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David Righting Wrongs · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do
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  Speaker 1: for you? And wherewith shall I make the atonement, that
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  Speaker 1: ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord? 2 Samuel
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  Speaker 1: 21.3 Today, Lord, I thank you that you are the
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  Speaker 1: God of the encore. Through 2 Samuel 21, I see
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  Speaker 1: again and again your faithfulness to protect King David, because
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  Speaker 1: he continually seeks to do what is right. With this
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  Speaker 1: same spirit and mindset, I will live a life dedicated
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  Speaker 1: to making sure that I do what is right. And
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  Speaker 1: if possible, I will live at peace with all people.
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  Speaker 1: When I have the ability to do a wrong, Lord,
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  Speaker 1: give me the insight and resources to make sure that
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  Speaker 1: restitution is felt and received. If I've wronged anyone in
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  Speaker 1: my past, Lord, give me the ability to make it right.
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  Speaker 1: because I know that when there is drought in my life,
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  Speaker 1: the correction of a past wrongdoing can open the door
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  Speaker 1: to my greatest harvest season, like David and the children
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  Speaker 1: of Israel. Thank you, Lord, for second chances and for
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  Speaker 1: allowing me to reconcile my past with my future. In Jesus' name, amen.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you for making prayer a priority in your day.
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  Speaker 1: To learn more about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story.
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  Speaker 1: Brought to you by BibleInAYear.com.
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  Speaker 2: David Writing Wrongs In our last story, we saw the
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  Speaker 2: end of Sheba's rebellion. Sheba had spread lies all throughout
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  Speaker 2: Israel about David's character. Eventually, the people began to see
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  Speaker 2: his evil for what it was and helped Joab take
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  Speaker 2: off his head. In this story, we learn about David's
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  Speaker 2: leadership through a time of hardship and continued struggle with
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  Speaker 2: other nations. David, even as he advances in years, perseveres
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  Speaker 2: through the chaos of kingship, inspired by 2 Samuel.
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  Speaker 3: I'm so glad you joined us on the Bible in
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  Speaker 3: a Year podcast today. But before we get to today's episode,
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  Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would absolutely love
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  Speaker 3: to send you my daily devotional that will give you
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  Speaker 3: fresh encouragement every single morning and day. From the moment
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  Speaker 3: we wake up to the moment our head finally hits
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  Speaker 3: the pillow, there are thousands of things demanding our attention.
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  Speaker 3: But it's in the midst of all this crush and
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  Speaker 3: hustle and bustle that you and I need peace and
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  Speaker 3: truth in God's word. That's why I want to help
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  Speaker 3: you spend time each day growing in God's life-giving, life-changing
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  Speaker 3: Word by sending you my free daily email devotional, PowerPoint Today.
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  Speaker 3: So visit jackgram.org to sign up for your PowerPoint Today devotional.
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  Speaker 3: That's jackgram.org, jackgram.org. In yesterday's passage, we learned how Sheba's
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  Speaker 3: insurrection was quickly snuffed out when the people saw through
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  Speaker 3: his lies and killed him. preventing a bloody battle with
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  Speaker 3: David's army. Today, we'll turn our attention back to Jerusalem,
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  Speaker 3: where King David, now advancing in years, continues to rule
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  Speaker 3: through hard times, both internally and in conflict with neighboring nations.
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  Speaker 3: We'll see the perseverance of a king who continually seeks
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  Speaker 3: God's will and the best for his people. Let's listen
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  Speaker 3: now to today's scripture.
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  Speaker 2: David walked the city streets with his head held low.
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  Speaker 2: He felt his heart sinking deeper and deeper into his chest.
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  Speaker 2: He could hardly watch his people hungry. He felt helpless.
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  Speaker 2: As with many countries, Israel had experienced a famine in
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  Speaker 2: the land for over three years. Their reserves had run
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  Speaker 2: dry sooner than anticipated, and now many children were forced
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  Speaker 2: to beg on the streets. David did all he could
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  Speaker 2: to help, but there was still scarcity. He fell before
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  Speaker 2: the Lord and listened. He wanted anything to help. Instead
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  Speaker 2: of a plan to restore the reserves of Israel or
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  Speaker 2: change the irrigation for farming, God gave David a different command.
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  Speaker 2: Go and care for the Gibbonites. Saul and his family
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  Speaker 2: were guilty of murdering their families without cause. David was
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  Speaker 2: confused at the Lord's request. How could he show generosity
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  Speaker 2: to a people group when his people were in so
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  Speaker 2: much need? Nevertheless, he summoned the leaders of the Gibbonites.
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  Speaker 2: The Gibbonites were not a part of Israel. However, Joshua
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  Speaker 2: had made a covenant with them to protect and care
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  Speaker 2: for them. This promise was broken by Saul, and he
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  Speaker 2: treated them like animals. David brought the Gibeonites into his
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  Speaker 2: home and had them sit. He offered them what little
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  Speaker 2: food he had, since times were hard and food was
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  Speaker 2: scarce even for the king. David sat down and looked
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  Speaker 2: at them compassionately. How can I make amends for what
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  Speaker 2: Saul did to your people years ago? The question surprised
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  Speaker 2: the Gibeonites. They had lived as victims of Israel for
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  Speaker 2: so many years that David's generosity seemed out of place.
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  Speaker 2: Still angry, yet pleased with David's heart, they said, No
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  Speaker 2: amount of money or resources could repair our broken people.
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  Speaker 2: We are down to a few families with almost no
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  Speaker 2: hope of restoration. His words hurt David's heart. He clenched
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  Speaker 2: his fist, angry at Saul's past cruelty. What can I
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  Speaker 2: do then? David asked with his hands open. Just tell
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  Speaker 2: me what would ease your hearts and I will do it.
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  Speaker 2: The men paused for a moment and whispered amongst themselves.
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  Speaker 2: They looked at David and said, Saul was the one
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  Speaker 2: who tried to destroy us. He took away our territory
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  Speaker 2: in Israel, killed our family and sent us into hiding.
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  Speaker 2: Give us his remaining sons so that we may execute
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  Speaker 2: them for their father's crimes. As harsh as this deal
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  Speaker 2: might have seemed, it was customary and reasonable in the land.
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  Speaker 2: David agreed. but did not allow them to have Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth.
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  Speaker 2: Jonathan was his dear friend, and like a brother, he
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  Speaker 2: would not allow his only son to be harmed. With
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  Speaker 2: a heavy heart, David gave the rest of Saul's sons
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  Speaker 2: and grandchildren up to the Gibbonites. On a mountain overlooking
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  Speaker 2: the desolate land where the Gibbonites once.
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  Speaker 3: Lived, they slew the brothers.
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  Speaker 2: Shortly after, the famine in the land subsided. The ground
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  Speaker 2: became fertile once again as the rains came rushing in
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  Speaker 2: through the west. BARLEY AND WHEAT BEGAN TO SPROUT AND
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  Speaker 2: THE FISH RETURNED TO THE SHORES OF JORDAN. DAVID WONDERED
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  Speaker 2: ABOUT THE GIBBONITES. HOW RECONCILING A PAST EVIL WOULD BRING
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  Speaker 2: PROSPERITY BACK TO ISRAEL, HE DID NOT KNOW. HE HELD
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  Speaker 2: THESE THINGS IN HIS HEART AND TRUSTED GOD AND HIS GOODNESS.
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  Speaker 2: THE ENTIRE LAND SURROUNDING ISRAEL WAS BLIGHTED AND HARDENED FROM
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  Speaker 2: YEARS OF FAMINE. OTHER NATIONS WATCHED AS ISRAEL BEGAN TO
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  Speaker 2: RECOVER QUICKER THAN THE OTHERS. The prosperity of Israel drew
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  Speaker 2: the Philistines in like moths to a flame. They wanted
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  Speaker 2: their food, resources, and land. A hungry horde of Philistines
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  Speaker 2: arose from the east, and soon David was faced with
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  Speaker 2: yet another war. He assembled his mighty men, now grizzled
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  Speaker 2: veterans of battle. His mighty men had sons now, able
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  Speaker 2: to fight, and the armies of Israel were stronger, younger,
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  Speaker 2: and more agile than ever. However, David was growing old,
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  Speaker 2: His stamina was not what it once was, yet this
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  Speaker 2: did not deter him from putting on his armor and
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  Speaker 2: sharpening his sword. With his head held high, he led
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  Speaker 2: his men into the valley between Israel and the Philistines.
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  Speaker 2: With his sword held high, David ran into battle in
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  Speaker 2: front of his men. Although this time his men passed him,
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  Speaker 2: leaping into battle before him, David still fought with passion, skill,
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  Speaker 2: and speed. He delivered blows to every Philistine in his wake. However,
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  Speaker 2: with each kill, he lost more and more of his energy. Slowly,
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  Speaker 2: David's strength began to wane, and his lungs began to
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  Speaker 2: heave for air. In the distance, David could see a
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  Speaker 2: giant man hurling Israelite soldiers into the air. It was
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  Speaker 2: Ishbi Ibn Ab, the Philistine giant. His spear weighed over
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  Speaker 2: seven pounds, but he wielded it like a small blade.
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  Speaker 2: His sword was new, sharpened and sliced through his men
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  Speaker 2: as if they were warm butter. David began to have
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  Speaker 2: flashbacks of Goliath. He remembered his strong legs and hulking frame.
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  Speaker 2: Ish-bai-e-binob would feel the same wrath. David began to run
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  Speaker 2: towards him. His legs were heavy and his arms were
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  Speaker 2: growing numb, but he had to protect his men. David
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  Speaker 2: rose his sword in the air to strike Ish-bai, but
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  Speaker 2: was swatted away like a bug. David flew through the
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  Speaker 2: air and landed on his back. The air left his
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  Speaker 2: lungs and the sides of his vision grew dark. David
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  Speaker 2: looked up to find his sword, but only saw Ishbi
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  Speaker 2: looming over him. He cast a large shadow over David
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  Speaker 2: as he rose his spear in the air to strike
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  Speaker 2: him down. David looked up, knowing he could do nothing
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  Speaker 2: to save himself. This is where I die, David thought.
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  Speaker 2: As Ishbi's spear began its descent, a sword burst through
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  Speaker 2: the front of his chest. Ishbi's blood sprayed across David's face.
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  Speaker 2: Ishbi cried out and fell towards David. David rolled to
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  Speaker 2: his side, just dodging the Philistine's massive body crashing to
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  Speaker 2: the floor. The earth shook. Standing over David and Ishbi
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  Speaker 2: stood Abishai. He grabbed the hilt of his sword and
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  Speaker 2: pulled it out of the giant's corpse. Abishai grabbed David
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  Speaker 2: and helped him to his feet. You are no longer
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  Speaker 2: coming out to battle with us, Abishai said. We cannot
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  Speaker 2: risk the light of Israel being snuffed out. A few
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  Speaker 2: days of battle had passed, and more giants had risen
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  Speaker 2: from Gath. David's men were fighting in the Valley of Job,
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  Speaker 2: and a giant named Saph arose. His biceps were as
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  Speaker 2: strong as iron, and his hands could wrap around a
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  Speaker 2: man's head. He was slain in a fiery duel by Sibachai.
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  Speaker 2: Soon the brother of Goliath rose into battle, demolishing several
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  Speaker 2: men in his sight. His spear pierced through several men
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  Speaker 2: at once, and many men trembled at the sight of him.
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  Speaker 2: A brave young man from Bethlehem, by the name of Elhanan,
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  Speaker 2: ran into battle against him. He killed him with his spear.
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  Speaker 2: Another great Philistine with six fingers and toes on each
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  Speaker 2: limb was also fighting, but was killed in battle by
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  Speaker 2: David's nephew, Jonathan. David watched, amazed, as these brave young
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  Speaker 2: men of Israel rose up to slay giants. At one
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  Speaker 2: point in time, he was the only young man brave
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  Speaker 2: enough to face a giant. Now there were hundreds of
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  Speaker 2: men willing to lay down their lives for the sake
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  Speaker 2: of God's flock. God had raised up a whole nation
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  Speaker 2: of young warriors through the leadership of David. His loving
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  Speaker 2: and courageous guidance inspired an entire generation of people willing
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  Speaker 2: to slay giants for the protection of their families. This
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  Speaker 2: is what God did with David's slings and stones. He
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  Speaker 2: restored a cowardly generation of past slaves into a nation
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  Speaker 2: of brave and noble shepherds.
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  Speaker 3: We begin today's passage with a famine that is plaguing
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  Speaker 3: the land of Israel. Not only in Israel, but all
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  Speaker 3: the nations around. David's heart is grieving. It is heavy.
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  Speaker 3: He is hurting for his people who are suffering under
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  Speaker 3: the weight of such scarcity. And like he's done so
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  Speaker 3: many times in the past, David seeks God and seeks
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  Speaker 3: God's counsel. He is wanting to hear guidance on how
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  Speaker 3: to serve and save his people. What he gets is
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  Speaker 3: something else entirely. We find the answer in 2 Samuel
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  Speaker 3: 21 and verse 1. And the Lord said, There is
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  Speaker 3: blood guilt on Saul and on his house, because he
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  Speaker 3: put the Gibeonites to death. Saul had broken a centuries-old
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  Speaker 3: vow made to Joshua to protect the Gibeonites. He had
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  Speaker 3: attempted to wipe them out, and for his betrayal there
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  Speaker 3: had to be a consequence. So when David asked God
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  Speaker 3: how to deal with the famine, and the answer was
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  Speaker 3: a charge of blood guilt, David knew that as king
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  Speaker 3: of Israel he must make restitution to the Gibeonites. Interesting,
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  Speaker 3: isn't it? We sometimes deal with the consequences of the
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  Speaker 3: sins of others. There may even be sins of our
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  Speaker 3: fathers and mothers that affect us generations later, and God
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  Speaker 3: may call on us as the agent of reconciliation who,
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  Speaker 3: like David, are charged with righting a wrong we had
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  Speaker 3: no part in. So David calls the Gibeonites to him
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  Speaker 3: and asks how he can make it right. The Gibeonite
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  Speaker 3: elders tell him there is no monetary payment that can
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  Speaker 3: make it right, but neither do they seek revenge on Israel. Instead,
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  Speaker 3: they ask David to hand over Saul's sons so they
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  Speaker 3: may avenge the wrong done by his family by killing
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  Speaker 3: his sons. Harsh as this might sound, and it is harsh,
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  Speaker 3: it was a much less bloody option than the feuding
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  Speaker 3: and fighting that often went on these days as a
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  Speaker 3: result of grudges and conflicts between nations and families. So
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  Speaker 3: David agreed, but he spared Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, keeping the
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  Speaker 3: promise to his dear friend Jonathan to protect his family.
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  Speaker 3: With the sin of Saul properly punished, the famine began
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  Speaker 3: to fade, and Israel recovered more quickly than other nations.
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  Speaker 3: God prospered his own people because of David's faithfulness. Their
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  Speaker 3: prosperity could not go unnoticed, and soon other nations, especially
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  Speaker 3: the Philistines, began to want what Israel had. And so,
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  Speaker 3: once again, it was time for war. Israel's army was
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  Speaker 3: very strong, however, and prepared to defend themselves. King David,
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  Speaker 3: now old, prepared to join them in the battle. Surely
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  Speaker 3: he remembered the sorrow he had brought upon himself and
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  Speaker 3: the nation the last time he set out a fight
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  Speaker 3: and sinned with Bathsheba. But although he was still a
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  Speaker 3: strong man, it soon became clear that he did not
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  Speaker 3: need to join the fight. It would be a foolish
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  Speaker 3: act to expose the king to death when so many
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  Speaker 3: able soldiers stood ready to defend God's nation. David's legacy
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  Speaker 3: of courage and strength lived on in the generations that
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  Speaker 3: were coming. The king who continually sought God's favor and
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  Speaker 3: experienced God's face and faithfulness in his life had built
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  Speaker 3: a nation that would show God's glory to the world.
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  Speaker 3: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the example of David.
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  Speaker 3: the man you described as after your heart, the one
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  Speaker 3: who always sought you for strength and courage and instructions
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  Speaker 3: and guidance in life. Let us be like David, men
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  Speaker 3: and women who seek you, who know you, and then
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  Speaker 3: who are courageous and committed in all that you desire
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  Speaker 3: for us to do, that we serve you, that we
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  Speaker 3: fight the good fight of faith, eager to make your
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  Speaker 3: name known in all the earth. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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  Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
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  Speaker 3: I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. And before we go,
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  Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would love to
• 15:39
  Speaker 3: send you my daily devotional to give you fresh encouragement
• 15:43
  Speaker 3: every single day. So visit jackgram.org to sign up for
• 15:47
  Speaker 3: your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's jackgram.org.