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Speaker 1: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow

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Speaker 1: of death, I will fear no evil, for you are

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Speaker 1: with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me.

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Speaker 1: You prepare a table before me in the presence of

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Speaker 1: my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup

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Speaker 1: runs over Psalm twenty three four and five. To day,

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Speaker 1: I thank you God for being my waymaker. Sometimes I

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Speaker 1: just don't know which way to go. Sometimes I can't

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Speaker 1: see my way forward, or it seems like there is

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Speaker 1: no way. It feels impossible, But nothing is impossible with you.

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Speaker 1: You point out the road for me. You lead me

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Speaker 1: in the path that you have prepared for me. You

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Speaker 1: go before me. You are the God who saves me.

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Speaker 1: Because of you, I can overcome any obstacle. I can

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Speaker 1: climb the highest heights. I can keep moving forward. I

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Speaker 1: can accomplish every task you have given me. I can

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Speaker 1: fulfill every plan and purpose you have for me. Even

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Speaker 1: in the face of adversity, I stand strong, I stand tall.

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Speaker 1: Your power flows through me. You make me a mighty

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Speaker 1: warrior in your kingdom and for your glory. To day,

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Speaker 1: anxious thoughts will not trouble me. Fear and doubt have

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Speaker 1: no hold on me. My mind is clear, my heart

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Speaker 1: is full, and my path lies open before me. With

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Speaker 1: every step I proclaim your goodness, faithfulness and love. I

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Speaker 1: will declare your victory. I will give you all my praise,

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Speaker 1: and I pray all of this in Jesus's powerful name. Amen,

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Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned to

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Speaker 1: immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever told from pray

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Speaker 1: dot COM's podcast, Heroes in the Bible.

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Speaker 2: Hello.

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Speaker 3: My name is Matthew Potter, co founder of pray dot Com,

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Speaker 3: and before we start today's episode of Heroes in the Bible,

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Speaker 3: I wanted to ask, do you know what your bank

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Speaker 3: the peace of mind knowing that this credit union is

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Speaker 3: federally ensured by the National Credit Union Administration.

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Speaker 4: Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, your host for the Heroes

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Speaker 4: in the Bible podcast. Before we begin be sure to

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Speaker 4: follow this podcast on Apple or Spotify so that you're

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Speaker 4: updated on the newest episodes as they become available. So

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Speaker 4: where do we begin, Well, we do not begin with

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Speaker 4: David at all. In fact, his name isn't even mentioned

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Speaker 4: until later. First, we will begin this in every story

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Speaker 4: with a prelude, a tale from another point in time

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Speaker 4: that carries hidden messages for us. Then we will begin

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Speaker 4: our journey by meeting an old prophet named Samuel. He

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Speaker 4: is the final judge of Israel, task with finding a

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Speaker 4: king for the fallen children of God. The first King

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Speaker 4: of Israel seems on the outside to be noble, strong

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Speaker 4: and worthy of the throne. But there's only one worthy

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Speaker 4: to sit on the throne. There was only one true

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Speaker 4: king of Israel.

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Speaker 5: Prelude to chapter one. It was a brutal and agonizing slaughter.

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Speaker 5: The men of Israel were thrown around like dogs of

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Speaker 5: the hands of the Philistines, their blades thrust through Israelite

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Speaker 5: fleshed swiftly and without mercy. There was no hope for

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Speaker 5: them to recover their position. Every man was doomed to

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Speaker 5: either die under the sword of the enemy or fleelank

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Speaker 5: cowards into the wilderness. Thirty thousand soldiers of the Lord's

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Speaker 5: army lay dead in the valley, with crows pecking at

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Speaker 5: their rotting flesh in the hot sun. They had begun

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Speaker 5: the battle hopeful. Their swords were sharpened and their armor

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Speaker 5: glimmered in the sunlight. After several defeats to the Philistines,

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Speaker 5: they chose to bring in the Ark of the Covenant,

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Speaker 5: the manifest presence of God and a symbol of his

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Speaker 5: companionship with the nation of Israel. They shouted war cries

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Speaker 5: of victory as the paraded the Ark of God before

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Speaker 5: the Philistines. They had lost many battles and decided to

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Speaker 5: use God's presence as a tool of fear and boasting.

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Speaker 5: They thought if they had the Ark of the Covenant

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Speaker 5: in battle with them, that God would somehow condone their arrogance.

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Speaker 5: They wanted the appearance of holy strength without the devotion

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Speaker 5: to the One who was holy and strong. They were

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Speaker 5: gravely mistaken. Their songs of victory quickly turned into agonizing screams,

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Speaker 5: and the Ark of God stood in the midst of

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Speaker 5: the battle, overlooking the downfall of Israel. God would not

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Speaker 5: give favor to the proud exploits of selfish men. He

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Speaker 5: would not grant Israel victory, but allow them to sit

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Speaker 5: in the results of their arrogance. The Ark rested on

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Speaker 5: a hill above the battlefield, ready to be taken by

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Speaker 5: the enemy. The Philistines plowed through Israel's defenses and made

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Speaker 5: their way to the Ark. They had once trembled in

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Speaker 5: fear at the thought of Israel's God. He was the

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Speaker 5: god who defeated Egypt and parted sees. Yet vanquishing their

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Speaker 5: enemy had left them a reverent. They took the Ark

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Speaker 5: to the city of Ashdod, leaving behind thousands of dead

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Speaker 5: Israelite bodies. They placed it in the temple of Dagon,

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Speaker 5: one of their many gods. The Philistines made a mockery

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Speaker 5: of God by placing him at the altar of their god.

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Speaker 5: In their pride, they deceived themselves into thinking they had

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Speaker 5: defeated the God of Israel. They too, were gravely mistaken.

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Speaker 5: The Philistines awoke to the statue of Dagon laying down

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Speaker 5: at the feet of the Ark, with its head and

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Speaker 5: hands cut clean off. God would not bow to a

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Speaker 5: man made image. God's hand was heavy against the Philistines.

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Speaker 5: The people of Ashtad broke out in cancerous tumors. Strong

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Speaker 5: men were utterly undone by the very presence of God

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Speaker 5: in their city. Afraid, they sent the Ark to another

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Speaker 5: Philistine city, Gath. They too were given the kiss of death,

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Speaker 5: having tumors boil up from within, which killed the strongest

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Speaker 5: men among them. Every city God was brought to, the

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Speaker 5: people were afflicted. They feared the presence of the Ark.

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Speaker 5: Out of fear, the Ark was returned to Israel. Despite

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Speaker 5: Israel's pride and arrogance, God was able to vanquish their enemy.

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Speaker 5: No army, no commander, and no king could ever replace

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Speaker 5: the almighty hand of God. He was their defender, not

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Speaker 5: their trophy. He was their Lord, not their magician. The

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Speaker 5: people of Israel were in desperate need of guidance and humility.

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Speaker 5: They needed a leader to transform their hearts and connect

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Speaker 5: them to the righteous heart of God. The Lord would

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Speaker 5: raise up such a leader. However, he would not be

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Speaker 5: the leader they expected.

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Speaker 4: Welcome to the epic Adventure of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,

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Speaker 4: and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,

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Speaker 4: few people know David the Man. What we are about

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Speaker 4: to explore in this epic adventure of a man after

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Speaker 4: God's own heart. But this adventure is not without its tragedy.

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Speaker 4: David's life is a glorious reminder it is better to

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Speaker 4: have a heart of gold than a sword of steel. However,

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Speaker 4: David's life is also a warning the glory of a

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Speaker 4: man is fleeting, but the glory of God is forever.

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Speaker 4: The ultimate beauty of David's story is that it's not

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Speaker 4: really about David at all, but God. As the legend

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Speaker 4: of the Giant Slayer unfolds, we will see that he

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Speaker 4: is not really the main character of this saga. He

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Speaker 4: is not the ultimate hero, the mighty King, or the

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Speaker 4: promised deliverer. People hope for David is but a shadow

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Speaker 4: of things promised. His story is a whisper in the

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Speaker 4: wind for telling of an even greater hero to come.

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Speaker 4: David's story, in its essence, foreshadows the story of Jesus.

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Speaker 4: He is merely a fractured image of the greatness that

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Speaker 4: awaits hum nanity in Christ. As this epic unfolds, looked

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Speaker 4: past the glamor of war and see into the future.

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Speaker 4: With every twist and turn of David's life, look for

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Speaker 4: the promise of greater redemption.

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Speaker 5: Chapter one. A rejected God, Samuel sat beside the fire,

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Speaker 5: watching the embers slowly shrink under the cold sky. The

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Speaker 5: red coals reflected in the eyes of his sons, Joel

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Speaker 5: and Abijah. The three of them meditated in silence, allowing

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Speaker 5: the wintry bite of night to enter their lungs. The

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Speaker 5: young men shivered in place, but their father remained motionless.

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Speaker 5: His brow was furrowed and concentrated. He was straining for

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Speaker 5: answers from God. He had judged Israel faithfully and acted

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Speaker 5: as a representative of his will to the people for

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Speaker 5: many years, yet now his time as their leader was

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Speaker 5: drawing to a close. Like many judges before him, he

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Speaker 5: had held the honor of ministering to God's people. He

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Speaker 5: was not their room or their king. He was simply

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Speaker 5: a man to look to as an example and a

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Speaker 5: person to intercede on the people's behalf. God had raised

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Speaker 5: up many judges before him. Some were men and women

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Speaker 5: of valor and wisdom, like ofth Neil and Dinah. Others

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Speaker 5: were unassuming like Gideon, or brash like Samson. Each served

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Speaker 5: their own purpose, and each were used by God to

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Speaker 5: deliver his people from harm. Yet it was always God

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Speaker 5: who saved them. It was always God who led them

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Speaker 5: and kept them safe. A few of the coals popped,

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Speaker 5: waking Samuel from his trance. He looked up at his

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Speaker 5: shivering sons. Their breath could be seen like smoke in

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Speaker 5: the frigid air. He peered at them through the flames

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Speaker 5: and poked the coals with his staff.

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Speaker 2: Are you able to keep the coals burning?

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Speaker 5: Samuel asked. His voice was deep and sonorous. Even in

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Speaker 5: his old age, his voice maintained its resonant authority. It

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Speaker 5: was as if the words of God float out of

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Speaker 5: his mouth from a deep cavern. Joel and Abijah looked

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Speaker 5: at each other and sparked. They had hoped this day

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Speaker 5: would come. Their father was going to appoint them as

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Speaker 5: judges over Israel. The two of them sat up dutifully

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Speaker 5: and nodded.

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Speaker 6: We are Father. You may rest assured that God's people

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Speaker 6: will be cared for.

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Speaker 5: Samuel looked at them intently and nodded. His face was

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Speaker 5: impassive and unreadable. He took the end of his staff

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Speaker 5: and poked a burning coal.

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Speaker 2: A coal can burn as long as it lives within

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Speaker 2: the flame.

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Speaker 5: Samuel said, His sons watched as he nudged the coal

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Speaker 5: away from the fire. Its flame disappeared almost immediately, and

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Speaker 5: its red hue slowly faded. Within moments, Samuel picked up

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Speaker 5: the warm coal and handed it to his sons.

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Speaker 2: Keep the coal in the flame, he said.

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Speaker 5: With those words, he commissioned his sons to judge over Israel.

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Speaker 5: It was unorthodox for a son to take the place

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Speaker 5: of his father as judge. It was typically God who

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Speaker 5: chose his heroes and rose them up. However, Israel was

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Speaker 5: at a crossroads. Their ongoing conflict with the Philistines left

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Speaker 5: them vulnerable, and they were in need of strong leaders

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Speaker 5: to guide them. Joel and Abijah took on the mantel

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Speaker 5: judge with enthusiasm, yet their hearts were filled with selfish ambition.

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Speaker 5: Their lust for power and greed had fogged their vision,

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Speaker 5: making them a reverent of the sacred position given to them.

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Speaker 5: Months passed, and the already corrupt people of Israel had

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Speaker 5: grown tired of Joel and Abijah as judges. They received

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Speaker 5: bribes from wealthy criminals to turn the blind eye to

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Speaker 5: their crimes. They bent the law of God to serve

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Speaker 5: their own selfish purposes and allowed the weak and helpless

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Speaker 5: of the community to suffer. They could not have been

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Speaker 5: more different than their father Samuel. Their perverted sense of

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Speaker 5: justice had caused a great deal of suffering for the

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Speaker 5: twelve tribes of Israel. All the elders from all twelve

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Speaker 5: tribes met in Rama to discuss and debate the future

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Speaker 5: of their country.

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Speaker 2: They are a disgrace.

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Speaker 5: One of the elders exclaimed. The flames flickered loudly and

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Speaker 5: swayed to the breeze coming in from the window. The

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Speaker 5: room was large and arrayed with hand woven wool rugs

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Speaker 5: and tapestries. Each elder recliented in his place, listening to

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Speaker 5: each other's please.

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Speaker 2: Joel has been bought by some of the most powerful

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Speaker 2: and corrupt men in our nation. Abaijah takes the bribes

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Speaker 2: gladly and fills his stomach with foreign meats and wines.

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Speaker 2: Who appointed these men as judges over us? They have

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Speaker 2: no heart, they have no strength.

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Speaker 5: Another declared, other.

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Speaker 2: Nations have strong kings over them. They are men of

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Speaker 2: power and authority. Another shouted, we have no one to

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Speaker 2: lead us. That is why we keep losing our battles

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Speaker 2: to the Philistines. That is why we lost the ark.

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Speaker 5: The men stirred in the room into the night. They

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Speaker 5: complained about the state of their nation. In all their ramblings,

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Speaker 5: they did not pray, They did not bow and cry

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Speaker 5: out to God for help. In the corner of the room,

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Speaker 5: listening silently to the grumblings of the elders, was Samuel.

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Speaker 5: He reclined with his back pressed against the wall and

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Speaker 5: his staff firmly set in his hands, propping him up.

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Speaker 5: He listened, but he did not look at them. His

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Speaker 5: eyes were set solely on one coal that had fallen

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Speaker 5: beside the fire. As the elder shouted, the coal's bright

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Speaker 5: red hue dimmed and fizzled out. Samuel looked up to

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Speaker 5: see all twelve elders watching him. Samuel, they said.

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Speaker 2: Your sons do not walk as you do. They are

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Speaker 2: dishonorable and filled with greed. They do not possess what

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Speaker 2: we need to thrive as a nation. The time has

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Speaker 2: come for you to appoint a king.

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Speaker 5: Samuel stood upright and puffed at his chest. His eyes

241
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Speaker 5: darted at them with righteous anger. Although Samuel was old

242
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Speaker 5: and well advanced in years, he still carried himself with authority.

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Speaker 5: The spirit of God came upon him and the elder

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Speaker 5: stepped back in fear when they sensed him.

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Speaker 2: Is not the Lord your king? Has he not delivered

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Speaker 2: you time and time.

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Speaker 5: Again, Samuel asked sternly. The elders shrunk back at Samuel's questioning.

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Speaker 2: We no longer want random judges rising up to protect us.

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Speaker 2: We desire a king to lead us into battle and

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Speaker 2: create the law of the land.

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Speaker 5: Samuel was teeming with anger. He stormed out of the

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Speaker 5: room and stepped outside. The stars were set firmly in

253
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Speaker 5: the skies. He looked up and considered the promise made

254
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Speaker 5: by Moses long ago.

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Speaker 2: The Lord your God will raise up for you a

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Speaker 2: prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must

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Speaker 2: listen to him.

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Speaker 5: He thought about the ultimate prophet God would raise up

259
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Speaker 5: to lead them. He longed for his coming and prayed

260
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Speaker 5: for it. Samuel knew that there could be no king

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Speaker 5: that would lead them like God could with compassion, strength, mercy,

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Speaker 5: and justice. Samuel fell to his knees and gripped the

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Speaker 5: grass with his fists. He prayed for answers. He knew

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Speaker 5: the elders would not relent with their requests. He felt

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Speaker 5: the great sense of rejection from them, even though it

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Speaker 5: was his son's, not him. They were rejecting. A gentle

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Speaker 5: breeze slid down the hill and over Samuel's shoulder. In

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Speaker 5: the quietness of night, he heard the voice of God.

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Speaker 7: Speak, give them what they have asked for, he said.

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Speaker 5: Samuel cocked his head in confusion.

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Speaker 7: Obey the voice of the people. In all their request

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Speaker 7: of you, they have not rejected you, Samuel. They have

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Speaker 7: rejected me from being king over them. From the day

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Speaker 7: I brought them out of slavery in Egypt. They have

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Speaker 7: forsaken me and sought after other gods.

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Speaker 8: Since the very beginning.

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Speaker 7: They have left me for others.

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Speaker 5: Samuel's eyes filled with tears as he heard the heart

279
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Speaker 5: of God. The Lord had done so much for them,

280
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Speaker 5: yet they desired another to lead them. A king was

281
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Speaker 5: just another golden calf to them, a counterfeit replacement for God.

282
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Speaker 5: The wind whistled down slope hills and whipped up dust around,

283
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Speaker 5: said Samuel. He heard God speak again, saying, obey the people.

284
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Speaker 5: Only solemnly warned them, and tell them what will happen

285
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Speaker 5: if they appoint a king. The next day, Samuel stood

286
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Speaker 5: in front of the elders and a multitude of people,

287
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Speaker 5: thousands of people flocked to demand a king. One of

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Speaker 5: the elders stepped forward to speak, but Samuel raised his

289
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Speaker 5: hand to silence him. He walked to the platform in

290
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Speaker 5: front of the people and sat, So you want a king,

291
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Speaker 5: he asked. They nodded in response. Samuel dipped his head

292
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Speaker 5: and sighed, you say you want a king, fair enough.

293
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Speaker 5: I will tell you what a king will do. He

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Speaker 5: will take your sons and draft them to ride his

295
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Speaker 5: chariots and polish his armory. They will ride into battle

296
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Speaker 5: before him and die brutally before he even enters the battlefield.

297
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Speaker 2: He will appoint commanders of thousands, hundreds, and fifties. They

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Speaker 2: will raid themselves in the streets like gods, and require

299
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Speaker 2: your unwavering subservience to their egos. He will appoint others

300
00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:10,919
Speaker 2: to plow his ground and reap his harvest, to prepare

301
00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:14,800
Speaker 2: food for his vast armies. The blacksmiths will be taken

302
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Speaker 2: to make tools of war, and your daughters will be

303
00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,840
Speaker 2: taken to cook for his men. You and your family

304
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Speaker 2: will labor hard in the fields, vineyards, and olive groves,

305
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Speaker 2: but he will tax you and give it to his servants.

306
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Speaker 2: He will take a tenth of your grain, your wine,

307
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Speaker 2: and your money to fund his officers, councilmen, and servants.

308
00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:38,120
Speaker 2: He will recruit the best of your male and female workers.

309
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Speaker 2: He will take the best of your live stock and

310
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Speaker 2: breed your donkeys to put them to work. And after

311
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Speaker 2: this precious king of yours has created a nation and

312
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Speaker 2: army that revolves around his own personal economy, you will

313
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Speaker 2: find yourselves with less grain, lost sons, and taxed income.

314
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Speaker 2: Then you will cry out to God to deliver you

315
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Speaker 2: from this king that you have, but he will not

316
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Speaker 2: answer you, because it is what you have asked for.

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Speaker 2: This is what a king will do.

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Speaker 5: Do you understand, the elder said, in silence. For a

319
00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:16,120
Speaker 5: long time, they looked at each other, considering what Samuel

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Speaker 5: had just said. Finally, they all nodded in agreement and

321
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Speaker 5: stood up.

322
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Speaker 2: Give us a king, Samuel, they said, we need to

323
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Speaker 2: compete with other nations. We need someone to fight our battles.

324
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Speaker 5: Every person stood and shouted for a king. Samuel's eyes

325
00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,439
Speaker 5: lifted to heaven. He closed his eyes, listening for the

326
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Speaker 5: voice of God. Obey their voice. Give them a king,

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Speaker 5: he said. Samuel could sense the heart of a rejected God. However,

328
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Speaker 5: he knew that the Lord of Heaven and Earth, would

329
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Speaker 5: never agree without a plan for redemption in mind. Samuel

330
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Speaker 5: stood high and lifted his arms in the air.

331
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Speaker 2: Go every man to his own city, he shouted, I

332
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Speaker 2: shall search for your king.

333
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Speaker 5: Residing in the grassy plains. Rolling through the region of

334
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Speaker 5: Benjamin was the house of Kish, a wealthy Benjamined farmer

335
00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,879
Speaker 5: and merchant. His land had been passed down from his

336
00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,399
Speaker 5: great great grandfather and stretched far towards the border of

337
00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:19,240
Speaker 5: Ephriam under the harsh eastern sun. Working on a broken

338
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Speaker 5: fence near the stables was Saul, the son of Kish.

339
00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:26,000
Speaker 5: His broad shoulders lifted a brand new post and lodged

340
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Speaker 5: it into the hole in the ground. Sweat gripped from

341
00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:31,439
Speaker 5: his head down the curves of his back muscles. He

342
00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:33,320
Speaker 5: picked up the posts that had been broken the night

343
00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,359
Speaker 5: before and rested it on his shoulder. He carried it

344
00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,439
Speaker 5: down to the woodpile to make firewood. He picked up

345
00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:41,639
Speaker 5: his axe and began to chop. A few of the

346
00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,480
Speaker 5: young women slowly passed by with pails of water resting

347
00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:47,280
Speaker 5: over their heads. It was a daily ritual to watch

348
00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:50,159
Speaker 5: all work. He stood a head taller than all the

349
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Speaker 5: other men in his tribe. Not only was he broad

350
00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,800
Speaker 5: and strong, but he was also handsome and well liked.

351
00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:58,960
Speaker 5: Even women from the other tribes knew of the handsome

352
00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:02,720
Speaker 5: and strapping son of Gok. Saul continued to chop the

353
00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:06,000
Speaker 5: post into smaller pieces, pretending not to notice the wandering

354
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Speaker 5: eyes of women passing from the well. He smirked, rose

355
00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,159
Speaker 5: the axe above his head, and swung down with force

356
00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:15,639
Speaker 5: and grace. Just as he was about to finish, sauw

357
00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:17,160
Speaker 5: heard a call from his father's house.

358
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Speaker 8: Saul kiss shouted, what is the meaning of this?

359
00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:23,520
Speaker 5: Saul looked up to see his father touching the new

360
00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:26,399
Speaker 5: wooden post he had dug into the ground. Saul wiped

361
00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,840
Speaker 5: his brow and left his axe lodged into the wood.

362
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Speaker 8: The donkeys somehow broke the fence.

363
00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:35,160
Speaker 5: Father, Saul replied, gesturing to the broken post he was chopping.

364
00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,720
Speaker 8: I've repaired the fence, but many of the donkeys seemed

365
00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:39,679
Speaker 8: to have gone missing.

366
00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:42,440
Speaker 5: Kish nodded and looked in the distance.

367
00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:46,439
Speaker 6: Let's hope they haven't gone far. Quick take one of

368
00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:48,440
Speaker 6: the young workers and go look for the donkeys.

369
00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,640
Speaker 5: Saul nodded, put on a shirt, and gathered a few

370
00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:56,280
Speaker 5: of his belongings. A newly tanned water skin, some dried figs, bread,

371
00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:58,640
Speaker 5: and a seal of his father's ownership over the donkeys.

372
00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:01,440
Speaker 5: He and the urban tabby made their way up the

373
00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:05,359
Speaker 5: hill country surrounding his father's estate. They soon realized the

374
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Speaker 5: donkeys must have ventured farther into the next region. They

375
00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:12,159
Speaker 5: pressed forward to the hill country of Eprium. It was

376
00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:15,520
Speaker 5: lush with new spring blooms, and the gentle midday breeze

377
00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:19,680
Speaker 5: carried the fragrance of wildflowers. Saul stretched his arms wide

378
00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:23,080
Speaker 5: and took a deep breath. He was pleased to be

379
00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:25,600
Speaker 5: away from his father's home, even if it was for

380
00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:29,719
Speaker 5: a tedious task like tracking donkeys. Saul and his servant

381
00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:33,400
Speaker 5: walked through Shaali Shah and Shalim, inquiring about the missing donkeys.

382
00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,720
Speaker 5: Everyone was eager to speak to Saul, for he held

383
00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:39,040
Speaker 5: a good reputation in the land as a skilled fighter

384
00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:44,000
Speaker 5: and charismatic personality. The women especially enjoyed his company. In

385
00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:47,000
Speaker 5: every town Saul walked into, he had many eyes fixed

386
00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:50,200
Speaker 5: on him. He carried himself humbly, but in his heart

387
00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:54,200
Speaker 5: of hearts, he'd loved the attention. The donkeys were neither

388
00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:57,600
Speaker 5: in Shai Shah or Shalim, So Saul and Tabby hiked

389
00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,960
Speaker 5: beyond the hills into zoph The sun had begun its

390
00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,440
Speaker 5: descent from the highest place in the sky, and Saul

391
00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:05,840
Speaker 5: knew they had only a certain amount of daylight left.

392
00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:10,440
Speaker 5: We should return, Saul murmured, Come, let us return before

393
00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,760
Speaker 5: my father becomes more concerned about us than the donkeys.

394
00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:16,560
Speaker 5: Tavvy took a look around and held up his hand

395
00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,480
Speaker 5: to block the sun. He pointed to the nearby city

396
00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:23,280
Speaker 5: nestled in the hillside. I know this place, Tavvy said, excitedly.

397
00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:25,480
Speaker 6: One of the merchants told me there is a man

398
00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:27,760
Speaker 6: of God here in the city. He is held in

399
00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:31,639
Speaker 6: high esteem. According to him, everything he says comes to pass.

400
00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,160
Speaker 8: Would such a prophet care about a few donkeys?

401
00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,399
Speaker 6: Saul scoffed, How would we know if we do not ask?

402
00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:40,720
Speaker 8: Tavvy jested, we are ready here.

403
00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:43,440
Speaker 6: What is the harm in spending another hour finding him?

404
00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:46,280
Speaker 5: Saul looked down at the city and shrugged.

405
00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,080
Speaker 8: What do we have to bring him? We have no

406
00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,879
Speaker 8: offering to give him for his services.

407
00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,520
Speaker 5: Tavvy looked despondent for a moment, but quickly raised his

408
00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,680
Speaker 5: head in realization, Ah, I may have something Tavy reached

409
00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:01,560
Speaker 5: into the bottom of his sack and pulled out a

410
00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:04,760
Speaker 5: small piece of cloth. It was tattered and stained, and

411
00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,679
Speaker 5: as Tavy unfolded it, Saul could see a quarter of

412
00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:08,600
Speaker 5: a shekel of silver.

413
00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:11,760
Speaker 6: I've had this for a while, said Tavy. I will

414
00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:13,439
Speaker 6: give it to the seer and he will tell us

415
00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:14,040
Speaker 6: what we need to know.

416
00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:18,480
Speaker 5: Saul was amazed at Tavy. He, being only a worker

417
00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:21,199
Speaker 5: in his father's household, was willing to lay down a

418
00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:24,120
Speaker 5: very precious sum of money so they might retrieve the donkeys.

419
00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:27,400
Speaker 5: It warmed his heart, and he ordered him too much

420
00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:28,840
Speaker 5: to refuse his generosity.

421
00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:32,560
Speaker 8: Well done, Tavy, Let us go unto the city and

422
00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,040
Speaker 8: inquire about this man of God.

423
00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:37,560
Speaker 5: The two men made their way down the slopes of

424
00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,119
Speaker 5: the hills outside the city until they came upon a well.

425
00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:43,520
Speaker 5: Several young women were drawing water into large clay jars

426
00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:46,880
Speaker 5: trapped to brons to carry them down the hill. Saul

427
00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:49,200
Speaker 5: leaned against the stone perimeter of the well and met

428
00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:53,280
Speaker 5: one of the women's gaze. Greetings, sister, Saul said joyfully.

429
00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:57,240
Speaker 5: His smile was charming and bright. It caught the young

430
00:24:57,240 --> 00:24:59,960
Speaker 5: woman off guard, causing her to still water on her garment.

431
00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,960
Speaker 5: She blushed and began to frantically dry off. The other

432
00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:07,200
Speaker 5: women giggled. Saul handed her a cloth from his sack.

433
00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:10,400
Speaker 5: We are here to speak with the Seer, a man

434
00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:10,919
Speaker 5: of God.

435
00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:12,040
Speaker 8: Is he here?

436
00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:14,000
Speaker 5: The woman blushed and smiled.

437
00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:17,960
Speaker 9: Oh, yes, she said, he is just ahead of you,

438
00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:21,240
Speaker 9: but you must be swift. He has only come to

439
00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,600
Speaker 9: the city because the people have a sacrifice today in

440
00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,240
Speaker 9: the high Place. I have no doubt if you enter

441
00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:28,359
Speaker 9: the city people will be able to tell you where

442
00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:31,280
Speaker 9: he is. The people do not eat until he comes

443
00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,840
Speaker 9: down from the sacrifice. After he returns, all who are

444
00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:36,400
Speaker 9: invited to feast with him eat.

445
00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:39,760
Speaker 5: Saul bowed in gratitude and made his way to the

446
00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:43,280
Speaker 5: city entrance. As he entered, he stumbled upon an old

447
00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:44,399
Speaker 5: man draped in robes.

448
00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:47,679
Speaker 8: Sir, do you know where I might be able to

449
00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:48,720
Speaker 8: find the Seer.

450
00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:52,399
Speaker 5: Samuel looked up at the tall and handsome man standing

451
00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:56,119
Speaker 5: before him. His shoulders were set backwards, puffing out his

452
00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:59,720
Speaker 5: large chest and tight stomach. His beard was perfectly trimmed

453
00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:01,959
Speaker 5: up to it was rich dark hair. He had the

454
00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:04,880
Speaker 5: frame of a warrior and the deep voice of a commander.

455
00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,240
Speaker 5: Before he could answer, the young man the Lord whispered

456
00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:08,720
Speaker 5: in his ear.

457
00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:12,119
Speaker 7: Here is the man of whom I spoke to you, Samuel.

458
00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:16,639
Speaker 7: This is the man who will restrain my people.

459
00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:20,760
Speaker 5: Just a day prior, God had spoken to Samuel, saying.

460
00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:24,600
Speaker 7: Tomorrow, at this time, I will send you a man

461
00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:28,840
Speaker 7: from the tribe of Benjamin. You shall anoint him to

462
00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:34,000
Speaker 7: be king over my people Israel. He shall save them

463
00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:37,199
Speaker 7: from the hand of the Philistines, just as the people

464
00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:42,240
Speaker 7: have wanted. Samuel said nothing. He scanned the man from

465
00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:45,280
Speaker 7: his toes to the top of his head. Everything about

466
00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:48,920
Speaker 7: Saul's appearance was kingly. Even his voice had a resounding

467
00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:52,600
Speaker 7: tone to it. Samuel gave a brief smile and said.

468
00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:53,960
Speaker 2: I am the seer.

469
00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:59,280
Speaker 5: Saul looked perplexed when he answered. Samuel wore no extravagant

470
00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:01,800
Speaker 5: robes or neck the s of jewels. He seemed on

471
00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:05,160
Speaker 5: the outside to be an ordinary old man. However, when

472
00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:08,439
Speaker 5: he spoke there was power and authority behind his words.

473
00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:12,000
Speaker 5: Samuel began to walk away and gestured for Saul and

474
00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:12,880
Speaker 5: Tabby to follow.

475
00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:16,119
Speaker 2: Come with me, the old prophet said, go into the

476
00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,560
Speaker 2: high place where I have made the sacrifice. There you

477
00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,560
Speaker 2: will share a meal with me, and in the morning,

478
00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:23,720
Speaker 2: I shall tell you what you need to know.

479
00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:28,520
Speaker 5: Saul was taken back by the prophet's invitation. He treated

480
00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:30,000
Speaker 5: him as if he had met him before.

481
00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:33,360
Speaker 8: Great see you. All I have come to ask is.

482
00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:35,760
Speaker 2: Your donkeys are fine and well, Saul, son of.

483
00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:37,959
Speaker 5: Kish, Samuel interrupted.

484
00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:40,159
Speaker 2: They were found shortly after you departed on your journey.

485
00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:43,960
Speaker 5: Saul and Tabby looked at each other in dismay. How

486
00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:47,920
Speaker 5: did this man already know their needs? Samuel sensed their

487
00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:51,679
Speaker 5: discomfort and ignored it. He spoke matter of factly, saying.

488
00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:55,040
Speaker 2: There are other matters to discuss, for you are the

489
00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:57,760
Speaker 2: one whom all of Israel has been pining after.

490
00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:01,720
Speaker 5: Saul halted and stopped for following. Samuel, why are you

491
00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:05,359
Speaker 5: speaking to me this way? Saul asked, I am surely

492
00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:08,040
Speaker 5: not worthy to eat with you, or have you say

493
00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:10,919
Speaker 5: these things to me? Am I not from the tribe

494
00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:14,520
Speaker 5: of Benjamin, the least of the tribes of Israel, and

495
00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:17,920
Speaker 5: my father is from the most humble of clans in Benjamin.

496
00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:23,360
Speaker 5: I am nobody. I'm not worthy. Saul's false humility did

497
00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:26,720
Speaker 5: not fool Samuel. His father was a rich and prominent

498
00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:29,359
Speaker 5: man in the tribe of Benjamin. Surely he did not

499
00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:32,320
Speaker 5: feel unworthy, but only that he needed to accept the

500
00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:36,920
Speaker 5: invitation with humility. Samuel took note of this and continued

501
00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:38,600
Speaker 5: to guide the two men to a high place for

502
00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:42,200
Speaker 5: a meal. Saul entered the large home on the top

503
00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,120
Speaker 5: of the hill. Torches laced the perimeter of a large

504
00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,240
Speaker 5: dining hall, where thirty gats reclined at a long wooden table.

505
00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:51,400
Speaker 5: The smell of cooked meat and herbs filled the room,

506
00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:54,760
Speaker 5: and Saul had finally realized how hungry he really was.

507
00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:58,240
Speaker 5: Samuel led him to the front of the table. On

508
00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:02,520
Speaker 5: his way, many men greeted, so all then introduced themselves.

509
00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:05,920
Speaker 5: Saul bowed in humility, being sure to have Samuel notice

510
00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:09,240
Speaker 5: his modesty. Samuel sat at the seat right at the

511
00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:12,000
Speaker 5: head of the table. He then gestured for Saul to

512
00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:14,920
Speaker 5: sit at the very head. It was an astonishing gesture

513
00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:16,960
Speaker 5: to have a stranger sit at the head of your table.

514
00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,080
Speaker 5: It was reserved for the host or a guest of

515
00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:24,760
Speaker 5: great honor or royalty. Saul was confused by Samuel's hospitality

516
00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:29,040
Speaker 5: and wondered what the old prophet was thinking. Although Samuel

517
00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:31,360
Speaker 5: gave Saul the most esteemed place of the table and

518
00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:35,680
Speaker 5: the best portions of food. His face remained impassive. He

519
00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:40,000
Speaker 5: seemed almost apathetic to his presence. Instead of engaging with Saul,

520
00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:43,400
Speaker 5: he simply leaned back and listened to others asking questions.

521
00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:46,680
Speaker 5: Saul could not help but think he was being tested.

522
00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,520
Speaker 5: That night, Samuel led Saul and his servant down the

523
00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:53,800
Speaker 5: hill back into the city. The light of day had disappeared,

524
00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:56,680
Speaker 5: and the moon's silvery light guided the men to Samuel's

525
00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:59,120
Speaker 5: temporary home. I've made a place for you to sleep,

526
00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:02,560
Speaker 5: Samuel said. Rest here for the night, and tomorrow I

527
00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:04,920
Speaker 5: will send you off. A bed had been made for

528
00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,880
Speaker 5: Saul on the roof. A single lamp was lit at

529
00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,840
Speaker 5: the head of it. He bound to Samuel with gratitude

530
00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:14,160
Speaker 5: and tucked into bed. Tavy slept not too far away

531
00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:17,040
Speaker 5: on the other side of the rooftop. Saul lay awake

532
00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:19,960
Speaker 5: looking at the moon that night. His heart beat fast

533
00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:23,080
Speaker 5: in anticipation for the next morning. He did not know why,

534
00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:25,320
Speaker 5: but he felt as if his life was about to

535
00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:30,160
Speaker 5: change forever. Dawn broke over the hills, scattering light across

536
00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:33,920
Speaker 5: the green plains. The darkness of night was slowly melting

537
00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:36,240
Speaker 5: away above Saul's head. When he felt the prodding of

538
00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:39,360
Speaker 5: Samuel's foot on his shoulder. Saul looked up to see

539
00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:40,760
Speaker 5: the old man standing over him.

540
00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:43,880
Speaker 2: Arise, Saul, it is time for you to return home.

541
00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:47,560
Speaker 5: Saul rubbed his eyes and stretched. There was a tinge

542
00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:50,280
Speaker 5: of disappointment. He was sure that there had been some

543
00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:54,280
Speaker 5: reason for Samuel's hospitality. Saul did not want to leave

544
00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:57,960
Speaker 5: without an explanation. The three of them walked towards the gate.

545
00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:01,640
Speaker 5: The morning light had spreads fly across the horizon, and

546
00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:04,120
Speaker 5: people were beginning to emerge from their homes to start

547
00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:07,280
Speaker 5: their day. Saul watched merchants set up their shops and

548
00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:09,959
Speaker 5: women to part with jars to the well. As they

549
00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:12,800
Speaker 5: approached the gates, Samuel tugged on Saul's robe.

550
00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:15,240
Speaker 2: Remain here for a moment, Saul, and tell your servant

551
00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:17,320
Speaker 2: to continue. You'll catch up to him.

552
00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:20,000
Speaker 5: Saul did as he was told, so it was just

553
00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:23,640
Speaker 5: him and the prophet standing alone. Samuel led them both

554
00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:26,880
Speaker 5: by the stream that curved around the city sid he

555
00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:30,480
Speaker 5: said shortly. Saul took a seat on a smooth stone

556
00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:33,160
Speaker 5: at the edge of the water. Samuel took a flask

557
00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:35,040
Speaker 5: of oil out of his robe and removed the top.

558
00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:38,840
Speaker 5: Saul watched curiously as the old prophet whispered into the

559
00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:42,560
Speaker 5: oil and closed his eyes. He was praying, but not

560
00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:46,240
Speaker 5: in the way Saul had known prayer. Samuel was speaking

561
00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:48,360
Speaker 5: to God as if he was dwelling within his own

562
00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:51,960
Speaker 5: heart and mind. He noticed his hands holding the flask.

563
00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:56,320
Speaker 5: Most men his age had trembling hands. They were unsteady

564
00:31:56,360 --> 00:32:00,640
Speaker 5: and shaking. However, Samuel's hands were not trembling. They held

565
00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:04,520
Speaker 5: the oil firmly, purposefully, raising the flask above Saul's head.

566
00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:08,400
Speaker 5: As the prophet prayed, Saul could feel the oil being

567
00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:12,080
Speaker 5: poured onto his head. The fragrant oil dripped down Saul's

568
00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:15,880
Speaker 5: hair and shoulders. Samuel grabbed his face and kissed his forehead.

569
00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:18,520
Speaker 5: He looked at him with an intense gaze and.

570
00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:23,200
Speaker 2: Said, the Lord has anointed you, Saul. You shall reign

571
00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:27,040
Speaker 2: over God's people. You will save them from the enemies

572
00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:30,520
Speaker 2: that rage at their borders and seek their heads. This

573
00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:33,000
Speaker 2: oil shall be assigned to you, that the Lord has

574
00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:36,200
Speaker 2: anointed you and called you over his children.

575
00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:40,320
Speaker 5: Saul looked up at Samuel with watery eyes. He was

576
00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:43,640
Speaker 5: without words and unable to keep his hands from shaking.

577
00:32:44,480 --> 00:32:46,680
Speaker 5: He could not help but smile and shake his head.

578
00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:47,640
Speaker 8: How can this be?

579
00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:52,800
Speaker 2: He whispered, Arise, Samuel said, depart from me to day

580
00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:56,360
Speaker 2: and returned towards the house of your father. On your way,

581
00:32:56,400 --> 00:32:59,120
Speaker 2: you will meet two men. They will inform you that

582
00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:03,400
Speaker 2: your fathers don't have been found. After this, you will

583
00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:06,840
Speaker 2: go further until you reach the Oak of Tabor. There

584
00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:10,200
Speaker 2: three men will be going up to make sacrifices to

585
00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:14,160
Speaker 2: God at Bethel. One will be carrying three young goats,

586
00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:16,920
Speaker 2: the other will have three loaves of bread, and the

587
00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:20,720
Speaker 2: other will carry a skin of wine. These men will

588
00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:22,800
Speaker 2: greet you and give you two loaves of bread for

589
00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:23,440
Speaker 2: your journey.

590
00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:26,800
Speaker 8: Why are you telling me these things, Saul asked.

591
00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:29,760
Speaker 2: If I did not tell you, they would simply be

592
00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:33,120
Speaker 2: random happenings on the road back home. Since I have

593
00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:35,959
Speaker 2: told you these things will happen, it gives my words

594
00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:39,320
Speaker 2: more weight when they come to pass. This is your

595
00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:43,760
Speaker 2: confirmation that the Lord has made you king. After these things,

596
00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:46,680
Speaker 2: you shall go to Gibethe Elohim, where there is a

597
00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:50,560
Speaker 2: garrison of enemy Philistines currently stationed. As soon as you

598
00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:52,239
Speaker 2: come near the city, you will meet a group of

599
00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:56,720
Speaker 2: prophets coming down from the high place with harms tambourines, flutes,

600
00:33:56,760 --> 00:33:57,320
Speaker 2: and lyres.

601
00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:00,320
Speaker 5: Samuel paused for a moment and bent down to saw.

602
00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:03,720
Speaker 5: His eyes met his, and they were locked for what

603
00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:04,760
Speaker 5: seemed like minutes.

604
00:34:05,480 --> 00:34:07,720
Speaker 2: The spirit of the Lord is moving.

605
00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:10,520
Speaker 5: So Samuel gestured to the rushing stream beside them.

606
00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:14,319
Speaker 2: He is moving and rushing like these waters. He will

607
00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:18,480
Speaker 2: rush upon you, and you will prophesy to these men.

608
00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:22,680
Speaker 2: As you worship and pray, you will feel yourself change

609
00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:23,680
Speaker 2: into a new man.

610
00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:27,640
Speaker 5: Saul gulped and nodded. He was unsure of how to

611
00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:30,839
Speaker 5: receive what Samuel was telling him. He felt honored and

612
00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:34,319
Speaker 5: terrified at the same time. He closed his eyes and

613
00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:37,359
Speaker 5: took a deep breath. He opened his eyes and looked

614
00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:41,160
Speaker 5: at Samuel intently. What will come after this, he asked.

615
00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:45,600
Speaker 5: Samuel lifted Sol up to his feet and grabbed his shoulders.

616
00:34:46,239 --> 00:34:49,520
Speaker 5: Do what you see fit, he responded. God is with you.

617
00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:53,799
Speaker 5: He will guide you. However, you will be expected to

618
00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:56,520
Speaker 5: meet me at Gilgo. I am coming down to offer

619
00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:59,759
Speaker 5: a sacrifice. You will wait seven days, and then I

620
00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:03,239
Speaker 5: shall tell you what to do. So Samuel dismissed Saul,

621
00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:06,520
Speaker 5: and everything he had declared came to pass With each

622
00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:10,640
Speaker 5: passing sign Saul felt his heart changing. The confirmation of

623
00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:13,880
Speaker 5: God's calling on his life began to create genuine humility

624
00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:16,439
Speaker 5: and awe on him. As he marched up the hill

625
00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:19,520
Speaker 5: to worship with the prophets, he felt a rush of

626
00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:23,600
Speaker 5: God's spirit upon him. He began to proclaim the justice, mercy,

627
00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:26,960
Speaker 5: and goodness of God and all who knew Saul previously

628
00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:31,680
Speaker 5: stood in amazement. After his long journey, With a transformed

629
00:35:31,719 --> 00:35:34,879
Speaker 5: heart resounding within him like a trumpet, Saul returned home.

630
00:35:35,719 --> 00:35:38,240
Speaker 5: The sun was setting, and Saul could feel the favor

631
00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:41,200
Speaker 5: of God going before him with every step. He had

632
00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:44,080
Speaker 5: always walked taller than the rest of his brothers, his

633
00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:47,040
Speaker 5: shoulders were always able to carry heavier loads, and his

634
00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:51,520
Speaker 5: legs could run longer distances. However, at this moment, Saul

635
00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:55,040
Speaker 5: had never felt so strong. The spirit of God had

636
00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:57,760
Speaker 5: anointed him, and he could feel within him a fire

637
00:35:57,840 --> 00:36:01,680
Speaker 5: burning for justice and righteousness. He entered past the gates

638
00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:04,160
Speaker 5: of his father's pastures, eager to tell them all that

639
00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:07,440
Speaker 5: had happened. He entered the warm home, where, still cooked

640
00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:10,760
Speaker 5: over an open flame, Saul's uncle was sitting near the embers,

641
00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:14,959
Speaker 5: enjoying the savory aroma. Saul embraced his uncle and sat

642
00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:15,759
Speaker 5: down next to him.

643
00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:19,239
Speaker 8: We departed to find the lost donkeys.

644
00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:20,120
Speaker 5: He said, with a smile.

645
00:36:20,360 --> 00:36:23,880
Speaker 8: When we did not find them, we sought Samuel, the prophet.

646
00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:27,600
Speaker 5: His uncle leaned in close. His gaze was intense and serious.

647
00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:31,840
Speaker 2: You met the man of God himself. He asked, what

648
00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:34,359
Speaker 2: was he like? What did he tell you?

649
00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:37,439
Speaker 5: Saul was about to answer, then he heard a coal

650
00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:39,640
Speaker 5: in the fire pop and fall off in the pit.

651
00:36:40,760 --> 00:36:44,880
Speaker 5: He stared at it, mesmerized by the flickering light. He

652
00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:47,040
Speaker 5: took his foot and flicked it back into the fire.

653
00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:50,360
Speaker 5: Saul looked at his uncle and chuckled.

654
00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:51,200
Speaker 1: Ah ha.

655
00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:54,640
Speaker 8: He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found,

656
00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:58,960
Speaker 8: So we made our way back here a waste of time.

657
00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:02,560
Speaker 5: After this, Saul sat down and enjoyed a meal with

658
00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:05,480
Speaker 5: his family. He did not tell anyone of his encounter

659
00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:07,960
Speaker 5: with the prophet. He allowed the truth of God to

660
00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:13,160
Speaker 5: simmer in his heart for a little longer. Samuel stood

661
00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:15,799
Speaker 5: once again in front of the elders of Israel. The

662
00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:19,680
Speaker 5: twelve elders, each representing the twelve tribes, came before him,

663
00:37:19,719 --> 00:37:22,000
Speaker 5: eagerly awaiting a response to their demands.

664
00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:25,000
Speaker 2: Have you found us a king, they asked.

665
00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:27,800
Speaker 5: Samuel's eyes darted forward.

666
00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:30,920
Speaker 2: He scoffed, you mean, have I found you a slave

667
00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:37,520
Speaker 2: master you so desperately desire. No, I've done nothing. However,

668
00:37:37,560 --> 00:37:39,880
Speaker 2: the Lord, in his mercy, has decided to give you

669
00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:43,359
Speaker 2: the desires of your hearts, even if they do lead

670
00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:44,680
Speaker 2: you down a treacherous path.

671
00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:48,560
Speaker 5: The elders ignored Samuel's disdain and awaited an actual answer

672
00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:52,319
Speaker 5: to their question. Samuel rubbed his temple and said, go

673
00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:53,240
Speaker 5: to your tribes.

674
00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:57,480
Speaker 2: Every man, woman and child shall meet me at Mizpah.

675
00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:01,080
Speaker 2: Be sure that everyone is present, for the Lord will

676
00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:02,520
Speaker 2: reveal his chosen king.

677
00:38:03,560 --> 00:38:07,000
Speaker 5: The men left excitedly, but Samuel was still grieved by

678
00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:11,640
Speaker 5: their unrepentant hearts. Even after meeting Saul, he remained resolute

679
00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:14,279
Speaker 5: that a king was a bad decision. To accept a

680
00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:18,920
Speaker 5: king was to reject their God. However, as the Lord commanded,

681
00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:24,000
Speaker 5: Samuel went before the people at Mizpah. Samuel scanned the

682
00:38:24,040 --> 00:38:27,960
Speaker 5: sea of faces before him. Hundreds of thousands hung in suspense,

683
00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:30,920
Speaker 5: waiting for the last judge of Israel to proclaim a

684
00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:35,239
Speaker 5: new era of rule in Israel. Samuel rose his hands

685
00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:38,840
Speaker 5: up high to silence the crowd. The silent tension was

686
00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:42,160
Speaker 5: thick enough to cut with a knife. Out of the quietude,

687
00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,840
Speaker 5: Samuel spoke with a trumpeting voice of a prophet's.

688
00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:51,279
Speaker 2: Saying, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I

689
00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:54,240
Speaker 2: am the one who saved you from captivity in Egypt.

690
00:38:54,840 --> 00:38:57,319
Speaker 2: I delivered you from the grips of slavery in the

691
00:38:57,400 --> 00:39:01,839
Speaker 2: kingdom that oppressed you. But today you have rejected the

692
00:39:01,880 --> 00:39:05,480
Speaker 2: God who has saved you from so many calamities and distresses.

693
00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:09,280
Speaker 2: You have asked for a king to replace him.

694
00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:12,880
Speaker 5: A soft breeze came up behind Samuel. It cooled his

695
00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:17,360
Speaker 5: heightened anger towards the people. He breathed in deeply and said.

696
00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:22,399
Speaker 2: Present yourselves before the Lord, by your tribes and by

697
00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:23,280
Speaker 2: your clans.

698
00:39:24,239 --> 00:39:27,320
Speaker 5: Samuel watched as the people shifted and moved to organize

699
00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:30,560
Speaker 5: into clans and tribes. The eldest were sure to organize

700
00:39:30,560 --> 00:39:33,640
Speaker 5: and dictate. We all should stand at attention. Saul was

701
00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:36,280
Speaker 5: clumped in among the tribe of Benjamin, in the tribe

702
00:39:36,280 --> 00:39:39,520
Speaker 5: of the Matrites. He watched as his brother and fellow

703
00:39:39,560 --> 00:39:42,879
Speaker 5: clansmen looked at one another eagerly. They wondered if they

704
00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:45,920
Speaker 5: were going to be selected. However, Saul knew what the

705
00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:48,640
Speaker 5: result would be, and he felt a sense of dread

706
00:39:48,680 --> 00:39:51,560
Speaker 5: fall upon him, not for the mantle of king, but

707
00:39:51,640 --> 00:39:55,359
Speaker 5: for the attention of all the people. Samuel reached into

708
00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:57,600
Speaker 5: his robes and pulled out a sack filled with twelve

709
00:39:57,640 --> 00:40:01,280
Speaker 5: smooth stones with markings carved into them. Each was distinctly

710
00:40:01,320 --> 00:40:04,759
Speaker 5: different from the other. They were lots, and often used

711
00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:08,120
Speaker 5: to determine the will of God. Samuel cast the lots

712
00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:12,000
Speaker 5: onto the floor. The stone of Benjamin was selected, so

713
00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:15,200
Speaker 5: he brought the tribe of Benjamin near. He organized them

714
00:40:15,200 --> 00:40:18,200
Speaker 5: by clans and cast lots again. The clan of the

715
00:40:18,239 --> 00:40:21,640
Speaker 5: Matrites was selected. Saul's heart began to pound in his

716
00:40:21,760 --> 00:40:25,279
Speaker 5: chest out of pure anxiety. Saul shifted his feet to

717
00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:27,880
Speaker 5: hide behind one of the carts filled with farming equipment.

718
00:40:28,480 --> 00:40:31,239
Speaker 5: Saul stood with his back against the cart, listening to

719
00:40:31,320 --> 00:40:35,240
Speaker 5: Samuel rejects several of the families within his clan. Finally,

720
00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:38,960
Speaker 5: the family of Kish was selected, and Saul heard Samuel

721
00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:40,480
Speaker 5: say his name, Saul.

722
00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:42,120
Speaker 8: Where is Saul?

723
00:40:42,480 --> 00:40:46,920
Speaker 5: Samuel asked. Saul was frozen and placed behind the cart.

724
00:40:47,440 --> 00:40:49,800
Speaker 5: He pounded the back of his head against it, thinking

725
00:40:49,840 --> 00:40:52,880
Speaker 5: about running, but before he had a chance to run.

726
00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:56,240
Speaker 5: A hand grabbed his shoulder. It was his uncle.

727
00:40:56,520 --> 00:40:57,160
Speaker 8: Here he is.

728
00:40:57,800 --> 00:41:00,600
Speaker 5: The people applauded as Saul walked towards to the front

729
00:41:00,600 --> 00:41:04,040
Speaker 5: where Samuel was standing. They cheered and awed at how

730
00:41:04,160 --> 00:41:07,840
Speaker 5: large he was. They saw his broad shoulders and strong arms.

731
00:41:08,120 --> 00:41:11,239
Speaker 5: They saw his chisel jaw and dark beard. He was

732
00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:14,400
Speaker 5: everything they desired in a king. He had the appearance

733
00:41:14,440 --> 00:41:17,360
Speaker 5: of strength, He had the body of a king, and

734
00:41:17,440 --> 00:41:20,200
Speaker 5: they cared very little about the heart that dwelled within it.

735
00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:24,479
Speaker 5: Saul stepped up to the platform beside Samuel. The old

736
00:41:24,480 --> 00:41:27,560
Speaker 5: prophet bowed his head and gave a weary smile. He

737
00:41:27,600 --> 00:41:30,160
Speaker 5: turned to the crowd and pointed to Saul, saying.

738
00:41:30,280 --> 00:41:32,800
Speaker 2: Look upon the one the Lord has chosen.

739
00:41:33,440 --> 00:41:37,160
Speaker 5: A cacophony of praise erupted from the entire nation. The

740
00:41:37,239 --> 00:41:39,680
Speaker 5: sound of trumpets filled the air, and the shouts of

741
00:41:39,719 --> 00:41:43,720
Speaker 5: adoration flooded Saul's heart. The praise that was once given

742
00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:46,200
Speaker 5: to God was now thrust upon Saul.

743
00:41:47,360 --> 00:41:53,480
Speaker 8: Long live the King, they shouted. Long Live King Saul.

744
00:41:53,880 --> 00:41:58,200
Speaker 5: They proclaimed. As songs were sung and instruments were played,

745
00:41:58,600 --> 00:42:02,600
Speaker 5: a small voice emerged within Saul's mind. Its whisper was

746
00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:07,640
Speaker 5: nearly silent, but sharp and powerful. Saul's own pride was

747
00:42:07,719 --> 00:42:09,319
Speaker 5: beginning to creep into his heart.

748
00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:16,040
Speaker 4: Israel's first king has been chosen. The people wanted a

749
00:42:16,120 --> 00:42:19,000
Speaker 4: ruler to lead them, and Saul certainly seems to fit

750
00:42:19,080 --> 00:42:22,440
Speaker 4: the part. But one of the themes in this episode is

751
00:42:22,480 --> 00:42:26,759
Speaker 4: that looks can be deceiving. The prelude shows us that

752
00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:30,120
Speaker 4: you can't simply manufacture the favor of God and force

753
00:42:30,200 --> 00:42:33,319
Speaker 4: him to bless you. The people of Israel paraded the

754
00:42:33,440 --> 00:42:35,680
Speaker 4: Ark of the Covenant out like a weapon and a

755
00:42:35,719 --> 00:42:39,880
Speaker 4: sign of intimidation. They wanted the appearance of victory, thinking

756
00:42:40,360 --> 00:42:42,959
Speaker 4: it would somehow move the hand of God to fight

757
00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:47,320
Speaker 4: for them. They were gravely mistaken. Now we meet Saul,

758
00:42:47,520 --> 00:42:51,160
Speaker 4: a strapping young man with broad shoulders and a commanding presence.

759
00:42:51,840 --> 00:42:54,400
Speaker 4: He looked like a king, acts like a king, and

760
00:42:54,480 --> 00:42:57,799
Speaker 4: even carries himself with that false humility we see and

761
00:42:57,840 --> 00:43:01,839
Speaker 4: a lot of athletes and politicians. But what about his heart, Well,

762
00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:05,040
Speaker 4: we know nothing about his heart. In fact, his heart

763
00:43:05,080 --> 00:43:08,920
Speaker 4: for God isn't mentioned at all. Saul is this polished

764
00:43:08,960 --> 00:43:11,360
Speaker 4: image of what people think a king should look like,

765
00:43:12,000 --> 00:43:14,200
Speaker 4: but we have no idea what's going on in his

766
00:43:14,360 --> 00:43:18,759
Speaker 4: mind or heart? Is he passionate about God's people. Does

767
00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:21,640
Speaker 4: he take the law of God seriously? What about his

768
00:43:21,719 --> 00:43:25,560
Speaker 4: prayer life or willingness to yield when corrected? We know

769
00:43:25,920 --> 00:43:28,719
Speaker 4: none of these things, because Saul is meant to represent

770
00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:35,520
Speaker 4: the hollowness of worldly leaders, all image with no substance. Samuel, however,

771
00:43:35,640 --> 00:43:38,839
Speaker 4: knows better. He warns the people of Israel that the

772
00:43:38,880 --> 00:43:42,320
Speaker 4: office of king is flawed to begin with, since whoever

773
00:43:42,360 --> 00:43:44,759
Speaker 4: becomes king is going to be taking the place of

774
00:43:44,800 --> 00:43:48,520
Speaker 4: God in their lives. Up until now, Israel was ruled

775
00:43:48,520 --> 00:43:52,160
Speaker 4: by God and the elders of the tribes of Israel. Occasionally,

776
00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:55,160
Speaker 4: when Israel was in a bind, he would raise up

777
00:43:55,239 --> 00:43:58,920
Speaker 4: judges to save them. This system worked, and it continually

778
00:43:58,920 --> 00:44:01,640
Speaker 4: brought them back to God. God when things were difficult,

779
00:44:01,840 --> 00:44:05,719
Speaker 4: they relied on him for everything, and he was always faithful.

780
00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:09,480
Speaker 4: The Book of Judges, which took place right before this episode,

781
00:44:09,760 --> 00:44:13,440
Speaker 4: revealed to us the faithfulness of God despite human brokenness.

782
00:44:13,800 --> 00:44:16,920
Speaker 4: Who is this promised leader, prophet, and deliverer that is

783
00:44:16,960 --> 00:44:21,880
Speaker 4: whispered about in the prelude and by Samuel? Is it Saul?

784
00:44:22,239 --> 00:44:25,840
Speaker 4: Is it going to be David? Asking these questions places

785
00:44:25,960 --> 00:44:29,240
Speaker 4: us in the minds of the early Hebrews. These people

786
00:44:29,239 --> 00:44:33,000
Speaker 4: were in constant anticipation of this promised leader spoken about

787
00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:37,520
Speaker 4: by Moses and foreshadowed in Genesis. They were eagerly waiting

788
00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:41,280
Speaker 4: for a chosen hero, hand picked by God to deliver

789
00:44:41,440 --> 00:44:44,839
Speaker 4: them and lead them. It stands to reason that at

790
00:44:44,840 --> 00:44:48,239
Speaker 4: this point in the story many Jews were thinking that

791
00:44:48,320 --> 00:44:52,000
Speaker 4: Saul might be the one. They will be disappointed, obviously,

792
00:44:52,440 --> 00:44:55,640
Speaker 4: but honestly they will be disappointed with David as well

793
00:44:56,200 --> 00:44:59,200
Speaker 4: as great and mighty. As David becomes, he doesn't hold

794
00:44:59,200 --> 00:45:02,040
Speaker 4: a candle to God, God's true deliverer. One of the

795
00:45:02,120 --> 00:45:05,080
Speaker 4: key themes in this entire series is going to be

796
00:45:05,320 --> 00:45:09,200
Speaker 4: that a greater prophet than Samuel, a greater king than Saul,

797
00:45:09,640 --> 00:45:12,719
Speaker 4: and a greater hero than David is coming. But what

798
00:45:12,920 --> 00:45:15,239
Speaker 4: is Israel supposed to do while they wait for this

799
00:45:15,360 --> 00:45:19,920
Speaker 4: great prophet? Dozens of evil nations surround Israel, armored chariots,

800
00:45:20,040 --> 00:45:24,279
Speaker 4: ridden by warrior kings and legendary commanders who wouldn't be

801
00:45:24,320 --> 00:45:28,120
Speaker 4: intimidated by that. Israel wants to feel like they can

802
00:45:28,160 --> 00:45:30,879
Speaker 4: measure up to those other nations with a strong king

803
00:45:31,000 --> 00:45:35,360
Speaker 4: to represent them in battle, trade, and peace negotiations. The

804
00:45:35,440 --> 00:45:39,800
Speaker 4: ancient world is evolving and Israel can feel themselves falling behind.

805
00:45:40,440 --> 00:45:44,440
Speaker 4: But there's an issue with who they seek out for answers.

806
00:45:44,840 --> 00:45:47,759
Speaker 4: They don't seek God, sacrifice to him, or pray to

807
00:45:47,840 --> 00:45:52,320
Speaker 4: him for answers. Instead, they outsource the job to Samuel,

808
00:45:52,760 --> 00:45:55,319
Speaker 4: expecting him to figure it out for them. They don't

809
00:45:55,320 --> 00:45:57,560
Speaker 4: want to do the spiritual leg work it takes to

810
00:45:57,600 --> 00:46:00,920
Speaker 4: get answers, probably because they they know what they are

811
00:46:00,960 --> 00:46:05,120
Speaker 4: doing is wrong. The elders of Israel ignore their responsibility

812
00:46:05,160 --> 00:46:08,160
Speaker 4: to seek God and give the task to Samuel. The

813
00:46:08,200 --> 00:46:12,279
Speaker 4: elders also ignore their responsibility to lead the people and

814
00:46:12,400 --> 00:46:16,240
Speaker 4: give the tasks to Saul. There is a perpetual shirking

815
00:46:16,280 --> 00:46:20,560
Speaker 4: of duty in exchange for the easy way. Unfortunately for them,

816
00:46:20,880 --> 00:46:23,319
Speaker 4: God is going to give them exactly what they want.

817
00:46:23,840 --> 00:46:26,840
Speaker 4: He honors their request and works with Samuel to find

818
00:46:26,960 --> 00:46:30,960
Speaker 4: Israeli king. The choice by God to honor Israel's request

819
00:46:31,040 --> 00:46:33,960
Speaker 4: can cause us to pause and ask a few questions.

820
00:46:34,680 --> 00:46:37,600
Speaker 4: Why does God give them what they ask for, especially

821
00:46:37,640 --> 00:46:40,720
Speaker 4: when he knows it's bad for them? Certainly he doesn't

822
00:46:40,760 --> 00:46:44,320
Speaker 4: always do that, so why now? There are several correct

823
00:46:44,320 --> 00:46:48,759
Speaker 4: answers to these questions, but let's explore just one. Sometimes

824
00:46:48,800 --> 00:46:52,160
Speaker 4: our hearts are revealed only when we get precisely what

825
00:46:52,200 --> 00:46:55,520
Speaker 4: we ask for. Think about people who have sold their

826
00:46:55,560 --> 00:46:59,120
Speaker 4: souls at the altar of business and enterprise, only to

827
00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:02,600
Speaker 4: succeed and find out that it was all meaningless. Think

828
00:47:02,640 --> 00:47:05,759
Speaker 4: about athlete to devote their entire lives to be at

829
00:47:05,760 --> 00:47:09,080
Speaker 4: the top of their game, only to be reminded of

830
00:47:09,120 --> 00:47:13,040
Speaker 4: its futility and inability to bring them happiness. Think about

831
00:47:13,080 --> 00:47:16,759
Speaker 4: yourself and the things you may have obsessed over that

832
00:47:16,880 --> 00:47:19,920
Speaker 4: drew you away from God and others. Did you feel

833
00:47:19,920 --> 00:47:22,920
Speaker 4: satisfied when you finally got what you wanted, or did

834
00:47:22,960 --> 00:47:26,040
Speaker 4: you feel a sense of emptiness? That emptiness is a

835
00:47:26,080 --> 00:47:29,040
Speaker 4: signal to us that what we want is not always

836
00:47:29,080 --> 00:47:32,080
Speaker 4: what we need. There are many lessons learned when we

837
00:47:32,160 --> 00:47:34,799
Speaker 4: pursue the wrong thing and get to the end of

838
00:47:34,840 --> 00:47:38,920
Speaker 4: that journey. Samuel tells the people exactly what will happen

839
00:47:39,320 --> 00:47:42,040
Speaker 4: if they pursue a king. He warns them that a

840
00:47:42,120 --> 00:47:45,760
Speaker 4: king will bring more restraint than freedom. This is often

841
00:47:45,800 --> 00:47:49,080
Speaker 4: what sin does to us. We pursue it think it

842
00:47:49,120 --> 00:47:51,759
Speaker 4: will somehow fulfill us and give us freedom, but we

843
00:47:51,920 --> 00:47:55,320
Speaker 4: end up more enslaved than before. It is God's desire

844
00:47:55,400 --> 00:47:58,719
Speaker 4: to bring us freedom, not constraint. Within His will and

845
00:47:58,760 --> 00:48:02,120
Speaker 4: his presence, we are meant to find purpose and liberty.

846
00:48:02,760 --> 00:48:06,759
Speaker 4: Let's end by talking about God's presence. Maybe you picked

847
00:48:06,840 --> 00:48:10,320
Speaker 4: up on some subtle imagery used in this first episode.

848
00:48:10,920 --> 00:48:13,680
Speaker 4: It is an image used several times in this series.

849
00:48:14,080 --> 00:48:16,920
Speaker 4: It is the image of the coal in the fire.

850
00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:19,960
Speaker 4: When Samuel is encouraging his sons in the beginning of

851
00:48:20,000 --> 00:48:23,359
Speaker 4: the episode, he talks about a fire. He asks them

852
00:48:23,400 --> 00:48:26,640
Speaker 4: if they are able to keep the coals burning, and

853
00:48:26,719 --> 00:48:29,680
Speaker 4: goes on to say a cold can burn as long

854
00:48:29,719 --> 00:48:33,400
Speaker 4: as it lives within the flame. Keep the coal in

855
00:48:33,480 --> 00:48:36,920
Speaker 4: the flame. He says this to remind his sons and

856
00:48:37,080 --> 00:48:39,840
Speaker 4: us as the listeners, that no one can rule the

857
00:48:39,960 --> 00:48:43,880
Speaker 4: nation of Israel outside the presence of God. The closer

858
00:48:43,920 --> 00:48:46,840
Speaker 4: a ruler is to the flame, the longer and brighter

859
00:48:46,880 --> 00:48:50,759
Speaker 4: he will burn. But the second someone removes themselves from

860
00:48:50,800 --> 00:48:53,799
Speaker 4: the presence of God, they will lose their heat, like

861
00:48:53,880 --> 00:48:57,000
Speaker 4: the coal that burns out. Did you notice the flame?

862
00:48:57,040 --> 00:49:00,760
Speaker 4: In other parts of the episode, Samuel watch a coal

863
00:49:00,960 --> 00:49:04,120
Speaker 4: pop loose from the fire when the elders were asking

864
00:49:04,160 --> 00:49:08,000
Speaker 4: for a king. Nobody noticed, and the coal slowly dimmed

865
00:49:08,600 --> 00:49:11,800
Speaker 4: This represented the heart of Israel being lost outside of

866
00:49:11,840 --> 00:49:15,359
Speaker 4: the presence of God. A coal also fell out of

867
00:49:15,400 --> 00:49:18,200
Speaker 4: the fire when Saul was speaking with his uncle, only

868
00:49:18,239 --> 00:49:21,480
Speaker 4: the coal did not burn out. Instead, Saul kicked the

869
00:49:21,520 --> 00:49:25,440
Speaker 4: coal back into the fire. This represents Saul's karrent state

870
00:49:25,480 --> 00:49:28,120
Speaker 4: with God. Saul is at a high in his life

871
00:49:28,160 --> 00:49:30,800
Speaker 4: right now and close enough to the heart of God.

872
00:49:31,239 --> 00:49:34,160
Speaker 4: The remaining question in the next few episodes is this,

873
00:49:34,760 --> 00:49:38,040
Speaker 4: Will Saul be able to keep the coals burning for now?

874
00:49:38,520 --> 00:49:41,680
Speaker 4: He seems to be exactly what Israel wants, but is

875
00:49:41,760 --> 00:49:45,160
Speaker 4: that what God wants? Will Saul allow the voice of

876
00:49:45,200 --> 00:49:48,120
Speaker 4: God to guide him? Will Saul submit to the law

877
00:49:48,160 --> 00:49:51,120
Speaker 4: of God and the advice of Samuel? Or will the

878
00:49:51,160 --> 00:49:54,719
Speaker 4: coal lose its light apart from the flame? The end

879
00:49:54,719 --> 00:49:58,680
Speaker 4: of the episode teases a small serpent like voice slithering

880
00:49:58,719 --> 00:50:01,799
Speaker 4: into the sea. The pride of the throne will soon

881
00:50:01,880 --> 00:50:04,800
Speaker 4: come for Saul's heart. Will he give in to pride

882
00:50:05,000 --> 00:50:08,160
Speaker 4: or rise above it? Those are going to be some

883
00:50:08,360 --> 00:50:11,440
Speaker 4: questions we explore in the next episode. We will watch

884
00:50:11,480 --> 00:50:15,080
Speaker 4: Saul's ascension as a mighty king and even find ourselves

885
00:50:15,160 --> 00:50:19,280
Speaker 4: rooting for him. However, as I mentioned before this episode,

886
00:50:19,440 --> 00:50:22,000
Speaker 4: there is only one worthy to sit on the throne.

887
00:50:22,320 --> 00:50:25,480
Speaker 4: There's only one true king of Israel. It is not Samuel,

888
00:50:25,840 --> 00:50:28,120
Speaker 4: it is not Saul, and it will not be David.

889
00:50:28,640 --> 00:50:31,400
Speaker 4: The only king worthy to sit on the throne of

890
00:50:31,520 --> 00:50:36,040
Speaker 4: Israel and our hearts is Jesus Christ. Thanks again for listening.

891
00:50:36,440 --> 00:50:40,640
Speaker 4: For more inspiring stories, daily prayers, and wisdom to last

892
00:50:40,880 --> 00:50:46,160
Speaker 4: a lifetime, download Theprey dot com app. Follow the podcast

893
00:50:46,600 --> 00:50:50,120
Speaker 4: on Apple or Spotify to get the newest episodes right

894
00:50:50,200 --> 00:50:52,080
Speaker 4: as they are released. God bless