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King of Israel · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from
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  Speaker 1: pursuing a troop, and brought a great spoil with them.
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  Speaker 1: But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he
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  Speaker 1: had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
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  Speaker 1: 2 Samuel 3.22 Lord, when I inherit opportunities that seem
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  Speaker 1: to be in ruins and surrounded with conflict, I thank
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  Speaker 1: you that, like David, I will be wise and tactful,
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  Speaker 1: when it comes to leading and making decisions. In the
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  Speaker 1: midst of chaos, I trust and believe that your hand
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  Speaker 1: will continue to be with me, in spite of the
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  Speaker 1: circumstances around me, like you did with David. I realize
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  Speaker 1: that on my journey to claim what you've promised me,
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  Speaker 1: there may be people who are occupying the seat you've
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  Speaker 1: called me to sit in. However, I will not take
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  Speaker 1: it by force or by vengeful means, because I know
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  Speaker 1: that in your perfect timing, you will deliver it into
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  Speaker 1: my hands. No matter the wait time, I will calm
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  Speaker 1: my heart and soul with memories of your goodness and
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  Speaker 1: faithfulness to me. I will stand in the place of greatness.
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  Speaker 1: I will rule over and flourish in what you've entrusted
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  Speaker 1: to me. The life you have for me is coming
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  Speaker 1: to pass, and I thank you in advance, knowing that
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  Speaker 1: my new chapter of victory is being written even as
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  Speaker 1: I speak. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for praying
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  Speaker 1: with us today. Continue your time with God by listening
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  Speaker 1: to today's Bible story. Brought to you by BibleInAYear.com.
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  Speaker 2: King of Israel In our last story, we witness the
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  Speaker 2: divided kingdom of Israel. Israel named Ish-bosheth king, while Judah
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  Speaker 2: crowned David. The two nations were at odds with one another,
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  Speaker 2: and Abner, general of Israel's army, killed Joab's brother. Joab,
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  Speaker 2: David's commander, spared Israel's army. However, it was not the
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  Speaker 2: end of the conflict. Now we witness the messy merging
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  Speaker 2: of two kingdoms, murder and Betrayal and sorrow follow the
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  Speaker 2: greatness of a united kingdom. David, God's anointed, will inherit
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  Speaker 2: a kingdom riddled with imperfection and in desperate need of
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  Speaker 2: God's guidance, inspired by the book of 2 Samuel.
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  Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible
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  Speaker 3: in a Year podcast. But before we begin, I want
• 2:50
  Speaker 3: to let you know about a unique e-book that's yours
• 2:53
  Speaker 3: to download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress.
• 2:59
  Speaker 3: And my prayer is that it will help you conquer
• 3:01
  Speaker 3: the daily tasks and pressures and burdens that bring stress
• 3:04
  Speaker 3: in your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free
• 3:08
  Speaker 3: from Stress today by visiting jackgram.org slash stress. That's jackgram.org
• 3:15
  Speaker 3: slash stress. Yesterday, we heard how David ascended to the
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  Speaker 3: throne of Judah, but Ish-bosheth was crowned king of Israel.
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  Speaker 3: The nation was divided and fighting within itself. It was
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  Speaker 3: a civil war. We heard the story of Joab and
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  Speaker 3: Abner as the armies of Israel and Judah clashed and
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  Speaker 3: many died, but Joab's mercy spared many more. Today, we'll
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  Speaker 3: hear how the conflict between the two sides is far
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  Speaker 3: from over, as are the problems of Israel. It is
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  Speaker 3: a story of jealousy, betrayal, shifting loyalties, and ultimately a
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  Speaker 3: kingdom that is in desperate need of a godly leader.
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  Speaker 3: and desperately in need of God himself. So let's listen
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  Speaker 3: to God's word today.
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  Speaker 2: The spite of King Saul lived on through Ish-bosheth and
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  Speaker 2: the armies of Israel. Day after day, there was conflict
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  Speaker 2: between the sibling nations and heartache scarred the people for
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  Speaker 2: over two years. King David grew stronger through the conflict.
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  Speaker 2: His love for the whole nation of Israel and Judah
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  Speaker 2: informed every tactical decision he made. David was wise, tactful,
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  Speaker 2: and merciful as he planned, yet he was ruthless on
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  Speaker 2: the battlefield. His men followed him passionately, and Israel's strength
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  Speaker 2: began to wane. Abner was also finding a place for
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  Speaker 2: himself among the armies of Israel. Ish-bosheth was a weak leader,
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  Speaker 2: and in need of Abner's guidance continually. Abner loved Ish-bosheth
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  Speaker 2: as he loved Saul, yet above all, he loved Israel
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  Speaker 2: and wanted it to flourish. Between the battle and hardship,
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  Speaker 2: Abner found comfort in the company of Saul's concubine, Rizpah.
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  Speaker 2: Together they made love, ate, and took walks among the city.
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  Speaker 2: The two of them fell in love, and this was
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  Speaker 2: truly disturbing to Ish-bosheth. One day, he stormed into Abner's
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  Speaker 2: quarters and yelled, Why would you mingle with my dead
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  Speaker 2: father's concubine? I forbid it! Abner looked at Ish-bosheth with rage.
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  Speaker 2: He did not try and hide his anger. Abner flipped
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  Speaker 2: the table in between them and pointed to Ish-bosheth. Do
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  Speaker 2: you treat me like a dog? Abner yelled. I have
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  Speaker 2: shown you, the house of Saul, and all of Israel
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  Speaker 2: nothing but love and faithfulness. I show honor to you,
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  Speaker 2: your uncles, and all of Saul's allies. Now you storm
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  Speaker 2: into my house and charge me because of a woman?
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  Speaker 2: Abner stormed closer to Ish-bosheth. Ish-bosheth stood still, fearing Abner
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  Speaker 2: would do something to him. Abner leaned in and whispered
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  Speaker 2: in his ear, saying, Mark my words. I will establish
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  Speaker 2: the kingdom of David here in Israel. The nation will
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  Speaker 2: be united under him, and you will dwindle into nothingness.
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  Speaker 2: And just like that, Abner left the room. Ish-bosheth stood still,
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  Speaker 2: unable to answer Abner, for he was a weak man
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  Speaker 2: and a coward. Abner gathered a few of his men
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  Speaker 2: and sent them out to David. They rode through the night,
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  Speaker 2: hoping to find David before another battle began. Abner's message
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  Speaker 2: to David was, Who does this land belong to? Make
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  Speaker 2: a covenant with me, and my sword will be yours.
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  Speaker 2: Together we will unite Israel and Judah. As his men
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  Speaker 2: were riding, Abner wasted no time. He gathered a few
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  Speaker 2: of the elders of Israel and spoke to them plainly.
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  Speaker 2: He knew that many of them doubted Ish-bosheth and would
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  Speaker 2: gladly welcome a stronger king worthy of their loyalty. Together
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  Speaker 2: they conspired to leave Ish-bosheth and bind themselves to King
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  Speaker 2: David for the good of Israel. Already a nation was
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  Speaker 2: beginning to form in the shadows. Abner ventured to Hebron
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  Speaker 2: to meet with David with twenty men behind him. They
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  Speaker 2: entered into the city to find it bustling with activity.
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  Speaker 2: The smell of freshly baked bread and cooked meat filled
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  Speaker 2: the air, and men and women exchanged goods in the marketplace.
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  Speaker 2: They felt safe and secure, with no worries of future
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  Speaker 2: raids or ambushes from Israel or the Philistines. Abner could
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  Speaker 2: not help but regret the months spent serving Ish-bosheth, for
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  Speaker 2: David had truly led Judah into a period of cultural
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  Speaker 2: and economic thriving. David was standing at the entrance of
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  Speaker 2: his home to greet Abner. They embraced as old friends.
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  Speaker 2: Abner was a young man when David defeated Goliath and
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  Speaker 2: joined the armies of Israel. The two had grown close
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  Speaker 2: in battle years ago. Now they stood as friends, ready
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  Speaker 2: to make amends and build alliances. David hosted a great
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  Speaker 2: feast for Abner and his men, and all of them
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  Speaker 2: laughed into the night and rejoiced in one another's company.
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  Speaker 2: After this, Abner was sent away in peace. The two
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  Speaker 2: of them would reconvene at another time. Shortly after, Joab
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  Speaker 2: returned with his men from a raid. Spoils of war
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  Speaker 2: were carried in on carriages. and all the people of
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  Speaker 2: Hebron marveled at Joab and his men. David embraced Joab,
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  Speaker 2: happy to see him back healthy and unharmed. Joab sat
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  Speaker 2: at David's hall to eat, and one of the servants
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  Speaker 2: mentioned to him that Abner had just left. Joab's eyes widened,
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  Speaker 2: and he stood up from his chair and looked at David.
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  Speaker 2: Joab's eyes were foggy, and it seemed like he was
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  Speaker 2: holding back tears. Abner came to you? Joab asked David.
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  Speaker 2: David nodded matter-of-factly. That man killed my brother. He has
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  Speaker 2: come to deceive you. He wants to know where you
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  Speaker 2: dwell and what your weaknesses are. He does not care
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  Speaker 2: about you. David's resolve to partner with Abner did not relent.
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  Speaker 2: He knew that Abner was the key to uniting the kingdoms. However,
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  Speaker 2: Joab seeped with rage. Frantic, hurt, and weary from battle,
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  Speaker 2: Joab stormed out of David's presence. The night fell upon
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  Speaker 2: all the land of Judah and Israel. Abner had just
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  Speaker 2: settled into his home when a messenger came to him.
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  Speaker 2: The message said that Abner needed to return to Hebron
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  Speaker 2: immediately and meet David at the gates. Abner wasted no
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  Speaker 2: time and took his horse to Hebron without his men.
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  Speaker 2: Abner rode fast, for the message seemed urgent.' Is David
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  Speaker 2: in danger? Am I in danger?' Abner thought to himself.
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  Speaker 2: It did not take long for Abner to arrive at
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  Speaker 2: the gates of Hebron. He dismounted his horse and looked
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  Speaker 2: around for David. He peeked his head over some shrubs
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  Speaker 2: and around some trees. Still no sign of David. Abner
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  Speaker 2: looked behind him to see a hooded figure ten yards away. Ah,
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  Speaker 2: my king, Abner said. He came in close to speak
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  Speaker 2: with him. Before Abner could make another sound, a blade
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  Speaker 2: was driven into his ribs. Abner gasped as blood spat
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  Speaker 2: out of his mouth. He fell to his knees, holding
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  Speaker 2: the blade in his abdomen. He looked up to see
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  Speaker 2: a face under the hood, illuminated by the moonlight. It
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  Speaker 2: was Joab standing over him. watching the life slowly leave
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  Speaker 2: his eyes. Abner fell to the floor and bled out
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  Speaker 2: in front of Joab. Dawn emerged from the valley, and
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  Speaker 2: the sun shone on Abner's lifeless body. David stood over it,
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  Speaker 2: knowing exactly who was to blame. He had his men
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  Speaker 2: capture Joab and bring him. Joab knelt before David with
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  Speaker 2: spears pointed towards him. This was David's first betrayal as king.
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  Speaker 2: How he handled Joab would set a precedent for all
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  Speaker 2: other acts of disobedience in the future. David closed his
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  Speaker 2: eyes and prayed a silent prayer. He then opened his
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  Speaker 2: eyes and looked at Joab. My hands and the hands
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  Speaker 2: of Judah are clean from this blood. You and you
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  Speaker 2: alone are to blame for Abner's death. I know in
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  Speaker 2: my heart God will deal with you more harshly than
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  Speaker 2: I ever could. Your family will be cut off from
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  Speaker 2: my favor and God's. There will be defeat in battle,
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  Speaker 2: disease and misfortune to plague you and your children and
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  Speaker 2: your children's children. And like that, David allowed Joab to
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  Speaker 2: go his way. David wept over Abner, for he represented
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  Speaker 2: a past bond to Saul and Jonathan. He would have
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  Speaker 2: to find another way to unite the kingdoms. The next day,
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  Speaker 2: Ish-bosheth was laying in his bed taking a nap. What
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  Speaker 2: little courage he had vanished at the news of Abner's death.
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  Speaker 2: Now he awaited his inevitable demise. Unbeknownst to Ish-Bosheth, that
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  Speaker 2: demise would come sooner than expected. Ish-Bosheth napped during the
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  Speaker 2: day as the warm breeze trickled in through his window. Slowly,
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  Speaker 2: three of Ish-Bosheth's men entered into his room. Raman, Rechab,
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  Speaker 2: and Banah creeped near to his bed, doing their best
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  Speaker 2: to remain quiet. Raman lifted his blade and drove it
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  Speaker 2: into Ish-Bosheth's side. As his eyes opened at the pain,
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  Speaker 2: Rechab swung his axe down and chopped off his head.
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  Speaker 2: Later that day, the three men sauntered into Hebron with
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  Speaker 2: their heads held high. They could not wait to show
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  Speaker 2: David what they had done. They smiled cheek to cheek,
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  Speaker 2: eyes beaming with the thought of possible reward and status.
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  Speaker 2: They entered into David's throne room and laid their head
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  Speaker 2: out on the table before David. Rechab grinned and presented
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  Speaker 2: the head of Ish-bosheth. Behold, my king, the Lord has
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  Speaker 2: avenged you today. Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the
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  Speaker 2: king that sought your life. David stood up from his
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  Speaker 2: seat and observed the head. The men could not contain
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  Speaker 2: their excitement. David walked around them and said, Let me
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  Speaker 2: tell you a story. The room grew tense for a
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  Speaker 2: moment as David spoke. A man once came to me
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  Speaker 2: and told me that he was the one who killed Saul. Behold,
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  Speaker 2: Saul is dead, he shouted. He expected me to reward him.
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  Speaker 2: He expected riches, favor, and a hug. He received no
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  Speaker 2: such thing. I slaughtered him right where he stood. The
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  Speaker 2: men began to sweat as they listened to David's voice
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  Speaker 2: grow loud. Tell me, how should I treat the men
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  Speaker 2: who murder their innocent king in his bed? Before they
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  Speaker 2: could answer the question, David and his men struck them
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  Speaker 2: down and cut off their heads and feet. David desired
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  Speaker 2: his kingdom to be united through mercy, diplomacy, and worship,
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  Speaker 2: not assassination. Shortly after, the elders of Israel came to David.
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  Speaker 2: They crowned him king over all Israel, and the two
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  Speaker 2: split nations were united once again. David was thirty years
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  Speaker 2: old now and felt as though he had lived an
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  Speaker 2: entire lifetime. After slaying giants, fighting the Philistines, fleeing from
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  Speaker 2: Saul and navigating a civil war, David had finally taken
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  Speaker 2: the mantle as shepherd over God's sheep. Many acts of
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  Speaker 2: faith and failure would follow David. Yet one thing would remain,
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  Speaker 2: his desire to know God and unite himself to his
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  Speaker 2: will forever.
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  Speaker 3: Today's story begins with Ish-bosheth still ruling over Israel. There
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  Speaker 3: was constant conflict between the two kingdoms, a civil war.
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  Speaker 3: David flourished along with Judah while Israel floundered under a
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  Speaker 3: weak and unwise king. Abner was still advisor to Ish-bosheth,
• 14:46
  Speaker 3: seeking to help Israel grow strong. But when Ish-bosheth confronted
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  Speaker 3: Abner for his romantic involvement with one of Saul's concubines,
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  Speaker 3: Abner was deeply offended and angered. After all that he
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  Speaker 3: had done for the king and for Israel, it seemed
• 15:00
  Speaker 3: so petty to him. And just like that, his loyalty turns.
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  Speaker 3: This man wanted what was best for Israel, and he
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  Speaker 3: realized Ish-bosheth wasn't the best for Israel. He vowed that
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  Speaker 3: he would help to bring about a unified Israel under David,
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  Speaker 3: as this was the will of God. So Abner sent
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  Speaker 3: word to David that he would join forces with him
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  Speaker 3: in order to unify Israel. To unify Israel under his rule,
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  Speaker 3: the rule of David, and so then he gathered the
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  Speaker 3: Israelite elders and reminded them of their desire to have
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  Speaker 3: David as king. This is what he said to them
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  Speaker 3: in 2 Samuel. Now then, bring it about, for the
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  Speaker 3: Lord has promised David, saying, By the hand of my
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  Speaker 3: servant David I will save my people Israel from the
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  Speaker 3: hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all
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  Speaker 3: their enemies. Abner knew the truth, that David was the
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  Speaker 3: chosen man to be king of Israel. It would be
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  Speaker 3: through him, David, that God would deliver his people. Abner
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  Speaker 3: knew that it was far better to be on the
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  Speaker 3: side of God's will rather than resist or to fight
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  Speaker 3: against it. When he reunites with David, it is like
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  Speaker 3: a meeting of long-lost friends. David embraced and accepted him.
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  Speaker 3: David could have been bitter and angry about Abner's allegiance
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  Speaker 3: to Abisheth, but instead he threw a feast for Abner
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  Speaker 3: and sent him away in peace, resolved to work with
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  Speaker 3: Abner to unify Israel. When David's commander, Joab, found out
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  Speaker 3: that the man who killed his brother had been received
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  Speaker 3: with open arms, he was not as understanding. He told
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  Speaker 3: David that Abner surely had evil motives and could not
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  Speaker 3: be trusted, but David was unwavering. Joab went away angry,
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  Speaker 3: and the mercy he showed on the battlefield gave way
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  Speaker 3: to hatred and murderous intent. When we are bitter and angry,
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  Speaker 3: it always finds a way to express itself, and often
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  Speaker 3: with disastrous consequences. So he tricked Abner into thinking David
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  Speaker 3: had called for him and under the cover of night,
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  Speaker 3: he murdered Abner in cold blood. David, of course, knew
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  Speaker 3: who had committed this crime and had Joab brought to him.
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  Speaker 3: Once more, we see David's mercy on display. Rather than
• 17:17
  Speaker 3: kill Joab, David sent him away, vowing that God would
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  Speaker 3: deal with Joab himself. But although Abner was gone, Ish-bosheth
• 17:26
  Speaker 3: was still not safe on the throne, and one night
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  Speaker 3: three of his men snuck into his room and took
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  Speaker 3: off his head, then traveled to Hebron to deliver it
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  Speaker 3: to David. Surely they were expecting a reward, but what
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  Speaker 3: they received was the same fate as Ish-bosheth. David was
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  Speaker 3: not interested in a hostile, violent takeover. He knew that
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  Speaker 3: peace and unity would not be achieved through the sword.
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  Speaker 3: He himself was setting the example for his people. And
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  Speaker 3: so when the elders of Israel finally came and crowned
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  Speaker 3: David king over all of Israel, both Israel and Judah,
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  Speaker 3: the stage was set for a different kind of rule,
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  Speaker 3: one that was marked by the God of Israel and
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  Speaker 3: those who sought after him. We'll hear more of this
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  Speaker 3: story the next time as the shepherd of God's people, David,
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  Speaker 3: leads Israel. Dear God, we thank you for your word today,
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  Speaker 3: always teaching us your truth. May we live in obedience
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  Speaker 3: to your word every day. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank
• 18:28
  Speaker 3: you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
• 18:32
  Speaker 3: Before we go, I want to let you know about
• 18:34
  Speaker 3: a unique e-book that's yours to download absolutely free today.
• 18:39
  Speaker 3: It's called Breaking Free from Stress. And my prayer is
• 18:43
  Speaker 3: that it will help you conquer the daily tasks and
• 18:45
  Speaker 3: pressures and burdens that bring stress into your life. Download
• 18:49
  Speaker 3: your free copy of Breaking Free from Stress today by
• 18:53
  Speaker 3: visiting jackgram.org slash stress. That's jackgram.org slash stress.