October 31, 2025 • 40 mins
Chapter 29 of Heroes in the Bible: David with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by 2 Samuel 21-24.
The Heart of a King - David marches into battle once more as a weary and old king. His hands tremble when he holds his sword, but the God of all creation goes before him to secure his legacy.
Today's opening prayer is inspired by 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans and I'm excited for you
to join me on Heroes in the Bible. Please be
sure to follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify so
you get the newest episodes right as they come out.
Welcome to the epic Adventure of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
(00:20):
and murder. While most people know of David the myth,
few know about David the man. In this episode, the
aging David suffers an identity crisis. Through famines, political unrest, wars,
and broken promises, David feels himself losing control. Loss of
control is not always a bad thing. When our fragile
lives are shaken up, it can draw us closer to
(00:42):
the Lord. In this episode, David wrestles with that process.
He struggles with the loss of his youthful strength, and
the weight of the crown is heavy on his head.
Even as David's bones become brittle and his voice loses
its volume, we still get glimpses into his remaining in strength.
In this episode, David deals with famines, broken covenants, and
(01:05):
a mounting Philistine attack. Although he makes some mistakes, we
will be coveted to hear David's honest and courageous heart.
Before we dive into the episode, we will have a prelude,
a story taken from another time when the Israelites were
wondering in the wilderness. The people had multiplied. The victories
under Joshua had made them feared in the ancient world.
(01:27):
They made a covenant under false pretenses, but it was
a covenant all the same. This episode will remind us
that God is serious about keeping promises. He holds his
people accountable to their word. We are reaching the end
of our hero's journey. We only have two episodes left.
Let's enjoy this time together with Episode twenty nine, The
(01:48):
Heart of a King.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Prelude to chapter twenty nine. The Israelite slaves have been
free from the clutches of Egypt by the mighty power
of their Lord. The Egyptians were crushed, and all who
sought to harm the children of God were vanquished. The
Israelites walked with the grace of God before them. In
every battle, the Lord upheld them. In every storm, the
(02:16):
Lord covered them by night. The Lord guided them, and
when they were hungry, the Lord fed them. After forty
years in the wilderness, being upheld only by the mercy
of God. It was time for the Israelites to take
the land promised to them. They had grown massive in numbered,
and the smaller kingdoms of the east feared them greatly.
(02:37):
Among those small nations was Gibeon. They had heard of
God's mighty fist toppling down the walls of Jericho and trembled.
The Gibeonites were afraid of Israel. They were great in
number and had the military leadership of Joshua.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
We do not stand a chance against Israel, they said.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
If they choose to storm our gates, we will be
consumed in a matter of seconds.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
The elders were stirred greatly. They knew they needed to
gain the favor of the Israelites. However, they did not
want to be seen as threats, so the inhabitants of
Gibeon acted on their cunning. They wore worn out sacks
and only carried weathered supplies. They exited their villages and
post as lowly travelers. In need of safety, they ventured
(03:19):
to Gilgal, where the millions of Israelites were camping. They
held their heads low and groaned as they spoke.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Men of Israel they shouted, please show your servants grace.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Joshua and the other warriors sprang up immediately and drew
out their swords. Not a step further, Joshua shouted, who
are you and why have you come into our camp.
The Gibeonites raised their hands in the air and bent
down in submission.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Please do not harm us. We have come from a
distant country. Please make a covenant with us so we
might dwell together in peace.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
How are we supposed to know you aren't dwellers of
this land and out to kill.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Us, Joshua replied, with his sword still directed at them.
Speaker 6 (04:01):
Please, we are at your service.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
They said.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
We are from a distant country, and we heard a
report of your god and what he did in Egypt.
So the elders of our lamb sent us to you
so that we might dwell with you and make a
covenant with you. If you do not believe us, just
look at our supplies. Our bread was warm when we left,
but now it is dry and crumbling. Look at our clothes,
they are tattered and worn from a long journey.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Joshua turned to his commanders. They retreated for a time
to discuss what to do, but they did not inquire
of the Lord. They worked off of instinct and their
own knowledge, a mistake they would later regret. Joshua went
back and said.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
We will make peace with you. Stay here, and we
will make a covenant to protect you and exchange for
your service.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
So the Israelites and the Gibeonites made an unbreakable covenant.
Israel was now bound to care for and protect the
Gibeonites despite their deception. When the truth about the Gibbianites
came to life, the people were enraged, but Joshua was confused, Why.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Did you deceive us like this? Before you were your
own small nation, independent and free, but now you are servants,
woodcutters and drawers of water. I sacrifice your freedom to
be here.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Because we know God has given you all of this
land to inhabit. You outnumber us one hundred to one,
and if you desired to conquer us, we would have
no chance to defend ourselves. We choose to live as
your servants rather than die as your enemies.
Speaker 6 (05:36):
But if you see fit to destroy us anyways.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Do it.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
We are at your mercy.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Joshua was taken back by the Gibei knightes honesty. He
sympathized with their situation. He shook his head and said,
now we have made a covenant with you. As the
Lord lives. The people of Israel will not harm the Gibeonites.
You will be more than servants, but less than brothers.
Our people may quarrel at times, but rest assured that
(06:04):
you will be protected under us. So the Gibeonites served
the Israelites until they inhabited the land. For years, they
co existed in harmony, mutually benefiting from each other, until
King Saul came to the throne. Chapter twenty nine. The
heart of a king cursed was the ground of Israel
(06:27):
delighted by famine for three years, the people were beginning
to starve. King David gripped the edge of his balcony,
deep in thought regarding the soory state of his nation.
His hands shook in the cold. He was getting old
and his bones ached. He was now over the age
of sixty, and not sure how much more tragedy his
old heart could handle. What shall I do? He whispered
(06:51):
into the cold night. Lord, why is this happening? He
sought the wisdom of God. Famines were a common occurrence
and a natural dip in the rhythm of life. However,
it was not common for a famine to last more
than two years. The reserves were running low, and David
feared for God's people, So we stayed up all night,
(07:13):
seeking God and inquiring for answers. David was at a
loss and knew the Lord was their only hope. The
frigid night air filled the King's lungs, the stars peppered
the night sky, and David could feel the still and
quiet voice of God. Blood guilt, he whispered. The King's
eyes were shut desperately trying to listen.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
There is blood guilt on soul and on his house.
That is why there is famine.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
David perked up.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Who is all wrong to warrant such a famine?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
How can it be made right? God spoke, saying, during
the red of Saul, he ravaged the dwellings of the
Gummea and smattered members of the family, thus breaking the
ancient promise made between them and Yesswhere it all made
(08:14):
sense now, David remembered hearing long ago that Saul had
taken the sword to the Gibeonites, slaughtering their men and
a few of their children. Saul, in his nationalistic zeal
persecuted the gibe Kites and left them even more poor
than before. God desired justice for them. David sighed and
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lifted his head to the heavens. I will make this right,
he whispered, but I do not like what may come
of it. The next morning, David called for the leaders
of the gibe Kites to visit his home. The elders
wore traditional Gibeonite clothing. He noticed the frowns on their
faces and how they wore their sorrow for all to see.
(08:54):
He gathered them around his table. There they enjoyed wine
and a few figs. However, there was nothing lavish for
the king to offer. The famine had affected even him.
He placed his hands on the table inside. Ah, my friends,
he began. The memory of Saul's crimes against you have
(09:15):
been recently brought to the forefront of my mind. His
slaughter of your people was a hideous break in the
covenant between us. Please tell me what I can do
for you. How shall I make atonement? How can we
(09:36):
make things right so that you might once again trust
in the heritage of the Lord. The elders were taken
back by David's sincerity, His aged voice was gentle and sweet.
Their chief leaned over the table and looked the king
in the eyes.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
There is no gold or silver that can bring back
our people, King David, he said, nor is there any
land that will satisf the desires of our hearts.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
What did David replied in a frustrated voice. Do we
allow the people of Israel to starve? Would you rather
I just kill them now? Not at all, my king,
the chief said, far.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
Be it from us to put any of your people
to death. However, there is blood that was spilled, and
blood is required.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
David winced. He hated revenge. He thought it was beneath
God's people to hold grudges. However, he understood that when
a covenant is broken, blood is required to reconcile. What
shall I do for you, then, David asked, calmly. The
Chief rose to his feet and said.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
Saul is the one who consumed us, destroyed us, and
ensured that we had no home in Israel. He owes
us a debt.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
He is dead, David replied, So who shall pay this debt?
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Seven of his descendants?
Speaker 2 (10:56):
He said, plainly, give us.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Seven male descendants of Saul, so that we might hang
them for their grandfather's crimes. It is the only way
we will be satisfied. We will hang them before the Lord,
and then it shall be over.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
David paused for a long while. There were several descendants
of Saul still alive, mostly illegitimate children and grandchildren from concubines.
Yet they had done nothing wrong. The crime was their fathers,
not theirs. It was yet another example of the generational
turmoil caused by the sins of a father. David considered
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his own sins and how his children would be forever
blighted with bloodshed because of them. The king sighed and replied,
I will give them to you. I will find Saven
who Saul's descendants, and bring them before you. The elders
bowed their heads and left. When the door closed, David
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buried his face in his hands. Life was more simple
when he fled from Saul in the wilderness. There were
any it means to be vanquished and villages to be saved.
He knew who his enemies were, and they deserved to die.
Now life was more complicated as a king. No one
was merely an enemy and no one was merely an ally.
(12:14):
All was blurred and confused. There was a knock at
David's door, Come in, he said in a weary voice.
Vanya entered the room and bowed. However, the king did
not turn to him. He was gazing into the fire,
watching its light slowly fade as the coals turned to ash.
Thank you for coming, Benya, David said, his face was
(12:38):
still facing the flickering light.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
I am afraid I need to ask you to do
something for the kingdom, something that may seem cruel.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
David looked down, unwilling to make eye contact. Nayah took
a deep breath and replied.
Speaker 7 (12:55):
I am at your service until the very end, King David,
what would you have me do?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
There was a long pause.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Find me seven remaining descendants of Saul, he commanded. I
know there are some who were born to risba Is concubine.
There are others born from Merab, Saul's daughter. Find them
and give them over to the Gibeonites.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Beniah was silent. He had questions, but he also had
faith in his king.
Speaker 7 (13:24):
Is there anything else?
Speaker 3 (13:27):
He asked, solemnly, spare me fibishe Jonathan's son. I shall
not break the covenant I made with Jonathan. Broken covenants
are how we got into this mess.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Beniga bowed and left the room. The door closed, and
David finally let the tears out. He leaned over his seat,
weeping over the fading flames. The clouds cover the morning
sun and fog rolled in from the west, slithering through
the forest leading up to the mountain. The Gibeonites marched
up the mountain with seven of SAAL's descendants behind them,
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bound in rope. There were no trumpets of victory or
loud processions of praise, only a silent and ominous hike
up the mountain. They reached the summit, and there stood
a tree that was darker and more foreboding than the others.
Its branches were jagged, thick, and stretched over the earth below.
No light broke through its leaves, leaving everything below covered
(14:25):
in darkness. The elders tied nooses around the men's necks
and threw the ropes over the branches. The men struggled
and yelled to be free, but the Gibeonites remained silent.
The cries of the suns of Saul dissipated into the wilderness.
No one could hear their screams, no one would come
to their aid. The nooses were secured around their necks,
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and platforms were erected underneath the branches to keep the
men standing. The elders looked up at the suns of
Saul and said blood for blood, and with those words
they removed the platforms supporting them. One by one. The
descendants wiggled and swung in place, gasping for breath, until
finally losing air. The seven descendants perished together in the shadows,
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and the Gibeonite blood was avenged. It was hardly a
victory for King David. The constant blood shed and revenge
weighed heavily on his soul. For nearly forty years he
had reigned as king, and the accumulated lives that had
been slain by him or his men were uncountable. He
understood why the Lord would not allow him to build
(15:33):
the temple. His hands were stained with the blood of
many enemies and even some friends. David longed for relief,
and he prayed for peace within his soul. He looked
out the large window of his room overlooking the horizon.
The clouds were still heavy in the sky, hovering over
the blighted land. As the winds began to pick up
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and the new rains began to fall. David strummed his
lyre and played a new tune. His voice was not
as smooth as it once was. It was soft, like
worn in leather, but still just as beautiful. To the Lord,
you visit the earth and water, you enrich. The ground below.
(16:16):
The River of God is filled with water, ready to overflow.
Your water furrows abundantly, settling its ridges. You soften the
earth with showers and bless it as it grows. You
(16:38):
crown the year with bounty, and your love overflows the
pastures of you. Wilderness stretches forevermore. The hills gird themselves
in joy, and it is you they adore. The meadow
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hills clothed themselves with flocks s abundantly. The valleys are
filled with that rain. They shout for joy and sing
together for your gracious summer rain. There was great mourning
(17:20):
from the family of Saul from the loss of their sons.
David could not bring them back, nor could he console
the family. However, there was one final act David could
do to honor the king and his son. He mounted
his horse and left with a few of his men.
The rain continued to pour abundantly, refreshing the scorched earth below.
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They had gone long without rain, and the entire nation
was outside celebrating the faithfulness of God. David continued to ride,
not taking time to stop or eat. He rode from
Jerusalem to Javishkilead. He rode through the city, ignoring the
onlookers watching him pass. Finally, he came to a small
cave carved out of a hill on the outskirts of
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the city. He dismounted and approached the tomb. A stone
was placed in front of the cave. He and his
men pushed the stone away, feet sliding in the mud.
David knelt down and looked inside. Lying in the small
opening with the bones of Saul and Jonathan. Their bodies
had been mocked by the Philistines, and their corpses had
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hung for months in the hot sun. They never received
a proper burial. David whispered. He had his servants wrapped
the bones in cloth and strapped them to their horses.
They rode back to the land of Benjamin and prepared
the ceremony. Saul, Jonathan, and their seven descendants were brought
to the homeland of Saul and buried in the tomb
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of Kish, his father. The stormy skies opened up for
a moment, allowing for a brief ray of sunlight to
shine down. David turned his cheek to the sky. The
reassuring presence of God was upon him. God had responded
to the faithfulness of David. God was going to heal
the land and would continually uphold his chosen king. Peace
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was elusive for the Kingdom of Israel. Every few years,
another large nation would mount an attack against them. David,
even in his aging years, was on high alert for
the safety of God's people. In the many years since
David's victory over Akish, the Philistine nation had quietly prepared
itself for another attack. David welcomed the challenge, knowing that
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the Lord would provide victory. He gathered his men and
marched with them to face the horde of uncircumcised fiends.
As they marched, David could feel the discomfort of age
creeping up on him. His armour weighed heavier on his shoulders,
and as steps dragged more than they did in his youth.
Abshid took notice of this and made sure to stay
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close to the king. They had finally made it to
the place of meeting. David stood in front of his army,
postured opposite of the Philistines a couple hundred yards away.
The jagged and rocky valley between them would serve as
the battleground. This was David's sacred space. This is where
he truly felt like the King of Israel. David unsheathed
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his sword and pointed it at the enemy. His hand
shook as he held up the sword.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
These Philistines have been a plague to our people for generations.
Let us remind them that we are a people protected
and empowered by the God of all creation.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
The army yelled behind him, fueled by their king's passion.
The Philistines roared on the other side, banging on their
shields and swaying to the beat of a drum. David
knew this rituoman. He recognized it from years ago when
he was just a boy. The hordes scoffed and spat
in Israel's direction. Then the army parted to make room.
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From the middle of the Philistine ranks emerged a giant
is Ish by Beanob was the infamous descendant of the
Giants of Old, a remnant of Goliath's tribe. Flashbacks of
Goliath rushed in David's mind, his massive frame, his thundering roar,
in his look of complete hatred. His spear weighed three
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hundred sheckles and bronze and hung on his back. His
armor was hewn from the fires of gaff, made of
steeled and refined bronze. His sword was the size of
a man's abdomen and hung securely on his belt, ready
to be used at any moment. David's heart began to
pound heavily.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
I will remind them of my name, giant slayer.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
He whispered to himself. His sword was still held up,
his hand trembling in place. David turned to his men
and said.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
With the glory of our God and the love of
our nation.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
And as he yelled this, the king burst forward with
all his might. The old king ran towards the enemy,
without regard to who was behind him. The children of
his Israel followed and quickly caught up to him. The
two armies clashed against one another. Blood poured out onto
the jagged rocks below, and the screams of young men
could be heard from robos. David was thrilled to be
(22:13):
back in battle, although his body ached two philistines kin
at him, but David toppled them with two swift spreads
of his blade. Three more Philistines approached, and David fought
them tooth and nail, slowly gaining the advantage with his
superior swordsmanship. He kept his foundation low and slashed their
legs while keeping his shield over him. Then, like a
(22:34):
bolt of lightning striking from above, David was hit and
thrown in the air. He landed on his back and
the air flew out of his locks. David gasped and
tried to regain his composure. He looked up and tried
to focus. His vision was blurry, but he could make
out the massive frame of Ishbay Beinop running towards him.
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The giant yelled as he ran forward to spear at David.
He ducked, but the spear grazed his shoulder and tore
his armor. He screamed in pain, but had no time
to tend to it. The giant was close to striking.
David held up his shield just in time to block
east by being Out's first globe. He felt his elbowed
crack under the pressure, and his arm gave out, and
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David screamed. And slashed at the giant's ankles, but he
was quickly met with a kick to the side. The
king was sent flying through the air again, landing in
a pile of rocks. The giant was filled with bloodthirsty rage.
He roared like a ravenous lion and leapt forward as
David again. This time, David jumped forward and deflected the
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giant's sword. He parried the next attack, attempting to slash
the giant in his set. However, every time David attacked
from beaker in the earth, his head became heavy with
lacking loxygen and his entire body burned from the afrot.
The giant swung down with his sword and David blocked
it again with a shield. He stumbled onto the ground
(24:02):
and lifted a shield again to block another strike. The
giant was like a hand, swinging down constantly on David's
broken body. This is the end, David thought to himself,
this is where I fall. The giant swung his sword
to the side and David's shield was knocked.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Off his arm. But David would not give up.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
He threw his body at the giant, trying to knock
him down, but the giant grabbed hold of his throat
and began to squeeze. David felt a life slowly leaving
his body. He didn't have the strength to treble. His
body hung limp as the giant clapped down on his throat.
This by Bina brought his sword in close and placed
the tip on David's armor.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
I'm going to kill you, though, giant slayer, he said.
Speaker 6 (24:48):
Your name will forever be hated.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Is by Bina popped his shoulder back to drive the
sword into David, but his move was interrupted by a
swift slash to the cat ish by Banum's shot. He
dropped David to the ground and turned around. As his
head turned, Abishid delivered a punch to the jug, knocking
the giants out. Ish By Banam stood up and leapt
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at abershot, and the two thought among the sharp rocks.
David crawled out of the way, watching his young commander
fight to protect him. Abishai still had the flame of
youth burning within him. He ferociously stepped forward, keeping the
giant on his heels. His sword would swipe and his
shield would strike continually, keeping the giant backing away. He
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backed near a pile of large stones, stacked higher than
the giant's head. Ishbai binab was frustrated and threw his
sword downward at Abshok. He dodged it, leapt onto one
of the stones, then launched off it to strike the
giant from above. His sword drove downward through the giant's
shoulder and into his heart. Abishi fell with the giant
(25:59):
onto the round.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
And rolled away.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
He stood up embraced himself for another strike. That the
giant lay lifeless in the dirt. Abishi immediately took his
sword out of the giant and ran back to David.
Speaker 6 (26:12):
Are you all right, by king, he shouted.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
David shook his head and winced in pain. Ah, I
am not sure. David tried to get up, but his
body was too exhausted. Abishi lifted him up onto his
shoulders and ran for safety. He finally laid him down
behind a few stones, and the two of them watched Joe,
ab and the others overwhelm the Philistines. The Army of
Israel had once again been saved by the faithfulness.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
Of the Lord.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
David steadied his breathing and propped himself up. Thank you, Abishai,
he whispered. Abishi turned to him and smiled, you.
Speaker 6 (26:50):
Shall no longer go out with us into battle. If
you die, the flame of Israel will be snuffed out.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
David nodded in agreement. He was unable to finish his
final war. The young men trained up by him would
go on to slay their own giants. David was no
longer a warrior, The thought echoed in his mind.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
If I did not have the thrill of battle or
the ministry of the sword, what do I have?
Speaker 2 (27:22):
He limped onto his balcony, still feeling the lingering pain
of his near death experience against ishbay Beinab. He held
his ribs and winced. He looked out onto the great
city of Jerusalem, the city of David. Perhaps one of
his greatest victories was claiming this city. He breathed in
deeply and considered his legacy. If he was not a warrior,
(27:45):
then how was he to measure himself as a king.
The enemy began to creep into his mind and whisper
words of insecurity. David felt the temptation many kings felt,
the temptation to be known as great. If he could
not measure his greatness through conquest or battle, he wanted
to measure it by the people who dwelled within his nation.
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It was out of this misplaced identity that David had
the idea for a census. A census was clearly forbidden
in the law of Moses, especially without some sort of ransom.
If David counted the people, he would be expressing ownership
over them. Moses warned that plagues and pestilence could be
sent as a result, and as David knew, they were
(28:28):
not ultimately his people anyways, they were the lords. Yet
the king still had within him a burning desire to
be validated as king. He wanted to measure his greatness,
so he sent for Joab, the old and grizzled commander
of Israel. Stepped into the presence of the king. David
propped himself up and said.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba,
and number the people. I desire to know how my
country has grown and how many able men have been
added to our ranks. I want the world to know
how large we are.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Joeab tilted his head to the side and peered at
the king. He cleared his throat and spoke softly, saying.
Speaker 7 (29:11):
My King, it is my prayer that God adds to
the people a hundred times as many as there are now,
and I pray you live long enough to see this
country multiply beyond all imagination.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Joe Ab paused and contemplated how to ask his question.
Speaker 7 (29:27):
Why would this delight you? Are you not content with
what the Lord has provided?
Speaker 2 (29:32):
Thus for, the King shrugged off Joab's question, I am king, Joeab,
I desire to know how many men I am commanding.
Joeab did not protest again. He bowed his head and
left the room. He gathered the commanders of the Lord's
armies and sent them far across the country. They crossed
the Jordan to a Roar, from a Rower to Gad,
(29:55):
from God to Yazir, from Yazir to Gilead, and from
Gilead to Kadesh. They crossed the entire country, passing through
all the tribes, villages, and cities. Not one able bodied
man was left uncounted. Joab finally returned to the king
and gave him the count of eight hundred thousand valiant
men from Israel and five hundred thousand from Judah. The
(30:18):
ward pleased the king. However, the act of insecurity and
blatant disobedience did not go unnoticed by the Lord. A
reckoning would be required of him. One morning, David perused
the law of the Lord. He meditated on its statutes
and took in its commands. However, he was cut to
the heart when he stumbled upon a word from Moses saying.
Speaker 4 (30:40):
When you take the census of the children of Israel
for their number, then every man shall give a ransom
for himself to the Lord when you number them, that
there may be no plague among them when you number them.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
The King's heart began to pound heavily. He realized the
sin he had committed, and he was struck with conviction.
Knelt before the Lord and said, I.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Have sinned greatly. Oh Lord, please take away my iniquity,
for I have acted foolishly.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
David's prayer, as honest as it was, did not blought
out the consequences stored up for him. Early the next morning,
David walked among the garden, still reeling over his failure.
His anxious thoughts kept him from enjoying the newly bloomed
flowers and freshly grown saplings. He walked the gardens distracted
(31:34):
and consumed with his own guilt, until finally passing by
the olive trees. Underneath a tree stood the prophet Gad.
He was an old man, more wrinkled and weathered than David.
The King knew that his presence did not signal good fortune.
Gad had brought a word from the Lord. David was
silent as he approached him. He knelt down before him
(31:56):
and awaited the word from the Lord. Gad placed a
hand on his shoulder and said.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
Thus says the Lord, three things I offer you as penance.
Choose one of them that I may act.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Gad held out three fingers and said.
Speaker 6 (32:14):
One, three years of famine shall blight the land. Two
you will flee for three months while your enemies pursue you.
And three there shall be three days pestilence in the land.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Gad paused and looked down at David.
Speaker 6 (32:38):
Consider which you shall choose.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
David's heart sank as he considered his options. He shook
his head in shame and lifted his hands to heaven.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
This is too much for my heart to bear. Let
the Lord do as he wills, for I know his
mercy endures forever. However, I asked this, did I not
fall by the sword or by the hands of men,
(33:08):
And so it was by David's word the Lord sent
to pestilence on Israel. The next morning, sickness and death
scour the earth like a flood. The great nation that
the king basted over was diminished by seventy thousand in
just a matter of three days. David regretted ever counting
the people. They were not his, They were the Lord's,
(33:30):
and this was a gross reminder of that. On the
third day, David opened his arms to heaven and yelled
to God, behold, I have sinned. Look at me and
my iniquity. I have done wickedly in your sight. But
these poor sheep, what have they done? They are innocent. Please, Lord,
(33:52):
put your hand against me. Instead, kill me and wipe
out my household. Leave the people alone.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
David built an altar for the Lord and made a
sacrifice for the sins he committed against the Lord. He
prayed and sought the heart of the Lord. David embraced
the struggle in his relationship with God. He leaned into
the difficulty and engaged in the darker parts of his heart.
Although he stumbled, sinned, and fell continually, he continued to repent,
(34:22):
even in his old age, He never dug his heels
deeper into his own pride. He lifted his voice in repentance,
He made his sacrifice, and he continued in faith. This
was the heart that God saw in the small shepherd
boy so long ago, a heart that was after the
heart of the Lord, a heart of a king.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Something David has not had to deal with yet. Its famines, hunger,
and poverty. He has been a man of war for
so long that the other aspects of governance have not
been on the forefront of his mind. That we know
of the length of his famine comes as a surprise
to David, and since he is attuned to the voice
of God, he receives insight. God is withholding his blessings.
(35:09):
Since there is still unpaid debt for what Saul did
to the Gibeonites, it is up to David to correct
the mistakes made by his predecessor. This is an important
thing to consider. The consequences of our sin do not
disappear when we die. What we have done can sometimes
live beyond us and affect the next generation. Saul's mistake
(35:30):
caused suffering for Israel decades after his death. David, who
is getting older, needs to consider this seriously. His decisions
will affect his son Solomon, and Solomon's decisions will affect
his son rare Bom. The success of our children can
be undermined by our poor decisions, so we are to
seriously consider what we are passing down as a heritage.
(35:53):
David does what he needs to do. When covenants are broken,
blood is required. This is why sacrifices were made for
the people's sins, and while the blood of Jesus covers
our sin. When a promise made be for God or
to God is severed, it must be taken seriously. David
doesn't take any pleasure in giving up the descendants of Saul,
(36:14):
but he does so because being the king requires sacrifice.
David is someone with firm convictions and a black and
white view of righteousness, and it must be exhausting for
him to constantly live in this gray area between what's
right and what's wrong. David pined, after the simpler times
in the wilderness, there were enemies to be vanquished and
(36:34):
villages to be saved. He knew who his enemies were,
and they deserved to die. Now life was more complicated
as a king. No one was merely an enemy, and
no one was merely an ally. All were blurred and confused.
This is a sad reality that comes with the complex
life of a king. Life becomes less black and white,
(36:56):
and David is tired with the nuance. David was a
man of war, and a man of war can have
trouble when he isn't certain who the enemy is. The
battlefield was less nuanced. The enemy is on one side
and you are on the other. David drew a lot
of comfort from the fact that he knew who the
enemy was. In this episode, the enemy was another giant,
(37:20):
ish Banab. His features resembled Goliath, calling us back to
episode six, when David was just a shepherd. The presence
of another giant is purposefully placed in this story the
age David is face to face with the same foe
that thrust him into prominence. Being the giant slayer is
what made him great, and if he can still defeat
(37:42):
a giant in battle, that means David can still be great.
The battle initially goes well, but it becomes a parent
that David is outmatched against ish b Banab. He is
nearly killed, but Abaisha comes to the rescue. Abisha is
now a Giant Slayer and has a hard time coming
to terms with his defeat. We all deal with crisis
(38:04):
of identity in different ways. Some people change the way
they dress, Others look for a new job. Some people
take radical measures like move cities in relationships or change names.
David is going through his own identity crisis. He is
wrestling with his legacy and what he will be known for.
If he is no longer the Giant Slayer, then who
(38:26):
is he. This would have been a perfect time for
David to seek God and be reassured of his calling. However,
David looks elsewhere for validation. He disobeys the law of
Moses and an acts a census. You may be wondering
why that was so wrong. Well, to have a census
back then was to declare ownership over the people, and
(38:48):
they were not David's to own. But David desperately wanted
to measure his greatness based on how many people were
in his kingdom. The people of Israel are punished, and
David begs the Lord to punish him in Instead, he
reveals the true heart of a king. At the end
of the episode, repenting before God and accepting responsibility for
his mistakes. The end of the episode is a beautiful
(39:10):
homage to David's relationship with God. It says David embraced
the struggle in his relationship with God. He leaned into
the difficulty and engaged in the darker parts of his heart.
Although he stumbled, sinned, and fell continually, he continued to
repent even in his old age. He never dug his
heels deeper into his own pride. As we age, we
(39:32):
can become more set in our ways, immovable in our
opinions and habits. David was a wonderful example of someone
who grew softer and more correctible as he reached the
end of his life. May we all be so faithful
to end even more humbly than we began. In our
next episode, the end finally comes for David, and we
(39:54):
end our series with a glimmer of hope. But that
hope is not in whoever succeeds David is king. We
know better by now. The hope we find is in
the promised successor to David's throne. Only this descendant will
exchange his throne for a cross. Join us next time
for our final episode, the Death of a Hero, for
more inspiring stories, daily prayers and wisdom to last a lifetime.
(40:19):
Go to pray dot com. And to expand your heroes
in the Bible journey, download the Heroes of the Faith
devotional at Tonyevans dot org. Forward slash Heroes. Follow the
podcast on Apple or Spotify to get the newest episodes
right as they come out, and always be inspired by
the Bible. God bless
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans and I'm excited for you
to join me on Heroes in the Bible. Please be
sure to follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify so
you get the newest episodes right as they come out.
Welcome to the epic Adventure of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
(00:20):
and murder. While most people know of David the myth,
few know about David the man. In this episode, the
aging David suffers an identity crisis. Through famines, political unrest, wars,
and broken promises, David feels himself losing control. Loss of
control is not always a bad thing. When our fragile
lives are shaken up, it can draw us closer to
(00:42):
the Lord. In this episode, David wrestles with that process.
He struggles with the loss of his youthful strength, and
the weight of the crown is heavy on his head.
Even as David's bones become brittle and his voice loses
its volume, we still get glimpses into his remaining in strength.
In this episode, David deals with famines, broken covenants, and
(01:05):
a mounting Philistine attack. Although he makes some mistakes, we
will be coveted to hear David's honest and courageous heart.
Before we dive into the episode, we will have a prelude,
a story taken from another time when the Israelites were
wondering in the wilderness. The people had multiplied. The victories
under Joshua had made them feared in the ancient world.
(01:27):
They made a covenant under false pretenses, but it was
a covenant all the same. This episode will remind us
that God is serious about keeping promises. He holds his
people accountable to their word. We are reaching the end
of our hero's journey. We only have two episodes left.
Let's enjoy this time together with Episode twenty nine, The
(01:48):
Heart of a King.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Prelude to chapter twenty nine. The Israelite slaves have been
free from the clutches of Egypt by the mighty power
of their Lord. The Egyptians were crushed, and all who
sought to harm the children of God were vanquished. The
Israelites walked with the grace of God before them. In
every battle, the Lord upheld them. In every storm, the
(02:16):
Lord covered them by night. The Lord guided them, and
when they were hungry, the Lord fed them. After forty
years in the wilderness, being upheld only by the mercy
of God. It was time for the Israelites to take
the land promised to them. They had grown massive in numbered,
and the smaller kingdoms of the east feared them greatly.
(02:37):
Among those small nations was Gibeon. They had heard of
God's mighty fist toppling down the walls of Jericho and trembled.
The Gibeonites were afraid of Israel. They were great in
number and had the military leadership of Joshua.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
We do not stand a chance against Israel, they said.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
If they choose to storm our gates, we will be
consumed in a matter of seconds.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
The elders were stirred greatly. They knew they needed to
gain the favor of the Israelites. However, they did not
want to be seen as threats, so the inhabitants of
Gibeon acted on their cunning. They wore worn out sacks
and only carried weathered supplies. They exited their villages and
post as lowly travelers. In need of safety, they ventured
(03:19):
to Gilgal, where the millions of Israelites were camping. They
held their heads low and groaned as they spoke.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Men of Israel they shouted, please show your servants grace.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Joshua and the other warriors sprang up immediately and drew
out their swords. Not a step further, Joshua shouted, who
are you and why have you come into our camp.
The Gibeonites raised their hands in the air and bent
down in submission.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Please do not harm us. We have come from a
distant country. Please make a covenant with us so we
might dwell together in peace.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
How are we supposed to know you aren't dwellers of
this land and out to kill.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Us, Joshua replied, with his sword still directed at them.
Speaker 6 (04:01):
Please, we are at your service.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
They said.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
We are from a distant country, and we heard a
report of your god and what he did in Egypt.
So the elders of our lamb sent us to you
so that we might dwell with you and make a
covenant with you. If you do not believe us, just
look at our supplies. Our bread was warm when we left,
but now it is dry and crumbling. Look at our clothes,
they are tattered and worn from a long journey.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Joshua turned to his commanders. They retreated for a time
to discuss what to do, but they did not inquire
of the Lord. They worked off of instinct and their
own knowledge, a mistake they would later regret. Joshua went
back and said.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
We will make peace with you. Stay here, and we
will make a covenant to protect you and exchange for
your service.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
So the Israelites and the Gibeonites made an unbreakable covenant.
Israel was now bound to care for and protect the
Gibeonites despite their deception. When the truth about the Gibbianites
came to life, the people were enraged, but Joshua was confused, Why.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Did you deceive us like this? Before you were your
own small nation, independent and free, but now you are servants,
woodcutters and drawers of water. I sacrifice your freedom to
be here.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Because we know God has given you all of this
land to inhabit. You outnumber us one hundred to one,
and if you desired to conquer us, we would have
no chance to defend ourselves. We choose to live as
your servants rather than die as your enemies.
Speaker 6 (05:36):
But if you see fit to destroy us anyways.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Do it.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
We are at your mercy.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Joshua was taken back by the Gibei knightes honesty. He
sympathized with their situation. He shook his head and said,
now we have made a covenant with you. As the
Lord lives. The people of Israel will not harm the Gibeonites.
You will be more than servants, but less than brothers.
Our people may quarrel at times, but rest assured that
(06:04):
you will be protected under us. So the Gibeonites served
the Israelites until they inhabited the land. For years, they
co existed in harmony, mutually benefiting from each other, until
King Saul came to the throne. Chapter twenty nine. The
heart of a king cursed was the ground of Israel
(06:27):
delighted by famine for three years, the people were beginning
to starve. King David gripped the edge of his balcony,
deep in thought regarding the soory state of his nation.
His hands shook in the cold. He was getting old
and his bones ached. He was now over the age
of sixty, and not sure how much more tragedy his
old heart could handle. What shall I do? He whispered
(06:51):
into the cold night. Lord, why is this happening? He
sought the wisdom of God. Famines were a common occurrence
and a natural dip in the rhythm of life. However,
it was not common for a famine to last more
than two years. The reserves were running low, and David
feared for God's people, So we stayed up all night,
(07:13):
seeking God and inquiring for answers. David was at a
loss and knew the Lord was their only hope. The
frigid night air filled the King's lungs, the stars peppered
the night sky, and David could feel the still and
quiet voice of God. Blood guilt, he whispered. The King's
eyes were shut desperately trying to listen.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
There is blood guilt on soul and on his house.
That is why there is famine.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
David perked up.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Who is all wrong to warrant such a famine?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
How can it be made right? God spoke, saying, during
the red of Saul, he ravaged the dwellings of the
Gummea and smattered members of the family, thus breaking the
ancient promise made between them and Yesswhere it all made
(08:14):
sense now, David remembered hearing long ago that Saul had
taken the sword to the Gibeonites, slaughtering their men and
a few of their children. Saul, in his nationalistic zeal
persecuted the gibe Kites and left them even more poor
than before. God desired justice for them. David sighed and
(08:34):
lifted his head to the heavens. I will make this right,
he whispered, but I do not like what may come
of it. The next morning, David called for the leaders
of the gibe Kites to visit his home. The elders
wore traditional Gibeonite clothing. He noticed the frowns on their
faces and how they wore their sorrow for all to see.
(08:54):
He gathered them around his table. There they enjoyed wine
and a few figs. However, there was nothing lavish for
the king to offer. The famine had affected even him.
He placed his hands on the table inside. Ah, my friends,
he began. The memory of Saul's crimes against you have
(09:15):
been recently brought to the forefront of my mind. His
slaughter of your people was a hideous break in the
covenant between us. Please tell me what I can do
for you. How shall I make atonement? How can we
(09:36):
make things right so that you might once again trust
in the heritage of the Lord. The elders were taken
back by David's sincerity, His aged voice was gentle and sweet.
Their chief leaned over the table and looked the king
in the eyes.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
There is no gold or silver that can bring back
our people, King David, he said, nor is there any
land that will satisf the desires of our hearts.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
What did David replied in a frustrated voice. Do we
allow the people of Israel to starve? Would you rather
I just kill them now? Not at all, my king,
the chief said, far.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
Be it from us to put any of your people
to death. However, there is blood that was spilled, and
blood is required.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
David winced. He hated revenge. He thought it was beneath
God's people to hold grudges. However, he understood that when
a covenant is broken, blood is required to reconcile. What
shall I do for you, then, David asked, calmly. The
Chief rose to his feet and said.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
Saul is the one who consumed us, destroyed us, and
ensured that we had no home in Israel. He owes
us a debt.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
He is dead, David replied, So who shall pay this debt?
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Seven of his descendants?
Speaker 2 (10:56):
He said, plainly, give us.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Seven male descendants of Saul, so that we might hang
them for their grandfather's crimes. It is the only way
we will be satisfied. We will hang them before the Lord,
and then it shall be over.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
David paused for a long while. There were several descendants
of Saul still alive, mostly illegitimate children and grandchildren from concubines.
Yet they had done nothing wrong. The crime was their fathers,
not theirs. It was yet another example of the generational
turmoil caused by the sins of a father. David considered
(11:31):
his own sins and how his children would be forever
blighted with bloodshed because of them. The king sighed and replied,
I will give them to you. I will find Saven
who Saul's descendants, and bring them before you. The elders
bowed their heads and left. When the door closed, David
(11:53):
buried his face in his hands. Life was more simple
when he fled from Saul in the wilderness. There were
any it means to be vanquished and villages to be saved.
He knew who his enemies were, and they deserved to die.
Now life was more complicated as a king. No one
was merely an enemy and no one was merely an ally.
(12:14):
All was blurred and confused. There was a knock at
David's door, Come in, he said in a weary voice.
Vanya entered the room and bowed. However, the king did
not turn to him. He was gazing into the fire,
watching its light slowly fade as the coals turned to ash.
Thank you for coming, Benya, David said, his face was
(12:38):
still facing the flickering light.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
I am afraid I need to ask you to do
something for the kingdom, something that may seem cruel.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
David looked down, unwilling to make eye contact. Nayah took
a deep breath and replied.
Speaker 7 (12:55):
I am at your service until the very end, King David,
what would you have me do?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
There was a long pause.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Find me seven remaining descendants of Saul, he commanded. I
know there are some who were born to risba Is concubine.
There are others born from Merab, Saul's daughter. Find them
and give them over to the Gibeonites.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Beniah was silent. He had questions, but he also had
faith in his king.
Speaker 7 (13:24):
Is there anything else?
Speaker 3 (13:27):
He asked, solemnly, spare me fibishe Jonathan's son. I shall
not break the covenant I made with Jonathan. Broken covenants
are how we got into this mess.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Beniga bowed and left the room. The door closed, and
David finally let the tears out. He leaned over his seat,
weeping over the fading flames. The clouds cover the morning
sun and fog rolled in from the west, slithering through
the forest leading up to the mountain. The Gibeonites marched
up the mountain with seven of SAAL's descendants behind them,
(14:02):
bound in rope. There were no trumpets of victory or
loud processions of praise, only a silent and ominous hike
up the mountain. They reached the summit, and there stood
a tree that was darker and more foreboding than the others.
Its branches were jagged, thick, and stretched over the earth below.
No light broke through its leaves, leaving everything below covered
(14:25):
in darkness. The elders tied nooses around the men's necks
and threw the ropes over the branches. The men struggled
and yelled to be free, but the Gibeonites remained silent.
The cries of the suns of Saul dissipated into the wilderness.
No one could hear their screams, no one would come
to their aid. The nooses were secured around their necks,
(14:48):
and platforms were erected underneath the branches to keep the
men standing. The elders looked up at the suns of
Saul and said blood for blood, and with those words
they removed the platforms supporting them. One by one. The
descendants wiggled and swung in place, gasping for breath, until
finally losing air. The seven descendants perished together in the shadows,
(15:12):
and the Gibeonite blood was avenged. It was hardly a
victory for King David. The constant blood shed and revenge
weighed heavily on his soul. For nearly forty years he
had reigned as king, and the accumulated lives that had
been slain by him or his men were uncountable. He
understood why the Lord would not allow him to build
(15:33):
the temple. His hands were stained with the blood of
many enemies and even some friends. David longed for relief,
and he prayed for peace within his soul. He looked
out the large window of his room overlooking the horizon.
The clouds were still heavy in the sky, hovering over
the blighted land. As the winds began to pick up
(15:54):
and the new rains began to fall. David strummed his
lyre and played a new tune. His voice was not
as smooth as it once was. It was soft, like
worn in leather, but still just as beautiful. To the Lord,
you visit the earth and water, you enrich. The ground below.
(16:16):
The River of God is filled with water, ready to overflow.
Your water furrows abundantly, settling its ridges. You soften the
earth with showers and bless it as it grows. You
(16:38):
crown the year with bounty, and your love overflows the
pastures of you. Wilderness stretches forevermore. The hills gird themselves
in joy, and it is you they adore. The meadow
(17:00):
hills clothed themselves with flocks s abundantly. The valleys are
filled with that rain. They shout for joy and sing
together for your gracious summer rain. There was great mourning
(17:20):
from the family of Saul from the loss of their sons.
David could not bring them back, nor could he console
the family. However, there was one final act David could
do to honor the king and his son. He mounted
his horse and left with a few of his men.
The rain continued to pour abundantly, refreshing the scorched earth below.
(17:41):
They had gone long without rain, and the entire nation
was outside celebrating the faithfulness of God. David continued to ride,
not taking time to stop or eat. He rode from
Jerusalem to Javishkilead. He rode through the city, ignoring the
onlookers watching him pass. Finally, he came to a small
cave carved out of a hill on the outskirts of
(18:02):
the city. He dismounted and approached the tomb. A stone
was placed in front of the cave. He and his
men pushed the stone away, feet sliding in the mud.
David knelt down and looked inside. Lying in the small
opening with the bones of Saul and Jonathan. Their bodies
had been mocked by the Philistines, and their corpses had
(18:23):
hung for months in the hot sun. They never received
a proper burial. David whispered. He had his servants wrapped
the bones in cloth and strapped them to their horses.
They rode back to the land of Benjamin and prepared
the ceremony. Saul, Jonathan, and their seven descendants were brought
to the homeland of Saul and buried in the tomb
(18:43):
of Kish, his father. The stormy skies opened up for
a moment, allowing for a brief ray of sunlight to
shine down. David turned his cheek to the sky. The
reassuring presence of God was upon him. God had responded
to the faithfulness of David. God was going to heal
the land and would continually uphold his chosen king. Peace
(19:08):
was elusive for the Kingdom of Israel. Every few years,
another large nation would mount an attack against them. David,
even in his aging years, was on high alert for
the safety of God's people. In the many years since
David's victory over Akish, the Philistine nation had quietly prepared
itself for another attack. David welcomed the challenge, knowing that
(19:31):
the Lord would provide victory. He gathered his men and
marched with them to face the horde of uncircumcised fiends.
As they marched, David could feel the discomfort of age
creeping up on him. His armour weighed heavier on his shoulders,
and as steps dragged more than they did in his youth.
Abshid took notice of this and made sure to stay
(19:51):
close to the king. They had finally made it to
the place of meeting. David stood in front of his army,
postured opposite of the Philistines a couple hundred yards away.
The jagged and rocky valley between them would serve as
the battleground. This was David's sacred space. This is where
he truly felt like the King of Israel. David unsheathed
(20:13):
his sword and pointed it at the enemy. His hand
shook as he held up the sword.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
These Philistines have been a plague to our people for generations.
Let us remind them that we are a people protected
and empowered by the God of all creation.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
The army yelled behind him, fueled by their king's passion.
The Philistines roared on the other side, banging on their
shields and swaying to the beat of a drum. David
knew this rituoman. He recognized it from years ago when
he was just a boy. The hordes scoffed and spat
in Israel's direction. Then the army parted to make room.
(20:54):
From the middle of the Philistine ranks emerged a giant
is Ish by Beanob was the infamous descendant of the
Giants of Old, a remnant of Goliath's tribe. Flashbacks of
Goliath rushed in David's mind, his massive frame, his thundering roar,
in his look of complete hatred. His spear weighed three
(21:15):
hundred sheckles and bronze and hung on his back. His
armor was hewn from the fires of gaff, made of
steeled and refined bronze. His sword was the size of
a man's abdomen and hung securely on his belt, ready
to be used at any moment. David's heart began to
pound heavily.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
I will remind them of my name, giant slayer.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
He whispered to himself. His sword was still held up,
his hand trembling in place. David turned to his men
and said.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
With the glory of our God and the love of
our nation.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
And as he yelled this, the king burst forward with
all his might. The old king ran towards the enemy,
without regard to who was behind him. The children of
his Israel followed and quickly caught up to him. The
two armies clashed against one another. Blood poured out onto
the jagged rocks below, and the screams of young men
could be heard from robos. David was thrilled to be
(22:13):
back in battle, although his body ached two philistines kin
at him, but David toppled them with two swift spreads
of his blade. Three more Philistines approached, and David fought
them tooth and nail, slowly gaining the advantage with his
superior swordsmanship. He kept his foundation low and slashed their
legs while keeping his shield over him. Then, like a
(22:34):
bolt of lightning striking from above, David was hit and
thrown in the air. He landed on his back and
the air flew out of his locks. David gasped and
tried to regain his composure. He looked up and tried
to focus. His vision was blurry, but he could make
out the massive frame of Ishbay Beinop running towards him.
(22:56):
The giant yelled as he ran forward to spear at David.
He ducked, but the spear grazed his shoulder and tore
his armor. He screamed in pain, but had no time
to tend to it. The giant was close to striking.
David held up his shield just in time to block
east by being Out's first globe. He felt his elbowed
crack under the pressure, and his arm gave out, and
(23:19):
David screamed. And slashed at the giant's ankles, but he
was quickly met with a kick to the side. The
king was sent flying through the air again, landing in
a pile of rocks. The giant was filled with bloodthirsty rage.
He roared like a ravenous lion and leapt forward as
David again. This time, David jumped forward and deflected the
(23:41):
giant's sword. He parried the next attack, attempting to slash
the giant in his set. However, every time David attacked
from beaker in the earth, his head became heavy with
lacking loxygen and his entire body burned from the afrot.
The giant swung down with his sword and David blocked
it again with a shield. He stumbled onto the ground
(24:02):
and lifted a shield again to block another strike. The
giant was like a hand, swinging down constantly on David's
broken body. This is the end, David thought to himself,
this is where I fall. The giant swung his sword
to the side and David's shield was knocked.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Off his arm. But David would not give up.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
He threw his body at the giant, trying to knock
him down, but the giant grabbed hold of his throat
and began to squeeze. David felt a life slowly leaving
his body. He didn't have the strength to treble. His
body hung limp as the giant clapped down on his throat.
This by Bina brought his sword in close and placed
the tip on David's armor.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
I'm going to kill you, though, giant slayer, he said.
Speaker 6 (24:48):
Your name will forever be hated.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Is by Bina popped his shoulder back to drive the
sword into David, but his move was interrupted by a
swift slash to the cat ish by Banum's shot. He
dropped David to the ground and turned around. As his
head turned, Abishid delivered a punch to the jug, knocking
the giants out. Ish By Banam stood up and leapt
(25:17):
at abershot, and the two thought among the sharp rocks.
David crawled out of the way, watching his young commander
fight to protect him. Abishai still had the flame of
youth burning within him. He ferociously stepped forward, keeping the
giant on his heels. His sword would swipe and his
shield would strike continually, keeping the giant backing away. He
(25:38):
backed near a pile of large stones, stacked higher than
the giant's head. Ishbai binab was frustrated and threw his
sword downward at Abshok. He dodged it, leapt onto one
of the stones, then launched off it to strike the
giant from above. His sword drove downward through the giant's
shoulder and into his heart. Abishi fell with the giant
(25:59):
onto the round.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
And rolled away.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
He stood up embraced himself for another strike. That the
giant lay lifeless in the dirt. Abishi immediately took his
sword out of the giant and ran back to David.
Speaker 6 (26:12):
Are you all right, by king, he shouted.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
David shook his head and winced in pain. Ah, I
am not sure. David tried to get up, but his
body was too exhausted. Abishi lifted him up onto his
shoulders and ran for safety. He finally laid him down
behind a few stones, and the two of them watched Joe,
ab and the others overwhelm the Philistines. The Army of
Israel had once again been saved by the faithfulness.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
Of the Lord.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
David steadied his breathing and propped himself up. Thank you, Abishai,
he whispered. Abishi turned to him and smiled, you.
Speaker 6 (26:50):
Shall no longer go out with us into battle. If
you die, the flame of Israel will be snuffed out.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
David nodded in agreement. He was unable to finish his
final war. The young men trained up by him would
go on to slay their own giants. David was no
longer a warrior, The thought echoed in his mind.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
If I did not have the thrill of battle or
the ministry of the sword, what do I have?
Speaker 2 (27:22):
He limped onto his balcony, still feeling the lingering pain
of his near death experience against ishbay Beinab. He held
his ribs and winced. He looked out onto the great
city of Jerusalem, the city of David. Perhaps one of
his greatest victories was claiming this city. He breathed in
deeply and considered his legacy. If he was not a warrior,
(27:45):
then how was he to measure himself as a king.
The enemy began to creep into his mind and whisper
words of insecurity. David felt the temptation many kings felt,
the temptation to be known as great. If he could
not measure his greatness through conquest or battle, he wanted
to measure it by the people who dwelled within his nation.
(28:06):
It was out of this misplaced identity that David had
the idea for a census. A census was clearly forbidden
in the law of Moses, especially without some sort of ransom.
If David counted the people, he would be expressing ownership
over them. Moses warned that plagues and pestilence could be
sent as a result, and as David knew, they were
(28:28):
not ultimately his people anyways, they were the lords. Yet
the king still had within him a burning desire to
be validated as king. He wanted to measure his greatness,
so he sent for Joab, the old and grizzled commander
of Israel. Stepped into the presence of the king. David
propped himself up and said.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba,
and number the people. I desire to know how my
country has grown and how many able men have been
added to our ranks. I want the world to know
how large we are.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Joeab tilted his head to the side and peered at
the king. He cleared his throat and spoke softly, saying.
Speaker 7 (29:11):
My King, it is my prayer that God adds to
the people a hundred times as many as there are now,
and I pray you live long enough to see this
country multiply beyond all imagination.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Joe Ab paused and contemplated how to ask his question.
Speaker 7 (29:27):
Why would this delight you? Are you not content with
what the Lord has provided?
Speaker 2 (29:32):
Thus for, the King shrugged off Joab's question, I am king, Joeab,
I desire to know how many men I am commanding.
Joeab did not protest again. He bowed his head and
left the room. He gathered the commanders of the Lord's
armies and sent them far across the country. They crossed
the Jordan to a Roar, from a Rower to Gad,
(29:55):
from God to Yazir, from Yazir to Gilead, and from
Gilead to Kadesh. They crossed the entire country, passing through
all the tribes, villages, and cities. Not one able bodied
man was left uncounted. Joab finally returned to the king
and gave him the count of eight hundred thousand valiant
men from Israel and five hundred thousand from Judah. The
(30:18):
ward pleased the king. However, the act of insecurity and
blatant disobedience did not go unnoticed by the Lord. A
reckoning would be required of him. One morning, David perused
the law of the Lord. He meditated on its statutes
and took in its commands. However, he was cut to
the heart when he stumbled upon a word from Moses saying.
Speaker 4 (30:40):
When you take the census of the children of Israel
for their number, then every man shall give a ransom
for himself to the Lord when you number them, that
there may be no plague among them when you number them.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
The King's heart began to pound heavily. He realized the
sin he had committed, and he was struck with conviction.
Knelt before the Lord and said, I.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Have sinned greatly. Oh Lord, please take away my iniquity,
for I have acted foolishly.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
David's prayer, as honest as it was, did not blought
out the consequences stored up for him. Early the next morning,
David walked among the garden, still reeling over his failure.
His anxious thoughts kept him from enjoying the newly bloomed
flowers and freshly grown saplings. He walked the gardens distracted
(31:34):
and consumed with his own guilt, until finally passing by
the olive trees. Underneath a tree stood the prophet Gad.
He was an old man, more wrinkled and weathered than David.
The King knew that his presence did not signal good fortune.
Gad had brought a word from the Lord. David was
silent as he approached him. He knelt down before him
(31:56):
and awaited the word from the Lord. Gad placed a
hand on his shoulder and said.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
Thus says the Lord, three things I offer you as penance.
Choose one of them that I may act.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Gad held out three fingers and said.
Speaker 6 (32:14):
One, three years of famine shall blight the land. Two
you will flee for three months while your enemies pursue you.
And three there shall be three days pestilence in the land.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Gad paused and looked down at David.
Speaker 6 (32:38):
Consider which you shall choose.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
David's heart sank as he considered his options. He shook
his head in shame and lifted his hands to heaven.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
This is too much for my heart to bear. Let
the Lord do as he wills, for I know his
mercy endures forever. However, I asked this, did I not
fall by the sword or by the hands of men,
(33:08):
And so it was by David's word the Lord sent
to pestilence on Israel. The next morning, sickness and death
scour the earth like a flood. The great nation that
the king basted over was diminished by seventy thousand in
just a matter of three days. David regretted ever counting
the people. They were not his, They were the Lord's,
(33:30):
and this was a gross reminder of that. On the
third day, David opened his arms to heaven and yelled
to God, behold, I have sinned. Look at me and
my iniquity. I have done wickedly in your sight. But
these poor sheep, what have they done? They are innocent. Please, Lord,
(33:52):
put your hand against me. Instead, kill me and wipe
out my household. Leave the people alone.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
David built an altar for the Lord and made a
sacrifice for the sins he committed against the Lord. He
prayed and sought the heart of the Lord. David embraced
the struggle in his relationship with God. He leaned into
the difficulty and engaged in the darker parts of his heart.
Although he stumbled, sinned, and fell continually, he continued to repent,
(34:22):
even in his old age, He never dug his heels
deeper into his own pride. He lifted his voice in repentance,
He made his sacrifice, and he continued in faith. This
was the heart that God saw in the small shepherd
boy so long ago, a heart that was after the
heart of the Lord, a heart of a king.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Something David has not had to deal with yet. Its famines, hunger,
and poverty. He has been a man of war for
so long that the other aspects of governance have not
been on the forefront of his mind. That we know
of the length of his famine comes as a surprise
to David, and since he is attuned to the voice
of God, he receives insight. God is withholding his blessings.
(35:09):
Since there is still unpaid debt for what Saul did
to the Gibeonites, it is up to David to correct
the mistakes made by his predecessor. This is an important
thing to consider. The consequences of our sin do not
disappear when we die. What we have done can sometimes
live beyond us and affect the next generation. Saul's mistake
(35:30):
caused suffering for Israel decades after his death. David, who
is getting older, needs to consider this seriously. His decisions
will affect his son Solomon, and Solomon's decisions will affect
his son rare Bom. The success of our children can
be undermined by our poor decisions, so we are to
seriously consider what we are passing down as a heritage.
(35:53):
David does what he needs to do. When covenants are broken,
blood is required. This is why sacrifices were made for
the people's sins, and while the blood of Jesus covers
our sin. When a promise made be for God or
to God is severed, it must be taken seriously. David
doesn't take any pleasure in giving up the descendants of Saul,
(36:14):
but he does so because being the king requires sacrifice.
David is someone with firm convictions and a black and
white view of righteousness, and it must be exhausting for
him to constantly live in this gray area between what's
right and what's wrong. David pined, after the simpler times
in the wilderness, there were enemies to be vanquished and
(36:34):
villages to be saved. He knew who his enemies were,
and they deserved to die. Now life was more complicated
as a king. No one was merely an enemy, and
no one was merely an ally. All were blurred and confused.
This is a sad reality that comes with the complex
life of a king. Life becomes less black and white,
(36:56):
and David is tired with the nuance. David was a
man of war, and a man of war can have
trouble when he isn't certain who the enemy is. The
battlefield was less nuanced. The enemy is on one side
and you are on the other. David drew a lot
of comfort from the fact that he knew who the
enemy was. In this episode, the enemy was another giant,
(37:20):
ish Banab. His features resembled Goliath, calling us back to
episode six, when David was just a shepherd. The presence
of another giant is purposefully placed in this story the
age David is face to face with the same foe
that thrust him into prominence. Being the giant slayer is
what made him great, and if he can still defeat
(37:42):
a giant in battle, that means David can still be great.
The battle initially goes well, but it becomes a parent
that David is outmatched against ish b Banab. He is
nearly killed, but Abaisha comes to the rescue. Abisha is
now a Giant Slayer and has a hard time coming
to terms with his defeat. We all deal with crisis
(38:04):
of identity in different ways. Some people change the way
they dress, Others look for a new job. Some people
take radical measures like move cities in relationships or change names.
David is going through his own identity crisis. He is
wrestling with his legacy and what he will be known for.
If he is no longer the Giant Slayer, then who
(38:26):
is he. This would have been a perfect time for
David to seek God and be reassured of his calling. However,
David looks elsewhere for validation. He disobeys the law of
Moses and an acts a census. You may be wondering
why that was so wrong. Well, to have a census
back then was to declare ownership over the people, and
(38:48):
they were not David's to own. But David desperately wanted
to measure his greatness based on how many people were
in his kingdom. The people of Israel are punished, and
David begs the Lord to punish him in Instead, he
reveals the true heart of a king. At the end
of the episode, repenting before God and accepting responsibility for
his mistakes. The end of the episode is a beautiful
(39:10):
homage to David's relationship with God. It says David embraced
the struggle in his relationship with God. He leaned into
the difficulty and engaged in the darker parts of his heart.
Although he stumbled, sinned, and fell continually, he continued to
repent even in his old age. He never dug his
heels deeper into his own pride. As we age, we
(39:32):
can become more set in our ways, immovable in our
opinions and habits. David was a wonderful example of someone
who grew softer and more correctible as he reached the
end of his life. May we all be so faithful
to end even more humbly than we began. In our
next episode, the end finally comes for David, and we
(39:54):
end our series with a glimmer of hope. But that
hope is not in whoever succeeds David is king. We
know better by now. The hope we find is in
the promised successor to David's throne. Only this descendant will
exchange his throne for a cross. Join us next time
for our final episode, the Death of a Hero, for
more inspiring stories, daily prayers and wisdom to last a lifetime.
(40:19):
Go to pray dot com. And to expand your heroes
in the Bible journey, download the Heroes of the Faith
devotional at Tonyevans dot org. Forward slash Heroes. Follow the
podcast on Apple or Spotify to get the newest episodes
right as they come out, and always be inspired by
the Bible. God bless
Host
Dr. Tony Evans
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