January 5, 2024 • 58 mins
Chapter 23 of Heroes in the Bible: David with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by 2 Samuel 8-10.
Strength & Love - David rises to a new level of power, influence, and favor. He truly is living like a man after God’s own heart… But sin is always lurking in the shadows, awaiting a moment to strike.
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Romans 15:13, Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, may the God of Hope fill you with all
joy and peace in believing that you may abound in
hope in the power of the Holy Spirit Romans fifteen thirteen. Lord,
as your presence fills this place, I welcome you. I
know you have something you want to say to me
(00:20):
to day, and I want to hear it. Holy Spirit,
you are such a comfort to me. You fill me
with such hope, such joy, such peace, and I trust you.
I can't wait to see where you are leading me
and what you will do next. As you continue working
(00:42):
in me and through me for your glory. Nothing can
stop your plans or purpose for me. Nothing can keep
me from becoming all that you created me to be,
fulfilling your calling. Even in dark times and on difficult
day I don't live in fear or anxiety, depression or
(01:04):
discouragement or self pity. You are protecting me from all
these things, guarding my heart and mind in Christ Jesus,
to day, I hold tightly to the hope you have
given me. The more I do, the more I experience
freedom from the things that have been weighing on me.
(01:26):
The spirit of heaviness has no power over me. I
trust you to carry my burdens for me to take
care of everything that concerns me. You are my strength
and my shield, my hope and my soul, my light
and my salvation. And I pray in Jesus name.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever
told from pray dot COM's podcast, Heroes in the Bible.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Hello.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
My name is Matthew Potter, co founder of Prey dot Com,
and before we start today's episode of Heroes in the Bible,
I wanted to ask do you know what your bank
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everyday banking helps grow churches, expand the reach of missions agencies,
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(02:22):
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Speaker 4 (02:41):
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,
(03:01):
and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,
few know about David the Man. In this episode, David
expands the power of Israel with alarming speed. He establishes
the small nation of former slaves into the most powerful
nation in the region. David serves up justice to the
corrupt nations, liberates the oppressed nations, and elevates the poor nations.
(03:24):
The Giant Slayer is world famous and it is impossible
for him to be forgotten. This episode has a few
battles that give us some epic fights. David even faces
another giant, but there are also some tender and emotional
moments in this episode. David the Warrior and David the
Poet interchained seamlessly and we get to witness compelling acts
(03:45):
of love and kindness. We will also get to meet
another character in this episode, a boy who has remained
hidden from David for fear of his life. However, the
two of them will share a bond unlike anything since Jonathan.
This boy will bring out some of David's best qualities
and remind us that for all of the King's bloody conquests,
(04:05):
he is still a tender poet at heart. This episode
will be longer than any we've had before, but for
good reason. Allow yourself to be immersed in the story.
See what David sees and feel what David feels in
Episode twenty three, Strength and Love.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Prelude to chapter twenty three, Wake Up. The nursemaid cried.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
Outa my prince, wake up.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Prince. Mephibishev woke up to his panic nursemaids shaking him awake.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
We don't have much time.
Speaker 7 (04:44):
We need to get you to safety.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Methhibisheth, only five years old, did not know what to
make of the pandemonium. The nursemaid put on his clothes,
grabbed his hand, and escorted him out of his home.
They ran out into the second floor. Overlooking the city.
Phibischeff saw flames in the distance, red hues and gulfed
the horizon, and the skies were painted black from the smoke.
Speaker 8 (05:07):
What is happening, the young child said, where are we going?
Speaker 7 (05:12):
The Philistines have overtaken the borders of Israel. Your father
and grandfather have fallen and there is no one to protect.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Us, she yelled. Mephibischef tugged away at his nurse maid's
hand and began to cry.
Speaker 8 (05:24):
My father is dead, he yelled, where is my mother?
Speaker 4 (05:28):
There is no time.
Speaker 7 (05:30):
We must get you away from here before the Philistines come.
Speaker 9 (05:33):
No, the young prince cried, no, no, I want my father.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Jonathan is dead.
Speaker 9 (05:39):
The nursemaid shouted, Now, come with me if you don't
want to die either.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
She picked up the crying boy and began to run
down the stairs leading into the courtyard. Methshibischef tugged and
cried to be released. Out of panic, he threw himself
out of her arms and tumbled down the stairs. He
cried out in intense pain. The nurse maid ran down
to him. She looked down at his legs. Both feet
were completely broken. She held him helplessly as the five
(06:07):
year old boy wailed in pain. I want my father,
he cried out. I know, she whispered in his ear,
stroking the back of his hair. I know, the son
of Jonathan and grandson of Saul, whimpered in her arms.
Plumes of smoke blocked out the sun and all hope
seemed lost for the little Prince Chapter twenty three, Strength
(06:32):
and love. All feared and respected his name. There was
not a king or commander in the East that did
not tremble when they heard he was marching up against them.
David's name had stretched past the hill country of the
Philistines all the way into Moab and Syria. No evil
nation was safe as long as David resided on the
throne of Jerusalem. Yet even so they tried to take
(06:55):
hold of Israel and make them captive again. Kings tried
and failed to take hold of cities on the borders
of Israel. They wanted to posture themselves against David and
proved their strength. They shouted and clamored, they roared and raved,
But the King of Israel would not flinch. In just
a few years, as King, David had lived up to
the name giant slayer. First it was the Philistines, the
(07:19):
age long foe of God's people, seized the borderlands of Israel.
The families of farmers and herdsmen were either cast out
or taken as slaves. The Philistines spited David and as
God by oppressing the people. David leaned over the table
of Meeting across from him was Joab. The two of
them discussed marching up to defend the borders, but David
(07:41):
had another idea.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
No matter how many times we've defended ourselves, they continue
to attack us. David said, they take hold of our cities,
we drive them out, and then they repeat the process.
The king shook his head and sighed, the fence is
not working. It is time we show them our true strength.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Joe Ab perked up and gave David a curious look.
David did not smile. He maintained his intense gaze at
the map and pointed to a spot in the heart
of Philistine land. Metheg Amah, he said in the Philistine's
native language, otherwise known as Gath. David rolled back his
shoulders and drove a blade through the map. We will
(08:24):
march towards Gath and hit them in the heart. Days later,
they marched past the borders of Israel to the Philistine
city of Gath. David looked up at the jagged hills
leading down to the city. He remembered fleeing to Gath
when he was running from Saul Akish. The king had
given him a safe haven when he and his men
were in need. However, that bond was severed when the
(08:46):
Philistines continued to attack them. Up until now, David had
shown mercy by not marching against their territory, but too
much Hebrew blood had been spilled at the hand of
the Philistines. They advanced to the borders of Gath. David
stood in front of his men with the sword of
Goliath strapped to his back. He took it out and
looked at it. He had carried it for so long
(09:08):
that it seemed more like his sword now. David remembered
it being heavier when he first used it, Yet now
the weight seemed comfortable, like an extension of his own arms.
He looked down at the city and waved for his
men to begin their attack. What followed was an all
out conquest of the city. David did not only defeat
(09:28):
the Philistine guards, but he also subdued the capital. The
wicked people of Gath would no longer be able to
raise up armies the harm the people of Israel, but
David would have no more slaughter, no more humiliation at
the hand of these uncircumcised dogs. Dave would learn to
fear the Lord and think twice before marching against his children.
(09:49):
The second nation to feel the scorn of David was Moab.
The bond he shared with Moab through his great grandmother Ruth,
was severed by years of betrayal. The Moabi were at
odds with Israel, seeking to conquer land close to them.
David would not allow the Moabites to press up against Israel,
especially when their king was not a man of his word.
(10:11):
They were a rising nation that was growing in both
number and wickedness. David knew he had to make a
decision regarding the Moabites. Would he shrink back and wait
for them to attack, or would he establish the nation
of Israel as a people not to be trifled with.
After careful planning, David chose to march. Moab was inundated
(10:32):
with the armies of David. They broke down their gates
with battering rams and set fire to the temples of
their false gods. David entered in with strength, and all
trembled at the sight of him. Although David was not
a brutal man, he understood the culture of the Moabites.
For years, they had brutally slaughtered surrounding nations, putting their
heads on pikes and sacrificing children to their gods. A
(10:55):
simple defeat would not resonate with them. David needed to
send a clear message of strength. After they conquered the
army of Moab, David rode in on horseback and had
the Mobite set in three lines lying on the ground.
He scanned the crowd.
Speaker 6 (11:11):
You are now under the rule of Israel, he said.
We have shown ourselves more than capable of utterly destroying
your city. If we chose, we could burn it to
the ground. However we will not, for we believe in
a God of mercy. I also know your works and
(11:33):
your predisposition to violence. Perhaps this will send a clear
message to you.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
David nodded to his men, and two of the three
lines of Moabite soldiers were put to death. Screams and
whales echoed throughout the valley and blood soaked the ground below.
Only one line was spared.
Speaker 6 (11:54):
You may return to your homes and recover what you.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Have lost, David said to the remaining survi.
Speaker 6 (12:00):
However, we will expect tributes from you. If you do
your diligence to pay, we will spare you and take
care of your borders. Perhaps many years from now. We
can live in peace with each other. The next people
that challenged David were the Syrians. The Syrians were divided
(12:21):
into two kingdoms, Zoba and Damascus. Both had their boots
on the throats of surrounding villages, preventing trade from coming
in through the Euphrates River. David knew that if he
could gain power over the Euphrates River, he could open
up trade for Israel and other small nations. It would
be a great economic success for them and the poor
nations of the East. David was reminded of God's promise
(12:44):
to Abraham so many years ago, when he said, unto
thy seed, I have given this word from the river
of Egypt under the great river, the River Euphrates. The
Euphrates is promised to our people.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
He said to the elders, If we.
Speaker 6 (13:02):
Can take power over it, we can bless the world.
God knows we would be good stewards of the river,
so I am confident he will give us favor against
the Syrians.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
The elders agreed, so David marched to go take hold
of the river. The first kingdom to come against him
was Zoba, led by King had A Deezer. Had A
Dezer was a power hungry and bloodthirsty king bent on
maintaining his oppressive grip over the surrounding land. He arrogantly
marched up against David, posturing with tens of thousands of men. However,
(13:37):
David knew just where to hurt the most.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
Direct all of your focus on horsemen and chariots.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
He said to his foot soldiers, be swift on your.
Speaker 6 (13:45):
Feet and aim low at the legs.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
So off they went. The two armies converged in the middle.
Determined to gain the upper hand, David led from the front,
lighting past the soldiers and taking out the horsemen. The
armies of Israel rampaged against the Syrians, successfully taking a
one thousand, seven hundred horsemen, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and
one hundred chariots. David's ferocity in battle was a thing
(14:11):
to behold. Many soldiers stood back and watched as the
king maneuvered through the battlefield. He was like a poet,
his sword the ink and the battlefield his parchment. King
had a deezer, was outmatched and called for reinforcements from Damascus.
Thousands of soldiers came to the battlefield seeking to overendown David. However,
(14:32):
they barely came close to winning. Twenty two thousand more
Syrians died on the battlefield that day. An overwhelming torrent
of might was displayed. Similarly to the Moabites, the Syrians
were made subjects of Israel, paying tribute to them for
safety and economic stability. The Euphrates was now controlled by Israel,
(14:54):
and David opened up trade for the other nations, freeing
the chokehold the Syrians had on the region. Toy, the
King of Hamath, was grateful for the victory David had
over the Syrians. For many years, the Syrians had oppressed
and slaughtered the people of Hamath. King Toy sent his
son Joraf to bring gifts of silver, gold, and bronze
(15:15):
to David as a thanks. David received it with humility
and offered the entire gift up to the Lord. All
the spoils of war were given as an offering to
the Lord, either dedicated for the priests or as a
gift to the poor. David kept very little wealth for himself.
He did not build more palaces or plant more gardens.
He knew that the victory he gained was from the Lord,
(15:38):
and to the victor go the spoils the entire continent
knew once and for all that David was the king
elevated by God, and no one would defeat him, no
one from the outside. That is. David sat on the
rooftop of his palace, looking down at the city below, Jerusalem,
(15:59):
the city of David, a symbol of God's favor on
his reign as king. The radiance of the setting sun
warmed the evening, painting it in a candescent orange. It
was a beautiful sight to behold. Israel was now a
strong and noble fortress for God's people. However, peace came
at a great price, particularly to David's body. The king
(16:22):
leaned back and drew a deep breath, his body ached
from months of battle. His recent victories were sweet, but
there was a tinge of bitterness in every one of them.
Before he was king, he dreamed of fighting and ruling
alongside Jonathan, his friend and brother in arms. He was
a constant source of encouragement and love in his life,
(16:43):
and he missed him dearly. His heart ached at the
thought of him. David leaned back and recollected the times
they shared. He remembered the covenant they both made long ago.
He remembered Jonathan's words after he saved him from Saul.
Speaker 9 (16:57):
All those who seek to destroy you will not be eliminated,
and God will pave the way for your kingdom. Please,
I beg you show love to my house. When God
removes your enemies, be kind to my wife and children.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
David watched the sunset, considering all that he wished he
could have done with Jonathan. He shook his head in
disappointment and said to himself, I will keep my promise
to my friend. I will not break my covenant. The
next morning, David was sitting at his desk, mulling over
new trade agreements made since the conquest of the Euphrates.
(17:33):
All was silent as David sifted through the parchment. The
door knocked and an old man entered the room. It
was Zeba, a servant from the house of Saul. He
had served the previous king and his family for years
before the death of Jonathan and the other sons. You
asked for me, my lord, the old man said pensively.
(17:54):
Zeba was the head of Saul's home and oversaw all
the care of the family. Since Isposhet's death, he had
been out of work, along with his fifteen children, David smiled, Yes, Zeba, thank.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
You for coming.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
I have a request.
Speaker 6 (18:10):
Would you please inquire if there is any one else
from the house of Saul that I can show kindness to.
I wish to bless his family for Jonathan's sake.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
The servant looked confused. It was uncommon for kings to
bless the living relatives of a previous king. More often
they would be searched out and killed. However, David was
a king of a different breed. He desired to show
mercy to the family of Saul.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
Is there still any one in the house of Saul
that is living?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
David asked again.
Speaker 7 (18:41):
Yes, Zeba said, there is a living son of Jonathan.
He is a cripple and still in his youth.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
David's heart sank. He had not known any if Jonathan's
sons were still alive. He thought they all died in
the battle with the Philistines. The king held back tears,
trying to hold himself together. He felt the pangs of
guilt that he had not known or asked sooner. Where
is he now, David asked gently.
Speaker 7 (19:10):
He is in the house of Makir, the son of Ammiel.
His wife was the boy's nursemaid. Their home is in
lou de.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Bar, Zeba said. The old man paused for a moment
and gathered his thoughts.
Speaker 7 (19:24):
My King, although the boy has royal blood, he does
not carry himself as royalty. He is more of a
servant in that house than a prince. He hobbles along
and tends to the animals. It is a sad sight
to see he is not a threat to your throne.
Speaker 10 (19:45):
David could not take any more shame. I do not
ask with violent intentions. Please bring him to me, he commanded.
I need to speak with him and bless him.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Zeba bowed his head and departed. The king breathed in
deeply and let out more tears of lament. He was
grieved that he had not held up his promise to Jonathan.
The sun was light and drifting in the middle of
the sky. Not a cloud was in sight for miles,
and Maphibischath was feeling the unforgiving heat on his neck.
(20:18):
The animals in the bar needed more water, and Maphibischath
was determined to get it to them. Lame in both
his feet, he was forced to walk with his knees
and hands. He had created an efficient way to get
around using his hands and arms to act as crutches
as he walked with his knees. Even the most trivial
of tasks were challenged to him, but he refused to
(20:40):
let it define him. He would crawl to and from
the well, pushing the cart holding pails of water. It
was a task there would have taken any one else
less than ten minutes, but it was a laborious chore
for him. He wanted to be useful to Makir. Since
the death of his father, Makir and his family had
embraced him as their own. However, he would never quite
be one of them. Not only was Mamphibischef the son
(21:03):
of a prince, but he was also lame. They were
always wanting to coddle him and let him rest in
the shade while they worked, but Maphibischef refused. He conceded
that he would never be a warrior like his father,
but he would at least be useful. After his eighth
trip to the well, Mephibischef was interrupted. Makir came out
(21:24):
of the house and waved him down, saying, Mamphibischef, my boy,
come in. You have an old friend here to see you.
No one ever came to visit Mamphibischef. In fact, most
people didn't know he existed. He preferred it that way
since he was the last remaining heir to Saul's throne.
He did not want King David or his subjects learning
(21:45):
about him. Perhaps David would want to kill the remaining
descendants of Saul to secure his place on the throne.
Mephibischef came in to see Zeba. Standing inside Zeba, he exclaimed,
is that you, Zeba smiled and nodded.
Speaker 6 (22:00):
It is, my friends. It has been far too long.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Maphibicheff rushed to Zebra's side and embraced him.
Speaker 6 (22:08):
I have come to take you to Jerusalem. The King
desires to speak with you.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Maphibischeff's countenance dampened. He looked up at McKeer in questioning.
Speaker 8 (22:18):
Have I been given up so he can slay me?
Speaker 2 (22:21):
He asked Zebra and mckeirshrugged.
Speaker 6 (22:23):
He says his intentions are good, but there is no
way to be sure, Zeba said. Your grandfather seemed to
be very wary of David. He did not trust him
and drove him out of the country because of it.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
However, your father and he were very close. Mckeir said,
perhaps kindness awaits you in the city of David. Maphibischeff
was not so sure. He had heard stories of David
as a child. However, his grandfather Saul seemed to be
vehemently opposed to him and spent a great deal of
resources to kill him. Maphibischeff conflicted and scared. Yet there
(23:02):
was no more hiding. Now he would venture to the
King's house in Jerusalem with Zebra and face David. Zebra
and Maphibuschef rode into Jerusalem on a small carriage pulled
by two colts. The two of them traveled the road
leading into Jerusalem in silence, not quite sure how to
feel about what would happen next. Maphibuschef sat uncomfortably in place,
(23:24):
feeling more vulnerable than usual. His hands began to shake
in nervousness. Zeba looked over and placed a hand on
his shoulder. He had no encouraging words, just a friendly
and thoughtily grin of reassurance. The walls of Jerusalem were
larger than anything Maphibichef had seen before. He recalled how
big the palace walls and Ghibea were when he lived
(23:45):
with his father and grandfather, but they were not nearly
as massive as these. The carriage entered through the gates
into the heart of the city, where David's home resided.
Maphibischef drew a deep breath and exited the cart. He
followed Zebra a few paces beyre using his hands and
knees to hobble forward. He could feel the confused stairs
of palace servants on him. He hated being in public.
(24:08):
He felt like a freak. Even more embarrassing, he was
the only one among them who knew he was a prince.
The large wooden doors opened to reveal a large hall
leading to the King's courtroom. Torches were mounted on the walls,
illuminating the intricately woven tapestries. Mephibischef stared at them in awe.
They told stories of David's mighty battles and military exploits.
(24:32):
The young man was enthralled with the details recounting the battle.
He saw one of King David as a boy, slaying
Goliath with his sling. He saw another with David surrounded
by a hundred Philistines, and his eyes were lent to
another tapestry, one with David back to back with another
man fighting an army of Amalekites. Mephibichef hobbled closer to
(24:52):
see the figure's face in the firelight. It was unmistakably
his father, Jonathan. Mephibuchaf could not not help but smile.
He felt a single tear streamed down his cheek. He
did not always think about his father. His death was
a painful memory he desired to forget. As he was
taking in the tapestry, a voice called from behind him. Mephibucheth,
(25:15):
he asked. The crippled prince turned around to see King
David standing behind him a few paces back. The Phibichef
wiped away tears and immediately fell on his face in homage.
The boy trembled in fear and laid prostrate on the floor.
Speaker 8 (25:30):
Please, Sir, I am your servant, Do not kill me.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
David was dismayed and shook his head emphatically, kill you.
Speaker 6 (25:38):
Oh no, my son, do not be afraid.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
David knelt down and helped the boy back up on
to his knees. Mephibischeth took notice of how David remained
at eye level with him. No one ever knelt down
to speak to him. They remained upright and above him.
It had been a long time since anyone looked him
in the eye. This way, David's warm smile melted away
any fear of Fhibicheff had. With a gentle voice, he said,
(26:05):
I am glad you have come.
Speaker 6 (26:07):
Had I known you were alive, I would have sent
for you sooner. I am sorry.
Speaker 8 (26:13):
Why would you the king apologize to me? I am
a cripple and the descendant of your enemy's saul.
Speaker 6 (26:20):
That is not true, David exclaimed. I loved your grandfather dearly.
He was the Lord's anointed king, and I was loyal
to him till the very end. However, it was your
father I truly love. I made a promise to him
long ago that I would look after his children.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
You loved my father, Mafibicheff asked.
Speaker 8 (26:46):
He died when I was very young. I know very
little of him.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
David gave a large and beaming smile. He wrapped his
arms around the Fibicheff and laughed.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
Oh, yes, my dear child, I loved your father more
than anyone else in this world, Closer than a brother
he was to me. David gestured for Mephibichef to walk
with him. So David kept a slow pace while the
boy crawled beside him. He led him into the middle
of the hall, where a feast was laid out before them.
(27:18):
The two of them sat and spoke for a long while.
Zeba was close by, keeping a distance so the two
of them might talk.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
In primate. David told stories of Jonathan's bravery in battle
and his tenderness towards him. He talked about their unbreakable
bond and the promises they made to one another.
Speaker 6 (27:34):
I vowed that I would take care of you, Mamphibischeff.
I intend on keeping that vowl, David said, consider yourself
like a son in this household. You will always eat
at my table and dine with me as a member
of the family. As I was brought in by your
grandfather and your father, so I will bring you in.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Maphibicheff was overwhelmed by the gesture, but David was not
done with his generosity. Zeba, David called out. The servant
stepped forward and bowed his head. David smiled at the
two of them and said.
Speaker 6 (28:10):
Mephibischef, I hereby restore all the land that belonged to
Saul and give it to you. You will inherit the
land of your grandfather Maphibuschef was taken back. He shook
his head and hid his face. Tears broke through. He
was ashamed by the generosity and overwhelmed what the grace
David had shown.
Speaker 8 (28:31):
No, he yelled, I am sorry, my king, but I
am not worthy. Maphibuchef said, who am I that you
are mindful of me? I am nothing you should regard
for a dead dog. I am a whimbering child and
a cripple. You should not bless me.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
So David leaned over the table and placed his hand
on the boy's shoulder. There was a gentleness in his
eyes he did not expect from a king. Come with me,
he whispered. David took Memphibicheff to the roof of his home.
Both of them gazed at the stars. The galaxies above
shone with unfathomable brilliance. Mephibischef was filled with wonder. He
(29:12):
spent much of his days looking up, but never quite
like this. The boy turned his gaze to David. His
eyes were fixed on the stars. He looked at them
like one would to a lifelong love. It took Mephibicheff
the moment to realize he was gazing into the face
of heaven. Considering his god, David smiled and began to
(29:34):
recite him he had written long ago. His voice was
smooth and gentle, but it traveled like the wind. Mephibicheff
listened to him, sing, Oh Lord.
Speaker 11 (29:47):
Oh Lord, how majestic is your name in all the
youth above the heavens. You have established your glory out
of the mouth of simple infants. You have shown striketh.
Speaker 6 (30:14):
When I look to your heavens, the work of your hands.
Speaker 11 (30:19):
The moon and the stars which you have set in plays.
What is man.
Speaker 12 (30:30):
That you are mindful of him? And humanity that you
care for.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
Us?
Speaker 6 (30:46):
Yet you have us a little lower than the heavenly
beings and crowned us with glory.
Speaker 11 (30:56):
And arm.
Speaker 6 (30:59):
You you have given us dominion over your handiwork. You
have put all things under our feet.
Speaker 13 (31:10):
All beasts of the field, the air, the water, and
the forests have been given to us as stewards.
Speaker 11 (31:23):
O Lord, O Lord, how majestic is your name in
all the earth.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
The king looked down at the starstruck boy beside him.
He knelt down and looked him in the eye.
Speaker 6 (31:38):
We all may be dogs and whim bring children. A
Fhibish had the God sees it fit to be kind
to us, what we deserve is another thing entirely.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
David stood to his feet and called up Zeba. The
old servant scaled the ladder leading up to the rooftop
and bowed his head to the king. David placed a
hand on the Phibischeff's shoulder and said, I have given
the boy his grandfather's land, all that belonged to Saul,
and his house has been given to him. I appoint
(32:13):
you and your sons to work the land and property
on his behalf. You and your family will have a
place to call home once again, and you shall take
care of this young prince. David turned back to Memphibischef
and said.
Speaker 6 (32:29):
But you will always have a place at my table.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
For the first time in years, the son of Jonathan
felt tall again. He leaped to David's waist and hunged him.
The king returned the embrace. Miles away from Jerusalem to
the east, the king of Ammon lay on his deathbed
in the heat of the day. The old king rested
his head ready to embrace the unknown king. Nahash had
(32:56):
been defeated by David a few years prior, but had
since come to embrace the role of subject. He was
loyal to David and Israel, paying tribute monthly and opening
up trade to Israel's allies. His son, Hanoon, however, was
not as loyal. Hanun saw the presence of Israel as
a mark of shame on their nation. He hated Israel
(33:17):
and resented David for his success over them. When David
heard of Nahsh's death, he was cut to the heart
and grieved. As a sign of goodwill to his heir
and the new king of Ammon, David sent his servants
with gifts of good will.
Speaker 6 (33:31):
Nay Hash and I had good faith with one another,
David told his servants, I desired the same between Hanun
and I. Go bring gifts and tell him that I
am at his service. If he is in need of
extra resources, counsel or military aid, I shall send it.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
So the servants ventured off to Ammon. The area had
been sapped of much of its resources for quite some time.
As the servants of David entered in, they could not
help but feel uneasy. There was a darkness to the city,
perhaps because the new king had darkness in his heart.
The servants walked into the palace of Hanoon with trepidation,
noticing the glaring looks from palace guards and servants. The
(34:15):
halls of the Ammonite king were bare. There were not torches, tapestries,
or symbols of prior conquests, just cold and dark stone.
At the center of the hall was King Hanouon. He
sat up anxiously on his throne, with four of his
advisers sitting on either side of him. Hanoon tapped on
the side of his throne and frowned. The advisers whispered
(34:36):
in his ear next to him, saying.
Speaker 14 (34:38):
Do you really think David means us no harm?
Speaker 4 (34:41):
Our?
Speaker 13 (34:42):
King?
Speaker 14 (34:42):
They whispered, if he really honored you and your father,
he would have never conquered us. Surely these men are
only here as spies. They want to overthrow us. Do
not be ignorant and accept their gifts.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
The indecipherable hissing of the advisers made the men uneasy.
They looked at each other and questioned whether they should
leave swiftly. However, before the men had a chance to leave,
Hanoon spoke, saying.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
You think I am a fool.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
He leaned over his throne and spat in their direction.
Speaker 15 (35:14):
I know you are only here to spy on me.
You desire to humiliate me and my people in our
weakened state.
Speaker 5 (35:21):
Well I will not have it.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Hanoon stood to his feet and slipped over the table
of wine, and his high pitched and whiny voice was
unpleasant to the ear. The messengers recoiled at us, outburst
as they turned around. The king clapped his hands together,
signaling the palace guards to seize them.
Speaker 15 (35:39):
Not so fast, little dabs of David. Your nation has
humiliated us for too long. It is time to return
the favor.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
The guards kicked him in the knees, forcing them to
the wood. The king stepped down with his dagger and
pointed it at them. He sneered and.
Speaker 5 (35:57):
Said, shave off half their beards.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
The men's eyes widened with fear as the guards pinned
them down and took daggers to their faces. A man's
beard was a sign of their freedom. It is what
differentiated them from common slaves. To shave off half their
beard would be a disgrace. The men straddled, but ultimately
failed to defend themselves. Half their beards were shaved off,
(36:20):
and they were beaten until red in the face. Then
King Hanoun took his own dagger and cut off the
lower half of their garments, exposing their gentitals before every one.
He laughed and pointed. To make it even worse, he
paraded them in front of the palace for all to see.
After humiliating them, he forced them out to flee back home.
Speaker 5 (36:42):
Tell your king that I will no longer be paying.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Tribute, he spat as he spoke, raving at them as
they ran away.
Speaker 15 (36:49):
Tell your dog of a king that I shall amass
an army so large that he will be bowing before me.
Speaker 5 (36:56):
And begging for mercy. I shall do to him what
I have done to you. Tell David, I will be waiting.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
The men were in tears, running for their lives back
to Israel. However, they would not go back home to Jerusalem.
They remained hidden in Jericho, too embarrassed to be seen
by anyone. The four servants of David remained in a
small cottage outside the city of Jericho. They had retrieved
new garments to cover themselves, but were still too ashamed
(37:25):
to enter into the public. They did not want to
be seen with half of their beards, so they remained
hidden and embarrassed. It was late and the sun had
just retreated behind the hills. When the cottage door knocked,
it creaked open, and a hooded figure entered the room.
The men unsheathed their swords, but then stopped when they
saw it was their king. David removed his hood and smiled, Hello,
(37:50):
my brothers, he said gently. The men were overwhelmed with emotion.
They fell to their king's feet and thanked him for coming.
Speaker 16 (37:58):
We are sorry, David, we failed.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
You, They cried, you did nothing of the sort. David said.
His face was filled with understanding and sympathy. He touched
their faces and shook his head.
Speaker 6 (38:11):
I am sorry they did this to you. King Hannun
said that he is a massion.
Speaker 16 (38:15):
Army to come up against you.
Speaker 6 (38:16):
They said, he told us that he would do the
same to you.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
David clenched his jaw. Did he now? The King's demeanor shifted,
and he stood up straight. He looked down at his
servants and said, stay here until your beards grow back.
Rest Assured that you have done nothing wrong. I will
avenge this shame he has put upon you. With those words,
David departed. Joab was waiting for him outside.
Speaker 6 (38:44):
I will not endure with the Ammonites any longer. Take
them out. Joab grinned and bowed his head. He and
Abishi gathered the army of Israel and marched east to
avenge their brothers. David had endured many insults in his lifetime.
He had been forgotten by his father, mocked by giants,
and hunted by kings. However, no one would lay a
(39:06):
hand on his sheep and live to tell the tale.
King Hanun was about to feel the fury of the
Shepherd of Israel. The two brothers sat on top of
a hill overlooking the encampment of the Ammonites. Joeab and
Abishi I peered down, counting the vast sea of enemy soldiers.
Speaker 16 (39:24):
King Hanun wasn't joking. Abishai said, he has hired the
Syrians as mercenaries.
Speaker 9 (39:30):
He was also able to hire this small kingdoms of
Makah and Tob.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
Joeab said, at.
Speaker 9 (39:35):
Least thirty thousand extra men at his disposal. Not to
mention the four hundred thousand horsemen in seven hundred chariots
Amon already has. We must expect all of them to
march against us tomorrow.
Speaker 16 (39:46):
Seems excessive for such a small amount of Israelite dougs.
Speaker 2 (39:50):
Abishi jested joe Ab smirked and gestured to the encampment.
Speaker 9 (39:55):
You see how their men are split into two different
camps A down.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
The enemy encampment was resting in a valley outside the
city of Ammon. The Syrians were on the northern side,
near the battlefield, and the Ammonites were on the southern side,
near the city gates. Joab pointed to the trails leading
to the battlefield on each side.
Speaker 9 (40:16):
You see what they're doing. They're planning on attacking us
from the front of the battlefield and the rear.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
Abashi looked closely and saw that his brother was right.
They virtually doubled them in size. They had plenty of
men to split into two armies and attack from both sides.
Ambishi stroked his beard and thought for a moment. Then
he smiled.
Speaker 16 (40:36):
Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Brother?
Speaker 2 (40:38):
He asked. Joab returned his smile and nodded. I will
take the front. You will take the rear, he said.
Speaker 9 (40:46):
Tomorrow, I will take our mightiest warriors, shama Eliezar Uriah,
josh Obim and the other mighty men and face the
Syrians head on. You will stay back and meet the Ammonites.
When they try to ambush us in the rear.
Speaker 16 (41:00):
That is under six hundred men against thirty thousand Joab.
Abishi warned, are you sure that you won't be overwhelmed?
Speaker 9 (41:07):
Give me six hundred of David's trained mighty men against
thirty thousand of any army.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
Joab responded with pride.
Speaker 9 (41:14):
However, if the Syrians proved to be too strong for me,
then I shall call out with the ramshorn. If the
Ammonites overwhelm you, then you call out, We will come
to your aid.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Abishin nodded in the affirmative.
Speaker 16 (41:27):
Be of good courage to a brother. Let us all
be courageous for our men and for the nation of God.
May God do what seems good in his sight.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
The next morning, joe Ab and Abishi prepared their men
for battle. The sun had not yet risen, but the
warm summer wind from the east was already howling. It
was an ugly day for a battle. Joe Ab and
his men marched north towards the valley. He and six
hundred of David's finest marched in perfect cadence with each other.
They were disciplined and seasoned warriors forced in the fires
(41:58):
of exile Joab had no doubt that they could easily
subdue the Syrian mercenaries. They were hired hands. They had
no passion to protect the Ammonite city. He looked forward
to breaking their will. Joab could spot the Syrians in
the distance forward. Joab commanded, and the men were off
(42:18):
in a run. Israel's bravest galloped towards their enemy with
ferocious be They cried out with bloodthirsty roars, sending chills
down the Syrian spines. The armies drew closer and Joab
called out for the men to attack. Information they had
planned for this. They were ready spears and shields. Joe
(42:39):
Ab yelled. The men brought their shields in front of
their bodies and drew out their spears and attacked in
a triangular formation, with Joab at the ten. Hundreds of
Syrians began to fall as the mighty men drove forward through.
Speaker 6 (42:52):
The fray, drop spears swords out.
Speaker 2 (42:55):
Joe Ab yell. Then men immediately drove their spears into
the nearest soul and drew out their swords. Then they
formed a circle with the enemy on every side.
Speaker 5 (43:05):
Attack.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
Joeff commanded. The men began an all outslaughter of Assyrians.
The mighty men of Israel bathed their feet in the
blood of their enemies. He did not take long for
the Syrian commanders to laugh for a retreat. Not one
of Joab's men was lost, a testament to the training
of King David. Around the other end of the valley,
(43:27):
near the city gates, King Hanun set atop his horse
with tens of thousands of soldiers behind him.
Speaker 5 (43:33):
I want more than victory.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
He yelled to his men.
Speaker 17 (43:37):
I want you to humiliate them, drag them by their
beards and scorn their mothers, take their dignity, then take
their lives.
Speaker 2 (43:49):
So King Hanun marched with his men to take out
Joab and the others. However, before they could gain momentum,
Abshi attacked from the rear. He and the army of
Israel leaped into back, quickly gaining the upper hand on
the Ammonites. King Hanuon and his men stubbornly persisted against
the Army of Israel, they thought, thinking they had the
security of the Syrians. However, when Hanun saw that the
(44:12):
Syrians were fleeing, he knew all hope was lost. Great faith,
Hanuon called out.
Speaker 15 (44:17):
Run back into the city we will live to fight
another day.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
So the Ammonites fled, and the armies of Israel cheered
in victory. Joe ab and Abshire returned home to Jerusalem
and brought reports back to their king. They were sure
to mention the fear in Hanun's eyes when he saw
the Syrians flee. David was pleased with his men and
reassured of God's favor over the nation of Israel.
Speaker 5 (44:43):
They are dogs, every last one of.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
Them, aded Deezer yelled. The King of Syria raved and
ranted from the latest defeat. He pointed to King Hanuon
in anger.
Speaker 5 (44:54):
You sent us at a blood bath.
Speaker 2 (44:56):
The King of the Mons sneered at the King of Syria.
Speaker 15 (44:59):
And replied, I hired you, and your men ducked their
tails and ran like children.
Speaker 5 (45:05):
They are so weak that thirty thousand of them could
not even beat six hundred. You dare call us week
after your pathetic.
Speaker 2 (45:15):
Showing Hadadezer was fuming with anger.
Speaker 5 (45:18):
You started this, Hanoon, but we will finish it.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
The King of Syria brought in his commander, Shobach. He
was a giant of a man, with legs the size
of tree trunks and arms as solid as stone. He
wore a heavy coat of mail and thick leather boots.
The entire nation of Syria feared and revered him.
Speaker 5 (45:38):
Commander Shobach, I want you to send seven hundred chariots
and forty thousand horsemen past the.
Speaker 15 (45:45):
Euphrates marched against King David and remind him that he
leads a nation of former slaves.
Speaker 2 (45:54):
Shobuk bowed his head and left. King Hanoon also departed
to amass more men. He would have attack Israel again.
The warrior king looked down at the Jordan River. The
waters were calm enough to cross, but still too deep
to tread. Lightly, he stepped in. The cool water was
refreshing compared to the hot sun beating down above him.
(46:16):
As he led his men through the water, he could
not help but think of his ancestors crossing Jordan so
long ago. How God had provided a way for the
Ark of the Covenant to cross. Yet the waters would
not part for him. He waded through, watching the light
bounce off the vibrant turquoise waters. Once they were across,
it was not long before reaching helem. There the Syrian
(46:39):
army was awaiting him. David, Shama Eliezar and Abeshi stood
at the front, mounted on horses. The Syrian army was
colossal compared to what they had faced in the past.
They dwarfed Israel in size and horses. However, what Israel
lacked in size they made up for in the favor
of God. David knew the victory was one already, He
(47:02):
only needed to step into it. Bravely. The king looked
at the sea of Syrians arrayed before them. He turned
back to his men and rose his sword high in
the air.
Speaker 6 (47:11):
Take heart, my brothers, for we fight for the nation
of God.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
As David often did, he ran into battle without a
care as to who was behind him. He galloped on
horseback fiercely towards the enemy. He howled with a fierce
crime from his belly, and Bruce mondled. The men of
Israel ran behind him, inspired by the bravery of their king.
The forty thousand horsemen charged of David. Compared with Dicks,
(47:38):
his battle against Goliath seemed like nothing, like a tempest.
The Syrians raged against the King of Israel war, However,
they were outmatched. David faulted into the battle, raging through
the enemy like a wildfire and dry breach. His angle
was popable, spilling over onto the Syrians like the volcanic round.
His men were fighting behind him, advancing more and more
(48:01):
into the center of the fray. David continued to slice
to the enemy until he was knocked off his horse
a eye. He fell onto his back, and the wind
immediately left his locks. As he tried to recover, a
large boom kicked him in the side, sending him flying
in the air. David landed in the dust.
Speaker 4 (48:19):
And looked up.
Speaker 2 (48:20):
He was Schobalb, and the giant commanded. Schobach thrust his
sword downward to David, but he quickly pulled to the
side and dodged him. David rose to his feet and
picked up his sword. He and the commander of Syria
circled one another, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Schoboch moved first, swinging his broad sword at his neck.
(48:41):
David blocked the attack with his sword, but was knocked
off balance. Schobach was stronger than David. Each blow with
his sword was carried with the strength of ten men.
David continued to parry each attack, barely getting any chance
to retaliate. David looked closely for an opening as he
dodged and pared each blow, but time was running out.
(49:02):
He did not know how many more blows his bones
could handle. He could feel his arms shaking and his
wrists growing tired, and David had lapped quickly, but there
seemed to be no way of killing him. Every inch
of his body was covered in mail, and his feet
were protected by heavy boots. But yet there was one
area that was uncovered, the space between his armor and
(49:23):
his helmet. It was ironic that David had not thought
of this. First. He took out his sling, placed a
stone in it, and drew it back. Schoboch advanced with
his sword, ready to kill, and David released his sling
into the air. The stone hit Schobach on the cheek,
cracking it and drawing blood. He stumbled back and held
(49:44):
his face. While he was reeling in pain. David pounced
and drove his sword through his armor and into his stomach.
Chobaq fell onto his knees and fell to the ground
with his face in the dirt. David cried out into
the skies, and the flurry of soldiers around him quickly
took over the battle. Israel came upon the Syrians with
(50:04):
unstoppable force, and David once again proved his dominance over them.
They were subdued, and Israel was victorious once again. All
the kings of Syria and the surrounding nations saw that
there was no stopping the people of Israel. They made
peace with David and became subjects to him. Although the
Ammonites continued to fight, the Syrians would no longer come
(50:28):
to their aid. David's dominance in the land became renowned.
His fearlessness in battle earned him the respect of every
king and warrior in the land. He conquered cities, expanded
his kingdom, and brought security to the once tormented and
vulnerable nation of Israel. From the outside looking in, there
(50:48):
seemed to be nothing that could vanquish King David. No
foe was too large or mighty to bring him down,
and no army was vast enough to come against him. However,
David would soon face an enemy greater than Goliath or Schobach.
He would wrestle with a foe too formidable for even
the giant slayer to vanquish. The chosen hero of God
(51:08):
would soon be brought to his knees in defeat.
Speaker 4 (51:14):
Love and justice, David held mercy tenderness and compassion in
one hand, while holding judgment, violence, and ferocity in another.
This episode gave us a perspective of David through two
different lenses. The first perspective was through the lens of
surrounding nations. To them, the giant slayer was decisive in
his speech, heavy with his sword, and pragmatic with his strategy.
(51:38):
He dealt harshly with the corrupt and historically oppressive nations.
The second perspective was through the lens of mephibashev to him.
David was compassionate, giving of himself, and deeply poetic. He
dealt graciously with the crippled son of Jonathan, and he
proved that his heart harbored no bitterness towards Saul. This
(51:58):
episode further communicated to us David's dual nature. He was
fierce but fair. He had strength, and he had love.
I personally love that David could not be reduced to
just one thing. He had depth, nuance, and range. In
this episode we get Pete David. This is the king
we knew he would become. But even in the beginning
(52:21):
of the episode, we get some hints that something may
be awry. If you go back and listen, you will
hear little warnings of things to come. At the end
of the next episode, we will discuss a few of
those clues. I can't wait for you to notice them.
The most compelling storyline in this episode was Meth Fibischeff.
The prelude was heart wrenching as we listen to the
(52:44):
poor whimperings of a child who wants his mom and dad.
Any parent's heart aches at the thought of their child
being hurt and afraid without them. It takes David a
while to find out my fibis Chef is even alive.
When he does, he lavishes upon him praise and favor.
There was a tender moment between the two of them
(53:04):
whenman Fibischeff rejects David's favor and says, I am sorry,
my king, but I am not worthy. Who am I
that you are mindful of me? I am nothing You
show regard for a dead dog. I am a whimpering
child and a cripple. You should not bless me in
this way. I am not my father. He was a
(53:26):
mighty warrior. I am a cripple. The Phibischeff was convinced
he was not worthy of David's love. David took me
Phibischef outside and showed him the stars. Then he recited
psalm me, O Lord, O Lord, how majestic is your name?
And all the earth above the heavens you have established
(53:46):
your glory out of the mouth of simple infants. You
have shown strength when I look at your heavens, the
work of your hands, the moon and the stars which
you have set in place. What is man that you
are mindful of him? And humanity that you care for us?
Yet you have made us only a little lower than
the heavenly beings and crowned us with glory and honor.
(54:06):
You have given us dominion over your handiwork. You have
put all things under our feet. All beasts of the field,
the air, the water, and the forest have been given
to us as stewards. Oh Lord, oh Lord, how majestic
is your name in all the earth. It was like
David was throwing Maphibischeff's words right back at him. He
reminded all of us that none of us are truly
(54:29):
worthy of God's love, but he gives it anyway. Worthy
has nothing to do with it. God loves us because
he is loving, not because we deserve love. What we
do with that love is up to us, and what
maphibis Chef does with David's blessing is up to him.
After the beautiful interaction with David and Mephibischef, we are
(54:50):
thrust into a different storyline. The king of Amen died,
and David sent his men with gifts to offer his condolences.
They returned his kindness with evil and humiliated his servants.
You and I may have thought the same thing when
we heard this story. What on earth were they thinking?
Everyone should know by now that David is not a
man to be trifled with. Even more, he is not
(55:12):
a man to allow his people to be humiliated. David
connected with his servants and embraced them with understanding. Then
he made preparations to march against the Ammonites.
Speaker 6 (55:22):
In C. S.
Speaker 4 (55:23):
Lewis's timeless classic The Chronicles of Narnia, the Lion, the
Witch and the Wardrobe, the beavers who are explaining to
the children who Aslam the lion is Adlam is the
king of Narnia and represents Jesus. Adlam is a lion,
the lion, the great Lion, said the beaver. Oh, said Susan,
I thought he was a man? Is he quite safe.
(55:46):
I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion safe,
said mister Beaver, who said anything about safe. Of course,
he isn't safe, but he's good. He's the king. I
tell you this descriptive. Adam is a wonderful descript of
King David. He's good, but he is most definitely not safe.
The King of Israel is compassionate, kind and good, but
(56:07):
he is also passionate, fierce, and dangerous. David marched against
Ammon and vanquished them. Then he marched against the Syrians,
who allied with them, and vanquished them as well. In
two of David's battles, our attention is brought back to
the sword of Goliath and the sling. Remember these are
icons for us to remember who David is at his core.
(56:29):
When we notice the sword, the sling, or Jonathan's armor,
it gives us a pleasant reminder of the shepherd boy
who ran after the lion and the small runt to
face the giant. It is good to tether our hearts
to these things and remember where they came from, less
we get lost. The episode ends with yet another victory,
(56:50):
but we are also given a teaser for the next
episode from the outside looking in, there seemed to be
nothing that could vanquish King David. No foe was too
large or to bring him down, and no army was
vast enough to come against him. However, David would soon
face an enemy even greater than Goliath or showback. He
would wrestle with a foe too formidable for even the
(57:13):
Giant Slayers to vanquish. The chosen hero of God would
soon be brought to his knees in defeat. Who is
this foe David is going to face? Who could ever
stand a chance against the giant Slayer. We have just
spent twenty three episodes witnessing the gargantuan rise of King David.
But you know what they say, the bigger they are,
(57:33):
the harder they fall. It's now time to learn about
David's greatest defeat, a failure he may never recover from.
Join us for episode twenty four, Lust and Murder. Thanks
again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers and
wisdom the last of lifetime, go to pray dot com,
and to expand your heroes in the Bible Journey, download
(57:55):
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
Now, may the God of Hope fill you with all
joy and peace in believing that you may abound in
hope in the power of the Holy Spirit Romans fifteen thirteen. Lord,
as your presence fills this place, I welcome you. I
know you have something you want to say to me
(00:20):
to day, and I want to hear it. Holy Spirit,
you are such a comfort to me. You fill me
with such hope, such joy, such peace, and I trust you.
I can't wait to see where you are leading me
and what you will do next. As you continue working
(00:42):
in me and through me for your glory. Nothing can
stop your plans or purpose for me. Nothing can keep
me from becoming all that you created me to be,
fulfilling your calling. Even in dark times and on difficult
day I don't live in fear or anxiety, depression or
(01:04):
discouragement or self pity. You are protecting me from all
these things, guarding my heart and mind in Christ Jesus,
to day, I hold tightly to the hope you have
given me. The more I do, the more I experience
freedom from the things that have been weighing on me.
(01:26):
The spirit of heaviness has no power over me. I
trust you to carry my burdens for me to take
care of everything that concerns me. You are my strength
and my shield, my hope and my soul, my light
and my salvation. And I pray in Jesus name.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever
told from pray dot COM's podcast, Heroes in the Bible.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Hello.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
My name is Matthew Potter, co founder of Prey dot Com,
and before we start today's episode of Heroes in the Bible,
I wanted to ask do you know what your bank
does with your money? At America's Christian Credit Union, your
everyday banking helps grow churches, expand the reach of missions agencies,
and supports fellow believers across the country. Learn more about
(02:22):
specials for switching to ACCU and their nationwide banking capabilities
at America's christiancu dot Com Forward slash Prey plus the
peace of mind knowing that this credit Union is federally
insured by the National Credit Union Administration.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
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,
(03:01):
and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,
few know about David the Man. In this episode, David
expands the power of Israel with alarming speed. He establishes
the small nation of former slaves into the most powerful
nation in the region. David serves up justice to the
corrupt nations, liberates the oppressed nations, and elevates the poor nations.
(03:24):
The Giant Slayer is world famous and it is impossible
for him to be forgotten. This episode has a few
battles that give us some epic fights. David even faces
another giant, but there are also some tender and emotional
moments in this episode. David the Warrior and David the
Poet interchained seamlessly and we get to witness compelling acts
(03:45):
of love and kindness. We will also get to meet
another character in this episode, a boy who has remained
hidden from David for fear of his life. However, the
two of them will share a bond unlike anything since Jonathan.
This boy will bring out some of David's best qualities
and remind us that for all of the King's bloody conquests,
(04:05):
he is still a tender poet at heart. This episode
will be longer than any we've had before, but for
good reason. Allow yourself to be immersed in the story.
See what David sees and feel what David feels in
Episode twenty three, Strength and Love.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Prelude to chapter twenty three, Wake Up. The nursemaid cried.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
Outa my prince, wake up.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Prince. Mephibishev woke up to his panic nursemaids shaking him awake.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
We don't have much time.
Speaker 7 (04:44):
We need to get you to safety.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Methhibisheth, only five years old, did not know what to
make of the pandemonium. The nursemaid put on his clothes,
grabbed his hand, and escorted him out of his home.
They ran out into the second floor. Overlooking the city.
Phibischeff saw flames in the distance, red hues and gulfed
the horizon, and the skies were painted black from the smoke.
Speaker 8 (05:07):
What is happening, the young child said, where are we going?
Speaker 7 (05:12):
The Philistines have overtaken the borders of Israel. Your father
and grandfather have fallen and there is no one to protect.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Us, she yelled. Mephibischef tugged away at his nurse maid's
hand and began to cry.
Speaker 8 (05:24):
My father is dead, he yelled, where is my mother?
Speaker 4 (05:28):
There is no time.
Speaker 7 (05:30):
We must get you away from here before the Philistines come.
Speaker 9 (05:33):
No, the young prince cried, no, no, I want my father.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Jonathan is dead.
Speaker 9 (05:39):
The nursemaid shouted, Now, come with me if you don't
want to die either.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
She picked up the crying boy and began to run
down the stairs leading into the courtyard. Methshibischef tugged and
cried to be released. Out of panic, he threw himself
out of her arms and tumbled down the stairs. He
cried out in intense pain. The nurse maid ran down
to him. She looked down at his legs. Both feet
were completely broken. She held him helplessly as the five
(06:07):
year old boy wailed in pain. I want my father,
he cried out. I know, she whispered in his ear,
stroking the back of his hair. I know, the son
of Jonathan and grandson of Saul, whimpered in her arms.
Plumes of smoke blocked out the sun and all hope
seemed lost for the little Prince Chapter twenty three, Strength
(06:32):
and love. All feared and respected his name. There was
not a king or commander in the East that did
not tremble when they heard he was marching up against them.
David's name had stretched past the hill country of the
Philistines all the way into Moab and Syria. No evil
nation was safe as long as David resided on the
throne of Jerusalem. Yet even so they tried to take
(06:55):
hold of Israel and make them captive again. Kings tried
and failed to take hold of cities on the borders
of Israel. They wanted to posture themselves against David and
proved their strength. They shouted and clamored, they roared and raved,
But the King of Israel would not flinch. In just
a few years, as King, David had lived up to
the name giant slayer. First it was the Philistines, the
(07:19):
age long foe of God's people, seized the borderlands of Israel.
The families of farmers and herdsmen were either cast out
or taken as slaves. The Philistines spited David and as
God by oppressing the people. David leaned over the table
of Meeting across from him was Joab. The two of
them discussed marching up to defend the borders, but David
(07:41):
had another idea.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
No matter how many times we've defended ourselves, they continue
to attack us. David said, they take hold of our cities,
we drive them out, and then they repeat the process.
The king shook his head and sighed, the fence is
not working. It is time we show them our true strength.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Joe Ab perked up and gave David a curious look.
David did not smile. He maintained his intense gaze at
the map and pointed to a spot in the heart
of Philistine land. Metheg Amah, he said in the Philistine's
native language, otherwise known as Gath. David rolled back his
shoulders and drove a blade through the map. We will
(08:24):
march towards Gath and hit them in the heart. Days later,
they marched past the borders of Israel to the Philistine
city of Gath. David looked up at the jagged hills
leading down to the city. He remembered fleeing to Gath
when he was running from Saul Akish. The king had
given him a safe haven when he and his men
were in need. However, that bond was severed when the
(08:46):
Philistines continued to attack them. Up until now, David had
shown mercy by not marching against their territory, but too
much Hebrew blood had been spilled at the hand of
the Philistines. They advanced to the borders of Gath. David
stood in front of his men with the sword of
Goliath strapped to his back. He took it out and
looked at it. He had carried it for so long
(09:08):
that it seemed more like his sword now. David remembered
it being heavier when he first used it, Yet now
the weight seemed comfortable, like an extension of his own arms.
He looked down at the city and waved for his
men to begin their attack. What followed was an all
out conquest of the city. David did not only defeat
(09:28):
the Philistine guards, but he also subdued the capital. The
wicked people of Gath would no longer be able to
raise up armies the harm the people of Israel, but
David would have no more slaughter, no more humiliation at
the hand of these uncircumcised dogs. Dave would learn to
fear the Lord and think twice before marching against his children.
(09:49):
The second nation to feel the scorn of David was Moab.
The bond he shared with Moab through his great grandmother Ruth,
was severed by years of betrayal. The Moabi were at
odds with Israel, seeking to conquer land close to them.
David would not allow the Moabites to press up against Israel,
especially when their king was not a man of his word.
(10:11):
They were a rising nation that was growing in both
number and wickedness. David knew he had to make a
decision regarding the Moabites. Would he shrink back and wait
for them to attack, or would he establish the nation
of Israel as a people not to be trifled with.
After careful planning, David chose to march. Moab was inundated
(10:32):
with the armies of David. They broke down their gates
with battering rams and set fire to the temples of
their false gods. David entered in with strength, and all
trembled at the sight of him. Although David was not
a brutal man, he understood the culture of the Moabites.
For years, they had brutally slaughtered surrounding nations, putting their
heads on pikes and sacrificing children to their gods. A
(10:55):
simple defeat would not resonate with them. David needed to
send a clear message of strength. After they conquered the
army of Moab, David rode in on horseback and had
the Mobite set in three lines lying on the ground.
He scanned the crowd.
Speaker 6 (11:11):
You are now under the rule of Israel, he said.
We have shown ourselves more than capable of utterly destroying
your city. If we chose, we could burn it to
the ground. However we will not, for we believe in
a God of mercy. I also know your works and
(11:33):
your predisposition to violence. Perhaps this will send a clear
message to you.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
David nodded to his men, and two of the three
lines of Moabite soldiers were put to death. Screams and
whales echoed throughout the valley and blood soaked the ground below.
Only one line was spared.
Speaker 6 (11:54):
You may return to your homes and recover what you.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Have lost, David said to the remaining survi.
Speaker 6 (12:00):
However, we will expect tributes from you. If you do
your diligence to pay, we will spare you and take
care of your borders. Perhaps many years from now. We
can live in peace with each other. The next people
that challenged David were the Syrians. The Syrians were divided
(12:21):
into two kingdoms, Zoba and Damascus. Both had their boots
on the throats of surrounding villages, preventing trade from coming
in through the Euphrates River. David knew that if he
could gain power over the Euphrates River, he could open
up trade for Israel and other small nations. It would
be a great economic success for them and the poor
nations of the East. David was reminded of God's promise
(12:44):
to Abraham so many years ago, when he said, unto
thy seed, I have given this word from the river
of Egypt under the great river, the River Euphrates. The
Euphrates is promised to our people.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
He said to the elders, If we.
Speaker 6 (13:02):
Can take power over it, we can bless the world.
God knows we would be good stewards of the river,
so I am confident he will give us favor against
the Syrians.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
The elders agreed, so David marched to go take hold
of the river. The first kingdom to come against him
was Zoba, led by King had A Deezer. Had A
Dezer was a power hungry and bloodthirsty king bent on
maintaining his oppressive grip over the surrounding land. He arrogantly
marched up against David, posturing with tens of thousands of men. However,
(13:37):
David knew just where to hurt the most.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
Direct all of your focus on horsemen and chariots.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
He said to his foot soldiers, be swift on your.
Speaker 6 (13:45):
Feet and aim low at the legs.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
So off they went. The two armies converged in the middle.
Determined to gain the upper hand, David led from the front,
lighting past the soldiers and taking out the horsemen. The
armies of Israel rampaged against the Syrians, successfully taking a
one thousand, seven hundred horsemen, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and
one hundred chariots. David's ferocity in battle was a thing
(14:11):
to behold. Many soldiers stood back and watched as the
king maneuvered through the battlefield. He was like a poet,
his sword the ink and the battlefield his parchment. King
had a deezer, was outmatched and called for reinforcements from Damascus.
Thousands of soldiers came to the battlefield seeking to overendown David. However,
(14:32):
they barely came close to winning. Twenty two thousand more
Syrians died on the battlefield that day. An overwhelming torrent
of might was displayed. Similarly to the Moabites, the Syrians
were made subjects of Israel, paying tribute to them for
safety and economic stability. The Euphrates was now controlled by Israel,
(14:54):
and David opened up trade for the other nations, freeing
the chokehold the Syrians had on the region. Toy, the
King of Hamath, was grateful for the victory David had
over the Syrians. For many years, the Syrians had oppressed
and slaughtered the people of Hamath. King Toy sent his
son Joraf to bring gifts of silver, gold, and bronze
(15:15):
to David as a thanks. David received it with humility
and offered the entire gift up to the Lord. All
the spoils of war were given as an offering to
the Lord, either dedicated for the priests or as a
gift to the poor. David kept very little wealth for himself.
He did not build more palaces or plant more gardens.
He knew that the victory he gained was from the Lord,
(15:38):
and to the victor go the spoils the entire continent
knew once and for all that David was the king
elevated by God, and no one would defeat him, no
one from the outside. That is. David sat on the
rooftop of his palace, looking down at the city below, Jerusalem,
(15:59):
the city of David, a symbol of God's favor on
his reign as king. The radiance of the setting sun
warmed the evening, painting it in a candescent orange. It
was a beautiful sight to behold. Israel was now a
strong and noble fortress for God's people. However, peace came
at a great price, particularly to David's body. The king
(16:22):
leaned back and drew a deep breath, his body ached
from months of battle. His recent victories were sweet, but
there was a tinge of bitterness in every one of them.
Before he was king, he dreamed of fighting and ruling
alongside Jonathan, his friend and brother in arms. He was
a constant source of encouragement and love in his life,
(16:43):
and he missed him dearly. His heart ached at the
thought of him. David leaned back and recollected the times
they shared. He remembered the covenant they both made long ago.
He remembered Jonathan's words after he saved him from Saul.
Speaker 9 (16:57):
All those who seek to destroy you will not be eliminated,
and God will pave the way for your kingdom. Please,
I beg you show love to my house. When God
removes your enemies, be kind to my wife and children.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
David watched the sunset, considering all that he wished he
could have done with Jonathan. He shook his head in
disappointment and said to himself, I will keep my promise
to my friend. I will not break my covenant. The
next morning, David was sitting at his desk, mulling over
new trade agreements made since the conquest of the Euphrates.
(17:33):
All was silent as David sifted through the parchment. The
door knocked and an old man entered the room. It
was Zeba, a servant from the house of Saul. He
had served the previous king and his family for years
before the death of Jonathan and the other sons. You
asked for me, my lord, the old man said pensively.
(17:54):
Zeba was the head of Saul's home and oversaw all
the care of the family. Since Isposhet's death, he had
been out of work, along with his fifteen children, David smiled, Yes, Zeba, thank.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
You for coming.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
I have a request.
Speaker 6 (18:10):
Would you please inquire if there is any one else
from the house of Saul that I can show kindness to.
I wish to bless his family for Jonathan's sake.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
The servant looked confused. It was uncommon for kings to
bless the living relatives of a previous king. More often
they would be searched out and killed. However, David was
a king of a different breed. He desired to show
mercy to the family of Saul.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
Is there still any one in the house of Saul
that is living?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
David asked again.
Speaker 7 (18:41):
Yes, Zeba said, there is a living son of Jonathan.
He is a cripple and still in his youth.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
David's heart sank. He had not known any if Jonathan's
sons were still alive. He thought they all died in
the battle with the Philistines. The king held back tears,
trying to hold himself together. He felt the pangs of
guilt that he had not known or asked sooner. Where
is he now, David asked gently.
Speaker 7 (19:10):
He is in the house of Makir, the son of Ammiel.
His wife was the boy's nursemaid. Their home is in
lou de.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Bar, Zeba said. The old man paused for a moment
and gathered his thoughts.
Speaker 7 (19:24):
My King, although the boy has royal blood, he does
not carry himself as royalty. He is more of a
servant in that house than a prince. He hobbles along
and tends to the animals. It is a sad sight
to see he is not a threat to your throne.
Speaker 10 (19:45):
David could not take any more shame. I do not
ask with violent intentions. Please bring him to me, he commanded.
I need to speak with him and bless him.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Zeba bowed his head and departed. The king breathed in
deeply and let out more tears of lament. He was
grieved that he had not held up his promise to Jonathan.
The sun was light and drifting in the middle of
the sky. Not a cloud was in sight for miles,
and Maphibischath was feeling the unforgiving heat on his neck.
(20:18):
The animals in the bar needed more water, and Maphibischath
was determined to get it to them. Lame in both
his feet, he was forced to walk with his knees
and hands. He had created an efficient way to get
around using his hands and arms to act as crutches
as he walked with his knees. Even the most trivial
of tasks were challenged to him, but he refused to
(20:40):
let it define him. He would crawl to and from
the well, pushing the cart holding pails of water. It
was a task there would have taken any one else
less than ten minutes, but it was a laborious chore
for him. He wanted to be useful to Makir. Since
the death of his father, Makir and his family had
embraced him as their own. However, he would never quite
be one of them. Not only was Mamphibischef the son
(21:03):
of a prince, but he was also lame. They were
always wanting to coddle him and let him rest in
the shade while they worked, but Maphibischef refused. He conceded
that he would never be a warrior like his father,
but he would at least be useful. After his eighth
trip to the well, Mephibischef was interrupted. Makir came out
(21:24):
of the house and waved him down, saying, Mamphibischef, my boy,
come in. You have an old friend here to see you.
No one ever came to visit Mamphibischef. In fact, most
people didn't know he existed. He preferred it that way
since he was the last remaining heir to Saul's throne.
He did not want King David or his subjects learning
(21:45):
about him. Perhaps David would want to kill the remaining
descendants of Saul to secure his place on the throne.
Mephibischef came in to see Zeba. Standing inside Zeba, he exclaimed,
is that you, Zeba smiled and nodded.
Speaker 6 (22:00):
It is, my friends. It has been far too long.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Maphibicheff rushed to Zebra's side and embraced him.
Speaker 6 (22:08):
I have come to take you to Jerusalem. The King
desires to speak with you.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Maphibischeff's countenance dampened. He looked up at McKeer in questioning.
Speaker 8 (22:18):
Have I been given up so he can slay me?
Speaker 2 (22:21):
He asked Zebra and mckeirshrugged.
Speaker 6 (22:23):
He says his intentions are good, but there is no
way to be sure, Zeba said. Your grandfather seemed to
be very wary of David. He did not trust him
and drove him out of the country because of it.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
However, your father and he were very close. Mckeir said,
perhaps kindness awaits you in the city of David. Maphibischeff
was not so sure. He had heard stories of David
as a child. However, his grandfather Saul seemed to be
vehemently opposed to him and spent a great deal of
resources to kill him. Maphibischeff conflicted and scared. Yet there
(23:02):
was no more hiding. Now he would venture to the
King's house in Jerusalem with Zebra and face David. Zebra
and Maphibuschef rode into Jerusalem on a small carriage pulled
by two colts. The two of them traveled the road
leading into Jerusalem in silence, not quite sure how to
feel about what would happen next. Maphibuschef sat uncomfortably in place,
(23:24):
feeling more vulnerable than usual. His hands began to shake
in nervousness. Zeba looked over and placed a hand on
his shoulder. He had no encouraging words, just a friendly
and thoughtily grin of reassurance. The walls of Jerusalem were
larger than anything Maphibichef had seen before. He recalled how
big the palace walls and Ghibea were when he lived
(23:45):
with his father and grandfather, but they were not nearly
as massive as these. The carriage entered through the gates
into the heart of the city, where David's home resided.
Maphibischef drew a deep breath and exited the cart. He
followed Zebra a few paces beyre using his hands and
knees to hobble forward. He could feel the confused stairs
of palace servants on him. He hated being in public.
(24:08):
He felt like a freak. Even more embarrassing, he was
the only one among them who knew he was a prince.
The large wooden doors opened to reveal a large hall
leading to the King's courtroom. Torches were mounted on the walls,
illuminating the intricately woven tapestries. Mephibischef stared at them in awe.
They told stories of David's mighty battles and military exploits.
(24:32):
The young man was enthralled with the details recounting the battle.
He saw one of King David as a boy, slaying
Goliath with his sling. He saw another with David surrounded
by a hundred Philistines, and his eyes were lent to
another tapestry, one with David back to back with another
man fighting an army of Amalekites. Mephibichef hobbled closer to
(24:52):
see the figure's face in the firelight. It was unmistakably
his father, Jonathan. Mephibuchaf could not not help but smile.
He felt a single tear streamed down his cheek. He
did not always think about his father. His death was
a painful memory he desired to forget. As he was
taking in the tapestry, a voice called from behind him. Mephibucheth,
(25:15):
he asked. The crippled prince turned around to see King
David standing behind him a few paces back. The Phibichef
wiped away tears and immediately fell on his face in homage.
The boy trembled in fear and laid prostrate on the floor.
Speaker 8 (25:30):
Please, Sir, I am your servant, Do not kill me.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
David was dismayed and shook his head emphatically, kill you.
Speaker 6 (25:38):
Oh no, my son, do not be afraid.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
David knelt down and helped the boy back up on
to his knees. Mephibischeth took notice of how David remained
at eye level with him. No one ever knelt down
to speak to him. They remained upright and above him.
It had been a long time since anyone looked him
in the eye. This way, David's warm smile melted away
any fear of Fhibicheff had. With a gentle voice, he said,
(26:05):
I am glad you have come.
Speaker 6 (26:07):
Had I known you were alive, I would have sent
for you sooner. I am sorry.
Speaker 8 (26:13):
Why would you the king apologize to me? I am
a cripple and the descendant of your enemy's saul.
Speaker 6 (26:20):
That is not true, David exclaimed. I loved your grandfather dearly.
He was the Lord's anointed king, and I was loyal
to him till the very end. However, it was your
father I truly love. I made a promise to him
long ago that I would look after his children.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
You loved my father, Mafibicheff asked.
Speaker 8 (26:46):
He died when I was very young. I know very
little of him.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
David gave a large and beaming smile. He wrapped his
arms around the Fibicheff and laughed.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
Oh, yes, my dear child, I loved your father more
than anyone else in this world, Closer than a brother
he was to me. David gestured for Mephibichef to walk
with him. So David kept a slow pace while the
boy crawled beside him. He led him into the middle
of the hall, where a feast was laid out before them.
(27:18):
The two of them sat and spoke for a long while.
Zeba was close by, keeping a distance so the two
of them might talk.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
In primate. David told stories of Jonathan's bravery in battle
and his tenderness towards him. He talked about their unbreakable
bond and the promises they made to one another.
Speaker 6 (27:34):
I vowed that I would take care of you, Mamphibischeff.
I intend on keeping that vowl, David said, consider yourself
like a son in this household. You will always eat
at my table and dine with me as a member
of the family. As I was brought in by your
grandfather and your father, so I will bring you in.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Maphibicheff was overwhelmed by the gesture, but David was not
done with his generosity. Zeba, David called out. The servant
stepped forward and bowed his head. David smiled at the
two of them and said.
Speaker 6 (28:10):
Mephibischef, I hereby restore all the land that belonged to
Saul and give it to you. You will inherit the
land of your grandfather Maphibuschef was taken back. He shook
his head and hid his face. Tears broke through. He
was ashamed by the generosity and overwhelmed what the grace
David had shown.
Speaker 8 (28:31):
No, he yelled, I am sorry, my king, but I
am not worthy. Maphibuchef said, who am I that you
are mindful of me? I am nothing you should regard
for a dead dog. I am a whimbering child and
a cripple. You should not bless me.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
So David leaned over the table and placed his hand
on the boy's shoulder. There was a gentleness in his
eyes he did not expect from a king. Come with me,
he whispered. David took Memphibicheff to the roof of his home.
Both of them gazed at the stars. The galaxies above
shone with unfathomable brilliance. Mephibischef was filled with wonder. He
(29:12):
spent much of his days looking up, but never quite
like this. The boy turned his gaze to David. His
eyes were fixed on the stars. He looked at them
like one would to a lifelong love. It took Mephibicheff
the moment to realize he was gazing into the face
of heaven. Considering his god, David smiled and began to
(29:34):
recite him he had written long ago. His voice was
smooth and gentle, but it traveled like the wind. Mephibicheff
listened to him, sing, Oh Lord.
Speaker 11 (29:47):
Oh Lord, how majestic is your name in all the
youth above the heavens. You have established your glory out
of the mouth of simple infants. You have shown striketh.
Speaker 6 (30:14):
When I look to your heavens, the work of your hands.
Speaker 11 (30:19):
The moon and the stars which you have set in plays.
What is man.
Speaker 12 (30:30):
That you are mindful of him? And humanity that you
care for.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
Us?
Speaker 6 (30:46):
Yet you have us a little lower than the heavenly
beings and crowned us with glory.
Speaker 11 (30:56):
And arm.
Speaker 6 (30:59):
You you have given us dominion over your handiwork. You
have put all things under our feet.
Speaker 13 (31:10):
All beasts of the field, the air, the water, and
the forests have been given to us as stewards.
Speaker 11 (31:23):
O Lord, O Lord, how majestic is your name in
all the earth.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
The king looked down at the starstruck boy beside him.
He knelt down and looked him in the eye.
Speaker 6 (31:38):
We all may be dogs and whim bring children. A
Fhibish had the God sees it fit to be kind
to us, what we deserve is another thing entirely.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
David stood to his feet and called up Zeba. The
old servant scaled the ladder leading up to the rooftop
and bowed his head to the king. David placed a
hand on the Phibischeff's shoulder and said, I have given
the boy his grandfather's land, all that belonged to Saul,
and his house has been given to him. I appoint
(32:13):
you and your sons to work the land and property
on his behalf. You and your family will have a
place to call home once again, and you shall take
care of this young prince. David turned back to Memphibischef
and said.
Speaker 6 (32:29):
But you will always have a place at my table.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
For the first time in years, the son of Jonathan
felt tall again. He leaped to David's waist and hunged him.
The king returned the embrace. Miles away from Jerusalem to
the east, the king of Ammon lay on his deathbed
in the heat of the day. The old king rested
his head ready to embrace the unknown king. Nahash had
(32:56):
been defeated by David a few years prior, but had
since come to embrace the role of subject. He was
loyal to David and Israel, paying tribute monthly and opening
up trade to Israel's allies. His son, Hanoon, however, was
not as loyal. Hanun saw the presence of Israel as
a mark of shame on their nation. He hated Israel
(33:17):
and resented David for his success over them. When David
heard of Nahsh's death, he was cut to the heart
and grieved. As a sign of goodwill to his heir
and the new king of Ammon, David sent his servants
with gifts of good will.
Speaker 6 (33:31):
Nay Hash and I had good faith with one another,
David told his servants, I desired the same between Hanun
and I. Go bring gifts and tell him that I
am at his service. If he is in need of
extra resources, counsel or military aid, I shall send it.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
So the servants ventured off to Ammon. The area had
been sapped of much of its resources for quite some time.
As the servants of David entered in, they could not
help but feel uneasy. There was a darkness to the city,
perhaps because the new king had darkness in his heart.
The servants walked into the palace of Hanoon with trepidation,
noticing the glaring looks from palace guards and servants. The
(34:15):
halls of the Ammonite king were bare. There were not torches, tapestries,
or symbols of prior conquests, just cold and dark stone.
At the center of the hall was King Hanouon. He
sat up anxiously on his throne, with four of his
advisers sitting on either side of him. Hanoon tapped on
the side of his throne and frowned. The advisers whispered
(34:36):
in his ear next to him, saying.
Speaker 14 (34:38):
Do you really think David means us no harm?
Speaker 4 (34:41):
Our?
Speaker 13 (34:42):
King?
Speaker 14 (34:42):
They whispered, if he really honored you and your father,
he would have never conquered us. Surely these men are
only here as spies. They want to overthrow us. Do
not be ignorant and accept their gifts.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
The indecipherable hissing of the advisers made the men uneasy.
They looked at each other and questioned whether they should
leave swiftly. However, before the men had a chance to leave,
Hanoon spoke, saying.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
You think I am a fool.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
He leaned over his throne and spat in their direction.
Speaker 15 (35:14):
I know you are only here to spy on me.
You desire to humiliate me and my people in our
weakened state.
Speaker 5 (35:21):
Well I will not have it.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Hanoon stood to his feet and slipped over the table
of wine, and his high pitched and whiny voice was
unpleasant to the ear. The messengers recoiled at us, outburst
as they turned around. The king clapped his hands together,
signaling the palace guards to seize them.
Speaker 15 (35:39):
Not so fast, little dabs of David. Your nation has
humiliated us for too long. It is time to return
the favor.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
The guards kicked him in the knees, forcing them to
the wood. The king stepped down with his dagger and
pointed it at them. He sneered and.
Speaker 5 (35:57):
Said, shave off half their beards.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
The men's eyes widened with fear as the guards pinned
them down and took daggers to their faces. A man's
beard was a sign of their freedom. It is what
differentiated them from common slaves. To shave off half their
beard would be a disgrace. The men straddled, but ultimately
failed to defend themselves. Half their beards were shaved off,
(36:20):
and they were beaten until red in the face. Then
King Hanoun took his own dagger and cut off the
lower half of their garments, exposing their gentitals before every one.
He laughed and pointed. To make it even worse, he
paraded them in front of the palace for all to see.
After humiliating them, he forced them out to flee back home.
Speaker 5 (36:42):
Tell your king that I will no longer be paying.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Tribute, he spat as he spoke, raving at them as
they ran away.
Speaker 15 (36:49):
Tell your dog of a king that I shall amass
an army so large that he will be bowing before me.
Speaker 5 (36:56):
And begging for mercy. I shall do to him what
I have done to you. Tell David, I will be waiting.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
The men were in tears, running for their lives back
to Israel. However, they would not go back home to Jerusalem.
They remained hidden in Jericho, too embarrassed to be seen
by anyone. The four servants of David remained in a
small cottage outside the city of Jericho. They had retrieved
new garments to cover themselves, but were still too ashamed
(37:25):
to enter into the public. They did not want to
be seen with half of their beards, so they remained
hidden and embarrassed. It was late and the sun had
just retreated behind the hills. When the cottage door knocked,
it creaked open, and a hooded figure entered the room.
The men unsheathed their swords, but then stopped when they
saw it was their king. David removed his hood and smiled, Hello,
(37:50):
my brothers, he said gently. The men were overwhelmed with emotion.
They fell to their king's feet and thanked him for coming.
Speaker 16 (37:58):
We are sorry, David, we failed.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
You, They cried, you did nothing of the sort. David said.
His face was filled with understanding and sympathy. He touched
their faces and shook his head.
Speaker 6 (38:11):
I am sorry they did this to you. King Hannun
said that he is a massion.
Speaker 16 (38:15):
Army to come up against you.
Speaker 6 (38:16):
They said, he told us that he would do the
same to you.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
David clenched his jaw. Did he now? The King's demeanor shifted,
and he stood up straight. He looked down at his
servants and said, stay here until your beards grow back.
Rest Assured that you have done nothing wrong. I will
avenge this shame he has put upon you. With those words,
David departed. Joab was waiting for him outside.
Speaker 6 (38:44):
I will not endure with the Ammonites any longer. Take
them out. Joab grinned and bowed his head. He and
Abishi gathered the army of Israel and marched east to
avenge their brothers. David had endured many insults in his lifetime.
He had been forgotten by his father, mocked by giants,
and hunted by kings. However, no one would lay a
(39:06):
hand on his sheep and live to tell the tale.
King Hanun was about to feel the fury of the
Shepherd of Israel. The two brothers sat on top of
a hill overlooking the encampment of the Ammonites. Joeab and
Abishi I peered down, counting the vast sea of enemy soldiers.
Speaker 16 (39:24):
King Hanun wasn't joking. Abishai said, he has hired the
Syrians as mercenaries.
Speaker 9 (39:30):
He was also able to hire this small kingdoms of
Makah and Tob.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
Joeab said, at.
Speaker 9 (39:35):
Least thirty thousand extra men at his disposal. Not to
mention the four hundred thousand horsemen in seven hundred chariots
Amon already has. We must expect all of them to
march against us tomorrow.
Speaker 16 (39:46):
Seems excessive for such a small amount of Israelite dougs.
Speaker 2 (39:50):
Abishi jested joe Ab smirked and gestured to the encampment.
Speaker 9 (39:55):
You see how their men are split into two different
camps A down.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
The enemy encampment was resting in a valley outside the
city of Ammon. The Syrians were on the northern side,
near the battlefield, and the Ammonites were on the southern side,
near the city gates. Joab pointed to the trails leading
to the battlefield on each side.
Speaker 9 (40:16):
You see what they're doing. They're planning on attacking us
from the front of the battlefield and the rear.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
Abashi looked closely and saw that his brother was right.
They virtually doubled them in size. They had plenty of
men to split into two armies and attack from both sides.
Ambishi stroked his beard and thought for a moment. Then
he smiled.
Speaker 16 (40:36):
Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Brother?
Speaker 2 (40:38):
He asked. Joab returned his smile and nodded. I will
take the front. You will take the rear, he said.
Speaker 9 (40:46):
Tomorrow, I will take our mightiest warriors, shama Eliezar Uriah,
josh Obim and the other mighty men and face the
Syrians head on. You will stay back and meet the Ammonites.
When they try to ambush us in the rear.
Speaker 16 (41:00):
That is under six hundred men against thirty thousand Joab.
Abishi warned, are you sure that you won't be overwhelmed?
Speaker 9 (41:07):
Give me six hundred of David's trained mighty men against
thirty thousand of any army.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
Joab responded with pride.
Speaker 9 (41:14):
However, if the Syrians proved to be too strong for me,
then I shall call out with the ramshorn. If the
Ammonites overwhelm you, then you call out, We will come
to your aid.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Abishin nodded in the affirmative.
Speaker 16 (41:27):
Be of good courage to a brother. Let us all
be courageous for our men and for the nation of God.
May God do what seems good in his sight.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
The next morning, joe Ab and Abishi prepared their men
for battle. The sun had not yet risen, but the
warm summer wind from the east was already howling. It
was an ugly day for a battle. Joe Ab and
his men marched north towards the valley. He and six
hundred of David's finest marched in perfect cadence with each other.
They were disciplined and seasoned warriors forced in the fires
(41:58):
of exile Joab had no doubt that they could easily
subdue the Syrian mercenaries. They were hired hands. They had
no passion to protect the Ammonite city. He looked forward
to breaking their will. Joab could spot the Syrians in
the distance forward. Joab commanded, and the men were off
(42:18):
in a run. Israel's bravest galloped towards their enemy with
ferocious be They cried out with bloodthirsty roars, sending chills
down the Syrian spines. The armies drew closer and Joab
called out for the men to attack. Information they had
planned for this. They were ready spears and shields. Joe
(42:39):
Ab yelled. The men brought their shields in front of
their bodies and drew out their spears and attacked in
a triangular formation, with Joab at the ten. Hundreds of
Syrians began to fall as the mighty men drove forward through.
Speaker 6 (42:52):
The fray, drop spears swords out.
Speaker 2 (42:55):
Joe Ab yell. Then men immediately drove their spears into
the nearest soul and drew out their swords. Then they
formed a circle with the enemy on every side.
Speaker 5 (43:05):
Attack.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
Joeff commanded. The men began an all outslaughter of Assyrians.
The mighty men of Israel bathed their feet in the
blood of their enemies. He did not take long for
the Syrian commanders to laugh for a retreat. Not one
of Joab's men was lost, a testament to the training
of King David. Around the other end of the valley,
(43:27):
near the city gates, King Hanun set atop his horse
with tens of thousands of soldiers behind him.
Speaker 5 (43:33):
I want more than victory.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
He yelled to his men.
Speaker 17 (43:37):
I want you to humiliate them, drag them by their
beards and scorn their mothers, take their dignity, then take
their lives.
Speaker 2 (43:49):
So King Hanun marched with his men to take out
Joab and the others. However, before they could gain momentum,
Abshi attacked from the rear. He and the army of
Israel leaped into back, quickly gaining the upper hand on
the Ammonites. King Hanuon and his men stubbornly persisted against
the Army of Israel, they thought, thinking they had the
security of the Syrians. However, when Hanun saw that the
(44:12):
Syrians were fleeing, he knew all hope was lost. Great faith,
Hanuon called out.
Speaker 15 (44:17):
Run back into the city we will live to fight
another day.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
So the Ammonites fled, and the armies of Israel cheered
in victory. Joe ab and Abshire returned home to Jerusalem
and brought reports back to their king. They were sure
to mention the fear in Hanun's eyes when he saw
the Syrians flee. David was pleased with his men and
reassured of God's favor over the nation of Israel.
Speaker 5 (44:43):
They are dogs, every last one of.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
Them, aded Deezer yelled. The King of Syria raved and
ranted from the latest defeat. He pointed to King Hanuon
in anger.
Speaker 5 (44:54):
You sent us at a blood bath.
Speaker 2 (44:56):
The King of the Mons sneered at the King of Syria.
Speaker 15 (44:59):
And replied, I hired you, and your men ducked their
tails and ran like children.
Speaker 5 (45:05):
They are so weak that thirty thousand of them could
not even beat six hundred. You dare call us week
after your pathetic.
Speaker 2 (45:15):
Showing Hadadezer was fuming with anger.
Speaker 5 (45:18):
You started this, Hanoon, but we will finish it.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
The King of Syria brought in his commander, Shobach. He
was a giant of a man, with legs the size
of tree trunks and arms as solid as stone. He
wore a heavy coat of mail and thick leather boots.
The entire nation of Syria feared and revered him.
Speaker 5 (45:38):
Commander Shobach, I want you to send seven hundred chariots
and forty thousand horsemen past the.
Speaker 15 (45:45):
Euphrates marched against King David and remind him that he
leads a nation of former slaves.
Speaker 2 (45:54):
Shobuk bowed his head and left. King Hanoon also departed
to amass more men. He would have attack Israel again.
The warrior king looked down at the Jordan River. The
waters were calm enough to cross, but still too deep
to tread. Lightly, he stepped in. The cool water was
refreshing compared to the hot sun beating down above him.
(46:16):
As he led his men through the water, he could
not help but think of his ancestors crossing Jordan so
long ago. How God had provided a way for the
Ark of the Covenant to cross. Yet the waters would
not part for him. He waded through, watching the light
bounce off the vibrant turquoise waters. Once they were across,
it was not long before reaching helem. There the Syrian
(46:39):
army was awaiting him. David, Shama Eliezar and Abeshi stood
at the front, mounted on horses. The Syrian army was
colossal compared to what they had faced in the past.
They dwarfed Israel in size and horses. However, what Israel
lacked in size they made up for in the favor
of God. David knew the victory was one already, He
(47:02):
only needed to step into it. Bravely. The king looked
at the sea of Syrians arrayed before them. He turned
back to his men and rose his sword high in
the air.
Speaker 6 (47:11):
Take heart, my brothers, for we fight for the nation
of God.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
As David often did, he ran into battle without a
care as to who was behind him. He galloped on
horseback fiercely towards the enemy. He howled with a fierce
crime from his belly, and Bruce mondled. The men of
Israel ran behind him, inspired by the bravery of their king.
The forty thousand horsemen charged of David. Compared with Dicks,
(47:38):
his battle against Goliath seemed like nothing, like a tempest.
The Syrians raged against the King of Israel war, However,
they were outmatched. David faulted into the battle, raging through
the enemy like a wildfire and dry breach. His angle
was popable, spilling over onto the Syrians like the volcanic round.
His men were fighting behind him, advancing more and more
(48:01):
into the center of the fray. David continued to slice
to the enemy until he was knocked off his horse
a eye. He fell onto his back, and the wind
immediately left his locks. As he tried to recover, a
large boom kicked him in the side, sending him flying
in the air. David landed in the dust.
Speaker 4 (48:19):
And looked up.
Speaker 2 (48:20):
He was Schobalb, and the giant commanded. Schobach thrust his
sword downward to David, but he quickly pulled to the
side and dodged him. David rose to his feet and
picked up his sword. He and the commander of Syria
circled one another, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Schoboch moved first, swinging his broad sword at his neck.
(48:41):
David blocked the attack with his sword, but was knocked
off balance. Schobach was stronger than David. Each blow with
his sword was carried with the strength of ten men.
David continued to parry each attack, barely getting any chance
to retaliate. David looked closely for an opening as he
dodged and pared each blow, but time was running out.
(49:02):
He did not know how many more blows his bones
could handle. He could feel his arms shaking and his
wrists growing tired, and David had lapped quickly, but there
seemed to be no way of killing him. Every inch
of his body was covered in mail, and his feet
were protected by heavy boots. But yet there was one
area that was uncovered, the space between his armor and
(49:23):
his helmet. It was ironic that David had not thought
of this. First. He took out his sling, placed a
stone in it, and drew it back. Schoboch advanced with
his sword, ready to kill, and David released his sling
into the air. The stone hit Schobach on the cheek,
cracking it and drawing blood. He stumbled back and held
(49:44):
his face. While he was reeling in pain. David pounced
and drove his sword through his armor and into his stomach.
Chobaq fell onto his knees and fell to the ground
with his face in the dirt. David cried out into
the skies, and the flurry of soldiers around him quickly
took over the battle. Israel came upon the Syrians with
(50:04):
unstoppable force, and David once again proved his dominance over them.
They were subdued, and Israel was victorious once again. All
the kings of Syria and the surrounding nations saw that
there was no stopping the people of Israel. They made
peace with David and became subjects to him. Although the
Ammonites continued to fight, the Syrians would no longer come
(50:28):
to their aid. David's dominance in the land became renowned.
His fearlessness in battle earned him the respect of every
king and warrior in the land. He conquered cities, expanded
his kingdom, and brought security to the once tormented and
vulnerable nation of Israel. From the outside looking in, there
(50:48):
seemed to be nothing that could vanquish King David. No
foe was too large or mighty to bring him down,
and no army was vast enough to come against him. However,
David would soon face an enemy greater than Goliath or Schobach.
He would wrestle with a foe too formidable for even
the giant slayer to vanquish. The chosen hero of God
(51:08):
would soon be brought to his knees in defeat.
Speaker 4 (51:14):
Love and justice, David held mercy tenderness and compassion in
one hand, while holding judgment, violence, and ferocity in another.
This episode gave us a perspective of David through two
different lenses. The first perspective was through the lens of
surrounding nations. To them, the giant slayer was decisive in
his speech, heavy with his sword, and pragmatic with his strategy.
(51:38):
He dealt harshly with the corrupt and historically oppressive nations.
The second perspective was through the lens of mephibashev to him.
David was compassionate, giving of himself, and deeply poetic. He
dealt graciously with the crippled son of Jonathan, and he
proved that his heart harbored no bitterness towards Saul. This
(51:58):
episode further communicated to us David's dual nature. He was
fierce but fair. He had strength, and he had love.
I personally love that David could not be reduced to
just one thing. He had depth, nuance, and range. In
this episode we get Pete David. This is the king
we knew he would become. But even in the beginning
(52:21):
of the episode, we get some hints that something may
be awry. If you go back and listen, you will
hear little warnings of things to come. At the end
of the next episode, we will discuss a few of
those clues. I can't wait for you to notice them.
The most compelling storyline in this episode was Meth Fibischeff.
The prelude was heart wrenching as we listen to the
(52:44):
poor whimperings of a child who wants his mom and dad.
Any parent's heart aches at the thought of their child
being hurt and afraid without them. It takes David a
while to find out my fibis Chef is even alive.
When he does, he lavishes upon him praise and favor.
There was a tender moment between the two of them
(53:04):
whenman Fibischeff rejects David's favor and says, I am sorry,
my king, but I am not worthy. Who am I
that you are mindful of me? I am nothing You
show regard for a dead dog. I am a whimpering
child and a cripple. You should not bless me in
this way. I am not my father. He was a
(53:26):
mighty warrior. I am a cripple. The Phibischeff was convinced
he was not worthy of David's love. David took me
Phibischef outside and showed him the stars. Then he recited
psalm me, O Lord, O Lord, how majestic is your name?
And all the earth above the heavens you have established
(53:46):
your glory out of the mouth of simple infants. You
have shown strength when I look at your heavens, the
work of your hands, the moon and the stars which
you have set in place. What is man that you
are mindful of him? And humanity that you care for us?
Yet you have made us only a little lower than
the heavenly beings and crowned us with glory and honor.
(54:06):
You have given us dominion over your handiwork. You have
put all things under our feet. All beasts of the field,
the air, the water, and the forest have been given
to us as stewards. Oh Lord, oh Lord, how majestic
is your name in all the earth. It was like
David was throwing Maphibischeff's words right back at him. He
reminded all of us that none of us are truly
(54:29):
worthy of God's love, but he gives it anyway. Worthy
has nothing to do with it. God loves us because
he is loving, not because we deserve love. What we
do with that love is up to us, and what
maphibis Chef does with David's blessing is up to him.
After the beautiful interaction with David and Mephibischef, we are
(54:50):
thrust into a different storyline. The king of Amen died,
and David sent his men with gifts to offer his condolences.
They returned his kindness with evil and humiliated his servants.
You and I may have thought the same thing when
we heard this story. What on earth were they thinking?
Everyone should know by now that David is not a
man to be trifled with. Even more, he is not
(55:12):
a man to allow his people to be humiliated. David
connected with his servants and embraced them with understanding. Then
he made preparations to march against the Ammonites.
Speaker 6 (55:22):
In C. S.
Speaker 4 (55:23):
Lewis's timeless classic The Chronicles of Narnia, the Lion, the
Witch and the Wardrobe, the beavers who are explaining to
the children who Aslam the lion is Adlam is the
king of Narnia and represents Jesus. Adlam is a lion,
the lion, the great Lion, said the beaver. Oh, said Susan,
I thought he was a man? Is he quite safe.
(55:46):
I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion safe,
said mister Beaver, who said anything about safe. Of course,
he isn't safe, but he's good. He's the king. I
tell you this descriptive. Adam is a wonderful descript of
King David. He's good, but he is most definitely not safe.
The King of Israel is compassionate, kind and good, but
(56:07):
he is also passionate, fierce, and dangerous. David marched against
Ammon and vanquished them. Then he marched against the Syrians,
who allied with them, and vanquished them as well. In
two of David's battles, our attention is brought back to
the sword of Goliath and the sling. Remember these are
icons for us to remember who David is at his core.
(56:29):
When we notice the sword, the sling, or Jonathan's armor,
it gives us a pleasant reminder of the shepherd boy
who ran after the lion and the small runt to
face the giant. It is good to tether our hearts
to these things and remember where they came from, less
we get lost. The episode ends with yet another victory,
(56:50):
but we are also given a teaser for the next
episode from the outside looking in, there seemed to be
nothing that could vanquish King David. No foe was too
large or to bring him down, and no army was
vast enough to come against him. However, David would soon
face an enemy even greater than Goliath or showback. He
would wrestle with a foe too formidable for even the
(57:13):
Giant Slayers to vanquish. The chosen hero of God would
soon be brought to his knees in defeat. Who is
this foe David is going to face? Who could ever
stand a chance against the giant Slayer. We have just
spent twenty three episodes witnessing the gargantuan rise of King David.
But you know what they say, the bigger they are,
(57:33):
the harder they fall. It's now time to learn about
David's greatest defeat, a failure he may never recover from.
Join us for episode twenty four, Lust and Murder. Thanks
again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers and
wisdom the last of lifetime, go to pray dot com,
and to expand your heroes in the Bible Journey, download
(57:55):
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
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