September 12, 2025 • 52 mins
Chapter 22 of Heroes in the Bible: David with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by 2 Samuel 8-10.
The Worshipful Warrior - David is not like other kings. His warfare is not for his own glory, and his heart’s calling is not bloodshed. His desire is to worship his God. ~18 pages
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
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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 Evan, your host for Heroes in
the Bible. If you've enjoyed this podcast so far, please
share it with your family and friends and help us
spread God's word. Welcome to the epic Adventure of David,
a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
and murder. While most people know of David the myth,
(00:22):
few know about David the man. In this episode, we
will get a grand view of the King's faith. We
get to peek behind the curtain to see some of
the more intimate conversations David has with God. We also
get to see him leading the people in praise while
also learning some hard lessons about God's holiness. This is
(00:43):
one of my favorite episodes because we get a more
extensive look at God's interaction with David. Before he has
been a figure to speak in some small burst and
move behind the scenes. This episode places God as a
prominent character. More than that, God is the warrior and king.
In this episode, you will be amazed to witness God
(01:06):
lead a battle, lead a worship session, and lead the
decisions of the king. David is like us in this episode,
simply watching God in amazement. This episode also introduces some
inner conflict in doubt. It's a healthy thing to struggle
with God. Israel does mean to wrestle with God, after all.
(01:27):
David has some lower moments of doubt. He questions God's
motives and seeks more clarity on the decisions he's made.
David lays out a great example for us in this episode.
He models what it is like to struggle through doubt,
ask questions, and be content with an answer that is given.
At the end of the episode, God gives David a
(01:48):
grand promise. It's a promise we all knew was coming,
but as he speaks, we can't help but step back
and offe. God has been on a rescue mission since
the beginning of mankind, and David is being roped into
the process. I can't wait to enjoy this episode with you.
Here is episode twenty two, The Worshipful Warrior.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Prelude to Chapter twenty two. Bezilel was the finest craftsman
in all the twelve tribes of Israel. His mind was
created and formed by the Lord for a singular purpose,
to build the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle
of God. He was charged with a great honor and
a frightening responsibility. The Lord himself inspired the plans, and
(02:39):
Bezilel would not allow himself to flinch. He ran his
hands through the freshly catacasia would He smoothed the blades
until it was as smooth as ivory. Methodically and carefully,
he crafted and carved the wood into a box three
feet nine inches long, two feet three inches wide, and
two feet three inches high. He measured them perfectly, ensuring
(03:01):
it was not off one degree. In the dead of night,
Bezilel stoked his furnace with coals. The fire raged until
it was unbearably hot. In an iron pot, he melted
down gold taken from Egypt. The gold slowly turned molten, refined,
and purified again and again under the hot fire. Bezilel
poured it out and created a molding for the inside
(03:24):
and outside of the ark. The ark shimmered in the firelight.
Bezilel rubbed it with a piece of cloth, looking at
his reflection in the purified gold. He then moved on
to the four rings of gold for its feet, and
the two rings of gold on each side. He carved
poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with another gold molding.
(03:45):
These poles would carry the ark. Bezelel could imagine the
Levites lifting the arc over their shoulders with them. He
beamed with pride as he ran his rough craspman hands
over the smooth wood. More gold was poured into the
iron and melted down. Bezilel took the large and malleable
piece of gold out of the fire and touched his
(04:05):
blade to it. Out of the formless piece of precious metal,
he carved two beautiful cherubim. Once they dried in the
cool midnight air, he took them back to the tent
and hammered them into the ark on either side. The
cherubim's wings spread above the arm and met in the middle.
Their shadow was cast over the ark, protecting the mercy
(04:26):
seat he crafted between the cherubim. Bezelel took a step
back and observed what he had just created. Within the ark,
he placed the tablets of the Law that Moses brought
down from Mount Sinai, a jar of Manna, and Aaron's
rod that miraculously budded as a confirmation of his leadership,
relics that testified to God's faithfulness. The craftsman sighed and smiled.
(04:51):
It was complete, a symbol of God's presence, faithfulness, an
unwavering devotion to his people was completed. Chapter twenty two.
The worshipful warrior Ah King Akish screamed as he flipped
the table in front of his throne. Servants scattered as
the philistine king raved and swung his sword in anger.
(05:14):
He threw his spear at the pelts mounted on the
wall and yelled again.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
I let David into my lad. I fed him, housed him,
and let him thrive. Now he has been made king
of Israel.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
The massive king kicked over the iron pit holding his
fine ambers poured out out of the stone floor, making
the whole room heat up. King Akish was beside himself
with rage. He felt like a fool for trusting David
and allowing him to reside in his kingdom.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
I want his head on a pike, he yelled. Gather
all the able men we have. Send word to the
other kings. I shall slaughter him as I did king's soul.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
The servants and commanders of Akish bowed in fear, then
left the throne room to follow his order. It did
not take long for some of the other Philistine kings
to gather their soldiers as well. A united Philistine army
was coming for the head of King David. Under the
moonlit sky, David walked the streets of Jerusalem. The moon
(06:16):
provided a rare covering of light, so he could stroll
in the evening without hindrance. It was a peaceful exercise
for his burdened mind. The warmth of summer was a
pleasant companion as he walked and prayed to the Lord.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
Akish and his armies have come up against us.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
He prayed to God.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
If I march, will you give us victory? Will your
favor go before us?
Speaker 2 (06:40):
David had taken great care into being attentive to the
Lord's voice. In chaos and doubt, David leaned upon the
gentle and quiet voice of the Lord. He listened for
a voice in the silence of his mind. In the
stillness of the night. God answered, saying, go, for.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
I will certainly give the Phillie stings into your hand.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
David took in a deep breath. He filled his lungs
with the breath of God's spirit. He was no longer
a rogue warrior from Israel. He was now the warrior
king and protector of God's people. Days later, David marched
with his army to a large valley between the two nations.
The wind howled in his direction, galloping through the hills
(07:24):
and up towards him and his men. David felt a
slight rumble in the ground. He looked at the valley below.
The Philistines were approaching. The enemy hoard led by King
akish A, massed at the center of the valley. David
peered over, seeing that they were in a different formation
than usual. Typically, the Philistine armies liked to march with
(07:45):
their finest warriors at the tip and break through like
a spear. Yet this time they created a barricade of
shield bears around the perimeter and set their archers behind
and in the center.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
If we march, their archers fire, he said. They want
us to march at them. They are hoping for it.
They will surely defeat us before we even reach them.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
He wondered how he might break through their fortifications without
first being shot down by their archers. As he was thinking,
he felt the wind again. It was blowing directly at him.
The wind had a direct path from the valley up
through the rolling hills, where they stood if they marched
straight forward, the wind would surely pick up the arrows
and give the Philistines more range. Then David lit up
(08:29):
with an idea. He turned to Joab and said, tell
our men to break into two groups. We will attack
the Philistines on either side of the valley. What of
their archers, Joab asked.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
David raised his hand in the air. You feel the
direction of the wind. If we move from our place
and form at the flanks, the archer's arrows will have
too much resistance to land a good shot. If we
pursue fast enough, they will have no time to adapt,
and victory will be ours.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Joab bowed his head and did as David commanded. The
army was split into two, and they swiftly marched in
either direction of the Philistines. David unsheathed his sword and
began his descent against the Philistines. Joab pursued the enemy
on the other side of the valley. The wind howled
against David's left side and Joab's right side as the
(09:23):
two of them sprinted towards the enemy. Sure enough, the
archers drew back their bows and fired, but the wind
was too strong to keep the arrows on course. Few
Israelites were hit and pursuit, and David and the others
were rope through the enemy lines like raging waters through
it dam King David was the first to break through,
leaping at one of the shield bearers and knocking him over.
(09:46):
It was the first battle with the United Armies of
Israel into their new king, and the victory was swift
and decisive. The warrior King danced through the enemy ranks
with rapid strokes of his sword and faules determinatedtines will
remind him of why they've once feared David. The giants
Layer King Akish, a king that was no stranger to war,
(10:08):
called for his men to retreat. David and the armies
of the Lord were too overwhelming, breaking through each defense
system they put in place. The children of God cheered
as their enemies fled in defeat. David rose his blood
silk sword high in the air, and he turned to
his men and cheered with them.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
On this ground, we have broken through our enemy with
unrelenting force, Like mighty and rushing waters. We have overwhelmed
the Philistines. Thus this unnamed valley shall now be called
bail Perish, which means breakthrough, For the Lord is a
god of breakthroughs. The Lord is a god of power
(10:51):
over all those who had seek to enslave us.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
The crowd erupted in earthshaking praise for their God and
their king. This was his fish victory as king over Israel,
and it would not be his last. The camp of
the Philistines was close by. The men began to sift
through their belonging, seeing what wealth they could bring home.
(11:15):
David saw tent erected in the middle of their camp.
The material was a deep blue, with golden poles keeping
it upright. David walked inside to see statues and idols
erected to the Philistine gods Dagon, Gaza, and Ashdod. Offerings
of human blood laced the floor of the altars. The
sight made David cringe. For all you praying and sacrifice
(11:38):
to these gods, where has it gotten you? David whispered
to himself, What does it profit you to worship these
impersonal statues. He gestured for his men to pack up
the idols and take them away. Today was the Lord's victory,
and David would not allow these false gods to remain standing.
(11:58):
Two months passed and the Philistines had time to regain
their strength and try again to knock at the borders
of Israel. Akish and the United Philistine Kings amassed a
greater army than before, pulling in mercenaries and hired servants
from other nations. Joab sent spies to scout out the
encroaching Horde. They returned with bleak reports.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
They have settled near our borders, out in the valley of.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Refaem, They said.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
The enemy is more vast in number than before, stretching
across the whole valley beyond the forest.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Joe Ab, disturbed by the news, brought it to David.
He knelt before the king with great distress. However, David
remained silent and contemplative. David stood up from his throne
and walked down the steps of his home. His humble
gardens were out front, soaking in the final rays of
the day. The sun was heavy in the sky and
(12:51):
about to tuck itself under the horizon. David strolled among
the garden, feeling the flowers and listening to the rustling
of leaves above. Even though he had just defeated the
Philistines before it by no means gave him a false
sense of security. He knew that every battle was won
or lost by the will and sovereignty of God. He
refused to march unless the Lord had ordered it. So,
(13:13):
as the sun's final light collapsed under the hills, David
knelt by the olive trees to pray.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
They have returned.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Lord David whispered, what shall we do? Once again, David
implored of his God. He looked to him like a
sheep does to his shepherd, and like the Lord had
done so many times before, he answered him.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
You shall not go up against them.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
The Lord said. David's head tilted to the side at
the thought. He did not expect that answer. However, the
Lord continued to speak to David in the quietness of
his heart.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Go around the armies of the Philistines to the rear.
Wait there opposite the balsam trees. When you hear the
sound of marching of the bosom trees, then rouse your
army and fight, for I will go out before you
(14:09):
to strike down the armies of the Philistines.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
David smirked and shook his head. He raised his smile
to the sky and nodded. He was overjoyed and amused
that God would not just give him permission to fight,
but also give him marching orders. There was great comfort
in taking orders from the commander of the heavens, So
onward they marched around the valley of Raphaeim, unnoticed by
(14:34):
the Philistines. The tree coverings and sloped hills provided a
perfect cover for David and his armies. They were able
to remain hidden from the Philistines while being only a
quarter mile away from them. As the evening approached, David
had his men rest. However, the king remained awake. He
listened to the trees above him.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
What are we waiting for again.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Shama asked. David smiled and looked up marching s said
the men were confused. Whoever, the King often confused them.
He had a connection to the divine that they had
trouble comprehending. He was attuned to the character, prompting, and
movement of God in a unique way. As they tucked
themselves in for the night, David continued to turn his
(15:16):
ear to the trees. He was not tired, for a
giddy excitement came over him. He was eager to see
what the Lord was going to do. The night drew
on in silence until moments before the dawn. Interrupting the
still dewy morning was the sound of footsteps. David, who
had dozed off in the latter parts of the night,
rose to his feet and listened. It was still dark,
(15:38):
but the first glimpses of morning were beginning to show
in the sky. He looked to see the trees rustling
above him. The sound of footsteps grew louder and louder,
like thousands of armored soldiers marching into battle. David's eyes
lit up with glee at the sound of it. It
was as if Heaven's armies were marching towards the Philistines.
The king wasted no time. He woke his commanders and
(16:02):
ordered them to ready their men. Arm yourselves, he yelled,
Today we followed the Lord into battle. David ran ahead
of his men with speed and enthusiasm. He followed the
sound of the trees, forcing himself to keep up. The
sound of marching above was just a few paces ahead,
and David could sense that they were getting closer to
(16:22):
the Philistines. The forest reached its end, and an opening
through the trees emerged to reveal an entire army of
Philistines in disarray. The Lord had gone before them, and
the enemy wasn't ready for the army of Israel. David
once again was the first to enter the fray of
battle with a force even greater than before. The Army
(16:42):
of God prevailed. David and his men were reveled in
their victory, basking in the faithfulness of the Lord. God
showed himself that day to be a forerunner. He went
before the people and secured the victory on their behalf.
All they had to do was walk in the victory
already for them. This was but a glimpse into the
(17:02):
future victory God would win for his people. Victory over sin,
death and destruction would be secured by God himself, and
his people would only have to listen for him and follow.
It was like a tidal wave of joy and worship.
King David stretched his arms out wide before the people
of Israel, shouting and singing praises to God. The sea
(17:26):
of faces were beaming with hope and joyful adoration for
their God. Jerusalem was overflowing with pure and unwavering worship,
with David at the center leading the people in praise.
He had gathered thirty thousand of his best men to
leave the gates of Jerusalem to Bailey Judah. There resided
the Ark of the Covenant, God's chosen dwelling and a
(17:47):
symbol of his presence among the people. The ark was
a picture of God's faithfulness to his people and the
covenant he made with them long ago in the days
of Moses. David led the procession to Bailey Judah with
the thirty thousand behind him. They found the house of
a Benadab, where the ark was being kept safe. The king,
along with the priest, stepped forward as the Benadab took
(18:09):
them to a secret place where the ark was being hidden.
The golden structure was three feet nine inches long, two
feet three inches wide, and two feet three inches high.
It was David's first time gazing upon it. He stared
at the golden Cherubim sitting on top with their wings
arching forward towards each other. It was crafted with such
detail and precision it made David awe Within the ark
(18:33):
were the tablets of the Law that Moses brought down
from Mount Sinai, a jar of Manna, and Aaron's rod
that miraculously budded as the confirmation of his leadership. Relics
that testified to God's faithfulness. The king sighed and smiled.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
It is time to bring the Ark out of obscurity
and back into prominence, he said. Israel is to be
alive with the sense of the nearness to the presence
and glory of God.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
A new cart had been constructed to carry the ark,
although the law of Moses strictly said that only levites
could carry it. The new cart was shimmering with fine
jewels and silver. It was a fatly constructed vessel, but
still not what the Lord had desired. With all of
David's enthusiasm to honor God, he had neglected to pay
attention to the details of his word. The excitement was palpable.
(19:28):
Trumpets were sounded, and a procession of musicians made way
for the Ark of the Covenant to travel from the
house of Abinadad to Jerusalem. David led the musicians with
their lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and symbols
uzza and ohio. The sons of Abinedad had the distinct
privilege of driving the cart. Their faces were alive with
(19:49):
honor and humility. There was a levity and casual tone
to the entire celebration. People seem to forget that the
ark was a symbol of the holy and manifest presence
of God. It was not to be taken lightly. The
people continued to cheer as they approached the threshing floor
beside the fields of wheat. As they declined towards the field,
(20:09):
and Oxen pulling the cart stumbled on a hole in
the ground. As its leg dipped, the cart shifted and
the ark began to fall. Uzza looked back and saw
the ark sliding slightly off the ground. Uzza knew that
it was forbidden to touch the ark of the Covenant
unless you were appointed to do so. However, he chose
to step off the cart and move the ark anyways.
(20:32):
As his hand touched the ark, all were reminded of
the holiness of God. There was no mistaking that although
God was loving and merciful, he was to be feared
and revered. Uzza's hand touched the ark, and the anger
of the Lord was kindled against him. Zza stepped back
and fell to his knees. He grasped at his chest,
(20:52):
then fell on his face. Then the entire procession of
people paused. Uzza had been struck down by God. David
ran to Za and held his lifeless body in his arms.
His face had been filled with hope and joy just
moments before. Now his face was pale and devoid of life.
(21:13):
David's body began to tremble. Angry tears ran down his
face as he looked up to the art propped up
on the cart. How could you do this, the king whispered.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
How could you kill a man but trying to save
the ark from falling? Are you not rich in mercy
like we proclaimed? Are you not slow to wrath like
we have sung?
Speaker 2 (21:38):
David stood to his feet and had his men take
Uza to his father. He looked behind him. The people
were still Their faces were as pale as David's. They
could not believe what they had just witnessed. The Lord
had struck down one of their own. David did not
address them. He remained silent and still looking back at
(21:59):
the Ark of God. He was paralyzed by fear, unwilling
to even step close to it.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
Is God not who I thought he was, David thought
to himself, How can the Ark of the Lord come
with me to Jerusalem. David looked across the fields of
wheat and saw a large home nestled between two hills.
It was the home of a man named obed Edom
the Gittite. He was a faithful man with a generous heart.
David left the procession and entered the home of obed
(22:28):
Edam with his head held low. He explained to him
what had happened and commissioned him to allow the ark
to remain on the premises until the Lord spoke. Otherwise,
the king and thirty thousand people who followed him departed
back to Jerusalem. David sat quietly by the fire with
his hands folded over his mouth. The flickering flames were mesmerizing.
(22:51):
He could always think deeply by a fire. He enjoyed
watching the coal's radiate heat. The King leaned forward and
shook his head. Why, he asked God once again. It
had been three months since he left the Ark, and
for three months David racked his brain on what could
have possibly caused God to slay us Ah. There were
(23:11):
aspects of God's character that David could not quite comprehend,
seem in the small contradictions added up to larger questions.
At night, David would often consider the depth nuance to
the nature of God. How someone from whom all life
flows can also administer the touch of death. There was
an unsearchable and unknowable quality to God that David found
(23:33):
both frustrating and beautiful. As David thought about these things,
he heard a knock at his door. A servant entered
in and bowed his head.
Speaker 5 (23:43):
My King, I have news from the house of obed Edom.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
David's stomach churned. He turned to his servant inside. What
has happened, he asked, in a frightened tone.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
Were one of his sons struck down for polishing it?
Speaker 5 (23:55):
No, my lord. On the contrary, it seems as though
in the past three months, obed Edom and all his
household have been abundantly blessed.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
David perked up and gestured for the servant to continue.
Speaker 5 (24:06):
Apparently his daughters have found godly husbands, his cattle have
produced offspring in great numbers, and his wealth has increased tenfold.
I even hear his eldest son is expecting another son,
making not six grandchildren.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
The servants stepped forward, seeing that David's mind was clearly racing.
Speaker 5 (24:24):
If I may, my lord, I would venture to say
that his household has been blessed because the ark resides
in his home. The Lord has clearly shown him grace.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
The servant then bowed his head and left. David redirected
his gaze back to the fires. The flame swayed from
the breeze blowing in from the window. He shook his
head again and ran his hands through his curls.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
Shall I finish when I started?
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Then? He asked, with a sigh, will you bless me?
David contemplated the Lord and his favor on the household
of obed Edom. There was no pomp and procession, and
no golden cart to carry the ark. It simply presided
in a humble and loving home. Yet the Lord saw
fit to bless him. David considered this more and picked
(25:10):
up his lyre. He began to strum a new tune,
one of consideration and humility. He hummed to himself and plucked.
Soon he began to sing. Words came to him like
a trickling stream of water from a deep well.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
Lord, I have given up my pride an arrogance. I
shall not set my mind on matters too lofty for me. Instead,
I am content and at peace, as a child lies
quietly in his mother's arms. My heart is quiet within me, oh.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Israel, Oh Israel, oh Israel.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
Trust in the Lord now and forever.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
David knew that a part of being in a relationship
with his God meant to struggle and to war with
one's own perceptions of him. David did not shy away
from the hard thoughts. Yet, in his searching he realized
the error of his ways before the Lord did not
require lavish parades of riches and opulence. He did not
delight in the vain and repetitious songs of the masses.
(26:22):
He desired humble, honest, and reverent praise. David had made
the mistake of carrying the Lord on a new cart
arrayed with signs of affluence. The death of us A
was a picture of the casualties created when a king
seeks to use God as a show for the people.
David continued to sing the song he had just written.
(26:43):
He still did not quite understand the depths of God's character. However,
he had settled on one thing. Pride and arrogance would
never lead to any answers. The next day, David gathered
a small group of Levites to carry the Ark of
God from the house of Obadiedom to the city of Jerusalem.
David did not wear his royal robes, nor did he
(27:04):
walk ahead on horseback with his shimmering armor. He wore
a linen effort like the rest of the priests. He
wasn't adorned like a king, nor did he carry himself
like one. Instead, he worshiped exuberantly. Every six paces the
priests would take with the ark, they would make a
sacrifice to the Lord. David would follow in songs of
praise and dancing. It was a humble procession of pure
(27:27):
and humble praise. As they approached the city gates, David
had his men below their trumpets and signal the arrival
of the ark. The people bowed as it entered the city.
People's hearts welled up with joy, fear, awe, and worship.
They shouted as it entered the heart of the city.
They worshiped the coming of a new age, an age
(27:48):
of devotion to their God. Before other gods and idols
had tugged at their hearts and tempted them. However, now
that David was their king, they saw an example of
what it means to fall after the heart of God.
Not all, however, were impressed. Watching from her bedroom window,
was may call David's wife and daughter of Saul. She
(28:11):
crossed her arms and scoffed at the king. Look at him,
she said to her servants.
Speaker 6 (28:16):
Look at him. Dressed in the lowly garb of a
common town priest.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
She sneered at the very sight of him. She watched
David enter the palace courtyard, leaping and dancing before the lord.
She hated him. Sure she had loved him before, but
things had changed. She fell in love with the brave,
young warrior who slew Goliath. She did not know he
would turn into some half breed between peasants and king.
(28:40):
The way he freely expressed his emotions and danced without
a care to who was watching, made her royal blood boil.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
My father would never have done such a thing, so
unbecoming of a king, to frolic like a little girl
in front of his subjects embarrassing.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
David knelt on the ground with a hammer, driving a
stake into the propping up the tent for the ark
would reside. He put his hands on his waist and
looked up. The tent was large and in the center
of the city for all to pass by. The levites
would care for the sacred sat and ensure the ark
was taken care of. There they offered burnt offerings and
(29:17):
peace offerings before the Lord. There was a sense of
nostalgia for the people of Israel. They remembered stories passed
down from generation to generation of the Tabernacle of God
and the tent of Meeting. They thought of Moses and
the Israelites leaving Egypt in search of God's promised land.
Now Here in the land promised to their ancestors, they
(29:39):
worshiped the God who delivered them. It was a euphoric experience,
one that David did not take for granted. David gestured
for his servant to come near, tell the royal.
Speaker 4 (29:49):
Servants to prepare enough bread and raisin cakes and portions
of meat for the entire multitude. Make enough for men,
women and children.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
The servant's eyes wide and as he looked back at
the amount of people lacing the city streets. Yet David
was emphatic about blessing them.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
Give enough for everyone to enjoy themselves, take great care
that the poor get a meal as well.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
David smiled and patted the servant on the back. The
young men bowed and went back to the household. Of David. There,
all the men and women of the house worked tirelessly
to prepare enough food for the masses. David stepped in
and helped us well, rolling up his sleeves and kneading
the dough for cakes. As their king began to laugh
(30:32):
and sing as he worked, the anxiety of the servants
began to lift. He brought a levity to the room,
and soon they were working fast enough to feed thousands.
After distributing the food to his subjects, David returned home
to bless his own household. He came into the warm
embrace of his children. They laughed in the plot of
(30:52):
as he brought out of warm cakes for them to eat.
He kissed them and brought them in close. David's wives, children,
and clothes friends enjoyed a feast together, basking in the
joy of the Lord. However, the brightness in the room
soon turned dark as may Call walked in. David had Calib,
the son he had with Abigail, in his lap. He
(31:14):
was telling stories of the ark and the faithfulness of God,
when they call loomed over him with a judgmental glare.
David had Calib leave his lap and shoot him off
to play with the others. He looked up to his
wife and smiled, What troubles you, my wife? This is
a joyous occasion, and yet you stand here with weight
holding down your smile. May Caaul dismissed him with a
(31:36):
wave of her hand.
Speaker 6 (31:38):
I was just considering how the King of Israel honored
himself today, uncovering himself from his royal robes like a commoner.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Ashamed to laugh and sing with my brothers and sisters
and the Lord. David asked, why why would I be ashamed?
Speaker 6 (31:57):
They are your servants, not royalty. You walked among them
like you were one of them, shamelessly dancing before them.
It was disgusting.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
David stood to his feet and looked his wife in
the eyes. He was not harsh, nor was he sharp
in his reply.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
Mical I was before the Lord dancing and singing his
praises among the people is no crime.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
My father would never have done such a.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Thing, she replied, hoping to get a rise out of David.
That is true, David said. He looked down for a moment,
considering what to say next.
Speaker 4 (32:33):
However, the Lord chose me above your father and above
his household. He appointed me as the leader of Israel
and king to the people of God. I will celebrate
before the Lord in the way that I am called to.
(32:54):
I will make myself even more undignified than this, and
be despised in your eyes. If it means the Lord
is glad with me.
Speaker 6 (33:02):
You made quite a show of yourself, David may.
Speaker 4 (33:05):
Call said, oh no, my love, it was no show.
The show I put on before turned into a tragedy.
This was me being humbled before the Lord. I removed
my royal rogues because it is he who is king,
(33:26):
not I. To day was about him, not me. I
celebrated as one of the people to day one of
the many children of God.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
May Call teemed with anger. She had no reply that
was worth speaking. She sulked and crossed her arms. David
could sense her anger. He gently grabbed her shoulders and
looked at her.
Speaker 4 (33:50):
If it is a matter of embarrassment for you and
me being exposed before your female servants, rest assured, I
will be more careful. I will hold you in honor.
Macall left huffing in anger. Yet David could not hold
it against her. He knew that she had not had
an easy life her father and brothers had been killed,
(34:13):
and she had been taken back from the husband she
had for many years. Her bitterness was against God, not David,
yet she saw fit to scorn him, for those who
are bitter at God often lash out at the faithful.
David arose before the sun the next morning. The fog
rested low on the gardens outside David's home. He walked
(34:34):
among the trees, breathing in the crisp morning air and
listening to the birds begin their songs. Creation was awakening,
and every moment leading up to sunrise was filled with
tranquil beauty. David looked back at his garden, then at
his house, built from cedar and stone. He tilted his head,
observing the craftsmanship of his home. It was a beautiful estate,
(34:55):
fit for a king. He then looked to the roads
outside his home. Down the road was the tent where
the Ark of the Covenant lay. He could not help
but feel a slight pang of conviction that he was
able to reside in such a magnificent place while the
Ark dwelled in a tent. As the King thought of
these things, he spotted the prophet Nathan walking among the
(35:16):
olive trees. Nathan was a dear and beloved member of
the household of David. He offered insight into the heart
of God and clarity to the chaos. David often found
himself surrounded by the sun peaked slightly above the horizon,
splashing the flowers below with vibrant color. David smiled at
the sight and made his way closer to the prophet.
(35:39):
Nathan walked slowly with his hands behind his back, soaking
in the first morning light. Nathan was old enough to
be David's father, but held the youthful energy of a
much younger man. David respected him in every way. Good morning, Nathan.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
The King, said. The prophet bowed his head and smiled
at the king.
Speaker 4 (35:59):
Good morning, my young king, to what do I owe
the pleasure of your company? This morning? I was considering
my home here.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
David said, nodding to the large house behind the garden.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
What do you make of it? It is a fine
palace fit for a fine king. Nathan said, it is
a fine palace. Hiram, the King of Tire, sent cedar
and stone to construct it. He also sent his finest
craftsman to make it.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
David said, with a frown.
Speaker 4 (36:33):
If it pleases you so much, then why are you downcast?
The old prophet asked, I dwell in a house of
cedar and fine stone. I dine in the hall with
precious furs and pottery on the walls. My fireplace is
made from riverstone. Yet the ark of God dwells in
(36:55):
a simple tent, very symbol of God's presence, resides in
a small shelter, while I sleep in luxury. It isn't right.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
Nathan smiled at the young king. He was pleased to
hear David's heart and knew the Lord was pleased as well.
Nathan put a hand on his shoulder and said, it
is clear that the desires of your heart are cure.
Go do all that you desire. Who the Lord is
with you. Although David did not need the permission of Nathan,
(37:29):
he felt a sense of validation from him. Nathan was
precious to him and a very wise soul. The king
smiled and departed, eager to begin plans for creating a
home for the Lord to dwell, a palace for all
to come in worship, a temple. Nathan watched David depart,
then went his own way. He walked among the garden
(37:51):
and prayed to the Lord. He remained there all day,
seeking God and inquiring of his will. As the day
turned to night, Nathan felt the prompting of God. His
voice spoke clearly and without mistake. The old prophet's heart
began to pound as he listened to the voice of
the Creator. Early the next morning, Nathan ran out to
(38:12):
the garden to find David. He was in the same place,
sulking in the peace of the morning. My King, Nathan proclaimed,
A word has been given to me from the Lord.
David grew nervous. He did not want to assume the
word would be a good one. Perhaps there was a
warning or a rebuke.
Speaker 4 (38:29):
Is it about the temple I desire to make? Have
I erred in my desire. Nathan shook his head and said,
thus says the Lord to you, David, son of Jesse,
would you build me a house to dwell in. I
have not lived in a house since to day. I
brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. I have
(38:51):
chosen to meet with people in a tent. I have
moved with the people of Israel throughout the generations. I
spoke to Moses, I spoke to Arin, and I spoke
to the judges of Israel. Never once did I ask
them to build me a house of cedar, and I
shall not ask you to either. I took you from
(39:15):
the pasture to the throne, from leading sheep to leading
my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went,
and destroyed whatever enemy seeks to harm you. David, I
will make your name great throughout the ages, but the
name of all the great ones of the earth all
(39:38):
shall remember you. Although you will not be the one
to build me my house, I will appoint a place
for my people and plant them in an imperishable nation.
Violence will not afflict them. I will give you rest
from all your enemies, and I will make you a
(40:00):
house that will last far beyond your own life. When
your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers,
I will raise an offspring after him, a king unlike
the world has ever seen. I will establish the kingdom
of this descendant. He shall build a house from my name,
(40:24):
and I will establish the throne of his kingdom. Forever.
I will be to him a father, and he shall
be my son. He will endure the rod and stripes
of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him.
(40:45):
His house built by your descendant shall be everlasting. David
sat back for a moment, dwelling on what this prophecy
might mean. There would be no way for his mind
to fully comprehend the Lord had just promised. He was
being brought into a plan that was ordained since the
beginning of time. Through the line of David, a descendant
(41:09):
would be born a king. This king would build a
new kingdom and be blessed by God. He would be
the very dwelling of God on earth, God incarnate Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
This was definitely one of our longer but more rich episodes.
Filled with battle, music, doubt, prophecy, and marital strife. This
episode has almost everything, and it gives us a deeper
look into the character of God. Let's talk about a
few things together. The prelude featured a man named Besilau,
(41:47):
the craftsmen who constructed the Ark of the Covenant. As
you just heard, the ark was a key element in
this episode, representing the manifest presence in favor of God.
The ark is a reminder that God is with us
his people, and we definitely got that sense in this episode.
God seemed to be more personally involved in the details
(42:08):
of David's decisions and exploits. This is perhaps the most
important theme in scripture, not just the story of David.
God wants to be among his people. He wants to
dwell with his children, guiding and protecting them. He began
in the garden with Adam and Eve. Then he was
with the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. After them,
(42:29):
he was with the twelve tribes of Israel in Egypt
and the wilderness. He dwelled among them in the Tabernacle.
It has always been God's desire to dwell among his people.
After the Ark, it will be the temple in Jerusalem.
After the Temple would come Jesus. Jesus is also called Emmanuel,
which means God with us. This is not just his
(42:50):
title but his mission. God wants to be with us,
and he is continually making a way. God is clearly
with David in this episode. One of the more compelling
examples was the forest. He strictly instructed David not to
march against the Philistines. Rather, he was told to wait
for the sound of marching. This was a brilliant scene
(43:12):
where David watched God go before him to fight the Philistines.
God took command and did most of the work, and
all David had to do was step into the victory
set before him. Is this something you have considered in
your own life? We serve a God of victory. He
has gone before you to wage war against the insecurities
and sin that shackle you. God makes his presence known
(43:36):
in this episode. He established that he was the commander
who prevailed against the enemy, and he was the king
who presided over the kingdom. David acknowledged that God alone
is king and he is a servant. He listened intently
to God's voice in this episode, which brings up another
theme listening. God is always speaking. He speaks to his word,
(44:01):
the wisdom of trusted counselors, life events, and the inner
voice of his spirit. Whether God is speaking or not
isn't the issue? Are we listening to his voice? Are
we attuned to his movement? And will do we tune
out the sound of the world so we can hear him?
David does, and he is able to get answers even
(44:21):
when it's difficult. This story was not just sunshine and rainbows.
There was some hard concepts to wrestle with. In David's excitement,
he inappropriately paraded the ark of the Covenant. He dagged
it up on a cart and showed it off without
regard to the law of Moses. The new cart was
shimmering with fine jewels and silver. It was a finally
(44:42):
constructed vessel, but still not what the Lord had desired.
With all of David's enthusiasm to honor God, he had
neglected to pay attention to the details of his word.
Uza became a victim of David's poor judgment and was
instantly killed when he touched the art. This began a
strange cycle of thought for David. God's acts came as
(45:04):
a shock to him and shook up his preconceived notions
of God. David has certainly seen God's wrath come upon
his enemies, but never his own priest. This event caused
a stir in the King's heart, and he was forced
to wrestle with doubt. I want to make something abundantly clear.
This doubt that David is feeling is not a bad thing.
(45:25):
God has just disrupted David's perception of him, and now
he is forced to refocus and ask deeper questions. This
is never a bad thing in our faith. Doubt is
not the enemy of faith. God wants us to bring
him our questions, concerns, doubts, and burdens. A man or
woman who has not wrestled with their faith has clearly
(45:45):
never honestly struggled with God. As David presses in and
gives the Lord his feelings of uncertainty, God meets him.
David realizes what he did wrong. He realizes that he
neglected to humble himself. God is person, but he is
also holy. God is kind, but he is also dangerous.
May we never fool ourselves into forgetting God's mighty power.
(46:09):
He is worthy of our reverence, respect, and repentance. David
wrestled with his feelings and doubts, and God met him. However,
not all his questions were answered. This is a very
important thing for us to consider. David was reminded that
there was an inseearchable and unknowable quality to God that
David found both frustrating and enticing. A God that can
(46:33):
be fully understood is not worthy of our worship. If
there is a creator of the universe by whom all
realities emanates, then it stands to reason that he can't
be fully understood. God makes himself known and available through
his word, but he cannot be fully comprehended. God is
someone to be continually experienced and discovered, not totally figured out.
(46:55):
We will spend all of eternity peeling back the layers
of his character and glory. David received the answers God
gave him, and he has peace, even though there are
still questions. When we have doubts, uncertainty, and philosophical wonderings,
it is important for us to have humility. We should
never be so prideful to think we can understand everything
(47:17):
about God. After David calms his soul before the Lord,
he writes Psalm one point thirty one, which many scholars
believe David wrote after this crisis of faith, Lord, I
have given up my pride and arrogance. I shall not
set my mind on matters too lofty for me. Instead,
I am content at peace. As a child lies quietly
(47:39):
in his mother's arms. My heart is quiet within me.
Oh Israel, Oh Israel, Oh Israel. Trust in the Lord
now and forever. David takes off his royal robes and
wears a humble ephod. They ditch the golden wagon and
the priest to humbly carry the art to Jerusalem. It's
(48:00):
I chea, but it isn't an opulent parade. It's more
of a worship service led by King David to glorify
the Lord. David gets down in the dirt, helps pitch
the tent, and rolls up his sleeves to help cook
celebratory cakes. David has humbled himself as a servant to
the people in ways nobody has seen a king do.
(48:21):
He is a primary example of what it means to
be a servant leader. Jesus, hundreds of years later, would
also serve his people humbly. God esteems the lowli and
gives grace to the humble. The scene with David feeding
his citizens is supposed to be contrasted with Saul's early reign,
when he refused to let the people eat until the
(48:41):
Philistines were defeated. David genuinely cares about his people enough
to discard the traditional separation between king and subject. In fact,
David reversed those roles and served them. Maybe get theological
together for a moment. I think it is important to
mention how unique the Bible is compared to other religious texts.
(49:02):
In Genesis, we are told that God made men and
women in his image. If you were an ancient reader,
you would be dumbfounded at this idea. Why, because the
term image of God was a title solely reserved for kings.
To say that all men and women were created in
the image of God was to say that everyone is
worthy of the same dignity and honor kings were given
(49:25):
in the ancient world that was unheard of. In fact,
in our time that is unheard of. This concept gave
birth to what we know today as human rights. Thomas
Jefferson famously said that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,
that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
(49:47):
Genesis was the oldest recorded iteration of that concept. So
when Jesus served people and treated everyone with dignity, he
was expressing God's heart that everyone is worthy of dignity, honor,
and in respect, Kings are no greater than their subjects.
Michael David's wife held a more traditional view and loathed
(50:08):
him for stooping so low. She represents the world's view
of leadership and nobility. She thinks king should live above
their subjects and not among them, but remember God dwelt
among us instead of living above us. The episode ended
with a bright and beautiful idea from David. He wanted
to build God a temple. He saw his immaculate palace
(50:31):
and thought it sinful that he would have something so beautiful,
while God remained in a tent. As nice as the
sentiment was, God had different plans. We end the episode
with a prophecy and a promise from God. David, I
will make your name great throughout the ages, like the
name of all the great ones of the earth. All
(50:51):
shall remember you. When your days are fulfilled and you
lie down with your fathers, I will raise and offspring
after you a king unlike the world world has ever seen.
I will establish the kingdom of this descendant. He shall
build a house for my name, and I will establish
the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to
him a father, and he shall be my son. He
(51:14):
will endure the rod and stripes of men, but my
steadfast love will not depart from him. His house, built
by your descendant shall be everlasting. The readers of the
time are supposed to think God is making a promise
about Solomon, who will build a temple for the Lord,
but he isn't. God is talking about a descendant of
(51:34):
David that will establish the Kingdom of God in every heart.
He will make a house for God's name, but that
house will be in the heart of every man and
woman who trust him. This promised descendant is Jesus Christ.
I enjoy this time with you. Join me next time
as we meet a new character who has been hidden
from David's sight. He is a direct link to the
(51:54):
heart of David and the lineage of Saul. Get ready
for episode twenty three, Strength and Love. Thanks again for listening.
For more inspiring stories, daily prayers and wisdom to last
a 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.
(52:19):
Share this podcast with a family member or friend and
help us spread God's word. God bless
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evan, your host for Heroes in
the Bible. If you've enjoyed this podcast so far, please
share it with your family and friends and help us
spread God's word. Welcome to the epic Adventure of David,
a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
and murder. While most people know of David the myth,
(00:22):
few know about David the man. In this episode, we
will get a grand view of the King's faith. We
get to peek behind the curtain to see some of
the more intimate conversations David has with God. We also
get to see him leading the people in praise while
also learning some hard lessons about God's holiness. This is
(00:43):
one of my favorite episodes because we get a more
extensive look at God's interaction with David. Before he has
been a figure to speak in some small burst and
move behind the scenes. This episode places God as a
prominent character. More than that, God is the warrior and king.
In this episode, you will be amazed to witness God
(01:06):
lead a battle, lead a worship session, and lead the
decisions of the king. David is like us in this episode,
simply watching God in amazement. This episode also introduces some
inner conflict in doubt. It's a healthy thing to struggle
with God. Israel does mean to wrestle with God, after all.
(01:27):
David has some lower moments of doubt. He questions God's
motives and seeks more clarity on the decisions he's made.
David lays out a great example for us in this episode.
He models what it is like to struggle through doubt,
ask questions, and be content with an answer that is given.
At the end of the episode, God gives David a
(01:48):
grand promise. It's a promise we all knew was coming,
but as he speaks, we can't help but step back
and offe. God has been on a rescue mission since
the beginning of mankind, and David is being roped into
the process. I can't wait to enjoy this episode with you.
Here is episode twenty two, The Worshipful Warrior.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Prelude to Chapter twenty two. Bezilel was the finest craftsman
in all the twelve tribes of Israel. His mind was
created and formed by the Lord for a singular purpose,
to build the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle
of God. He was charged with a great honor and
a frightening responsibility. The Lord himself inspired the plans, and
(02:39):
Bezilel would not allow himself to flinch. He ran his
hands through the freshly catacasia would He smoothed the blades
until it was as smooth as ivory. Methodically and carefully,
he crafted and carved the wood into a box three
feet nine inches long, two feet three inches wide, and
two feet three inches high. He measured them perfectly, ensuring
(03:01):
it was not off one degree. In the dead of night,
Bezilel stoked his furnace with coals. The fire raged until
it was unbearably hot. In an iron pot, he melted
down gold taken from Egypt. The gold slowly turned molten, refined,
and purified again and again under the hot fire. Bezilel
poured it out and created a molding for the inside
(03:24):
and outside of the ark. The ark shimmered in the firelight.
Bezilel rubbed it with a piece of cloth, looking at
his reflection in the purified gold. He then moved on
to the four rings of gold for its feet, and
the two rings of gold on each side. He carved
poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with another gold molding.
(03:45):
These poles would carry the ark. Bezelel could imagine the
Levites lifting the arc over their shoulders with them. He
beamed with pride as he ran his rough craspman hands
over the smooth wood. More gold was poured into the
iron and melted down. Bezilel took the large and malleable
piece of gold out of the fire and touched his
(04:05):
blade to it. Out of the formless piece of precious metal,
he carved two beautiful cherubim. Once they dried in the
cool midnight air, he took them back to the tent
and hammered them into the ark on either side. The
cherubim's wings spread above the arm and met in the middle.
Their shadow was cast over the ark, protecting the mercy
(04:26):
seat he crafted between the cherubim. Bezelel took a step
back and observed what he had just created. Within the ark,
he placed the tablets of the Law that Moses brought
down from Mount Sinai, a jar of Manna, and Aaron's
rod that miraculously budded as a confirmation of his leadership,
relics that testified to God's faithfulness. The craftsman sighed and smiled.
(04:51):
It was complete, a symbol of God's presence, faithfulness, an
unwavering devotion to his people was completed. Chapter twenty two.
The worshipful warrior Ah King Akish screamed as he flipped
the table in front of his throne. Servants scattered as
the philistine king raved and swung his sword in anger.
(05:14):
He threw his spear at the pelts mounted on the
wall and yelled again.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
I let David into my lad. I fed him, housed him,
and let him thrive. Now he has been made king
of Israel.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
The massive king kicked over the iron pit holding his
fine ambers poured out out of the stone floor, making
the whole room heat up. King Akish was beside himself
with rage. He felt like a fool for trusting David
and allowing him to reside in his kingdom.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
I want his head on a pike, he yelled. Gather
all the able men we have. Send word to the
other kings. I shall slaughter him as I did king's soul.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
The servants and commanders of Akish bowed in fear, then
left the throne room to follow his order. It did
not take long for some of the other Philistine kings
to gather their soldiers as well. A united Philistine army
was coming for the head of King David. Under the
moonlit sky, David walked the streets of Jerusalem. The moon
(06:16):
provided a rare covering of light, so he could stroll
in the evening without hindrance. It was a peaceful exercise
for his burdened mind. The warmth of summer was a
pleasant companion as he walked and prayed to the Lord.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
Akish and his armies have come up against us.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
He prayed to God.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
If I march, will you give us victory? Will your
favor go before us?
Speaker 2 (06:40):
David had taken great care into being attentive to the
Lord's voice. In chaos and doubt, David leaned upon the
gentle and quiet voice of the Lord. He listened for
a voice in the silence of his mind. In the
stillness of the night. God answered, saying, go, for.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
I will certainly give the Phillie stings into your hand.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
David took in a deep breath. He filled his lungs
with the breath of God's spirit. He was no longer
a rogue warrior from Israel. He was now the warrior
king and protector of God's people. Days later, David marched
with his army to a large valley between the two nations.
The wind howled in his direction, galloping through the hills
(07:24):
and up towards him and his men. David felt a
slight rumble in the ground. He looked at the valley below.
The Philistines were approaching. The enemy hoard led by King
akish A, massed at the center of the valley. David
peered over, seeing that they were in a different formation
than usual. Typically, the Philistine armies liked to march with
(07:45):
their finest warriors at the tip and break through like
a spear. Yet this time they created a barricade of
shield bears around the perimeter and set their archers behind
and in the center.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
If we march, their archers fire, he said. They want
us to march at them. They are hoping for it.
They will surely defeat us before we even reach them.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
He wondered how he might break through their fortifications without
first being shot down by their archers. As he was thinking,
he felt the wind again. It was blowing directly at him.
The wind had a direct path from the valley up
through the rolling hills, where they stood if they marched
straight forward, the wind would surely pick up the arrows
and give the Philistines more range. Then David lit up
(08:29):
with an idea. He turned to Joab and said, tell
our men to break into two groups. We will attack
the Philistines on either side of the valley. What of
their archers, Joab asked.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
David raised his hand in the air. You feel the
direction of the wind. If we move from our place
and form at the flanks, the archer's arrows will have
too much resistance to land a good shot. If we
pursue fast enough, they will have no time to adapt,
and victory will be ours.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Joab bowed his head and did as David commanded. The
army was split into two, and they swiftly marched in
either direction of the Philistines. David unsheathed his sword and
began his descent against the Philistines. Joab pursued the enemy
on the other side of the valley. The wind howled
against David's left side and Joab's right side as the
(09:23):
two of them sprinted towards the enemy. Sure enough, the
archers drew back their bows and fired, but the wind
was too strong to keep the arrows on course. Few
Israelites were hit and pursuit, and David and the others
were rope through the enemy lines like raging waters through
it dam King David was the first to break through,
leaping at one of the shield bearers and knocking him over.
(09:46):
It was the first battle with the United Armies of
Israel into their new king, and the victory was swift
and decisive. The warrior King danced through the enemy ranks
with rapid strokes of his sword and faules determinatedtines will
remind him of why they've once feared David. The giants
Layer King Akish, a king that was no stranger to war,
(10:08):
called for his men to retreat. David and the armies
of the Lord were too overwhelming, breaking through each defense
system they put in place. The children of God cheered
as their enemies fled in defeat. David rose his blood
silk sword high in the air, and he turned to
his men and cheered with them.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
On this ground, we have broken through our enemy with
unrelenting force, Like mighty and rushing waters. We have overwhelmed
the Philistines. Thus this unnamed valley shall now be called
bail Perish, which means breakthrough, For the Lord is a
god of breakthroughs. The Lord is a god of power
(10:51):
over all those who had seek to enslave us.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
The crowd erupted in earthshaking praise for their God and
their king. This was his fish victory as king over Israel,
and it would not be his last. The camp of
the Philistines was close by. The men began to sift
through their belonging, seeing what wealth they could bring home.
(11:15):
David saw tent erected in the middle of their camp.
The material was a deep blue, with golden poles keeping
it upright. David walked inside to see statues and idols
erected to the Philistine gods Dagon, Gaza, and Ashdod. Offerings
of human blood laced the floor of the altars. The
sight made David cringe. For all you praying and sacrifice
(11:38):
to these gods, where has it gotten you? David whispered
to himself, What does it profit you to worship these
impersonal statues. He gestured for his men to pack up
the idols and take them away. Today was the Lord's victory,
and David would not allow these false gods to remain standing.
(11:58):
Two months passed and the Philistines had time to regain
their strength and try again to knock at the borders
of Israel. Akish and the United Philistine Kings amassed a
greater army than before, pulling in mercenaries and hired servants
from other nations. Joab sent spies to scout out the
encroaching Horde. They returned with bleak reports.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
They have settled near our borders, out in the valley of.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Refaem, They said.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
The enemy is more vast in number than before, stretching
across the whole valley beyond the forest.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Joe Ab, disturbed by the news, brought it to David.
He knelt before the king with great distress. However, David
remained silent and contemplative. David stood up from his throne
and walked down the steps of his home. His humble
gardens were out front, soaking in the final rays of
the day. The sun was heavy in the sky and
(12:51):
about to tuck itself under the horizon. David strolled among
the garden, feeling the flowers and listening to the rustling
of leaves above. Even though he had just defeated the
Philistines before it by no means gave him a false
sense of security. He knew that every battle was won
or lost by the will and sovereignty of God. He
refused to march unless the Lord had ordered it. So,
(13:13):
as the sun's final light collapsed under the hills, David
knelt by the olive trees to pray.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
They have returned.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Lord David whispered, what shall we do? Once again, David
implored of his God. He looked to him like a
sheep does to his shepherd, and like the Lord had
done so many times before, he answered him.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
You shall not go up against them.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
The Lord said. David's head tilted to the side at
the thought. He did not expect that answer. However, the
Lord continued to speak to David in the quietness of
his heart.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Go around the armies of the Philistines to the rear.
Wait there opposite the balsam trees. When you hear the
sound of marching of the bosom trees, then rouse your
army and fight, for I will go out before you
(14:09):
to strike down the armies of the Philistines.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
David smirked and shook his head. He raised his smile
to the sky and nodded. He was overjoyed and amused
that God would not just give him permission to fight,
but also give him marching orders. There was great comfort
in taking orders from the commander of the heavens, So
onward they marched around the valley of Raphaeim, unnoticed by
(14:34):
the Philistines. The tree coverings and sloped hills provided a
perfect cover for David and his armies. They were able
to remain hidden from the Philistines while being only a
quarter mile away from them. As the evening approached, David
had his men rest. However, the king remained awake. He
listened to the trees above him.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
What are we waiting for again.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Shama asked. David smiled and looked up marching s said
the men were confused. Whoever, the King often confused them.
He had a connection to the divine that they had
trouble comprehending. He was attuned to the character, prompting, and
movement of God in a unique way. As they tucked
themselves in for the night, David continued to turn his
(15:16):
ear to the trees. He was not tired, for a
giddy excitement came over him. He was eager to see
what the Lord was going to do. The night drew
on in silence until moments before the dawn. Interrupting the
still dewy morning was the sound of footsteps. David, who
had dozed off in the latter parts of the night,
rose to his feet and listened. It was still dark,
(15:38):
but the first glimpses of morning were beginning to show
in the sky. He looked to see the trees rustling
above him. The sound of footsteps grew louder and louder,
like thousands of armored soldiers marching into battle. David's eyes
lit up with glee at the sound of it. It
was as if Heaven's armies were marching towards the Philistines.
The king wasted no time. He woke his commanders and
(16:02):
ordered them to ready their men. Arm yourselves, he yelled,
Today we followed the Lord into battle. David ran ahead
of his men with speed and enthusiasm. He followed the
sound of the trees, forcing himself to keep up. The
sound of marching above was just a few paces ahead,
and David could sense that they were getting closer to
(16:22):
the Philistines. The forest reached its end, and an opening
through the trees emerged to reveal an entire army of
Philistines in disarray. The Lord had gone before them, and
the enemy wasn't ready for the army of Israel. David
once again was the first to enter the fray of
battle with a force even greater than before. The Army
(16:42):
of God prevailed. David and his men were reveled in
their victory, basking in the faithfulness of the Lord. God
showed himself that day to be a forerunner. He went
before the people and secured the victory on their behalf.
All they had to do was walk in the victory
already for them. This was but a glimpse into the
(17:02):
future victory God would win for his people. Victory over sin,
death and destruction would be secured by God himself, and
his people would only have to listen for him and follow.
It was like a tidal wave of joy and worship.
King David stretched his arms out wide before the people
of Israel, shouting and singing praises to God. The sea
(17:26):
of faces were beaming with hope and joyful adoration for
their God. Jerusalem was overflowing with pure and unwavering worship,
with David at the center leading the people in praise.
He had gathered thirty thousand of his best men to
leave the gates of Jerusalem to Bailey Judah. There resided
the Ark of the Covenant, God's chosen dwelling and a
(17:47):
symbol of his presence among the people. The ark was
a picture of God's faithfulness to his people and the
covenant he made with them long ago in the days
of Moses. David led the procession to Bailey Judah with
the thirty thousand behind him. They found the house of
a Benadab, where the ark was being kept safe. The king,
along with the priest, stepped forward as the Benadab took
(18:09):
them to a secret place where the ark was being hidden.
The golden structure was three feet nine inches long, two
feet three inches wide, and two feet three inches high.
It was David's first time gazing upon it. He stared
at the golden Cherubim sitting on top with their wings
arching forward towards each other. It was crafted with such
detail and precision it made David awe Within the ark
(18:33):
were the tablets of the Law that Moses brought down
from Mount Sinai, a jar of Manna, and Aaron's rod
that miraculously budded as the confirmation of his leadership. Relics
that testified to God's faithfulness. The king sighed and smiled.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
It is time to bring the Ark out of obscurity
and back into prominence, he said. Israel is to be
alive with the sense of the nearness to the presence
and glory of God.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
A new cart had been constructed to carry the ark,
although the law of Moses strictly said that only levites
could carry it. The new cart was shimmering with fine
jewels and silver. It was a fatly constructed vessel, but
still not what the Lord had desired. With all of
David's enthusiasm to honor God, he had neglected to pay
attention to the details of his word. The excitement was palpable.
(19:28):
Trumpets were sounded, and a procession of musicians made way
for the Ark of the Covenant to travel from the
house of Abinadad to Jerusalem. David led the musicians with
their lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and symbols
uzza and ohio. The sons of Abinedad had the distinct
privilege of driving the cart. Their faces were alive with
(19:49):
honor and humility. There was a levity and casual tone
to the entire celebration. People seem to forget that the
ark was a symbol of the holy and manifest presence
of God. It was not to be taken lightly. The
people continued to cheer as they approached the threshing floor
beside the fields of wheat. As they declined towards the field,
(20:09):
and Oxen pulling the cart stumbled on a hole in
the ground. As its leg dipped, the cart shifted and
the ark began to fall. Uzza looked back and saw
the ark sliding slightly off the ground. Uzza knew that
it was forbidden to touch the ark of the Covenant
unless you were appointed to do so. However, he chose
to step off the cart and move the ark anyways.
(20:32):
As his hand touched the ark, all were reminded of
the holiness of God. There was no mistaking that although
God was loving and merciful, he was to be feared
and revered. Uzza's hand touched the ark, and the anger
of the Lord was kindled against him. Zza stepped back
and fell to his knees. He grasped at his chest,
(20:52):
then fell on his face. Then the entire procession of
people paused. Uzza had been struck down by God. David
ran to Za and held his lifeless body in his arms.
His face had been filled with hope and joy just
moments before. Now his face was pale and devoid of life.
(21:13):
David's body began to tremble. Angry tears ran down his
face as he looked up to the art propped up
on the cart. How could you do this, the king whispered.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
How could you kill a man but trying to save
the ark from falling? Are you not rich in mercy
like we proclaimed? Are you not slow to wrath like
we have sung?
Speaker 2 (21:38):
David stood to his feet and had his men take
Uza to his father. He looked behind him. The people
were still Their faces were as pale as David's. They
could not believe what they had just witnessed. The Lord
had struck down one of their own. David did not
address them. He remained silent and still looking back at
(21:59):
the Ark of God. He was paralyzed by fear, unwilling
to even step close to it.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
Is God not who I thought he was, David thought
to himself, How can the Ark of the Lord come
with me to Jerusalem. David looked across the fields of
wheat and saw a large home nestled between two hills.
It was the home of a man named obed Edom
the Gittite. He was a faithful man with a generous heart.
David left the procession and entered the home of obed
(22:28):
Edam with his head held low. He explained to him
what had happened and commissioned him to allow the ark
to remain on the premises until the Lord spoke. Otherwise,
the king and thirty thousand people who followed him departed
back to Jerusalem. David sat quietly by the fire with
his hands folded over his mouth. The flickering flames were mesmerizing.
(22:51):
He could always think deeply by a fire. He enjoyed
watching the coal's radiate heat. The King leaned forward and
shook his head. Why, he asked God once again. It
had been three months since he left the Ark, and
for three months David racked his brain on what could
have possibly caused God to slay us Ah. There were
(23:11):
aspects of God's character that David could not quite comprehend,
seem in the small contradictions added up to larger questions.
At night, David would often consider the depth nuance to
the nature of God. How someone from whom all life
flows can also administer the touch of death. There was
an unsearchable and unknowable quality to God that David found
(23:33):
both frustrating and beautiful. As David thought about these things,
he heard a knock at his door. A servant entered
in and bowed his head.
Speaker 5 (23:43):
My King, I have news from the house of obed Edom.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
David's stomach churned. He turned to his servant inside. What
has happened, he asked, in a frightened tone.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
Were one of his sons struck down for polishing it?
Speaker 5 (23:55):
No, my lord. On the contrary, it seems as though
in the past three months, obed Edom and all his
household have been abundantly blessed.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
David perked up and gestured for the servant to continue.
Speaker 5 (24:06):
Apparently his daughters have found godly husbands, his cattle have
produced offspring in great numbers, and his wealth has increased tenfold.
I even hear his eldest son is expecting another son,
making not six grandchildren.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
The servants stepped forward, seeing that David's mind was clearly racing.
Speaker 5 (24:24):
If I may, my lord, I would venture to say
that his household has been blessed because the ark resides
in his home. The Lord has clearly shown him grace.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
The servant then bowed his head and left. David redirected
his gaze back to the fires. The flame swayed from
the breeze blowing in from the window. He shook his
head again and ran his hands through his curls.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
Shall I finish when I started?
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Then? He asked, with a sigh, will you bless me?
David contemplated the Lord and his favor on the household
of obed Edom. There was no pomp and procession, and
no golden cart to carry the ark. It simply presided
in a humble and loving home. Yet the Lord saw
fit to bless him. David considered this more and picked
(25:10):
up his lyre. He began to strum a new tune,
one of consideration and humility. He hummed to himself and plucked.
Soon he began to sing. Words came to him like
a trickling stream of water from a deep well.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
Lord, I have given up my pride an arrogance. I
shall not set my mind on matters too lofty for me. Instead,
I am content and at peace, as a child lies
quietly in his mother's arms. My heart is quiet within me, oh.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Israel, Oh Israel, oh Israel.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
Trust in the Lord now and forever.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
David knew that a part of being in a relationship
with his God meant to struggle and to war with
one's own perceptions of him. David did not shy away
from the hard thoughts. Yet, in his searching he realized
the error of his ways before the Lord did not
require lavish parades of riches and opulence. He did not
delight in the vain and repetitious songs of the masses.
(26:22):
He desired humble, honest, and reverent praise. David had made
the mistake of carrying the Lord on a new cart
arrayed with signs of affluence. The death of us A
was a picture of the casualties created when a king
seeks to use God as a show for the people.
David continued to sing the song he had just written.
(26:43):
He still did not quite understand the depths of God's character. However,
he had settled on one thing. Pride and arrogance would
never lead to any answers. The next day, David gathered
a small group of Levites to carry the Ark of
God from the house of Obadiedom to the city of Jerusalem.
David did not wear his royal robes, nor did he
(27:04):
walk ahead on horseback with his shimmering armor. He wore
a linen effort like the rest of the priests. He
wasn't adorned like a king, nor did he carry himself
like one. Instead, he worshiped exuberantly. Every six paces the
priests would take with the ark, they would make a
sacrifice to the Lord. David would follow in songs of
praise and dancing. It was a humble procession of pure
(27:27):
and humble praise. As they approached the city gates, David
had his men below their trumpets and signal the arrival
of the ark. The people bowed as it entered the city.
People's hearts welled up with joy, fear, awe, and worship.
They shouted as it entered the heart of the city.
They worshiped the coming of a new age, an age
(27:48):
of devotion to their God. Before other gods and idols
had tugged at their hearts and tempted them. However, now
that David was their king, they saw an example of
what it means to fall after the heart of God.
Not all, however, were impressed. Watching from her bedroom window,
was may call David's wife and daughter of Saul. She
(28:11):
crossed her arms and scoffed at the king. Look at him,
she said to her servants.
Speaker 6 (28:16):
Look at him. Dressed in the lowly garb of a
common town priest.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
She sneered at the very sight of him. She watched
David enter the palace courtyard, leaping and dancing before the lord.
She hated him. Sure she had loved him before, but
things had changed. She fell in love with the brave,
young warrior who slew Goliath. She did not know he
would turn into some half breed between peasants and king.
(28:40):
The way he freely expressed his emotions and danced without
a care to who was watching, made her royal blood boil.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
My father would never have done such a thing, so
unbecoming of a king, to frolic like a little girl
in front of his subjects embarrassing.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
David knelt on the ground with a hammer, driving a
stake into the propping up the tent for the ark
would reside. He put his hands on his waist and
looked up. The tent was large and in the center
of the city for all to pass by. The levites
would care for the sacred sat and ensure the ark
was taken care of. There they offered burnt offerings and
(29:17):
peace offerings before the Lord. There was a sense of
nostalgia for the people of Israel. They remembered stories passed
down from generation to generation of the Tabernacle of God
and the tent of Meeting. They thought of Moses and
the Israelites leaving Egypt in search of God's promised land.
Now Here in the land promised to their ancestors, they
(29:39):
worshiped the God who delivered them. It was a euphoric experience,
one that David did not take for granted. David gestured
for his servant to come near, tell the royal.
Speaker 4 (29:49):
Servants to prepare enough bread and raisin cakes and portions
of meat for the entire multitude. Make enough for men,
women and children.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
The servant's eyes wide and as he looked back at
the amount of people lacing the city streets. Yet David
was emphatic about blessing them.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
Give enough for everyone to enjoy themselves, take great care
that the poor get a meal as well.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
David smiled and patted the servant on the back. The
young men bowed and went back to the household. Of David. There,
all the men and women of the house worked tirelessly
to prepare enough food for the masses. David stepped in
and helped us well, rolling up his sleeves and kneading
the dough for cakes. As their king began to laugh
(30:32):
and sing as he worked, the anxiety of the servants
began to lift. He brought a levity to the room,
and soon they were working fast enough to feed thousands.
After distributing the food to his subjects, David returned home
to bless his own household. He came into the warm
embrace of his children. They laughed in the plot of
(30:52):
as he brought out of warm cakes for them to eat.
He kissed them and brought them in close. David's wives, children,
and clothes friends enjoyed a feast together, basking in the
joy of the Lord. However, the brightness in the room
soon turned dark as may Call walked in. David had Calib,
the son he had with Abigail, in his lap. He
(31:14):
was telling stories of the ark and the faithfulness of God,
when they call loomed over him with a judgmental glare.
David had Calib leave his lap and shoot him off
to play with the others. He looked up to his
wife and smiled, What troubles you, my wife? This is
a joyous occasion, and yet you stand here with weight
holding down your smile. May Caaul dismissed him with a
(31:36):
wave of her hand.
Speaker 6 (31:38):
I was just considering how the King of Israel honored
himself today, uncovering himself from his royal robes like a commoner.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Ashamed to laugh and sing with my brothers and sisters
and the Lord. David asked, why why would I be ashamed?
Speaker 6 (31:57):
They are your servants, not royalty. You walked among them
like you were one of them, shamelessly dancing before them.
It was disgusting.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
David stood to his feet and looked his wife in
the eyes. He was not harsh, nor was he sharp
in his reply.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
Mical I was before the Lord dancing and singing his
praises among the people is no crime.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
My father would never have done such a.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Thing, she replied, hoping to get a rise out of David.
That is true, David said. He looked down for a moment,
considering what to say next.
Speaker 4 (32:33):
However, the Lord chose me above your father and above
his household. He appointed me as the leader of Israel
and king to the people of God. I will celebrate
before the Lord in the way that I am called to.
(32:54):
I will make myself even more undignified than this, and
be despised in your eyes. If it means the Lord
is glad with me.
Speaker 6 (33:02):
You made quite a show of yourself, David may.
Speaker 4 (33:05):
Call said, oh no, my love, it was no show.
The show I put on before turned into a tragedy.
This was me being humbled before the Lord. I removed
my royal rogues because it is he who is king,
(33:26):
not I. To day was about him, not me. I
celebrated as one of the people to day one of
the many children of God.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
May Call teemed with anger. She had no reply that
was worth speaking. She sulked and crossed her arms. David
could sense her anger. He gently grabbed her shoulders and
looked at her.
Speaker 4 (33:50):
If it is a matter of embarrassment for you and
me being exposed before your female servants, rest assured, I
will be more careful. I will hold you in honor.
Macall left huffing in anger. Yet David could not hold
it against her. He knew that she had not had
an easy life her father and brothers had been killed,
(34:13):
and she had been taken back from the husband she
had for many years. Her bitterness was against God, not David,
yet she saw fit to scorn him, for those who
are bitter at God often lash out at the faithful.
David arose before the sun the next morning. The fog
rested low on the gardens outside David's home. He walked
(34:34):
among the trees, breathing in the crisp morning air and
listening to the birds begin their songs. Creation was awakening,
and every moment leading up to sunrise was filled with
tranquil beauty. David looked back at his garden, then at
his house, built from cedar and stone. He tilted his head,
observing the craftsmanship of his home. It was a beautiful estate,
(34:55):
fit for a king. He then looked to the roads
outside his home. Down the road was the tent where
the Ark of the Covenant lay. He could not help
but feel a slight pang of conviction that he was
able to reside in such a magnificent place while the
Ark dwelled in a tent. As the King thought of
these things, he spotted the prophet Nathan walking among the
(35:16):
olive trees. Nathan was a dear and beloved member of
the household of David. He offered insight into the heart
of God and clarity to the chaos. David often found
himself surrounded by the sun peaked slightly above the horizon,
splashing the flowers below with vibrant color. David smiled at
the sight and made his way closer to the prophet.
(35:39):
Nathan walked slowly with his hands behind his back, soaking
in the first morning light. Nathan was old enough to
be David's father, but held the youthful energy of a
much younger man. David respected him in every way. Good morning, Nathan.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
The King, said. The prophet bowed his head and smiled
at the king.
Speaker 4 (35:59):
Good morning, my young king, to what do I owe
the pleasure of your company? This morning? I was considering
my home here.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
David said, nodding to the large house behind the garden.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
What do you make of it? It is a fine
palace fit for a fine king. Nathan said, it is
a fine palace. Hiram, the King of Tire, sent cedar
and stone to construct it. He also sent his finest
craftsman to make it.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
David said, with a frown.
Speaker 4 (36:33):
If it pleases you so much, then why are you downcast?
The old prophet asked, I dwell in a house of
cedar and fine stone. I dine in the hall with
precious furs and pottery on the walls. My fireplace is
made from riverstone. Yet the ark of God dwells in
(36:55):
a simple tent, very symbol of God's presence, resides in
a small shelter, while I sleep in luxury. It isn't right.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
Nathan smiled at the young king. He was pleased to
hear David's heart and knew the Lord was pleased as well.
Nathan put a hand on his shoulder and said, it
is clear that the desires of your heart are cure.
Go do all that you desire. Who the Lord is
with you. Although David did not need the permission of Nathan,
(37:29):
he felt a sense of validation from him. Nathan was
precious to him and a very wise soul. The king
smiled and departed, eager to begin plans for creating a
home for the Lord to dwell, a palace for all
to come in worship, a temple. Nathan watched David depart,
then went his own way. He walked among the garden
(37:51):
and prayed to the Lord. He remained there all day,
seeking God and inquiring of his will. As the day
turned to night, Nathan felt the prompting of God. His
voice spoke clearly and without mistake. The old prophet's heart
began to pound as he listened to the voice of
the Creator. Early the next morning, Nathan ran out to
(38:12):
the garden to find David. He was in the same place,
sulking in the peace of the morning. My King, Nathan proclaimed,
A word has been given to me from the Lord.
David grew nervous. He did not want to assume the
word would be a good one. Perhaps there was a
warning or a rebuke.
Speaker 4 (38:29):
Is it about the temple I desire to make? Have
I erred in my desire. Nathan shook his head and said,
thus says the Lord to you, David, son of Jesse,
would you build me a house to dwell in. I
have not lived in a house since to day. I
brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. I have
(38:51):
chosen to meet with people in a tent. I have
moved with the people of Israel throughout the generations. I
spoke to Moses, I spoke to Arin, and I spoke
to the judges of Israel. Never once did I ask
them to build me a house of cedar, and I
shall not ask you to either. I took you from
(39:15):
the pasture to the throne, from leading sheep to leading
my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went,
and destroyed whatever enemy seeks to harm you. David, I
will make your name great throughout the ages, but the
name of all the great ones of the earth all
(39:38):
shall remember you. Although you will not be the one
to build me my house, I will appoint a place
for my people and plant them in an imperishable nation.
Violence will not afflict them. I will give you rest
from all your enemies, and I will make you a
(40:00):
house that will last far beyond your own life. When
your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers,
I will raise an offspring after him, a king unlike
the world has ever seen. I will establish the kingdom
of this descendant. He shall build a house from my name,
(40:24):
and I will establish the throne of his kingdom. Forever.
I will be to him a father, and he shall
be my son. He will endure the rod and stripes
of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him.
(40:45):
His house built by your descendant shall be everlasting. David
sat back for a moment, dwelling on what this prophecy
might mean. There would be no way for his mind
to fully comprehend the Lord had just promised. He was
being brought into a plan that was ordained since the
beginning of time. Through the line of David, a descendant
(41:09):
would be born a king. This king would build a
new kingdom and be blessed by God. He would be
the very dwelling of God on earth, God incarnate Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
This was definitely one of our longer but more rich episodes.
Filled with battle, music, doubt, prophecy, and marital strife. This
episode has almost everything, and it gives us a deeper
look into the character of God. Let's talk about a
few things together. The prelude featured a man named Besilau,
(41:47):
the craftsmen who constructed the Ark of the Covenant. As
you just heard, the ark was a key element in
this episode, representing the manifest presence in favor of God.
The ark is a reminder that God is with us
his people, and we definitely got that sense in this episode.
God seemed to be more personally involved in the details
(42:08):
of David's decisions and exploits. This is perhaps the most
important theme in scripture, not just the story of David.
God wants to be among his people. He wants to
dwell with his children, guiding and protecting them. He began
in the garden with Adam and Eve. Then he was
with the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. After them,
(42:29):
he was with the twelve tribes of Israel in Egypt
and the wilderness. He dwelled among them in the Tabernacle.
It has always been God's desire to dwell among his people.
After the Ark, it will be the temple in Jerusalem.
After the Temple would come Jesus. Jesus is also called Emmanuel,
which means God with us. This is not just his
(42:50):
title but his mission. God wants to be with us,
and he is continually making a way. God is clearly
with David in this episode. One of the more compelling
examples was the forest. He strictly instructed David not to
march against the Philistines. Rather, he was told to wait
for the sound of marching. This was a brilliant scene
(43:12):
where David watched God go before him to fight the Philistines.
God took command and did most of the work, and
all David had to do was step into the victory
set before him. Is this something you have considered in
your own life? We serve a God of victory. He
has gone before you to wage war against the insecurities
and sin that shackle you. God makes his presence known
(43:36):
in this episode. He established that he was the commander
who prevailed against the enemy, and he was the king
who presided over the kingdom. David acknowledged that God alone
is king and he is a servant. He listened intently
to God's voice in this episode, which brings up another
theme listening. God is always speaking. He speaks to his word,
(44:01):
the wisdom of trusted counselors, life events, and the inner
voice of his spirit. Whether God is speaking or not
isn't the issue? Are we listening to his voice? Are
we attuned to his movement? And will do we tune
out the sound of the world so we can hear him?
David does, and he is able to get answers even
(44:21):
when it's difficult. This story was not just sunshine and rainbows.
There was some hard concepts to wrestle with. In David's excitement,
he inappropriately paraded the ark of the Covenant. He dagged
it up on a cart and showed it off without
regard to the law of Moses. The new cart was
shimmering with fine jewels and silver. It was a finally
(44:42):
constructed vessel, but still not what the Lord had desired.
With all of David's enthusiasm to honor God, he had
neglected to pay attention to the details of his word.
Uza became a victim of David's poor judgment and was
instantly killed when he touched the art. This began a
strange cycle of thought for David. God's acts came as
(45:04):
a shock to him and shook up his preconceived notions
of God. David has certainly seen God's wrath come upon
his enemies, but never his own priest. This event caused
a stir in the King's heart, and he was forced
to wrestle with doubt. I want to make something abundantly clear.
This doubt that David is feeling is not a bad thing.
(45:25):
God has just disrupted David's perception of him, and now
he is forced to refocus and ask deeper questions. This
is never a bad thing in our faith. Doubt is
not the enemy of faith. God wants us to bring
him our questions, concerns, doubts, and burdens. A man or
woman who has not wrestled with their faith has clearly
(45:45):
never honestly struggled with God. As David presses in and
gives the Lord his feelings of uncertainty, God meets him.
David realizes what he did wrong. He realizes that he
neglected to humble himself. God is person, but he is
also holy. God is kind, but he is also dangerous.
May we never fool ourselves into forgetting God's mighty power.
(46:09):
He is worthy of our reverence, respect, and repentance. David
wrestled with his feelings and doubts, and God met him. However,
not all his questions were answered. This is a very
important thing for us to consider. David was reminded that
there was an inseearchable and unknowable quality to God that
David found both frustrating and enticing. A God that can
(46:33):
be fully understood is not worthy of our worship. If
there is a creator of the universe by whom all
realities emanates, then it stands to reason that he can't
be fully understood. God makes himself known and available through
his word, but he cannot be fully comprehended. God is
someone to be continually experienced and discovered, not totally figured out.
(46:55):
We will spend all of eternity peeling back the layers
of his character and glory. David received the answers God
gave him, and he has peace, even though there are
still questions. When we have doubts, uncertainty, and philosophical wonderings,
it is important for us to have humility. We should
never be so prideful to think we can understand everything
(47:17):
about God. After David calms his soul before the Lord,
he writes Psalm one point thirty one, which many scholars
believe David wrote after this crisis of faith, Lord, I
have given up my pride and arrogance. I shall not
set my mind on matters too lofty for me. Instead,
I am content at peace. As a child lies quietly
(47:39):
in his mother's arms. My heart is quiet within me.
Oh Israel, Oh Israel, Oh Israel. Trust in the Lord
now and forever. David takes off his royal robes and
wears a humble ephod. They ditch the golden wagon and
the priest to humbly carry the art to Jerusalem. It's
(48:00):
I chea, but it isn't an opulent parade. It's more
of a worship service led by King David to glorify
the Lord. David gets down in the dirt, helps pitch
the tent, and rolls up his sleeves to help cook
celebratory cakes. David has humbled himself as a servant to
the people in ways nobody has seen a king do.
(48:21):
He is a primary example of what it means to
be a servant leader. Jesus, hundreds of years later, would
also serve his people humbly. God esteems the lowli and
gives grace to the humble. The scene with David feeding
his citizens is supposed to be contrasted with Saul's early reign,
when he refused to let the people eat until the
(48:41):
Philistines were defeated. David genuinely cares about his people enough
to discard the traditional separation between king and subject. In fact,
David reversed those roles and served them. Maybe get theological
together for a moment. I think it is important to
mention how unique the Bible is compared to other religious texts.
(49:02):
In Genesis, we are told that God made men and
women in his image. If you were an ancient reader,
you would be dumbfounded at this idea. Why, because the
term image of God was a title solely reserved for kings.
To say that all men and women were created in
the image of God was to say that everyone is
worthy of the same dignity and honor kings were given
(49:25):
in the ancient world that was unheard of. In fact,
in our time that is unheard of. This concept gave
birth to what we know today as human rights. Thomas
Jefferson famously said that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,
that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
(49:47):
Genesis was the oldest recorded iteration of that concept. So
when Jesus served people and treated everyone with dignity, he
was expressing God's heart that everyone is worthy of dignity, honor,
and in respect, Kings are no greater than their subjects.
Michael David's wife held a more traditional view and loathed
(50:08):
him for stooping so low. She represents the world's view
of leadership and nobility. She thinks king should live above
their subjects and not among them, but remember God dwelt
among us instead of living above us. The episode ended
with a bright and beautiful idea from David. He wanted
to build God a temple. He saw his immaculate palace
(50:31):
and thought it sinful that he would have something so beautiful,
while God remained in a tent. As nice as the
sentiment was, God had different plans. We end the episode
with a prophecy and a promise from God. David, I
will make your name great throughout the ages, like the
name of all the great ones of the earth. All
(50:51):
shall remember you. When your days are fulfilled and you
lie down with your fathers, I will raise and offspring
after you a king unlike the world world has ever seen.
I will establish the kingdom of this descendant. He shall
build a house for my name, and I will establish
the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to
him a father, and he shall be my son. He
(51:14):
will endure the rod and stripes of men, but my
steadfast love will not depart from him. His house, built
by your descendant shall be everlasting. The readers of the
time are supposed to think God is making a promise
about Solomon, who will build a temple for the Lord,
but he isn't. God is talking about a descendant of
(51:34):
David that will establish the Kingdom of God in every heart.
He will make a house for God's name, but that
house will be in the heart of every man and
woman who trust him. This promised descendant is Jesus Christ.
I enjoy this time with you. Join me next time
as we meet a new character who has been hidden
from David's sight. He is a direct link to the
(51:54):
heart of David and the lineage of Saul. Get ready
for episode twenty three, Strength and Love. Thanks again for listening.
For more inspiring stories, daily prayers and wisdom to last
a 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.
(52:19):
Share this podcast with a family member or friend and
help us spread God's word. God bless
Host
Dr. Tony Evans
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