Latest / Bible in a Year with Jack Graham / Chapter 08: Exiled

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Chapter 08: Exiled · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Be free from the love of money. Content with such
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: things as you have. For he has said, I will
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: in no way leave you, neither will I in any.
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  Speaker 2: Way forsake you.
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  Speaker 1: Hebrews 13.5 Father, I promise not to get ahead of
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  Speaker 1: you today. I will listen for the intelligence that comes
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  Speaker 1: from your throne room, so that my prayers are strategic.
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  Speaker 1: and prophetically aligned to bring the breakthroughs you have for me.
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  Speaker 1: I will not become frustrated when I don't get things quickly.
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  Speaker 1: Because my life is an original, I will not compare
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  Speaker 1: it to others. I will be content with the pace
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  Speaker 1: you set for me, and with what you provide for me.
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  Speaker 1: While I wait, I will remember all the times you
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: have been there for me, all the times you have
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  Speaker 1: come through for me. I know the only reason I'm
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: facing any new problems or challenges is because, Father God,
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: you've brought me through all the previous ones. You are
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: faithful to your word and to me. You have such
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  Speaker 1: a perfect track record. I know I can depend on you.
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  Speaker 1: I can trust you completely and with everything that concerns me.
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  Speaker 1: There's no need to panic about anything, ever, because you
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  Speaker 1: haven't brought me this far only to disappear on me
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  Speaker 1: or to let me go. You're the same God yesterday, today,
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  Speaker 1: and forever. You are always with me, always for me,
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  Speaker 1: and you will never leave me nor forsake me. And
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  Speaker 1: my hope is in you. So, I pray in Jesus' name.
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  Speaker 2: Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned.
• 1:55
  Speaker 1: To immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever told from
• 1:59
  Speaker 1: Pray.com's podcast, Heroes in the Bible.
• 2:03
  Speaker 3: Hi, I'm Dr.
• 2:04
  Speaker 4: Tony Evans, your host for Heroes in the Bible. If
• 2:07
  Speaker 4: you've enjoyed this podcast so far, please share it with
• 2:10
  Speaker 4: your family and friends and help us spread God's Word.
• 2:15
  Speaker 4: Welcome to The Epic Adventure of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
• 2:22
  Speaker 4: and murder. While most people know of David the myth,
• 2:26
  Speaker 4: few know about David the man. In this episode, the
• 2:30
  Speaker 4: meteoric rise of David is put to a halt by Saul.
• 2:34
  Speaker 4: Up until this point, David has had nothing but victories.
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  Speaker 4: He has slain giants, defeated armies, fallen in love, and
• 2:41
  Speaker 4: gained allies. But now, our hero faces his toughest challenge yet.
• 2:46
  Speaker 4: His resilience and patience will be put through the gauntlet,
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  Speaker 4: and he will be betrayed by more than one ally.
• 2:53
  Speaker 4: The time has come for David to be put to
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  Speaker 4: the ultimate test. This episode is the beginning of a
• 2:59
  Speaker 4: very long season in David's life, a time when he
• 3:02
  Speaker 4: isn't in the comfort of his father's home or the
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  Speaker 4: favorite champion of the palace. David is gonna be sent
• 3:09
  Speaker 4: on the run and we will be left with uncertainty
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  Speaker 4: on who he will become. This episode introduces us to
• 3:16
  Speaker 4: a new character, Abner. Although his time is brief in
• 3:20
  Speaker 4: this episode, we should pay attention to him. He will
• 3:24
  Speaker 4: be very important later on in the story. David will
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  Speaker 4: also visit an old friend. I won't give away who, though.
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  Speaker 4: You will have to listen to find out. This friend
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  Speaker 4: will remind David of his calling and give him boldness
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  Speaker 4: for the fight ahead. Before all this transpires, we will
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  Speaker 4: open up with a prelude, a story taken from the
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  Speaker 4: days of old before Israel was a nation or the
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  Speaker 4: law was written into stone. Another chosen hero will be
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  Speaker 4: forced to leave in fear of a loved one. But
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  Speaker 4: what God does with him in exile is worth it.
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  Speaker 4: God does glorious things in exile, as we will come
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  Speaker 4: to see in later episodes. Let's learn more about God's
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  Speaker 4: faithfulness in Episode 8, Exiled.
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  Speaker 2: Prelude to Chapter 8 The heat of the day had
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  Speaker 2: finally disappeared as the sun set over the mountains. From
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  Speaker 2: the forests of Canaan, Esau emerged with a deer carried
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  Speaker 2: on his shoulders. His broad and muscular frame marched home.
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  Speaker 2: Esau dropped the deer, skinned it, and prepared the meat
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  Speaker 2: for his father. A fragrant stew boiled under the fire.
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  Speaker 2: Esau smiled, pleased with the work of his hands. He
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  Speaker 2: poured the stew into a bowl and walked into his
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  Speaker 2: father's tent. Isaac was laying in bed, old, blind, and
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  Speaker 2: near death. Esau knelt beside his father and handed him
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  Speaker 2: the bowl.
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  Speaker 5: My father, I have returned from the hunt. I have
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  Speaker 5: prepared your favorite stew. Take and eat, so that you
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  Speaker 5: might bless me before you pass.
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  Speaker 2: Isaac propped himself up in his bed and reached for
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  Speaker 2: his son's face. Esau leaned forward and let him place
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  Speaker 2: his hand on his cheek. Confused, Isaac pulled away and said.
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  Speaker 6: Who is this that I am speaking to?
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  Speaker 5: I am your firstborn son, Esau. I have returned from
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  Speaker 5: my hunt so that you might bless me according to
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  Speaker 5: my birthright.
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  Speaker 2: Isaac's old hand began to tremble. Esau reached to take it,
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  Speaker 2: but his father pulled away in frustration.
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  Speaker 6: Who is it then that brought me food before?
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  Speaker 3: There was another.
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  Speaker 6: Who came in here, saying he was my firstborn Esau.
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  Speaker 3: It was to him I gave the blessing.
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  Speaker 2: Esau panicked. He shook his head and raised his voice. No. No, father.
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  Speaker 3: I swear, I am Esau. Whoever came before me was
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  Speaker 3: an imposter.
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  Speaker 7: It wasn't me.
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  Speaker 5: It must have been.
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  Speaker 2: He paused and looked around the tent. An empty bowl
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  Speaker 2: was beside the bed and a pile of goat's fur
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  Speaker 2: rested at the entrance.
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  Speaker 3: Jacob.
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  Speaker 2: He whispered.
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  Speaker 3: It was Jacob. He tricked my father into.
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  Speaker 2: Esau looked up at Isaac and took his hand.
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  Speaker 7: Please, father.
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  Speaker 3: Please, bless me as well.
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  Speaker 5: Have you not reserved any blessing for me?
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  Speaker 7: Please, do not leave me here alone.
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  Speaker 2: Sorrow, rage, and anguish welled up in Esau's heart. His
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  Speaker 2: brother had tricked him into giving up his birthright, and
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  Speaker 2: now he had stolen what mattered most, his father's blessing.
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  Speaker 2: Isaac was enraged at Jacob, yet could not recant his
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  Speaker 2: blessing over him, and he would not undo what the
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  Speaker 2: Lord had set in motion. I have made him Lord
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  Speaker 2: over you, Isaac said.
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  Speaker 6: I have blessed him as an inheritor of all God
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  Speaker 6: has given me, and you will serve under him.
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  Speaker 2: Esau's face fell into his hands. A deep well of
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  Speaker 2: sorrow raged within him.
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  Speaker 5: Is there any blessing you can give me, father? Am
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  Speaker 5: I not worthy of anything?
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  Speaker 2: Isaac rested his hand on his son's head. He breathed
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  Speaker 2: in deeply and recited ancient poetry. The words were a
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  Speaker 2: poor consolation. To Esau, They might as well have been
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  Speaker 2: a complete rejection. Isaac spoke thus, saying.
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  Speaker 6: Behold, away from the richness of the earth you shall dwell,
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  Speaker 6: and away from the dew of heaven on high. You
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  Speaker 6: shall live by your sword, and you shall serve your brother.
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  Speaker 6: But when you grow restless, you shall break his yoke
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  Speaker 6: from your neck.
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  Speaker 2: Esau left his father and stood over the fire. His
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  Speaker 2: large chest was huffing with anger. A dark part of
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  Speaker 2: Esau's heart was awakened that day. A spirit of jealousy
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  Speaker 2: and contempt overwhelmed him. When Isaac had breathed his last
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  Speaker 2: and went to be with his father Abraham, Esau sighed
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  Speaker 2: a deep breath and said.
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  Speaker 5: The days of mourning my father are approaching.
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  Speaker 3: After I mourn, I will kill my brother Jacob.
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  Speaker 2: Jacob caught wind of this and fled out of his country.
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  Speaker 2: The hero God had chosen, was made an exile from
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  Speaker 2: his own country, fleeing from his own family.
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  Speaker 3: The unity of our nation is under attack!
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  Speaker 2: Saul yelled from the war room in his palace. Torchlight
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  Speaker 2: flickered against Saul's body, casting a large shadow over the
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  Speaker 2: coarse stone walls. His trusted servants and advisors stood around
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  Speaker 2: the king, along with a few of the elders. A
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  Speaker 2: single tapestry draped over the back wall. The firelight illuminated
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  Speaker 2: its elegant design of the nation of Israel. All twelve
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  Speaker 2: tribes represented in a single map. The king drew out
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  Speaker 2: a dagger and tore the tapestry in two.
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  Speaker 3: Don't you see what he has done to the people?
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  Speaker 3: They praise him as if he is the Lord himself.
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  Speaker 3: We cannot have him dividing us and drawing the people
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  Speaker 3: away from me. If they do not trust me over David,
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  Speaker 3: we will have a civil war on our hands. He
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  Speaker 3: will revolt against us when the moment is right for him.
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  Speaker 2: The elders and advisors mumbled amongst themselves. Some agreed, but
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  Speaker 2: others were skeptical of whether the king was in his
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  Speaker 2: right mind. Remaining in the back with his shoulder leaning
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  Speaker 2: against the wall was Jonathan. He listened intently to his
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  Speaker 2: father's ravings against David. They were the rants of a
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  Speaker 2: paranoid madman. However, he was king, and absolute power to
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  Speaker 2: execute David was his. Soth lailed his arms and swung
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  Speaker 2: his dagger.
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  Speaker 3: We will make it look like an accident. The last
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  Speaker 3: thing we desire is for the people to turn against
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  Speaker 3: me for killing him. Or perhaps we could frame the Philistines.
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  Speaker 3: No doubt the people would believe they assassinated the giant slayer.
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  Speaker 2: Jonathan's heart beat swiftly as he listened to Saul plan
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  Speaker 2: out his best friend's murder. He waited for a moment
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  Speaker 2: to slip away to warn David. As Saul got caught
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  Speaker 2: up in planning with his advisors, Jonathan slipped away into
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  Speaker 2: the shadows. He ran swiftly through the palace gardens and
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  Speaker 2: down the road where David and Michal lived. The sky
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  Speaker 2: was thick with marks of midnight. The stars spread over
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  Speaker 2: the horizon like a steady moving tide. The cool evening
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  Speaker 2: breeze slipped through the window of David's room, caressing his cheek.
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  Speaker 2: He brought the blankets in and rolled closer to Michal.
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  Speaker 2: He enjoyed the warm company of his bride. Never before
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  Speaker 2: had he felt such a serene sense of belonging. He
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  Speaker 2: belonged to God's chosen people, to the armies of Israel,
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  Speaker 2: to the house of King Saul, and to his beloved wife.
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  Speaker 2: It seemed as though nothing could steal away the bliss
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  Speaker 2: David had rightfully earned. In the stillness of the cold night,
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  Speaker 2: wrapped in blankets, David sighed and thanked God for his
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  Speaker 2: grace towards him. David closed his eyes and slipped into
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  Speaker 2: a deep sleep. His weary and battle-hardened bones were growing
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  Speaker 2: heavy as he sank into his bed. He dreamt of
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  Speaker 2: green pastures and still waters. He dreamed of the babbling
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  Speaker 2: brooks and boughs of the sheep. All was peaceful, until
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  Speaker 2: a hand reached out from the darkness over his mouth.
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  Speaker 2: David awoke in a panic and reached desperately for his dagger.
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  Speaker 2: Just as he was about to strike, he saw the
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  Speaker 2: moonlight illuminating Jonathan's face. He placed a finger over his
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  Speaker 2: lips and gestured for him to join him outside. David
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  Speaker 2: nodded and slipped quietly out of bed, so McCall could
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  Speaker 2: remain asleep. The two men stepped outside into the cold.
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  Speaker 2: David wrapped the royal robe Jonathan had given him around
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  Speaker 2: his shoulders. Jonathan was clearly nervous. He always stroked his
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  Speaker 2: beard when he was nervous. David placed his hand on
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  Speaker 2: his shoulder.
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  Speaker 3: What is this about, Jonathan? What is troubling you?
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  Speaker 2: Jonathan placed his hands on David's face.
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  Speaker 8: You are in danger, little brother. My father seeks to
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  Speaker 8: take your life. It could be tonight, or it could
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  Speaker 8: be next week, but his mind seems to be set
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  Speaker 8: on killing you.
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  Speaker 2: David gave an impassive nod. I see. He said solemnly.
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  Speaker 8: You do not seem too surprised by this.
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  Speaker 2: Jonathan inquired.
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  Speaker 7: Is there something you're not telling me?
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  Speaker 2: David crossed his arms, trying to keep himself warm under
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  Speaker 2: the crisp evening air. A soft breeze made his hair
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  Speaker 2: fall over his eyes as he looked down.
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  Speaker 3: Your father has tried to kill me already.
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  Speaker 2: David said.
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  Speaker 3: He attempted to pin me to the wall with his spear.
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  Speaker 3: When he missed, he sent another one. I escaped before
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  Speaker 3: he could throw a third.
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  Speaker 7: Why didn't you tell any of this to me?
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  Speaker 3: Because your father is a troubled soul. But more importantly,
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  Speaker 3: he is my king. David said sternly. It is my
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  Speaker 3: duty to give him mercy for any slights against me.
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  Speaker 3: After all, it was not too long after that that
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  Speaker 3: he gave me your sister's hand in marriage.
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  Speaker 2: Jonathan shook his head.
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  Speaker 8: Your loyalty may be your undoing, giant slayer.
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  Speaker 2: It may be yours as well, brother. David said seriously.
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  Speaker 3: You are taking a great risk by being here to
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  Speaker 3: warn me. Tell me, what should I do?
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  Speaker 8: Be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a
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  Speaker 8: secret place and hide yourself. Tomorrow I will go out
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  Speaker 8: into the fields with my father. I will speak well
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  Speaker 8: of you and test to see where his heart is.
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  Speaker 8: Allow me to be your advocate.
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  Speaker 2: David smiled and hugged Jonathan. He held him tightly.
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  Speaker 3: People with unreliable friends meet early deaths. But there are
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  Speaker 3: friends who stick closer than brothers.
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  Speaker 2: Jonathan patted David on the back.
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  Speaker 8: I will let you know if I hear anything from
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  Speaker 8: my father. Stay safe and stay hidden for now.
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  Speaker 2: David went back into his home, being sure to keep
• 14:01
  Speaker 2: his dagger even closer. Jonathan slipped back across the garden
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  Speaker 2: back home. On the other side of the palace... Saul
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  Speaker 2: sat awake near the fire. His mind wandered into unpleasant
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  Speaker 2: places like a ship lost at sea. His weary mind
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  Speaker 2: slipped in and out of sleep until eventually he passed
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  Speaker 2: out on his throne. The next morning, Jonathan arose early
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  Speaker 2: to meet his father in the farmlands of Gibeah. Saul
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  Speaker 2: took great care into ensuring the vibrancy of Israel's agriculture
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  Speaker 2: and livestock. He needed his people well-fed, hungry citizens made
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  Speaker 2: for fickle followers. He needed their loyalty. He craved it.
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  Speaker 2: Jonathan walked the fields with his father. They spoke of
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  Speaker 2: the kingdom, battle strategy, and their family. Despite all his flaws,
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  Speaker 2: Jonathan loved his father. He admired his steadfast attention to
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  Speaker 2: the safety of Israel. As the two of them spoke,
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  Speaker 2: Jonathan was able to see small glimpses of why his
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  Speaker 2: father was chosen to be king in the first place.
• 15:04
  Speaker 2: Lingering impressions of past humility made brief appearances. Saul was
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  Speaker 2: not always the paranoid and unstable man that stood before him.
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  Speaker 2: He was once a prince of promise and a beacon
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  Speaker 2: of hope to the infant nation of Israel.
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  Speaker 8: Father, there is a matter I wish to speak to
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  Speaker 8: you about.
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  Speaker 2: Jonathan said shyly, Speak, Saul said, enjoying the sunlight on
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  Speaker 2: his cheeks.
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  Speaker 8: Your anger against David seems irrational to me. What has
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  Speaker 8: he done wrong?
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  Speaker 2: Saul paused his stride and looked down at his son.
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  Speaker 2: It is not what he has done, Jonathan, but what
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  Speaker 2: he will do. The people have given him glory and honor.
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  Speaker 2: It is only a matter of time before they seek
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  Speaker 2: to give him the kingdom.
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  Speaker 3: Your kingdom.
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  Speaker 7: God's kingdom, father.
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  Speaker 2: Jonathan responded. Saul scoffed and dismissed the correction with a
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  Speaker 2: wave of his hand. Jonathan persisted.
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  Speaker 8: I beg you to not sin against your servant, David.
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  Speaker 8: He has not sinned against you. His deeds have brought
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  Speaker 8: you and this nation nothing but prosperity. When you and
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  Speaker 8: I were faced with the option of standing up to
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  Speaker 8: the giant, we wavered, yet he stood on our behalf.
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  Speaker 8: The Lord has clearly worked good through him. Why would
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  Speaker 8: you seek to put that good to an early end?
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  Speaker 8: You yourself rejoiced when he slew Goliath. Why shed innocent
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  Speaker 8: blood against a faithful warrior, a trusted servant, and your son-in-law?
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  Speaker 2: Saul looked down at the ground beneath his feet. Although
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  Speaker 2: the ground was firm and easy to walk on, he
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  Speaker 2: felt uneasy and off balance. Saul had not felt right
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  Speaker 2: for a very long time. He felt his senses and
• 16:44
  Speaker 2: his mind dull with paranoia and contempt. He sighed and
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  Speaker 2: looked at his son. He knew he was right. David
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  Speaker 2: had truly done nothing to deserve such hatred. For a
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  Speaker 2: brief moment, Saul could see clearly. He placed his hand
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  Speaker 2: on his son's shoulder. You are a wise man, my son.
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  Speaker 2: As the Lord lives, David shall not be harmed by
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  Speaker 2: my hand. Saul smiled, then continued walking. Relieved, Jonathan found
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  Speaker 2: David and told him the news. David was restored to
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  Speaker 2: be in the presence of Saul once again. He attended
• 17:20
  Speaker 2: meetings for battle strategy. He sat with his family for
• 17:23
  Speaker 2: feasts and parties. He played music for him beside his throne.
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  Speaker 2: All seemed well and normalcy was restored, until the Philistines
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  Speaker 2: mounted yet another attack. Thunder roared from the heavens. A
• 17:38
  Speaker 2: storm of great force was blowing in from the north.
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  Speaker 2: David stood with his men atop a hill, ready to
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  Speaker 2: descend into the battlefield against the Philistines. The enemy horde
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  Speaker 2: banged their swords against their shields, beckoning David to them.
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  Speaker 2: The giant slayer looked up, watching the heavens stir violently.
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  Speaker 2: Rain was coming. It would not be a clean flame.
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  Speaker 2: There was no time to waste. The longer they waited,
• 18:03
  Speaker 2: the less advantage they had. David raised his sword high
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  Speaker 2: in the air and slashed it downward. His archers sent
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  Speaker 2: a flurry of arrows towards the Philistines. They retaliated with
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  Speaker 2: just as many. The skies crackled with wood and metal
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  Speaker 2: as the rains began to fall. David ran first towards
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  Speaker 2: the enemy, with his men to his back. They all
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  Speaker 2: followed with courageous vigor. The two armies met in the
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  Speaker 2: middle of the battlefield. The thunder and rain drowned out
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  Speaker 2: the cracking bone and tearing flesh. It was the most
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  Speaker 2: gruesome battle David had ever seen. From every angle, another
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  Speaker 2: one of his men fell to the Philistine. He swiped
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  Speaker 2: through the enemy lines, leaving dozens of bodies in the wake.
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  Speaker 6: Press in!
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  Speaker 2: He yelled.
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  Speaker 3: Do not lose heart!
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  Speaker 2: David's cries pierced through the white noise of wind and rain.
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  Speaker 2: His men were emboldened by his courage. They struggled through
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  Speaker 2: mud and filth, slowly gaining the advantage over the Philistines.
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  Speaker 2: David never let go of his sword. Every attack the
• 19:04
  Speaker 2: Philistines mounted against him failed. The Lord was before him,
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  Speaker 2: and his men knew that they were in the presence
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  Speaker 2: of God's chosen hero. The skies ceased their onslaught of
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  Speaker 2: rain and lightning. All was still for a moment. David
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  Speaker 2: paused to look around him. He was on top of
• 19:23
  Speaker 2: a hill on the enemy's side of the battlefield. He
• 19:26
  Speaker 2: looked behind him. His men were standing. seeing that they
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  Speaker 2: had killed every last Philistine that came up against them.
• 19:34
  Speaker 2: Nearly a hundred men lay dead at their feet. Through
• 19:37
  Speaker 2: all the struggle, they never lost hope. David drove his
• 19:42
  Speaker 2: sword into the mud and fell to his knees. He
• 19:44
  Speaker 2: looked up to the heavens. The sun was peeking out
• 19:48
  Speaker 2: through the darkened skies and it seemed as though the
• 19:50
  Speaker 2: Lord was smiling down at them. David wept, and the
• 19:54
  Speaker 2: soldiers cheered. They rejoiced at David's bravery and leadership. Word
• 19:59
  Speaker 2: of the victory reached the ears of Saul. As he
• 20:02
  Speaker 2: listened to the men swoon over the giant slayer's bravery,
• 20:06
  Speaker 2: the tormenting spirit returned. and he forgot all about his
• 20:10
  Speaker 2: promise to Jonathan. He once again longed to see David
• 20:13
  Speaker 2: pinned to the wall of the palace with his spear.
• 20:18
  Speaker 2: David's music filled the throne room. The melody was unfamiliar
• 20:22
  Speaker 2: to Saul. It had a different rising and falling than
• 20:25
  Speaker 2: David's typical songs of praise. This song was filled with
• 20:29
  Speaker 2: a rising hope that continued to build until the very
• 20:31
  Speaker 2: last moment. The joy expressed in the music was like
• 20:35
  Speaker 2: a burning coal upon Saul's brooding heart. He hated David's
• 20:39
  Speaker 2: connection to the Lord. He hated David's victories and his humility.
• 20:44
  Speaker 2: Everything David was, Saul hated. The light of David's countenance
• 20:49
  Speaker 2: made the darkness in Saul's heart ever more apparent. Saul
• 20:54
  Speaker 2: once again gripped his spear tightly and stood to his feet.
• 20:57
  Speaker 2: He yelled and hurled the spear at the shepherd. However,
• 21:01
  Speaker 2: David was prepared for another attack from Saul. He shifted
• 21:04
  Speaker 2: to his left. and the spear flew right past his
• 21:07
  Speaker 2: shoulder and pierced the cedar beam behind him. David stood
• 21:11
  Speaker 2: there facing the king. Saul's brows furrowed and nostrils flared.
• 21:16
  Speaker 2: Hatred had spilled over, and David saw in the king
• 21:20
  Speaker 2: the same eyes as Goliath. It was no longer safe
• 21:24
  Speaker 2: to be in his presence. As Saul began to mount
• 21:27
  Speaker 2: another attack, David escaped through the back door and ran
• 21:31
  Speaker 2: into the night. David burst through the door of his
• 21:35
  Speaker 2: home Michal startled from her bed.
• 21:38
  Speaker 9: What happened?
• 21:39
  Speaker 2: She asked worriedly.
• 21:40
  Speaker 3: This is the second time your father has attempted to
• 21:43
  Speaker 3: kill me.
• 21:44
  Speaker 2: David explained.
• 21:45
  Speaker 3: Before, I thought it was an outburst of anger, so
• 21:49
  Speaker 3: I forgave him. However, now I know he wants me dead.
• 21:55
  Speaker 2: Michal was in shock. Her eyes widened and she frantically
• 21:59
  Speaker 2: ran to the window and looked out into the darkness.
• 22:02
  Speaker 2: Small torchlights could be seen nearly fifty yards away. Michal
• 22:06
  Speaker 2: knew her father well. If he wanted David dead, and
• 22:10
  Speaker 2: was unable to do so in private, he would have
• 22:13
  Speaker 2: his servants do it for him.
• 22:15
  Speaker 9: My father's men are lurking.
• 22:17
  Speaker 2: In the shadows, she said in a hushed tone.
• 22:20
  Speaker 9: It is not safe for you to be here. They
• 22:22
  Speaker 9: will wait for you to come out in the morning
• 22:24
  Speaker 9: and slit your throat.
• 22:25
  Speaker 2: David pulled his hair back tight and groaned.
• 22:28
  Speaker 3: What options are there? I cannot fight the king's men.
• 22:32
  Speaker 3: They are my countrymen.
• 22:34
  Speaker 2: Michal grabbed her husband's face with both her hands.
• 22:37
  Speaker 9: Listen to me. If you do not escape tonight, they
• 22:41
  Speaker 9: will kill you. You must leave.
• 22:45
  Speaker 2: David shook his head and held Michal's hands in his.
• 22:49
  Speaker 2: I will not leave you.
• 22:50
  Speaker 3: I will not leave Jonathan or my men. Perhaps I
• 22:54
  Speaker 3: can reason with Saul. He is my father-in-law. Perhaps the
• 22:59
  Speaker 3: Lord will change his heart.
• 23:02
  Speaker 2: Michal released David's grasp. and began packing up food in
• 23:05
  Speaker 2: a sack.
• 23:07
  Speaker 9: You are a good man, David, but woefully innocent when
• 23:10
  Speaker 9: it comes to my father. He has not listened to
• 23:13
  Speaker 9: the Lord in years. You must go. Jonathan and I
• 23:17
  Speaker 9: will be okay, and your men will always be loyal
• 23:20
  Speaker 9: to you. But none of us want to see you dead.
• 23:23
  Speaker 2: She grabbed David's face and brought it close to hers.
• 23:27
  Speaker 2: She kissed him passionately and smiled. The two of them
• 23:31
  Speaker 2: fastened a rope together, and David lowered himself out the window.
• 23:34
  Speaker 2: escaping into the hills outside the city. Michal took pillows
• 23:38
  Speaker 2: and hid them under blankets to look like David. She
• 23:42
  Speaker 2: put goat's fur on the top to look like his hair,
• 23:44
  Speaker 2: then crawled into bed and waited up all night. She
• 23:48
  Speaker 2: knew the servants would come in the morning to kill David.
• 23:51
  Speaker 2: It was only a matter of time. Early that morning,
• 23:55
  Speaker 2: Michal heard a knocking at the door.
• 23:57
  Speaker 9: Who is it?
• 23:58
  Speaker 2: She asked ignorantly. Although she knew it was her father's
• 24:02
  Speaker 2: men come to kill David. At the door was Abner,
• 24:06
  Speaker 2: the commander of Saul's army and most trusted servant and advisor.
• 24:10
  Speaker 2: Saul had sent him personally to see to David's death.
• 24:14
  Speaker 2: He trusted no one more than Abner. We come from
• 24:17
  Speaker 2: your father, my lady, he said.
• 24:19
  Speaker 3: We are here to speak with your husband. Could you
• 24:22
  Speaker 3: get him?
• 24:23
  Speaker 2: Michal's heart began to pound in her chest. She heroically
• 24:27
  Speaker 2: saved her husband, but she was now growing more nervous
• 24:30
  Speaker 2: for her own safety. Panicked, Mekal cleared her throat and said,
• 24:36
  Speaker 2: He is ill.
• 24:37
  Speaker 9: You will have to come by tomorrow. I am afraid
• 24:39
  Speaker 9: he is in bed and cannot get up.
• 24:40
  Speaker 2: We have strict.
• 24:42
  Speaker 3: Orders from the king, Mekal.
• 24:44
  Speaker 2: Abner replied sternly.
• 24:46
  Speaker 3: We will visit him in the room.
• 24:48
  Speaker 2: The men made their way in without Mekal's permission, slowly
• 24:52
  Speaker 2: opening the door into their room. They drew their swords,
• 24:56
  Speaker 2: unwilling to take their chances with such a formidable opponent
• 24:59
  Speaker 2: like David. Abner took his sword. and raised it into
• 25:03
  Speaker 2: the air. He drove it down into the bed, being
• 25:06
  Speaker 2: sure to put all his weight into it. His men
• 25:09
  Speaker 2: joined in, stabbing and slashing down at the figure in
• 25:12
  Speaker 2: the bed. However, it did not take long for feathers
• 25:16
  Speaker 2: and fur to begin pouring out from under the blankets.
• 25:19
  Speaker 2: Abner threw off the blankets, revealing the pillows and goatskins.
• 25:23
  Speaker 2: He turned back violently with his sword drawn at Michal.
• 25:27
  Speaker 3: Where is he?
• 25:28
  Speaker 2: Abner yelled.
• 25:29
  Speaker 3: Where is David?
• 25:30
  Speaker 2: Mekal fell down onto the floor crying. Abner rolled his
• 25:35
  Speaker 2: eyes back and sheathed his sword. Go get the king,
• 25:38
  Speaker 2: he ordered his men.
• 25:39
  Speaker 3: The last thing I want is to harm his daughter
• 25:41
  Speaker 3: trying to get the truth.
• 25:43
  Speaker 2: Saul's men beckoned him to David and Mekal's home. He
• 25:47
  Speaker 2: stormed in with thundering anger. His large frame and deep
• 25:51
  Speaker 2: voice shook the house, and Mekal quivered in fear from
• 25:54
  Speaker 2: her father. He had never heard her, but he was
• 25:58
  Speaker 2: clearly not in his right mind. He had attempted to
• 26:01
  Speaker 2: pin David to the wall twice with his spear. There
• 26:04
  Speaker 2: was no clear limit to what he would do. Saul
• 26:07
  Speaker 2: bent down to his daughter, who was crying on the
• 26:09
  Speaker 2: floor next to the bed. His anger could be seen
• 26:12
  Speaker 2: through his teeth. Daughter, he said, holding back his outrage.
• 26:18
  Speaker 3: Where is he?
• 26:20
  Speaker 2: Makal had a decision to make. Would she honor her
• 26:24
  Speaker 2: husband or pander to her father? She weighed her options.
• 26:29
  Speaker 2: It was very likely that David would remain on the
• 26:31
  Speaker 2: run for a very long while. Michal was used to
• 26:35
  Speaker 2: a life of luxury and privilege. As much as she
• 26:38
  Speaker 2: loved David, she loved her comforts more. She looked up.
• 26:44
  Speaker 6: Oh, Father!
• 26:46
  Speaker 2: She said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
• 26:49
  Speaker 9: Thank the Lord you have come! David threatened my life.
• 26:53
  Speaker 9: He told me that he would kill me if I
• 26:55
  Speaker 9: did not help him escape.
• 26:57
  Speaker 2: Tears ran down her face. However, they were tears of
• 27:00
  Speaker 2: shame and guilt for what she was doing. Saul held
• 27:03
  Speaker 2: his daughter appalled at her words. Even he, who hated David,
• 27:08
  Speaker 2: could not believe he would do such a thing.
• 27:10
  Speaker 3: I promise you, my daughter, I will find him and
• 27:13
  Speaker 3: destroy him. He will not hurt you again!
• 27:17
  Speaker 2: Saul stood up and gestured for Abner.
• 27:19
  Speaker 3: Send out scouts. Have them search for David, but tell
• 27:23
  Speaker 3: no one we want his life. I cannot have people
• 27:26
  Speaker 3: rising up to protect him.
• 27:29
  Speaker 2: Abner nodded, and he sent men throughout the city to
• 27:31
  Speaker 2: search for David. David ran all day until he arrived
• 27:37
  Speaker 2: at Naoth in Ramah. The sun was setting, creating a
• 27:41
  Speaker 2: crimson glow over the horizon. On any other day, it
• 27:45
  Speaker 2: would have been worth sitting on the hill to write
• 27:47
  Speaker 2: songs about the glory of God. But this day was different.
• 27:52
  Speaker 2: David needed protection. So he sought wisdom from the only
• 27:56
  Speaker 2: man he truly trusted. He walked up a dirt pathway
• 27:59
  Speaker 2: leading to a house sitting on a hill overlooking the city.
• 28:02
  Speaker 2: David felt a distinct shift in the air as he
• 28:05
  Speaker 2: approached the home. He looked to his left, seeing a
• 28:08
  Speaker 2: stone altar covered in blood. Smoke rose from an opening
• 28:12
  Speaker 2: in the roof, and flickering light came through the windows.
• 28:16
  Speaker 2: David approached the large wooden door and knocked. He stepped
• 28:19
  Speaker 2: back and waited. The door opened, and the sweet smell
• 28:23
  Speaker 2: of incense and cooked meat released into the air near David.
• 28:27
  Speaker 2: The young shepherd immediately bowed.
• 28:29
  Speaker 3: I am sorry for disturbing you. I had nowhere else
• 28:33
  Speaker 3: to go.
• 28:34
  Speaker 2: The figure standing before him limped its way outside and
• 28:37
  Speaker 2: leaned down to him. David looked up to see the
• 28:41
  Speaker 2: old and gray face of Samuel smiling. He had not
• 28:45
  Speaker 2: seen him since he was anointed in Bethlehem. His presence
• 28:49
  Speaker 2: was warm and comforting. A few tears streamed down David's cheeks.
• 28:54
  Speaker 2: In such a short period of time, David had gone
• 28:57
  Speaker 2: from a forgotten shepherd boy to a famed warrior. Seeing
• 29:01
  Speaker 2: Samuel made him feel like a child again. Come, Samuel's
• 29:05
  Speaker 2: raspy and dusty voice said.
• 29:07
  Speaker 3: We shall worship the Lord together, and he shall deliver
• 29:11
  Speaker 3: you from the vengeance of Saul.
• 29:13
  Speaker 2: David took Samuel by the arm, and the two of
• 29:15
  Speaker 2: them walked into his home. Samuel's students were sitting by
• 29:19
  Speaker 2: the fire enjoying a meal. David sat among them and
• 29:23
  Speaker 2: told them all of what had happened. He spoke into
• 29:26
  Speaker 2: the night, sharing all the things the Lord had done
• 29:28
  Speaker 2: since he defeated Goliath. He told tales of Jonathan, Michal,
• 29:33
  Speaker 2: and the armies of Israel. He shared about the disturbed
• 29:37
  Speaker 2: nature of Saul and his attempts to kill him. In everything,
• 29:41
  Speaker 2: Samuel and his students were silent. They allowed David to
• 29:44
  Speaker 2: pour out his emotions and soul. They allowed him to cry, laugh,
• 29:48
  Speaker 2: and pray. Then after sharing a good meal, they sent
• 29:52
  Speaker 2: David to bed to rest. They knew that Saul and
• 29:55
  Speaker 2: his men would be there soon. They had to pray
• 29:58
  Speaker 2: to the Lord for protection and provision. If David truly
• 30:02
  Speaker 2: was the anointed and chosen king, no doubt God would provide.
• 30:08
  Speaker 10: One of our men came back with reports of David
• 30:10
  Speaker 10: seeing Niarama.
• 30:12
  Speaker 2: Abner said to the king, Saul leaned back on his throne,
• 30:15
  Speaker 2: brooding over a cup of wine. His eyes darted over
• 30:19
  Speaker 2: to Abner. He snarled and took a sip. No doubt
• 30:23
  Speaker 2: he was going to see Samuel. Both of them are
• 30:26
  Speaker 2: probably conspiring against me as we speak. Go and take
• 30:31
  Speaker 2: David by any means necessary. Abner bowed, and he sent
• 30:38
  Speaker 2: men to retrieve David from Nahoth and Ramah. The next day,
• 30:43
  Speaker 2: Saul's men walked up the dirt path with their swords drawn.
• 30:47
  Speaker 2: They could see the smoke rising from the home. Outside
• 30:50
  Speaker 2: the home, Samuel and his students were prophesying and worshiping
• 30:54
  Speaker 2: the Lord. Samuel stood in front of them with his
• 30:57
  Speaker 2: hands raised. They declared the goodness and justice of God
• 31:01
  Speaker 2: and proclaimed his mighty axe on the hilltop. As the
• 31:05
  Speaker 2: men drew closer with their swords drawn, they felt a
• 31:08
  Speaker 2: shift in the air. Their hearts began to flutter in
• 31:11
  Speaker 2: their chests, and the Spirit of God fell down upon them.
• 31:16
  Speaker 2: Overwhelmed with the sense of God's presence, they too began
• 31:19
  Speaker 2: to prophesy and worship. They had come to take David violently,
• 31:25
  Speaker 2: but instead they were met with a fortified wall of
• 31:28
  Speaker 2: praise and worship. God had protected his chosen king, not
• 31:33
  Speaker 2: with weapons of warfare, but with his spirit moving in
• 31:37
  Speaker 2: the hearts of wicked men. The men returned empty-handed, but
• 31:42
  Speaker 2: beaming with the joy of the Lord. Their spiritual glow
• 31:46
  Speaker 2: vexed Saul. His anger was kindled against his men when
• 31:50
  Speaker 2: he heard that they had worshipped God instead of obeying him.
• 31:54
  Speaker 2: Saul stood up from his throne and rode to Ramah
• 31:57
  Speaker 2: himself with a dozen men behind him. He came heavily
• 32:01
  Speaker 2: armed and prepared to fight. He knew that David was
• 32:05
  Speaker 2: a mighty warrior, and somehow Samuel and his prophets had
• 32:08
  Speaker 2: cast a spell on his men. Saul charged up the
• 32:11
  Speaker 2: hill leading up to Samuel's home. As he crossed the threshold,
• 32:16
  Speaker 2: Saul could feel the presence of God like the embrace
• 32:18
  Speaker 2: of an old friend from years ago. Saul ceased his
• 32:22
  Speaker 2: charge and paused. He looked down at his hands and
• 32:26
  Speaker 2: his feet, not sure what to do. He took a
• 32:29
  Speaker 2: step further, seeing Samuel's students praying only a few yards away.
• 32:34
  Speaker 2: He approached them, and the tug of God's spirit became overwhelming.
• 32:39
  Speaker 2: Saul fell to his hands and knees. His heart ached
• 32:43
  Speaker 2: from the burst of benevolent power rushing through him like
• 32:46
  Speaker 2: a mighty river. It was almost too much for him
• 32:49
  Speaker 2: to bear. Saul looked up to the heavens with tears
• 32:53
  Speaker 2: rushing down his face. He knew that the Lord was
• 32:56
  Speaker 2: only revealing himself to protect David. He even knew in
• 33:00
  Speaker 2: his heart that he would not change his ways. Nevertheless,
• 33:04
  Speaker 2: he was grateful. Grateful that he could experience the Spirit
• 33:08
  Speaker 2: of God once again, even for just a brief moment.
• 33:13
  Speaker 2: Saul tore his royal robes and began to worship and
• 33:15
  Speaker 2: prophesy with the others. After this, the Spirit of the
• 33:19
  Speaker 2: Lord compelled him to depart. David watched out the window
• 33:24
  Speaker 2: at the king leaving down the hill. He turned to Samuel,
• 33:28
  Speaker 2: who was sitting by the fire once again. Samuel beckoned
• 33:31
  Speaker 2: him over and had him sit beside him. David spoke first, saying,
• 33:36
  Speaker 2: Thank you for all you have done. However, I put
• 33:40
  Speaker 2: you and your students in danger by being here. I
• 33:44
  Speaker 2: shall leave tonight. Samuel smiled and tilted his head towards
• 33:48
  Speaker 2: the fire. The coals had been tended to carefully by Samuel.
• 33:53
  Speaker 2: They beat like tiny little hearts in the flame. A
• 33:56
  Speaker 2: few of the coals popped. He looked at David sitting
• 33:59
  Speaker 2: beside him. His eyes were attentive to Samuel's every move.
• 34:04
  Speaker 3: Are you able to keep the coals burning?
• 34:06
  Speaker 2: Samuel asked. His voice was deep and sonorous. Even in
• 34:11
  Speaker 2: his old age, his voice maintained its resonant authority. It
• 34:16
  Speaker 2: was as if the words of God flowed out of
• 34:18
  Speaker 2: his mouth from a deep cavern. David looked at the fire.
• 34:22
  Speaker 2: I am not sure, David said honestly.
• 34:25
  Speaker 3: I suppose the flames are both started and sustained by
• 34:30
  Speaker 3: the Lord.
• 34:31
  Speaker 2: Samuel said nothing. He touched David's head as he did
• 34:35
  Speaker 2: the first day they met. He prayed with him and
• 34:39
  Speaker 2: then sent him on his way. David disappeared into the
• 34:43
  Speaker 2: night back to Gebeah. He needed to speak with Jonathan.
• 34:47
  Speaker 2: The dual nature of Saul had left him confused. Was
• 34:51
  Speaker 2: he able to mend his relationship with Saul? Would he
• 34:54
  Speaker 2: be able to reconcile? Or was David forced to live
• 34:58
  Speaker 2: on the run forever? He needed such answers. Jonathan sat
• 35:05
  Speaker 2: on a large stone wall looking down at the fields
• 35:07
  Speaker 2: of grain outside his home. The gentle evening wind made
• 35:11
  Speaker 2: the grain move like the seas. The sound of crickets
• 35:14
  Speaker 2: chirping harmonized with the whistles of the breeze coming in
• 35:17
  Speaker 2: from the east. It was a place David and he
• 35:20
  Speaker 2: would often meet. They would speak of war, the wonders
• 35:23
  Speaker 2: of God, and their dreams for the future. Jonathan would
• 35:27
  Speaker 2: often chuckle at David, comparing everything to herding sheep. As
• 35:32
  Speaker 2: the wind picked up speed across the fields, Jonathan could
• 35:35
  Speaker 2: have sworn he heard a voice say his name. Jonathan.
• 35:38
  Speaker 2: The voice whispered. Jonathan. It said again. The young prince
• 35:43
  Speaker 2: looked down the hill sloping into the fields. David was there,
• 35:46
  Speaker 2: resting his back against a stone. Jonathan hopped off the
• 35:51
  Speaker 2: wall and embraced David.
• 35:52
  Speaker 7: I thought you had left forever.
• 35:54
  Speaker 2: Jonathan exclaimed.
• 35:55
  Speaker 7: My father has been mad in search of you.
• 35:57
  Speaker 3: What was my crime, Jonathan? What is my guilt that
• 36:00
  Speaker 3: your father would seek my life? Have I not served
• 36:04
  Speaker 3: him faithfully? Have I not honored him?
• 36:08
  Speaker 2: David was frantic and frustrated. He was weary from hiding
• 36:11
  Speaker 2: and becoming flustered from the sleepless nights. Jonathan reassured David
• 36:16
  Speaker 2: and put his arm around him.
• 36:18
  Speaker 8: My father vowed to me that he would not kill you.
• 36:21
  Speaker 8: I do not believe he will.
• 36:22
  Speaker 2: Jonathan said in ignorance.
• 36:24
  Speaker 8: My father does nothing without first disclosing it to me.
• 36:27
  Speaker 8: If he had planned on killing you, he would tell me.
• 36:29
  Speaker 8: Surely he is looking for you because of something else.
• 36:32
  Speaker 2: David shook his head. He paused and looked out of
• 36:35
  Speaker 2: the fields. The breeze and sound of moving grass reminded
• 36:38
  Speaker 2: him of simpler times with his sheep. David, still looking forward, said,
• 36:44
  Speaker 2: Your father knows we are closer than brothers. He would
• 36:48
  Speaker 2: not tell you of his plans to kill me again.
• 36:52
  Speaker 2: He probably suspects you are the one who warned me
• 36:54
  Speaker 2: in the first place that he would kill me.
• 36:57
  Speaker 8: My loyalty is to you before my father, David. We
• 37:00
  Speaker 8: have a bond and an unbreakable covenant.
• 37:04
  Speaker 7: Tell me what you need, and I'll do whatever you want.
• 37:08
  Speaker 2: Jonathan said. David looked over at his friend. For so
• 37:12
  Speaker 2: long he had been alone. Even in the large family
• 37:16
  Speaker 2: of Jesse, David was always the outcast, the runt. His
• 37:20
  Speaker 2: heart was full of gladness for his friend Jonathan. He
• 37:24
  Speaker 2: feared that in the midst of the chaos, he would
• 37:27
  Speaker 2: be abandoned and left. David smiled and looked up at
• 37:31
  Speaker 2: the moon. He pointed to it and said.
• 37:34
  Speaker 3: Tomorrow is the new moon. Many people will be gathering
• 37:38
  Speaker 3: to celebrate. Your father will probably be expecting me to
• 37:42
  Speaker 3: feast with him and the elders. I am his son-in-law,
• 37:46
  Speaker 3: and to not attend would be a great insult to him.
• 37:51
  Speaker 3: I will hide instead, and you will tell him I
• 37:54
  Speaker 3: am in Bethlehem making a sacrifice with my clan. It
• 37:58
  Speaker 3: will no doubt enrage him and kindle his anger towards
• 38:01
  Speaker 3: me even greater. However, if your father respects my decision
• 38:05
  Speaker 3: to be with my kinsmen, then we will know he
• 38:09
  Speaker 3: means me no harm.
• 38:10
  Speaker 7: What if he is outraged?
• 38:12
  Speaker 2: Jonathan asked.
• 38:13
  Speaker 7: What would that tell us?
• 38:15
  Speaker 3: If your father is angry, it will show his heart.
• 38:19
  Speaker 2: David said. He paused again. Tears began to well up
• 38:23
  Speaker 2: in David's eyes.
• 38:25
  Speaker 3: You should have seen the hatred in his eyes, Jonathan.
• 38:29
  Speaker 2: David whispered.
• 38:30
  Speaker 3: You should have seen the disdain he had for me.
• 38:34
  Speaker 3: He looked at me like I was an abomination. I
• 38:38
  Speaker 3: might as well have been a Philistine to him.
• 38:40
  Speaker 2: David drew his sword and handed it to Jonathan.
• 38:43
  Speaker 3: You and I have made a covenant with one another.
• 38:47
  Speaker 3: You have sworn to protect me. However, if you see
• 38:52
  Speaker 3: any guilt in me, please drive this sword into my chest.
• 38:57
  Speaker 2: Never! Jonathan yelled, pushing away David's sword.
• 39:01
  Speaker 3: Get up.
• 39:01
  Speaker 7: Come with me.
• 39:02
  Speaker 2: Jonathan lifted David up and the two of them walked
• 39:05
  Speaker 2: down to the fields. They stood there listening to the
• 39:08
  Speaker 2: humming of the wind and the chirping of crickets. Jonathan
• 39:12
  Speaker 2: pointed to the caves nestled in the hills beyond the field.
• 39:15
  Speaker 8: You hide out in the caves beyond this field. I'll
• 39:18
  Speaker 8: send word of my father's temperament.
• 39:20
  Speaker 3: Thank you, brother.
• 39:22
  Speaker 2: Jonathan breathed in deeply inside.
• 39:24
  Speaker 8: Remember what I told you before when I gave you
• 39:27
  Speaker 8: my armor and robe?
• 39:28
  Speaker 2: He asked. His tone was... was serious.
• 39:31
  Speaker 8: I told you, you would certainly become king. I still
• 39:35
  Speaker 8: believe it, and I am certain my father believes it.
• 39:37
  Speaker 8: That's why he hates you. The wind ceased its whistling,
• 39:41
  Speaker 8: and all was still for a moment. Jonathan choked on
• 39:44
  Speaker 8: his words. He was holding back tears.
• 39:48
  Speaker 7: Sometimes....
• 39:50
  Speaker 8: I linger in the halls of the palace and listen
• 39:53
  Speaker 8: to you play music to my father. You have a
• 39:56
  Speaker 8: deep well of love for the Lord, David. Your music
• 39:59
  Speaker 8: speaks to your relationship with God. He will show you
• 40:02
  Speaker 8: favor wherever you go. He will exalt you as king
• 40:06
  Speaker 8: and destroy all those who make you their enemy. All
• 40:09
  Speaker 8: those who seek to destroy you now will be eliminated.
• 40:13
  Speaker 8: And God will pave the way for your kingdom.
• 40:15
  Speaker 7: Please, I beg you.
• 40:19
  Speaker 8: Show love to my house when God removes your enemies.
• 40:22
  Speaker 8: Be kind to my wife and children.
• 40:26
  Speaker 2: David said nothing in response. He wanted to humbly reject
• 40:30
  Speaker 2: Jonathan's prediction that he would be made king. However, David
• 40:34
  Speaker 2: knew that it was what he was destined for. He
• 40:37
  Speaker 2: had come to realize the reason Samuel anointed him in
• 40:40
  Speaker 2: the pasture so long ago. He was chosen to be
• 40:43
  Speaker 2: the next king of Israel. And David swore to show
• 40:47
  Speaker 2: Jonathan and his entire household love and favor. Jonathan spoke again, saying.
• 40:53
  Speaker 8: In the next three days, I will go out into
• 40:56
  Speaker 8: the field for target practice where you are hiding. I
• 40:58
  Speaker 8: will shoot three arrows towards you and send my servant
• 41:01
  Speaker 8: to go and retrieve them. And if you hear me yell,
• 41:03
  Speaker 8: the arrows are on that side, it means the coast
• 41:06
  Speaker 8: is clear for you to return. If you hear me yell,
• 41:09
  Speaker 8: go further, run, then that means Saul is still seeking
• 41:12
  Speaker 8: your life and you should flee.
• 41:16
  Speaker 3: You are a kind man.
• 41:17
  Speaker 2: Jonathan, David said.
• 41:19
  Speaker 3: I will wait here.
• 41:21
  Speaker 2: The two embraced, and Jonathan left to return to his family.
• 41:25
  Speaker 2: David walked into the dark and rough openings in the hills.
• 41:29
  Speaker 2: He set his belongings down and leaned his head against
• 41:31
  Speaker 2: the cave. He sighed, and the echoes of his breath
• 41:35
  Speaker 2: traveled deep into the caverns. The young shepherd closed his
• 41:39
  Speaker 2: eyes and began singing a song to the Lord.
• 41:43
  Speaker 3: O Lord, my God, As David sang, his heart was comforted.
• 41:47
  Speaker 3: The Lord met him in his anguish.
• 42:13
  Speaker 2: There was nowhere he could run where the love and
• 42:16
  Speaker 2: passion of God could not follow. He drifted to sleep,
• 42:20
  Speaker 2: wondering about the future of his life, his family, and
• 42:23
  Speaker 2: his kingdom. The moon festival had begun, and the elders
• 42:30
  Speaker 2: gathered to celebrate with Saul and his family. Saul wore
• 42:34
  Speaker 2: his robe of elegant colors, flashing his wealth before the
• 42:38
  Speaker 2: nobles of Israel. He paraded his family around like the
• 42:42
  Speaker 2: jewels on his crown, However, when David's place at the
• 42:46
  Speaker 2: king's table was empty, Saul took notice.
• 42:49
  Speaker 3: Where is the son of Jesse?
• 42:52
  Speaker 2: He asked Jonathan.
• 42:53
  Speaker 3: First he threatens my daughter's life, and now he has
• 42:56
  Speaker 3: the gall to shirk his royal duties?
• 42:59
  Speaker 2: Jonathan peered across the table at his father. He did
• 43:03
  Speaker 2: his best to read him, to look into his thoughts
• 43:05
  Speaker 2: and motives.
• 43:07
  Speaker 8: David asked me if he could go back to Bethlehem
• 43:09
  Speaker 8: to make a sacrifice with his clans. His father and
• 43:12
  Speaker 8: brothers demanded it, so I allowed it.
• 43:15
  Speaker 2: Salt drove his knife into the table.
• 43:18
  Speaker 3: You foolish and useless son!
• 43:21
  Speaker 2: He yelled. Everyone at the table tightened and looked over
• 43:25
  Speaker 2: at Jonathan. He was motionless and oddly unrialled.
• 43:29
  Speaker 3: You think I'm a fool? I know you want him
• 43:31
  Speaker 3: to be king in your place.
• 43:33
  Speaker 2: Salt took his plate of food and threw it against
• 43:35
  Speaker 2: the wall. He picked up his spear and pointed it
• 43:38
  Speaker 2: at his son.
• 43:39
  Speaker 3: You shame yourself and your mother! David is planning to
• 43:43
  Speaker 3: rip this kingdom away from me!
• 43:46
  Speaker 2: Jonathan's face was impassive. Now he was witnessing his father's
• 43:51
  Speaker 2: true colors. He stood up slowly and looked deeply into
• 43:55
  Speaker 2: his father's eyes.
• 43:57
  Speaker 8: It is the Lord who has taken your kingdom away, father,
• 44:00
  Speaker 8: not David.
• 44:01
  Speaker 2: Saul took his spear and hurled it at Jonathan as
• 44:03
  Speaker 2: he once did with David. He missed, and the spear
• 44:07
  Speaker 2: was driven into the wall behind him. The room was silent.
• 44:12
  Speaker 2: Saul was huffing in anger. He turned to Abner and
• 44:16
  Speaker 2: his guards and yelled.
• 44:18
  Speaker 3: Go and find the boy. Do not rest until he
• 44:21
  Speaker 3: is brought to me. I will have his head on
• 44:24
  Speaker 3: a silver platter. You will not!
• 44:27
  Speaker 2: Jonathan yelled violently. His blood boiled with anger. Saul had
• 44:33
  Speaker 2: crossed the line, and Jonathan would not allow him to
• 44:37
  Speaker 2: continue in his madness without a fight.
• 44:40
  Speaker 10: I will, Saul said. I will have his life, and
• 44:45
  Speaker 10: you will not stop me. You are too weak to
• 44:50
  Speaker 10: kill me.
• 44:51
  Speaker 2: With those words, Saul stormed off to gather his men.
• 44:55
  Speaker 2: The hunt for David was about to begin. Jonathan arose
• 45:01
  Speaker 2: early before the sunrise the next morning. He took his
• 45:04
  Speaker 2: servant out into the field with a bow and arrow.
• 45:07
  Speaker 2: To the servant, it was just Jonathan clearing his mind
• 45:10
  Speaker 2: and practicing. He did not know David was resting in
• 45:14
  Speaker 2: the caves only a few yards away. Jonathan shot three
• 45:18
  Speaker 2: arrows into the distance where he knew David was hiding.
• 45:21
  Speaker 2: He turned to his servant and said.
• 45:23
  Speaker 7: Start running. You'll find the arrows as I shoot them.
• 45:26
  Speaker 2: So the boy ran unknowingly in David's direction. The boy
• 45:31
  Speaker 2: was close to where the arrows were, but Jonathan yelled,
• 45:34
  Speaker 2: Keep running!
• 45:35
  Speaker 7: The arrow's still ahead of you!
• 45:36
  Speaker 6: Hurry!
• 45:37
  Speaker 3: Hurry!
• 45:37
  Speaker 7: Do not wait even a moment!
• 45:39
  Speaker 2: David heard the words of warning. His heart ached. David
• 45:44
  Speaker 2: looked over at the armor and sword given to him
• 45:47
  Speaker 2: by Jonathan. He armed himself, girded up his clothes, and
• 45:51
  Speaker 2: began to run. He fled into the wilderness, exiled and alone. However,
• 45:58
  Speaker 2: God was at work in David's heart. He would not
• 46:01
  Speaker 2: abandon his anointed one. Those whom the Lord chooses are
• 46:05
  Speaker 2: never truly left to fend for themselves.
• 46:10
  Speaker 4: We all know this was bound to happen. The small
• 46:12
  Speaker 4: thread of self-control Saul had was bound to snap. Unsurprisingly,
• 46:17
  Speaker 4: he commits himself to David's destruction. The surprising part of
• 46:21
  Speaker 4: this episode was that David refused to fight back. He
• 46:24
  Speaker 4: slew a giant way scarier than the king, so none
• 46:27
  Speaker 4: of us would be surprised if David somehow found a
• 46:31
  Speaker 4: way to defeat Saul in combat. But our hero refused
• 46:34
  Speaker 4: to retaliate against the king despite several attempts at his life.
• 46:39
  Speaker 4: This is going to be a long and somewhat annoying
• 46:41
  Speaker 4: theme in David's life. Sometimes he is honorable to a fault.
• 46:46
  Speaker 4: Jonathan warned David that his loyalty may be his undoing
• 46:50
  Speaker 4: one day. The giant slayer knows Jonathan might be right,
• 46:54
  Speaker 4: but he respects the office of king far too much
• 46:56
  Speaker 4: to overthrow it with violence. He knew that God put
• 46:59
  Speaker 4: Saul on that throne and God would remove him as well.
• 47:03
  Speaker 4: David felt no need to rush the hand of God,
• 47:06
  Speaker 4: even if it meant his life would remain in jeopardy.
• 47:09
  Speaker 4: This is an important lesson for all of us to
• 47:11
  Speaker 4: learn from David. Many wrong paths are taken because we
• 47:15
  Speaker 4: think they are shortcuts. We can get restless and feel
• 47:18
  Speaker 4: pressure to rush God's will. Abraham and Sarah did this
• 47:22
  Speaker 4: when they weren't getting pregnant, and that is how Ishmael
• 47:25
  Speaker 4: was conceived. Little good comes from forcing God's promises through.
• 47:30
  Speaker 4: It takes a lot of peace and trust to let
• 47:33
  Speaker 4: events unfold the way David did. Waiting on God's timing
• 47:37
  Speaker 4: does not mean we do nothing. David, when sensing a threat,
• 47:41
  Speaker 4: is proactive and measured his actions. He does the right
• 47:44
  Speaker 4: thing in this episode. He shows the king grace, all
• 47:48
  Speaker 4: the while ensuring his own protection and leaning on those
• 47:52
  Speaker 4: he trusts most. David receives the most help from his
• 47:57
  Speaker 4: close friend Jonathan. The prince of Israel revealed where his
• 48:00
  Speaker 4: loyalties truly lie in this episode. When the pressure mounts
• 48:05
  Speaker 4: and the stakes were high, he came through for David.
• 48:08
  Speaker 4: I wish I could say the same about Michal. She
• 48:11
  Speaker 4: was initially supportive of her husband and helped him escape,
• 48:14
  Speaker 4: but when she was faced with her father, she wavered
• 48:17
  Speaker 4: and lied. This is a theme in Scripture, but particularly
• 48:21
  Speaker 4: in the story of David. Who we truly are is
• 48:24
  Speaker 4: revealed when circumstances are at their toughest. Jonathan showed strength
• 48:29
  Speaker 4: of his devotion to David by standing up to his father.
• 48:32
  Speaker 4: Michal showed the weakness of her devotion to David by
• 48:35
  Speaker 4: lying to her father. When life gets difficult, lies are
• 48:39
  Speaker 4: easy shortcuts to make things easier on us. Once again,
• 48:43
  Speaker 4: many wrong paths are taken because we think they are shortcuts.
• 48:47
  Speaker 4: This episode shows us those who are willing to march
• 48:50
  Speaker 4: up the uncomfortable path of righteousness and those who would
• 48:53
  Speaker 4: rather take the easy way out. Saul, instead of facing
• 48:57
  Speaker 4: his own demons and insecurities, wants to end David's life. Mikkel,
• 49:02
  Speaker 4: instead of remaining loyal to her husband, gives David up.
• 49:06
  Speaker 4: Doing the right thing is rarely easy, but it's always
• 49:09
  Speaker 4: worth it. Lying, cheating, and taking the easy way out
• 49:12
  Speaker 4: may seem better in the short run, but always presents
• 49:15
  Speaker 4: us with more chaos. Brotherhood and loyalty are big themes.
• 49:20
  Speaker 4: in this episode as well. David, thankful for his friends, says,
• 49:24
  Speaker 4: People with unreliable friends meet early deaths, but there are
• 49:28
  Speaker 4: friends who stay closer than brothers. This lie was not
• 49:32
  Speaker 4: taken from 1 Samuel, rather from Proverbs 18. It was
• 49:36
  Speaker 4: spoken by Solomon, David's son. Many years were added to
• 49:39
  Speaker 4: David's life because of his friendship with Jonathan. He would
• 49:42
  Speaker 4: have most certainly been wiped out by Saul without him.
• 49:46
  Speaker 4: Friendship is not just a luxury, it is a necessity.
• 49:50
  Speaker 4: People without loyal friends are doomed to wander through life
• 49:53
  Speaker 4: in fear. They have nobody to watch their backs, give
• 49:56
  Speaker 4: them corrections, provide aid when needed, and celebrate their victories.
• 50:01
  Speaker 4: We would be wise to look at Jonathan and ask
• 50:03
  Speaker 4: ourselves if we are as loyal and trustworthy as he
• 50:06
  Speaker 4: is to our friends. Let's talk about two particular events
• 50:10
  Speaker 4: that happen in this episode. They connect everything back to
• 50:14
  Speaker 4: the prelude. First, Samuel returns to the story and not
• 50:18
  Speaker 4: a moment too late. He protects David from harm and
• 50:21
  Speaker 4: provides a safe haven from the wrath of Saul. God's
• 50:25
  Speaker 4: spirit hedges Samuel's property like a force field. When Abner
• 50:30
  Speaker 4: and his men come to kill David, they are compelled
• 50:32
  Speaker 4: to worship instead. God doesn't allow a single hair on
• 50:36
  Speaker 4: David's head to be touched. The same happens when Saul attacks.
• 50:40
  Speaker 4: The king comes with a sword ready, but instead falls
• 50:43
  Speaker 4: to his knees in praise. This seems like an odd
• 50:46
  Speaker 4: tactic for God to employ. Why not shoot Saul down
• 50:50
  Speaker 4: with lightning or set his chariot on fire? The answer
• 50:54
  Speaker 4: is compelling. God is committed to thwarting Saul through mercy.
• 50:59
  Speaker 4: Romans 12, 21 says, do not be overcome by evil,
• 51:03
  Speaker 4: but overcome evil with good. There will be several times
• 51:07
  Speaker 4: In the next dozen episodes, when Saul should be utterly destroyed,
• 51:11
  Speaker 4: but instead shown mercy, God through David is committing to
• 51:15
  Speaker 4: overcome the evil in Saul's heart with good. If David
• 51:19
  Speaker 4: is to take the throne, it will not be because
• 51:21
  Speaker 4: David defeated him in battle. All that shows is that
• 51:25
  Speaker 4: anyone can become king by slaying whoever is on the throne.
• 51:29
  Speaker 4: This is a surefire way to destroy a nation. God
• 51:32
  Speaker 4: will raise up David, but not before an intense testing.
• 51:36
  Speaker 4: This episode ends with David running away into exile. His
• 51:40
  Speaker 4: rise to prominence is halted, and the giant slayer is
• 51:44
  Speaker 4: brought to his lowest point. Why would God allow this
• 51:47
  Speaker 4: to happen? Why would God allow David to wander in
• 51:50
  Speaker 4: the wilderness away from his calling? As it turns out,
• 51:54
  Speaker 4: God does this sort of thing all the time. In
• 51:56
  Speaker 4: our prelude, Jacob is forced into exile because he is
• 52:00
  Speaker 4: afraid of his brother for good reason. Joseph is exiled
• 52:04
  Speaker 4: by his brothers and taken to a foreign land. Moses
• 52:07
  Speaker 4: spent 40 years in the wilderness away from his country bent.
• 52:11
  Speaker 4: David is one of the many heroes that needed to
• 52:13
  Speaker 4: be exiled. God does some of his most remarkable work
• 52:17
  Speaker 4: when we are at our lowest points. In the prelude
• 52:21
  Speaker 4: to our next episode, we will hear a story about
• 52:23
  Speaker 4: another hero who spent time in the wilderness alone. He,
• 52:27
  Speaker 4: like David, had a great destiny. Our destinies are not
• 52:30
  Speaker 4: halted when we are put through intense trials. Rather, Our
• 52:35
  Speaker 4: destinies are confirmed through the refining of our character. In
• 52:39
  Speaker 4: our next episode, David's character will indeed be tested. Our
• 52:43
  Speaker 4: strong and mighty hero will show weakness in ways we
• 52:46
  Speaker 4: haven't seen yet. We will question whether he is truly
• 52:49
  Speaker 4: fit to be a king. David's failure will give us
• 52:52
  Speaker 4: a sobering reminder that nobody but God is perfect. Join
• 52:56
  Speaker 4: us for Episode 9, David the Madman. Thanks again for listening.
• 53:01
  Speaker 4: For more inspiring stories, daily prayers, and wisdom to last
• 53:05
  Speaker 4: a lifetime, go to Pray.com. Share this podcast with a
• 53:09
  Speaker 4: family member or friend and help us spread God's Word.
• 53:13
  Speaker 3: God bless.