1
00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,640
Speaker 1: And there was a very sore battle that day, and

2
00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:07,080
Speaker 1: Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel before the

3
00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:13,399
Speaker 1: servants of David second Samuel two seventeen. Lord, I know

4
00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,680
Speaker 1: you value relationships, and because I desire to walk in

5
00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:22,080
Speaker 1: your footsteps, relationships will be a focal point for my life.

6
00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:27,160
Speaker 1: In moments of strife and contention with friends, my heart

7
00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,480
Speaker 1: will seek to do what's right rather than to be right.

8
00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:35,120
Speaker 1: Mercy and kindness will be the companions of my words.

9
00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,640
Speaker 1: Love and understanding will be the chaperons of my heart.

10
00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,880
Speaker 1: For I now realize that two are better than one.

11
00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,440
Speaker 1: I realize that I can accomplish more united with like

12
00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:54,760
Speaker 1: minded relationships than by myself. Pride will not cloud my judgment,

13
00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:59,520
Speaker 1: the anger will not drive my emotions. For I decree

14
00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:03,720
Speaker 1: and claire that I am not run by emotions but

15
00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:08,000
Speaker 1: by your spirit God. Like Joe Abb in today's reading,

16
00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:13,200
Speaker 1: I will stop future relationship casualties because I realize we

17
00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,880
Speaker 1: are all your children, God, and that we are on

18
00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:24,080
Speaker 1: the same team. With this truth, I say in Jesus name, Amen,

19
00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,320
Speaker 1: listening to these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God.

20
00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,720
Speaker 1: Continue hearing from the Lord by listening to Today's Bible

21
00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,800
Speaker 1: in a Year brought to you by Bible in a

22
00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:51,680
Speaker 1: Year dot com The best of Friends fight. In our

23
00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,120
Speaker 1: last story, we learned about the fall of Saul and Jonathan.

24
00:01:55,800 --> 00:02:00,360
Speaker 1: Their deaths signified an ending to David's exile, how a

25
00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,200
Speaker 1: new era of Israel can emerge to the glory of God.

26
00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,320
Speaker 1: Now we learn about David's messy ascension to the throne

27
00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,680
Speaker 1: as he is crowned King of Judah while Ishbosheth, the

28
00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:15,320
Speaker 1: son of Saul, is made King of Israel. David is

29
00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,640
Speaker 1: forced to rule within a divided nation, and his trusted

30
00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:23,600
Speaker 1: commander Joab displays an incredible act of mercy as inspired

31
00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:28,720
Speaker 1: by the Book of Second Samuel. Hello, I'm Pastor Jack

32
00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,079
Speaker 1: Graham with today's episode of the Bible in a Year podcast.

33
00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,440
Speaker 1: In yesterday's story, we heard about the deaths of Saul

34
00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,680
Speaker 1: and three of his sons, including Jonathan, on the battlefield.

35
00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,600
Speaker 1: Their death fulfilled what God had told Saul would happen,

36
00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,320
Speaker 1: and it meant that David would no longer live in exile.

37
00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,840
Speaker 1: He would no longer be fearful of Saul. He could

38
00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:53,480
Speaker 1: return to Israel and begin his kingship to lead God's people.

39
00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:58,520
Speaker 1: But we'll learn today that Israel is now a divided nation,

40
00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:02,320
Speaker 1: with Saul's son both chief thrust under the throne of

41
00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:07,000
Speaker 1: Israel and David ruling in Judah. We'll also hear how Joab,

42
00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,480
Speaker 1: one of the mighty men who had served alongside of David,

43
00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,519
Speaker 1: will be chosen as commander of Juda's army, and like

44
00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,440
Speaker 1: David did so many times with Saul, Joab will display

45
00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:20,560
Speaker 1: incredible mercy towards his enemies. So let's listen to today's word.

46
00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,720
Speaker 1: Israel was in ruin. War and turmoil with the Philistines

47
00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,560
Speaker 1: had scarred the Hebrew nation, and peace seemed like a

48
00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:34,760
Speaker 1: distant memory. Their time under King Saul was marked by

49
00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:39,920
Speaker 1: constant battle and captivity. The Philistines now occupied many territories

50
00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,440
Speaker 1: within Israel and Judah. Now that Saul and Jonathan had

51
00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,240
Speaker 1: been slain in battle, it was time for Israel to

52
00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,360
Speaker 1: have their new king. However, Israel had become divided as

53
00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,880
Speaker 1: a nation. Civil discourses and disagreements over territory had led

54
00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,080
Speaker 1: to a split among the country. Now the nation of

55
00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:03,240
Speaker 1: Israel had split into two kingdoms, Judah and Israel, both

56
00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,840
Speaker 1: in desperate need of a king to lead them. Still

57
00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,880
Speaker 1: hidden away in Ziklag, David sat with the Lord in silence.

58
00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,119
Speaker 1: It had been years since he called Israel his home.

59
00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,560
Speaker 1: Now that Saul was no longer pursuing him, he was

60
00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:21,440
Speaker 1: free to return. But how would they receive him? Would

61
00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,800
Speaker 1: they sing his praises as before? Would they cast him

62
00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,279
Speaker 1: out for dwelling with the Philistines. David looked at the

63
00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,960
Speaker 1: stars and asked himself these questions. He drew a deep

64
00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,800
Speaker 1: breath and prayed, Lord, should I go back to the

65
00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,360
Speaker 1: land of Judah. God met him in the quiet, as

66
00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:43,000
Speaker 1: he used to in the wilderness. He strengthened David's heart

67
00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,800
Speaker 1: and sent him forth to return to his homeland. That

68
00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,480
Speaker 1: next morning, David ventured forth with his family and mighty

69
00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:54,599
Speaker 1: men towards Ebron, in the territory of Judah. As Joshua

70
00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,200
Speaker 1: had once led the Hebrews out of the wilderness and

71
00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:01,040
Speaker 1: into the promised land, David led his band of misfit

72
00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:05,640
Speaker 1: warriors and their families back to the land of Judah.

73
00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,560
Speaker 1: It was midday when David and his people walked through

74
00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:12,200
Speaker 1: the gates of Judah. David's eyes widened as he saw

75
00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:15,760
Speaker 1: a parade of people awaiting him. Women were dancing in

76
00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,880
Speaker 1: the streets, and music was being played in every alley

77
00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:23,120
Speaker 1: of the city. Men, women and children cheered as David

78
00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:26,640
Speaker 1: walked through the streets. Never had David felt such a

79
00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,240
Speaker 1: rush of love and affection. They led him to the

80
00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:34,159
Speaker 1: great courts and anointed him their king before the entire nation.

81
00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:39,040
Speaker 1: David crumbled before them and the Lord, with tears streaming

82
00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:41,960
Speaker 1: down his cheeks and a smile beaming from his face.

83
00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:49,719
Speaker 1: David was finally crowned king. Meanwhile, Abner, the commander of

84
00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,359
Speaker 1: Sal's army, took ish Boschef, the illegitimate son of Saul,

85
00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,480
Speaker 1: and thrust him onto the throne of Israel. Abner ruled

86
00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,520
Speaker 1: through him and used his position to love Ridge rule

87
00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,159
Speaker 1: over Israel. David would not seize the mantle of king

88
00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,400
Speaker 1: by force. He had waited for years in the wilderness

89
00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,800
Speaker 1: in Ziklag. He trusted that God would hand him the

90
00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,280
Speaker 1: entire kingdom in due time. For now, David ruled Judah

91
00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:19,200
Speaker 1: as well and helped restore them to stability in safety.

92
00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:24,679
Speaker 1: One of his mighty men, Joab, was elected as his commander. Together,

93
00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:29,200
Speaker 1: Joab and David drove out the enemies of Judah. Philistines

94
00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,599
Speaker 1: were driven out, and peace was slowly being won day

95
00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:36,880
Speaker 1: by day. However, conflict was still lurking within the country.

96
00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:41,080
Speaker 1: As Abner plotted his takeover. Abner rose up to meet

97
00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,760
Speaker 1: Joab at the pool of Gibeon. The two commanders stood

98
00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,800
Speaker 1: on opposite ends of the water, with their armies behind them.

99
00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:52,680
Speaker 1: Abner's brows furrowed as he looked at Joab. Abner was

100
00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:56,960
Speaker 1: a decorated soldier. He was grisly and battle hardened. He

101
00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:00,120
Speaker 1: was right hand to the king and used to govern

102
00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,240
Speaker 1: a nation on his own. Joab was the nephew of

103
00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,440
Speaker 1: David Younger and used to being on the run. He

104
00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,720
Speaker 1: looked at Abner, knowing full well he was stronger and

105
00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,400
Speaker 1: able to crush him. Yet he did not want to.

106
00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,360
Speaker 1: Being with David for so long had taught him mercy.

107
00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:21,119
Speaker 1: He saw killing as a last resort. Abner shouted to Joab, saying,

108
00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,720
Speaker 1: send twelve of your best men forward, and they shall

109
00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:29,200
Speaker 1: fight between us. Joab paused and looked back at his men.

110
00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:33,080
Speaker 1: They nodded, understanding that the unity of Israel was at stake.

111
00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:37,080
Speaker 1: Joab looked back at Abner and said, let them rise.

112
00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,720
Speaker 1: So twelve men from each army came forth. Each team

113
00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,200
Speaker 1: rushed into battle, beside the water. They were equals. Blow

114
00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,440
Speaker 1: for blow. Each swipe of their sword was blocked, and

115
00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,840
Speaker 1: every attempt at a stab was thwarted. The twenty four

116
00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,480
Speaker 1: men were so evenly matched that each of them fell

117
00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,040
Speaker 1: by each other's swords. Each man grabbed the other's head

118
00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,559
Speaker 1: and thrust their blades into the other, causing both to fall.

119
00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:05,320
Speaker 1: Abner watched as his men fell, so he sent his

120
00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:10,320
Speaker 1: army after Johab's. The battle was fierce. Israel's army, led

121
00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:15,280
Speaker 1: by Abner, was organized, tactful, and tested. Judah's army, led

122
00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,080
Speaker 1: by Joab, was raw, scrappy, and trained by years in

123
00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:22,400
Speaker 1: the wilderness with David. Abner and the men of Israel

124
00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,600
Speaker 1: were succumbing to the weight of David's men. Though their

125
00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:29,240
Speaker 1: armor and swords were more polished, they lacked the direction

126
00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:35,040
Speaker 1: and heart that David imparted. Joab's brother Abashei and Ashahel

127
00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:39,200
Speaker 1: were fighting alongside him. Together they chopped through the enemy,

128
00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:43,840
Speaker 1: gliding with precision and ferocity. Ashahel was swift and was

129
00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:46,840
Speaker 1: well known for his speed. While the battle was raging,

130
00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:50,640
Speaker 1: Ashahel honed in on Abner and began to pursue him.

131
00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,520
Speaker 1: Frightened at the sight of him, Abner fled the battle

132
00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,440
Speaker 1: towards the canyons. Abner knew Ashahel and did not want

133
00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:01,240
Speaker 1: to fight him. Abner shouted, do not follow me, Ashahel,

134
00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,160
Speaker 1: I do not want to kill you. Yet Ashahel kept

135
00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,680
Speaker 1: on running towards him. Abner was a hardened man, but

136
00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,439
Speaker 1: he did not want to kill Ashahel needlessly. As Ashahel

137
00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:14,560
Speaker 1: leaped forward to strike down Abner, he lifted up his

138
00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:18,480
Speaker 1: spear and thrust it straight through his stomach. Ashahel fell

139
00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:22,040
Speaker 1: to the ground and choked on his blood. Joab and

140
00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:25,959
Speaker 1: Abishei stood still as they watched their brother bleed below Abner.

141
00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:30,240
Speaker 1: Abashell was first to yell. He picked up his spear

142
00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:34,520
Speaker 1: and ran towards Abner. Joab pursued behind him. As the

143
00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,720
Speaker 1: sun was setting over the canyon, Joab and Abashell worked

144
00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,559
Speaker 1: their way through the sea of men between them and Abner.

145
00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,959
Speaker 1: One by one they fell as Abner was backed into

146
00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,040
Speaker 1: a corner with many of his men behind him. The

147
00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,959
Speaker 1: armies of Judah advanced, and Joab and Abashell were closer

148
00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,560
Speaker 1: to taking Abner's life. It was growing dark and the

149
00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:59,120
Speaker 1: battle became sloppy and gory. Abner yelled to Joab, shall

150
00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,520
Speaker 1: we do this forever? How long will we devour one another?

151
00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,840
Speaker 1: Are we not brothers of Israel? Joab stopped his men.

152
00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,400
Speaker 1: The army of Judah had backed Israel into the hills.

153
00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:14,200
Speaker 1: It was almost over. Judah looked back at his men

154
00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,280
Speaker 1: and said, if you had not spoken, my men would

155
00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:21,000
Speaker 1: have continued to kill you throughout the night. Joab paused again.

156
00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,000
Speaker 1: He took the trumpet off his belt and blew it

157
00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,280
Speaker 1: for the entire valley. A year the battle was over,

158
00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:32,320
Speaker 1: and Joab showed Abner's army mercy. Joab's army had killed

159
00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:36,080
Speaker 1: three hundred and sixty of Israel's men, while only nineteen

160
00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,680
Speaker 1: of Judah's men had fallen. Joab picked up his brother's

161
00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:43,280
Speaker 1: body and walked away from the battle. This first act

162
00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,040
Speaker 1: of mercy would make a ripple in the entire country

163
00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,880
Speaker 1: of Israel. Joab spared the lives of hundreds of men.

164
00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:58,680
Speaker 1: Mercy gives birth to peace. As we begin today's story,

165
00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:02,920
Speaker 1: Israel is in trouble. The Philistines have occupied large amounts

166
00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:06,320
Speaker 1: of territory in Israel and Judah King Saul is dead

167
00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:08,520
Speaker 1: along with three of his sons, and the nation is

168
00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:13,480
Speaker 1: deeply divided, split into two kingdoms. Judah and Israel. They

169
00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,520
Speaker 1: both desperately wanted a king, but more than anything, they

170
00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:21,199
Speaker 1: needed a godly ruler to lead them. David, still at Ziklag,

171
00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,960
Speaker 1: got word that Saul and his sons had died, and

172
00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,559
Speaker 1: after confirming that the news was true, David tore his

173
00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,400
Speaker 1: clothes and mourned the death of his loved ones. But

174
00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:33,120
Speaker 1: when the crying was over, David turned his attention towards

175
00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:37,480
Speaker 1: his home to Judah. He sought God's counsel, asking if

176
00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:40,360
Speaker 1: he should return to Judah, and God answered telling him

177
00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:44,800
Speaker 1: to go. Seeking God's will has been and will continue

178
00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:48,800
Speaker 1: to be a marker in David's life. Though he would

179
00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:53,080
Speaker 1: fail and fall at times, David's heart always returns to

180
00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,640
Speaker 1: the Lord to seek his wisdom, his guidance, his governance.

181
00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:00,480
Speaker 1: And so, with God's blessing, David gathers his people and

182
00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,080
Speaker 1: crossed his back into Judah, his home. The men of

183
00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:07,680
Speaker 1: Judah quickly came to David's side and anointed him king

184
00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,800
Speaker 1: of Judah. But to the north, in the Kingdom of Israel, Abner,

185
00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,760
Speaker 1: the commander of Saul's army, was scheming for power. He

186
00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:20,199
Speaker 1: took the illegitimate son of Saul Ishbosheth and placed him

187
00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,040
Speaker 1: on the throne of Israel. There would be no peace

188
00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,840
Speaker 1: or unity in the divided nation. David would one day

189
00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,160
Speaker 1: rule a unified Israel, but he would not do so

190
00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:34,000
Speaker 1: by force. So for the moment, he ruled Judah, and

191
00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,959
Speaker 1: ruled well, and took back more and more territory from

192
00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:40,480
Speaker 1: the Philistines, driving them out of the land. At his

193
00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,400
Speaker 1: side was a man named joe Ebb, who had fought

194
00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,640
Speaker 1: with David for many years and witnessed David's courage in battle,

195
00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:52,440
Speaker 1: but also his mercy. Meanwhile, Abner was still scheming for power,

196
00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,000
Speaker 1: and he would resort to force and violence in order

197
00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,920
Speaker 1: to get his way. He met Joeabb at the pool

198
00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:01,200
Speaker 1: of Gibbeon, ready to go to battle. Abner challenge joeb

199
00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,120
Speaker 1: to send his twelve best men to fight against Abner's twelve,

200
00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:07,920
Speaker 1: and so he did, and so the two armies clashed

201
00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,280
Speaker 1: in battle. David's army, led by joe Ebb, was much

202
00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:16,400
Speaker 1: more powerful and Abner's men were defeated. Abner fled in fear,

203
00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:20,720
Speaker 1: but joe Eb's brother Ashell, pursued him asheel was fast,

204
00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,160
Speaker 1: but Abner was a better fighter and he didn't want

205
00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:26,559
Speaker 1: to kill the young men. He knew this would anger

206
00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,880
Speaker 1: joe Ebb and would surely be his death. He urged

207
00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:33,640
Speaker 1: Ashell to relent, but he didn't. So Abner killed Ashell

208
00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:37,400
Speaker 1: with his spirit, and just as he had feared, joe

209
00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:41,640
Speaker 1: Ebb and his other brother, Abashei gave chase. They closed

210
00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:45,000
Speaker 1: in on Abner, ready to strike him down. Abner cried

211
00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:47,360
Speaker 1: out to joe Ebb, appealing to their brotherhood as men

212
00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,640
Speaker 1: of Israel. Would they continue to kill each other until

213
00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,920
Speaker 1: none were left. Joe Ebb took mercy on his enemy,

214
00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:57,200
Speaker 1: who was one of his own countrymen. And in Second

215
00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:01,800
Speaker 1: Samuel two twenty eight we read this, So Joab blew

216
00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,640
Speaker 1: the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel

217
00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,680
Speaker 1: no more, nor did they fight any more. Just like David,

218
00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,079
Speaker 1: when give it a chance to wipe out his enemy,

219
00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,040
Speaker 1: one who had done him great wrong, joab chose the

220
00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:18,000
Speaker 1: path of mercy. Rather than take many lives, he spared them.

221
00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,520
Speaker 1: It was an act that would resonate throughout both kingdoms

222
00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,120
Speaker 1: and begin to pave the way for unity and peace

223
00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:29,160
Speaker 1: under the rule of King David. Let's pray, Dear God,

224
00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,920
Speaker 1: thank you for today's story. And how it shows us

225
00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:35,800
Speaker 1: the path of mercy and of your justice. Help us

226
00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,200
Speaker 1: not to be quick to anger or to seek revenge,

227
00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,560
Speaker 1: but always always in you Lord, to extend grace and

228
00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:46,040
Speaker 1: mercy to those who have wronged us in Jesus name. Amen,

229
00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:50,240
Speaker 1: thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.

230
00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:55,040
Speaker 1: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Please download the

231
00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,360
Speaker 1: Prey dot com app and make Bible study and prayer

232
00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:02,120
Speaker 1: a priority in your life. And if you enjoyed this podcast,

233
00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,960
Speaker 1: share it with someone you love. And if you want

234
00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:08,960
Speaker 1: more resources as to how to live abundantly in Jesus Christ,

235
00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:13,040
Speaker 1: be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless you.

236
00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:22,080
Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Medicine, an innovative health care

237
00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:26,240
Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality