The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein

# 184 - David Mourns Saul & Jonathan - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, when news of Saul and Jonathan’s deaths reaches Ziklag, David doesn’t seize the crown—he tears his robes and weeps. Join us for a powerful reflection on grief, loyalty, and what it means to wait for God’s timing even when power is within reach.

Episode 184 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is insp...

# 182 - A Hero is Forged - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David rises to reclaim his people from the Amalekites in a story of rescue, repentance, and restored purpose. Walk with him in 1 Samuel 30 as he learns that true kingship is not vengeance, but covenant faithfulness and mercy that heals what was lost.

Episode 182 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.

# 183 - Saul & Jonathan’s Last Battle - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, In Israel’s darkest hour, Saul and Jonathan face their final stand on Mount Gilboa—a battle of swords, silence, and the cost of pride. Join us in 1 Samuel 31 for a haunting story of loyalty, loss, and the question of what it means to fall with honor.

Episode 183 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is ins...

# 181 - David's Treachery - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David faces the crushing consequences of compromise as his deceptions catch up with him, forcing him to march alongside Philistines toward battle against his own people. When Ziklag burns and everything he built collapses, David is left broken—but in the ashes, the first sparks of redemption begin to flicker.

Episode 181 of The Chosen ...

# 180 - The Witch of Endor - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, King Saul—abandoned by prophecy, priests, and dreams—turns to a forbidden medium in a desperate attempt to summon the dead prophet Samuel. As silence from Heaven becomes unbearable, Saul crosses a spiritual boundary that cannot be undone, reminding us that when we no longer wait for God’s voice, we risk hearing something else ins...

# 179 - David Befriends The Philistines - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David flees Israel and strikes an uneasy alliance with the Philistines—finding refuge in enemy territory while secretly defending his people. As David walks a dangerous line between survival and deception, we’re invited to wrestle with what faith looks like when the only safe path forward feels morally gray.

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# 178 - David & The King's Spear - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David once again spares King Saul’s life—this time stealing his spear and water jug instead of striking him down. As the wilderness of Ziph becomes a battleground for the soul, we explore what it means to trust God’s justice when vengeance feels justified and power is within reach.

Episode 178 of The Chosen Peopl...

# 177 - David & Abigail - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein,

Episode 177 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.

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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/

Today's opening prayer is inspired by Psalm 145:8, “The Lord is ...

# 176 - David Spares Saul - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David comes face to face with the man hunting him—armed with the chance to kill, but choosing mercy instead. As the cave becomes a crucible of restraint, we witness how true strength lies not in revenge, but in trusting God’s justice and becoming the kind of king who leads with grace.

Episode 176 of The Chosen People with Yael Ec...

# 175 - David The Vigilante - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David risks everything to rescue a city abandoned by Saul—only to face betrayal by those he just saved. In the wilderness of Ziph, we see a leader refined not by power, but by restraint, trust, and the quiet courage to follow God's timing.

Episode 175 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.

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# 174 - The Slaughter of Nob - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, King Saul’s fear turns to fury as he unleashes a brutal massacre against the innocent priests of Nob. Through heartbreak and horror, we explore how power corrupted by fear can devastate lives—and how even in the darkest moments, God’s justice and mercy still whisper through the silence.

Episode 174 of The Chosen People w...

# 173 - David & The Outcasts - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David finds refuge in a cave—but he’s not alone for long. As the broken and outcast gather around him, we witness how God begins building a kingdom not through power, but through pain, purpose, and unexpected grace in the wilderness.

Episode 173 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.
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# 172 - David The Madman - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David flees to enemy territory and escapes death by pretending to lose his mind. As fear and faith collide in 1 Samuel 21:11–15, we explore how God’s presence can remain—quiet but steady—even when survival forces us into the most desperate disguises.

Episode 172 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by th...

# 171 - David's Lies in Nob - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David seeks refuge in the house of God—but hunger and fear push him to deception. As he takes holy bread and reclaims Goliath’s sword, we’re invited into a powerful reflection on what we reach for when survival threatens to eclipse our faith.

Episode 171 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of J...

# 170 - The Hunt for David Begins - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, we witness the unraveling of King Saul’s rage as David flees into exile and Jonathan risks everything to protect his friend. Through covenant loyalty, prophetic power, and whispered plans in the shadows, 1 Samuel 20 reveals how sacred friendship can reflect God’s own faithfulness—even when the cost is everything.

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# 169 - David Escapes Saul - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, we follow David’s narrow escape from Saul’s growing wrath in 1 Samuel 19, as jealousy turns a king into a hunter and a palace into a trap. Amid betrayal, fear, and a desperate flight through the night, we explore what it means to trust God when safety disappears and sin threatens to consume everything in its path.

Episode 169 of...

# 168 - David's Dowry of Blood - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, we explore 1 Samuel 18:17–30, where Saul tries to destroy David by demanding a deadly dowry—but the young warrior returns with double what was asked. As envy tightens its grip on Saul’s heart, David rises through bloodshed and betrayal to become a prince of Israel, honored by the people and chosen by God.

Episode 168 o...

# 167 - Saul Attacks David - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, we explore 1 Samuel 18:6–16 and the tragic unraveling of Saul as jealousy over David’s rising fame turns deadly. Through dramatic storytelling and spiritual reflection, we see how envy distorts identity, poisons relationships, and blinds us to the abundant blessings of God’s kingdom.

Episode 167 of The Chosen People with Y...

# 166 - David and Jonathan's Bond - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, we explore 1 Samuel 18:1–8 and the powerful covenant between David and Jonathan—a friendship rooted in loyalty, sacrifice, and deep spiritual love. As Jonathan lays down his royal rights to honor the one God has chosen, we’re reminded that true covenant love asks not what it can gain, but what it can give.

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