.

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Speaker 2: I was wrong. The entire camp stirred as they heard

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Speaker 2: the words come out of Sal's mouth. Tears fell down

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Speaker 2: Saul's cheeks as he lamented before David, saying.

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Speaker 4: I have acted foolishly, my son, return, or I shall

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Speaker 4: not pursue you any further. David shook his head and sighed.

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Speaker 4: As much as he desired to trust the king, he

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Speaker 4: did not. David took the King's spear in his hands

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Speaker 4: and lodged it into the ground. May God be judged

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Speaker 4: between you and I. Saul, come and take your spear.

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Speaker 4: I pray it serves you well.

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Speaker 2: With those words, David retreated back into the wilderness with

380
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Speaker 2: his men. Abeshi was surprised at David's unrelenting mercy towards Saul,

381
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Speaker 2: and he feared it would be his undoing. David knew

382
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Speaker 2: that Saul would not pursue him that day. If he did,

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Speaker 2: his men would surely question this judgment. However, he did

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Speaker 2: not trust Saul to keep a level head for long.

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Speaker 2: He must plan for the time when the king strikes again.

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Speaker 2: David gathered his men and they packed their things. David

387
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Speaker 2: was about to make a decision that would alter the

388
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Speaker 2: course of his heart. He was about to enter into

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Speaker 2: the land of the Philistines.

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Speaker 1: God is a god of second chances. This basic and

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Speaker 1: longstanding truth applies to the city of Nineveh, and it

392
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Speaker 1: applies to King Saul. We've been conditioned throughout superhero movies

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Speaker 1: to think that the hero always has a right to

394
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Speaker 1: destroy the villain. It makes for a quick movie, but

395
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Speaker 1: it is a poor representation of how our world works.

396
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Speaker 1: The Bible teaches us that the real villains are Satan

397
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Speaker 1: and the evil dwelling within the heart of humanity. These

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Speaker 1: villains lurk at the edge of our doorsteps, looking for

399
00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:20,160
Speaker 1: an opportunity to strike. If David kills Saul, it would

400
00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:23,080
Speaker 1: be out of revenge and nothing else. As evil as

401
00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,199
Speaker 1: Saul has become, he is not the real enemy. The

402
00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:29,440
Speaker 1: real enemy is sin and the slow deterioration of character.

403
00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:33,359
Speaker 1: David doesn't want to be defeated by bitterness, compromise, and sin.

404
00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:36,440
Speaker 1: It can be frustrating for us to see Saul get

405
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Speaker 1: another chance, just like it was frustrating for Jonah to

406
00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:43,159
Speaker 1: see NINEV get another chance. But if Jonah was after

407
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Speaker 1: the heart of God, like David, he would have seen

408
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Speaker 1: what God sees. God sees the potential for good in

409
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Speaker 1: every human being and the beauty that can be birthed

410
00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:57,200
Speaker 1: from mercy. Where would you be if nobody ever gave

411
00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:01,359
Speaker 1: you more chances? Aren't you grateful for receiving mercy when

412
00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:04,919
Speaker 1: you know you didn't deserve it. David will certainly need mercy,

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Speaker 1: and a lot of it in the coming episodes. After

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Speaker 1: the prelude, we are brought into a familiar space the

415
00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:17,000
Speaker 1: royal city of Gibea. In Saul's palace, a familiar scene

416
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Speaker 1: is set before us, with King Saul brooding near a

417
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Speaker 1: fire and plotting David's demise. The Shepherd's previous acts of

418
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Speaker 1: compassion have only made Saul hate him more, since righteousness

419
00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:35,400
Speaker 1: always angers unrighteousness. In this opening scene, Saul is gripping

420
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Speaker 1: his spear tightly. The story reminds us of the spear

421
00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:42,480
Speaker 1: several times in this episode. His weapon is mentioned more

422
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Speaker 1: than a dozen times because it is a key metaphor.

423
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Speaker 1: The spear represents the throne of Israel and the mantle

424
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Speaker 1: of King. Saul anxiously holds on to it and weighs

425
00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:59,320
Speaker 1: it around haphazardly. He fantasizes about using it to destroy David.

426
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Speaker 1: In the end, David ends up with it in his possession.

427
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Speaker 1: David gets the spear easily as if it was handed

428
00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,280
Speaker 1: to him. At the end of the episode, David gives

429
00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:12,960
Speaker 1: it back to Saul and leaves. This is a grand

430
00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:16,840
Speaker 1: metaphor of David and Saul's relationship to the throne. Saul

431
00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:20,040
Speaker 1: anxiously keeps it with him at all times, but David

432
00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:22,960
Speaker 1: is able to take it in an instant but refuses

433
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Speaker 1: to keep it as long as it belongs to Saul.

434
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Speaker 1: The kingdom is David's for the taking. It was prophesied

435
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Speaker 1: by Samuel on an episode three, the Lord has sought

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Speaker 1: out another to replace you. He has sought out a

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Speaker 1: man who is after his own heart. He has sought

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Speaker 1: out a man who cares more about pleasing the heart

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Speaker 1: of God than looking for the approval of man. This

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Speaker 1: king shall be prince over the Lord's people. He shall

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Speaker 1: steward God's people well, and it will be his kingdom

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Speaker 1: that continues into eternity. An episode four, Samuel mentions it again,

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Speaker 1: saying this kingdom will go to another. God has already

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Speaker 1: chosen him. He is a man that seeks after the

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Speaker 1: heart of God more than the heart of people. David

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Speaker 1: has been given the kingdom. Saul is just barring it

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Speaker 1: for a while. If David truly wanted to seize it,

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Speaker 1: he could just like the spear. The integrity of the

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Speaker 1: throne is another theme explored in this chapter. In this episode,

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Speaker 1: Abishah is like us, wondering why David won't take him out.

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Speaker 1: Some of you may feel similarly and would also encourage

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Speaker 1: David to just kill Saul and take the throne, but

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Speaker 1: David says something interesting that we haven't heard before. Abishah

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Speaker 1: begs David to kill Saul, but he responds saying his

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Speaker 1: day will come. The Lord is the one who decides

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Speaker 1: who sits on the throne, not I. If I take

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Speaker 1: the throne by force, what does that say about the

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Speaker 1: Lord's favor in my life? It says only that I

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Speaker 1: know how to kill, not how to lead. David wants

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Speaker 1: the throne of Israel to be more like a spoil

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Speaker 1: of war. If he kills Saul to take command, it

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Speaker 1: communicates that the throne goes to the strongest man, favored man.

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Speaker 1: David wants God to be who establishes his king that conquest.

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Speaker 1: David won't kill Saul because if he really is chosen

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Speaker 1: by God to be the king, he will be the

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Speaker 1: king at the right time. Does David's integrity inspire you

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Speaker 1: or annoy you? It should do a little bit of both.

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Speaker 1: The strength of David's character is an inspiration to us,

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Speaker 1: while also challenging our hearts to be better. Jesus does

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Speaker 1: this as well. He comforts us and reminds us of

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Speaker 1: his mercy. It is encouraging to know we have a

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Speaker 1: strong and mighty God on our side who loves us

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Speaker 1: and accepts us. However, the character of Christ also challenges

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Speaker 1: us and calls us up to be better and walk

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Speaker 1: with more integrity. We live in a world where people

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Speaker 1: expect you to either be affirming or challenging, but Jesus

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00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:53,280
Speaker 1: managed to be both. David managed to be both with Saul.

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Speaker 1: He honored, respected, and praised Saul, but he also called

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Speaker 1: him out on his sin. It seems like David was

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Speaker 1: able to balance truth and love in his hands. Paul

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Speaker 1: says in Ephesians, speaking the truth in love, we are

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Speaker 1: to grow up in every respects into Him who is

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Speaker 1: the head, into Christ. David was honest, truthful, and challenging

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Speaker 1: in his speech, but he never once wavered in showing

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Speaker 1: Saul love. Both are required for genuine transformation to occur.

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Speaker 1: At the end of this episode, David secures a little

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Speaker 1: more safety for himself and his men. Saul's men see

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Speaker 1: that David isn't the threat, and it definitely brought the

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Speaker 1: King's motives into question. David has ensured that Saul won't

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Speaker 1: march against him without some sort of mass manipulation. However,

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Speaker 1: David also realizes that he can no longer stay in

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Speaker 1: Israel while Saul is king, so he takes his men

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Speaker 1: out of the land and into the territory of the Philistines.

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Speaker 1: What adventures and events await the giant slay of Air

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Speaker 1: we will find out in our next episode, A Friend

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Speaker 1: of the Enemy. Thanks again for listening from more inspiring stories,

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00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:07,320
Speaker 1: daily prayers and wisdom to last the lifetime, go to

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00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,360
Speaker 1: pray dot com and to expand your heroes in the

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00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:14,240
Speaker 1: Bible Journey, download the Heroes of the Faith devotional at

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00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:19,320
Speaker 1: Tonyevans dot org. Forward Slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on

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00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:22,720
Speaker 1: Apple or Spotify to get the newest episodes right as

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00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:26,120
Speaker 1: they come out, and always be inspired by the Bible.

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Speaker 1: God bless