Podcasts about amalekites

The victory God gives us does not mean we will never face a battle. It means we do not face the battle alone. John Burns preached from Exodus 17, where Israel fought the Amalekites while Moses stood on the hill with the staff of God in his hands. As long as Moses' hands were lifted, Israel was winning. When his hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur came alongside him and held them up until the victory was won. John highlighted three elements of victory in this passage: the struggle, the source, and the support. The struggle reminds us that battles are part of the Christian life. The source reminds us that the Lord is our banner, Jehovah Nissi, and that victory comes from Him. The support reminds us that we need Christ and we need one another. “Without the struggle, we don't have the victory,” John said. He also reminded us, “The Lord is the source of our victory.” This message also points us to Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of Jehovah Nissi. Just as Moses lifted his hands and Joshua won the battle, Jesus was lifted up on the cross and won the victory for all of us. Through His blood, we have forgiveness, covering, intercession, resurrection life, and victory. The application is simple: stay under His banner. Stay connected to Jesus through obedience, praise, prayer, surrender, receiving His Word, and loving Him with your whole heart. When you grow weary, rest on Christ the Rock and allow the family of God to hold you up. His banner over us is victory.

We have reached the end of our Exodus series! Chapter 40 concludes with the glory of the Lord filling the tabernacle, marking the completion of the structure, but not the end of the journey. The Israelites are not yet in the Promised Land. So why is this 40-chapter story so central to the biblical narrative? Because Exodus is not just background history—it is a legally binding testimony that points directly to the coming of a greater Messiah.Key Points1. A Testimony to the FutureHebrews 3:5 states that Moses was faithful as a servant, bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. The Greek word used here for servant (therapon) implies an intimate, trusted servant whose testimony carries legal weight. Moses is a credible witness establishing the criteria for the Messiah. Anyone claiming to be the Messiah must be greater than Moses.2. Jesus is the Greater IntercessorMoses: Interceded for the Israelites on a hill to win a physical battle against the Amalekites. His hands were held up by his friends (Exodus 17).Jesus: Interceded on the hill of Calvary to win the eternal war against sin and death. His hands were held up by nails—and by the joy set before Him.3. Jesus is the Greater Deliverer & SacrificeMoses: Delivered the Israelites physically from Egypt, but he could not lead them all the way into the Promised Land. The Old Covenant required sacrifices to be made over and over again, like weed killer that only offers temporary relief.Jesus: Shared in our humanity to break the power of death and deliver us spiritually (Hebrews 2:14). As our High Priest, He offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, and then He sat down—because the work was finished (Hebrews 10:11-12). Note: Joshua (Yeshua), whose name points to Jesus, was the one who ultimately led the people into the Promised Land.4. Jesus is the Greater TabernacleMoses: Built the physical tabernacle where God's presence dwelled, but the people were kept out by a thick curtain and the barrier of sin.Jesus: The Word became flesh and "tabernacled" among us (John 1:14). When Jesus died on the cross, the physical curtain in the temple was torn in two. Now, through the blood of Jesus, we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place. Better yet, through the Holy Spirit, believers have become living tabernacles.5. The Warning: Guard Against a Hard HeartThe Israelites saw the Red Sea part and manna fall from the sky, yet their hearts grew hard and they built a golden calf. Signs and wonders cannot replace an intimate relationship with God. Hebrews warns us not to harden our hearts as they did, but to encourage one another daily. We guard against a hard heart through personal devotion and active participation in a faith community.ConclusionWhen Moses asked God, "Show me your glory," God tucked him in a rock and only allowed him to see His back. Moses did not get exactly what he asked for in that moment, nor did he get to enter the Promised Land in his lifetime. However, God does not forget our prayers. Centuries later, on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17), Moses finally stands in the Promised Land, face-to-face with Jesus, whose face shone like the sun. Moses finally saw the full glory of God. God is worth the wait.Calls to ActionExamine Your Heart: Are there areas where your heart has grown hard or calloused toward God?Speak it Out: If you are struggling with unbelief or a hard heart, confess it to someone in your faith community this week to break its power.Trust the Delay: If you have been waiting a long time for a prayer to be answered, look to Moses. Trust that God's timing is perfect and His glory is worth the wait. Support the show*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. 2 Samuel 18-19a Chet Phillips Download TranscriptMy name is Chet. I'm one of the pastors here. We'll be in second Samuel starting in chapter 18 I'm gonna take a moment to remind us how we got where we are this morning in this text and then we're gonna read the beginning of the text because It's gonna set us up well for understanding kind of the tension of what's happening here So we have David the Anointed blessed king over Israel That God went and found someone after his own heart to become king and that even has made a covenant with him That he's going to bless him that he's gonna give him sons to sit on the throne forever He's gonna work this blessing out in David's line David sins grievously against Bathsheba and Uriah and when the prophet Nathan speaks to him.He tells him that there's gonna be trouble that's going to arise out of this and we're in chapter 18 We're in the middle of some of that trouble David's oldest son Amnon had sexually assaulted his half sister who was Absalom's David's other sons whole sister and Absalom, because David does nothing, plots and murders his brother Amnon These are the two oldest sons of David. There was a third one, but he doesn't seem to be mentioned and it's likely he died Young so we've got the two oldest sons of David. Absalom then runs. He flees he's in exile for a while.Joab sees that this is distressing David. After a time, he helps bring back Absalom. Joab, that leader of David's army, Absalom comes back and eventually over time works up a rebellion Marches with the people of Israel claiming to be king on Jerusalem David flees, goes to Mahanaim. That's where we find him Now which is interesting That's where Ish-bosheth had set up his kingdom last time David was in the middle of a civil war and so David is in Mahanaim Absalom gathers the forces of Israel crosses over the Jordan towards David and that's where we pick up today Absalom is following Hushai's plan which was the one Hushai secretly on David's team which was don't go killing quickly; gather everybody and you lead the forces yourself.So we've got Absalom with a very large kind of conscripted army. All the people in Israel were prepared to fight but these guys would come fight when they need to and then go back David is with a smaller but more regular military and We pick up in verse one chapter 18 Then David mustered the men who were with him and Set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. It doesn't tell us how many that he has.But it does tell us that he has commanders of thousands and hundreds and that he splits them into thirds We're gonna see that in just a second so it seems like he does have several thousand men That's the standing army that left with him and David sent out the army one third under the command of Joab One third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah Joab's brother Which we've seen them lead his military before and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite Which we saw him join David with 600 of his own men as they were fleeing.And the king said to the men I myself will go out with you But the men said you will not go out for if we flee they will not care about us If half of us die they will not care about us But you are worth 10,000 of us therefore it's better that you send us help from the city So David says I'm going to and they say no, you're not because you're gonna make it more complicated They're only gonna care about you it matters a whole lot if they kill you it doesn't matter if they kill us if we flee They're just gonna be trying to find you like if We've got the whole point of us going out is to keep you alive for the sake of reestablishing control here.So stay and send help from the city organized from the city King said to them whatever seems best to you. I will do So the king stood the side of the gate while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands and the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom and All the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.So it becomes very clear to the entire army that David has instructed deal gently With Absalom for my sake now This is the tension in this story Because we have David referred to as the king the king the king the king and as king David Organizes his military and as king he sends them out to defend the kingdom and as king He is working to stop a rebellion As king he's bringing justice and righteousness and.Then at the end He doesn't sound like a king He sounds like a father So as he's sending out the military he says Deal gently with the young man Absalom because in his eyes that's still who he is He's a lad, that young man that's leading a rebellion against this Who's got a bigger army than y'all Who wishes to kill us. When y'all catch him but you'd be nice to him Be tender.Joab that's actually why I made you leader of the military because you're one of the most tender fellows. I know From what we know of Joab he is anything but gentle This is probably the only time David has ever given this instruction to his military leaders I don't think he was ever attacking the Amalekites and was like hey if you catch the king Because y'all it should be nice to him when you catch him. He just does this isn't normal.But it gets word through the whole because there's this tension with David where he's got to work justice He's got to be a king. He is the king and then but he loves his son Can you imagine trying to navigate this? How how do you How do you do that? How do you handle this when we see David trying to do both? He wants Absalom to lose But he doesn't want to lose Absalom.And he's trying to thread that needle So the army has verse six Went out into the field against Israel and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David and the loss there was great on that day 20,000 men The battle spread over the face of all the country and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.So they spread out they're in three different groups they fight They meet them on the field of battle, but it says specifically they're fighting in the forest of Ephraim And the forest kills more people than the sword does which is a very interesting verse I think all that's trying to communicate to you was not David if you talk to the to the to the David's army and you said how do they go how did it go.And they were basically saying the forest was more help to us than our sword was Like the forest won the battle for us more than the sword did meaning that the terrain benefited us greatly David has a more well trained military that has done more things and they're in a smaller group They don't want to meet on a field in the open Because sheer numbers will out Man them they'll just they'll lose just over time so what they do is they spread out and they fight in the woods and it works out Very well for them They do some of what a famous South Carolinians did during the Revolutionary War They were like yeah, we're not lining up and just shooting it y'all but every time you ride through the woods.Good luck and we're like we like y'all and we're gonna name colleges after you so that's That's what David that's what they do they they go hide in the woods and they fight in the woods And they say the woods the forest helped us more than the sword did today in 20,000 men die, but the The brunt of that is on the people of Israel not the David side And we're gonna see in just a second the the forest playing a very active role versus nine.And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David Okay, so David's not there, but Absalom is because Absalom's doing Hushai's plan which is you go yourself and Take everybody with you so Absalom's there and he comes across some of David's servants Absalom was riding on his mule and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak and his head Caught fast in the oak and he was suspended between heaven and earth while the mule that was under him went on Absalom sees some of David's men in the forest Most likely at this point Absalom's trying to get away so he spurs his mule. He's heading off I don't know if he was looking back It doesn't tell us it may be the mule just picked a spot that the mules head fit fine.So he just shoot under there Absalom gets his head caught in an oak tree now The word head here can mean it's actual head so it's possible that he got stuck in between some branches and it actually got around his neck His head is actually stuck wedged in somewhere It can also mean his hair and one of the things we know about Absalom other than he's the most handsome man You'd ever like to meet is it he has beautiful hair To the point that he cuts it once a year and weighs it and then Tells people about it.And it's written down forever and scripture for us how much was hair weight So it's possible that it says hair that got tangled up and then he's having to hold himself up And I don't know if you've ever been snagged on something, but it's not easy to get yourself out of it And he's now dangling from a tree and his mule's like well sorry You should have cut your hair before battle and heads up.So he's dangling from a tree and the forest is helping more than the sword at this moment Verse 10 and a certain man saw it and told Joab behold I saw Absalom hanging in an oak And Joab says what we would say Joab said to the man who told him what you saw him so he comes to report hey Hey, you remember the guy we're looking for? Absalom dangling from a tree over here It'd be like you know you're just one of the random guys you're walking along and then there's someone just dangling from a tree? It's like the guy we came for you guys. He's here That's what he does he's I see him and Joab says what you saw him? Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? Why are you telling me's in a tree? Why are you telling me he's dead?I would have been glad to give you 10 pieces of silver and a belt Yeah, 10 pieces of silver and a belt you guys But the man said to Joab even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver I would not reach out my hand against the king's son for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai for my sake protect the young man Absalom on the other hand if I had dealt Treacherously against his life and there's nothing hidden from the king then you yourself would have stood aloof.Joab said I will not not waste time with you waste time like this with you So Joab he says I saw Absalom hanging in a tree Joab says why didn't you kill him and then I would have given you 10 pieces of silver and a belt and the man says You could have given me a bag of a thousand pieces of silver I'm not killing the king's son after he told us not to and then he just keeps going He goes he told you and his brother and he had time and if I had killed him and the king found out later You're not gonna bow walking up in the middle of that and being like look at whose belt he's wearing You're gonna stand back and let me get killed. I know exactly and just like you just I don't know who this certain man was but I like him.Joab's like why didn't you just obey the king and this guy's like have you lost your mind and Just goes toe to toe with Joab and you haven't gotten anything to say except for I don't have time for this I'm not getting too big discussion with you about what I would have done later had I like what whatever So he just you know I believe I'm not waste time like this with you and he took three javelins in his hand.And he thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak so when Joab gets there Absalom Absalom still there they take three Throwing spears and thrust them into him and ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers Surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him Then Joab blew the trumpet and the troops came back from pursuing Israel for Joab restrained them So Joab does not follow the king's order He goes and brutally kills Absalom Throws three spears into him while he's dangling there cuts him down and then ten men who were with him Striking and killing.And then he blows the trumpet because that's all Joab wanted to do we got the guy that was causing problems The battle's over like y'all come back and without Absalom there's no rebellion It stopped And the throwing of the three spears makes it seem to me first of all Joab has no intention whatsoever of following David's command And it also feels Personal vindictive maybe and it doesn't tell us I think he probably had some enjoyment of finding him like that and then some anger towards Absalom he's Joab's the one who helped to bring Absalom back From exile Absalom when he was trying to get Joab's attention Joab wouldn't come so Absalom burned down Joab's field.Joab's on the run from Absalom has been expelled from his home and had to take his own family and his household with him and Seems to be he has no mercy in his heart for him and Absalom finds a gruesome end Now we know what David asked But there's part of me who can appreciate Feeling like yeah Absalom Caught what he deserved He's risen up in rebellion against his own back When when the original the when it was Ahithophel and Hushai were both giving him plans Ahithophel said we'll go tonight Just kill David and Absalom and thinks that's a good idea and then Hushai says no, we'll kill them all and Absalom thinks that's a better idea and When he dies like this there's part of me that just goes yeah.Feels like justice was served There's actually a passage in Deuteronomy that seems like he kind of lives out I want to show you what happens here next in verse 17 it says they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones And all Israel fled everyone to his own home Now Absalom and his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King's Valley for he said I have no son to keep my name and Remembrance he called the pillar after his own name and it is called Absalom's monument to this day We'll get to that in just a second.And Deuteronomy chapter 21 it says that if anyone is deserving of death and is hanged on a tree He's cursed by God and that you should remove him from the tree before nightfall And Absalom hanging on the tree now it just happens to him but it seems as if it's in God's Providence that this would happen and it's the same phrase that he's hanged on a tree That's what he says I found he's hanging on a tree cursed by God. He's killed and.Then the very next passage in Deuteronomy 21 says if you have a rebellious son He should be taken outside of the gates and stoned and they throw him in a pit and they throw a great heap of stones on him So that he somehow lives out Deuteronomy 21 both of the punishments and there's this He's very unceremoniously cared for he's dumped dumped in a pit stones are thrown on him and then it says hey While he was alive he made himself his own monument and what the the text is doing is going so Absalom has two stone monuments the one he made for himself and the one we made for him in the forest The one where he tried to honor himself and the one where he died in utter contempt and dishonor.We are told in the text previously that Absalom had three sons so we've seen at this point that they have all died in infancy You're at a young age so that they aren't able to carry his name on So his desire in pride to elevate himself has come to utter ruin But now we have to see what happens with David Verse 19 then Ahimaaz the son of a Zadok said let me run and carry news to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.So Ahimaaz we met him earlier. He's one of the guys that hid in the well To bring news to David. He's been helping spy. He wants he says let me run and give him the news And Joab said to him you are not to carry news today You may carry news another day, but today you shall not you shall carry no news because the king's son is dead So Ahimaaz is excited he in his mind. He just says hey let's go tell him we won let's tell him that this is today is a great day.Then Joab said today's not gonna be a great day the king's son is dead. You don't need to carry news today And he says you can carry news another day. He's even like seems like he's trying to tell him as if it's like it's not you it just is the news. You don't need to carry it Verse 21 then Joab said to the Cushite go tell the king what you have seen The Cushite bowed before Joab and ran. I find this interaction interesting as well.So Joab looks at Ahimaaz and goes don't go deliver this news. It's not gonna go well. This is bad news and then he goes you there foreigner I got news for you to take to the king and It feels like At best what Joab is doing is you don't belong to the nation of Israel so you don't need to mourn with us But it worse he's just like if David decides to kill someone Non-covenant person I got a message for you which I wonder how the Cushite felt about that but he just says hey run this message.So the Cushite who's from the Egypt area He's gonna go so he says the Cushite bow before Joab and ran Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab come what may let me also run after the Cushite And Joab said why will you run my son seeing that you have no reward for the news Come what may he said I will run so he said to him run Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and out ran the Cushite to Ahimaaz really wants to go Please please please He says whatever happens. I don't care what happens. Just let me go. Let me run after him. I'll just go behind him. Let me go.And then he doesn't go behind him he runs a different way and outruns him And I think maybe Ahimaaz just like running He also might just like to be in the middle of things. I don't know we don't we don't know But we know that he out runs the Cushite so he's gonna get there first But he said I don't care I don't care how he takes the news. I just want to go.Verse 24 now David was sitting between the two gates and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall When he lifted up his eyes and looked he saw a man running alone so there's outer gate outer wall Then a House something above the gate where you can sit and watch and there's an inter gate inter wall and David's in between pacing praying I don't know But he's just kind of this is where he is and he's waiting for news waiting they're keeping an eye out on what's going on watchman sees a runner.The watchman is verse 25 called out and told the king and the king said if he is alone There is news in his mouth and he drew near and near so they can see for quite a ways We don't know how far but he could be a mile away between like we he's you know You see someone running he says someone's running he's by himself He says well he's alone he's bringing news The whole army marching back would mean one thing people coming back in a little bunches would probably mean defeat you know.But just the guy running he's bringing us some information The watchman saw another man running and the watchman called to the gate and said see another man running alone The king said he also brings news Which he split his army into Thirds so to get news from different places. It's not odd to get news from the same place with the exact same time as odd but David doesn't know that's what's about to happen.The watchman said I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of a Zadok I think he's seen Ahimaaz run before this what part of what makes me think Ahimaaz likes to run or you know Ahimaaz does his hands weird when he runs or something. I don't know but he sees him and he's like that looks like Ahimaaz running And the king said he is a good man and comes with good news not maybe wishful thinking on David's part.But it also may be that he understands how Joab usually sends news and we just saw Joab say you're not allowed to bring news because this news is bad And maybe Joab has usually picks people to honor who get to go deliver good news So when he says oh, it's Ahimaaz this is gonna be good news That's the way David takes it Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king all is well and he's just run several miles and he's run fast because he outran the Cushite All is well as one word in in Hebrew says Shalom, but he says all is well and he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and he said Blessed be the Lord your God who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my Lord the king.And the king said is it well with the young man? Absalom So he says we won The news he gives is the news to the king justice was served But the king doesn't respond. I mean he is the King David, but he responds as the father. He got the king news and now he asks Is it well With Absalom Ahimaaz answered When Joab sent the king's servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was.And the king said turn aside and stand here so he turned aside and stood still now Ahimaaz said twice come what may And as soon as he gets to come what may he does not tell him what happened to his son I Don't know if he changed his mind in the moment I don't know if he just wanted to be here and see it We don't know if he thought about it as he was out running the Cushite and he thought I don't know if it was when he gave the news the King David and King David doesn't respond with any sort of joy at hearing that he won but only asked about Absalom, but at this moment he just goes ah when I when I was there was the stuff going on, but I don't know.Hmm Then David says okay, we'll stand over here And then he sees a Cushite running Which I don't know if he knows him. I don't know how how that worked in their their army But he's coming up so he just has stand here and he's waiting for this piece of news And behold the Cushite came and the Cushite said good news from my Lord the king For the Lord has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you I don't know if the Cushite did a double take when he saw him as.But he was the last time he had a conversation with a person he was talking to Joab who was talking to Ahimaaz and then he took off running and then when he shows up He sees David who's talking to Ahimaaz who's obviously been running I don't know if we play the game where it was like which one of us has just run six miles but she'd probably be able to figure it out Do the other ones hadn't and so I just want to hear if he was like, huh, and then just but he did his job.The king said to the Cushite Is it well with the young man? Absalom, I asked the exact same question and the Cushite answered may the enemies of my Lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man And the king was deeply moved Went up to the chamber over the gate and wept And as he went and he said oh my son, Absalom my son my son, Absalom Would that I had died instead of you? Oh, Absalom my son my son.So he gets the news we won Rebellion over God's given you victory God's with you and he gets the news your son is dead David's heart is broken And he just goes off It was told Joab the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people For they heard, for the people heard that day the king is grieving his son and the people stole into the city that day as people who steal in who are Shamed when they flee in battle and the king covered his face and the king cried with a loud voice Oh my son, Absalom my son David's gone up over the gatehouse and he's just weeping and he's covered his face and he's just he's broke.People hear it And they don't they don't just walk back into the city like anything good has happened They don't celebrate that they won they don't celebrate their deliverance It says they sneak in like people who lost people who don't want to make eye contact with you because they fled because they're ashamed of themselves So this this is how it comes back to the city Then Joab came into the house for the king and said you have today covered with shame The faces of all your servants who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives.And your concubines because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you You have made it clear today that the commanders and servants are nothing to you for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today Then you would have been pleased So Joab shows up walks right up and it says just Let's him have it and you can you can feel Joab's hurt a little bit. Joab is is David's nephew and he's been with him and everything.And Joab says I can tell now they don't matter like we don't matter if Absalom were alive and we were all dead this you wouldn't be acting like this Verse seven now therefore a rise Go out and speak kindly to your servants for I swear by the Lord if you do not go Not a man will stay with you this night and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate and the people were all told behold the king is sitting in the gate and All the people came before the king David hears Joab and he realizes he's right He goes out to the gate and he starts smoothing things back over No, Joab goes up to him and says you need to act like a king and David had just been acting like a father and There's this pull in the text Because how does David handle this well? If he only responded like a king If he looked at them as they were on their way out and said make sure Absalom doesn't last the day He'd be gone. Oh, I mean that's your son David Response in both ways he responds as a king at the end we see him sitting as a king.We see him weeping as a father if he only acts like a father then then it falls apart He doesn't handle his kingly duties. There's this tension here between the justice that needs to be carried out And the love that David has for his son and he's not able to to navigate it But how would you Your king your sons in rebellion against you. How do you navigate that? And I think as we're evaluating it we're trying to think through that I think different ones of us want to move the slider in different directions Some of us feel like yes, I don't know Can you march against your own son even though he's wrong? Maybe you don't Maybe David should just say Somebody else has got to lead this. I'm gonna step down from being king.And some of you are like that's crazy talk Get in He's causing more problems He's willing to kill you. He's wrong. I don't care that he's your son. He's chosen so many things that are wrong And we want to pull this back and forth and we have this tension between justice and love and mercy And it's not just in this story. I think this is the tension that runs throughout the Old Testament This story gives us a feel for it.But we're told that God has a glorious king who is perfect in justice and perfect in holiness created a world out of love, that he loves the world that he loves His creation that he loves Humans and we're told that we rebel We don't want his kingship. We don't want his love. We don't want him What does he do And you'll talk to people and then move that slider around Some people say why don't see why he can't just forget why can't he just love us if he loves us then he would just forgive us If there really is a God, then he's a loving God and he's a forgiving God and we're fine. It's fine He knows we're all human. He just is gonna. He's fine.And if you have a God of judgment or wrath or whatever you're confused because that's not what God's like And they just move the slider all the way over to loving father which we're told God is a loving father There's a problem with that Joab sees the problem. He says that son was gonna kill all your other sons That son was gonna kill all your children. So you're gonna kill your whole household.And it's easy if your life's been kind of calm and kind of nice and everything's been kind of and you just deal with Base level disagreements to go yeah, we're all the same and God loves us But if people have marched into your village and burned it down and raped all your family members If you've dealt with heinous wicked evil and then your answer is that God just kind of sleepily goes. It's okay That doesn't feel very loving How can he love us and not care.There's a scene in the movie Princess Bride where Princess Buttercup is being walked down the aisle, being forced to marry someone she doesn't want to marry she's walking this really old Nice king she gives him a kiss on the cheek and he says what was that for she says you've always been so nice to me And I'm not gonna see you again because after the wedding when I get to the honeymoon suite I'm gonna kill myself He pats her arm and says that's nice.And he looks at someone she kissed me and Some of us seem to be that's the God you're promoting No matter what happens you just kind of go that's nice. It's okay It's just vaguely kind And you've filed that under love, but he has no response to sin whatsoever There are others who are gonna slide it over and say no, he needs to bring justice He needs to destroy Wickedness and you'll hear people say why don't you just get rid of the bad people like why don't you just get rid of sin why doesn't he just get rid of it Because he'd have to get rid of people.And most of us want a God who judges we just want him to judge wherever the line is past us Do you know what I'm saying? I Like if I'm driving down the interstate and I'll come up behind you and you're not going as fast as me you are slow And if I'm driving up down the interstate and you come whipping up behind me you are fast Because I'm the pace car I'm driving appropriately that's the way we feel about justice That's the way we feel about mercy that's what I want the line to go right here past me Those people are the bad ones, but I'm not.And so we actually don't want a holy God we want him to be as holy as I am We don't want a just God we we want him just as holy and just as just as Get rid of the people I don't like and keeps me that's not how it works if you're going to stop the rebellion you stop the rebels And that's us you've actively made things worse. I've actively made things worse. I've been part of the problem I've been selfish I've lied I've harmed people I'm part of the problem I haven't just been an addition to the world I've taken away from it and if you think he's righteous If you think he's just and you go well, yeah, but like more good than bad that's not how justice works.That's not how judgment works If if there was a trial for a doctor who had been killing people that were his patients And his whole defense was yeah, I killed four people last year But I saved 22 So I'm a net 18 And I only killed the ones that annoying me Nobody the judges aren't gonna go well somebody that math is net 18 right okay Let him go That's not how it works That's not how justice works You don't want someone it character witness after someone has has assaulted your family and someone goes yeah, but he's like always paid his taxes Irrelevant. I don't care That's not how justice works and so when you say well I'm good over here and I'm good over here and I did this thing.But these other ones shouldn't count that's just because you want to draw the line in a place that's actually wicked Because we fail on holiness So to just forgive everybody is wrong And to just destroy everybody is right but it breaks the father's heart In this story The rebellion is over When we see the Son hanging on a tree and dying for his sin And in our story the rebellion gets to end when we see the Son hanging on a tree and dying not for his sin, but for ours.That's what God does God works out a way for his perfect love and his perfect justice to meet in a way that we could have never navigated For his perfect justice for wrath to be poured out for sin to be dealt with and his absolute love So that there might be hope rather than just getting rid of everybody And he does that in the cross that's where those two things meet in a way that is mind blowing and beautiful.So that in the cross God is more holy than you could have ever imagined to the point that his Son has to pay for the wrath But he's more loving than you could have ever understood because he's willing to pay for it so that we might be forgiven That's the hope of the cross and there is no other way There is no other way that it would have to deny the love of God or would have to deny the righteousness of God.But in the cross we have perfect love and perfect justice meeting in a way that is beyond our comprehension and when the soldiers have the right of it when they look at David and they say you're worth 10,000 of us Jesus Christ is worth 14 trillion of us so that he's capable of paying the debt So that he can save all those who come to him with his perfect Priceless blood he can pay the debt that we all deserve to pay and He can be the way that God pours out his justice and his wrath and his righteousness and his love.So that he can welcome sinners and have their debt covered So God for us is able to do what David couldn't figure out how to navigate and we see that he is perfectly just and Perfectly loving and therefore we have a hope but only only in Christ Let's pray Lord, we ask That you would set our hearts on fire with the beauty of the gospel that we at no point Would underestimate your holiness that we would not somehow tone you down or make you sleepier That we would not impose upon you some sort of wickedness that can turn a blind eye to sin.But that Lord we would also not in seeing your absolute justice Fail to see your wonderful love that reaches to the highest heavens that covers sin So Lord may we see both may we trust Jesus and may we glorify your name In Jesus' name The band's gonna come back up and we're gonna sing If you've never placed your faith in Jesus If you're counting on God being not that holy If you have a God who's only vaguely loving but doesn't deal with sin I will let you know that that is not the God of the Scriptures.But that you can have hope in Christ and if you've placed your faith in Christ Then rejoice That your hope is not found in you. It's not found in your work It's not found in your worth but it is found in the precious blood of Jesus that forgives sinners And may we sing like we're redeemed.

The stone builders reject becomes the cornerstone. God is building a temple — and you're not just a wall. You're a priest in it. Click here to read the sermon “A Spiritual House” 1 Peter 2:4–10 As we begin this morning, I want to thank you for hanging out with me for the past few Sundays. It has been a great time here at Yates. It is always a blessing to be with this corner of God's kingdom. A little heads-up on where we are headed in the next few weeks: I will not be here next week — Marty Childers from the Tri-West Association will be preaching that day — and then I will be back for two Sundays after that. I am excited to come back and spend a couple more weeks with you. Some of you already know — I am kind of like a bad penny. I keep coming back. So as we come to this morning, I want to continue a conversation that I have been having with you for the past few weeks. A couple of weeks ago, the point of the sermon was this: if you are a Christian, you are a saint. Sainthood is not a category reserved for an extraordinary group of Christians. Instead, it is a status bestowed by grace, and it is a calling that we pursue. To be a saint is to be a holy one of God. It means that you have been claimed by God and set aside by God for his purposes. So: you are a saint. Last week we continued that conversation to say this — and that is a good thing. Sainthood is not about being a goody two-shoes who never has fun. It is not about hypocrisy. It is not about being holier-than-thou. No — sainthood is about following Jesus into a vision of humanity. It is following Jesus into the people that God intends and calls us to be. You are a saint, and that is a good thing. Today we are going to move to this: we are saints together. If you are called to be a saint, that is not a lone wolf calling. Instead, you were called into a people. You were called into a community. And that communal piece is central to who we are. To talk about this communal dimension of sainthood this morning, I want to open the Bible with you to 1 Peter chapter two, verses four through ten. Let me give you a little backstory on what is going on in 1 Peter. Peter is writing to groups of people in places called Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. These are groups of Christians who are falling on hard times because of their devotion to Jesus. The surrounding communities are not being kind to them; they are suffering for the name of Jesus. Peter writes into this setting. Through much of chapter one, he reminds them who they are and what they are called to. He uses different language, but he hits some of the same beats we have been hitting in the past couple of Sundays. In chapter one, verse fifteen, he says: "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" (1 Pet 1:15, NIV). Peter is reminding these people that they have been called to holiness. They are to follow God into that calling — to reflect God to the communities around them. Then you come to chapter two. Peter gives them a few ways this is supposed to happen. In verse one he writes: "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind" (1 Pet 2:1, NIV). If you are going to be holy, there are certain ways of being that you need to put away — ways of living that do not match the kind of life God is calling you to. And notice: Peter is already intimating the communal character. He says rid yourselves of malice, of deceit, of hypocrisy, of envy, of slander. These are all ways of being that destroy community. Put them away. And instead, Peter writes: "like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good" (1 Pet 2:2–3, NIV). Put away the ways of life that are not what God intends for you, and realize that your life of faith is not static. You are meant to grow up in your salvation. You are meant to be nourished by Christ. Which brings us to chapter two, verse four: As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him — you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and, "A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message — which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Pet 2:4–10, NIV) It is a well-known and beautiful passage of Scripture. This morning I want to approach it not in order, but by taking up the middle first and then jumping back to the beginning to see how these pieces fit together. The middle — verses six through eight — is all about who Jesus is. To understand what is going on here, you need to understand that Christianity emerged in those first decades as an incredible surprise. Jesus came and fulfilled the role of Messiah, but he did it in a way that was unexpected. Come Good Friday, when Jesus dies on the cross, his followers believe the game is up. We had placed our hope in him, and yet he has died at the hands of the authorities. We must have misplaced our hope — until Resurrection Sunday, when we learn that even the grave could not keep Jesus down. He begins to appear to his followers. It turns out that Jesus really was the Messiah. The resurrection proves that. But he fulfilled that role in an unexpected way, which means we have to go back and reconsider everything that came before. It is kind of like one of those movies where a key piece of information is withheld until the very end. And then once that revelation is finally made, the light bulb goes off. You realize that everything has been leading to that point, and you have to go back and reconsider what came before. It is often such a gut punch that you have to watch the movie again, and as you watch it, you begin seeing clues all the way through. You wonder how you did not see it before. Imagine the disciples. Jesus has been raised from the dead. He really is the Messiah. But that means we have to go back and reconsider all of our preconceptions. As they return to the Scriptures, they start seeing those clues. They start saying: we can read this in light of Christ — in light of who he was, in light of who he is. In fact, Jesus himself had applied the Psalm that mentions a cornerstone to himself (cf. Matt 21:42, NIV). And so the disciples say: Jesus applied that to himself. There are other passages that have stones in them. Those seem to apply to Jesus too. What Peter does in this passage is stack all of these passages about stones and apply them to Christ. It goes like this. In verse six: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame" (cf. Isa 28:16, NIV). Then in verse seven: "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone" (cf. Ps 118:22, NIV). And: "A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall" (cf. Isa 8:14, NIV). You can see how these come to be applied to Jesus. Here we have the Messiah who was rejected by the authorities, rejected by the world — and yet it turns out that he was indeed the chosen one of God. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Notice the imagery Peter is drawing on. You have people building a building. They find a cut stone and say: that stone is not appropriate for our building; we will discard it. But it turns out that God has chosen that very stone to be not just any stone in the building, not just an appropriate stone, but the cornerstone. The cornerstone is the first stone that is laid in a building. It has to be cut perfectly, because it determines which way the building faces. It determines the angle of the walls. It is the first stone that gives shape to everything else. The stone the builders rejected has become the most important stone in the building. That certainly sounds like Christ. And there is also the promise that the one who trusts in this cornerstone God has laid will never be put to shame. That is us. We put our faith in this cornerstone. We will not be put to shame. But then there is also a stone that causes people to stumble — and we keep seeing people in our communities tripping over this message about Jesus. It is a message about rejection that is actually a message about acceptance and chosenness. The world may be rejecting Christ, but in God's eyes, Christ is the cornerstone: rejected, but actually precious and chosen by God. Remember, these are people experiencing rejection as they are true to Christ in the world. The same thing is true of them. Peter will go on to say: you are a chosen nation. This passage is in part about those who feel rejected actually being those who were chosen. Here is what I want you to see this morning. Peter goes a step further. He really plays on this idea of Christ as the cornerstone. The cornerstone is the first stone in the building. And when you zoom out, you start to see that the cornerstone is part of a larger structure. Go back to verse four: "As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him — you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 2:4–5, NIV). Notice this. Jesus is the cornerstone, the first stone God has laid. And now each and every Christian also becomes a living stone that is built into what is called a spiritual house. That is temple language. The temple is God's special dwelling place on the earth. It does not mean that God is confined to the temple, but this is God's special dwelling. Peter seems to be saying that you have Jesus as this cornerstone, and around Jesus, on Jesus, in tune with Jesus, God is building a temple where he will dwell. You are the people of God. You are God's special dwelling place. Together, you are the spiritual house that God inhabits. You make up the walls of God's temple. And God dwells among you by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the cornerstone. You are a living stone who, with other living stones, is being built into a spiritual house. But you do not just make up the structure. You are not just part of the walls of the temple. You also make up the ministry group within the temple. Peter goes on to say that God is building you up to be a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Not only do you together make up the special dwelling place of God — you are also the priests in God's house. And it is your vocation, both individually and together, to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are pleasing to God through Christ. Spiritual sacrifices has to do with what we do here on Sunday morning. It has to do with proclaiming the deeds of our great God. It also has to do with who we are throughout the week — who we are together, how we pursue this calling of sainthood together. You are part of God's house. You are a minister in God's house. You offer spiritual sacrifices to God. You are a priest. And this is where I want to camp out this morning — this idea of being priests before God. Now this is a place that Baptists love to camp out. How many of you have heard of the priesthood of the believer? We like to hammer home that we do not need a mediator between us and God, because Jesus alone is the mediator between humanity and God. And therefore, as Hebrews says, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and to find grace (cf. Heb 4:16). So in one sense, we are priests before God. We are able in Christ to approach God without mediation, and we are able to offer sacrifices to God — those spiritual sacrifices we talked about just a moment ago. Priesthood is relationship to God. But here is where I really want to camp out this morning as well. It is not just about our relationship to God. It can also be about our relationship to one another — or maybe we could say it is about our relationship to God with one another. Here, maybe we could talk about sports. Anybody here play golf? Golf is an interesting game because it may be more fun in community — you can go out with other people — but ultimately you do not need anybody else to play golf. Sometimes we think about Christianity like that: it is really just me and God, and maybe sometimes it is more fun when there are other people around, but really I can do this on my own. But what if Christianity is less like golf and more like baseball or soccer? With those kinds of sports, you cannot play by yourself. You can toss the ball up and down, but you really need other people if you are going to play baseball. You can juggle the ball, but you need other people if you are going to play soccer. Christianity — church — is like that. It is a team sport in which we are brought together as the people of God. We approach God together. We serve God together. We pursue God together. It is a communal calling, this priesthood piece. We see this. We come together and we raise our voices together in praise. We seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our community together. And yes, we do that individually, but there is something special about when the people of God come together as priests who approach God and who, on God's behalf, approach the world. We are priests before God individually. And we are priests with one another. Do you remember last week, how we talked about how the Holy Spirit is bringing about fruit in our lives? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (cf. Gal 5:22–23). We said: these are good things that we want. This is part of the life that God has for us; this is what God is bringing about. What is interesting about those qualities is that so many of them are communal. Yes, they have an individual aspect, but if you are going to love, you are going to love one another. Joy can be individual, but it is so much sweeter when we are joyful together. Peace — because we need peace among one another. Patience — have you met Baptists? Goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is as if God is making us able to be community. God is fitting us to be a certain kind of people. We are priests with one another, which means it matters how we are with one another. There is one more piece of this priesthood that I want you to see. This is something that Baptists sometimes overlook, but it is really important. We are also priests to one another. Now that is not because we need a mediator between us and God. It is because God often chooses to work through people. How many of you have ever experienced a moment where a fellow Christian came alongside you and said the right word at the right time? It was almost like God had sent them to you. It was almost like they said the words that you knew you needed to hear from God. Priesthood can also work like that — where on God's behalf, we do the work, we say the words, we hold one another up. It reminds me of a story in Exodus. When the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites, Moses sent Joshua and the fighting men down to battle. And it says that as long as Moses stood over that battle and held up his staff, they did well. But when Moses began to lower his arms, they began to lose — which becomes pretty problematic, because you can hold your arms up for a while, but eventually you are going to get tired. The way the story goes is that there were two people with Moses: Aaron and Hur. They realized they needed to help him. They pulled up a stone behind Moses so he could sit down, because even just standing had become too much. And then they stood on either side of him and held up his arms (cf. Exod 17:8–13). The Israelites won the battle that day because Moses held up his hands with that staff — and Moses held up his hands because Aaron and Hur gathered around him and helped him with the task. Sometimes church is like that. Have you ever felt like you have got this thing you have to hold up, but you are just so tired? And sometimes God chooses to work through people — to send them around us, to pull up a chair, to hold up our arms. The sainthood thing is not about being a lone wolf. It is about being called into a people. It is about being called together. Together we become the walls of God's temple. And notice how each stone offers support to the stones around it. Not only are you a member of God's dwelling — you are a priest in that dwelling. You are a priest before God. You are a priest with others. And you have the privilege, at times, of being a priest to one another. Yes, we are called to follow Christ and to become who we are called individually to be. And we are also given the privilege of being called into a people. Works Cited The Holy Bible, New International Version. 2011. Grand Rapids: Biblica. © 2026 Michael Smith. All rights reserved.

→ Watch on YouTube → Detailed Show Notes(00:00) The story of David and Goliath. The Hebrew and Greek versions of 1 Samuel 17 render different accounts of Goliath's height. An overview of Goliath's weapons and armor.(05:10) Goliath as a symbol of the unconquerable foes that we all face. David employs six strategies to defeat Goliath that can also be applied to our challenges.(13:53) The sword of Goliath as an article of kingship and evidence that God is with us.(16:25) King Saul is jealous of David and is obsessed with killing him.(26:32) Jonathan is a true friend to David, even though he has reason to be jealous of his success.(29:56) David continues his quest of goodness, yet Jonathan is not threatened.(32:26) David has opportunity to kill Saul, but doesn’t.(32:55) Nabal rebuffs David and refuses to give him food. Abigail acts as a peacemaker, thus saving Nabal's life.(36:11) King Saul consults with the Witch of Endor for revelation. He interacts with the ghost of Samuel, who has died. This experience with the spiritualist medium destroys hope.(39:31) The Philistine leaders send David away during their attack on Saul's forces. David goes to Ziklag and finds that his city has been sacked by the Amalekites and his family has been taken captive. David rescues all the people and shares the spoils of war.(41:58) The Philistines defeat Israel. King Saul and his sons are slain.(43:19) The rise of King David in 2 Samuel.(46:47) Uzzah is smitten for steadying the Ark.(51:03) David acts as both king and priest in his return to Jerusalem. He wears the ephod and offers sacrifice.(53:50) David obtains the threshing floor, where the Ark will rest. The threshing floor can be seen as the foundation stone, the heart of the Holy of Holies and a symbol of Jesus Christ as Savior of the world.(55:43) David desires to build a temple for the Lord. Nathan prophesies that the House of David will continue forever. This prophecy finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ.(1:02:13) David is not to build the temple, but his son Solomon will built it. → For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here. → Enroll in Institute → YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook The post Ep 376 | 1 Samuel 17-31, 2 Samuel 1-7, Come Follow Me 2026 (June 15-21) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

Regardless of the era, Israel has been hated and warred against. History shows this during the biblical era of the Philistines, the Canaanites, the Midianites and the Amalekites. In modern times, anger against the Jewish nation has been fueled by the rampant spreading of antisemitism through entities such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Turkey, or Islam. Did you know more resolutions against Israel have come before the United Nations than any other nation in the world? Did you know that the vast majority of the world's nations are regularly voting against Israel? This is a nation only the size of New Jersey, yet they've been despised and warred against throughout all of human history. Under such international pressure, it's truly a miracle that Israel has survived. Why all the hatred? Why have all these forces been unable to destroy Israel? The answer lies in the fact that this is not a battle of flesh and blood, but this is a spiritual battle that has ensued from the beginning ...

Regardless of the era, Israel has been hated and warred against. History shows this during the biblical era of the Philistines, the Canaanites, the Midianites and the Amalekites. In modern times, anger against the Jewish nation has been fueled by the rampant spreading of antisemitism through entities such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Turkey, or Islam. Did you know more resolutions against Israel have come before the United Nations than any other nation in the world? Did you know that the vast majority of the world's nations are regularly voting against Israel? This is a nation only the size of New Jersey, yet they've been despised and warred against throughout all of human history. Under such international pressure, it's truly a miracle that Israel has survived. Why all the hatred? Why have all these forces been unable to destroy Israel? The answer lies in the fact that this is not a battle of flesh and blood, but this is a spiritual battle that has ensued from the beginning ...

King Saul's story reveals the dangerous consequences of partial obedience to God. When commanded to completely destroy the Amalekites, Saul spared their king and the best livestock, thinking he could offer them to God instead. This seemingly small compromise had devastating generational consequences, as descendants of those he spared later threatened to annihilate God's people. Partial obedience isn't just spiritual negligence—it's rebellion that God equates to witchcraft. Jesus, however, provides complete victory where Saul failed, declaring "It is finished" on the cross. We must identify our own "Agag"—the things we've kept alive that God told us to surrender—and embrace complete obedience rather than spiritual compromise.

Life's hardest battles often come when we're tired and vulnerable, just like when the Amalekites attacked Israel's weakest members. Our spiritual enemy uses the same strategy today, targeting our unguarded moments and exploiting areas where we're lagging spiritually. These attacks often follow generational patterns, with families fighting the same battles across decades. Victory doesn't come from fighting harder, but from fighting differently through prayer, dependence on God, and community support. The key is identifying our vulnerable places, confronting patterns we've been avoiding, and positioning ourselves under God's authority rather than trying to win battles in our own strength.

We explore Israel's journey through the wilderness, where their discontentment escalates, leading them to threaten Moses' life for the lack of water. Despite their unfaithfulness, God provides water from a rock at Horeb. Following this, the Israelites are attacked by the Amalekites. However, through God's intervention and Moses' prayer, they prevail in the battle. We also meet Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, a non-Israelite priest who praises God for his deliverance of the Israelites. Despite witnessing God's power and provision, the Israelites continue to grumble and test God, failing to honor him as Jethro does. Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @realbiblebriefX: @biblebriefFacebook: @realbiblebriefEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.orgWant to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out our partner Biblingo (and use our link/code for a discount!): https://biblin...

Imagine that moment when the rug has been pulled out from under your life.Your home is gone. Your family is gone. Life as you know it is just over.This was the situation David faced in Ziklag, when Amalekites had raided his camps, burning down homes and taking families captive.What David faced wasn't just a challenging season - it was the potential uprising mutiny of his men. And what does David do? He "strengthened himself in the Lord" (1 Samuel 30:6).This story offers us so many deep lessons on how to face times when life seems to be falling apart, or when we can't keep up with life's changes.Join me as we briefly pause our "One Another" series for this special redux episode, part one of a 2-part lagniappe mini-series on having courage through seasons of change!(RAR2026EP23)

Pastor Mark Potter explores the theme that believers never face life's battles alone, drawing parallels between his own fight with cancer and the biblical story of the Amalekites. He recounts how the Israelites secured victory in Exodus 17 through the combined efforts of Joshua on the battlefield and Moses, Aaron, and Hur on the hilltop. By highlighting how Moses needed others to hold up his hands in prayer, Pastor Potter emphasizes the necessity of community support and divine reliance during periods of exhaustion. He encourages the congregation to memorialize God's faithfulness as a spiritual practice to sustain future generations through hardship. Ultimately, the message points to Jesus Christ as the ultimate mediator and "man on the middle cross" who secures victory over sin and death. Pastor Potter concludes that salvation and strength are found not in personal merit, but in rallying around Christ as the source of triumph.Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com Garth Heckman VERY FAMILIAR STORY -   *TIED TO MY NOTES TODAY   THE BUILD UP and DEMISE OF ISRAEL    THE PEOPLE WANTED A MAN OVER GOD (They wanted a King)… Here is an old quote: when more than one votes… you can assure its the wrong decision. It wasn't a King that was truly the problem -  BUT RATHER following a man, that was the problem. It was the peoples desire to follow a King over a prophet who followed God.      ***No one voted a prophet in.         ****People choose a King, God chooses a prophet.    Saul offers false sacrifices Saul chooses to disobey Gods orders to wipe out the Amakalites  Saul becomes erratic and tormented by demonic spirits  Saul now operates out of fear  *Israel and the army now saw their enemies the way their leader did - IN FEAR.   The battle of David and Goliath was never really about David and Goliath. It was the culmination of Israel's spiritual decline under Saul, and the first visible sign that God had already been at work preparing a different kind of leader — one after His own heart.       1 Samuel 17 41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I'll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled. 45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven's Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord's battle, and he will give you to us!”     David's arrival on the battlefield was jarring precisely because of the contrast. He was young, unarmored, and inexperienced — but he carried something the entire army had lost: a reference point for who God was.         David doesn't call out the enemy, he calls out his tactics… His weapons of choice.  WHY?      In 1 Samuel 17:45, David identifies a three-fold physical threat.  In John 10:10, Jesus identifies a three-fold spiritual threat. They map onto each other in a way that shows how the enemy operates:   | Goliath's Arsenal (1 Samuel 17:45) | The Thief's Mission (John 10:10) | The Spiritual Parallel    -  The Sword.  |  To Steal   | Goliath relied on his sword to strip Israel of their land, their freedom, and their identity. The enemy wants to rob you of your peace and purpose.    The Spear.  |   To Kill | A spear is designed for a direct, fatal strike. Goliath's   Literal goal was to end David's life; the thief's goal is total spiritual death.   The Javelin   |   To Destroy   |  A javelin is thrown from a distance, bringing unexpected, widespread ruin. The enemy aims for complete devastation of your life and relationships.    The Core Contrast: Flesh vs. Spirit The real tie-in between these two passages is the **source of victory** that both David and Jesus point to. Both stories set up a stark contrast between reliance on worldly power and reliance on divine power.    * **David's Answer:** Right after naming Goliath's weapons, David says, *"But I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts."* He acknowledges the physical threat but completely bypasses it by relying on God's authority.    * **Jesus' Answer:** Right after naming the thief's three-fold threat, Jesus says, *"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."*     Bears and Lions can't call you out. They can't mock you, cast verbal jabs and doubt at you.      Historical Context His defiance of Israel's armies was also a taunt against their God. Your problems, issues, fears, is a taunt against God!   Goliath's relys on human technology, political position and physical power.   David invokes God's character and power, not his own resources. This echoes the idea that God's name represents His active intervention (similar to Exodus 3 or the Psalms).     It wasn't the weapon David had it was the Worship.  Slingers were common;   -  Tribe of Benjamin 700 warriors ambidextrous        -    Sling a stone up to 95 MPH              -   At over 200 yards…  They were so confident they would inscribe words on their stones… MINE WOULD BE “ROCK ON”      David contrasts Goliath's weapons with the invisible but superior heavenly host. This title appears frequently in prophetic books but here underscores early recognition of God's military sovereignty. "Whom you have defied [cheraf-ta]": The verb charaf means to reproach, taunt, or blaspheme. Goliath's challenge is personal against Israel's God, making this a theological battle, not just military. YOUR PROBLEMS ARE A THEOLOGICAL PROBLEM…  i.e. Your problems are a “who is your God Problem”       Do you know who my father is?   - a. No   - b. Yes and I don't care   - c. Yes and I will leave you alone BUT WHAT IF THE QUESTION WAS THIS IN THAT SITUATION… “I wonder who my father is?”     Jehovah Jireh (יְהוָה יִרְאֶה) "The LORD will provide" — revealed when God provided a ram as Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. Genesis 22:14. Jehovah Rapha (יְהוָה רָפָא) "The LORD who heals" — revealed after God sweetened the bitter waters of Marah for Israel in the wilderness. Exodus 15:26. Covers physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Jehovah Nissi (יְהוָה נִסִּי) "The LORD is my banner" — declared by Moses after Israel's victory over the Amalekites. A banner was a military standard — the rallying point in battle. Exodus 17:15. God Himself is the flag Israel fights under. Jehovah Shalom (יְהוָה שָׁלוֹם) "The LORD is peace" — spoken by Gideon after encountering the angel of the Lord and fearing he would die. Shalom is not just the absence of conflict but wholeness, completeness, and flourishing. Judges 6:24. Jehovah Rohi (יְהוָה רֹעִי) "The LORD is my shepherd" — the opening of Psalm 23. One of the most intimate names — depicting God as the one who leads, feeds, protects, and restores. Jehovah Tsidkenu (יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ) "The LORD our righteousness" — a prophetic name pointing to the coming Messiah who would be the righteousness of His people. Jeremiah 23:6. Deeply connected to the New Testament doctrine of justification. Jehovah Shammah (יְהוָה שָׁמָּה) "The LORD is there" — the name given to the restored Jerusalem in Ezekiel's vision. Ezekiel 48:35. God's presence dwelling permanently with His people — echoed in Revelation 21 with the New Jerusalem. Jehovah Sabaoth (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) "The LORD of Hosts" or "The LORD of Armies" — one of the most frequently used names in the prophets. It pictures God as the commander of vast heavenly armies. Used powerfully in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi. Jehovah Mekoddishkem (יְהוָה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם) "The LORD who sanctifies you" — Exodus 31:13. God as the one who sets His people apart and makes them holy. Sanctification as His work, not ours alone. Jehovah Gmolah (יְהוָה גְּמֻלּוֹת) "The LORD of recompense" or "The God of vengeance" — Jeremiah 51:56. God as the one who repays — both in justice against enemies and in vindication of His people.   The Compound El Names El Shaddai (אֵל שַׁדַּי) "God Almighty" or literally "God of the mountains" or "the all-sufficient one." First used with Abraham in Genesis 17:1 when God renewed His covenant. It speaks of God's absolute sufficiency — He is enough for every need. El Elyon (אֵל עֶלְיוֹן) "God Most High" — used by Melchizedek blessing Abraham in Genesis 14. It emphasizes God's supremacy above all other powers, rulers, and so-called gods. El Olam (אֵל עוֹלָם) "The Everlasting God" or "God of eternity" — Genesis 21:33. He has no beginning and no end. Time exists within Him, not the other way around. El Roi (אֵל רֳאִי) "The God who sees me" — spoken by Hagar in the wilderness after she fled from Sarah. Genesis 16:13. One of the most tender names — God seeing the forgotten, the marginalized, the one who thinks they are invisible. El Gibhor (אֵל גִּבּוֹר) "Mighty God" — Isaiah 9:6, in the famous messianic prophecy. One of the titles given to the coming Messiah — pointing directly to Christ. El Hannun (אֵל חַנּוּן) "The gracious God" — Nehemiah 9:31. God whose grace prevents Him from completely destroying even a rebellious people.   New Testament  Abba (אַבָּא) "Father" — an Aramaic term of deep intimacy, closer to "Daddy" than formal address. Jesus used it in Gethsemane. Paul says believers are given the Spirit of adoption by which they cry "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15. Emmanuel (עִמָּנוּאֵל) "God with us" — Isaiah 7:14, fulfilled in Matthew 1:23 with the birth of Jesus. Perhaps the most staggering name of all — the eternal God choosing to be with humanity in flesh.     Why This Matters Each name was not invented by theologians — it was revealed in a moment.  God didn't introduce Himself as Jehovah Rapha in a lecture. He revealed it when Israel was thirsty and the water was bitter. He revealed Jehovah Jireh when a father was about to lose his son on an altar. The pattern is consistent throughout Scripture: Every name of God was born out of a human crisis that God personally entered. That means the names are not just theological categories — they are a record of God showing up. And for anyone studying or teaching these names, the invitation is not just to know them but to discover which name corresponds to the specific place of need you are standing in right now.       Lets end on this:  1 Sam. 17:40 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd's bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. WHY FIVE STONES? Because Goliath had 4 brothers!  Ishbi-Benob, Saph, Lahmi AND SIX FINGER FRANK     …THERE WILL ALWAYS BE GIANTS… But who is your God? He is the one who crushed satans head and gives us the victory!    CALL ON HIS NAME AND HE SHALL ANSWER. 

When we last left King Saul, he had consulted a medium when he didn't hear from the Lord, where he learns that he and sons will die the following day. David almost joins the Philistine forces in the impending war against Saul, but the commanders don't trust David like King Achish does. Returning to their settlement at Ziklag, they find their territory decimated and their families taken captive. After consulting the Lord, they pursue the Amalekites. On the way, David and his men redeem the life of a servant who had been discarded by his Amalekite master, and he returns their kindness by directing them toward the Amalekites. Later, Saul goes to battle against the Philistines along with his sons, where they meet a devastating end. 1 Samuel 29 - 1:02 .  1 Samuel 30 - 3:34 .  1 Samuel 31 - 9:35 .  Psalm 92 - 12:04 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Esau's decision to trade his birthright for a bowl of stew reveals a dangerous pattern we all face: treating what God calls sacred as common. When hunger and pressure distorted his perspective, Esau made what seemed like a small decision that created generational consequences. His descendants, the Amalekites, became perpetual enemies of God's people. The real issue wasn't his physical hunger but his spiritual perspective - he valued immediate gratification over eternal significance. As believers, our birthright includes our identity, inheritance, and calling from God. When we don't value what God has given us, we trade it for lesser things. What you compromise in private shows up in public, sometimes for generations.

The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com Garth Heckman    Bears and Lions can't call you out. They can't mock you, cast verbal jabs and doubt at you.      Historical Context His defiance of Israel's armies was also a taunt against their God. Your problems, issues, fears, is a taunt against God!   Goliath's relys on human technology, political position and physical power.   David invokes God's character and power, not his own resources. This echoes the idea that God's name represents His active intervention (similar to Exodus 3 or the Psalms).     It wasn't the weapon David had it was the Worship.  Slingers were common;   -  Tribe of Benjamin 700 warriors ambidextrous        -    Sling a stone up to 95 MPH              -   At over 200 yards…  They were so confident they would inscribe words on their stones… MINE WOULD BE “ROCK ON”      David contrasts Goliath's weapons with the invisible but superior heavenly host. This title appears frequently in prophetic books but here underscores early recognition of God's military sovereignty. "Whom you have defied [cheraf-ta]": The verb charaf means to reproach, taunt, or blaspheme. Goliath's challenge is personal against Israel's God, making this a theological battle, not just military. YOUR PROBLEMS ARE A THEOLOGICAL PROBLEM…  i.e. Your problems are a “who is your God Problem”       Do you know who my father is?   - a. No   - b. Yes and I don't care   - c. Yes and I will leave you alone BUT WHAT IF THE QUESTION WAS THIS IN THAT SITUATION… “I wonder who my father is?”     Jehovah Jireh (יְהוָה יִרְאֶה) "The LORD will provide" — revealed when God provided a ram as Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. Genesis 22:14. Jehovah Rapha (יְהוָה רָפָא) "The LORD who heals" — revealed after God sweetened the bitter waters of Marah for Israel in the wilderness. Exodus 15:26. Covers physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Jehovah Nissi (יְהוָה נִסִּי) "The LORD is my banner" — declared by Moses after Israel's victory over the Amalekites. A banner was a military standard — the rallying point in battle. Exodus 17:15. God Himself is the flag Israel fights under. Jehovah Shalom (יְהוָה שָׁלוֹם) "The LORD is peace" — spoken by Gideon after encountering the angel of the Lord and fearing he would die. Shalom is not just the absence of conflict but wholeness, completeness, and flourishing. Judges 6:24. Jehovah Rohi (יְהוָה רֹעִי) "The LORD is my shepherd" — the opening of Psalm 23. One of the most intimate names — depicting God as the one who leads, feeds, protects, and restores. Jehovah Tsidkenu (יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ) "The LORD our righteousness" — a prophetic name pointing to the coming Messiah who would be the righteousness of His people. Jeremiah 23:6. Deeply connected to the New Testament doctrine of justification. Jehovah Shammah (יְהוָה שָׁמָּה) "The LORD is there" — the name given to the restored Jerusalem in Ezekiel's vision. Ezekiel 48:35. God's presence dwelling permanently with His people — echoed in Revelation 21 with the New Jerusalem. Jehovah Sabaoth (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) "The LORD of Hosts" or "The LORD of Armies" — one of the most frequently used names in the prophets. It pictures God as the commander of vast heavenly armies. Used powerfully in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi. Jehovah Mekoddishkem (יְהוָה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם) "The LORD who sanctifies you" — Exodus 31:13. God as the one who sets His people apart and makes them holy. Sanctification as His work, not ours alone. Jehovah Gmolah (יְהוָה גְּמֻלּוֹת) "The LORD of recompense" or "The God of vengeance" — Jeremiah 51:56. God as the one who repays — both in justice against enemies and in vindication of His people.   The Compound El Names El Shaddai (אֵל שַׁדַּי) "God Almighty" or literally "God of the mountains" or "the all-sufficient one." First used with Abraham in Genesis 17:1 when God renewed His covenant. It speaks of God's absolute sufficiency — He is enough for every need. El Elyon (אֵל עֶלְיוֹן) "God Most High" — used by Melchizedek blessing Abraham in Genesis 14. It emphasizes God's supremacy above all other powers, rulers, and so-called gods. El Olam (אֵל עוֹלָם) "The Everlasting God" or "God of eternity" — Genesis 21:33. He has no beginning and no end. Time exists within Him, not the other way around. El Roi (אֵל רֳאִי) "The God who sees me" — spoken by Hagar in the wilderness after she fled from Sarah. Genesis 16:13. One of the most tender names — God seeing the forgotten, the marginalized, the one who thinks they are invisible. El Gibhor (אֵל גִּבּוֹר) "Mighty God" — Isaiah 9:6, in the famous messianic prophecy. One of the titles given to the coming Messiah — pointing directly to Christ. El Hannun (אֵל חַנּוּן) "The gracious God" — Nehemiah 9:31. God whose grace prevents Him from completely destroying even a rebellious people.   New Testament  Abba (אַבָּא) "Father" — an Aramaic term of deep intimacy, closer to "Daddy" than formal address. Jesus used it in Gethsemane. Paul says believers are given the Spirit of adoption by which they cry "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15. Emmanuel (עִמָּנוּאֵל) "God with us" — Isaiah 7:14, fulfilled in Matthew 1:23 with the birth of Jesus. Perhaps the most staggering name of all — the eternal God choosing to be with humanity in flesh.     Why This Matters Each name was not invented by theologians — it was revealed in a moment.  God didn't introduce Himself as Jehovah Rapha in a lecture. He revealed it when Israel was thirsty and the water was bitter. He revealed Jehovah Jireh when a father was about to lose his son on an altar. The pattern is consistent throughout Scripture: Every name of God was born out of a human crisis that God personally entered. That means the names are not just theological categories — they are a record of God showing up. And for anyone studying or teaching these names, the invitation is not just to know them but to discover which name corresponds to the specific place of need you are standing in right now.

Welcome to Day 2867 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2867 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 129:1-8 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2867 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2867 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – The Scars of Survival and the Broken Cords In our previous episode on this grand journey, we rested in the warm, beautiful, and deeply comforting sanctuary of the family hearth. We explored Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Eight, which painted a magnificent picture of domestic Shalom. We saw the profound blessing of a life that fears the Lord, where our daily labor is protected, our marriages flourish like fruitful grapevines, and our children grow like vigorous young olive trees around our tables. We celebrated the multi-generational peace that cascades directly down from the cosmic summit of Mount Zion, anchoring our families to the eternal timeline of God's grace. But as any seasoned traveler knows, the pilgrim trail does not stay in the safety of the cozy home forever. The road of faith is a rugged mountain pass, and it frequently cuts through dangerous, hostile territory. Today, we are stepping onto the next section of the trail, exploring the tenth song in this ancient collection: Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Nine, verses one through eight, in the New Living Translation. The psalmist abruptly shifts our focus away from the peaceful agricultural blessing of a fruitful home, and forces us to confront a shocking, highly painful agricultural metaphor. We are moving from the shade of the olive tree, directly onto the blood-soaked soil of a battlefield, learning what it means to carry the deep scars of survival, while trusting in the ultimate justice of the King. Let us step onto the path, and listen to the resilient song of the survivor. The first segment is: The History of Pain and the Plowman's Furrows Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Nine: verses one through three. From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me— let all Israel repeat this. From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never defeated me. My back is covered with furrows, as if a plowman had plowed long trenches. The song opens with a raw, collective cry that echoes down through the centuries. The psalmist demands that the entire gathered community join in a corporate chant of survival: "From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me—let all Israel repeat this." When the psalm speaks of "earliest youth," it is not referring to the childhood of an individual writer; it is describing the corporate infancy of the nation of Israel. The historical memory of this people is deeply saturated with trauma. From the moment they were born as a distinct community, down in the brick-making tyranny of Egypt, they were hunted. They were oppressed by the Amalekites in the wilderness, harassed by the Philistines during the era of the Judges, assaulted by the superpower of Assyria, and ultimately, violently dragged away into the crushing captivity of Babylon. Suffering is woven directly into the fabric of Israel's historical identity. To truly understand why this tiny nation has faced such a relentless, systemic, and multi-generational hatred, we must look through the lens of cosmic geography, and the Divine Council worldview, as taught by Dr. Michael S. Heiser. In the Deuteronomy Thirty-Two worldview, when the Most High divided the nations at the Tower of Babel, He allocated them to the oversight of lesser spiritual beings—the sons of God. These territorial elohim subsequently rebelled, becoming corrupt, and demanding worship for themselves. But Yahweh set apart Jacob—the people of Israel—as His own personal, treasured allotment. Israel was designed to be the beachhead of the true Kingdom of God on earth, the line through which the Messiah would eventually come to reclaim the entire planet. Therefore, the rebel spiritual principalities have a deeply rooted, cosmic grudge against Israel. The surrounding pagan nations are their earthly proxies, moving under their dark inspiration, constantly attempting to crush, assimilate, or entirely erase the people of Yahweh from the face of the earth. The persecution is not a series of random political misunderstandings; it is a calculated, supernatural conspiracy to thwart the redemptive plan of the Creator. The sheer brutality of this cosmic assault is revealed in the shocking, graphic metaphor of verse three: "My back is covered with furrows, as if a plowman had plowed long trenches." Imagine the horrifying visual. The back of the nation is treated like an open, empty field. The enemies of God do not just strike them; they drive a heavy, iron-tipped agricultural plow right across their flesh. The lash of the oppressor cuts deep, tearing open long, bloody trenches of pain, leaving permanent, raised scars of trauma across generations. It speaks of systemic, agonizing abuse. Yet, even with their backs plowed open, verse two contains a stunning, defiant pivot that shatters the power of the enemy: "...but they have never defeated me." The scars are real, the pain is undeniable, and the trenches are deep—but the survival is absolute. The rebel gods bared their fangs, and deployed their massive empires, but they could not finish the job. The covenant community still stands, stubbornly breathing, and singing on the trail to Jerusalem. The second segment is: The Righteous Deliverer and the Severed Harness Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Nine: verse four. But the Lord is good; he has cut the cords that bound me to the wicked. After staring directly into the graphic trauma of the plowman's trenches, the psalmist introduces the ultimate reason for Israel's miraculous survival. "But the Lord is good; he has cut the cords that bound me to the wicked." Other translations render the opening phrase as, "The Lord is righteous." This is a crucial theological distinction in the cosmic courtroom. Yahweh is not an indifferent spectator, watching the abuse from a safe distance. He is the perfectly just, Sovereign Commander. He looks down at the field of pain, sees the wicked driving their heavy plow across the backs of His people, and He decides that the legal boundaries of the covenant have been violated. To understand the imagery of cutting the cords, we must examine ancient agricultural technology. An ox was attached to the heavy wooden or iron plow by a complex system of thick leather cords, ropes, and harnesses. If those cords remained intact, the plowman could keep driving the beast forward, forcing the plowshare deeper into the dirt, tearing up the field indefinitely. The wicked, and the dark spiritual principalities behind them, intended to keep plowing Israel's back forever. They wanted permanent, eternal enslavement. But the Righteous Judge steps directly onto the field. With one swift, authoritative, and supernatural stroke, He slices the leather harnesses in half. He cuts the cords! The connection between the driving beast and the weapon of oppression is instantly severed. The plow stops dead in its tracks. The mechanism of slavery is completely shattered. This is a magnificent declaration of cosmic liberation. When God cuts the cords, the human oppressors lose their leverage, and the rebel spiritual forces lose their grip. Think about the Exodus from Egypt—God cut the cords of Pharaoh's chariots. Think about the return from Babylon—He snapped the iron chains of the empire. The survivor does not escape through their own cleverness, or their own military might; they walk free simply because the razor-sharp justice of Yahweh sliced through the ropes that bound them to the darkness. The third segment is: The Helpless Doom of the Haters of Zion Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Nine: verses five through eight. May all who hate Jerusalem be turned back in shameful defeat. May they be as helpless as grass growing on a roof, withering before it can grow. It can't be harvested by the reaper or bound into sheaves by the harvester. May those who pass by refuse to say to them, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord.” Having celebrated the broken cords of the past, the psalmist turns his attention to the final destiny of those who continue to oppose the kingdom of light. He issues a prophetic, imprecatory prayer: "May all who hate...

The Lord sends Samuel to tell King Saul that he is to wipe out the Amalekites completely, because they opposed Israel when God brought them out of Egypt. King Saul decides that he will wipe out everyone and everything, except for King Agag of the Amalekites, and, you know, all the good stuff. You can't destroy the good stuff, right? Because of this disobedience, the Lord tells Samuel that he regrets making Saul king. Samuel rebukes King Saul, and proceeds to take care of business where Saul failed to do so. After this, the Lord sends Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem, because he has selected one of his sons to be king in Saul's place. 1  Samuel 15 - 1:02 .  1 Samuel 16 - 8:50 .  Psalm 88 - 13:51 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Daily Dose of Hope May 19, 2026   Name of God:  Jehovah Nissi – The Lord Is My Banner Scripture:  Exodus 17:8-16, Isaiah 11:10-12, Psalm 20:5-7, John 12:32   Prayer:  Holy God, I come before You today acknowledging You as Jehovah Nissi, the Lord my Banner. When the battles of life surround me and the enemy's tactics seem overwhelming, I do not have to fight in my own strength. I look to You as my defender and my source of strength.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently in a study on the names of God in the Old Testament.  As we have mentioned, in the ancient world, names held a great deal of significance, indicating aspects of someone's character and purpose.  Certainly, it is the same with God.  God has many different names, all of which demonstrate one aspect of His character.  Today, we are focusing on Jehovah Nissi.   Jehovah Nissi (or more accurately YHWH Nissi) means the Lord is my Banner.  Nissi comes from the Hebrew word Nes (nês), meaning something lifted up as a standard or banner.  A standard is a flag or rallying point during battle, while a banner was usually set on top of a mountain to show people where to assemble and it flew over the warriors as they fought.   In Exodus 17:8-16, we find an excellent portrayal of Jehovah Nissi fighting for His people; it's also the only place in Scripture specifically referencing the name Jehovah Nissi. The Amalekites, an enemy of Israel, came to fight at Rephidim. Joshua gathered some men while Moses stood on top of the hill with the Lord's staff along with his brother, Aaron, and friend, Hur. Moses held the staff over the men fighting below. "While Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but whenever he put his hand down, Amalek prevailed."  So Aaron and Hur helped by supporting Moses' arms so the staff wouldn't lower, and Joshua and his men defeated the Amalekites.   In Exodus 17:15-16, Scripture reads, "And Moses built an altar and named it, The Lord Is My Banner." He said, "Indeed, my hand is lifted up toward the Lord's throne." Moses knew that God was the one who ensured their victory and he wanted to make sure everyone else did too. Jehovah Nissi was the source of this victory, while using Moses, Joshua, Aaron, Hur and the staff. Elsewhere in the Bible His "banner" is an illustration of His protection and salvation.  Just as banners and flags today identify nations and groups and those who belong to them, God's banner identifies those who belong to Him.  Here are a few illustrations: Psalm 60:4, "You have raised a banner to . . . save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered." Psalm 20:5 "We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners!" Isaiah 11:10,12, Speaking of the Messiah who was to come, Isaiah prophesied, "In that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people...He will set up a banner for the nations."   What significance does this divine name, Jehovah Nissi, have for Christ-followers?  First, it points to how God does not leave us to fight our battles in our own strength.  I'm often praying to God to fight my battles for me, because so often, we simply have no control.  But God does.  Second, I think we learn to remember and celebrate the way God has led us and the victories He has provided. Moses built an altar.  I don't think we need to build something physical but we do need to remember what God has done for us.  Remembering God's faithfulness in the past builds our own faith and trust in the present. Take a moment and pray to Jehovah Nissi.  What battles do you need God to fight for you right now?  What battles has He fought for you the past?  Have you celebrated those victories? Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com  Garth Heckman Driving with Kim in the car when we were first married. I pulled a gun on a guy in a corvette!  I was on my way to Youth Group - I was the youth pastor.   Judges 6  11 Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” 13 “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn't they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt'? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” 14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”         1. He Was Living in Poverty and Oppression For seven years, Israel had been brutally oppressed by the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples. The oppression was so severe that the Israelites had abandoned their homes in the valleys to live in dens, caves, and strongholds in the mountains (Judges 6:2). The invaders would sweep through the land like locusts, destroying crops and slaughtering livestock. The text notes that Israel was "brought very low" because of Midian. Gideon wasn't a wealthy noble or a ruling judge; he was a victim of a devastating, nationwide economic and military siege.   2. He Was Hiding in a Winepress When the Angel of the Lord finds Gideon, he is threshing wheat in a winepress (Judges 6:11). Why this matters: Wheat was traditionally threshed in an open, elevated area (a threshing floor) so the wind could blow away the chaff. A winepress, however, was a pit dug into the ground or carved into rock. Operating out of fear, survival and panic.     3. He Was From an Insignificant, Idol-Worshipping Family   4. He Was Battling Deep Skepticism and Grief Gideon's immediate reaction to the Angel's blessing ("The Lord is with you, mighty warrior") is not pride, but bitter skepticism. He looked at his current reality and concluded that God had abandoned them:   The Irony of the Title When God calls Gideon a "mighty warrior," Gideon is: In hiding (not in battle) Doubting God's presence (not acting in faith) Belittling his own status (not displaying courage) The title was prophetic. God was not validating Gideon's current resume; He was naming the potential that He was about to unlock through His own power.       When the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon in Judges 6:12 and addressed him as a "mighty warrior" it was a statement of what God would do through him, not a description of who Gideon currently was.   He saw what he would do - which in turn is who he would be - in turn is who He really was in Gods eyes!      Can an egg fly? Can a puppy protect you?  Can an acorn shade, protect and feed thousands of animals? Can a spark destroy city?    We see an egg - God sees an eagle! We see a puppy - God sees the Rottweiler that attacked the sex predator who ran into the Childs yard.  We see an acorn - God sees The Foret de Trancais 26,000 acre forest We see a spark - God sees the Chinchaga fire burning 4.2 million acres.    Do you think when Jesus saw the disciples arguing over who would be the greatest, when Peter would deny him, when Thomas would doubt him, when they would not understand simple scripture, when they could not heal a boy, or worried over storms, food or religious leaders… HE SAW THEIR STORY! You will all be so committed and change the world so powerfully that they will need to Kill you to stop you! And you will be honored to give your life for me!      How does Jesus see us? We are salt We are light We are friends We are secure in him We have overcome the world We will do greater works then Jesus We will have rivers of living water flow out of us We will tread on serpents, scorpions, nothing will hurt us We are plugged directly into him He is always with us We will crush the serpents head We are the head and not the tail We wear a robe of righteousness We are more than conquerors    EVEN WITH THE DISCIPLES… JESUS WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IN THEM - BUT NEVER REJECT THEM OR GET ANGRY AT THEM OR SHAMED THEM. Rather he would Ask a question Correct their perception And never reject them.      2 Kings 6 The King of Aram is mad and thinks there is a traitor. It is Elisha… Go kill him.  -  14 So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. 16 “Don't be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” 17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.      -  Its right there!  What is? Your answer - it's right there. You just can't see it.  **Yesterday I was praying and seeking Gods wisdom on finances… he pointed to my kitchen table and showed me a stack of money… he said its right there. You just can't see it… but its there.     You might think you can't see it because you are in the dark… no you are not in the dark, you are in the preparation phase which can feel like the dark.   The Chinese Bamboo Tree (your example) Spends the first 5 years growing almost nothing above ground while developing a massive, deep root system. In the 6th year, it can grow 80–90 feet in just 6 weeks.   The Saguaro Cactus Grows extremely slowly — often only 1–2 inches in the first 10 years. It can take 30–40 years before it even grows its first arm. Then, once established, it can live 150–200 years and reach 40–60 feet tall.

Pastor Davis tackled one of the Bible's hardest passages, 1 Samuel 15:1-3, where God commands Saul to judge the Amalekites. Rather than avoiding the tension, he leaned directly into the difficult question: “How can a loving God command violence?” His central argument was that this passage is not about ethnic cleansing, but “ethic cleansing” rooted in God's justice against persistent evil.  The sermon emphasized three truths about God's judgment: it is patient, perfect, and paradoxical. Pastor Davis explained that God waited centuries before judging Amalek, showing extraordinary mercy and desire for repentance.  He stressed that God's justice protects the vulnerable and is never based on ethnicity, but on the condition of the heart.  The paradox of God's character was highlighted, in that He is: fully just, yet deeply compassionate. Even while judging sin, God “sighs deeply” over sinners with mercy and grief.  The sermon ultimately pointed to Jesus as the better King who bore God's judgment on behalf of sinners through the cross. 

Join David Lee Corbo (The Raven) and Top Lobsta on Nephilim Death Squad as Doc Brown from the Prometheus Lens Podcast joins them IN STUDIO for a mind-blowing deep dive into his upcoming book!Doc Brown connects the dots between the ancient Dragon Court, serpent seed Nephilim bloodlines, Cain's descendants, Scythian origins of vampires/werewolves/fairies, and the elite ruling class that traces back to the Anunnaki and Apkallu.They expose how menstrual blood rituals, grail maidens, dragon princesses, and “starfire” were used by this sub-human bloodline for power, rejuvenation, and kingship — including Solomon's 700 wives and 300 concubines feeding on pomegranates, lilies, and sticky mirth in the Song of Solomon.Topics include: adrenochrome and modern blood harvesting, Amalekites as “blood lickers,” red-haired/green-eyed Aryan Dragon Court elites, reptilian shapeshifters, Sobek, Inanna, Gilgamesh's vampiric mother, Viking berserkers, ancestor worship in tombs, the Ouroboros emblem, Sheila Na Gig, Melusine, Tuatha de Danann, Phoenician/Pharaonic inbreeding, Bohemian Grove druid rituals, and how all of this ties directly into current alien disclosure, hybridization programs, and biblical prophecy.Plus: why the Catholic Church demonized these real people as undead vampires, the scientific basis for blood rejuvenation (young blood studies), and why the Bible repeatedly warns against drinking blood.Doc Brown also discusses his previous book The Epic of Esau: Birth, Rite and Seed War, available with autographed copies, stickers, and bookmarks directly from him. Support Nephilim Death Squad & get ad-free episodes, live Brohemian Grove stream access & merch discounts: patreon.com/NephilimDeathSquad TopLopsa.com merch (use NDS discount code)  Guest: Doc Brown – Prometheus Lens Podcast• Website & autographed book: prometheuslenspodcast.com• The Epic of Esau (physical, digital, Audible): Amazon or direct from site• Listen everywhere: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts  Website & autographed books/stickers/goodie bags: prometheuslenspodcast.comThe Epic of Esau (physical, digital, Audible narrated by Doc Brown): Available direct from his site or AmazonPodcast: Prometheus Lens Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts (and all major platforms)New book (vampire/Dragon Court project): In progress — expected by fall (full-time content creation now)00:00 – Welcome to Nephilim Death Squad + Intro  00:45 – Patreon, TopLopsa.com, Bohemian Grove tickets & livestream plug  03:20 – Introducing in-studio guest Doc Brown (Prometheus Lens Podcast)  06:10 – Where to find Doc Brown + The Epic of Esau book (autographed + goodie bags)  09:55 – New book tease: Vampires, menstrual blood, Dragon Court & cryptids  14:40 – Serpent Seed, Dragon Court, Devere's The Dragon Legacy, Anunnaki origins  20:25 – Cain's bloodline, Sumerian Kings List, Gilgamesh's vampiric mother  26:10 – Dragon Court subclasses: Fairies, vampires, werewolves, elves  30:45 – Biblical blood laws (Leviticus, Deuteronomy) & why they were written  35:20 – Adrenochrome, young blood studies, melatonin & pale skin  41:05 – Ancestor worship, tombs, Viking berserkers & fair folk  46:30 – Paul Stobbs, Cain's mark, pale Nephilim & Amalekites (“blood lickers”)  52:15 – Dragon Court emblem breakdown (Ouroboros, lotus, dragons)  57:40 – Baphomet, inverted pentagrams, starfire & grail maidens  1:03:10 – Reptilians, Sobek, seraphim & the serpent curse  1:08:45 – Inbreeding, blood addiction & “Limitless pill” analogy  1:14:20 – Idun's apples of red gold, Norse myths & elite “adrenochrome withdrawal”  1:20:35 – Alien disclosure, hybridization programs & current events  1:26:50 – Scythians, etymology of pixies/leprechauns, scale armor  1:33:00 – Sheila Na Gig, Melusine, labyrinths & sacred groves  1:38:40 – Druids, Bohemian Grove, Tree of Life & Phoenician/Pharaonic inbreeding  1:44:05 – Revelation: Scarlet Whore, red dragon & “porneia” (starfire) cup  1:47:30 – Song of Solomon deep dive: lilies, pomegranates, sticky mirth & Solomon's harem  1:49:00 – Closing thoughts, where to find Doc Brown & outroBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nephilim-death-squad--6389018/support.☠️ Nephilim Death Squad — New episodes 5x/week.Join our Patreon for early access, bonus shows & the private Telegram hive.Subscribe on YouTube & Rumble, follow @NephilimDSquad on X/Instagram, grab merch at toplobsta.com. Questions/bookings: chroniclesnds@gmail.com — Stay dangerous.

There are two contradictory stories told of the death of King Saul in the Bible. So, who dunnit? And, maybe more importantly, why did they do it? And was it murder most foul? Based on the two stories of the death of Saul in 1 Samuel 31 and 2 Samuel 1, and the story of the raid on Ziklag by the Amalekites is in 1 Samuel30. Also references the sad tale of Saul's "genocide" of the Amalekites as told in 1 Samuel 15. Media in this Episode The following music was used for this media project: "AhDah" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License Music: The Backrooms Music Vol. 26 Produced by Sascha Ende Link: https://ende.app/en/song/13625-the-backrooms-music-vol-26 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Support Retelling the Bible If you would like to support the work that I do creating these stories, go to patreon.com/retellingthebible and choose a level of support! Contact me on Social Media! Bluesky Facebook Reddit

In this Bible Story, David plays the part of loyal servant to Achish the Philistine king, but remains loyal to Israel. When the Amalekites raid David's town and steal all their families, David's heroic spirit is rekindled, and he mounts a rescue mission. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 28. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 28:7 from the King James Version.Episode 94: Dark days were at hand for Israel and the Philistines, and battle after battle began to wear on the hearts of both nations. Saul was now without David, without Samuel, without God, and without peace. He begged God to speak to him, sought prophets, and waited for dreams but God was silent towards him. Desperate, he went to Endor and sought the medium that lived there in hopes of bringing the spirit of Samuel up from the dead. God allowed this to happen but instead of hearing words of hope, Samuel told Saul that tomorrow he and his sons would die in battle.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Bible story, the Philistine horde rises up against Israel. David continues to wrestle with his alliances. While Saul, now living apart from the spirit of God, turns to dark arts to settle his weary and restless soul. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 27. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 27:7 from the King James Version.Episode 93: David, still playing the role of a Philistine marauder in Ziklag, found himself in the camp of the enemy as they were marching up against Israel. But the lords of the Philistines disapproved of this and petitioned Achish to send him and his men away. God kept David from killing his brethren that day, but when they returned to Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had raided their city and taken their wives and children. So David sought God and pursued the Amalekites to overtake them, bringing back their wives and children. God gave them favor, and the women, children, livestock, and goods were saved! David got his first true taste of what it meant to be king.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happened in Esther's day… and could the same spiritual battle be unfolding again right now? In this episode, Bryan Cutshall explores the powerful story of Esther, Haman, and the spirit behind the attempted destruction of the Jewish people, while drawing prophetic parallels to current events surrounding Israel and the Middle East. Through the lens of biblical prophecy, this teaching examines how the same hatred toward Israel seen throughout Scripture continues to surface in our generation. Why does the story of Esther still matter today? Could the spiritual forces operating behind ancient events still be influencing world events now? Most people view the book of Esther as simply a historical story of courage and deliverance. But Scripture reveals deeper prophetic patterns beneath the surface. In this episode, Bryan Cutshall connects the story of Haman, the Amalekites, Purim, blood moon signs, and modern attacks against Israel, showing how these events may point to the prophetic season we are living in. This teaching explores the spiritual parallels between Haman and Hamas, the prophetic meaning behind Purim and blood moon signs, and why believers should pay close attention to what is happening involving Israel right now. Bryan Cutshall also explains why these signs are not meant to create fear, but to awaken believers to the nearness of Christ's return and the importance of spiritual discernment in this hour.

In this Bible Story, Saul is rejected as king. His pride, greed, and disobedience lost him the favor of God and Samuel weeps over Saul's fall. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 14:47-15:35. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year. Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 15:23 from the King James Version. Episode 83: Saul led Israel in battle to the point that nations who once oppressed Israel now feared them. One day, God gave a message to Samuel to deliver to Saul, that he was to destroy the Amalekites, leaving none alive. But again, Saul disobeyed God and spared the most important member of the Amalekites, their king. Through this repeated disobedience and self-pride, God regretted ever making Saul King. Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham. Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories. Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living. Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store. Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max Bard Producer: Ben Gammon Hosted by: Pastor Jack Graham Music by: Andrew Morgan Smith Bible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In his sermon from Exodus 17-18, Dr. Jamie Dee reminded the congregation that God is always faithful to His people and His promises, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. Drawing from Israel's surprise attack by the Amalekites after their Exodus from Egypt, Dr. Dee highlighted the strange but powerful moment when Moses held up his staff and Israel prevailed in battle, but when his arms grew weary, they began to lose until Aaron and Hur supported his arms. Dr. Dee used this passage along with Jethro's advice to Moses about delegation to teach four essential truths about shepherds and spiritual leaders. First, shepherds need people to hold up their arms through prayer, encouragement, and support, as pastoral ministry involves unique stresses and constant pouring out. Second, shepherds need help maintaining focus on their primary calling to pray for people, preach God's Word, and disciple believers. Third, shepherds need other leaders to share the ministry load, as Moses appointed able men who feared God to judge smaller matters. Finally, shepherds must remain teachable and open to wisdom, as even Moses humbly received counsel from his father-in-law. Dr. Dee concluded by challenging listeners to answer God's call to ministry, noting that 25% of churches in the South cannot find pastors, and encouraged everyone to take courage in God's faithfulness regardless of life's challenges. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Take a moment to fill out our digital connection card here: https://www.bayleaf.org/connect We hope you enjoy this programming and please let us know if there is anything we can do to be of service to you. ONE CHURCH. TWO LOCATIONS. ONE MISSION. Bay Leaf at Falls Lake: 12200 Bayleaf Church Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27614 Bay Leaf at 540: 10921 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613 SERVICE TIMES Come join us on Sundays at Bay Leaf at Falls Lake (8:30 AM or 11:00 AM) or at Bay Leaf at 540 (10:00 AM) CONTACT www.bayleaf.org (919) 847-4477 #BayLeafLife #Worship #Inspiration

What might be happening, when it looks like all is lost for the church? 1Chronicles 4:24–43 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these twenty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, even when we see nothing promising in the church, the Lord may yet be doing much gracious work. The passage highlights God's faithfulness to His promises, even through the seemingly diminished tribe of Simeon, whose descendants, though not multiplying as abundantly as Judah, are still preserved and honored in the Chronicler's record. Despite their historical decline and eventual disappearance from the nation, God is shown to have actively sustained and expanded their presence, enabling them to conquer and settle in fertile lands, including defeating Edomites and Amalekites, and establishing enduring communities. The repeated phrase 'to this day' underscores the ongoing fulfillment of divine promises, pointing forward to the ultimate consummation of God's redemptive plan in Christ. This faithful preservation of Simeon's lineage serves as a reminder that God's purposes are not thwarted by human failure or historical decline, but are steadily advancing toward their final fulfillment in Christ's return. The passage thus invites believers to live in hopeful anticipation, trusting that God remains faithful to every promise and continues to gather His people from every nation.

Study Passage: Numbers 14:1-45Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” 10 Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people ofIsrael.11 And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater andmightier than they.”13 But Moses said to the LORD, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for you brought up this people in your might from among them, 14 and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O LORD, are in the midst of this people. For you, O LORD, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, 16 ‘It is because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.' 17 And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, 18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.' 19 Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”20 Then the LORD said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. 21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. 25 Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.”26 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 27 “How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. 28 Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the LORD, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: 29 your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, 30 not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. 32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.' 35 I, the LORD, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.”36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land— 37 the men who brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the LORD. 38 Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.39 When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly. 40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the LORD has promised, for we have sinned.” 41 But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the LORD, when that will not succeed? 42 Do not go up, for the LORD is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies. 43 For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the LORD, the LORD will not be with you.” 44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed out of the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.

Larry Alex Taunton critiques Tucker Carlson's comments about Franklin Graham quoting Esther and argues Carlson dishonestly portrays Esther as a Jewish “genocide of Persians” to attack Jews, Israel, and ultimately God while trying to keep Christian listeners by claiming Esther isn't really canonical. Taunton contends the 75,000 killed were not Persians but Amalekites aligned with Haman's plot to annihilate the Jews, and that King Xerxes permitted Jewish self-defense, noting the Jews did not plunder. He defends Esther's place in the canon, compares its implicit providence to Tolkien, and says other biblical books also omit God's name. Taunton claims Carlson is increasingly aligned with Islam and uncomfortable with biblical violence, then argues God-ordained judgment appears throughout Scripture and should be approached with reverence, repentance, and submission to God's justice and grace.

In this episode of Fed by the Fruit, host KB takes a deep dive into the life of King Saul — Israel's first king, chosen by God yet ultimately rejected for his disobedience. From his humble beginnings in the tribe of Benjamin to his anointing by the prophet Samuel, Saul had every opportunity to honor God and lead well, but pride, fear, and repeated disobedience led to his tragic downfall. KB walks through the key moments of Saul's reign — his military victories, his failure to obey God's command against the Amalekites, his jealous pursuit of David, and his devastating final battle against the Philistines — and draws out three powerful lessons for believers today: obey the Lord and seek His will, don't misuse the power entrusted to you, and lead with humility as God calls you to lead. This month's memory verse is John 15:5 — "Apart from me, you can do nothing."Reach out to KB on Instagram and share your thoughts.

It's the little things.            In this opening study of 2 Samuel 1, we step into a pivotal moment in Israel's history where David unknowingly stands on the edge of a life-altering transition. While he returns from victory over the Amalekites, news arrives that King Saul and Jonathan have died. This chapter reveals more than a leadership shift—it exposes the unseen work of God, the consequences of disobedience, and the posture of a heart that honors the Lord's anointed. Through David's response, we learn what it means to trust God with outcomes, grieve rightly, and walk in integrity even when opportunity presents itself.

Study Passage: Numbers 13:1-33The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.” 3 So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel. 4 And these were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur; 5 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori; 6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh; 7 from the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph; 8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun; 9 from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu; 10 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi; 11 from the tribe of Joseph (that is, from the tribe of Manasseh), Gaddi the son of Susi; 12 from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli; 13 from the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael; 14 from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi; 15 from the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. 16 These were the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua. 17 Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, 18 and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, 19 and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, 20 and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes. 21 So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. 22 They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the people of Israel cut down from there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. 26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.” 30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” 32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. 33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”

IntroductionEsther is a book that is best understood by reading it through the eyes of Joshua to understand the holy war. However, the characters have more of Samson's integrity. Yes, the Lord's will is accomplished, but not with Joshua's conviction. This is a book that takes place in the context of exile. Esther is the contrast to Daniel's more "dialed-in" exile faithfulness, where he is willing to endure what he has to endure for the sake of Christ. Esther and Mordecai are compromised heroes. They are pragmatic in their survival skills. Esther is a book that doesn't sanitize the human condition but honestly depicts the tragedy of the fall and the difficulty of living out the gospel in a broken age. The driving question the introduction lands on: What do we do with this book? What does it really say to us today?Mordecai the Historian (vv. 20–22)Mordecai is identified as a chronicler. The end of chapters nine to ten is the history of Purim, and the reminder that this world is not in the full state of glory. Mordecai is recounting this history for us. The preacher highlights the "decree fatigue" throughout Esther. One decree, the runners run. Another decree, and the runners run again. This continues in the book. The decrees cannot be annulled, but they can contradict one another. The king will just be a spectator watching potential ethnic cleansing and then civil war. There is a contrast in the decrees. The Lord's decree brings rest (nuach literally Noah). This is a rest where one enjoys the peace of being in the Lord's presence, much like Noah (soothing) after the flood. The feast of Purim answers the question of who the real hero is: not Mordecai, not Esther, but God. The transition from the king's intimidating opening feast to this closing feast of gladness signals the reversal that the whole book has been building toward.A New Beginning for God's People (vv. 23–28)Purim is established as a new redemptive anchor point, parallel to Passover. When Mordecai recounts the feast, he echoes the eye-for-an-eye language. Haman desired to destroy the Lord's people, but his wickedness fell on his own head. The book turns from its comedic character and gives a serious publication warning of the Lord's coming judgment. The decree of Exodus 17 against the Amalekites stands. The Lord's decrees, unlike Persia's irrevocable ones, are the ones that truly cannot be overturned. Purim joins Passover as an identity-forming feast: exile is not the end of the story. God's people will be protected. Hell's gates will not prevail over Christ's church. This book publishes a two-fold warning. First, the Lord's judgment decree stands, and he will bring judgment. Second, the Lord's redemption will be fully realized. Esther is a book like the flood, making clear that the world has not always existed as it is, and will not always remain as it is. The flood publishes that the Lord will uncreate this world and recreate it. In the midst of that action, the Lord will bring in the new creation. The Old Story Continues (ch. 10)Chapter 10 pumps the brakes on any over-realized optimism. The king re-imposes taxes. The epilogue reminds us that this world is not the final victory because good and evil will continue to exist. This world is not the heavenly shalom where we enjoy full physical peace with our Lord. Mordecai is elevated (echoing Joseph and Daniel), which is typologically significant: rejection followed by vindication, pointing forward to the Messiah. The preacher uses Mordecai's terrified ride on the king's horse as a pastoral illustration of how easily God's people forget that the Lord is their shield even when He's demonstrably working on their behalf. The "old story" is that empires keep rising and falling, God keeps preserving his people, and we keep doubting. We need to remember that when the Lord says he is a shield and defender, he really means it. His people will prevail despite the empires. ConclusionThe preacher draws three takeaways: (1) Don't trust earthly kingdoms. (2) Don't despair over exploitation and complexity. We need to start with prayer (Esther called a fast), wisdom, and a long view of history. (3) Remember the resurrection precedent. Esther assures us that when things look finished, God isn't done. The feast of Purim points forward to the feast of the Lamb. Christians are a resurrection people. This means that hell could not hold the Savior. We are not grounded and united to a dead Christ, but a living and ascended Christ. This is where each day should begin. Let us remember: the gospel call is going out to the nations (bow the knee now). The Gospel message is going forth, calling people to Christ. We, as the covenant community, are pressing forward as sojourners, living for God's honor until we arrive at the feast. Let us live between the two anchor points in history. Christ has been raised, securing our victory and bestowing on us all the Spiritual blessings. Let us long for the future glory where we receive all the physical blessings.

There have been some disturbing things happening in the world lately, and some of the people most heavily involved in those things are invoking even more disturbing parts of the Bible as a rallying call. When world leaders remind us of biblical genocide when they go to war, you know we're in trouble. So this week, we're discussing Amalek, and the Israelite encounters with the people who bear his name. There is no love lost between the Amalekites and the Israelites. As a matter of fact, Jewish people to this day vow to remember and NOT remember Amalek. So what was so awful about the Amalekites that they stand out as worse than the myriad other enemies of ancient Israel? And what did they do to deserve the total destruction that was ordered by God? Then we're covering some spurious apologetic ground. If you've ever listened to a Christian apologist for more than a few minutes, you've likely heard the idea that "No one would die for a lie." This idea is either preceded or followed by descriptions of the horrific deaths endured by the disciples of Jesus. The problem is that most of those deaths aren't recorded in any books in the Bible. So what are the stories of the deaths of the apostles, and where do they come from? ---- For early access to an ad-free version of every episode of Data Over Dogma, exclusive content, and the opportunity to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠      Follow us on the various social media places: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/data_over_dogma⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have you ordered Dan McClellan's New York Times bestselling book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bible Says So⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ yet??? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A – About: David returns from victory over the Amalekites and ensures that both those who fought and those who stayed behind receive equal shares, establishing a principle of fairness, unity, and God-centered gratitude. B – Best Verse: 1 Samuel 30:23 — "But David said, 'My brethren, you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us.'" C – Called to Do: Recognize that all blessings come from God, treat others with fairness and compassion, and reject selfishness by valuing unity and shared grace over personal gain.

In this episode of Midwest Mythos, host Midwest Mythos engages in a deep conversation with Doc Brown, an author and researcher, exploring themes of Bigfoot, biblical narratives, and the hero's journey. They discuss the significance of masculinity, the role of men in society, and how these themes connect to personal growth and spirituality. The conversation transitions into the exploration of Bigfoot and its connections to biblical stories, particularly focusing on the character of Esau and his portrayal in various narratives. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the biblical narratives surrounding the birthright of Jacob and Esau, the significance of garments as symbols of power and lineage, and the rise of the Amalekites as formidable adversaries. They explore the supernatural elements of these stories, emphasizing the importance of context in understanding biblical texts. The discussion also touches on the gaps in the biblical narrative and the value of extra-biblical texts in providing a fuller picture of historical and spiritual truths. In this conversation, Doc Brown and Midwest Mythos explore the themes of faith, judgment, and the importance of seeking a personal connection with God. They discuss the challenges of dogma, the hero's journey of faith, and the need for authenticity in the Christian life. The dialogue emphasizes the call to engage with those who are lost, the dangers of materialism in faith, and the significance of humility and self-examination. They reflect on the refining process of faith and the importance of community, ultimately encouraging listeners to come as they are and to seek God in their own unique journeys.If you want more of Doc Brown you can find him at : https://prometheuslenspodcast.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYBz2JPlrQaE9QHjl2WT4e5jDUPBK_BRZgmbgfBvFC5O5nteEXaEE3zF0k_aem_jusNaZLDj1Z9Xp1lspMYsAYoutube: https://youtube.com/@midwestmythospodcast?si=f5qXsiJuuWv4-hqEIf you would like to be a guest on the show contact me on the submission form at: linktr.ee/midwestmythospodcast or contact me on Instagram @midwestmythosThank you for all the support!

A – About: David returns to find Ziklag destroyed and families taken. In deep distress, he seeks the Lord, pursues the Amalekites, and recovers everything that was lost. B – Best Verse: "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." (v.6) C – Called To Do: Strengthen yourself in the Lord, seek His direction, and trust Him to restore what is lost according to His will.

3867 – March 24, 2026 – Take No Prisoners – According to 1 Samuel 15 in the Bible, King Saul was instructed by God through the prophet Samuel to conduct a “holy war” against the Amalekites and take no prisoners. SOUNDS HARSH DOESN'T IT? (The Amalekites were a nomadic, warlike tribe in the Old Testament, identified as persistent enemies of Israel, descending from ... The post Take No Prisoners appeared first on CSC Talk Radio.

In this week's episode, Evangelist Chance Walters gives us a strategy for intercession based out of Exodus Chapter 17 with Joshua and Moses fighting the Amalekites. Please share with a friend! 

This sermon explores the paradox of the "wilderness"—a place of danger, but also where God reveals Himself. The Israelites face their first external battle against the Amalekites. This story teaches us that God uses trials to forge our faith, and that victory requires our active participation and ultimate reliance on Him.Scripture ReferencesExodus 17:8-16: The Amalekites attack. Moses holds up the staff of God, supported by Aaron and Hur. Moses builds an altar named Jehovah Nissi (The Lord is my Banner).Exodus 13:17-18: God leads Israel the long way so they wouldn't face a war they weren't ready for.Deuteronomy 25:17-19: The Amalekites cowardly attacked the weak and weary.2 Corinthians 10:3-5: "We do not wage war as the world does."Key PointsThe Wilderness is Paradoxical The wilderness brings lack and uncertainty, but it is also where God reveals Himself. If you are in a season with no familiar markers, you are in the wilderness.God Trusts You With the Battle God didn't lead Israel the short way out of Egypt because they weren't ready for war. But by Exodus 17, He allows them to fight. If you are facing a battle, frame it this way: God trusts you with this fight. He intends to forge something in you through it.You Are in a War While our biggest battles are often internal, we also face external opposition. The enemy attacks when we are weary and vulnerable. We must fight with spiritual weapons.Take Hold of Something Physical Moses held up the staff of God—a physical reminder of God's past faithfulness. When you cannot see the future, take hold of something tangible that reminds you of God's faithfulness (a journal, a photo, or Communion).Take Hold of Someone Moses grew tired and could not win alone. Aaron and Hur held his hands up. You need "war buddies"—people who won't just talk about the problem, but will pray the solution. This shouldn't just be your spouse, as they are often fighting the exact same battle.ConclusionThe name Joshua means "The Lord is Salvation"—the same name as Jesus. Exodus 17 is prophetic. Just as Moses stretched out his arms with the rod of God's judgment to defeat the enemy, Jesus stretched out His arms on the cross, taking God's justice upon Himself to defeat our ultimate enemy.Calls to ActionShift Your Perspective: Stop asking "Why me?" and declare, "God trusts me with this battle."Find a Physical Reminder: Identify an object or practice that anchors you to God's past faithfulness.Get a War Buddy: Ask someone to "hold up your arms" in prayer. Support the show*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.

In this episode we look at the first battle and the first enemy that the children of Israel faced after their exodus from Egypt. We look at the brutality and cruelty of the Amalekites and how they did a surprise attack from behind against them. We look at what we can learn from this for our spiritual warfare today and how we find in God's unique commands to Moses and Joshua the way to overcome the enemy today in our battles. God has given us the way to get the victory if we would only follow His lead!

Ephesians 4:7-16 (NKJV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss how Christ gave gifts to men and why Paul's quote from Psalm 68 seems to say the exact opposite of  what the verse says.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=24899The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

This message traces the tragic decline of King Saul and answers a crucial question: if David sinned just as badly as Saul, why was Saul rejected by God and David called “a man after God's own heart”? Drawing from 1 Samuel 10–16 and 28, as well as Deuteronomy and 2 Chronicles, Pastor Allen walks through three major failures in Saul's life:- Offering sacrifices his own way instead of God's way  - Partially obeying God's command to destroy the Amalekites  - Turning to a forbidden necromancer when God stopped answering him  We see how Saul's disobedience, excuses, blame-shifting, and refusal to fully submit to God's authority led to the Spirit departing from him and God choosing David instead.

When God gives a command, sometimes we only half-heartedly obey. Today in our study of 1 Samuel 15, we'll see that this is exactly what Saul did, and he was condemned for it too! Join us as we look at Saul's heart and learn how to bring our own into wholehearted submission to God. DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1.    What was the Lord's command, through Samuel, in verse 3? What reasons did the podcast give for why God would have given a command such as this? How does verse 33 shed light on the Amalekites?  2.    What was the outcome of this battle? Did Saul obey the Lord's commands?  3.    How does Esther 3:1 (and Haman being an "Agagite") shed light on Saul's obedience here? 4.    How did Saul justify his actions in this passage? 5.    What was the Lord's estimation of Saul in verses 10 & 11? Why? 6.    In terms of what this chapter shows us about Saul's heart, what was the difference between the heart of Saul versus the heart of David? 7.    According to verse 22, what should Saul have done? Why is this the most important step?  8.    What does verse 23 say about rebellion? Why does the Lord characterize these sins in these ways? 9.    What does this passage show us about complete obedience, even when we'd rather not?  Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

1 Samuel 29-30 finds David at one of his lowest episodes—his honor shamed by the Philistine commanders, his family kidnapped by the raiding Amalekites, and his men whispering of mutiny. Yet in this moment of darkness, we see a God of redemptive reversal and counterintuitive provision as David found strength in the LORD his God.

I don't know if you're like me, but have you ever wondered where children learn all the psychology they seem to know? They use it pretty effectively to get their way. Oh, we adults have to take courses in child psychology. They don't take courses in adult psychology, but they do pretty well. Kids learn very early how to maneuver, and motivate, and manipulate to get what they want. They use division. You know, like divide and conquer. Kind of get Mom and Dad played against each other. They use guilt sometimes to do it; sometimes, they even use, yeah, deception. Now, I've traveled a lot in my lifetime, and my wife had to be especially alert for one particular tactic as the kids were growing up. They'd say, "Oh, we're going to do such and such." And she'd say, "Well, who said you could?" "Daddy." Of course I wasn't there, no verification possible. So maybe Mom might be fooled if you said it just right, unless I called, until I got home. Then kids learn an important life lesson, "Don't put your Father's name on something he does not approve of." I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Your Father Never Said You Could." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from 1 Samuel 15. I'm going to begin reading at verse 10. Understand that King Saul has been asked to lead the Jews in the eradication of a cancer called the Amalekites, and to destroy not only their armies and their leadership, but also all of the loot that might be taken so there would be no trace left of the poison that they had become. Well, the Bible says, "Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, 'I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he's turned away from Me and has not carried out my instructions.' Samuel was troubled and he cried out to the Lord all night." Well, then we read in verse 13, "When Samuel reached him, Saul said, 'The Lord bless you. I have carried out the Lord's instruction.'" He had not. "But Samuel said, 'What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of the cattle that I hear?' 'Oh, but I did obey the Lord' Saul said. 'I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder. The best was devoted to God in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God.'" Well, that just doesn't work. God isn't fooled! You notice here, though, that he tries to make something rebellious into something religious. He's talking about the Lord all the time, but he's disobeying Him. Saul is trying a child's trick to justify something wrong: putting your Father's name on what you're doing. That happens a lot. You can justify almost anything by saying, "The Lord led me." I talked to a man who divorced his wife not too long ago to marry a relative of his, of hers really. And he said, "Well, Ron, the Bible says love is of God, and I love this woman. So it must be right." Come on, it's bad enough to break God's law. Don't put God's name on it. Don't try to put a spiritual makeup job on leaving your husband or wife when God says, "I hate divorce." Don't rationalize materialism by saying, "Well, I want to make more so I can give more to the Lord's work." Don't make a decision to do what you want to do, and then dignify it by calling it "the Lord's will." Don't try to dress up undisciplined living by calling it, "following the Spirit's moving." That's taking God's name in vain. We Bible folks have this way of dressing up sin rather than dealing with it. Saul learned that it doesn't work to put spiritual names on sin and religious words on rebellion. Oh, my kids learned not to put their Father's name on something that their Father didn't approve of. God's kids need to learn that about their Father. Don't dress up a sinful choice in God-words. Your Father never said you could do what you're doing.

I don't know if you're like me, but have you ever wondered where children learn all the psychology they seem to know? They use it pretty effectively to get their way. Oh, we adults have to take courses in child psychology. They don't take courses in adult psychology, but they do pretty well. Kids learn very early how to maneuver, and motivate, and manipulate to get what they want. They use division. You know, like divide and conquer. Kind of get Mom and Dad played against each other. They use guilt sometimes to do it; sometimes, they even use, yeah, deception. Now, I've traveled a lot in my lifetime, and my wife had to be especially alert for one particular tactic as the kids were growing up. They'd say, "Oh, we're going to do such and such." And she'd say, "Well, who said you could?" "Daddy." Of course I wasn't there, no verification possible. So maybe Mom might be fooled if you said it just right, unless I called, until I got home. Then kids learn an important life lesson, "Don't put your Father's name on something he does not approve of." I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Your Father Never Said You Could." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from 1 Samuel 15. I'm going to begin reading at verse 10. Understand that King Saul has been asked to lead the Jews in the eradication of a cancer called the Amalekites, and to destroy not only their armies and their leadership, but also all of the loot that might be taken so there would be no trace left of the poison that they had become. Well, the Bible says, "Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, 'I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he's turned away from Me and has not carried out my instructions.' Samuel was troubled and he cried out to the Lord all night." Well, then we read in verse 13, "When Samuel reached him, Saul said, 'The Lord bless you. I have carried out the Lord's instruction.'" He had not. "But Samuel said, 'What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of the cattle that I hear?' 'Oh, but I did obey the Lord' Saul said. 'I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder. The best was devoted to God in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God.'" Well, that just doesn't work. God isn't fooled! You notice here, though, that he tries to make something rebellious into something religious. He's talking about the Lord all the time, but he's disobeying Him. Saul is trying a child's trick to justify something wrong: putting your Father's name on what you're doing. That happens a lot. You can justify almost anything by saying, "The Lord led me." I talked to a man who divorced his wife not too long ago to marry a relative of his, of hers really. And he said, "Well, Ron, the Bible says love is of God, and I love this woman. So it must be right." Come on, it's bad enough to break God's law. Don't put God's name on it. Don't try to put a spiritual makeup job on leaving your husband or wife when God says, "I hate divorce." Don't rationalize materialism by saying, "Well, I want to make more so I can give more to the Lord's work." Don't make a decision to do what you want to do, and then dignify it by calling it "the Lord's will." Don't try to dress up undisciplined living by calling it, "following the Spirit's moving." That's taking God's name in vain. We Bible folks have this way of dressing up sin rather than dealing with it. Saul learned that it doesn't work to put spiritual names on sin and religious words on rebellion. Oh, my kids learned not to put their Father's name on something that their Father didn't approve of. God's kids need to learn that about their Father. Don't dress up a sinful choice in God-words. Your Father never said you could do what you're doing.

In this Bible Story, God continues provision as he quenches Israel’s thirst for water. Then He gives them victory over their first battle against the Amalekites. This story is inspired by Exodus 17-18. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Exodus 17:6 from the King James Version.Episode 39: Hungry, Thirsty, and fast to forget what God has done for them, the people grumbled about not having any water. Yet even in their complaints, God is full of mercy and He provided life-giving water for the people out of a solid rock. But then, in their celebration of God’s provision, an army of Amalekites comes to ransack their camp, and God teaches His people how to fight for the Lord.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.