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Speaker 1: Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, your host for the Heroes

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Speaker 1: in the Bible podcast. Before we begin, be sure to

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Speaker 1: follow this podcast on Apple or Spotify so that you're

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Speaker 1: updated on the newest episodes as they become available. So

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Speaker 1: where do we begin, Well, we do not begin with

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Speaker 1: David at all. In fact, his name isn't even mentioned

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Speaker 1: until later. First, we will begin this in every story

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Speaker 1: with a prelude, a tale from another point in time

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Speaker 1: that carries hidden messages for us. Then we will begin

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Speaker 1: our journey by meeting an old prophet named Samuel. He

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Speaker 1: is the final judge of Israel, task with finding a

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Speaker 1: king for the fallen children of God. The first King

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Speaker 1: of Israel seems on the outside to be noble, strong

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Speaker 1: and worthy of the throne. But there is only one

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Speaker 1: worthy to sit on the throne. There is only one

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Speaker 1: true King of Israel.

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Speaker 2: Prelude to chapter one. It was a brutal and agonizing slaughter.

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Speaker 2: The men of Israel were thrown around like dogs of

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Speaker 2: the hands of the Philistines. Their blades thrust through Israelite,

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Speaker 2: fleshed swiftly and without mercy. There was no hope for

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Speaker 2: them to recover their position. Every man was doomed to

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Speaker 2: either die under the sword of the enemy or flee

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Speaker 2: like cowards into the wilderness. Thirty thousand soldiers of the

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Speaker 2: Lord's army lay dead in the valley, with crows pecking

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Speaker 2: at their rotting flesh in the hot sun. They had

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Speaker 2: begun the battle hopeful. Their swords were sharpened and their

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Speaker 2: armor glimmered in the sunlight. After several defeats to the Philistines,

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Speaker 2: they chose to bring in the Ark of the Covenant,

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Speaker 2: the manifest presence of God and a symbol of his

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Speaker 2: companionship with the nation of Israel. They shouted war cries

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Speaker 2: of victory as they paraded the Ark of God before

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Speaker 2: the Philistines. They had lost many battles and decided to

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Speaker 2: use God's presence as a tool of fear and boasting.

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Speaker 2: They thought if they had the Ark of the Covenant

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Speaker 2: in battle with them, that God would somehow condone their arrogance.

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Speaker 2: They wanted the appearance of holy strength without the devotion

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Speaker 2: to the one who was holy and strong. They were

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Speaker 2: gravely mistaken. Their songs of victory quickly turned into agonizing screams,

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Speaker 2: and the Ark of God stood in the midst of

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Speaker 2: the battle overlooking the downfall of Israel. God would not

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Speaker 2: give favor to the proud exploits of selfish men. He

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Speaker 2: would not grant Israel victory, but allow them to sit

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Speaker 2: in the results of their arrogance. The Ark rested on

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Speaker 2: a hill above the battlefield, ready to be taken by

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Speaker 2: the enemy. The Philistines plowed through Israel's defenses and made

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Speaker 2: their way to the Ark. They had once trembled in

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Speaker 2: fear at the thought of Israel's God. He was the

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Speaker 2: God who defeated Egypt and parted sees. Yet the high

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Speaker 2: of vanquishing their enemy had left them a reverent. They

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Speaker 2: took the Ark to the city of Ashdod, leaving behind

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Speaker 2: and thousands of dead Israelite bodies. They placed it in

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Speaker 2: the temple of Dagon, one of their many gods. The

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Speaker 2: Philistines made a mockery of God by placing him at

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Speaker 2: the altar of their god. In their pride, they deceived

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Speaker 2: themselves into thinking they had defeated the God of Israel.

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Speaker 2: They too, were gravely mistaken. The Philistines awoke to the

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Speaker 2: statue of Dagon laying down at the feet of the Ark,

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Speaker 2: with its head and hands cut clean off. God would

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Speaker 2: not bow to a man made image. God's hand was

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Speaker 2: heavy against the Philistines. The people of Astad broke out

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Speaker 2: in cancerous tumors. Strong men were utterly undone by the

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Speaker 2: very presence of God in their city. Afraid, they sent

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Speaker 2: the Ark to another Philistine city, Gath. They too were

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Speaker 2: given the kiss of death, having tumors boiled up from within,

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Speaker 2: which killed the strongest men among them. Every city God

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Speaker 2: was brought to, the people were afflicted. They feared the

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Speaker 2: presence of the Ark. Out of fear, the Ark was

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Speaker 2: returned to his life. Despite Israel's pride and arrogance, God

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Speaker 2: was able to vanquish their enemy. No army, no commander,

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Speaker 2: and no king could ever replace the almighty hand of God.

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Speaker 2: He was their defender, not their trophy. He was their Lord,

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Speaker 2: not their magician. The people of Israel were in desperate

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Speaker 2: need of guidance and humility. They needed a leader to

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Speaker 2: transform their hearts and connect them to the righteous heart

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Speaker 2: of God. The Lord would raise up such a leader. However,

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Speaker 2: he would not be the leader they expected.

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Speaker 1: Welcome to the Epic Adventure of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,

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

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Speaker 1: few people know David the man. What we are about

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Speaker 1: to explore in this epic adventure of a man after

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Speaker 1: God's own heart. But this adventure is not without its tragedy.

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Speaker 1: David's life is a glorious reminder it is better to

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Speaker 1: have a heart of gold than a sword of steel. However,

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Speaker 1: David's life is also a warning the glory of a

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Speaker 1: man is fleeting, but the glory of God is forever.

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Speaker 1: The ultimate beauty of David's story is that it's not

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Speaker 1: really about David at all, but God. As the legend

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Speaker 1: of the Giant Slayer unfolds, we will see that he

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Speaker 1: is not really the main character of this saga. He

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Speaker 1: is not the ultimate hero, the mighty King, or the

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Speaker 1: promised deliverer people hope for. David is but a shadow

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Speaker 1: of things promised. His story is a whisper in the

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Speaker 1: wind for telling of an even greater hero to come.

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Speaker 1: David's story, in its essence, foreshadows the story of Jesus.

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Speaker 1: He is merely a fractured image of the greatness that

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Speaker 1: awaits humanity in Christ. As this epic unfolds, look past

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Speaker 1: the glamour of war, and see into the future. With

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Speaker 1: every twist and turn of David's life, look for the

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Speaker 1: promise of greater redemption.

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Speaker 2: Chapter one. A rejected God, Samuel sat beside the fire,

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Speaker 2: watching the emverse slowly shrinked under the cold sky. The

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Speaker 2: red coals reflected in the eyes of his sons, Joel

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Speaker 2: and Abijah. The three of them meditated in silence, allowing

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Speaker 2: the wintry bite of knight to enter their lungs. The

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Speaker 2: young men shivered in place, but their father remained motionless.

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Speaker 2: His brow was furrowed and concentrated. He was straining for

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Speaker 2: answers from God. He had judged Israel faithfully and acted

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Speaker 2: as a representative of his will to the people for

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Speaker 2: many years, yet now his time as their leader was

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Speaker 2: drawing to a close. Like many judges before him, he

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Speaker 2: had held the honor of ministering to God's people. He

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Speaker 2: was not their ruler or their king. He was simply

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Speaker 2: a man to look to as an example and a

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Speaker 2: person to intercede on the people's behalf. God had raised

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Speaker 2: up many judges before him. Some were men and women

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Speaker 2: of valor and wisdom, like off Neil and Dinah. Others

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Speaker 2: were unassuming like Gideon or brash like Samson. Each served

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Speaker 2: their own purpose, and each were used by God to

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Speaker 2: deliver his people from harm. Yet it was always God

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Speaker 2: who saved them. It was always God who led them

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Speaker 2: and kept them safe. A few of the coals popped,

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Speaker 2: waking Samuel from his trance. He looked up at his

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Speaker 2: shivering sons. Their breath could be seen like smoke in

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Speaker 2: the frigid air. He peered at them through the flames

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Speaker 2: and poked the coals with his staff.

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Speaker 3: Are you able to keep the coals burning?

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Speaker 2: Samuel asked. His voice was deep and sonorous. Even in

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Speaker 2: his old age, his voice maintained its resonant authority. It

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Speaker 2: was as if the words of God float out of

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Speaker 2: his mouth from a deep cavern. Joel and Abija looked

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Speaker 2: at each other and sparked. They had hoped this day

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Speaker 2: would come. Their father was going to appoint them as

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Speaker 2: judges over Israel. The two of them sat up dutifully

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Speaker 2: and nodded.

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Speaker 4: We are Father. You may rest short that God's people

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Speaker 4: will be cared for.

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Speaker 2: Samuel looked at them intently and nodded. His face was

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Speaker 2: impassive and unreadable. He took the end of his staff

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Speaker 2: and poked a burning coal.

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Speaker 3: A coal can burn as long as it lives within

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Speaker 3: the flame.

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Speaker 2: Samuel said. His sons watched as he nudged the coal

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Speaker 2: away from the fire. Its flame disappeared almost immediately, and

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Speaker 2: its red hue slowly faded. Within moments. Samuel picked up

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Speaker 2: the warm coal and handed it to his sons.

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Speaker 3: Keep the coal in the flame, he said.

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Speaker 2: With those words, he commissioned his sons to judge over Israel.

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Speaker 2: It was unorthodox for a son to take the place

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Speaker 2: of his father as judge. It was typically God who

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Speaker 2: chose his heroes and rose them up. However, Israel was

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Speaker 2: at a crossroads. Their ongoing conflict with the Philistines left

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Speaker 2: them vulnerable, and they were in need of strong leaders

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Speaker 2: to guide them. Joel and Abijah took on the mantle

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Speaker 2: of judge with enthusiasm, yet their hearts were filled with

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Speaker 2: selfish ambition. Their lust for power and greed had found

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Speaker 2: their vision, making them a reverent of the sacred position

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Speaker 2: given to them. Months passed, and the already corrupt people

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Speaker 2: of Israel had grown tired of Joel and Abijah as judges.

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Speaker 2: They received bribes from wealthy criminals to turn the blind

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Speaker 2: eye to their crimes. They bent the law of God

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Speaker 2: to serve their own selfish purposes and allowed the weak

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Speaker 2: and helpless of the community to suffer. They could not

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Speaker 2: have been more different than their father Samuel. Their perverted

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Speaker 2: sense of justice had caused a great deal of suffering

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Speaker 2: for the twelve tribes of Israel. All the elders from

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Speaker 2: all twelve tribes met in Rama to discuss and debate

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Speaker 2: the future of their country. They are a disgrace, one

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Speaker 2: of the elders exclaimed. The flames flickered loudly and swayed

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Speaker 2: to the breeze coming in from the window. The room

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Speaker 2: was large and arrayed with handwoven wool rugs and tapestries.

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Speaker 2: Each elder reclined in his place, listening to each other's please.

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Speaker 3: Joel has been bought by some of the most powerful

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Speaker 3: and corrupt men in our nation. Abaijah takes the bribes

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Speaker 3: gladly and fills his stomach with foreign meats and wines.

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Speaker 3: Who appointed these men as judges over us? They have

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Speaker 3: no heart, they have no strength.

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Speaker 2: Another declared, other.

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Speaker 3: Nations have strong kings over them. They are men of

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Speaker 3: power and authority. Another shouted, we have no one to

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Speaker 3: lead us. That is why we keep losing our battles

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Speaker 3: to the Philistines. That is why we lost the ark.

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Speaker 2: The men stirred in the room into the night. They

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Speaker 2: complained about the state of their nation. In all their ramblings,

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Speaker 2: they did not pray. They did not bow and cry

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Speaker 2: out to God for help. In the corner of the room,

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Speaker 2: listening silently to the grumblings of the elders, was Samuel.

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Speaker 2: He reclined with his back pressed against the wall and

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Speaker 2: his staff firmly set in his hands, propping him up.

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Speaker 2: He listened, but he did not look at them. His

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Speaker 2: eyes were set solely on one call that had fallen

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Speaker 2: beside the fire. As the elder shouted, the coals bright

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Speaker 2: red hue, dimmed and fizzled out. Samuel looked up to

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Speaker 2: see all twelve elders watching him. Samuel, they said.

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Speaker 3: Your sons do not walk as you do. They are

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Speaker 3: dishonorable and filled with greed. They do not possess what

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Speaker 3: we need to thrive as a nation. The time has

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Speaker 3: come for you to appoint a king.

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Speaker 2: Samuel stood upright and puffed at his chest. His eyes

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Speaker 2: darted at them with righteous anger. Although Samuel was all

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Speaker 2: and well advanced in years, he still carried himself with authority.

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Speaker 2: The spirit of God came upon him, and the elder

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Speaker 2: stepped back in fear when they sensed him.

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Speaker 3: Is not the Lord your king? Has he not delivered

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Speaker 3: you time and time again?

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Speaker 2: Samuel asked sternly. The elders shrunk back at Samuel's questioning.

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Speaker 3: We no longer want random judges rising up to protect us.

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Speaker 3: We desire a king to lead us into battle and

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Speaker 3: create the law of the land.

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Speaker 2: Samuel was teeming with anger. He stormed out of the

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Speaker 2: room and stepped outside. The stars were set firmly in

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Speaker 2: the skies. He looked up and considered the promise made

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Speaker 2: by Moses long ago.

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Speaker 3: The Lord your God will raise up for you a

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Speaker 3: prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must

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Speaker 3: listen to him.

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Speaker 2: He thought about the ultimate prophet God would raise up

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Speaker 2: to lead them. He longed for his coming and prayed

218
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Speaker 2: for it. Samuel knew that there could be no king

219
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Speaker 2: that would lead them like God could with compassion, strength, mercy,

220
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Speaker 2: and justice. Samuel fell to his knees and gripped the

221
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Speaker 2: grass with his fists. He prayed for answers. He knew

222
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Speaker 2: the elders would not relent with their requests. He felt

223
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Speaker 2: the great sense of rejection from them, even though it

224
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Speaker 2: was his son's not him, they were rejecting. A gentle

225
00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,600
Speaker 2: breeze slid down the hill and over Samuel's shoulder. In

226
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Speaker 2: the quietness of night, he heard the voice of God.

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Speaker 5: Speak, give them what they have asked for, he said.

228
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Speaker 2: Samuel cocked his head in confusion.

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Speaker 5: Obey the voice of the people. In all their request

230
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Speaker 5: of you, they have not rejected you, Samuel. They have

231
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Speaker 5: rejected me from being king over them. From the day

232
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Speaker 5: I brought them out of slavery in Egypt. They have

233
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Speaker 5: forsaken me and sought after other gods.

234
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Speaker 2: Since the very beginning. They have left me for others.

235
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Speaker 2: Samuel's eyes filled with tears as he heard the heart

236
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Speaker 2: of God. The Lord had done so much for them,

237
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Speaker 2: yet they desired another to lead them. A king was

238
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Speaker 2: just another golden calf to them, a counterfeit replacement for God.

239
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Speaker 2: The wind whistled down slope hills and whipped up dust

240
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Speaker 2: around Samuel. He heard God speak again, saying, obey the people.

241
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Speaker 2: Only solemnly warned them, and tell them what will happen

242
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Speaker 2: if they appoint a king. The next day, Samuel stood

243
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Speaker 2: in front of the elders and a multitude of people.

244
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Speaker 2: Thousands of people flocked to demand a king. One of

245
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Speaker 2: the elders stepped forward to speak, but Samuel raised his

246
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Speaker 2: hand to silence him. He walked to the platform in

247
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Speaker 2: front of the people and sat.

248
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Speaker 3: So you want a king, he asked.

249
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Speaker 2: They nodded in response. Samuel dipped his head and sighed,

250
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Speaker 2: you say you want a king, fair enough. I will

251
00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,520
Speaker 2: tell you what a king will do. He will take

252
00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,200
Speaker 2: your sons and draft them to ride his chariots and

253
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Speaker 2: polish his armory. They will ride into battle before him

254
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Speaker 2: and die brutally before he even enters the battlefield. He

255
00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:53,400
Speaker 2: will appoint commanders of thousands, hundreds, and fifties. They will

256
00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:57,240
Speaker 2: parade themselves in the streets like gods and require your

257
00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:01,640
Speaker 2: unwavering subservience to their egos. He will appoint others to

258
00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,800
Speaker 2: plow his ground and reap his harvest, to prepare food

259
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Speaker 2: for his vast armies. The blacksmiths will be taken to

260
00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:11,400
Speaker 2: make tools of war, and your daughters will be taken

261
00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:14,520
Speaker 2: to cook for his men. You and your family will

262
00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:17,840
Speaker 2: labor hard in the fields, vineyards, and olive groves. But

263
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Speaker 2: he will tax you and give it to his servants.

264
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Speaker 2: He will take a tenth of your grain, your wine,

265
00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:28,160
Speaker 2: and your money to fund his officers, councilmen, and servants.

266
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Speaker 2: He will recruit the best of your male and female workers.

267
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Speaker 2: He will take the best of your live stock and

268
00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:37,200
Speaker 2: breed your donkeys to put them to work. And after

269
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Speaker 2: this precious king of yours has created a nation and

270
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Speaker 2: army that revolves around his own personal economy, you will

271
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Speaker 2: find yourselves with less grain, lost sons, and taxed income.

272
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Speaker 2: Then you will cry out to God to deliver you

273
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Speaker 2: from this king that you have chosen, But he will

274
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Speaker 2: not answer you, because it is what you have asked for.

275
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Speaker 2: This is what a king will do. Do you understand.

276
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Speaker 2: The elders sat in silence for a long time. They

277
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Speaker 2: looked at each other, considering what Samuel had just said. Finally,

278
00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:13,320
Speaker 2: they all nodded in agreement and stood up.

279
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Speaker 3: Give us a king, Samuel, they said, we need to

280
00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:21,760
Speaker 3: compete with other nations. We need someone to fight our battles.

281
00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:26,000
Speaker 2: Every person stood and shouted for a king. Samuel's eyes

282
00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,880
Speaker 2: lifted to heaven. He closed his eyes, listening for the

283
00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:33,960
Speaker 2: voice of God. Obey their voice. Give them a king,

284
00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:39,280
Speaker 2: he said. Samuel could sense the heart of a rejected God. However,

285
00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,360
Speaker 2: he knew that the Lord of heaven and Earth would

286
00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:45,120
Speaker 2: never agree without a plan for redemption in mind. Samuel

287
00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:47,080
Speaker 2: stood high and lifted his arms in the air.

288
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Speaker 3: Go every man to his own city, he shouted, I

289
00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:53,160
Speaker 3: shall search for your king.

290
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Speaker 2: Residing in the grassy plains rolling through the region of

291
00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:02,320
Speaker 2: Benjamin was the house of kingsh a wealthy Benjamined farmer

292
00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:05,359
Speaker 2: and merchant. His land had been passed down from his

293
00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,840
Speaker 2: great great grandfather and stretched far towards the border of

294
00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:12,720
Speaker 2: Ephriam under the harsh eastern sun. Working on a broken

295
00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:16,439
Speaker 2: fence near the stables was Saul, the son of Kish.

296
00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:19,480
Speaker 2: His broad shoulders lifted a brand new post and lodged

297
00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:22,440
Speaker 2: it into the hole in the ground. Sweat gripped from

298
00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:24,919
Speaker 2: his head down the curves of his back muscles. He

299
00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:26,800
Speaker 2: picked up the posts that had been broken the night

300
00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:29,840
Speaker 2: before and rested it on his shoulder. He carried it

301
00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,879
Speaker 2: down to the woodpile to make firewood. He picked up

302
00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,119
Speaker 2: his axe and began to chop. A few of the

303
00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,960
Speaker 2: young women slowly passed by with pails of water resting

304
00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:40,800
Speaker 2: over their heads. It was a daily ritual to watch

305
00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,639
Speaker 2: Saul work. He stood a head taller than all the

306
00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,480
Speaker 2: other men in his tribe. Not only was he broad

307
00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:49,280
Speaker 2: and strong, but he was also handsome and well liked.

308
00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:52,440
Speaker 2: Even women from the other tribes knew of the handsome

309
00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:56,199
Speaker 2: and strapping son of Kish. Saul continued to chop the

310
00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,440
Speaker 2: post into smaller pieces, pretending not to notice the wandering

311
00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:03,040
Speaker 2: eyes of women passing from the well. He smirked, rose

312
00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,639
Speaker 2: the axe above his head, and swung down with force

313
00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:09,119
Speaker 2: and grace. Just as he was about to finish, saw

314
00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:10,640
Speaker 2: heard a call from his father's house.

315
00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:14,200
Speaker 6: Saul Kiss shouted, what is the meaning of this?

316
00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,000
Speaker 2: Saul looked up to see his father touching the new

317
00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,879
Speaker 2: wooden post he had dug into the ground. Saul wiped

318
00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,320
Speaker 2: his brow and left his axe lodged into the wood.

319
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Speaker 6: The donkeys somehow broke the fence.

320
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Speaker 2: Father, Saul replied, gesturing to the broken post he was chopping.

321
00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:32,200
Speaker 6: I've repaired the fence, but many of the donkeys seemed

322
00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:33,159
Speaker 6: to have gone missing.

323
00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:35,920
Speaker 2: Kish nodded and looked in the distance.

324
00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:39,919
Speaker 4: Let's hope they haven't gone far. Quick take one of

325
00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:41,920
Speaker 4: the young workers and go look for the donkeys.

326
00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,120
Speaker 2: Saul nodded, put on a shirt, and gathered a few

327
00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:49,720
Speaker 2: of his belongings, a newly tanned water skin, some dried figs, bread,

328
00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:52,120
Speaker 2: and a seal of his father's ownership over the donkeys.

329
00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:54,920
Speaker 2: He and the servant Tabby made their way up the

330
00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,800
Speaker 2: hill country surrounding his father's estate. They soon realized the

331
00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:02,240
Speaker 2: donkeys must have ventured farther into the next region. They

332
00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:05,600
Speaker 2: pressed forward to the hill country of Ephriam. It was

333
00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:09,000
Speaker 2: lush with new spring blooms, and the gentle midday breeze

334
00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:13,200
Speaker 2: carried the fragrance of wildflowers. Saul stretched his arms wide

335
00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,560
Speaker 2: and took a deep breath. He was pleased to be

336
00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,080
Speaker 2: away from his father's home, even if it was for

337
00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:23,199
Speaker 2: a tedious task like tracking donkeys. Saul and his servant

338
00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:26,880
Speaker 2: walked through Shaali, Shah, and Shalim, inquiring about the missing donkeys.

339
00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:30,160
Speaker 2: Everyone was eager to speak to Saul, for he held

340
00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,520
Speaker 2: a good reputation in the land as a skilled fighter

341
00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:37,399
Speaker 2: and charismatic personality. The women especially enjoyed his company. In

342
00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:40,480
Speaker 2: every town Saul walked into, he had many eyes fixed

343
00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,640
Speaker 2: on him. He carried himself humbly, but in his heart

344
00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:47,680
Speaker 2: of hearts, he'd loved the attention. The donkeys were neither

345
00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:51,040
Speaker 2: in Shai Shah or Shalim, so Saul and Tabby hiked

346
00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:54,440
Speaker 2: beyond the hills into zoph The sun had begun its

347
00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:56,880
Speaker 2: descent from the highest place in the sky, and Saul

348
00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:59,280
Speaker 2: knew they had only a certain amount of daylight left.

349
00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:04,040
Speaker 2: You'd return, Saul murmured, Come let us return before my

350
00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:08,280
Speaker 2: father becomes more concerned about us than the donkeys. Tavvy

351
00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:10,159
Speaker 2: took a look around and held up his hand to

352
00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,359
Speaker 2: block the sun. He pointed to the nearby city nestled

353
00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,760
Speaker 2: in the hillside. I know this place, Tavvy said, excitedly.

354
00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:18,960
Speaker 4: One of the merchants told me there is a man

355
00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,200
Speaker 4: of God here in the city. He is held in

356
00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:25,119
Speaker 4: high esteem. According to him, everything he says comes to pass.

357
00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:29,600
Speaker 6: Would such a prophet care about a few donkeys, Saul.

358
00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:31,840
Speaker 4: Scoffed, How would we know if we do not ask?

359
00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:34,200
Speaker 6: Tavvy jested, we are ready here.

360
00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:36,920
Speaker 4: What is the harm in spending another hour finding him?

361
00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:39,760
Speaker 2: Saul looked down at the city and shrugged.

362
00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,560
Speaker 6: What do we have to bring him? We have no

363
00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:47,040
Speaker 6: offering to give him for his services. Tavvy looked despondent

364
00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:50,800
Speaker 6: for a moment, but quickly raised his head in realization, Ah,

365
00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:54,000
Speaker 6: I may have something. Tavy reached into the bottom of

366
00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,000
Speaker 6: his sack and pulled out a small piece of cloth.

367
00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:59,479
Speaker 6: It was tattered and stained, and as Tavy unfolded it

368
00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:02,080
Speaker 6: could see a quarter of a shekel of silver.

369
00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,240
Speaker 4: I've had this for a while, said Tabby. I will

370
00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:06,879
Speaker 4: give it to the seer and he will tell us

371
00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:07,520
Speaker 4: what we need to know.

372
00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,960
Speaker 2: Saul was amazed at Tavvy. He, being only a worker

373
00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,679
Speaker 2: in his father's household, was willing to lay down a

374
00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:17,600
Speaker 2: very precious sum of money so they might retrieve the donkeys.

375
00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,880
Speaker 2: It warmed his heart, and he ordered him too much

376
00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:22,280
Speaker 2: to refuse his generosity.

377
00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:26,040
Speaker 6: Well done, Tavy, Let us go into the city and

378
00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:28,520
Speaker 6: inquire about this man of God.

379
00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:31,040
Speaker 2: The two men made their way down the slopes of

380
00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,560
Speaker 2: the hills outside the city until they came upon a well.

381
00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:37,000
Speaker 2: Several young women were drawing water into large clay jars

382
00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:40,359
Speaker 2: trapped to brons to carry them down the hill. Saul

383
00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:42,680
Speaker 2: leaned against the stone perimeter of the well and met

384
00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:43,840
Speaker 2: one of the women's gaze.

385
00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,359
Speaker 6: Greetings, sister, Saul said.

386
00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:50,480
Speaker 2: Joyfully, His smile was charming and bright. It caught the

387
00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:53,040
Speaker 2: young woman off guard, causing her to still water on

388
00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:56,480
Speaker 2: her garment. She blushed and began to frantically dry off.

389
00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:00,680
Speaker 2: The other women giggled. Saul handed her a clack sack.

390
00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:03,840
Speaker 2: We are here to speak with the Seer, a man

391
00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:04,399
Speaker 2: of God.

392
00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:05,520
Speaker 5: Is he here?

393
00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:07,480
Speaker 2: The woman blushed and smiled.

394
00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,439
Speaker 7: Oh, yes, she said, he is just ahead of you,

395
00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:14,679
Speaker 7: but you must be swift. He has only come to

396
00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:17,080
Speaker 7: the city because the people have a sacrifice today in

397
00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:19,720
Speaker 7: the high Place. I have no doubt if you enter

398
00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:21,840
Speaker 7: the city, people will be able to tell you where

399
00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:24,720
Speaker 7: he is. The people do not eat until he comes

400
00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:28,320
Speaker 7: down from the sacrifice. After he returns, all who are

401
00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:29,880
Speaker 7: invited to feast with him eat.

402
00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,240
Speaker 2: Saul bowed in gratitude and made his way to the

403
00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:36,760
Speaker 2: city entrance. As he entered, he stumbled upon an old

404
00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:37,879
Speaker 2: man draped in robes.

405
00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,159
Speaker 6: Sir, do you know where I might be able to

406
00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:42,159
Speaker 6: find the Seer.

407
00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:45,879
Speaker 2: Samuel looked up at the tall and handsome man standing

408
00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,600
Speaker 2: before him. His shoulders were set backwards, puffing out his

409
00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:53,240
Speaker 2: large chest and tight stomach. His beard was perfectly trimmed

410
00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:55,760
Speaker 2: up to his rich dark hair. He had the frame

411
00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:58,360
Speaker 2: of a warrior and the deep voice of a commander.

412
00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:02,119
Speaker 2: Before he could answer the young man, the Lord whispered.

413
00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:04,280
Speaker 5: In his ear. Here is the man of whom I

414
00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:08,359
Speaker 5: spoke to you, Samuel. This is the man who will

415
00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:10,119
Speaker 5: restrain my people.

416
00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:14,240
Speaker 2: Just a day prior, God had spoken to Samuel, saying.

417
00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:18,080
Speaker 5: Tomorrow, at this time, I will send you a man

418
00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:22,280
Speaker 5: from the tribe of Benjamin. You shall anoint him to

419
00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:27,480
Speaker 5: be king over my people Israel. He shall save them

420
00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,679
Speaker 5: from the hand of the Philistines, just as the people

421
00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:31,280
Speaker 5: have wanted.

422
00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:36,240
Speaker 2: Samuel said nothing. He scanned the man from his toes

423
00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:39,600
Speaker 2: to the top of his head. Everything about Saul's appearance

424
00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:43,080
Speaker 2: was kingly. Even his voice had a resounding tone to it.

425
00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:46,119
Speaker 2: Samuel gave a brief smile and said.

426
00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:47,439
Speaker 3: I am the Seer.

427
00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:52,760
Speaker 2: Saul looked perplexed when he answered. Samuel wore no extravagant

428
00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,840
Speaker 2: robes or necklace of jewels. He seemed on the outside

429
00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:59,159
Speaker 2: to be an ordinary old man. However, when he spoke,

430
00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:03,520
Speaker 2: there was power and authority behind his words. Samuel began

431
00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,320
Speaker 2: to walk away and gestured for Saul and Tabby to follow.

432
00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:09,600
Speaker 3: Come with me, the old prophet said, go into the

433
00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:13,040
Speaker 3: high place where I have made the sacrifice. There you

434
00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,040
Speaker 3: will share a meal with me, and in the morning

435
00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:17,199
Speaker 3: I shall tell you what you need to know.

436
00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:21,960
Speaker 2: Saul was taken back by the prophet's invitation. He treated

437
00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:23,480
Speaker 2: him as if he had met him before.

438
00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:26,840
Speaker 6: Great Seeer. All I have come to ask is.

439
00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,200
Speaker 3: Your donkeys are fine and well, Saul's son.

440
00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:31,439
Speaker 2: Of Kish, Samuel interrupted.

441
00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,640
Speaker 3: They were found shortly after you departed on your journey.

442
00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:37,440
Speaker 2: Saul and Tabby looked at each other in dismay. How

443
00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:41,359
Speaker 2: did this man already know their needs? Samuel sensed their

444
00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:45,200
Speaker 2: discomfort and ignored it. He spoke matter of factly, saying.

445
00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:48,480
Speaker 3: There are other matters to discuss, for you are the

446
00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:51,240
Speaker 3: one whom all of Israel has been pining after.

447
00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:55,760
Speaker 2: Saul halted and stopped following Samuel, Why are you speaking

448
00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,960
Speaker 2: to me this way? Saul asked, I am surely not

449
00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:01,840
Speaker 2: worthy to eat with you? Or have you say these

450
00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:05,000
Speaker 2: things to me? Am I not from the tribe of Benjamin,

451
00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:08,639
Speaker 2: the least of the tribes of Israel, and my father

452
00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,320
Speaker 2: is from the most humble of clans in Benjamin. I

453
00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:16,840
Speaker 2: am nobody. I am not worthy. Saul's false humility did

454
00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:20,200
Speaker 2: not fool Samuel. His father was a rich and prominent

455
00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,840
Speaker 2: man in the tribe of Benjamin. Surely he did not

456
00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,760
Speaker 2: feel unworthy, but only that he needed to accept the

457
00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:30,400
Speaker 2: invitation with humility. Samuel took note of this and continued

458
00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,080
Speaker 2: to guide the two men to a high place for

459
00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:35,640
Speaker 2: a meal. Saul entered the large home on the top

460
00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:38,560
Speaker 2: of the hill. Torches laced the perimeter of a large

461
00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:41,719
Speaker 2: dining hall, where thirty gats reclined at a long wooden table.

462
00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:44,880
Speaker 2: The smell of cooked meat and herbs filled the room,

463
00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:48,239
Speaker 2: and Saul had finally realized how hungry he really was.

464
00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:51,679
Speaker 2: Samuel led him to the front of the table. On

465
00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:56,320
Speaker 2: his way, many men greeted Saul and introduced themselves. Saul

466
00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:59,960
Speaker 2: bowed in humility, being sure to have Samuel notice his modesty.

467
00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:02,960
Speaker 2: Samuel sat at the seat right at the head of

468
00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:05,840
Speaker 2: the table. He then gestured for Saul to sit at

469
00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:08,639
Speaker 2: the very head. It was an astonishing gesture to have

470
00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,480
Speaker 2: a stranger sit at the head of your table. It

471
00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:13,960
Speaker 2: was reserved for the host or a guest of great

472
00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:18,800
Speaker 2: honor or royalty. Saul was confused by Samuel's hospitality and

473
00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:22,720
Speaker 2: wondered what the old prophet was thinking. Although Samuel gave

474
00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:25,080
Speaker 2: Saul the most esteemed place of the table and the

475
00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:29,560
Speaker 2: best portions of food, his face remained impassive. He seemed

476
00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:33,480
Speaker 2: almost apathetic to his presence. Instead of engaging with Saul,

477
00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:36,840
Speaker 2: he simply leaned back and listened to others asking questions.

478
00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:40,160
Speaker 2: Saul could not help but think he was being tested.

479
00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,960
Speaker 2: That night, Samuel led Saul and his servant down the

480
00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:47,280
Speaker 2: hill back into the city. The light of day had disappeared,

481
00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,200
Speaker 2: and the moon's silvery light guided the men to Samuel's

482
00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,639
Speaker 2: temporary home. I have made a place for you to sleep,

483
00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:54,440
Speaker 2: Samuel said. Rest here for.

484
00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:56,920
Speaker 3: The night, and tomorrow I will send you off.

485
00:26:57,359 --> 00:26:59,240
Speaker 2: A bed had been made for Saul on the roof.

486
00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:01,840
Speaker 2: A single lamp was lit at the head of it.

487
00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:05,240
Speaker 2: He bound to Samuel with gratitude and tucked into bed.

488
00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:08,280
Speaker 2: Tavy slept not too far away on the other side

489
00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:11,359
Speaker 2: of the rooftop. Saul lay awake, looking at the moon

490
00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:14,480
Speaker 2: that night. His heart beat fast in anticipation for the

491
00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,560
Speaker 2: next morning. He did not know why, but he felt

492
00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:21,160
Speaker 2: as if his life was about to change forever. Dawn

493
00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:24,560
Speaker 2: broke over the hills, scattering light across the green plains.

494
00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:28,560
Speaker 2: The darkness of night was slowly melting away above Saul's head.

495
00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,080
Speaker 2: When he felt the prodding of Samuel's foot on his shoulder.

496
00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:34,240
Speaker 2: Saul looked up to see the old man standing over him.

497
00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,320
Speaker 3: Arise, Saul, it is time for you to return home.

498
00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:41,040
Speaker 2: Saul rubbed his eyes and stretched. There was a tinge

499
00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:43,760
Speaker 2: of disappointment. He was sure that there had been some

500
00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:47,760
Speaker 2: reason for Samuel's hospitality. Saul did not want to leave

501
00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:51,440
Speaker 2: without an explanation. The three of them walked towards the gate.

502
00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:55,119
Speaker 2: The morning light had spread slowly across the horizon and

503
00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:57,560
Speaker 2: people were beginning to emerge from their homes to start

504
00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:00,760
Speaker 2: their day. Saul watched merchants set out their shops and

505
00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,399
Speaker 2: women to part with jars to the well. As they

506
00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:06,280
Speaker 2: approached the gates, Samuel tugged on Saul's robe.

507
00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:08,719
Speaker 3: Remain here for a moment, Saul, and tell your servant

508
00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:10,879
Speaker 3: to continue. You'll catch up to him.

509
00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:13,480
Speaker 2: Saul did as he was told, so it was just

510
00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:17,120
Speaker 2: him and the prophet standing alone. Samuel led them both

511
00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:20,359
Speaker 2: by the stream that curved around the city sid he

512
00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,920
Speaker 2: said shortly. Saul took a seat on a smooth stone

513
00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:26,600
Speaker 2: at the edge of the water. Samuel took a flask

514
00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:28,520
Speaker 2: of oil out of his robe and removed the top.

515
00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:32,320
Speaker 2: Saul watched curiously as the old prophet whispered into the

516
00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:36,040
Speaker 2: oil and closed his eyes. He was praying, but not

517
00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:39,720
Speaker 2: in the way Saul had known prayer. Samuel was speaking

518
00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:41,840
Speaker 2: to God as if he was dwelling within his own

519
00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:45,440
Speaker 2: heart and mind. He noticed his hands holding the flask.

520
00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,800
Speaker 2: Most men his age had trembling hands. They were unsteady

521
00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:54,120
Speaker 2: and shaking. However, Samuel's hands were not trembling. They held

522
00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:58,320
Speaker 2: the oil firmly, purposefully, raising the flask above Saul's head.

523
00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,880
Speaker 2: As the prophet prayed, Saul could feel the oil being

524
00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:05,560
Speaker 2: poured onto his head. The fragrant oil dripped down Saul's

525
00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:09,360
Speaker 2: hair and shoulders. Samuel grabbed his face and kissed his forehead.

526
00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:12,520
Speaker 2: He looked at him with an intense gaze and said.

527
00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:16,960
Speaker 3: The Lord has anointed you, Saul. You shall reign over

528
00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:20,640
Speaker 3: God's people. You will save them from the enemies that

529
00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:24,440
Speaker 3: rage at their borders and seek their heads. This oil

530
00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:26,960
Speaker 3: shall be assigned to you. That the Lord has anointed

531
00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:29,680
Speaker 3: you and called you over his children.

532
00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:33,800
Speaker 2: Saul looked up at Samuel with watery eyes. He was

533
00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:37,120
Speaker 2: without words, and unable to keep his hands from shaking,

534
00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:40,160
Speaker 2: He could not help but smile and shake his head.

535
00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:45,640
Speaker 3: How can this be, he whispered, Arise, Samuel said, depart

536
00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:47,640
Speaker 3: from me to day and return towards the house of

537
00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:50,880
Speaker 3: your father. On your way, you will meet two men.

538
00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:54,440
Speaker 3: They will inform you that your father's donkeys have been found.

539
00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:58,280
Speaker 3: After this, you will go further until you reach the

540
00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:02,320
Speaker 3: Oak of Tabor. There three men will be going up

541
00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:06,160
Speaker 3: to make sacrifices to God at Bethel. One will be

542
00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:09,200
Speaker 3: carrying three young goats, the other will have three loaves

543
00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:13,320
Speaker 3: of bread, and the other will carry a skin of wine.

544
00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:15,800
Speaker 3: These men will greet you and give you two loaves

545
00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:16,920
Speaker 3: of bread for your journey.

546
00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:20,280
Speaker 6: Why are you telling me these things, Saul asked.

547
00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:23,240
Speaker 3: If I did not tell you, they would simply be

548
00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:26,600
Speaker 3: random happenings on the road back home. Since I have

549
00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:29,440
Speaker 3: told you these things will happen, it gives my words

550
00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:32,800
Speaker 3: more weight When they come to pass. This is your

551
00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:37,240
Speaker 3: confirmation that the Lord has made you king. After these things,

552
00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:40,160
Speaker 3: you shall go to Gibethe Elohim, where there is a

553
00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:44,040
Speaker 3: garrison of enemy Philistines currently stationed. As soon as you

554
00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:45,719
Speaker 3: come near the city, you will meet a group of

555
00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:50,200
Speaker 3: prophets coming down from the high place with harms, tambourines, flutes,

556
00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:50,800
Speaker 3: and liars.

557
00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:53,880
Speaker 2: Samuel paused for a moment and bent down to Saul.

558
00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:57,160
Speaker 2: His eyes met his, and they were locked for what

559
00:30:57,280 --> 00:30:58,240
Speaker 2: seemed like minutes.

560
00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:01,280
Speaker 3: The spirit of the Lord Lord is moving, Saul.

561
00:31:01,520 --> 00:31:04,000
Speaker 2: Samuel gestured to the rushing stream beside them.

562
00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:07,800
Speaker 3: He is moving and rushing like these waters. He will

563
00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:12,000
Speaker 3: rush upon you, and you will prophesy to these men.

564
00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:16,160
Speaker 3: As you worship and pray, you will feel yourself change

565
00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:17,160
Speaker 3: into a new man.

566
00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:21,120
Speaker 2: Saul gulped and nodded. He was unsure of how to

567
00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:24,320
Speaker 2: receive what Samuel was telling him. He felt honored and

568
00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:27,800
Speaker 2: terrified at the same time. He closed his eyes and

569
00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:30,840
Speaker 2: took a deep breath. He opened his eyes and looked

570
00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:34,600
Speaker 2: at Samuel intently. What will come after this, he asked.

571
00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:39,080
Speaker 2: Samuel lifted Sol up to his feet and grabbed his shoulders.

572
00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:42,960
Speaker 2: Do what you see fit, he responded. God is with you.

573
00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:47,280
Speaker 2: He will guide you. However, you will be expected to

574
00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:49,960
Speaker 2: meet me at Gilgo. I am coming down to offer

575
00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,280
Speaker 2: a sacrifice. You will wait seven days, and then I

576
00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:56,800
Speaker 2: shall tell you what to do. So Samuel dismissed Saul,

577
00:31:56,960 --> 00:31:59,960
Speaker 2: and everything he had declared came to pass. With each

578
00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:04,120
Speaker 2: passing sign, Saul felt his heart changing. The confirmation of

579
00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:07,360
Speaker 2: God's calling on his life began to create genuine humility

580
00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:09,880
Speaker 2: and awe on him. As he marched up the hill

581
00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:13,000
Speaker 2: to worship with the prophets, he felt a rush of

582
00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:17,080
Speaker 2: God's spirit upon him. He began to proclaim the justice, mercy,

583
00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:20,440
Speaker 2: and goodness of God, and all who knew Saul previously

584
00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:25,160
Speaker 2: stood in amazement. After his long journey, With a transformed

585
00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,360
Speaker 2: heart resounding within him like a trumpet, Saul returned home.

586
00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:31,719
Speaker 2: The sun was setting, and Saul could feel the favor

587
00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:34,640
Speaker 2: of God going before him with every step. He had

588
00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:37,560
Speaker 2: always walked taller than the rest of his brothers, his

589
00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:40,520
Speaker 2: shoulders were always able to carry heavier loads, and his

590
00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:44,960
Speaker 2: legs could run longer distances. However, at this moment, Saul

591
00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:48,520
Speaker 2: had never felt so strong. The spirit of God had

592
00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:51,240
Speaker 2: anointed him, and he could feel within him a fire

593
00:32:51,280 --> 00:32:55,160
Speaker 2: burning for justice and righteousness. He entered past the gates

594
00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:57,640
Speaker 2: of his father's pastures, eager to tell them all that

595
00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:00,520
Speaker 2: had happened. He entered the warm home home where Stu

596
00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:03,720
Speaker 2: cooked over an open flame. Saul's uncle was sitting near

597
00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:08,000
Speaker 2: the embers, enjoying this savory aroma. Saul embraced his uncle

598
00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:09,240
Speaker 2: and sat down next to him.

599
00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:13,080
Speaker 6: We departed to find the lost donkeys, he said, with

600
00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:16,680
Speaker 6: a smile. When we did not find them, we sought Samuel,

601
00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:17,360
Speaker 6: the prophet.

602
00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,040
Speaker 2: His uncle leaned in close. His gaze was intense and serious.

603
00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:25,320
Speaker 3: You met the man of God himself. He asked, what.

604
00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:27,800
Speaker 6: Was he like? What did he tell you?

605
00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:30,920
Speaker 2: Saul was about to answer, then he heard a coal

606
00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:33,120
Speaker 2: in the fire pop and fall off in the pit.

607
00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:38,360
Speaker 2: He stared at it, mesmerized by the flickering light. He

608
00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:40,480
Speaker 2: took his foot and flicked it back into the fire.

609
00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:43,840
Speaker 2: Saul looked at his uncle and chuckled.

610
00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:48,080
Speaker 6: Ah. He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found,

611
00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:52,479
Speaker 6: So we made our way back here a waste of time.

612
00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:56,040
Speaker 2: After this, Saul sat down and enjoyed a meal with

613
00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:58,520
Speaker 2: his family. He did not tell any one of his

614
00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:01,320
Speaker 2: encounter with the prophet. He allowed the truth of God

615
00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:06,320
Speaker 2: to simmer in his heart for a little longer. Samuel

616
00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:08,680
Speaker 2: stood once again in front of the Elders of Israel,

617
00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:13,160
Speaker 2: the twelve elders, each representing the twelve tribes came before him,

618
00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:15,480
Speaker 2: eagerly awaiting a response to their demands.

619
00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:17,520
Speaker 3: Have you found us a king?

620
00:34:17,960 --> 00:34:18,480
Speaker 5: They asked.

621
00:34:19,640 --> 00:34:21,280
Speaker 2: Samuel's eyes darted forward.

622
00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:22,960
Speaker 5: He scoffed, you.

623
00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:25,160
Speaker 3: Mean, have I found you a slave master you so

624
00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:31,600
Speaker 3: desperately desire. No, I've done nothing. However, the Lord, in

625
00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:34,160
Speaker 3: his mercy, has decided to give you the desires of

626
00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:37,279
Speaker 3: your hearts, even if they do lead you down a

627
00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:38,160
Speaker 3: treacherous path.

628
00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:42,040
Speaker 2: The elders ignored Samuel's disdain and awaited an actual answer

629
00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:45,799
Speaker 2: to their question. Samuel rubbed his temple and said, go

630
00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:46,680
Speaker 2: to your tribes.

631
00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:50,920
Speaker 3: Every man, woman and child shall meet me at Mizpah.

632
00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:54,520
Speaker 3: Be sure that everyone is present, for the Lord will

633
00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:56,000
Speaker 3: reveal his chosen king.

634
00:34:57,040 --> 00:35:00,600
Speaker 2: The men left excitedly, but Samuel was still by their

635
00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:05,200
Speaker 2: unrepentant hearts. Even after meeting Saul, he remained resolute that

636
00:35:05,239 --> 00:35:08,040
Speaker 2: a king was a bad decision. To accept a king

637
00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:12,360
Speaker 2: was to reject their God. However, as the Lord commanded,

638
00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:17,480
Speaker 2: Samuel went before the people at Mizpah. Samuel scanned the

639
00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:21,400
Speaker 2: sea of faces before him. Hundreds of thousands hung in suspense,

640
00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:24,400
Speaker 2: waiting for the last judge of Israel to proclaim a

641
00:35:24,440 --> 00:35:28,719
Speaker 2: new era of rule in Israel. Samuel rose his hands

642
00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:32,319
Speaker 2: up high to silence the crowd. The silent tension was

643
00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:35,560
Speaker 2: thick enough to cut with a knife. Out of the quietude,

644
00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:39,480
Speaker 2: Samuel spoke with a trumpeting voice of a prophet, saying.

645
00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:44,960
Speaker 3: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I am

646
00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:48,400
Speaker 3: the one who saved you from captivity in Egypt. I

647
00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:51,240
Speaker 3: delivered you from the grips of slavery in the kingdom

648
00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:55,560
Speaker 3: that oppressed you. But today you have rejected the God

649
00:35:55,640 --> 00:35:58,920
Speaker 3: who has saved you from so many calamities and distresses,

650
00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:02,880
Speaker 3: asked for a king to replace him.

651
00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:06,360
Speaker 2: A soft breeze came up behind Samuel. It cooled his

652
00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:10,879
Speaker 2: heightened anger towards the people. He breathed in deeply and said.

653
00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:15,879
Speaker 3: Present yourselves before the Lord, by your tribes and by

654
00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:16,759
Speaker 3: your clans.

655
00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:20,800
Speaker 2: Samuel watched as the people shifted and moved to organize

656
00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:24,040
Speaker 2: into clans and tribes. The eldest were sure to organize

657
00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:27,120
Speaker 2: and dictate where all should stand at attention. Saul was

658
00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:29,760
Speaker 2: clumped in among the tribe of Benjamin, in the tribe

659
00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:33,000
Speaker 2: of the Matrites. He watched as his brother and fellow

660
00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:36,319
Speaker 2: clansmen looked at one another eagerly. They wondered if they

661
00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:39,400
Speaker 2: were going to be selected. However, Saul knew what the

662
00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:42,120
Speaker 2: result would be, and he felt a sense of dread

663
00:36:42,120 --> 00:36:45,040
Speaker 2: fall upon him, not for the mantle of king, but

664
00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:48,839
Speaker 2: for the attention of all the people. Samuel reached into

665
00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:51,080
Speaker 2: his robes and pulled out a sack filled with twelve

666
00:36:51,120 --> 00:36:54,759
Speaker 2: smooth stones with markings carved into them. Each was distinctly

667
00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:58,239
Speaker 2: different from the other. They were lots, and often used

668
00:36:58,239 --> 00:37:01,600
Speaker 2: to determine the will of God. Samuel cast the lots

669
00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:05,480
Speaker 2: onto the floor. The stone of Benjamin was selected, so

670
00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:08,680
Speaker 2: he brought the tribe of Benjamin near. He organized them

671
00:37:08,680 --> 00:37:11,680
Speaker 2: by clans and cast lots again. The clan of the

672
00:37:11,719 --> 00:37:15,120
Speaker 2: Matrites was selected. Saul's heart began to pound in his

673
00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:18,719
Speaker 2: chest out of pure anxiety. Saul shifted his feet to

674
00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:21,360
Speaker 2: hide behind one of the carts filled with farming equipment.

675
00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:24,719
Speaker 2: Saul stood with his back against the cart, listening to

676
00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:28,719
Speaker 2: Samuel rejects several of the families within his clan. Finally,

677
00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:32,440
Speaker 2: the family of Kish was selected, and Saul heard Samuel

678
00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:38,560
Speaker 2: say his name, Saul. Where is Saul, Samuel asked. Saul

679
00:37:38,719 --> 00:37:41,600
Speaker 2: was frozen and placed behind the cart. He pounded the

680
00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:44,719
Speaker 2: back of his head against it, thinking about running. But

681
00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:47,680
Speaker 2: before he had a chance to run, a han grabbed

682
00:37:47,680 --> 00:37:49,720
Speaker 2: his shoulder. It was his uncle.

683
00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:50,640
Speaker 6: Here he is.

684
00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:54,279
Speaker 2: The people applauded as Saul walked towards the front where

685
00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:57,920
Speaker 2: Samuel was standing. They cheered and awed at how large

686
00:37:57,960 --> 00:38:01,320
Speaker 2: he was. They saw his broad sho shoulders and strong arms.

687
00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:04,719
Speaker 2: They saw his chisel jaw and dark beard. He was

688
00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:07,880
Speaker 2: everything they desired in a king. He had the appearance

689
00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:10,840
Speaker 2: of strength, He had the body of a king, and

690
00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:13,680
Speaker 2: they cared very little about the heart that dwelled within it.

691
00:38:14,600 --> 00:38:17,959
Speaker 2: Saul stepped up to the platform beside Samuel. The old

692
00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:21,040
Speaker 2: prophet bowed his head and gave a weary smile. He

693
00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:23,560
Speaker 2: turned to the crowd and pointed to Saul, saying.

694
00:38:23,760 --> 00:38:26,280
Speaker 3: Look upon the one the Lord has chosen.

695
00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:30,640
Speaker 2: A cacophony of praise erupted from the entire nation. The

696
00:38:30,719 --> 00:38:33,160
Speaker 2: sound of trumpets filled the air, and the shouts of

697
00:38:33,200 --> 00:38:37,160
Speaker 2: adoration flooded Saul's heart. The praise that was once given

698
00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:39,640
Speaker 2: to God was now thrust upon Saul.

699
00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:46,960
Speaker 6: Long live the King, they shouted. Long Live King Saul.

700
00:38:47,360 --> 00:38:51,640
Speaker 2: They proclaimed. As songs were sung and instruments were played,

701
00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:55,880
Speaker 2: A small voice emerged from within Saul's mind. Its whisper

702
00:38:56,000 --> 00:39:00,479
Speaker 2: was nearly silent, but sharp and powerful. Saul his own

703
00:39:00,560 --> 00:39:02,799
Speaker 2: pride was beginning to creep into his heart.

704
00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:09,520
Speaker 1: Israel's first king has been chosen. The people wanted a

705
00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:12,480
Speaker 1: ruler to lead them, and Saul certainly seems to fit

706
00:39:12,560 --> 00:39:15,600
Speaker 1: the part. But one of the themes in this episode

707
00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:19,960
Speaker 1: is that looks can be deceiving. The prelude shows us

708
00:39:20,040 --> 00:39:23,239
Speaker 1: that you can't simply manufacture the favor of God and

709
00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:26,640
Speaker 1: force him to bless you. The people of Israel paraded

710
00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:28,960
Speaker 1: the Ark of the Covenant out like a weapon and

711
00:39:29,040 --> 00:39:32,840
Speaker 1: a sign of intimidation. They wanted the appearance of victory,

712
00:39:32,920 --> 00:39:36,120
Speaker 1: thinking it would somehow move the hand of God to

713
00:39:36,200 --> 00:39:40,800
Speaker 1: fight for them. They were gravely mistaken. Now we meet Saul,

714
00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:44,640
Speaker 1: a strapping young man with broad shoulders and a commanding presence.

715
00:39:45,280 --> 00:39:47,880
Speaker 1: He looked like a king, acts like a king, and

716
00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:51,279
Speaker 1: even carries himself with that false humility we see and

717
00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:55,319
Speaker 1: a lot of athletes and politicians. But what about his heart, Well,

718
00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:58,520
Speaker 1: we know nothing about his heart. In fact, his heart

719
00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:02,400
Speaker 1: for God isn't mentioned at all. Saul is this polished

720
00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:04,839
Speaker 1: image of what people think a king should look like.

721
00:40:05,480 --> 00:40:07,680
Speaker 1: But we have no idea what's going on in his

722
00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:12,239
Speaker 1: mind or heart? Is he passionate about God's people? Does

723
00:40:12,280 --> 00:40:15,120
Speaker 1: he take the law of God seriously? What about his

724
00:40:15,200 --> 00:40:19,040
Speaker 1: prayer life or willingness to yield when corrected? We know

725
00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:22,160
Speaker 1: none of these things, because Saul is meant to represent

726
00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:29,000
Speaker 1: the hollowness of worldly leaders, all image with no substance. Samuel, however,

727
00:40:29,120 --> 00:40:32,319
Speaker 1: knows better. He warns the people of Israel that the

728
00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:35,800
Speaker 1: office of king is flawed to begin with, since whoever

729
00:40:35,840 --> 00:40:38,239
Speaker 1: becomes king is going to be taking the place of

730
00:40:38,280 --> 00:40:42,000
Speaker 1: God in their lives. Up until now, Israel was ruled

731
00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:45,640
Speaker 1: by God and the elders of the tribes of Israel. Occasionally,

732
00:40:46,080 --> 00:40:48,640
Speaker 1: when Israel was in a bind, he would raise up

733
00:40:48,719 --> 00:40:52,400
Speaker 1: judges to save them. This system worked, and it continually

734
00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:55,480
Speaker 1: brought them back to God when things were difficult. They

735
00:40:55,560 --> 00:41:00,560
Speaker 1: relied on Him for everything, and He was always faithful Judges,

736
00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:04,000
Speaker 1: which took place right before this episode, revealed to us

737
00:41:04,120 --> 00:41:07,759
Speaker 1: the faithfulness of God despite human brokenness. Who is this

738
00:41:07,840 --> 00:41:11,600
Speaker 1: promised leader, prophet, and deliverer that is whispered about in

739
00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:13,400
Speaker 1: the prelude and by Samuel?

740
00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:15,080
Speaker 3: Is it Saul?

741
00:41:15,719 --> 00:41:15,960
Speaker 6: Is it?

742
00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:19,719
Speaker 1: Going to be David. Asking these questions places us in

743
00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:22,960
Speaker 1: the minds of the early Hebrews. These people were in

744
00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:27,240
Speaker 1: constant anticipation of this promised leader spoken about by Moses

745
00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:31,440
Speaker 1: and foreshadowed in Genesis. They were eagerly waiting for a

746
00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:35,319
Speaker 1: chosen hero, hand picked by God to deliver them and

747
00:41:35,480 --> 00:41:38,719
Speaker 1: lead them. It stands to reason that at this point

748
00:41:38,800 --> 00:41:42,399
Speaker 1: in the story many Jews were thinking that Saul might

749
00:41:42,480 --> 00:41:46,600
Speaker 1: be the one. They will be disappointed, obviously, but honestly

750
00:41:47,160 --> 00:41:50,200
Speaker 1: they will be disappointed with David. As well as great

751
00:41:50,239 --> 00:41:53,240
Speaker 1: and mighty. As David becomes, he doesn't hold a candle

752
00:41:53,280 --> 00:41:56,600
Speaker 1: to God's true deliverer. One of the key themes in

753
00:41:56,680 --> 00:41:59,400
Speaker 1: this entire series is going to be that a greater

754
00:41:59,480 --> 00:42:03,360
Speaker 1: prophet than Samuel, a greater king than Saul, and a

755
00:42:03,400 --> 00:42:06,960
Speaker 1: greater hero than David is coming. But what is Israel

756
00:42:07,000 --> 00:42:09,520
Speaker 1: supposed to do while they wait for this great prophet?

757
00:42:09,800 --> 00:42:14,080
Speaker 1: Dozens of evil nations surround Israel, armored chariots, ridden by

758
00:42:14,280 --> 00:42:18,879
Speaker 1: warrior kings and legendary commanders who wouldn't be intimidated by that.

759
00:42:19,440 --> 00:42:22,319
Speaker 1: Israel wants to feel like they can measure up to

760
00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:25,359
Speaker 1: those other nations with a strong king to represent them

761
00:42:25,360 --> 00:42:29,719
Speaker 1: in battle, trade, and peace negotiations. The ancient world is

762
00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:34,440
Speaker 1: evolving and Israel can feel themselves falling behind. But there's

763
00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:38,400
Speaker 1: an issue with who they seek out for answers. They

764
00:42:38,480 --> 00:42:41,440
Speaker 1: don't seek God, sacrifice to him, or pray to him

765
00:42:41,480 --> 00:42:46,719
Speaker 1: for answers. Instead, they outsource the job to Samuel, expecting

766
00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:48,960
Speaker 1: him to figure it out for them. They don't want

767
00:42:48,960 --> 00:42:51,720
Speaker 1: to do the spiritual legwork it takes to get answers,

768
00:42:52,120 --> 00:42:55,200
Speaker 1: probably because they know what they are doing is wrong.

769
00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:59,320
Speaker 1: The elders of Israel ignore their responsibility to seek God

770
00:42:59,640 --> 00:43:02,920
Speaker 1: and give the task to Samuel. The elders also ignore

771
00:43:02,960 --> 00:43:06,760
Speaker 1: their responsibility to lead the people and give the tasks

772
00:43:06,760 --> 00:43:10,360
Speaker 1: to Saul. There is a perpetual shirking of duty in

773
00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:14,799
Speaker 1: exchange for the easy way. Unfortunately for them, God is

774
00:43:14,840 --> 00:43:17,840
Speaker 1: going to give them exactly what they want. He honors

775
00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:21,120
Speaker 1: their request and works with Samuel to find Israeli king.

776
00:43:21,880 --> 00:43:25,080
Speaker 1: The choice by God to honor Israel's request can cause

777
00:43:25,200 --> 00:43:28,600
Speaker 1: us to pause and ask a few questions. Why does

778
00:43:28,640 --> 00:43:31,440
Speaker 1: God give them what they ask for, especially when he

779
00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:35,080
Speaker 1: knows it's bad for them? Certainly he doesn't always do that,

780
00:43:35,239 --> 00:43:39,239
Speaker 1: So why now there are several correct answers to these questions,

781
00:43:39,239 --> 00:43:43,480
Speaker 1: but let's explore just one. Sometimes our hearts are revealed

782
00:43:43,560 --> 00:43:46,839
Speaker 1: only when we get precisely what we ask for. Think

783
00:43:46,880 --> 00:43:50,000
Speaker 1: about people who have sold their souls at the altar

784
00:43:50,040 --> 00:43:54,239
Speaker 1: of business and enterprise, only to succeed and find out

785
00:43:54,280 --> 00:43:57,440
Speaker 1: that it was all meaningless. Think about athletes who devote

786
00:43:57,440 --> 00:43:59,719
Speaker 1: their entire lives to be at the top of their

787
00:43:59,760 --> 00:44:03,680
Speaker 1: gar aim, only to be reminded of its futility and

788
00:44:03,800 --> 00:44:07,680
Speaker 1: inability to bring them happiness. Think about yourself and the

789
00:44:07,760 --> 00:44:11,080
Speaker 1: things you may have obsessed over that drew you away

790
00:44:11,120 --> 00:44:14,239
Speaker 1: from God and others. Did you feel satisfied when you

791
00:44:14,320 --> 00:44:16,840
Speaker 1: finally got what you wanted, or did you feel a

792
00:44:16,880 --> 00:44:20,359
Speaker 1: sense of emptiness? That emptiness is a signal to us

793
00:44:20,440 --> 00:44:23,200
Speaker 1: that what we want is not always what we need.

794
00:44:23,800 --> 00:44:26,520
Speaker 1: There are many lessons learned when we pursue the wrong

795
00:44:26,640 --> 00:44:30,200
Speaker 1: thing and get to the end of that journey. Samuel

796
00:44:30,239 --> 00:44:33,520
Speaker 1: tells the people exactly what will happen if they pursue

797
00:44:33,520 --> 00:44:36,239
Speaker 1: a king. He warns them that a king will bring

798
00:44:36,280 --> 00:44:40,160
Speaker 1: more restraint than freedom. This is often what sin does

799
00:44:40,200 --> 00:44:43,480
Speaker 1: to us. We pursue it think it will somehow fulfill

800
00:44:43,560 --> 00:44:45,879
Speaker 1: us and give us freedom, but we end up more

801
00:44:45,960 --> 00:44:49,800
Speaker 1: enslaved than before. It is God's desire to bring us freedom,

802
00:44:49,840 --> 00:44:53,640
Speaker 1: not constraint. Within his will and his presence, we are

803
00:44:53,719 --> 00:44:57,760
Speaker 1: meant to find purpose and liberty. Let's end by talking

804
00:44:57,840 --> 00:45:01,560
Speaker 1: about God's presence. Maybe you picked up on some subtle

805
00:45:01,719 --> 00:45:05,280
Speaker 1: imagery used in this first episode. It is an image

806
00:45:05,440 --> 00:45:08,560
Speaker 1: used several times in this series. It is the image

807
00:45:08,600 --> 00:45:12,320
Speaker 1: of the coal in the fire. When Samuel is encouraging

808
00:45:12,360 --> 00:45:14,960
Speaker 1: his sons in the beginning of the episode, he talks

809
00:45:14,960 --> 00:45:17,760
Speaker 1: about a fire. He asks them if they are able

810
00:45:17,840 --> 00:45:21,080
Speaker 1: to keep the coals burning, and goes on to say

811
00:45:21,400 --> 00:45:24,279
Speaker 1: a cold can burn as long as it lives within

812
00:45:24,320 --> 00:45:28,560
Speaker 1: the flame. Keep the coal in the flame. He says

813
00:45:28,600 --> 00:45:31,600
Speaker 1: this to remind his sons and us as the listeners,

814
00:45:32,120 --> 00:45:34,960
Speaker 1: that no one can rule the nation of Israel outside

815
00:45:35,000 --> 00:45:38,400
Speaker 1: the presence of God. The closer a ruler is to

816
00:45:38,480 --> 00:45:41,839
Speaker 1: the flame, the longer and brighter he will burn. But

817
00:45:41,880 --> 00:45:45,200
Speaker 1: the second someone removes themselves from the presence of God,

818
00:45:45,640 --> 00:45:49,000
Speaker 1: they will lose their heat, like the coal that burns out.

819
00:45:49,239 --> 00:45:52,160
Speaker 1: Did you notice the flame? In other parts of the episode,

820
00:45:52,640 --> 00:45:56,439
Speaker 1: Samuel watched a coal pop loose from the fire when

821
00:45:56,440 --> 00:46:00,040
Speaker 1: the elders were asking for a king, Nobody noticed, and

822
00:45:59,880 --> 00:46:03,920
Speaker 1: the coal slowly dimmed. This represented the heart of Israel

823
00:46:04,000 --> 00:46:07,320
Speaker 1: being lost outside of the presence of God. A coal

824
00:46:07,440 --> 00:46:10,520
Speaker 1: also fell out of the fire when Saul was speaking

825
00:46:10,560 --> 00:46:13,440
Speaker 1: with his uncle, only the coal did not burn out. Instead,

826
00:46:14,120 --> 00:46:17,600
Speaker 1: Saul kicked the coal back into the fire. This represents

827
00:46:17,640 --> 00:46:21,000
Speaker 1: Saul's karrent state with God. Saul is at a high

828
00:46:21,040 --> 00:46:23,600
Speaker 1: in his life right now and close enough to the

829
00:46:23,640 --> 00:46:26,640
Speaker 1: heart of God. The remaining question in the next few

830
00:46:26,680 --> 00:46:29,960
Speaker 1: episodes is this, Will Saul be able to keep the

831
00:46:29,960 --> 00:46:33,440
Speaker 1: coals burning for now? He seems to be exactly what

832
00:46:33,560 --> 00:46:37,560
Speaker 1: Israel wants, but is that what God wants? Will Saul

833
00:46:37,719 --> 00:46:40,560
Speaker 1: allow the voice of God to guide him? Will Saul

834
00:46:40,640 --> 00:46:43,719
Speaker 1: submit to the law of God and the advice of Samuel?

835
00:46:44,080 --> 00:46:47,240
Speaker 1: Or will the coal lose its light apart from the flame.

836
00:46:47,880 --> 00:46:50,799
Speaker 1: The end of the episode teases a small serpent like

837
00:46:50,920 --> 00:46:54,760
Speaker 1: voice slithering into the sea. The pride of the throne

838
00:46:54,800 --> 00:46:57,680
Speaker 1: will soon come for Saul's heart. Will he give in

839
00:46:57,760 --> 00:47:01,319
Speaker 1: to pride or rise above it? Those are going to

840
00:47:01,360 --> 00:47:04,400
Speaker 1: be some questions we explore in the next episode. We

841
00:47:04,440 --> 00:47:07,680
Speaker 1: will watch Saul's ascension as a mighty king. And even

842
00:47:07,719 --> 00:47:11,720
Speaker 1: find ourselves rooting for him. However, as I mentioned before

843
00:47:11,760 --> 00:47:14,880
Speaker 1: this episode, there is only one worthy to sit on

844
00:47:14,920 --> 00:47:17,920
Speaker 1: the throne. There's only one true king of Israel. It

845
00:47:18,000 --> 00:47:20,879
Speaker 1: is not Samuel, it is not Saul, and it will

846
00:47:20,880 --> 00:47:24,239
Speaker 1: not be David. The only king worthy to sit on

847
00:47:24,280 --> 00:47:27,640
Speaker 1: the throne of Israel and our hearts is Jesus Christ.

848
00:47:28,360 --> 00:47:32,799
Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers,

849
00:47:32,840 --> 00:47:38,120
Speaker 1: and wisdom to last a lifetime, download Theprey dot com app.

850
00:47:38,520 --> 00:47:42,040
Speaker 1: Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify to get the

851
00:47:42,080 --> 00:47:45,600
Speaker 1: newest episodes writer as they are released. God bless