1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Let us pray be of good courage, and let us 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: play the men for our people and for the cities 3 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: of our God and the Lord. Do that which seemeth 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: Him good. Second Samuel ten twelve. Dear God, etch in 5 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: the foundations of my heart that I am a giant 6 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 1: killer like David in Second Samuel ten. I will not 7 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: cower and run away when I am faced with challenges 8 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: and limiting mindsets that try to loom over areas of 9 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: my life. As I build my faith on your word, 10 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: my feet will move with purpose and speed in the 11 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: direction of my calling, knowing that the armies of Heaven 12 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: are backing my life like the army of Israel backed 13 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: King David. To day, I make nome the truth that 14 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: I am not afraid to fight for what God has 15 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: spoken over my life. I make g nome the fact 16 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: that I will fight for the dignity of others through 17 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: the battles and blows of life. I will stay on 18 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: the battlefield until God gives me the victory. I am 19 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: fighting the fight of faith for the Lord. I am 20 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 1: fighting for more. I am fighting for peace, and I 21 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: am fighting to become the highest version of Me in 22 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: Jesus name. Amen. Listening to these daily prayers strengthens your 23 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: relationship with God. Continue hearing from the Lord by listening 24 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: to today's Bible in a Year brought to you by 25 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: Bible in a Year dot Com. 26 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 2: Victory after victory. In our last story, David came to 27 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 2: the realization that the Lord should have a tempo built 28 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 2: for him. Nathan, the Prophet, agreed and spoke for the Lord, 29 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 2: saying his kingdom would be established forever. The Lord blessed 30 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 2: all of David's exploits, and the Kingdom of Israel continued 31 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 2: to grow day by day. In this story, hanan king 32 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 2: of Aman, will humiliate David's servants, and the Ammonites learned 33 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 2: that David is not a king to be trifled with. 34 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 2: As inspired by Second Samuel and First Chronicles. 35 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 3: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 36 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. In our last episode, we 37 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 3: saw David's heart to honor God and build the Lord 38 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 3: a home a temple where his glory could be on 39 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 3: display for all the world to see. As a result 40 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 3: of his faithfulness, David received a message from God through 41 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 3: the prophet Nathan. The message was this God would establish 42 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 3: a lasting kingdom through David. God blessed David's f both 43 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 3: as king and as a warrior, and today will continue 44 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 3: to see the victories that God gives to David. We'll 45 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:10,519 Speaker 3: also hear how the King of Ammon meets David's act 46 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 3: of kindness with distrust and disrespect, and discovers that David 47 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 3: is not a king to be mocked or toyed with. 48 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 3: And as always, through it all God's name will be 49 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 3: made known, not just among the Israelites, but to all 50 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 3: the nations. Let's listen now to today's reading. 51 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 2: Not too far away from Israel, na Hash, the king 52 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: of the Ammonites, had died. Trumpets sounded in the distance, 53 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 2: and the Ammonite people mourned the death of their king. Hanan, 54 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 2: his son took the throne after his father and surrounded 55 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 2: himself with counsel. David heard of Nahash's death and remembered 56 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 2: the kindness he showed David. While in the wilderness, there 57 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 2: was historic blood between the Ammonites and the Israelites. However, 58 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 2: David was determined to usher in a new era of peace. 59 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 2: David gathered some of his men to go and console 60 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 2: Hanan with gifts and good will. The servants entered the land. 61 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 2: There was a slight eeriness in the city when they entered. 62 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 2: Being Israelites in the land of the Ammonites was uncomfortable, 63 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 2: and whispers filled the streets as they passed. Nevertheless, the 64 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 2: men walked into the halls of Hanan, determined to comfort him. 65 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 2: The princes and counselors sat beside Hannan as David's men entered. 66 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 2: One of them leaned over to Hanan and whispered, do 67 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 2: you really think David sent comforters because of your father? 68 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: You know they are here to spy on our land. 69 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:45,479 Speaker 2: It is a ruse. My King. Hanan gave a slight nod, 70 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 2: not taking his eyes off the men. As they entered 71 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 2: the room. The men bowed before Hanan and laid gifts 72 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 2: at his feet. However, corruption and paranoia had easily gripped 73 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 2: Hanan's mind. He stood to his feet and ordered the 74 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 2: servants to be taken at once. The servants were confused 75 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 2: at his intentions. Hanan slept a devious smile and ordered 76 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 2: his men to shave off half of their beards and 77 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 2: cut the lower half of their robes, exposing their genitalias 78 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 2: before everyone. Then they cast them out into the streets 79 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 2: for all to see. Ammonite cackles filled the city's streets. 80 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 2: As the men ran in embarrassment. Tears of shame filled 81 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 2: their eyes, and they hid themselves in Jericho. They sent 82 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 2: word to David and told him what happened. David did 83 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 2: not send men to get them. He went himself. David 84 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 2: rode to his men swiftly, as a father would to 85 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: his hurting children. David found them hiding in Jericho and 86 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 2: comforted them, remain here until your beards grow back. Here 87 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 2: are supplies and new robes. So David left them and 88 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 2: relieved them of their duties until they recovered their dignity. 89 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 2: He mounted his horse and left the area. He rode 90 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 2: fast and aggressively. He looked forward with fury in his eyes. 91 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 2: David would not forgive the humiliation of his servants. Unlike Hanan, 92 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 2: David was a king with actual power. Hanan would soon 93 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 2: learn this for himself. The Ammonites heard that David was 94 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 2: outraged by Hanan's disrespect. They wanted to attack him before 95 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 2: he attacked them, so they hired twenty thousand Syrian mercenaries 96 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 2: to join their army. They also allied with a neighboring 97 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 2: city to gain an extra thirteen thousand men. Soon, a 98 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: vast army prepared themselves for David's retaliation. Unperturbed, David sent Joab, 99 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 2: his Mighty Men, and a portion of his army to 100 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 2: face them. Joab scooped out the field and saw that 101 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: the Ammonites and the Syrians split up to ambush them 102 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 2: on both ends. Joab and the Mighty Men decided to 103 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 2: march towards the Syrians while the army of Israel took 104 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 2: on the Ammonites. Joab shouted to his men with his 105 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 2: spear in the air and said, protect one another. If 106 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: one side proves to be too strong, we will come 107 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 2: to each other's aid. Joab looked to the battlefield. He 108 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 2: longed for battle, craved it. But the armies were large 109 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 2: and his men were few. Be strong and courageous, Joab 110 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: yelled again, for you are the city of God. Roar 111 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 2: followed Joab's words, and the men of Israel descended upon 112 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 2: the Syrians and Ammonites. Joab and the Mighty Men reached 113 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 2: the Syrians first. Their speed caught the Syrians completely off guard. 114 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 2: Never had they seen men fight with such unity. Months 115 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 2: of training with David in the wilderness honed them in. 116 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 2: They battled as a single unit, as if they were 117 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 2: one body. They overwhelmed the Syrians within minutes, and they 118 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 2: began to flee. The Ammonites saw their mercenaries flee and 119 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 2: became scared. They fled from the battle and hid behind 120 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 2: their city gates. Joab returned with the soldiers and awaited 121 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 2: orders from David for the next move. The Syrians threw 122 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 2: their weapons on the floor in frustration. They had been 123 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 2: caught completely off guard. Though they were hired hands, they 124 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 2: would not allow themselves to be beaten and humiliated by Israel. 125 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 2: They rallied and gathered their allies from beyond the Euphrates. Schobach, 126 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 2: their commander, led them to Helam and awaited David for battle. 127 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 2: Schobach stood taller than all the other men under his command. 128 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 2: He was fierce and a brilliant swordsman and tactician. The 129 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 2: Syrians feared him and followed him into battle. This time, 130 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 2: David did not send Joab and his men. David rode 131 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 2: out with his army behind him to Helam. Thousands of 132 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 2: Syrian horsemen and soldiers stood before David on the opposite 133 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 2: end of the field. David drew his sword and without 134 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 2: saying word, ran head first into battle. The men of 135 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 2: Israel stood in awe of their king. He ran like 136 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 2: a lion, shortening the gap between him and his prey. 137 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 2: The Syrian chariots rushed in first. For a moment, it 138 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 2: seemed as though it was David running towards a sea 139 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 2: of chariots on his own. His men followed behind him, 140 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:25,719 Speaker 2: inspired by their warrior king. David's fighting was like poetry. 141 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 2: His sword slashed the legs of horses, sending the horsemen 142 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 2: flying through the air. His shield absorbed every blow, and 143 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 2: his blade returned with twice the force. David's sword seemed 144 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 2: to dance in his hand as he fought his way 145 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 2: through the Syrian lines. Schobach had David in his line 146 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 2: of vision. He ran towards David, toppling other soldiers on 147 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 2: his way. David barely saw Schobak at the corner of 148 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 2: his eye before he struck a blow to his side 149 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 2: with his shield. David flew into the air and landed 150 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 2: on his back. Schobach did not stop and ran toward 151 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,320 Speaker 2: David with his sword in the air. David dodged the 152 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 2: second attack and swiped Schobach's calf. The two fought ferociously, 153 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 2: yet Chovac's strength was no match for David's skill. David 154 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 2: allowed Shobach to come close, grabbed the hilt of his sword, 155 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 2: and drove his blade into Schobach's side. He stumbled back, 156 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 2: holding his stomach, Frightened that David might slay him where 157 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:32,319 Speaker 2: he stood, Schobach ran away, bleeding from his stomach. Schobach 158 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 2: ran through the battle looking for safety. Growing faint, he 159 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 2: fell to his knees and bled out on the battlefield. 160 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 2: The battle was won. David and his men killed seven 161 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 2: hundred chariots and forty thousand horsemen. David raised his spear 162 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 2: into the air and roared a mighty cry of victory. 163 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:56,560 Speaker 2: With the blood of his enemy laced on his face 164 00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 2: and clothes. The men of Israel shouted and chanted to God. 165 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 2: The kings of the East trembled in fear of David 166 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 2: and made peace with Israel. David used his sword to 167 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,679 Speaker 2: make a statement, but he would go no further than 168 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 2: protecting his people. David was not a conqueror and had 169 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 2: no interest in enslaving other kingdoms. He wanted peace and 170 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 2: welcomed to any kingdom that desired the same, David's bravery 171 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 2: became renowned in all the land. Yet even the bravest 172 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:31,199 Speaker 2: of kings can be undone by the smallest of temptations, 173 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 2: a lesson David would soon learn. 174 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 3: Today's passage begins with the death of the Ammonite king. 175 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 3: His son, Hannun was his successor, and when David heard 176 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 3: of the death of the man who had once been 177 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 3: kind to him when he was in exile, he wanted 178 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 3: to show his respect and return the kindness. So he 179 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 3: sent some of his men on a peaceful mission into 180 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 3: the land of the Ammonites, enemies of Israel. Though he 181 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 3: was a very powerful king with a great army, David 182 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 3: wanted to rule with peace whenever possible. But as his 183 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 3: men entered the palace of Hanun, there they were met 184 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 3: with distrust and paranoia. Now, for sure, a certain amount 185 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 3: of trepidation on the part of the Ammonite king would 186 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 3: have been understandable, but rather than give the men a 187 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 3: chance to speak, he had them seized immediately. Their beards 188 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 3: were shaped, an act of humiliation in itself in those days, 189 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 3: and their robes were cut off at the waist, exposing 190 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 3: them to ridicule. As they were cast into the streets. 191 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 3: The men fled in embarrassment and hid in Jericho. Second 192 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 3: Samuel ten to five tells us how David reacted. We 193 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 3: read when it was told to David, he sent to 194 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 3: meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed, and the 195 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:52,839 Speaker 3: king said, remain in Jericho until your beards have grown, 196 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 3: and then return. Now. Don't miss the significance of this passage. First, 197 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 3: it tells us that David was primarily concerned with his men. 198 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:04,679 Speaker 3: As a king, he could have focused first on the 199 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 3: disrespect shown to him by Hanoun. He could have immediately 200 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 3: departed to attack the Ammonites to punish them for their mockery, 201 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 3: but he went first to his men to care for 202 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:19,959 Speaker 3: their needs and comfort them. Secondly, David went to them himself. 203 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 3: A great leader is never above serving those who follow him. 204 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 3: Jesus gave us the best example of this, as he 205 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 3: washed his own disciples feet. David surely could have sent 206 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 3: someone else to reach his men, but he went to 207 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 3: see them himself. So, with the first priority handled, David 208 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 3: then turned to the Amonites, for their offense could not 209 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 3: be unanswered. David gathered his men, with his faithful commander 210 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 3: Joeab in charge Joeb wisely was careful in his plan 211 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 3: of attack. He'd learned from David, a skillful and wise 212 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 3: military leader, and rather than rush into the war, Joab 213 00:13:56,120 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 3: surveyed the battlefield. He saw there were two fronts on 214 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,439 Speaker 3: which to fight, so he prepared his men and they 215 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 3: resolved to fight as one unit, supporting each other where 216 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 3: any weakness arose. Joeb's men were strong and ready for battle, 217 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 3: and the enemy was quickly defeated and the Syrian mercenaries 218 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 3: driven off. When the Syrians realized they were in a 219 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 3: large fight, they gathered their allies, and this time David 220 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 3: himself led the Israelite army into battle. God, as he 221 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 3: had been doing since David rose to the throne, gave 222 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 3: David a convincing victory and the Syrians were defeated and 223 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 3: driven away, And rather than use this as an opportunity 224 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 3: to increase his territory and kill his enemies, David made 225 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 3: peace with the Syrians and their allies, who knew now 226 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 3: that David and God's people were not to be abused. 227 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 3: But as David's fame and power grew, a complacency began 228 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 3: to creep in, and with it, temptation was just around 229 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 3: the corner. We'll discover the tragic consequences of that in 230 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 3: our next reading. Dear God, we thank you for today's 231 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 3: passage on servant leadership. Help us always be willing to 232 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 3: serve those around us and to help those that we 233 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 3: lead and love. May we show kindness even to our enemies, 234 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 3: as Jesus taught us, and it is in his name 235 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 3: that we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's 236 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. I hope you are enjoying 237 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 3: it as much as i am. This is Pastor Jack 238 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 3: Graham from Dallas, Texas. You can download the pray dot 239 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 3: com app and make prayer the priority in your life. 240 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 3: And if you have enjoyed this podcast, share it with 241 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 3: someone you love. By sharing this podcast, you can make 242 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 3: a difference in someone's life. This podcast is being listened 243 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 3: to all over the world by millions of people, and 244 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 3: we are celebrating the fact that God's word is being heard. 245 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 3: And if you want more resources on how to tap 246 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 3: into God's power for living, be sure to visit Jack 247 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 3: Graham dot org. God bless you.