June 13, 2025 • 40 mins
Chapter 09 of Heroes in the Bible: David with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by 1 Samuel 21.
David the Madman - David’s exile out of Israel forces him to seek refuge in some precarious places. Is David beginning to lose his mind or simply trying to trick people into helping him?
Today's opening prayer is inspired by John 14:16, I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, this is doctor Tony Evans and I'm excited for
you to join me on this series. Please be sure
to follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify so you
get the newest episodes right as they come out. Welcome
to the Epic Adventure of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
(00:21):
and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,
if you know about David the Man, this episode begins
a new chapter of David's life, the Wilderness. This episode
is going to be a challenge to listen to. David
is going to compromise in ways unbecoming of God's chosen hero.
He will show signs of moral decline and sin, making
(00:42):
us question his calling. There's a philosophical quandary presented in
this episode. Do lines between good and bad become blurred
under certain circumstances or does everything remain black and white.
David is going to be driven to do things he
would not otherwise do, but harsh circumstances seem to force
his hand. Pay close attention to David's inner dialogue during
(01:06):
this episode. He's going to wrestle with his own conscience
and rely on the grace of God. Ultimately, it is
good for us to see David's weaknesses. Seeing him this
way will remind us that he is not perfect, and
we shouldn't expect him to be. The prelude of this
episode gives us a reminder that the ultimate hero of
(01:26):
this story isn't David at all, but God. Jesus was
able to overcome where other men had failed, He alone
should be the one we look to for hope. David's
story becomes more complicated from this point forward. It's no
longer just a battle of good versus evil. David will
have to battle with his own competing desires and instincts.
(01:47):
His confusion and compromise should be familiar to us. Sometimes
we face situations that don't have a clear right way out.
What do we do when there seems to be a
million wrong decisions and no clear right one. Let's see
how David handles this question in episode nine, David the Madman.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Prelude to chapter nine. For forty days, Jesus had gone
without food. His body was beginning to eat away at itself,
and his mind was experiencing the dull effects of starvation.
The weakness of humanity was felt in full force by Jesus.
His body trembled, longing for any form of sustenance. It
(02:34):
was in this moment a slithering presence emerged from the darkness.
He slid his way behind Jesus and whispered in his ear.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Look, it is the sun of God, shaking like a
starving animal.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Satan hissed. His voice was quiet and sharp, like the
silent sting of a scorpion.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
If you truly, Oh, the Son of God, why not
just command these stones become bread? Shula, the creator himself
deserves some food.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
This was the first temptation the lust of the flesh,
a tactic that worked for Adam and Eve. Once in
the garden, Jesus's body ached from hunger. The pain was
nearly unbearable. He considered for a moment what a small
piece of bread would do. Yet Jesus came to identify
with the weakness of mankind. If he simply turned the
(03:34):
stones into bread, he would take advantage of the power
God gave him. Besides, he did not need bread. The
comfort of the Father was enough. Jesus, not looking behind him,
replied with scripture, saying.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
It is written man does not live by bread alone,
but by the very words uttered from God himself.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
It was difficult for Jesus to speak. He had a
fever from the hunger, and the chills caused him to shiver. Satan,
still behind Jesus, scowled. In an instant, he took Jesus
up in a vision. The two of them stood overlooking
the earth. Satan showed Jesus the nations of the world, gold,
silver and jewels, armies, thrones and monuments. You see all
(04:23):
of this, Satan hissed.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
These king comes apike. They have been taken by me
and a mind to give all this power, all this glory,
only yours.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Satan leaned in closer to Jesus.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Look, Son of God, look at all that could be
yours to rule. All you must do is worship me.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
This was the second temptation, the lust for power. That
temptation eve once fell ford when Satan promised she would
be like God. Jesus's weary eyes looked upon the nations.
Satan made an enticing offer to rule over his people
once again. Yet corruption was not the way to win
(05:14):
the hearts of man. Jesus closed his eyes and quoted
the scriptures once again, saying.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
It is written you shall worship the Lord your God,
him and him alone, you shall serve.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Satan scoffed and wrapped his cloak around Jesus. All of
a sudden, the two of them were standing over the
Temple of Jerusalem. They were at its highest point, overlooking
the people below. The wind howled as Jesus stood at
the very tip of the massive structure. Satan screamed through
the wind, pointing to the people below.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
They are all here waiting for you to show yourself,
be a spectacle and jump off. You and I both
know what the scripts say. They claimed that the Lord
will order his angels to protect you.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
This was the third Temptation, the Pride of Life. Jesus
looked down at the people coming in and out of
the temple. If they were to see a man flying
on the wings of angels over the Holy Temple, surely
they would worship him. Yet it would be no greater
than a circus act. Jesus knew that it was not
(06:29):
signs and wonders that would save mankind. He knew what
his true purpose was.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
You must not test the Lord your.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
God, Jesus answered silently. Satan sneered at Jesus, ready to
attempt him again, but before he could speak, Jesus turned around,
looking him in the eyes for the first time. Enough,
Jesus rebuked Satan jarred back. The two of them were
standing in the wilderness once again. The stars were settled
(06:59):
high in the sky, and the howling evening wind rolled
over the hills. Satan shrunk at the voice of Jesus.
They were not equals. Jesus alone held the power, so
Satan retreated back into the grass so he may sche
more about how to take the heart of man. Jesus
then departed to eat, recover, and pray. He had successfully
(07:22):
resisted the temptations of the enemy, temptations that had caused
humanity to stumble for thousands of generations. Jesus, even in
his most weakened state, was able to overcome it. This
would be a foreshadowing of things to come. Jesus, even
had his most afflicted, would overcome Chapter nine, David the Madman.
(07:51):
Rain descended from the heavens like arrows. Thunder rolled from
the west, ushering in bolts of lightning. The winds and
rain howled against David's face as he marched from Gibea
to Knob. He climbed up some jagged rocks, seeking refuge
from the storm and the cracks of the hills. Each
stone was slippery and loose. David found it difficult to
(08:12):
move forward without stumbling. He grabbed out a root planted
between two stones and pulled himself up. However, the root
quickly gave way, since the rains had made the dirt soft.
David fell down onto his back, losing his breath. He
lay there motionless, looking up at the cascading skies. David
(08:33):
slowly got up, groaning and holding his ribs. His muscles
were shaking from lack of food, and he had lost
almost all feeling in his hands and feet from the
cold rain. He peered through the rain to see an
overhang of two large stones, creating a small shelter. David
nestled in, bracing himself from the wind and rain. The
(08:55):
young shepherd brought his knees close to his chest and
buried his head in between his legs. All night, the
Champion of Israel, the Giant Slayer, wept in the bitter cold,
in the lonely darkness, while the heavens raged around him.
David sang a song of hope to the Lord.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
My refuge and my Fortress, my God in whom I trust,
he whispered. He smiled, leaning his head against the cold
stone slowly as he recited hymns to his beloved God,
David fell asleep. David awoke in the morning to a
(09:36):
breath taking sunrise lighting up the horizon. Splashes of orange
kissed the earth below. The air was fresh and crisp
after the rain, and the chill in the air left
David shaking. Two days had passed since David last eight.
Every town and village he passed by were filled with
Saul soldiers and spies. The king had ordered them to
(09:58):
scour the nation in search of David. They would not
rest until he was brought in chains back to the king.
As much as he longed to be back home with
his wife, Jonathan and the comforts of the palace, David
knew that there was no place for him there. As
long as Saul was on the throne. He could not
return to Bethlehem to see his family either. That would
(10:20):
be the first place Saul would look. David had to
remain on the outskirts of every town, village, and city
until he could plan his next steps. The first thing
on his mind was getting something to eat. His stomach
ached with the pangs of hunger, and he knew there
would be no surviving this exile without a sustainable source
of food. As David hiked along the narrow paths on
(10:43):
the hills outside Knob, he looked down to see the
temple of the priest Ahimelech. Smoke rose out of the chimney,
and David phantasized about a warm meal by the fire.
David humbled his way down the hill and the temple
came closer into view. There was a familiar sight to David.
He remembered going there to make sacrifices to the Lord
(11:05):
after his victory over Goliath. A Himelech was a kind
and gentle soul. However, David would have to tread cautiously.
He could not tell Ahimelech about what had happened. If
he did, he risked Saul knowing his location and the
lives of Ahimelech's priests. David composed himself and walked upright
(11:27):
to the temple. He had no weapons or pack. If
he was going to trick a Himelech into giving him food,
he had to be clever. David came to the door
and knocked. The old priest opened the door to see
the giant slayer soaking, wet and covered in filth. David
did not wait to be invited in. He could not
wait for a Himelech to consider what was happening. David
(11:50):
needed to be the one to set the pace of
the conversation.
Speaker 6 (11:53):
A Himelech, thank the Lord, you are here.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
David said frantically. He stumbled in and began to look
around as if he had misplaced something. The old priest
was confused and.
Speaker 7 (12:05):
Flustered, Young David, It is odd for me to see
you at this hour. Why are you here alone?
Speaker 6 (12:13):
I am on an urgent mission from the King, David Light.
He has charged me to tell no one of my
whereabouts except the band of soldiers that would be here
to aid me.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
David saw a basin of water and began to drink
from it. He wiped his mouth and smiled apologetically at
the priest.
Speaker 6 (12:29):
I am sorry to come so abruptly and unannounced to Himelech. However,
I had to leave immediately. Lives are in peril and
I haven't much time. That is why you see me
with no food, armor, or weapons here today.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
The old priest sat down and stroked his beard. A
Himelech was a kind and innocent man, concerned about the
holy sacrifices and devotion to God. He did not look
at David skeptically.
Speaker 7 (12:56):
How may I be of service to you and the king?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
He asked, innocently.
Speaker 6 (13:01):
What food do you have at hand? David asked, Five
loaves of bread should be enough to feed my men
and I. However, anything you have will be fine.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
The words burned as they left David's lips. He hated
lying in the presence of a man of God, but
his hunger was overpowering. If he told the priest the truth,
he would put him and everyone in the temple in danger.
Speaker 7 (13:28):
I have no bread to give you.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
A Himelecht said, holding out his palms.
Speaker 7 (13:33):
The boys who study her have retreated for the night.
The only bread we have is they.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
A Himelech paused and pondered for a moment. He held
up his finger and paced into the other room. David
grew nervous. His fingers twitched over the side of his leg.
His eyes darted to the torch hanging on the stone wall.
Perhaps I should just take the fire and run, David thought,
to himself. I cannot remain here for much longer. It
(14:01):
is only a matter of time before Saul's men catch
up to me. David walked up to the torch mounted
on the wall and wrapped his hand around it. Before
he could lift it from its place, a Himelech returned
with a large basket covered in cloth. The priest unwrapped
the basket to reveal twelve pieces of freshly baked bread,
still steaming from the wood oven. David's mouth watered at
(14:24):
the sight of it. His stomach growled. It took all
his power to knot pounce on the basket and devour
every morsel of bread. However, David composed himself and remained silent.
A Himelech gestured to the bread and said.
Speaker 7 (14:38):
All we have is the ceremonial showbread. To eat this
showbread is to eat in the Lord's house as a
friend and a guest enjoying his hospitality. It is a
great bond of friendship, and not a thing to eat casually.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
David's palms began to sweat. He knew that the showbread
was only to be eaten by priests. To eat such
bread would be breaking a levitical law. A Himelek offered
it because he knew that meeting the needs of weary
travelers was more important than ceremony to the Lord. However,
he did not know that David was lying. He was
(15:17):
ignorant that David was actually on the run from Saul
and afreight for his life.
Speaker 7 (15:22):
You and your soldiers may eat of this bread only
if you have kept yourselves from women. It is important
that you be ceremonially clean, or else I am disgraced
as a priest. Do you understand?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
David was weighing the cost of his actions. He prided
himself as a man of honor and integrity. However, the
pangs of hunger seemed to drown out his convictions. He
was weak. David reached for the basket and bowed his head.
Speaker 6 (15:51):
When I lead my men on any expedition, the men
are always kept from women. We do not pass by
the women of the city or indulge in any carnal desires.
We are not philistine dogs. We understand honor.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
David puffed up his chest, falling deeper and deeper into
his own self loathing.
Speaker 6 (16:13):
The young men who are on their way are holy.
They are worthy of this bread.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
A Himelech handed over the bread and smiled.
Speaker 7 (16:24):
May the Lord bless you and keep you young, David. Truly,
you and your men must be worthy of this bread.
Thank you for being a protector of Israel.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
The priest's words dug deeply into David's heart. He could
barely stand himself.
Speaker 6 (16:42):
Do you have any weapons, David asked. The King's business
required I leave immediately, so I did not bring any
sword or spear.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
The priest's eyes lit up. He said nothing and beckoned
David to follow him down the hallway. David followed, trying
not to seem too eager to eat the bread. David
held the bread close to his chest, still feeling the
sting of guilt as he carried it. The priest led
David into a room. A large tapestry covered the back wall.
(17:13):
Woven into it was a beautiful design of bright orange,
red and tan. David pressed his hand against it, running
his fingers through. Every detail in the design was the
picture of a warrior swinging downward on his enemy. The
enemy was beast like and large. The warrior was glimmering
(17:33):
with honor and glory with a giant's sword. Beaming upwards
into the sun. David looked over at a himelech. The
priest pulled out a large wooden chest pressed up against
the left side of the room. The chest opened and
the priest gently took out a large item wrapped in cloth.
He unwrapped it slowly. David watched as a beautiful sword emerged,
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glistening in the torchlight. It was larger than those swords,
with a hilt designed for the grip of a giant.
The priest lifted it up and placed it in David's hands.
The grip, the swing, and the weight seemed familiar to him,
like a dream he had forgotten. Finally coming back to memory,
David stared at his own reflection in the sword, flickering
(18:19):
with the firelight. The priest smiled and.
Speaker 7 (18:22):
Said, this is the sword of Goliath, the Philistine. He said,
this is the sword you slew him with that day.
We took great care of it, knowing it was a
reminder of the faithfulness of our God.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
David held the sword firmly and raised it in the air.
He remembered how heavy the sword felt that day. He
remembered raising it high in the air with all his might.
Then swinging it down with the power of God behind him.
The sword was a reminder of his calling and anointing
before the Lord. He gripped it tightly, then strapped the
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sword behind his back. David closed his eyes and bowed
before the priest.
Speaker 6 (19:03):
Thank you, thank you for your kindness.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
He said as goodbyes, grabbed a torch in the basket
of bread, then retreated back into the hills. David passed
through a pasture filled with grazing cows and goats, unaware
of the man watching him from a distance. Under the
cover of midnight. Creeping in the shadows, loyal eyes of
Saul were watching Doag. The Edomite laid back against the
(19:30):
fence of the pasture, watching David ascend into the hills.
His eyes darted back to the temple. He covered himself
in his cloak, then marched back to Gibea to tell
Saul what he had seen. David propped up his torch
against the cold stone cave. The flickering light illuminated every
(19:50):
crack and crevice of the dark rocks. David leaned back
and held the bread in his lap. He closed his
eyes and sighed, Ah, forgive me, Lord David broke the
bread and ate it slowly. Each bite revitalized his body,
but his soul continued to ache out of guilt. He
was utterly alone and lamenting the sins he had committed
(20:13):
to feed himself. I will always remember this, David whispered
into nothingness.
Speaker 6 (20:19):
I will always remember what it is like to starve.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
David ate a few more bites than wrapped the bread
and put it away. He leaned back and propped his
head up to look outside. He looked at the stars
and hummed to the Lord. His fingers moved as if
they were plucking a harp. Even at his lowest, he
always had a song in his heart for the Lord.
David woke the next morning with a new hope for
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the day. He descended the hills, traversing the side and
staying off the main roads. He looked down at the
temple below and smiled. Then he ventured towards the borderlands
between Israel and the Philistines. Davidvid was a known and
feared man among the Philistines. However, he had to take
his chances. Saul had spies and men searching every corner
(21:08):
of the nation. He would never expect David to hide
among the enemy. He looked over his shoulder to see
a few small figures on horseback making their way towards him.
They were armored men with spears in their hands. David's
eyes widened and his pace quickened. He was half a
mile from the Philistine city of Gath. However, he could
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not beat the men on horseback. David made a quick
pivot to left and hid behind a large stone. The
soldiers on horseback were approaching fast. They were sure to
have seen him try to hide. That is exactly what
David wanted. He scaled the rock, being sure to remain
hidden until the horses drew near. The men stopped near
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the stone. Come out, David, we know you were hiding there,
one of them commanded. David winced with regret for what
he was about to do, but they gave him no choice.
He hoisted himself on top of the stone, bent his knees,
and launched himself at one of the soldiers. David's legs
bitted treat hit on the soldier's chest, knocking him off
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his horse. In fear, the horse began to buck and kick,
then burst into a full gallop. David held on for
dear life. He pulled himself up onto the saddle and
gained control of the horse. He yelled, he galloped until
the men were out of view behind him. Tears rolled
down David's cheeks as the cold wind bit his face.
(22:33):
He was filled with regret for everything that had happened.
He had nowhere to turn, nowhere to seek refuge, so
he galloped towards Gath in hopes the mercy of God
would follow him, even if it was in the land
of the enemy. The marketplace of Gath was busy with
angry merchants and sickly beggars. David weaved his way through
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the throng of people, doing his best to remain hidden.
His eyes started upward at a few soldiers looking down
from the rooftops. David hid his light curls under his
hood and threw his cloak over the sword of Goliath
strapped to his back. The Philistine culture was vastly different
from the Hebrews. Idols erected to their God's bail as
(23:17):
Darte and Dagon laced the city streets. They had some
of the largest buildings David had ever seen, hewn with
jagged stones and metals, as uneven as they were they
loomed high over the streets like giants. David turned the
corner from the busy market place and composed himself. He
was the most hated men in Gath, and they did
(23:38):
not yet know he was among them. He leaned against
the wall and closed his eyes.
Speaker 6 (23:44):
Why am I here, he.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Thought to himself. David hid himself in Gath because he
knew Saul would not look for him there. However, he
feared he was in more danger being among the enemy.
He poked his head around the corner of the wall.
A few miles forward, past the busy city streets was
more hill country. Perhaps he could find shelter on the
(24:06):
outskirts of Gath and remain out of Saul's reach. David
emerged from the alley and was immediately tackled.
Speaker 8 (24:12):
To the gap.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Two Philistine soldiers pinned him to the floor. David swung
free and drove an elbow into the soldier's mouth. The
other retaliated and kicked him in the ribs while he
was still on the floor. David rolled back in pain,
but quickly sprung to his feet to make a run
for it. He ran through the busy streets, stumbling into
people as he went. The soldiers were gaining on him. However,
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David was fast and agile. He leaped up onto a
cart filled with hay, using it to boost him onto
the rooftops. David jumped from rooftop to rooftop, hoping to
make his way to the boarder. He leaped with grace
and speed, steadily widening the gap between him and his pursuers.
David looked ahead and saw a large distance between the
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next two homes. He quickened his pace and in the
way sprint. His steady breathing propelled him forward and like
a deer over the streams of Kidron, David leaped over
the clearing and onto the other side. He landed with
a roll onto his side, but he did not stop.
He hit the ground running and continued his running. The
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border was in sight. With one last jump, he hopped
over the board gate freedom. David ran another twenty yards
from the gate before being grazed in the leg. He
gasped and fell into the dirt alone. He grasped the
upper part of his thigh and screamed. David looked up.
(25:38):
A dozen Philistine men were running towards him. Pain shot
down his leg like burning pulls yet David stood to
his feet and drew a lithe's sword. He would not
be taken without a fight. Ignoring the pain, David launched
himself forward with screams and war cries. His eyes portrayed
a madness brought on by fatigue, sleepless knights, and hunger.
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It was an alarming sight for the Philistine soldiers. David
swung his sword with violent slashes and reckless abandon The
Philistines were able to subdue him and bring him to
the ground. David thrashed and cried out, but was swiftly
interrupted by the blunt end of a Philistine blade. David
blacked out immediately and was taken away in ropes. David
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awoke to the dim light shining through cracks in his
dark cell. The floor was wet and cold. David found
himself shivering uncontrollably. His head throbbed, and his legs were
still shooting with pain. He looked down to observe the wound.
It had been wrapped while he was unconscious. The arrow
had only grazed him, so he knew his leg would
(26:48):
heal soon. He observed the room around him. The stone
walls were narrow and jagged. Barely enough room for David
to turn around. He was most likely in a prison
cell dug underneath the palace. The entrance to the cell
was in the ceiling. Above his head. David could see
the faint flickering of torchlight coming through the cracks of
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the wooden door. He could hear footsteps drawing close. Then
the sound of two men speaking, We have captured the
King of Israel, one of them said. David's eyes widened.
Speaker 6 (27:22):
Have they captured Saul as well?
Speaker 2 (27:24):
David thought. He inched his way closer to the door
to hear more.
Speaker 9 (27:29):
We had him King David, and the giants said, it
took ten of us to wrestle them down. King Akish
is waiting to speak with him, is it, giants layer?
Speaker 8 (27:39):
Also the King of Israel?
Speaker 2 (27:41):
The other man asked, he must be you Hood.
Speaker 8 (27:45):
Isn't Lodge sing of him?
Speaker 6 (27:46):
Haven't you? Saul is struck down thousands, but.
Speaker 9 (27:49):
David is struck about ten thousands.
Speaker 8 (27:51):
That is a song for a king.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
David's heart began to pound even more. He was already
known among the Philistines as a mighty war warrior who
struck down Goliath. However, he did not know that they
also thought him to be king. David had to think quickly.
If he posed himself as any threat to the gath
King Akish, he would surely be put to death. He
(28:15):
had to convince them to let him go. But how
he had slain their greatest champion, laid waste to their raiders,
and shamed their country. David peered up at the jagged
wall surrounding him. On the wall that was left there
was a smooth section with faded carvings. They were written
in the language he could not speak to him. It
(28:36):
was nonsense, babbel. That was when the idea struck him.
David turned to the other side and picked up a
small stone on the floor. He broke it into three pieces,
creating tools for carving more words into the stone. He
had a plan to get the name Giant Slayer removed
from him and gain his freedom.
Speaker 6 (28:59):
We have him, your majesty. The scourge of our people
is wallowing in your dungeon as we speak.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
The philistine soldier bowed before his King. Akish sat on
his wooden throne. The throne was thick, carved from an
old cedar tree and covered in bare pelts. Above his throne,
shining in the firelight swords he had accumulated from slain
kings and warlords were mantled on the wall. Akish was
like many men in Gath, large, broad shouldered and intimidating.
(29:31):
His wide frame made the throne of bare pouts look small.
The king leaned over and gave a delighted smile. David
had killed many of his men. His name was a
curse on their lips.
Speaker 8 (29:43):
The Hebrew king is mine.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Akish yelled. His servants applauded.
Speaker 8 (29:50):
Finally, revenge will be mine.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
I will have the giant Slayer as my servant, and
the entire nation of Israel will know that I am
even greater. They're there, greatest champion.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Akish stood to his feet and walked down to the dungeons.
The walls were cold and damp, completely hidden from the sun.
The king of Gath relist the idea of David, weeping
in the darkness. As he sauntered down the hall towards
David's seal, he could hear moaning echoes reverberating through the shadows.
They grew louder and more haunting as he walked closer.
(30:25):
Akish looked over to his men in confusion.
Speaker 8 (30:27):
Who is making that's sound.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
The men shrink. David was the only man being held
this deep within the dungeons. A loud howl pierced through
the darkness, making his men step back in fear. Akish
approached the door nervously and opened it. His men held
the torches to reveal a naked and howling David, scratching
at the walls of the cave. He twitched his neck
(30:50):
back and forth, mumbling a made up language and etching
it on to the walls. David looked up like a
beast spotting a hunter. He yelled and all back, covering
his face from the flames. Spittle ran down his beard
as he screamed in agony. Akish looked at him with
disgust and shut the doors. He held his servant by
(31:12):
the shirt and threw him against the wall.
Speaker 8 (31:14):
You did not tell me he has.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Gone mad, the king yelled.
Speaker 7 (31:18):
If I needed another madman mumbling about my hole, I
would have gone into the marketplace and picked one up.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
The soldiers and servants were confused. It had taken many
of them to restrain and capture David. He did not
seem mad then, however, now he resembled the beast in
the wilderness.
Speaker 7 (31:37):
Let the poor fellow go. No doubt, the people of
Israel exiled him when he went insane.
Speaker 8 (31:43):
Kick him out into the forest like you would a dog.
I do not want to see him again.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Behind the closed cell door, David could hear the raving
of King Akish. He smiled, pleased that he had successfully
tricked the king into thinking he was a madman. There
would be no satisfaction in killing him or imprisoning him now.
There would be no glory in defeating David in this
shame state. He gave a sigh of relief and continued
(32:11):
to howl and scratch at the walls. Shortly after the
king's outburst, the soldiers opened the door and bound David
in ropes. They put a bag over his head and
escorted him out of the city. The soldiers released his bindings,
removed the bag, and kicked David into the nearby stream
outside the city gates. David was wet and cold, but
(32:34):
relieved to watch the soldiers walk away. David's clothes were
in a pile near the water. He put them back on,
composed himself, and marched back into the hills. David may
not be a madman, but he still felt a shame
of moral compromise. He had lied, stolen, and acted his
way to safety. He feared what other sins he would
(32:56):
have to commit to keep himself from harm. David made
a fire and warmed himself by the flames. He tended
to it methodically, making sure every coal was set in
place to burn brightly. He looked up at the heavens
and prayed to the Lord. He needed more strength than
he could muster up on his own. He needed more bread.
(33:17):
He needed the word of God to dwell deeply within
his heart.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
When we are at our most vulnerable, Satan slithers in
to tempt us. That is what happened to Jesus when
he was starving in the wilderness. Jesus was in a
compromised state physically, and Satan wasted no time attacking. He
gave Jesus every opportunity to indulge, sin and compromise, but
our hero did not take de bait. At every step,
(33:46):
Jesus resisted with the word of God. He reminded Satan
who was in charge, and never gave in. Certainly, Jesus
must have wanted to indulge. His body was hungry, but
he was strong when all of us would have been weak.
This story from the Gospel of Luke was chosen as
the prelude in order to highlight the difference between Jesus
(34:07):
and David. David was also in a hungry and desperate state,
but chose to give in. He was weak where Jesus
was strong. This is not as much a mark against
David as it is a reason to appreciate Jesus. There
are very few of us who would have resisted the
temptation to take the bread after going two days without eating.
This low point in David's life, when compared to Jesus,
(34:30):
reminds us that Christ is the real hero. This episode
is meant to prime us for David's future failures. He
will continue to mess up, and we must be okay
with that. There are only two different types of people
in this world, sinners and Jesus. If you are Jesus,
then you're a sinner, which means imperfection and compromise are
(34:50):
sure to abound in you. Now, before any of you
jumped to defending yourself, listen to First John one eighth.
It says if we say we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves. The truth is not in us. We're all
sinners and we will all face low points in our lives.
But thanks be to God that we have a perfect
hero who is strong when we are weak. This story
(35:12):
is filled with inner moral struggles, and it forces us
to leave the comforts of moral absolution everything being black
or white, and venture into a more holistic approach to scripture.
The first temptation David is presented with is filling his belly.
He is offered to take the show bread from the temple,
which is clearly against the law of Moses. Under the
false pretenses he set up. The priest is doing the
(35:35):
right thing, and Jesus references this story later on to
affirm his decision. But David lied, and there isn't any
other way to put it. Lying is wrong. But they
are layers to why David lied in the first place.
He didn't want to put the priest in any danger
by telling them why he needed the bread, he was
protecting them from his lives. However, one could argue that
(35:57):
he should not have knocked on their door in the
first place if it meant he would need to lie.
Do you see the moral dilemma? David clearly needs food,
or he would not last long, but is eating worth
the lie he needs to tell. This story is not
meant to show us when it is and is not
okay to lie. Rather, it is meant to show us
(36:17):
that not every situation is put in an easy box.
The same dilemma was presented to David's great great grandmother, Rehab,
when the Book of Joshua to Israelite spies were hiding
in Jericho, huddled in the house of a harlot named Rehab.
Rayhab had to lie to keep the spies safe. If
she didn't lie, they would have been killed. So the
(36:38):
same moral question is presented to us. Was it okay
for Rehab to lie? Perhaps not that rahabs lie saved lives.
It did, but do the ends always justify the means?
Once again, this story is not meant to give us
any moral license to lie. What we are given is
a glimpse into the real human struggle we all go through.
(36:59):
Sometimes we feel forced to compromise for the greater good,
even though there was probably a better way. We need
to rely on the grace of God to course correct us,
and that is exactly what David did time and time again.
David is asking for forgiveness, provision, and grace. God certainly
honors those requests. After David is given the bread, he
(37:22):
is given the sword of Goliath. The sword is an
important icon for David since it hearkens him back to
a more innocent time in his life. The sword reminds
him of his calling, thus tethering him to his virtues.
In the Old Testament, God is always asking the Israelites
to erect monuments to remember important events. He calls these
(37:43):
monuments Ebenezer's We are all in need of Eberneza's in
our lives, objects, people, or pictures that anchor us in
God's faithfulness and reminds us of times when he moved
our hearts. The sword of Goliath will leave and re
enter David's life a few times, coming at a perfect
time to remind him of who he is. After leaving
(38:06):
the temple, David is forced into the belly of the
beast Gaff. This is David's first time in the Philistine city,
but it will not be the last. David once again
needs to lie to save his life. Iggish, the king
of the Philistines, would love nothing more than to be
heard David publicly. David knows that the only way out
(38:26):
for him is to pretend to be an animal. He
foams that the mouth, howls and strips himself of his clothes.
He wants shabakage of the satisfaction he would have in
executing him. Killing David in public would be like killing
a rabid raccoon. David's plan worked, and he is released
from prison. Although this episode was filled with moral failure,
(38:48):
we are given a bit of hope at the end.
The episode ends with giving us a glimpse of David
by the fire. It says David may not be a madman,
but he still felt a shame of moral compromise. He
had lied, stolen, and acted his way to safety. He
feared what other sins he would have to commit to
keep himself from harm. David made a fire and warmed
(39:11):
himself by the flames. He tended it to methodically, making
sure every coal was set in place to burn brightly.
He looked up at the heavens and prayed to the Lord.
He needed more strength that he could muster up on
his own. He needed more than bread. He needed the
word of God to dwell deeply within his heart. David
(39:31):
is clearly learning from this experience. He is tending to
his heart with the same care he tends to the flame.
He asked God for guidance and forgiveness. He was given
hope that at the end of the day, David is
still after God's heart. In our next episode, we will
see the long term effects of David's lives and the
heart of the Giant Slayer reawakened. Join us next time
(39:54):
for episode ten An Army of Outcast, Part one. Thanks
again for listening. For more inspired stories, daily prayers and
wisdom to last a lifetime, go to pray dot com.
Follow this broadcast on Apple or Spotify to get the
newest episodes. Writers they come out and always be inspired
(40:14):
by the Bible. God bless
Hi, this is doctor Tony Evans and I'm excited for
you to join me on this series. Please be sure
to follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify so you
get the newest episodes right as they come out. Welcome
to the Epic Adventure of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
(00:21):
and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,
if you know about David the Man, this episode begins
a new chapter of David's life, the Wilderness. This episode
is going to be a challenge to listen to. David
is going to compromise in ways unbecoming of God's chosen hero.
He will show signs of moral decline and sin, making
(00:42):
us question his calling. There's a philosophical quandary presented in
this episode. Do lines between good and bad become blurred
under certain circumstances or does everything remain black and white.
David is going to be driven to do things he
would not otherwise do, but harsh circumstances seem to force
his hand. Pay close attention to David's inner dialogue during
(01:06):
this episode. He's going to wrestle with his own conscience
and rely on the grace of God. Ultimately, it is
good for us to see David's weaknesses. Seeing him this
way will remind us that he is not perfect, and
we shouldn't expect him to be. The prelude of this
episode gives us a reminder that the ultimate hero of
(01:26):
this story isn't David at all, but God. Jesus was
able to overcome where other men had failed, He alone
should be the one we look to for hope. David's
story becomes more complicated from this point forward. It's no
longer just a battle of good versus evil. David will
have to battle with his own competing desires and instincts.
(01:47):
His confusion and compromise should be familiar to us. Sometimes
we face situations that don't have a clear right way out.
What do we do when there seems to be a
million wrong decisions and no clear right one. Let's see
how David handles this question in episode nine, David the Madman.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Prelude to chapter nine. For forty days, Jesus had gone
without food. His body was beginning to eat away at itself,
and his mind was experiencing the dull effects of starvation.
The weakness of humanity was felt in full force by Jesus.
His body trembled, longing for any form of sustenance. It
(02:34):
was in this moment a slithering presence emerged from the darkness.
He slid his way behind Jesus and whispered in his ear.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Look, it is the sun of God, shaking like a
starving animal.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Satan hissed. His voice was quiet and sharp, like the
silent sting of a scorpion.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
If you truly, Oh, the Son of God, why not
just command these stones become bread? Shula, the creator himself
deserves some food.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
This was the first temptation the lust of the flesh,
a tactic that worked for Adam and Eve. Once in
the garden, Jesus's body ached from hunger. The pain was
nearly unbearable. He considered for a moment what a small
piece of bread would do. Yet Jesus came to identify
with the weakness of mankind. If he simply turned the
(03:34):
stones into bread, he would take advantage of the power
God gave him. Besides, he did not need bread. The
comfort of the Father was enough. Jesus, not looking behind him,
replied with scripture, saying.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
It is written man does not live by bread alone,
but by the very words uttered from God himself.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
It was difficult for Jesus to speak. He had a
fever from the hunger, and the chills caused him to shiver. Satan,
still behind Jesus, scowled. In an instant, he took Jesus
up in a vision. The two of them stood overlooking
the earth. Satan showed Jesus the nations of the world, gold,
silver and jewels, armies, thrones and monuments. You see all
(04:23):
of this, Satan hissed.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
These king comes apike. They have been taken by me
and a mind to give all this power, all this glory,
only yours.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Satan leaned in closer to Jesus.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Look, Son of God, look at all that could be
yours to rule. All you must do is worship me.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
This was the second temptation, the lust for power. That
temptation eve once fell ford when Satan promised she would
be like God. Jesus's weary eyes looked upon the nations.
Satan made an enticing offer to rule over his people
once again. Yet corruption was not the way to win
(05:14):
the hearts of man. Jesus closed his eyes and quoted
the scriptures once again, saying.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
It is written you shall worship the Lord your God,
him and him alone, you shall serve.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Satan scoffed and wrapped his cloak around Jesus. All of
a sudden, the two of them were standing over the
Temple of Jerusalem. They were at its highest point, overlooking
the people below. The wind howled as Jesus stood at
the very tip of the massive structure. Satan screamed through
the wind, pointing to the people below.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
They are all here waiting for you to show yourself,
be a spectacle and jump off. You and I both
know what the scripts say. They claimed that the Lord
will order his angels to protect you.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
This was the third Temptation, the Pride of Life. Jesus
looked down at the people coming in and out of
the temple. If they were to see a man flying
on the wings of angels over the Holy Temple, surely
they would worship him. Yet it would be no greater
than a circus act. Jesus knew that it was not
(06:29):
signs and wonders that would save mankind. He knew what
his true purpose was.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
You must not test the Lord your.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
God, Jesus answered silently. Satan sneered at Jesus, ready to
attempt him again, but before he could speak, Jesus turned around,
looking him in the eyes for the first time. Enough,
Jesus rebuked Satan jarred back. The two of them were
standing in the wilderness once again. The stars were settled
(06:59):
high in the sky, and the howling evening wind rolled
over the hills. Satan shrunk at the voice of Jesus.
They were not equals. Jesus alone held the power, so
Satan retreated back into the grass so he may sche
more about how to take the heart of man. Jesus
then departed to eat, recover, and pray. He had successfully
(07:22):
resisted the temptations of the enemy, temptations that had caused
humanity to stumble for thousands of generations. Jesus, even in
his most weakened state, was able to overcome it. This
would be a foreshadowing of things to come. Jesus, even
had his most afflicted, would overcome Chapter nine, David the Madman.
(07:51):
Rain descended from the heavens like arrows. Thunder rolled from
the west, ushering in bolts of lightning. The winds and
rain howled against David's face as he marched from Gibea
to Knob. He climbed up some jagged rocks, seeking refuge
from the storm and the cracks of the hills. Each
stone was slippery and loose. David found it difficult to
(08:12):
move forward without stumbling. He grabbed out a root planted
between two stones and pulled himself up. However, the root
quickly gave way, since the rains had made the dirt soft.
David fell down onto his back, losing his breath. He
lay there motionless, looking up at the cascading skies. David
(08:33):
slowly got up, groaning and holding his ribs. His muscles
were shaking from lack of food, and he had lost
almost all feeling in his hands and feet from the
cold rain. He peered through the rain to see an
overhang of two large stones, creating a small shelter. David
nestled in, bracing himself from the wind and rain. The
(08:55):
young shepherd brought his knees close to his chest and
buried his head in between his legs. All night, the
Champion of Israel, the Giant Slayer, wept in the bitter cold,
in the lonely darkness, while the heavens raged around him.
David sang a song of hope to the Lord.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
My refuge and my Fortress, my God in whom I trust,
he whispered. He smiled, leaning his head against the cold
stone slowly as he recited hymns to his beloved God,
David fell asleep. David awoke in the morning to a
(09:36):
breath taking sunrise lighting up the horizon. Splashes of orange
kissed the earth below. The air was fresh and crisp
after the rain, and the chill in the air left
David shaking. Two days had passed since David last eight.
Every town and village he passed by were filled with
Saul soldiers and spies. The king had ordered them to
(09:58):
scour the nation in search of David. They would not
rest until he was brought in chains back to the king.
As much as he longed to be back home with
his wife, Jonathan and the comforts of the palace, David
knew that there was no place for him there. As
long as Saul was on the throne. He could not
return to Bethlehem to see his family either. That would
(10:20):
be the first place Saul would look. David had to
remain on the outskirts of every town, village, and city
until he could plan his next steps. The first thing
on his mind was getting something to eat. His stomach
ached with the pangs of hunger, and he knew there
would be no surviving this exile without a sustainable source
of food. As David hiked along the narrow paths on
(10:43):
the hills outside Knob, he looked down to see the
temple of the priest Ahimelech. Smoke rose out of the chimney,
and David phantasized about a warm meal by the fire.
David humbled his way down the hill and the temple
came closer into view. There was a familiar sight to David.
He remembered going there to make sacrifices to the Lord
(11:05):
after his victory over Goliath. A Himelech was a kind
and gentle soul. However, David would have to tread cautiously.
He could not tell Ahimelech about what had happened. If
he did, he risked Saul knowing his location and the
lives of Ahimelech's priests. David composed himself and walked upright
(11:27):
to the temple. He had no weapons or pack. If
he was going to trick a Himelech into giving him food,
he had to be clever. David came to the door
and knocked. The old priest opened the door to see
the giant slayer soaking, wet and covered in filth. David
did not wait to be invited in. He could not
wait for a Himelech to consider what was happening. David
(11:50):
needed to be the one to set the pace of
the conversation.
Speaker 6 (11:53):
A Himelech, thank the Lord, you are here.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
David said frantically. He stumbled in and began to look
around as if he had misplaced something. The old priest
was confused and.
Speaker 7 (12:05):
Flustered, Young David, It is odd for me to see
you at this hour. Why are you here alone?
Speaker 6 (12:13):
I am on an urgent mission from the King, David Light.
He has charged me to tell no one of my
whereabouts except the band of soldiers that would be here
to aid me.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
David saw a basin of water and began to drink
from it. He wiped his mouth and smiled apologetically at
the priest.
Speaker 6 (12:29):
I am sorry to come so abruptly and unannounced to Himelech. However,
I had to leave immediately. Lives are in peril and
I haven't much time. That is why you see me
with no food, armor, or weapons here today.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
The old priest sat down and stroked his beard. A
Himelech was a kind and innocent man, concerned about the
holy sacrifices and devotion to God. He did not look
at David skeptically.
Speaker 7 (12:56):
How may I be of service to you and the king?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
He asked, innocently.
Speaker 6 (13:01):
What food do you have at hand? David asked, Five
loaves of bread should be enough to feed my men
and I. However, anything you have will be fine.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
The words burned as they left David's lips. He hated
lying in the presence of a man of God, but
his hunger was overpowering. If he told the priest the truth,
he would put him and everyone in the temple in danger.
Speaker 7 (13:28):
I have no bread to give you.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
A Himelecht said, holding out his palms.
Speaker 7 (13:33):
The boys who study her have retreated for the night.
The only bread we have is they.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
A Himelech paused and pondered for a moment. He held
up his finger and paced into the other room. David
grew nervous. His fingers twitched over the side of his leg.
His eyes darted to the torch hanging on the stone wall.
Perhaps I should just take the fire and run, David thought,
to himself. I cannot remain here for much longer. It
(14:01):
is only a matter of time before Saul's men catch
up to me. David walked up to the torch mounted
on the wall and wrapped his hand around it. Before
he could lift it from its place, a Himelech returned
with a large basket covered in cloth. The priest unwrapped
the basket to reveal twelve pieces of freshly baked bread,
still steaming from the wood oven. David's mouth watered at
(14:24):
the sight of it. His stomach growled. It took all
his power to knot pounce on the basket and devour
every morsel of bread. However, David composed himself and remained silent.
A Himelech gestured to the bread and said.
Speaker 7 (14:38):
All we have is the ceremonial showbread. To eat this
showbread is to eat in the Lord's house as a
friend and a guest enjoying his hospitality. It is a
great bond of friendship, and not a thing to eat casually.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
David's palms began to sweat. He knew that the showbread
was only to be eaten by priests. To eat such
bread would be breaking a levitical law. A Himelek offered
it because he knew that meeting the needs of weary
travelers was more important than ceremony to the Lord. However,
he did not know that David was lying. He was
(15:17):
ignorant that David was actually on the run from Saul
and afreight for his life.
Speaker 7 (15:22):
You and your soldiers may eat of this bread only
if you have kept yourselves from women. It is important
that you be ceremonially clean, or else I am disgraced
as a priest. Do you understand?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
David was weighing the cost of his actions. He prided
himself as a man of honor and integrity. However, the
pangs of hunger seemed to drown out his convictions. He
was weak. David reached for the basket and bowed his head.
Speaker 6 (15:51):
When I lead my men on any expedition, the men
are always kept from women. We do not pass by
the women of the city or indulge in any carnal desires.
We are not philistine dogs. We understand honor.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
David puffed up his chest, falling deeper and deeper into
his own self loathing.
Speaker 6 (16:13):
The young men who are on their way are holy.
They are worthy of this bread.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
A Himelech handed over the bread and smiled.
Speaker 7 (16:24):
May the Lord bless you and keep you young, David. Truly,
you and your men must be worthy of this bread.
Thank you for being a protector of Israel.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
The priest's words dug deeply into David's heart. He could
barely stand himself.
Speaker 6 (16:42):
Do you have any weapons, David asked. The King's business
required I leave immediately, so I did not bring any
sword or spear.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
The priest's eyes lit up. He said nothing and beckoned
David to follow him down the hallway. David followed, trying
not to seem too eager to eat the bread. David
held the bread close to his chest, still feeling the
sting of guilt as he carried it. The priest led
David into a room. A large tapestry covered the back wall.
(17:13):
Woven into it was a beautiful design of bright orange,
red and tan. David pressed his hand against it, running
his fingers through. Every detail in the design was the
picture of a warrior swinging downward on his enemy. The
enemy was beast like and large. The warrior was glimmering
(17:33):
with honor and glory with a giant's sword. Beaming upwards
into the sun. David looked over at a himelech. The
priest pulled out a large wooden chest pressed up against
the left side of the room. The chest opened and
the priest gently took out a large item wrapped in cloth.
He unwrapped it slowly. David watched as a beautiful sword emerged,
(17:56):
glistening in the torchlight. It was larger than those swords,
with a hilt designed for the grip of a giant.
The priest lifted it up and placed it in David's hands.
The grip, the swing, and the weight seemed familiar to him,
like a dream he had forgotten. Finally coming back to memory,
David stared at his own reflection in the sword, flickering
(18:19):
with the firelight. The priest smiled and.
Speaker 7 (18:22):
Said, this is the sword of Goliath, the Philistine. He said,
this is the sword you slew him with that day.
We took great care of it, knowing it was a
reminder of the faithfulness of our God.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
David held the sword firmly and raised it in the air.
He remembered how heavy the sword felt that day. He
remembered raising it high in the air with all his might.
Then swinging it down with the power of God behind him.
The sword was a reminder of his calling and anointing
before the Lord. He gripped it tightly, then strapped the
(18:58):
sword behind his back. David closed his eyes and bowed
before the priest.
Speaker 6 (19:03):
Thank you, thank you for your kindness.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
He said as goodbyes, grabbed a torch in the basket
of bread, then retreated back into the hills. David passed
through a pasture filled with grazing cows and goats, unaware
of the man watching him from a distance. Under the
cover of midnight. Creeping in the shadows, loyal eyes of
Saul were watching Doag. The Edomite laid back against the
(19:30):
fence of the pasture, watching David ascend into the hills.
His eyes darted back to the temple. He covered himself
in his cloak, then marched back to Gibea to tell
Saul what he had seen. David propped up his torch
against the cold stone cave. The flickering light illuminated every
(19:50):
crack and crevice of the dark rocks. David leaned back
and held the bread in his lap. He closed his
eyes and sighed, Ah, forgive me, Lord David broke the
bread and ate it slowly. Each bite revitalized his body,
but his soul continued to ache out of guilt. He
was utterly alone and lamenting the sins he had committed
(20:13):
to feed himself. I will always remember this, David whispered
into nothingness.
Speaker 6 (20:19):
I will always remember what it is like to starve.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
David ate a few more bites than wrapped the bread
and put it away. He leaned back and propped his
head up to look outside. He looked at the stars
and hummed to the Lord. His fingers moved as if
they were plucking a harp. Even at his lowest, he
always had a song in his heart for the Lord.
David woke the next morning with a new hope for
(20:46):
the day. He descended the hills, traversing the side and
staying off the main roads. He looked down at the
temple below and smiled. Then he ventured towards the borderlands
between Israel and the Philistines. Davidvid was a known and
feared man among the Philistines. However, he had to take
his chances. Saul had spies and men searching every corner
(21:08):
of the nation. He would never expect David to hide
among the enemy. He looked over his shoulder to see
a few small figures on horseback making their way towards him.
They were armored men with spears in their hands. David's
eyes widened and his pace quickened. He was half a
mile from the Philistine city of Gath. However, he could
(21:29):
not beat the men on horseback. David made a quick
pivot to left and hid behind a large stone. The
soldiers on horseback were approaching fast. They were sure to
have seen him try to hide. That is exactly what
David wanted. He scaled the rock, being sure to remain
hidden until the horses drew near. The men stopped near
(21:50):
the stone. Come out, David, we know you were hiding there,
one of them commanded. David winced with regret for what
he was about to do, but they gave him no choice.
He hoisted himself on top of the stone, bent his knees,
and launched himself at one of the soldiers. David's legs
bitted treat hit on the soldier's chest, knocking him off
(22:11):
his horse. In fear, the horse began to buck and kick,
then burst into a full gallop. David held on for
dear life. He pulled himself up onto the saddle and
gained control of the horse. He yelled, he galloped until
the men were out of view behind him. Tears rolled
down David's cheeks as the cold wind bit his face.
(22:33):
He was filled with regret for everything that had happened.
He had nowhere to turn, nowhere to seek refuge, so
he galloped towards Gath in hopes the mercy of God
would follow him, even if it was in the land
of the enemy. The marketplace of Gath was busy with
angry merchants and sickly beggars. David weaved his way through
(22:55):
the throng of people, doing his best to remain hidden.
His eyes started upward at a few soldiers looking down
from the rooftops. David hid his light curls under his
hood and threw his cloak over the sword of Goliath
strapped to his back. The Philistine culture was vastly different
from the Hebrews. Idols erected to their God's bail as
(23:17):
Darte and Dagon laced the city streets. They had some
of the largest buildings David had ever seen, hewn with
jagged stones and metals, as uneven as they were they
loomed high over the streets like giants. David turned the
corner from the busy market place and composed himself. He
was the most hated men in Gath, and they did
(23:38):
not yet know he was among them. He leaned against
the wall and closed his eyes.
Speaker 6 (23:44):
Why am I here, he.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Thought to himself. David hid himself in Gath because he
knew Saul would not look for him there. However, he
feared he was in more danger being among the enemy.
He poked his head around the corner of the wall.
A few miles forward, past the busy city streets was
more hill country. Perhaps he could find shelter on the
(24:06):
outskirts of Gath and remain out of Saul's reach. David
emerged from the alley and was immediately tackled.
Speaker 8 (24:12):
To the gap.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Two Philistine soldiers pinned him to the floor. David swung
free and drove an elbow into the soldier's mouth. The
other retaliated and kicked him in the ribs while he
was still on the floor. David rolled back in pain,
but quickly sprung to his feet to make a run
for it. He ran through the busy streets, stumbling into
people as he went. The soldiers were gaining on him. However,
(24:36):
David was fast and agile. He leaped up onto a
cart filled with hay, using it to boost him onto
the rooftops. David jumped from rooftop to rooftop, hoping to
make his way to the boarder. He leaped with grace
and speed, steadily widening the gap between him and his pursuers.
David looked ahead and saw a large distance between the
(24:57):
next two homes. He quickened his pace and in the
way sprint. His steady breathing propelled him forward and like
a deer over the streams of Kidron, David leaped over
the clearing and onto the other side. He landed with
a roll onto his side, but he did not stop.
He hit the ground running and continued his running. The
(25:18):
border was in sight. With one last jump, he hopped
over the board gate freedom. David ran another twenty yards
from the gate before being grazed in the leg. He
gasped and fell into the dirt alone. He grasped the
upper part of his thigh and screamed. David looked up.
(25:38):
A dozen Philistine men were running towards him. Pain shot
down his leg like burning pulls yet David stood to
his feet and drew a lithe's sword. He would not
be taken without a fight. Ignoring the pain, David launched
himself forward with screams and war cries. His eyes portrayed
a madness brought on by fatigue, sleepless knights, and hunger.
(26:02):
It was an alarming sight for the Philistine soldiers. David
swung his sword with violent slashes and reckless abandon The
Philistines were able to subdue him and bring him to
the ground. David thrashed and cried out, but was swiftly
interrupted by the blunt end of a Philistine blade. David
blacked out immediately and was taken away in ropes. David
(26:25):
awoke to the dim light shining through cracks in his
dark cell. The floor was wet and cold. David found
himself shivering uncontrollably. His head throbbed, and his legs were
still shooting with pain. He looked down to observe the wound.
It had been wrapped while he was unconscious. The arrow
had only grazed him, so he knew his leg would
(26:48):
heal soon. He observed the room around him. The stone
walls were narrow and jagged. Barely enough room for David
to turn around. He was most likely in a prison
cell dug underneath the palace. The entrance to the cell
was in the ceiling. Above his head. David could see
the faint flickering of torchlight coming through the cracks of
(27:10):
the wooden door. He could hear footsteps drawing close. Then
the sound of two men speaking, We have captured the
King of Israel, one of them said. David's eyes widened.
Speaker 6 (27:22):
Have they captured Saul as well?
Speaker 2 (27:24):
David thought. He inched his way closer to the door
to hear more.
Speaker 9 (27:29):
We had him King David, and the giants said, it
took ten of us to wrestle them down. King Akish
is waiting to speak with him, is it, giants layer?
Speaker 8 (27:39):
Also the King of Israel?
Speaker 2 (27:41):
The other man asked, he must be you Hood.
Speaker 8 (27:45):
Isn't Lodge sing of him?
Speaker 6 (27:46):
Haven't you? Saul is struck down thousands, but.
Speaker 9 (27:49):
David is struck about ten thousands.
Speaker 8 (27:51):
That is a song for a king.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
David's heart began to pound even more. He was already
known among the Philistines as a mighty war warrior who
struck down Goliath. However, he did not know that they
also thought him to be king. David had to think quickly.
If he posed himself as any threat to the gath
King Akish, he would surely be put to death. He
(28:15):
had to convince them to let him go. But how
he had slain their greatest champion, laid waste to their raiders,
and shamed their country. David peered up at the jagged
wall surrounding him. On the wall that was left there
was a smooth section with faded carvings. They were written
in the language he could not speak to him. It
(28:36):
was nonsense, babbel. That was when the idea struck him.
David turned to the other side and picked up a
small stone on the floor. He broke it into three pieces,
creating tools for carving more words into the stone. He
had a plan to get the name Giant Slayer removed
from him and gain his freedom.
Speaker 6 (28:59):
We have him, your majesty. The scourge of our people
is wallowing in your dungeon as we speak.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
The philistine soldier bowed before his King. Akish sat on
his wooden throne. The throne was thick, carved from an
old cedar tree and covered in bare pelts. Above his throne,
shining in the firelight swords he had accumulated from slain
kings and warlords were mantled on the wall. Akish was
like many men in Gath, large, broad shouldered and intimidating.
(29:31):
His wide frame made the throne of bare pouts look small.
The king leaned over and gave a delighted smile. David
had killed many of his men. His name was a
curse on their lips.
Speaker 8 (29:43):
The Hebrew king is mine.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Akish yelled. His servants applauded.
Speaker 8 (29:50):
Finally, revenge will be mine.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
I will have the giant Slayer as my servant, and
the entire nation of Israel will know that I am
even greater. They're there, greatest champion.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Akish stood to his feet and walked down to the dungeons.
The walls were cold and damp, completely hidden from the sun.
The king of Gath relist the idea of David, weeping
in the darkness. As he sauntered down the hall towards
David's seal, he could hear moaning echoes reverberating through the shadows.
They grew louder and more haunting as he walked closer.
(30:25):
Akish looked over to his men in confusion.
Speaker 8 (30:27):
Who is making that's sound.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
The men shrink. David was the only man being held
this deep within the dungeons. A loud howl pierced through
the darkness, making his men step back in fear. Akish
approached the door nervously and opened it. His men held
the torches to reveal a naked and howling David, scratching
at the walls of the cave. He twitched his neck
(30:50):
back and forth, mumbling a made up language and etching
it on to the walls. David looked up like a
beast spotting a hunter. He yelled and all back, covering
his face from the flames. Spittle ran down his beard
as he screamed in agony. Akish looked at him with
disgust and shut the doors. He held his servant by
(31:12):
the shirt and threw him against the wall.
Speaker 8 (31:14):
You did not tell me he has.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Gone mad, the king yelled.
Speaker 7 (31:18):
If I needed another madman mumbling about my hole, I
would have gone into the marketplace and picked one up.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
The soldiers and servants were confused. It had taken many
of them to restrain and capture David. He did not
seem mad then, however, now he resembled the beast in
the wilderness.
Speaker 7 (31:37):
Let the poor fellow go. No doubt, the people of
Israel exiled him when he went insane.
Speaker 8 (31:43):
Kick him out into the forest like you would a dog.
I do not want to see him again.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Behind the closed cell door, David could hear the raving
of King Akish. He smiled, pleased that he had successfully
tricked the king into thinking he was a madman. There
would be no satisfaction in killing him or imprisoning him now.
There would be no glory in defeating David in this
shame state. He gave a sigh of relief and continued
(32:11):
to howl and scratch at the walls. Shortly after the
king's outburst, the soldiers opened the door and bound David
in ropes. They put a bag over his head and
escorted him out of the city. The soldiers released his bindings,
removed the bag, and kicked David into the nearby stream
outside the city gates. David was wet and cold, but
(32:34):
relieved to watch the soldiers walk away. David's clothes were
in a pile near the water. He put them back on,
composed himself, and marched back into the hills. David may
not be a madman, but he still felt a shame
of moral compromise. He had lied, stolen, and acted his
way to safety. He feared what other sins he would
(32:56):
have to commit to keep himself from harm. David made
a fire and warmed himself by the flames. He tended
to it methodically, making sure every coal was set in
place to burn brightly. He looked up at the heavens
and prayed to the Lord. He needed more strength than
he could muster up on his own. He needed more bread.
(33:17):
He needed the word of God to dwell deeply within
his heart.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
When we are at our most vulnerable, Satan slithers in
to tempt us. That is what happened to Jesus when
he was starving in the wilderness. Jesus was in a
compromised state physically, and Satan wasted no time attacking. He
gave Jesus every opportunity to indulge, sin and compromise, but
our hero did not take de bait. At every step,
(33:46):
Jesus resisted with the word of God. He reminded Satan
who was in charge, and never gave in. Certainly, Jesus
must have wanted to indulge. His body was hungry, but
he was strong when all of us would have been weak.
This story from the Gospel of Luke was chosen as
the prelude in order to highlight the difference between Jesus
(34:07):
and David. David was also in a hungry and desperate state,
but chose to give in. He was weak where Jesus
was strong. This is not as much a mark against
David as it is a reason to appreciate Jesus. There
are very few of us who would have resisted the
temptation to take the bread after going two days without eating.
This low point in David's life, when compared to Jesus,
(34:30):
reminds us that Christ is the real hero. This episode
is meant to prime us for David's future failures. He
will continue to mess up, and we must be okay
with that. There are only two different types of people
in this world, sinners and Jesus. If you are Jesus,
then you're a sinner, which means imperfection and compromise are
(34:50):
sure to abound in you. Now, before any of you
jumped to defending yourself, listen to First John one eighth.
It says if we say we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves. The truth is not in us. We're all
sinners and we will all face low points in our lives.
But thanks be to God that we have a perfect
hero who is strong when we are weak. This story
(35:12):
is filled with inner moral struggles, and it forces us
to leave the comforts of moral absolution everything being black
or white, and venture into a more holistic approach to scripture.
The first temptation David is presented with is filling his belly.
He is offered to take the show bread from the temple,
which is clearly against the law of Moses. Under the
false pretenses he set up. The priest is doing the
(35:35):
right thing, and Jesus references this story later on to
affirm his decision. But David lied, and there isn't any
other way to put it. Lying is wrong. But they
are layers to why David lied in the first place.
He didn't want to put the priest in any danger
by telling them why he needed the bread, he was
protecting them from his lives. However, one could argue that
(35:57):
he should not have knocked on their door in the
first place if it meant he would need to lie.
Do you see the moral dilemma? David clearly needs food,
or he would not last long, but is eating worth
the lie he needs to tell. This story is not
meant to show us when it is and is not
okay to lie. Rather, it is meant to show us
(36:17):
that not every situation is put in an easy box.
The same dilemma was presented to David's great great grandmother, Rehab,
when the Book of Joshua to Israelite spies were hiding
in Jericho, huddled in the house of a harlot named Rehab.
Rayhab had to lie to keep the spies safe. If
she didn't lie, they would have been killed. So the
(36:38):
same moral question is presented to us. Was it okay
for Rehab to lie? Perhaps not that rahabs lie saved lives.
It did, but do the ends always justify the means?
Once again, this story is not meant to give us
any moral license to lie. What we are given is
a glimpse into the real human struggle we all go through.
(36:59):
Sometimes we feel forced to compromise for the greater good,
even though there was probably a better way. We need
to rely on the grace of God to course correct us,
and that is exactly what David did time and time again.
David is asking for forgiveness, provision, and grace. God certainly
honors those requests. After David is given the bread, he
(37:22):
is given the sword of Goliath. The sword is an
important icon for David since it hearkens him back to
a more innocent time in his life. The sword reminds
him of his calling, thus tethering him to his virtues.
In the Old Testament, God is always asking the Israelites
to erect monuments to remember important events. He calls these
(37:43):
monuments Ebenezer's We are all in need of Eberneza's in
our lives, objects, people, or pictures that anchor us in
God's faithfulness and reminds us of times when he moved
our hearts. The sword of Goliath will leave and re
enter David's life a few times, coming at a perfect
time to remind him of who he is. After leaving
(38:06):
the temple, David is forced into the belly of the
beast Gaff. This is David's first time in the Philistine city,
but it will not be the last. David once again
needs to lie to save his life. Iggish, the king
of the Philistines, would love nothing more than to be
heard David publicly. David knows that the only way out
(38:26):
for him is to pretend to be an animal. He
foams that the mouth, howls and strips himself of his clothes.
He wants shabakage of the satisfaction he would have in
executing him. Killing David in public would be like killing
a rabid raccoon. David's plan worked, and he is released
from prison. Although this episode was filled with moral failure,
(38:48):
we are given a bit of hope at the end.
The episode ends with giving us a glimpse of David
by the fire. It says David may not be a madman,
but he still felt a shame of moral compromise. He
had lied, stolen, and acted his way to safety. He
feared what other sins he would have to commit to
keep himself from harm. David made a fire and warmed
(39:11):
himself by the flames. He tended it to methodically, making
sure every coal was set in place to burn brightly.
He looked up at the heavens and prayed to the Lord.
He needed more strength that he could muster up on
his own. He needed more than bread. He needed the
word of God to dwell deeply within his heart. David
(39:31):
is clearly learning from this experience. He is tending to
his heart with the same care he tends to the flame.
He asked God for guidance and forgiveness. He was given
hope that at the end of the day, David is
still after God's heart. In our next episode, we will
see the long term effects of David's lives and the
heart of the Giant Slayer reawakened. Join us next time
(39:54):
for episode ten An Army of Outcast, Part one. Thanks
again for listening. For more inspired stories, daily prayers and
wisdom to last a lifetime, go to pray dot com.
Follow this broadcast on Apple or Spotify to get the
newest episodes. Writers they come out and always be inspired
(40:14):
by the Bible. God bless
Host
Dr. Tony Evans
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