July 18, 2025 • 29 mins
Chapter 14 of Heroes in the Bible: David with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by 1 Samuel 26.
The King’s Spear - Once again, David stands over the sleeping body of Saul. David holds the king’s spear in his hand, able to end his life with his own weapon.
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Joshua 1:9, Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans and I'm excited for you
to join me on Heroes in the Bible. 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, chealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
(00:21):
and murder. While most people know of David the myth,
few know about David the man. In this episode, David
is given another chance to seize the throne and end
his misery. Opportunities to end his suffering constantly present themselves,
yet David has always refused to take them. Our hero
(00:41):
can be frustratingly noble, sometimes defying basic logic to stick
to his principles. How many times will he keep saying
no to his convictions? When will he finally decide enough
is enough? Everyone has their limit and this could be David's.
Saul is going to mount another attack and David will
once again stand over his sleeping body poised to strike.
(01:06):
This episode features a more callous David. The constant disrespect
from Saul is starting to get to him, and you
get the sense that his patience is wearing thin, look
for signs of volatility from David, and question whether he
can last much longer in the wilderness. The events of
this episode lead him to a much darker period of
(01:27):
his life, and we cannot help but feel sorry for
the giant slayer at the end. So far, his noble
acts have gotten him nowhere. It's time for him to
indulge a little and take command. Before we find out
the answer, we will begin with the prelude. This prelude
features Jonah An angry and bitter profit. Many cute Bible
(01:49):
stories have been told about him, but he is no hero.
He has a callous heart and would rather have judgment
than mercy. God reveals his heart in an interesting way
to Jonah. We would be wise to take his message
to heart. Let's get into it. Here's Chapter fourteen, The
King's Spear.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Prelude to Chapter fourteen. Jonah anxiously awaited the demise of
the city. He sat in great anticipation, waiting for fire
to fall from the heavens, or a burst of lightning
and rain to dissent from the skies. Yet there was silence.
No divine judgment was cast down on the city of Nineveh.
(02:34):
The wicked people did not receive the wrath that Jonah
had hoped, and he hated God for it. Jonah picked
up a stone and threw it towards the city. He
yelled and cried out to God, waving his fist high
in the air.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
They deserved to die, he yelled.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
They are bad people.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
I fled from you because I knew you would show
them mercy and spare them if I came here.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
And you did suit right for.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
You to have this anger, Jonah, God asked with a
gentle tone. Jonah was angry. He paced back and forth,
raging against God. He placed himself underneath the shade of
a tree. Its long branches provided a pleasant shade from
the harsh sun. Jonah settled in underneath it and crossed
his arms. His blood was boiling with anger. He breathed
(03:23):
in deeply and closed his eyes. The tree enveloped him
in shade, shielding him from the scorching sun. About in
that moment, he loved that tree more than anything else
on earth. He let his mind wander, dreaming over simpler times.
As Jonah rested in its arms, he fell into a
deep and peaceful sleep. That night, the Lord sent a
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worm to gnaw at the tree's roots, taking away its life.
It infected the tree and caused its leaves to wither
and fall. The tree shriveled in its place, and the
lush and vibrant sanctuary for Jonah was reduced to rotting
bark and fruit. Jonah awoke to see his beloved tree dead.
Even more anger fell upon him. Hot air blew in
(04:09):
from the east, and his skin began to crack and blister.
Jonah threw himself onto the floor and banged at the ground.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
Why God, first you spare my enemies, now you take
away my only comfort.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Why do you torture me so? Jonah wept and whispered,
It would be better for me to just die.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Are you justified in your anger about the plant?
Speaker 6 (04:36):
God asked Jonah. You pity this plant for which you
did not plant. You did not help it grow, You
did not want or care for it, Yet you loved
it and wanted it to live.
Speaker 7 (04:54):
Should I not care more for Nineveh? It is not
a plant, but his city with more than one hundred
twenty thousand people who do not know what is right
or wrong? Shouldn't I care more for them than your
precious tree?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
In God's questions to Jonah, an important and ancient truth
was revealed. God is a god of second chances. He
desires for life, repentance, and true transformation. While Jonah desired
quick and swift justice for his enemies. A true hero
of God desires for restoration. He will patiently wait for
(05:39):
those who are far to come back to the Lord,
no matter how painful the journey may be. Chapter fourteen,
The King Spear. The royal city of Gibea rested under
the black and skies. The twinkling stars were covered by
dark clouds. The light was hidden from King Saul. Even
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as he sat by the fire, there was no warmth
for his cold and darkened soul. He stared at the
flames flickering before his eyes, reeling over his last encounter
with David, the young shepherd he had sought for so
many months, had the upper hand, yet chose to show
him mercy. He did not love him for it. Rather,
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Saul hated David even more for his compassion. David held
the heart of a true king, and with every act
of mercy, Saul despised him all the more. Saul's paranoid
and anxious thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his
chamber doors. Come in, the king said, gripping the shaft
of his spear. The door opened. A man from Zif
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was brought in by one of his guards. The king
gestured to the seat across from him sit He said, shortly,
tell me what you have discovered.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I was promised payment.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
The man said, with a sly grin.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
If you want what I know, I expect a payment
that was promised.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
The king rolled his neck back and gritted his teeth.
He stood to his feet and grabbed a dagger from
the table. Without warning, the king slammed the dagger downward,
bounded the Ziphite's hand. The boy cried out in agony,
screaming for the king to release his hand.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Please, please stop.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
The king drove the knife down even deeper, leaning over
and snarling in the boy's face.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Tell me what you know Your payment shall be my mercy,
Saul growled. Tell me where David is hiding.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
The zif eyed man winced in pain and screamed.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
He is hiding on the hill of Hachilah.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
The boy could barely breathe, yet Saul leaned down even
more on the blade.
Speaker 5 (07:42):
It is east of Jesseemon you will find him there
in the wilderness. He his men, and their families are
hiding out and fortified. You won't need at least a
thousand men to fight them.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Saul released the blade from the man's hand. The boy
keeled over, holding his hand and crying leave me. I
will have my guard give you your payments, Saul said
quietly and without remorse. His callous heart had already fallen
too low to repent. Saul had surrendered himself to cruelty.
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To him, there was no amount of violence he would
not commit in pursuit of David. He wiped off his
blade and called in his captain, Abner. The captain stood
at attention, pretending not to hear the cries of pain
exiting the halls.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Abner ready three thousand chosen men. King Saul commanded, I
will take no more chances in pursuit of David. We
will wipe him and his band.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Of rebels out. Abner nodded and left immediately to assemble
the army. Saul walked outside on to his balcony and
looked out. The rain clouds were blowing in from the east,
and the cold wind bit at his face. Yet the
king could feel nothing but the burning hatred deep within
his belly. The vast armies of Saul encamped beside the
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hill of Hachilah, east of the road leading to Jeshamon.
The sun was beginning to make its descent, and the
king was anxiously preparing his men for battle on the
other side of the mountain. He knew that David was
trapped there on the other side, and it was only
a matter of time before he had his head. Sitting
on the tip of his spear, the king methodically sharpened
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his spear, imagining what it would finally be like to
pin the giant slayer to the ground. He gave a
debased and evil smile as he checked the sharpness of
the spear. Then he rested it on the ground beside
his bed. Soon enough, he would have David. Soon enough,
his weary mind could finally rest, and the whole world
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would know that he was the true King of Israel.
Hiding in the shadows of the stones at the base
of the mountain was Abeshi and a Himelech, two of
David's most trusted companions. They peered over the stones, counting
the number of men Saul had brought up a against
them over three thousand, Abishi whispered, they outnumber us five
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to one. A Himmelek said, the only hope we have
a striking them before they have a chance to match.
Abishi shook his head.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Even their night watch is larger in number than our men.
We would need a miracle for them to be cut
off guard.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
A Himelek shrugged and gestured up the mountain. We serve
God's anointed, he said, with a chuckle. If anyone will
see be saved by a miracle, is it not? David
Abishi could not argue with them. The favor of God
seemed to follow David wherever he went. He and the
others followed their commander with a type of chaotic optimism.
No matter what kind of trouble they found themselves in.
(10:41):
Grace and mercy seemed to follow them. God was continually
before them, protecting them and saving them. The two men
escaped back into the mountains where David was with the
rest of the men. They had built an encampment fortified
with wooden spears cut down from tree branches. Their families
resided in the caves only a few hundred yards away.
(11:03):
Abishai and a Himelek made it to David. He was
training with a few of the men on the flat
area at the base of the other side of the mountain.
Ah David faced four men. They advanced with their swords,
seeking to disarm him, but David was too quick with
his grave. He parried their advances and was able to
disarm two and knock the other two down with swift
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kicks to the knees and stomach. David was not easy
on his men. He trained them constantly, ensuring that when
the time came for them to defend themselves, they were ready.
He trained them in combat, military tactics, and group formations.
He engendered a great deal of loyalty in his men.
They followed him anywhere without question because they knew he
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was a leader that would lay down his life for them.
Abishai and a Himelek interrupted David's training with the news
of Saul's arrival.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
David the King is on the other side of this
mountain with over three thousand men.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
A Himmelek said, by the looks it.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
They planned to march at tomorrow's first light.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
David strapped his sword onto his back and tightened his armor.
He looked back at Beniah, who was training with him.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Benaiyah, get the men ready for battle. Make sure they
are poised to defend themselves. I will be back at
first light tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Benia nodded and began assembling the men. David moved past
Abashi and Ahimelech and began hiking up the base of
the mountain. The two of them followed, David, Where are
you going, Abishi asked. David looked back and gestured to
the top of the mountain.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Saul looked me in the eye and told me he
would no longer pursue me. Clearly he has broken his word.
I will go and remind him of his disgrace. Either
of you wish to go with me.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Abishi held the hilt of his sword tightly and nodded
at David. I will go with you, David very well,
David said, follow me. So the two of them scaled
the mountain. The sun's rays were beginning to retreat behind
the western hills, and the light of day was replaced
by the flickering torchlight of Saul's camp. David and Abishi
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climbed down the mountain and hid themselves out of view.
Together they watched the patterns of the night Watch, hundreds
of men posted up around the perimeter of camp. They
were upright and at attention, without any sign of wavering.
Abshi looked over at David. He was sitting completely still,
scanning every inch of the camp before it fell under
(13:31):
the shroud of night. David remained there silently, occasionally mumbling
to himself and stroking his beard. What are you doing,
Abishai asked, praying, David said, the Lord will go.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Before us and present an opportunity to enter the camp.
We need only to wait.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
So wait they did. Abishai and David held their position
overlooking the enemy camp. The cloud covered sky slowly began
to break, and the gray haze over the expanse of
the heavyans cleared. Bright and lustrous stars covered the firmament,
and the brisk midnight air settled in their lungs. David
closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. He exhaled a
(14:11):
praise to his God, then gestured forward to the camp.
Abusheim marveled at what he saw before him. The entire
night Watch had retreated to their tents. God had gone
into camp and shot the eyes of Sal's men. David
smirked and stood to his feet. He fastened his weapons
securely onto his back and began to run towards the tent.
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The two men stealthily made their way to the center
of camp, where Sal's tent was. David and Abishi crouched
at the entrance of Sal's tent and looked around. Not
a soul was watching them. Abner, the captain of Sal's
guard and commander of his army, was fast asleep only
ten feet away. David held his finger to his lips,
ensuring Abishi did not make a sound. He then lifted
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the tent entrance to reveal Saul sleeping soundly beside his spear.
David closed the entrance and began to stealthily leave this
confused Abishai, what are you doing, Abishy, whispered.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
God has given your enemy's head on a silver platter.
One not take this opportunity and kill him with his
own spear.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
David shook his head. I will not touch him. He
is the Lord's anointed. I shall not kill the king
of Israel.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
Then, by God, let me do it.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Ambushin whispered intensely.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Let me pin his head to the ground for you.
I will even strike him twice to make sure it's done.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
You will do no such thing, Abashi. No one can
kill the Lord's king and be guiltless.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I will not have you do it. Abishin was noticeably
frustrated and began to lose control. David put his hand
on his shoulder and smiled. His day will come. The
Lord is the one who decides who sits on the throne,
not I. If I take the throne by force, what does
that say about the Lord's favor in my life? It
(16:04):
says only that I know how to kill, not how
to lead. Abish I shook his head and sighed. He
agreed with David, of course. However, it was hard for
him to concede this opportunity. David, of all people, understood
his frustration. He was tired from running. He was weary
from the constant fear of being captured or attacked. He
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wished he could convince Saul somehow that he was not
a threat to him. He felt like he had already
proven it before, but it did not seem to be enough.
David's eyes widened, and he opened the tent back up
to see Saul sleeping beside his spear. He had an idea.
David entered in and crouched next to Saul. He took
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Saul's spear, along with a jar of water resting beside
his blankets. David crouched out of the tent with the
spear and the jar of water. No man saw him
or woke from their sleep. He and abish I retreated
back with the King's spear and water. They stood far
off at the top of a hill. There was a
great deal of space in between them and the camp. There,
(17:08):
David waited for the sun to rise.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
David, why aren't we going back to camp? The men
will be up soon. We do not want three thousand
men to attack us.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
David shook his head. No more running, he said adamantly.
This morning I will humiliate Saul in front of his men.
All of them will see that I am not a
threat to him. If he continues to pursue me, he
will look like a fool in front of his men.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Abishi was busibly nervous. It was a strange plan, yet
these things seemed to usually work out for the giants.
Layer Abitshi had no reason to question him. Now, the
sun peeked over the mountain, and a bright orange hue
covered the tents below. The men began to stir awake,
and David stood tall for all to see him. He
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called out with a loud and booming.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
Voice, Abner, Abner, are you truly worthy to be called
the right hand of the king?
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Abner burst out of his tent. King Saul emerged from
his tent as well. Both of them looked up to
see David standing proudly on the hill for all of
them to see. Saul seethed with anger at the very
sight of him, But before he could say anything, David continued.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Abner, how dare you call yourself a warrior of Israel
when you could not even keep watch over your king.
King Saul is precious and worth protecting. Yet you and
your men have slept on the job you dishonor yourselves
and your position. Come down and fight me, you coward.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Abner said, Oh, but Abner, I already was down last
night when you were fast asleep. David taunted, Why they
are not lies, David shouted. He then gestured to the
king and said.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
My King, Saul, go ahead and see where your spear is.
You will find it is not beside your bed, but
rather next to me. In your jar of water.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Saul looked behind him, and in his tent, no spear
and no jar of water. It was standing upright in
a jar of water beside David. The King was flustered
and embarrassed. Once again, David had the perfect opportunity to
slay him, yet he showed him mercy. Again and again
David showed him mercy. Saul wrestled with feelings of relief, gratitude,
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and hatred all at once. He looked up to David
and shouted.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Is that really you, my son?
Speaker 2 (19:45):
David?
Speaker 4 (19:46):
It is my king?
Speaker 2 (19:49):
David paused abish. I could sense the hurt in David's voice.
He wanted to be strong, but there was clearly sorrow
in his heart that he was trying to hold back.
David outstretched his arms and yelled, why.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
Does the king pursue his servant? What have I done
to you to warrant such hatred? Hear me, O, King,
As I plead with you one last time, in the
presence of your loyal soldiers, let it be known that
this is twice now that I have had the opportunity
to slay you, and twice now I have shown you mercy,
(20:27):
even though you seek to take my life. I have
not raised a hand against you. If it is the
Lord who has inspired this hunt after me, may he
aide you in your quest. Yet, if it is man
who has whispered lies in your ears, let them be
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cursed before the Lord, for you seek my blood to
spill forth on this earth. When I am clearly innocent.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Silence overcame the whole camp. Saul's men were still as
they awaited a response from their king. All this time
they had been told to believe that David was planning
a rebellion against Israel. Yet now King Saul was exposed
as a petty man seeking to take David's life out
of jealousy. With arms stretched out, Saul spoke with a
(21:20):
trembling voice, saying.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
I I have sinned against you, David.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
I was wrong. The entire camp stirred as they heard
the words come out of Sal's mouth. Tears fell down
Saul's cheeks as he lamented before David, saying.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
I have acted foolishly, my son, return, or I shall
not pursue you any further. David shook his head and sighed.
As much as he desired to trust the king, he
did not. David took the King's spear in his hands
and lodged it into the ground. May God be judged
between you and I. Saul, come and take your spear.
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I pray it serves you well.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
With those words, David retreated back into the wilderness with
his men. Abeshi was surprised at David's unrelenting mercy towards Saul,
and he feared it would be his undoing. David knew
that Saul would not pursue him that day. If he did,
his men would surely question this judgment. However, he did
not trust Saul to keep a level head for long.
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He must plan for the time when the king strikes again.
David gathered his men and they packed their things. David
was about to make a decision that would alter the
course of his heart. He was about to enter into
the land of the Philistines.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
God is a god of second chances. This basic and
longstanding truth applies to the city of Nineveh, and it
applies to King Saul. We've been conditioned throughout superhero movies
to think that the hero always has a right to
destroy the villain. It makes for a quick movie, but
it is a poor representation of how our world works.
(23:06):
The Bible teaches us that the real villains are Satan
and the evil dwelling within the heart of humanity. These
villains lurk at the edge of our doorsteps, looking for
an opportunity to strike. If David kills Saul, it would
be out of revenge and nothing else. As evil as
Saul has become, he is not the real enemy. The
real enemy is sin and the slow deterioration of character.
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David doesn't want to be defeated by bitterness, compromise, and sin.
It can be frustrating for us to see Saul get
another chance, just like it was frustrating for Jonah to
see NINEV get another chance. But if Jonah was after
the heart of God, like David, he would have seen
what God sees. God sees the potential for good in
every human being and the beauty that can be birthed
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from mercy. Where would you be if nobody ever gave
you more chances? Aren't you grateful for receiving mercy when
you know you didn't deserve it. David will certainly need mercy,
and a lot of it in the coming episodes. After
the prelude, we are brought into a familiar space the
royal city of Gibea. In Saul's palace, a familiar scene
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is set before us, with King Saul brooding near a
fire and plotting David's demise. The Shepherd's previous acts of
compassion have only made Saul hate him more, since righteousness
always angers unrighteousness. In this opening scene, Saul is gripping
his spear tightly. The story reminds us of the spear
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several times in this episode. His weapon is mentioned more
than a dozen times because it is a key metaphor.
The spear represents the throne of Israel and the mantle
of King. Saul anxiously holds on to it and weighs
it around haphazardly. He fantasizes about using it to destroy David.
(25:00):
In the end, David ends up with it in his possession.
David gets the spear easily as if it was handed
to him. At the end of the episode, David gives
it back to Saul and leaves. This is a grand
metaphor of David and Saul's relationship to the throne. Saul
anxiously keeps it with him at all times, but David
is able to take it in an instant but refuses
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to keep it as long as it belongs to Saul.
The kingdom is David's for the taking. It was prophesied
by Samuel on an episode three, the Lord has sought
out another to replace you. He has sought out a
man who is after his own heart. He has sought
out a man who cares more about pleasing the heart
of God than looking for the approval of man. This
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king shall be prince over the Lord's people. He shall
steward God's people well, and it will be his kingdom
that continues into eternity. An episode four, Samuel mentions it again,
saying this kingdom will go to another. God has already
chosen him. He is a man that seeks after the
heart of God more than the heart of people. David
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has been given the kingdom. Saul is just barring it
for a while. If David truly wanted to seize it,
he could just like the spear. The integrity of the
throne is another theme explored in this chapter. In this episode,
Abishah is like us, wondering why David won't take him out.
Some of you may feel similarly and would also encourage
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David to just kill Saul and take the throne, but
David says something interesting that we haven't heard before. Abishah
begs David to kill Saul, but he responds saying his
day will come. The Lord is the one who decides
who sits on the throne, not I. If I take
the throne by force, what does that say about the
Lord's favor in my life? It says only that I
(26:47):
know how to kill, not how to lead. David wants
the throne of Israel to be more like a spoil
of war. If he kills Saul to take command, it
communicates that the throne goes to the strongest man, favored man.
David wants God to be who establishes his king that conquest.
David won't kill Saul because if he really is chosen
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by God to be the king, he will be the
king at the right time. Does David's integrity inspire you
or annoy you? It should do a little bit of both.
The strength of David's character is an inspiration to us,
while also challenging our hearts to be better. Jesus does
this as well. He comforts us and reminds us of
his mercy. It is encouraging to know we have a
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strong and mighty God on our side who loves us
and accepts us. However, the character of Christ also challenges
us and calls us up to be better and walk
with more integrity. We live in a world where people
expect you to either be affirming or challenging, but Jesus
managed to be both. David managed to be both with Saul.
(27:53):
He honored, respected, and praised Saul, but he also called
him out on his sin. It seems like David was
able to balance truth and love in his hands. Paul
says in Ephesians, speaking the truth in love, we are
to grow up in every respects into Him who is
the head, into Christ. David was honest, truthful, and challenging
(28:15):
in his speech, but he never once wavered in showing
Saul love. Both are required for genuine transformation to occur.
At the end of this episode, David secures a little
more safety for himself and his men. Saul's men see
that David isn't the threat, and it definitely brought the
King's motives into question. David has ensured that Saul won't
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march against him without some sort of mass manipulation. However,
David also realizes that he can no longer stay in
Israel while Saul is king, so he takes his men
out of the land and into the territory of the Philistines.
What adventures and events await the giant slay of Air
we will find out in our next episode, A Friend
(28:59):
of the Enemy. Thanks again for listening from more inspiring stories,
daily prayers and wisdom to last the lifetime, go to
pray dot com and to expand your heroes in the
Bible Journey, download the Heroes of the Faith devotional at
Tonyevans dot org. Forward Slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on
Apple or Spotify to get the newest episodes right as
(29:22):
they come out, and always be inspired by the Bible.
God bless
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans and I'm excited for you
to join me on Heroes in the Bible. 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, chealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
(00:21):
and murder. While most people know of David the myth,
few know about David the man. In this episode, David
is given another chance to seize the throne and end
his misery. Opportunities to end his suffering constantly present themselves,
yet David has always refused to take them. Our hero
(00:41):
can be frustratingly noble, sometimes defying basic logic to stick
to his principles. How many times will he keep saying
no to his convictions? When will he finally decide enough
is enough? Everyone has their limit and this could be David's.
Saul is going to mount another attack and David will
once again stand over his sleeping body poised to strike.
(01:06):
This episode features a more callous David. The constant disrespect
from Saul is starting to get to him, and you
get the sense that his patience is wearing thin, look
for signs of volatility from David, and question whether he
can last much longer in the wilderness. The events of
this episode lead him to a much darker period of
(01:27):
his life, and we cannot help but feel sorry for
the giant slayer at the end. So far, his noble
acts have gotten him nowhere. It's time for him to
indulge a little and take command. Before we find out
the answer, we will begin with the prelude. This prelude
features Jonah An angry and bitter profit. Many cute Bible
(01:49):
stories have been told about him, but he is no hero.
He has a callous heart and would rather have judgment
than mercy. God reveals his heart in an interesting way
to Jonah. We would be wise to take his message
to heart. Let's get into it. Here's Chapter fourteen, The
King's Spear.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Prelude to Chapter fourteen. Jonah anxiously awaited the demise of
the city. He sat in great anticipation, waiting for fire
to fall from the heavens, or a burst of lightning
and rain to dissent from the skies. Yet there was silence.
No divine judgment was cast down on the city of Nineveh.
(02:34):
The wicked people did not receive the wrath that Jonah
had hoped, and he hated God for it. Jonah picked
up a stone and threw it towards the city. He
yelled and cried out to God, waving his fist high
in the air.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
They deserved to die, he yelled.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
They are bad people.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
I fled from you because I knew you would show
them mercy and spare them if I came here.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
And you did suit right for.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
You to have this anger, Jonah, God asked with a
gentle tone. Jonah was angry. He paced back and forth,
raging against God. He placed himself underneath the shade of
a tree. Its long branches provided a pleasant shade from
the harsh sun. Jonah settled in underneath it and crossed
his arms. His blood was boiling with anger. He breathed
(03:23):
in deeply and closed his eyes. The tree enveloped him
in shade, shielding him from the scorching sun. About in
that moment, he loved that tree more than anything else
on earth. He let his mind wander, dreaming over simpler times.
As Jonah rested in its arms, he fell into a
deep and peaceful sleep. That night, the Lord sent a
(03:46):
worm to gnaw at the tree's roots, taking away its life.
It infected the tree and caused its leaves to wither
and fall. The tree shriveled in its place, and the
lush and vibrant sanctuary for Jonah was reduced to rotting
bark and fruit. Jonah awoke to see his beloved tree dead.
Even more anger fell upon him. Hot air blew in
(04:09):
from the east, and his skin began to crack and blister.
Jonah threw himself onto the floor and banged at the ground.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
Why God, first you spare my enemies, now you take
away my only comfort.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Why do you torture me so? Jonah wept and whispered,
It would be better for me to just die.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Are you justified in your anger about the plant?
Speaker 6 (04:36):
God asked Jonah. You pity this plant for which you
did not plant. You did not help it grow, You
did not want or care for it, Yet you loved
it and wanted it to live.
Speaker 7 (04:54):
Should I not care more for Nineveh? It is not
a plant, but his city with more than one hundred
twenty thousand people who do not know what is right
or wrong? Shouldn't I care more for them than your
precious tree?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
In God's questions to Jonah, an important and ancient truth
was revealed. God is a god of second chances. He
desires for life, repentance, and true transformation. While Jonah desired
quick and swift justice for his enemies. A true hero
of God desires for restoration. He will patiently wait for
(05:39):
those who are far to come back to the Lord,
no matter how painful the journey may be. Chapter fourteen,
The King Spear. The royal city of Gibea rested under
the black and skies. The twinkling stars were covered by
dark clouds. The light was hidden from King Saul. Even
(06:01):
as he sat by the fire, there was no warmth
for his cold and darkened soul. He stared at the
flames flickering before his eyes, reeling over his last encounter
with David, the young shepherd he had sought for so
many months, had the upper hand, yet chose to show
him mercy. He did not love him for it. Rather,
(06:21):
Saul hated David even more for his compassion. David held
the heart of a true king, and with every act
of mercy, Saul despised him all the more. Saul's paranoid
and anxious thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his
chamber doors. Come in, the king said, gripping the shaft
of his spear. The door opened. A man from Zif
(06:44):
was brought in by one of his guards. The king
gestured to the seat across from him sit He said, shortly,
tell me what you have discovered.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I was promised payment.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
The man said, with a sly grin.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
If you want what I know, I expect a payment
that was promised.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
The king rolled his neck back and gritted his teeth.
He stood to his feet and grabbed a dagger from
the table. Without warning, the king slammed the dagger downward,
bounded the Ziphite's hand. The boy cried out in agony,
screaming for the king to release his hand.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Please, please stop.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
The king drove the knife down even deeper, leaning over
and snarling in the boy's face.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Tell me what you know Your payment shall be my mercy,
Saul growled. Tell me where David is hiding.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
The zif eyed man winced in pain and screamed.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
He is hiding on the hill of Hachilah.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
The boy could barely breathe, yet Saul leaned down even
more on the blade.
Speaker 5 (07:42):
It is east of Jesseemon you will find him there
in the wilderness. He his men, and their families are
hiding out and fortified. You won't need at least a
thousand men to fight them.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Saul released the blade from the man's hand. The boy
keeled over, holding his hand and crying leave me. I
will have my guard give you your payments, Saul said
quietly and without remorse. His callous heart had already fallen
too low to repent. Saul had surrendered himself to cruelty.
(08:13):
To him, there was no amount of violence he would
not commit in pursuit of David. He wiped off his
blade and called in his captain, Abner. The captain stood
at attention, pretending not to hear the cries of pain
exiting the halls.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Abner ready three thousand chosen men. King Saul commanded, I
will take no more chances in pursuit of David. We
will wipe him and his band.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Of rebels out. Abner nodded and left immediately to assemble
the army. Saul walked outside on to his balcony and
looked out. The rain clouds were blowing in from the east,
and the cold wind bit at his face. Yet the
king could feel nothing but the burning hatred deep within
his belly. The vast armies of Saul encamped beside the
(09:02):
hill of Hachilah, east of the road leading to Jeshamon.
The sun was beginning to make its descent, and the
king was anxiously preparing his men for battle on the
other side of the mountain. He knew that David was
trapped there on the other side, and it was only
a matter of time before he had his head. Sitting
on the tip of his spear, the king methodically sharpened
(09:23):
his spear, imagining what it would finally be like to
pin the giant slayer to the ground. He gave a
debased and evil smile as he checked the sharpness of
the spear. Then he rested it on the ground beside
his bed. Soon enough, he would have David. Soon enough,
his weary mind could finally rest, and the whole world
(09:44):
would know that he was the true King of Israel.
Hiding in the shadows of the stones at the base
of the mountain was Abeshi and a Himelech, two of
David's most trusted companions. They peered over the stones, counting
the number of men Saul had brought up a against
them over three thousand, Abishi whispered, they outnumber us five
(10:05):
to one. A Himmelek said, the only hope we have
a striking them before they have a chance to match.
Abishi shook his head.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Even their night watch is larger in number than our men.
We would need a miracle for them to be cut
off guard.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
A Himelek shrugged and gestured up the mountain. We serve
God's anointed, he said, with a chuckle. If anyone will
see be saved by a miracle, is it not? David
Abishi could not argue with them. The favor of God
seemed to follow David wherever he went. He and the
others followed their commander with a type of chaotic optimism.
No matter what kind of trouble they found themselves in.
(10:41):
Grace and mercy seemed to follow them. God was continually
before them, protecting them and saving them. The two men
escaped back into the mountains where David was with the
rest of the men. They had built an encampment fortified
with wooden spears cut down from tree branches. Their families
resided in the caves only a few hundred yards away.
(11:03):
Abishai and a Himelek made it to David. He was
training with a few of the men on the flat
area at the base of the other side of the mountain.
Ah David faced four men. They advanced with their swords,
seeking to disarm him, but David was too quick with
his grave. He parried their advances and was able to
disarm two and knock the other two down with swift
(11:23):
kicks to the knees and stomach. David was not easy
on his men. He trained them constantly, ensuring that when
the time came for them to defend themselves, they were ready.
He trained them in combat, military tactics, and group formations.
He engendered a great deal of loyalty in his men.
They followed him anywhere without question because they knew he
(11:45):
was a leader that would lay down his life for them.
Abishai and a Himelek interrupted David's training with the news
of Saul's arrival.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
David the King is on the other side of this
mountain with over three thousand men.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
A Himmelek said, by the looks it.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
They planned to march at tomorrow's first light.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
David strapped his sword onto his back and tightened his armor.
He looked back at Beniah, who was training with him.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Benaiyah, get the men ready for battle. Make sure they
are poised to defend themselves. I will be back at
first light tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Benia nodded and began assembling the men. David moved past
Abashi and Ahimelech and began hiking up the base of
the mountain. The two of them followed, David, Where are
you going, Abishi asked. David looked back and gestured to
the top of the mountain.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Saul looked me in the eye and told me he
would no longer pursue me. Clearly he has broken his word.
I will go and remind him of his disgrace. Either
of you wish to go with me.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Abishi held the hilt of his sword tightly and nodded
at David. I will go with you, David very well,
David said, follow me. So the two of them scaled
the mountain. The sun's rays were beginning to retreat behind
the western hills, and the light of day was replaced
by the flickering torchlight of Saul's camp. David and Abishi
(13:10):
climbed down the mountain and hid themselves out of view.
Together they watched the patterns of the night Watch, hundreds
of men posted up around the perimeter of camp. They
were upright and at attention, without any sign of wavering.
Abshi looked over at David. He was sitting completely still,
scanning every inch of the camp before it fell under
(13:31):
the shroud of night. David remained there silently, occasionally mumbling
to himself and stroking his beard. What are you doing,
Abishai asked, praying, David said, the Lord will go.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Before us and present an opportunity to enter the camp.
We need only to wait.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
So wait they did. Abishai and David held their position
overlooking the enemy camp. The cloud covered sky slowly began
to break, and the gray haze over the expanse of
the heavyans cleared. Bright and lustrous stars covered the firmament,
and the brisk midnight air settled in their lungs. David
closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. He exhaled a
(14:11):
praise to his God, then gestured forward to the camp.
Abusheim marveled at what he saw before him. The entire
night Watch had retreated to their tents. God had gone
into camp and shot the eyes of Sal's men. David
smirked and stood to his feet. He fastened his weapons
securely onto his back and began to run towards the tent.
(14:34):
The two men stealthily made their way to the center
of camp, where Sal's tent was. David and Abishi crouched
at the entrance of Sal's tent and looked around. Not
a soul was watching them. Abner, the captain of Sal's
guard and commander of his army, was fast asleep only
ten feet away. David held his finger to his lips,
ensuring Abishi did not make a sound. He then lifted
(14:57):
the tent entrance to reveal Saul sleeping soundly beside his spear.
David closed the entrance and began to stealthily leave this
confused Abishai, what are you doing, Abishy, whispered.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
God has given your enemy's head on a silver platter.
One not take this opportunity and kill him with his
own spear.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
David shook his head. I will not touch him. He
is the Lord's anointed. I shall not kill the king
of Israel.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
Then, by God, let me do it.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Ambushin whispered intensely.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Let me pin his head to the ground for you.
I will even strike him twice to make sure it's done.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
You will do no such thing, Abashi. No one can
kill the Lord's king and be guiltless.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I will not have you do it. Abishin was noticeably
frustrated and began to lose control. David put his hand
on his shoulder and smiled. His day will come. The
Lord is the one who decides who sits on the throne,
not I. If I take the throne by force, what does
that say about the Lord's favor in my life? It
(16:04):
says only that I know how to kill, not how
to lead. Abish I shook his head and sighed. He
agreed with David, of course. However, it was hard for
him to concede this opportunity. David, of all people, understood
his frustration. He was tired from running. He was weary
from the constant fear of being captured or attacked. He
(16:25):
wished he could convince Saul somehow that he was not
a threat to him. He felt like he had already
proven it before, but it did not seem to be enough.
David's eyes widened, and he opened the tent back up
to see Saul sleeping beside his spear. He had an idea.
David entered in and crouched next to Saul. He took
(16:46):
Saul's spear, along with a jar of water resting beside
his blankets. David crouched out of the tent with the
spear and the jar of water. No man saw him
or woke from their sleep. He and abish I retreated
back with the King's spear and water. They stood far
off at the top of a hill. There was a
great deal of space in between them and the camp. There,
(17:08):
David waited for the sun to rise.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
David, why aren't we going back to camp? The men
will be up soon. We do not want three thousand
men to attack us.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
David shook his head. No more running, he said adamantly.
This morning I will humiliate Saul in front of his men.
All of them will see that I am not a
threat to him. If he continues to pursue me, he
will look like a fool in front of his men.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Abishi was busibly nervous. It was a strange plan, yet
these things seemed to usually work out for the giants.
Layer Abitshi had no reason to question him. Now, the
sun peeked over the mountain, and a bright orange hue
covered the tents below. The men began to stir awake,
and David stood tall for all to see him. He
(17:57):
called out with a loud and booming.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
Voice, Abner, Abner, are you truly worthy to be called
the right hand of the king?
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Abner burst out of his tent. King Saul emerged from
his tent as well. Both of them looked up to
see David standing proudly on the hill for all of
them to see. Saul seethed with anger at the very
sight of him, But before he could say anything, David continued.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Abner, how dare you call yourself a warrior of Israel
when you could not even keep watch over your king.
King Saul is precious and worth protecting. Yet you and
your men have slept on the job you dishonor yourselves
and your position. Come down and fight me, you coward.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Abner said, Oh, but Abner, I already was down last
night when you were fast asleep. David taunted, Why they
are not lies, David shouted. He then gestured to the
king and said.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
My King, Saul, go ahead and see where your spear is.
You will find it is not beside your bed, but
rather next to me. In your jar of water.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Saul looked behind him, and in his tent, no spear
and no jar of water. It was standing upright in
a jar of water beside David. The King was flustered
and embarrassed. Once again, David had the perfect opportunity to
slay him, yet he showed him mercy. Again and again
David showed him mercy. Saul wrestled with feelings of relief, gratitude,
(19:38):
and hatred all at once. He looked up to David
and shouted.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Is that really you, my son?
Speaker 2 (19:45):
David?
Speaker 4 (19:46):
It is my king?
Speaker 2 (19:49):
David paused abish. I could sense the hurt in David's voice.
He wanted to be strong, but there was clearly sorrow
in his heart that he was trying to hold back.
David outstretched his arms and yelled, why.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
Does the king pursue his servant? What have I done
to you to warrant such hatred? Hear me, O, King,
As I plead with you one last time, in the
presence of your loyal soldiers, let it be known that
this is twice now that I have had the opportunity
to slay you, and twice now I have shown you mercy,
(20:27):
even though you seek to take my life. I have
not raised a hand against you. If it is the
Lord who has inspired this hunt after me, may he
aide you in your quest. Yet, if it is man
who has whispered lies in your ears, let them be
(20:48):
cursed before the Lord, for you seek my blood to
spill forth on this earth. When I am clearly innocent.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Silence overcame the whole camp. Saul's men were still as
they awaited a response from their king. All this time
they had been told to believe that David was planning
a rebellion against Israel. Yet now King Saul was exposed
as a petty man seeking to take David's life out
of jealousy. With arms stretched out, Saul spoke with a
(21:20):
trembling voice, saying.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
I I have sinned against you, David.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
I was wrong. The entire camp stirred as they heard
the words come out of Sal's mouth. Tears fell down
Saul's cheeks as he lamented before David, saying.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
I have acted foolishly, my son, return, or I shall
not pursue you any further. David shook his head and sighed.
As much as he desired to trust the king, he
did not. David took the King's spear in his hands
and lodged it into the ground. May God be judged
between you and I. Saul, come and take your spear.
(22:03):
I pray it serves you well.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
With those words, David retreated back into the wilderness with
his men. Abeshi was surprised at David's unrelenting mercy towards Saul,
and he feared it would be his undoing. David knew
that Saul would not pursue him that day. If he did,
his men would surely question this judgment. However, he did
not trust Saul to keep a level head for long.
(22:27):
He must plan for the time when the king strikes again.
David gathered his men and they packed their things. David
was about to make a decision that would alter the
course of his heart. He was about to enter into
the land of the Philistines.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
God is a god of second chances. This basic and
longstanding truth applies to the city of Nineveh, and it
applies to King Saul. We've been conditioned throughout superhero movies
to think that the hero always has a right to
destroy the villain. It makes for a quick movie, but
it is a poor representation of how our world works.
(23:06):
The Bible teaches us that the real villains are Satan
and the evil dwelling within the heart of humanity. These
villains lurk at the edge of our doorsteps, looking for
an opportunity to strike. If David kills Saul, it would
be out of revenge and nothing else. As evil as
Saul has become, he is not the real enemy. The
real enemy is sin and the slow deterioration of character.
(23:30):
David doesn't want to be defeated by bitterness, compromise, and sin.
It can be frustrating for us to see Saul get
another chance, just like it was frustrating for Jonah to
see NINEV get another chance. But if Jonah was after
the heart of God, like David, he would have seen
what God sees. God sees the potential for good in
every human being and the beauty that can be birthed
(23:52):
from mercy. Where would you be if nobody ever gave
you more chances? Aren't you grateful for receiving mercy when
you know you didn't deserve it. David will certainly need mercy,
and a lot of it in the coming episodes. After
the prelude, we are brought into a familiar space the
royal city of Gibea. In Saul's palace, a familiar scene
(24:17):
is set before us, with King Saul brooding near a
fire and plotting David's demise. The Shepherd's previous acts of
compassion have only made Saul hate him more, since righteousness
always angers unrighteousness. In this opening scene, Saul is gripping
his spear tightly. The story reminds us of the spear
(24:38):
several times in this episode. His weapon is mentioned more
than a dozen times because it is a key metaphor.
The spear represents the throne of Israel and the mantle
of King. Saul anxiously holds on to it and weighs
it around haphazardly. He fantasizes about using it to destroy David.
(25:00):
In the end, David ends up with it in his possession.
David gets the spear easily as if it was handed
to him. At the end of the episode, David gives
it back to Saul and leaves. This is a grand
metaphor of David and Saul's relationship to the throne. Saul
anxiously keeps it with him at all times, but David
is able to take it in an instant but refuses
(25:23):
to keep it as long as it belongs to Saul.
The kingdom is David's for the taking. It was prophesied
by Samuel on an episode three, the Lord has sought
out another to replace you. He has sought out a
man who is after his own heart. He has sought
out a man who cares more about pleasing the heart
of God than looking for the approval of man. This
(25:43):
king shall be prince over the Lord's people. He shall
steward God's people well, and it will be his kingdom
that continues into eternity. An episode four, Samuel mentions it again,
saying this kingdom will go to another. God has already
chosen him. He is a man that seeks after the
heart of God more than the heart of people. David
(26:03):
has been given the kingdom. Saul is just barring it
for a while. If David truly wanted to seize it,
he could just like the spear. The integrity of the
throne is another theme explored in this chapter. In this episode,
Abishah is like us, wondering why David won't take him out.
Some of you may feel similarly and would also encourage
(26:25):
David to just kill Saul and take the throne, but
David says something interesting that we haven't heard before. Abishah
begs David to kill Saul, but he responds saying his
day will come. The Lord is the one who decides
who sits on the throne, not I. If I take
the throne by force, what does that say about the
Lord's favor in my life? It says only that I
(26:47):
know how to kill, not how to lead. David wants
the throne of Israel to be more like a spoil
of war. If he kills Saul to take command, it
communicates that the throne goes to the strongest man, favored man.
David wants God to be who establishes his king that conquest.
David won't kill Saul because if he really is chosen
(27:09):
by God to be the king, he will be the
king at the right time. Does David's integrity inspire you
or annoy you? It should do a little bit of both.
The strength of David's character is an inspiration to us,
while also challenging our hearts to be better. Jesus does
this as well. He comforts us and reminds us of
his mercy. It is encouraging to know we have a
(27:31):
strong and mighty God on our side who loves us
and accepts us. However, the character of Christ also challenges
us and calls us up to be better and walk
with more integrity. We live in a world where people
expect you to either be affirming or challenging, but Jesus
managed to be both. David managed to be both with Saul.
(27:53):
He honored, respected, and praised Saul, but he also called
him out on his sin. It seems like David was
able to balance truth and love in his hands. Paul
says in Ephesians, speaking the truth in love, we are
to grow up in every respects into Him who is
the head, into Christ. David was honest, truthful, and challenging
(28:15):
in his speech, but he never once wavered in showing
Saul love. Both are required for genuine transformation to occur.
At the end of this episode, David secures a little
more safety for himself and his men. Saul's men see
that David isn't the threat, and it definitely brought the
King's motives into question. David has ensured that Saul won't
(28:38):
march against him without some sort of mass manipulation. However,
David also realizes that he can no longer stay in
Israel while Saul is king, so he takes his men
out of the land and into the territory of the Philistines.
What adventures and events await the giant slay of Air
we will find out in our next episode, A Friend
(28:59):
of the Enemy. Thanks again for listening from more inspiring stories,
daily prayers and wisdom to last the lifetime, go to
pray dot com and to expand your heroes in the
Bible Journey, download the Heroes of the Faith devotional at
Tonyevans dot org. Forward Slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on
Apple or Spotify to get the newest episodes right as
(29:22):
they come out, and always be inspired by the Bible.
God bless
Host
Dr. Tony Evans
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