Podcast appearances and mentions of jonathan saul

In chapter 14, Jonathan (Saul's son) leads Israel on a victorious battle against the Philistines. However, he disobeys his father's directive not to eat anything until the end of the day. He sticks the edge of his spear into some delicious honey and eats it. Granted, the directive was foolish but he should have led by example. Instead, it served to undermine Saul's authority. They cast lots to determine who'd engaged in wrong behavior and, ultimately, it fell on Jonathan. That meant he was to be put to death. But Saul's people told him not do, so he didn't.  Saul's poor leadership in this chapter sets the stage for the next chapter. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This special episode is an extended interview with correspondent Jonathan Saul and host Kim Vinnell. Together, they explore Hamas' tunnel network under Gaza. Hundreds of miles long and up to 80 yards deep, it's described as the "Viet Cong times 10" by one Israeli security source. Jonathan reports on what we know so far about Israel's strategy to combat Hamas in the network one freed hostage has described as a spider's web. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising.

Links1. “Enhanced Loran,” Sherman Lo and Benjamin Peterson, Stanford University, August 3, 2016.2. "Could AI-Fueled Amateur Radio Rebuild Loran-C?,” John Konrad, K5HIP (gCaptain,) February 18, 2023.3. Ham Radio Crash Course Website.4. "Cyber Threats Prompt Return of Radio for Ship Navigation,” Jonathan Saul, K5HIP (gCaptain,) August 7, 2017.5. "eLORAN: a terrestrial alternative to GPS,” Jeff Sherpard, Microcontroller Tips, October 26, 2020.6. "Let the Coast Guard Operate eLORAN" David W. Zenkel, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, June 2021.7. "LORAN-C Infrastructure & E-LORAN," Gps.gov, November 15, 2019.

"Not looking to your own interests but each ofyou to the interests of the others." Php 2:4 NIVOften in marriage we are unaware of our partner'sneeds. We become calloused. We stop listening.We're oblivious to the pressure thev're under.Simply stated, the root of many marital problems isinsensitivity. Everyone you meet needs kindness.The people who sit around you in church have majorhurts; you're just unaware of them. We find a greatexample of sensitivity in the life of King David.David's friend, Jonathan-Saul's son--had beenkilled. Now, safely enthroned for several years,David made a rare request. He asked if anyone wasleft in Saul's family that he could help. Hediscovered Saul's grandson-Jonathan's son-Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet. WhenDavid sent for him, Mephibosheth almost certainlythought, "I'm going to be killed because I am amember of the enemy's family, the old dynasty." Butnotice David's words: "Don't be afraid…for I willsurely show you kindness for the sake of your fatherJonathan. I will restore to you all the land thatbelonged to your grandfather Saul, and you willalways eat at my table" (2Sa 9:7 NIV).Mephibosheth's reaction is interesting: "What isyour servant, that you should notice a dead dog likeme?" (v. 8 NIV). He felt like a dog and expected tobe treated like one. But the point you need to noticeis this: David took time, made the effort, and wassensitive to his needs. One of the dangers ofsuccess is that the pressures that accompany it canmake you insensitive toward others. Question: Towhom do you need to become more sensitive today?Support the show

How should we respond to Jesus, the Lord's Anointed? Join us this Sunday as we explore this question through the lens of Jonathan, Saul, and their response to David—the Lord's Anointed.

Pride and Envy I told Janice, after Nate came to work on the car. We had spent thirty minutes doing a task that I thought would take three hours. My son said, “I could've done that in my driveway.” Yes, it was quick, and yes he could've done it in his driveway. But actually, he couldn't. Not to brag,…

Pride and Envy I told Janice, after Nate came to work on the car. We had spent thirty minutes doing a task that I thought would take three hours. My son said, “I could've done that in my driveway.” Yes, it was quick, and yes he could've done it in his driveway. But actually, he couldn't. Not to brag,…

Pastor Newms: [0:04] Hello and welcome to episode 49 season. Pastor Bill: [0:15] Season 3 episode 71 of the Berean Manifesto: Faith, Hope, and Love for the Modern Christian. Pastor Newms: [0:20] You should read you should redo that because the hello and welcome was gone for some reason you either did it too loud so your Mike turns you off or or something it just ignored you completely oh. Pastor Bill: [0:31] I didn't do it at all because you did it. Pastor Newms: [0:33] Is now just ruined the intro I don't care what you do. Pastor Bill: [0:39] You'll make it do the intro again since you ruined it we get the one that ruined it. Pastor Newms: [0:45] Live his life y'all see all the bloopers all the bloopers all the Jonathan playing a game on his phone Olive. Pastor Bill: [0:54] I'll Jonathan play on. Pastor Newms: [0:56] No there is no yes doesn't he look so weird Biggs, he caught me off guard. Pastor Bill: [1:08] For those of you out in podcast land yeah I. Pastor Newms: [1:14] That's not no. Pastor Bill: [1:15] My beard to extremeness. Pastor Newms: [1:16] That's not trimming up your beard you shaved your face. Pastor Bill: [1:23] Look it's there. Pastor Newms: [1:35] Actually that's more hair that's on my head right cuz I did not do what I normally do I actually got like the pit bull for headed razor and because we were going somewhere new today and so I was like I got to look decent cuz I can't embarrass the person who invited me because that's rude you know that's just. Pastor Bill: [2:06] Yes because it would be embarrassing if you had hair on top. Pastor Newms: [2:17] My week was very very very busy I spent a whole bunch of time working on the reports at work and getting ready for meetings that are going to happen while I'm out of town on vacation and next week is going to be even busier in preparation for vacation which this is the reason I don't even like taking vacation to be honest like I hate vacations because I have to make sure to work harder before and then harder after the vacation and so it gets to a point where it's like why why just why like I get it mental health and sing to you of stuff and human beings need rest and and all that other crap that drives me nuts but God I hate it so much I just, and Biggs you already know the answer to the question so I don't know why you just didn't answer your wife when she asked this week with St Patty's. Pastor Bill: [3:32] Some this week was St. Patrick's Day. Pastor Newms: [3:33] Um and for St. Patrick's Day every year in the past I used to throw a party and at said party we would watch yeah. Pastor Bill: [3:48] Good old Irish soiree. Pastor Newms: [3:51]  Boondock Saints 1 & 2,    you but you knew you didn't have to act like you're being silly sir and so this year we decided would be the first year that we would include the children in and watching it. Pastor Bill: [4:14] Which wasn't. Pastor Newms: [4:15] It's. Pastor Bill: [4:16] The best. Pastor Newms: [4:17] It wasn't horrible it wasn't horrible. Pastor Bill: [4:18] Wasn't horrible. Pastor Newms: [4:20] There was there was there was one. Pastor Bill: [4:21] It wasn't the best idea. Pastor Newms: [4:22] There's one scene there was one. Pastor Bill: [4:25] There was some crying let's just say that. Pastor Newms: [4:27] That is that is real intense and every year I've seen this movie to the point where I can literally quote it and people that know me that's near impossible because I don't remember anything but I can literally quote these movies and so I've seen it a bunch and I'm sitting there do to do to do to do the thing happens that happens and I jump every time every time and I jumped Tina jumped and Zoe just started right Rayne just Rayne lost her mind and started crying, it's a valid cry. I cry at different parts of the movie but that's fine and so you know, the we threw a full thing we did sugar-free Jell-O that was green we did Green, Sprite we did root beer in the glass bottles that come with cane sugar because we have found that cane sugar is a type of sugar that Sarah can have in moderation, because it's more natural as opposed to the sugars that make her sick so she can have it in moderation, so she was able to enjoy one of those we died chocolate chip cookies green I made a green yellow cake Biggs must have ate all of the cookies that we brought to him. And so this is good time it's just a good time and is the first time the girls had seen the movie and of course I'm a fan because for any of you out there in video land. You know there's a giant poster behind me of the first movie so which I actually got asked about for work because there's one specific doctor that I work with who I was like hey we should be you know since since it's just the two of us let's jump on camera and I'm like okay cool and I jump on camera if he's like okay before we get started this train we just got on the settee before we get started I got to ask you what what's all your accessories behind you and I'm like oh crud now he sees just this this part of the room so it's you do not as much is on camera but it was it was it was humorous I was like ooh. Pastor Bill: [6:53] I feel like these are The Boondock Saints and this is cholo Mander. Pastor Newms: [7:00] Cholo cholo Mander is of course knew from a couple of weeks ago when they decided to put a hat on Charmander and, I'm sorry homeboy looks like a cholo with the hat all the way down I'll just because the way his cheeks are the expression the way is it just it works and so. Pastor Bill: [7:21] But he's like he's like the cholo from Ant-Man when he's like like you know what I mean you know like you know what I mean it's great as happy and you know he's like. Pastor Newms: [7:32] He's freeza freeza friendly but um. Pastor Bill: [7:36] Super friendly. Pastor Newms: [7:40] I didn't realize how much of the settee y'all can see on screen because Amy is just a we just jumped up there and is like hey what's up guys oh you. Pastor Bill: [7:52] Well for one your your screen is. Pastor Newms: [7:54] I am I am. Pastor Bill: [7:56] Cuz you're the little circle square and even on my you know bigger version here I can barely see just a little. Pastor Newms: [8:03] It's just funny because I'm like she doing over there but but yeah it's actually time to change my behind me again because it's your its boring me what's behind me I'll do it when I get home from my spring break but anyway that's a my week went it was busy how was your week. Pastor Bill: [8:32] So my week it was the Gerg spring break this week so he didn't have school and so I wasn't having to get up every morning at the butt crack of day to take him to school which was awesome and I picked up a new contract this week we're going to call it short-term it'll probably end up being about six months, not you know full-time six. Full time for a week or two maybe maybe a full time for a month and then it will taper off at some point you know and just be here there. Contract to contract man money is money, it's good to be making money again so there's that so that's good and then one day this week I woke up and I got a text from my aunt, okay so my grandmother aunt live across the street and then my uncle next door to them and the three houses we all share one water well, and I live in the oldest of the three homes and it's a mobile home and it's got all the original Plumbing so from time to time we have busted pipes and I have to go out and turn off our water because then they had they don't have water, and she text and said do you have water and I was like, I'm going to wake enough for this so when I looked and indeed there was no busted pipes and went to investigate what was going on couldn't figure it out, turned out it was something to do with the electricity the electricity company came out and started working on one of the poles in their yard and when they were done the water was back on and everything was fine again and, his Okay cool so that was certainly interesting, moment there when that, yeah that was basically my week in a nutshell I got a what's called a power pass in one of the games were playing in Lost Ark, which allowed me to level a new character up to level 50 and gave me some armor to start. Honing to make it more powerful which is cool it's a cool thing I've sort of enjoying that process, and I'm I like the play style I think of this character more than the other so that'll be good. Pastor Newms: [10:56] I know you like it and that's fine I just hate it. Pastor Bill: [10:56] You're making a face so no I don't care I like it so I like it I like it I'm gonna be a gun Lancer instead of a gunslinger 7 Deadeye guns I'm going to be a gun Lancer. Pastor Newms: [11:08] I don't like it. Pastor Bill: [11:13] Alright so that was our weeks so now it's time for getting it another pastors which Pastor newms has commandeered the last two weeks in a row and I was asking him do you have a question today and he was like I don't know what you're talking about so am I pulling the car and we're going back to cards or do you have something you're going to. Pastor Newms: [11:32] So here's the thing if I did have something I would wait till you pulled the car just for the sheer funniness of waiting till you pull the card but I. Don't have a question this week so. Pastor Bill: [11:56] What will people look back at us 50 years from now and be sure. Pastor Newms: [12:00] I think it's the are. Pastor Bill: [12:02] By one word Kardashians. Pastor Newms: [12:04] No now that won't be the worst there's worse things nope there's much. Pastor Bill: [12:10] Jersey Shore. Pastor Newms: [12:11] See previous statement I think they'll look back and just not understand, just us, like we look back at 50 years ago and we're appalled by things that people had that did, like maybe not 50 yeah 50 WWII right we look back and we are appalled by what why did everyone. Pastor Bill: [12:47] That's a significantly more than 50 years but. Pastor Newms: [12:50] We have no time concept you know that. Pastor Bill: [12:56] So if we look back at 1972 that's 50 years ago. Pastor Newms: [13:05] Ooh that's so creepy no we're not that old that's not how time works so we look back 80 years you know we're appalled by what Hitler did you know. Pastor Bill: [13:21] But the question is 50 years when we look back in. Pastor Newms: [13:24] That's a 50 years I didn't hear that part of the question 1972. Pastor Bill: [13:29] 50 years, in 50 years they'll look back at us and be appalled by what. Pastor Newms: [13:34] Where are we going to be in 50 years. Pastor Bill: [13:37] So when I look back at 72 I'm appalled by the Bell Bottom. Pastor Newms: [13:40] Yeah the clothing was terrible that came back around and then left. Pastor Bill: [13:46] The hairstyle. Pastor Newms: [13:47] Her back right now which is just terrible Tina, somebody that I'm related to went to a school the other day and and came home and was like mullets are back, and I'm like no no we're in the Deep South and bullets aren't even back here there's no way mullets are okay again and she's like no no no, I saw a kid with a mullet. Pastor Bill: [14:13] They're back. Pastor Newms: [14:14] And I was like knows 80 there's no way kids are running around with mullets and then we got into an argument, and in this I will say wasn't argument on whether or not the Mexican gentleman in Boondock Saints 2 has a mullet, I'm which I was trying to explain he does not he has a modified rat tail, which is a standard haircut not a mullet cuz it's too long to be a mullet a mullet has to be shorter, that's a whole nother haircut but, um you know y'all out here arguing with your wives about important stuff we out here arguing on whether or not characters have mullets let's we ain't the same let's just be clear you have any pets, we need to say. Pastor Bill: [15:15] We ain't the same now if you use napkins from restaurants in your car as Kleenex to blow your nose then yes we're in the same tax bracket but other than that. Pastor Newms: [15:28] Homie we are not in the same tax bracket where several brackets away from each other and I still do that so that's not that. There's a carpet behind you. Pastor Bill: [15:55] And the the church body. Pastor Newms: [15:57] Yeah that makes it better I said nothing. Pastor Bill: [16:01] You said you and I were several tax brackets separated and I'm obviously not a millionaire. So I'm down as I'd have to be below you not above you. Pastor Newms: [16:13] Actually I guess we're not several worldly I actually don't know how many tax brackets we are several is probably incorrect though. Pastor Bill: [16:21] Man I'm in the- tax. Pastor Newms: [16:26] No you're still in a tax bracket you just don't pay taxes there's a difference you are in a tax bracket. Pastor Bill: [16:33] I pay - I pay - When it lists your tax rate on your tax return my number is always negative. Mine's like poverty - 200% or something like. Pastor Newms: [17:01] No we're not several we're there's one tax bracket between us, just one so now we're good I was wrong that was rude of me. Well I guess this chart over here says, this chart over here says there's two brackets between us. So I don't know now I don't know either yeah now I don't know. Pastor Bill: [17:50] Tax package do junior to do. Pastor Newms: [17:57] Okay there's two tax brackets between us according to the 20 I was looking at old data if I'm looking at 2021 taxes there are two brackets between us. Pastor Bill: [18:10] Yes there are two breath. Pastor Newms: [18:11] Well no because technically you because of your income you were in a hot you weren't in the lowest bracket, but then you. Pastor Bill: [18:24] At your at your business expenses I was. Somebody give us a shotgun so we can get rid of these rabbits, no yeah that is a kind of that we're going to be on because the Epic that the title of tonight's episode is casting lots and hanging thoughts, so that's. Pastor Newms: [19:01] To be clear that's that's thoughts not thoughts just so we're all clear. Pastor Bill: [19:06] That starts not thoughts yeah so tonight we're talking about casting lots and we're talking about hanging thoughts, and the casting lots part that's more going to be Pastor Newms this thing because his brains been on this lately and then it kind of fell onto it in my study this week and went oh okay well here it is this is this is. Pastor Newms: [19:29] It has been I do obsess about things sometimes and it has recently been Lots. Pastor Bill: [19:36] Um and so do you want to go first so you want me to go first I'm going to talk about hanging thoughts and your talk about casting lots. Pastor Newms: [19:43] Weeks ago like just like. Pastor Bill: [19:47] I guess okay. Pastor Newms: [19:51] The argument we had was. Pastor Bill: [19:52] It's so weird, okay so we're still in Acts and the section of Acts that we're pulling out of this week, and Biggs brings up on Twitch that they cast lots a lot in the Bible and yes they do and if we honestly if we cast lots today as much as they did in the Bible and in the ways it in the Bible we would probably be accused of Witchcraft by the modern Church, but it's a legitimate way to hear from God on you know what you doing people just don't utilize it anymore because gas Magic, so weird. Pastor Newms: [20:35] No we're doing yours first we talked about this so stop I almost I'm aware I'm aware. Pastor Bill: [20:42] You mean your dad brought it up. Pastor Newms: [20:45] And I almost went into it and then went whoop. Pastor Bill: [20:49] Yeah you want to go right into it all right so we're pulled from Acts chapter 1 verses 15 through and that says in those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters the number of people who were together was about 120 and said brothers and sisters it was necessary that the scripture would be fulfilled that the holy spirit that the mouth of David foretold about Judas who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus for he was one of our number and shared in this ministry, now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages he fell head first his body burst open in his intestines Spilled Out, this became known to all the residents of Jerusalem so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama with that is filled of blood, for it is written in the Book of Psalms and this is actually, um Peters actually pulling two different places from The Book of Psalms and marrying them together for this little segment where he's quoting The Book of Psalms. Let the his dwelling become desolate let no one live in it and let someone else take his position therefore from among the men who have accompanied US during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out Among Us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us from among these it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection, so the proposed to Joseph called Barsabbas, and who was also known as Justus and Matthias, when they prayed you'll or know everyone's Hearts show which of these two you have chosen to take the place, in this episode of ministry that Judas left to go where he belongs, then they cast lots for them and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven Apostles he became the 12th Apostle taking judas's place, so in this hanging thoughts the, event that we're looking at with Judas it's we turn to Matthew, flipping back and forth in My Vibe ill Matthew 26. And we're going to read a few different excerpts from Matthew 26 just to get an idea of what's going on with Judas here, I will show you verse 14 then one of the twelve the man called Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and said what are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you him being you know Jesus because, so they weighed out 30 pieces of silver for him, and from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him and then we're going to jump over to chapter 27, verse 5. Pastor Newms: [24:04] Four three. Pastor Bill: [24:07] Four three then we're starting three, then Judas his betrayer saying that Jesus had been condemned was full of remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and Elders I have sinned by betraying innocent blood he said, what's that to us they said see to it yourself so he threw the silver into the temple and departed then he went and hanged himself, hanged him self okay, and then verses 7 through 8 they the chief priests we don't have to skip first skip first six we can read that one to the chief priests took the silver and said it is not permitted to put it into the temple treasury since it is blood Money, they conferred together and bought the Potter's field with it as a burial place for foreigners there for that field has been called blood-filled to this day. So this is actually one of those things where people go well see there's an inconsistency there see Matthew says hanged and in Acts it says his body burst open in his intestines Spilled Out, this idea of hanged that they're talking about in Matthew isn't the same kind of hang like lynching that, in our modern on mind we think of hanging someone from a tree with a rope that's not what Judas did to himself, hanging yourself then in this context is to take a sword that has a handle, guard you know and you put the butt of the sword onto the ground and you fall forward onto it and then your, midsection is caught on that handle guard and you're literally hanging their over top of the ground, hanging over the sort and so this is this idea of hanging that Judas did to himself he actually threw himself onto his own sword and then hung there on the. Handle guard until, his body burst open in his intestines Spilled Out and the field was bought with the 30 pieces of silver, the 30 pieces of silver that originated from the same priests that refused to take it back because now it's blood Money. Pastor Newms: [26:46] The dates spent. Pastor Bill: [26:50] They created by hiring an assassin of sorts. Pastor Newms: [26:57] God love people who dance that line. Pastor Bill: [27:03] That's yeah that's some serious like swervin right there like how do we make ourselves look good here oh I know we'll use this money and we'll buy the field where he just went killed himself, and we'll buy it in his name because it's his blood money and then we'll make it a place to bury foreigners and the poor. Pastor Newms: [27:29] Because then we didn't do anything wrong. Pastor Bill: [27:31] Nice classy yeah cuz then we we did it right we didn't put that money back into the coffers we did the right thing, it's just those kind of details you know when you go into conversations and you're talking to people and then they bring up things like, there's this contradiction between Matthew and acts did you can you know well actually if you did a modicum of research you would find that, you're wrong and that those aren't that's not a contradiction that's actually the same thing, in the cultural context right we always talk about you know when you're shutting the Bible you want to look at what the cultural context is because if you take it, and you take that scripture according to your cultural context then you've taken it out of, it's no longer in contact. Pastor Newms: [28:36] And there are times where with the context of the Bible we you can't even just trust, oh well Strong's Concordance says this this says this that means that which, the diction does the connotations do not and that's where those connotations that come from, culture and colloquialisms and in all that you know we deal with it every day we have so many words that don't we use incorrectly away from their diction or their diction has changed, because of that so I mean yeah. Those aren't those are definitely some and and you know there's there's a lot, there's a lot that has been stated and done around his death, you know a lot of things said a lot of things thought through that and it's very interesting Sometimes some of those beliefs that arose from it. Pastor Bill: [30:00] And you bring up the shrunken coordinates thing because the Strong's Concordance literally says that word means to strangle one. Pastor Newms: [30:10] Look to strangle. Pastor Bill: [30:12] Culturally that's not what they were referring to when they said. Pastor Newms: [30:18] You know and it's one of those where it's an understanding of you know the culture more than understanding of the language there's you know. Pastor Bill: [30:30] Because we use we use words that mean other things all the time and if you didn't know our culture you'd be confused. Pastor Newms: [30:41] I mean we're not we're amazing at it in Christianity as well you know we use words that mean something to us means something completely different, and that's always something we have to think about and look at when we're studying and when we're you know just living because oftentimes how you feel a word, means does not how someone else fuse it and regular words can become offensive easily due to those types of things. Pastor Bill: [31:11] Well even naughty just offensive but even simple words like we had this conversation before about what's the difference between the soul and the spirit, and it honestly depends on who you ask, because people use those words interchangeably to literally mean two different things and they just use them interchangeably oh also bi-weekly and by. Pastor Newms: [31:34] Don't get me started on that one. Pastor Bill: [31:36] Bi-weekly not only means, every other week but it also means. Pastor Newms: [31:41] Are we talking about accounting we talking about meetings are we talking about payroll or we talking about because for all of those situations it could mean something different or the exact thing you think of. Pastor Bill: [31:55] Biannually okay is that twice a year is that once every two years, depends on context. Pastor Newms: [32:05] I hate that one that one irritates me bi-weekly especially. Pastor Bill: [32:09] It's crazy all right well yeah but weekly. Pastor Newms: [32:12] We need to meet on this bye week. Pastor Bill: [32:14] Can you just say every other week when you mean every other week. Pastor Newms: [32:16] Need to meet on this bi-weekly am i setting up a Tuesday Thursday or am I setting up a Wednesday Wednesday. Pastor Bill: [32:27] Hmm. Pastor Newms: [32:28] That one that one always gets me and you got to clarify. Pastor Bill: [32:32] So one of the things that I had decided at one point to start doing instead of saying bi-weekly when I meant every other week I would start saying fortnightly. Because a fortnight means two weeks. Pastor Newms: [32:48] For fortnite was technically 20 days. Pastor Bill: [32:55] Isn't it just, I thought it was too easy weeks how long is a fortnight. Pastor Newms: [33:08] It's a period of two weeks. Pastor Bill: [33:20] That's in Tokay. Pastor Newms: [33:21] Actually it can be 14 or 15 days. Pastor Bill: [33:26] There are 336 hours in a fortnight. Why did you give it to me in that and there are 26 .08 929 fortnight's in a year, Google no DuckDuckGo is is trying to prank me or something just tell me. Three hundred thirty six hours or twenty six point zero eight nine to nine times in a year. Pastor Newms: [34:00] Originally meant 14 nights for. Pastor Bill: [34:09] So we should meet for tonight. Pastor Newms: [34:11] Is that 14 nights which could be 15 days that's where that that's where the question of 14 nights. Pastor Bill: [34:18] Will you mean on one you mean it on one day and then you have 14 nights between those and then you meet again that's the 15th day. Pastor Newms: [34:27] It's not 14 days. Pastor Bill: [34:29] So well well it's what made it okay whatever. Pastor Newms: [34:33] If we meet on Monday and then we meet the next Fortnight the next time we meet is a Tuesday. Pastor Bill: [34:38] Right and then the next time it'll be Wednesday in the next time it'll be a Thursday next time it'll be a Friday. Pastor Newms: [34:43] And then once it's a Friday then we can't have the business meeting until Monday which means it's no longer a fortnight and you've ruined it completely see I don't I don't like see I don't like that one either no. For normal people they're not saying Fortnight I love you but normal people aren't saying Fortnight unless they're doing a dumb dance. Pastor Bill: [35:05] Are using these these ambiguous things that nobody knows what they mean and they're having to clarify. Pastor Newms: [35:13] I love our arguments. Pastor Bill: [35:14] Okay I'm done with my section which I thought would take longer but that's okay you have the floor for the next 20 minutes so. Pastor Newms: [35:22] I'm not going to take it I don't accept. Pastor Bill: [35:25] It's time we're going to talk about casting lunch. Pastor Newms: [35:29] So you know there's the converse you know we touched on it several weeks ago just casting lots you know what is it what does it mean, you know there are people that cast lots very very often in life there are some people who cast lots so often in life they keep Lots on their desk, to be cast at any moment, so that way they don't have to search for them to cast them and go so far as to cast ones that look, like they're made of bone when they're not which is possibly, getting real close to that line of what you're casting. Pastor Bill: [36:26] Reading bones and reading tea leaves is not casting lots. Pastor Newms: [36:31] No Pastor Bill: [36:32] You've gone but you've gone past. Pastor Newms: [36:34] You've gone past casting lots and you've entered something else. Pastor Bill: [36:37] You're you've gotten past asking for an answer and into prognostication. Pastor Newms: [36:45] Flip of a coin yes that that is well is a form it was normally done with dice or dice type things they weren't the dice that we use, commonly normally they were more like the dice that are used in episode 1 of Star Wars, the ones that only certain sides are colored the colored dye they weren't numbers all the time they were you know, it depended depending on the situations it depended on. Pastor Bill: [37:22] Well in in Gideon's time they cast lots with them fleece that go out first thing in the morning after Morning Dew had fallen on the you know where was on the ground and and they would, throw out fleece on the ground and whichever fleece came up dry that was the right answer. Pastor Newms: [37:42] Yeah we've evolved polyhedrons to polyhedral, dice made of polyurethane typically hit. Pastor Bill: [38:00] In Aaron's day they drew Lumen and Thurman from a bag which is basically just you draw a rock and if it's a White Rock dancers yes if you draw a black rock fanswers know. Pastor Newms: [38:12] And some dice were painted some are not numeric, some dice are you know and you would change the probability of things by tossing a six-sided die that was usually hand-carved which means the sides were not accurately, mathematically correct and then one side was painted and not all of them had no you know it all depended on how it was done but the idea of casting lots is, asking God to help you make the decision or asking God to make the decision through the Lots. Pastor Bill: [38:53] But not not only Christians cast lat. Pastor Newms: [38:55] No Pastor Bill: [38:56] The soldiers cast lots for who would get what pieces of Jesus close. Pastor Newms: [39:02] And those ones were probably more an actual dice game and that is that that is one of the reasons why, I've heard preached why casting lots is bad because obviously it's bad because the Romans did it and you're like. Pastor Bill: [39:20] And then the at and then and then the apostles literally do it to choose who replaced you. Pastor Newms: [39:24] Weeks later but okay yeah sure but I mean it's it's part of also your intention you know are you trying. Pastor Bill: [39:34] Well everything boils down to intention. Pastor Newms: [39:35] Everything are you trying you know one of the things that you see with people is oh well Even's will do this odds will do that and when it rolls and you don't get what you want you go bust out of two out of three and it's like. Pastor Bill: [39:50] See now you're tempting. Pastor Newms: [39:52] And and let's be honest I've done it and there's been times one time I did it and the next role was three ones and it's one of those where it's like. If you don't do things like that often you're like so in games in dice things ones are your worst typical role and so 31 statistically, it's a decently hard roll, because you have to take the statistical likelihood of each of the dice rolling in the numbers and numerically you know 33 of any let's be honest three of any single number is a lot harder to roll than a combination number and so it's one of those where you're like oh no blah and yeah people who play Yahtzee know how hard it is to get, you know one role in picking up you know all six or three or four and you're just like sorry, I'll go to bed you're right but we sometimes do it for simple things like, which video game do we really want to play tonight if we if we can't decide we don't care and we're like what do you want to do you want to do you want to hang out you want to watch TV you want to play a game you want to you know stare at each other and not actually like each other you know what you want to do tonight sometimes you can't decide, and you know in those times. Pastor Bill: [41:28] Put on matching shirts and pop popcorn I made popcorn and. Pastor Newms: [41:31] We're grown men we don't wear matching shirts. Pastor Bill: [41:36] Not after you see that I am wearing the same shirt as you want now. Pastor Newms: [41:39] Right that's why I change shirts so for those out there that are like what is he talking about I wore my friends of Garrett and he were his friend of Garrett shirt tonight both of us. Pastor Bill: [41:53] And then and then we connected on camera and went wow look at that the Lots fell to the same shirt and he went no no no I ain't even. Pastor Newms: [41:58] I didn't I didn't notice I didn't notice, you were the one who was a good look we're wearing the same shirt and I'm like not with that attitude we ain't no now we can, wear the same shirt but once you start making a thing out of it ain't happening I'm gonna go change shirts and so I did I change I didn't even just change shirts I change genres but this was the closest shirt between me and the bedroom closet actually I didn't even get all the way to the closet this was just, I actually took this out of my office like an hour ago so I was like I'll just. Pastor Bill: [42:32] All right so you were talking about random number. Pastor Newms: [42:36] Yeah so there was a question that there's a question that I posed to a friend of mine around casting lots as we were doing a study on, what when casting lots came up, I don't even remember but casting lots came up in a Biblical study we were doing in our family bible study and so I was talking to our, my cousin's husband because he's gamer and I was like you know it makes you wonder if so it was the fact that the verse that God decides all, rolls you know God decides fate and stuff like that. Pastor Bill: [43:17] Well versus the. Pastor Newms: [43:18] We talked about it last time I don't remember did you pull it up because you knew we were going to talk about. Pastor Bill: [43:38] That's what I was about to say a lot is cast into the lap but it's every decision is from the Lord. Pastor Newms: [43:44] So it's an and the meaning of that is basically you know yeah we cast lots every time you cast lots in your lap you cast lots in the street you cast lots. Pastor Bill: [43:57] Heck even buying a lottery ticket and scratching it off is casting a lot. Pastor Newms: [44:01] Yeah and so we had this discussion of and and you said something that that almost borderline offended me when you said it around this which is you know, I was like well you know random number generators there's this joke in the community in all gaming communities of you need to pray to RNGsus and that spelled r and g, Bes us and it's because orangey is a random number generator and that is how video games decide loot rolls is random number generators and so and that's how dice, kind of work is I remember random number generator computer form of random number generation is its version of throwing a die the problem with orangey is, there is no such thing as random number generation because when you start dealing with technology, there is not as much. Atmospheric things that can affect there's not wind there's not surface tension there's not it's just, go pick a number between one and whatever and the computer goes and does it anyone who's used the random feature on their smart device or their old CD player knows, it's not truly random there is a pattern granted there's a pattern to dice rolls if you look at it enough, but the numbers are just smaller so. It's interesting to look at random number generation is random number generation the same as a lot and if that's the case every time you get upset because you don't get loose, is that something, that we shouldn't get any form of upset because God controls when and when not you're going to get loot it's a very interesting thought process because it doesn't it's not the same, but it's one of those things for a gamer you're like is it and and so you get into it and then you said something that, offended me to a small degree which was when we were when we were arguing about this on whether it was or wasn't you said my relationship with God has nothing to do with a random number generator, the outcome of a random number generator and I'm like that's my point it's not your relationship it's, the random number generator is it or is it not a lot and and that's you know it's an interesting thought process of, is it and the. Pastor Bill: [47:01] I also said the random number generators are created for you to overcome, by Rolling again to try to get that piece that you're looking for do the challenge again do the challenge again do the challenge again that's what RNG is all about is re-rolling until you get that piece of armor you get that, that you're trying to get. Pastor Newms: [47:23] I think that depends on the gameplay and if they're actually using a random number generator because a lot of times we argue that random number generators are you know we blame RNG, four things in video games that have nothing to do with orangey if the programmer programs one thing to be, available one percent of the time and one thing to be available 48 percent of the time that's not a random number eight generators fault, except for the fact of it is because the random number generator is choosing a number between 1 and 100, so whereas they're deciding the statistical probability, of you getting the item the number that it chooses is still part of an orangey. Pastor Bill: [48:11] Right because they are injeel chik-chik will choose a number between 1 and 100 but if they say this drop has a 48 percent chance it just changes the value of how often each number between 1 and 100 is chosen. Pastor Newms: [48:24] No no it would be what you would do. Pastor Bill: [48:28] And on some of those numbers you'd get it and some of those numbers you would. Pastor Newms: [48:30] Right you assigned each number with the loot is or a percentage chance and then it depends on the percentage really depends on how the game is coded but it's interesting to think about a thought experiment like this because this is purely a thought experiment which of course has nothing to do with salvation, but, it's an interesting thought experiment of what is random when you get to a point of saying something like God chooses every lat, so God chooses how every role is done so because of that, what does that truly mean for people who are like oh it's just a coincidence because it's like mmm.  Pastor Bill: [49:14] So let's read it again Proverbs 16 33 the lot is cast into the lap but it's every decision is from the Lord, so flipping a coin the decision the outcome of that decision that that's from the Lord, now if you flip a coin and it goes heads and then you go okay best try to three and you flip a coin again and then it says Tails I'm pretty sure God just doesn't doesn't care about your question God's like it doesn't matter, he just asked me whether you should drink Coke or Sprite for all I care. Pastor Newms: [49:51] Yeah and that's not saying that. Who said that. Pastor Bill: [50:02] Proverbs 16 was probably written by David. Pastor Newms: [50:03] Proverbs and let's look. Pastor Bill: [50:09] Yeah Roxanne on Facebook asks okay but who said that and she's not wrong we talked about that. Pastor Newms: [50:21] Yeah it's a valid question. Pastor Bill: [50:23] You know there's things in the Book of Job that you're like yeah that's that's not actual truth that's his friends error. Pastor Newms: [50:36] Sixteen. It's Solomon and tilt from 10 1222 is straight-up Proverbs of Solomon. Pastor Bill: [51:06] Not only was Solomon the wisest man that ever lived but when Solomon became king, he gave away all of his father's wealth because let's be honest David stole everything, um gave it all back to Who David stole it from and then within I think it was a decade, he had amassed 10 times the amount of wealth that David had because he was wise he had business acumen, he understood how the world worked and she follows up and asks and was he correct when he said it so let's ask that's let's look at some commentaries and see what they say, um Pastor Newms: [51:54] SS says to go to. 16:30. 16:1 the reflections of the heart belong to mankind but the answers the tongue is from the Lord, 19:21 I'm looking at where everywhere that this Bible points to, being a poor person who has integrity, better is a poor person who does integrity than someone who has deceitful lips that's interesting that it would point there because that could definitely argue of, you know don't lie about what I say don't lie about your role you D&D player's cheaters. Pastor Bill: [52:47] In first Samuel chapter 14 they they cast lots with the Airmen and Thurman, to determine who was guilty, in an event that had just happened and we as the reader have Insight on who's actually guilty but they don't know, and the ermine and thummim accurately expose Jonathan Saul's son as the person who was the wrongdoer. Pastor Newms: [53:17] As someone who doesn't believe in chance, I would definitely agree that in my study and everything I've learned and and studied and believe, there is no chance and so yeah I believe that God does control Lots. Pastor Bill: [53:44] The question is, how for me because God sets up systems God doesn't necessarily micromanage the Lots he sets up systems and hands off you know he delegates, um so, that's where to me luck comes in luck being an actual entity and actual being a spiritual being that, moves in Ebbs and flows and interacts with our lives and has very much to do with woodlot lots are cast and dice your throne and things like that. Roxy laughs and how does using the lord's name in vain correlate throwing Lots so using the names Lord in vain that we're using the lord's name in vain is actually a reference to saying God told me to do this or God did that when, it was actually just you and it wasn't God or God didn't do it and it was just something that happened, um it's don't falsely say God is responsible for something when God had nothing to do with it. When is it random and when is it inspired, according to Proverbs I know you questioned you know was he correct when he said it but according to that verse it's always inspired casting lots is always inspired and it's always random random to our view. Pastor Newms: [55:32] And I think that's the key there is is the Providence of God you know we the family bible study and other things I've been doing recently has led me to Esther, a bunch and, it's interesting for a book that God's name is not used once his, handprint is everywhere you know huh. Pastor Bill: [56:05] That's what the word providence means. Pastor Newms: [56:06] Yes what's up yeah and so that whole thing of you know a butterfly flaps its wings over here and it can cause a tsunami doesn't always, can because of cause and effect and so there are times where I think that that's the big thing of there is no random in my opinion, it appears random two are human forms in going through linear time. But that's my personal belief. Pastor Bill: [56:42] The Israelites cast lots to see what tribe would get what plots of land under Joshua when they got to the promised land. In the Book of Jonah they cast lots to find out who it was in the ship that was causing the wrath of God to bring the storm upon the ship. And it fell upon Jonah the Jonah was like you caught me but don't fear not I will selflessly cast myself into the sea and this dude was ready to cast himself in the seeing die rather than go to Nineveh. Pastor Newms: [57:35] He was a very stubborn man. Pastor Bill: [57:39] I'd rather die and God. Pastor Newms: [57:41] Then bring Salvation. Pastor Bill: [57:45] Salvation to those fish worshippers. Pastor Newms: [57:47] People I don't like. Pastor Bill: [57:50] Not only that but then, God hasn't swallowed by a big fish and spit up on the beach by a big fish where all the people can see it and go hey you know that fish God we worship well his son's here, um and he says he has a message from the Lord, let's listen because God has a sense of humor. Pastor Newms: [58:17] Yeah. Pastor Bill: [58:21] All right it's 7:33 so we're a little over our normal time this podcast comes out every Wednesday night, at 7 p.m. Central Standard Time wherever you get your podcasts if you listen to this and you like it, could you please like it you know actually officially like it and share it and follow us helps new people find the podcast and therefore spread faith hope and love to more of, the modern Church, would you record this podcast to live on Sunday nights at 6:30 p.m. Central Standard Time and this next episode we're going to record will be little different we will record it live but we will be actively live in the chat when it is actually going out, and that is because we will actually be, in the same place next weekend when we record it instead of me being in Texas and Pastor Newms being in Tennessee, after next week if you would join us at 6:30 p.m. Central Standard Time, or rather I central daylight I guess it's daylight savings time. D St Central DST then all that. Pastor Newms: [59:35] I really hope it passes the house. Pastor Bill: [59:38] But it always be Central DST. Pastor Newms: [59:41] No it would just be Central at that time we would no longer have to say Central DST for the times that we are in daylight savings time it would just be Central again. Pastor Bill: [59:53] Yeah okay they could have chosen the fall time which was the original time. Pastor Newms: [1:00:00] That's the thing that weirds me out is why they didn't go that route because that is messing with Arizona Arizona is now yeah anyway I was talking to Arizona some people from Arizona about it. Pastor Bill: [1:00:14] Well yeah your wife's from Arizona so yeah oh really. Pastor Newms: [1:00:16] No no this was actually business yeah the clients we just launched recently was we moved Arizona that was one of the big things we did to a new EMR so at my job so. Pastor Bill: [1:00:28] All right so that invitation is out there if you would if you would like to join us on Facebook YouTube or switch on some Sunday night so you can be a part of the chat and see us record it live than we would love for you to come and join us you can find out which Facebook twitch or YouTube. Pastor Bill: [1:00:46] Channels those are by going to our website ekk.house I hope you guys have a great week, and I love you very much. Pastor Newms: [1:00:59] Be safe out there. Pastor Bill: [1:01:01] And until next time.

Thank you for supporting this ministry, I lovingly refer to as "The Little Green Pasture." Click here: PayPal: http://paypal.me/joanstahl​​​​​​​​​​​... ​ Please prayerfully consider becoming a ministry partner: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/joaniestahl​​​​​ **Contact Email: jsfieldnotes@gmail.com **Send Donations To: Joanie Stahl - P.O. Box 1386 - 205 Avenida Del Mar - San Clemente, Ca. 92672 **You can also visit and subscribe to me on Rumble: https://rumble.com/account/content?ty... If not now, there will come a time in life where God will want you to part ways with a person you love. A person who held your hand through many trials and temptations. The parting will not be for any failure of the relationship, but a parting ordained by God. It will be on the basis of your growth and maturity. Jonathan and David are the two people we read in the entire Bible of a friendship so potent in love for one another. A brotherly love that surpassed, "even that of the love of women." When David was hiding out in the wilderness, and in the woods because Saul was hunting him down to kill him. Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. Sometimes it feels as though our souls are always being hunted and there is never a day's respite. Souls tire of being hunted, and like David they are in the wilderness in a wood. Then was Jonathan's chance. But notice what he does; he does not comfort David that he becomes necessary to him. In essence Jonathan detaches David from himself, and he attaches him instead to his "very present help." From there Jonathan went away to his house and David went into the wood.....alone with God. If he had leaned on Jonathan, if Jonathan had made himself necessary to David, he would not have leaned on his Rock, and proved the glorious strength of His Rock. His whole life would have been lived on a lower level, and who can tell how many of his songs would have been left unwritten, or all the prayers to God of his lamenting, losses, griefs and victories would never have been written. What great loss to the glory of God and to the church of all the ages had not Jonathan strengthened David's hand in God. Let that love that was in Jonathan for David be in you. That selfless, strong, brave and faithful love that detaches yourself from those you love, and strengthen their hands in God. There are always chances for strengthening one another's hands in God; let us not lose our chances. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/joanie-stahl/support

Download I Samuel 17-20 We are in the Nation Stream today as we experience that classic story of David & Goliath. We are reading from the World English Bible. 7streamsmethod.com | #7Streams | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord, thank you for David's example here.  We can shine with you and walk with you no matter who is against us, or how fierce the attitude is against us or how bleak the odds seem against us.  You will always give us the human and spiritual comfort that we need.  Amen. David and Goliath - the battle seems to be a preview or a "trailer" of world history.  We've heard of this reference in so many contests.  Well the original story comes from here; I Samuel 17.  It is intriguing that historians of all stripes and creeds will confess that monotheism hung upon the outcome of this battle. Theologically, God is bigger than our perspectives, but for that assessment [the fate of montheism] to be attached to this David/Goliath showdown is impressive.  David's courage and confidence and skill; to be assured that he could drop this behemoth pagan goon in a single pop testifies to the fact that David was in touch with more than his dismissive brothers were aware of.  Saul tried to dress David in Saul's armor so that any victory would be associated with Saul.  David doesn't need it.  If David can take on a several hundred pound lion and a several hundred pound bear, then he can take on a several hundred pound man who lacks claws and teeth. Pastor Chuck Swindoll once called Goliath a "cross-eyed discus thrower" - he didn't have much talent or break many records, but he sure kept the spectators awake!   We know the story of the five smooth stones. Goliath did have four other brothers so if the Philistines wanted to break contract and charge them in, David was ready to drop them too. Analyze this fascinating story from any angle and the discussion of it remains endless 18 - Saul's character and paranoia are only further revealed in this string of stories. He treats David as an enemy AND has to hide that fact that he loathes him, is jealous, and scared of David.  David becomes all the more entwined in the Kingdom as Jonathan [Saul's son] and David become "friends for life". The chanting about David's prowess is making Saul crazy.  Still, Saul wants him close (like Mafia thinking that is determined to keep enemies close-by). He throws spears at him after using music to make David vulnerable  He mocks David in offering his daughter then revoking the deal. He sends David on a fool's mission to kill Philistines ... time and again Saul shows his vapid character and David shows his faithfulness. 19 - things only get worse for Saul as it turns out his own home is committed to David over Saul.  Jonathan is caught in a duplicitous position in his sonship to the king and his friendship to the future king who is hated by the present king; his father.  Jonathan becomes vital informant to David and is strangely yet secretly protected by Jonathan. Michal, Saul's daughter is Davids' wife and she is eventually protecting David against the king; her father.  Saul might do well to read into the obvious but the LORD had left him and he is too crazed to see reality anymore.  In his effort to apprehend David, the LORD God of Israel intercepts again and "slays" all Saul's messengers through using them to prophecy.  It's certainly an odd scene.  It seems to only prove the mangled hilarity of trying to fight God or anyone who is indeed on God's side. 20 - Then there's the dinner, and David's failure to appear for saying he was going to meet his family in Bethlehem, [remember I Sam. 18:2; Saul had forbidden this]. Jonathan's attempting to cover for David threw Saul into a manic rage and now he is throwing spears at Jonathan; his own son!  The scene with Jonathan and David meeting, the part of the little boy present as a decoy and informant during the "arrows routine" - of which the young boy is oblivious - all this is nothing short of clever.  It shows more of the same mind of David that would win him numerous other battles and verify why Jonathan and he are such dear friends.  This would seem to be the benediction put upon their friendship as Jonathan is now starkly aware of his father's hatred of David. Jonathan was a true hearted fellow and in his right mind, but he wasn't going to trigger an open rebellion against his own father; the King.  So Jonathan and David part company and it is a sad day for the both of them.  Their final encounter is in ch. 23, but this one here in ch. 20 feels like they are both bracing themselves emotionally to part company. The friendship between them had become so costly.  And this made it all the more dear.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas' website.Pharaoh’s daughter / Pharaoh (daughter / father, and princess / king)14th BCExodus 1:15-17, 22; 2:1-10The hero is a pagan, a worshipper of the Egyptian gods—the daughter of Pharaoh!We’re not told whether she ever told her father she had adopted a Hebrew baby. Nor are we given any details about her interactions with her father, the Pharaoh. Besides, pharaohs tended to have many wives and children. (Ramesses II lived to age 90, reigning close to 70 years, and had perhaps 100 children!)Even though Pharaoh himself was considered divine, he is mocked—not by verbal scorn, but by God moving in the simple heart of a young woman—one who moved at cross-purposes to her father to safeguard the future welfare of God's people.Perhaps adopting Moses was the result more of natural affection than virtue, and it’s possible she was unaware of Pharaoh’s decree—as was Jonathan in 1 Sam14.Jonathan / Saul (son / father, and prince / king)11th BC1 Samuel 14:24-30; 18:1-4; 19:1-6; 23:16-18Jonathan is not taken in by his father’s authoritarian outburst, or by his foolish (and counterproductive) decrees.He evinces loyalty, but not stupidity.Another great quality of Jonathan—a stark contrast to his father—is his capacity for friendship, esp. with David, who Saul now regards as his mortal enemy!David and Jonathan have a deeply spiritual relationship.Jonathan is also humble, happy to serve as David’s number two guy.Jonathan was at cross-purposes with Saul. Jonathan never did become king, or even live long to enjoy his relationship with David. He, like his father and brothers, dies in battle against the Philistines. Our next character became king, but only after a period of hiding (many years)…Joash / Athaliah (son / grandmother)8th BC2 Chronicles 22:11-12; 23:1-21; 24:1-22Athaliah was the grandmother of Joash. She was a wicked woman but a strong leader, seizing control of the southern kingdom of Judah and ruled it for six years. Jehoiada the elderly guardian of Joash knew that the ungodly Athaliah was ruining the nation and he had the nerve to depose her once the time was right. There follows the account of one of the manycoups d'état of the Bible.Joash, guided by the elderly priest Jehoida, deposes his grandmother Athaliah.The boy-king begins his forty-year reign well. After some time, he restores the lapsed Temple, and even challenges his guardian Jehoiada to expect more of the priests and Levites!Yet when Jehoiada dies and his spiritual influence no longer shapes Joash, the boy-king quickly declines.In short, Joash lacks character. He even has Jehoiada's son Zechariah (not the minor prophet but a different person) executed for challenging his sin. As a result, the Lord does call him to account in accordance with the words of the dying Zechariah.Finally, Joash is defeated in battle, even though his forces far outnumbered the enemy.We see that Joash was at cross-purposes with his grandmother, and also (sadly) with God. Like many of us, his life was a blend of the wonderful and tragic, faith and lack of faith. Yet his story is finished; ours is still being written.Whereas Joash goes from good to bad, our next king goes in the opposite direction. Josiah!Josiah / Amon (son / father)7th BC2 Ki 21:19-24; 22:1-2, 11, 13; 23:1-3Josiah is one Judaean king through whom Yahweh offered his people one final chance to be right with him—to be saved—from Babylon.Yet his father (Amon) was a wicked, ungodly man. Josiah is the opposite of Amon, and certainly did not live up to his father’s expectations, just as Amon was the opposite of the later Manasseh, grandfather of Josiah.And then the long-lost book of the Law is discovered….Josiah fears the Lord and honors the word of God, sending to the prophetess Huldah to learn what the Lord would have him do.Josiah renews the covenant, and things seem to be going well for Israel, yet his reformation did not last long.Josiah was certainly rowing against the tide, for most of the leaders and people of Judah were at cross-purposes with Yahweh.Next, we will examine two monarchs who aren't in the land of Israel at all. Not in Egypt (our first pair), but in Persia. Worshipers of Ahura Mazda—over 1000 years before Islam would make the land become the Islamic Republic of Iran.Vashti / Xerxes (queen / king, wife / husband)5th BCEsther 1:1-5, 9-10, 12; 1:15-2:1; 2:4, 17486-465 bc Xerxes: his dominion is a big territory—and the banquet is a big deal.The king cares about his reputation, glory, power… but the Lord is not impressed—as with Babel in Gen 11.Inebriated, Xerxes summons his wife so that her beauty may be displayed. Yet Vashti refuses to be gawked at.The King of Persia is made to look foolish—here and throughout the book of Esther. (Connection with Pharaoh—his silly laws are flouted right under his nose.Like the other Gentile king, Pharaoh, his projection of hubris and perfection is revealed to be vain. The other 3 monarchs, Saul, Athaliah, and Amon, are also shown to be not only ungodly but sham leaders..ConclusionWe may often find ourselves at cross-purposes with those who are not following the Lord. This may esp. be the case with family members, as with Pharaoh’s daughter, Jonathan, Joash, Josiah, and Vashti.So, how should we interact with those close to us—people involved in our lives, whether family or not—when there are conflicting agendas?Respect them – always.Please them / obey them – usually.Ignore them – if they are pushing you to go against God’s will.Don’t live for the approval of the world, or of worldly people.Take our stand with the people of God, knowing that ultimately his will will be done. And may the Lord strengthen our resolve to live this way!*                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *If you have enjoyed the OT Character Podcast series, there is also a NT Character series, with about 70 talks, covering some 90 characters. But please don’t stop with the 175 persons given attention in these two series. After all, there are 100s of biblical characters!

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas' website.IntroductionOur O.T. character today is a minor character. And yet doesn't mean he isn't important.The relationship between David and Jonathan (Saul's son, next in line for the throne) was intimate.Jonathan's son becomes disabled -- but this is not what matters most. Rather, what we are about to study is an excellent illustration of grace.2 Sam 4:4 — Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.Distressing news led to his nurse dropping him. (Reminds us of death of Eli on hearing another battle report.)Escaping potential assassins, nurse runsSource of medical condition = human error.Born blind v. blinded in acid attackBorn with heart problem (Kurka) v. asbestos / careless companyQuite possibly that in time he couldn’t even remember ever being able to walk without assistance or crutches.Image of grace, not just for medical situationsMental health issuesTrauma (e.g. PTSD or abuse)Sin cripples us9:1 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.”Lo-debar means nothing.This underscores the humble situation of Mephibosheth.9:5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”Mephibosheth need not fear; David is not assassinating potential political rivals -- quite the opposite!"Dead dog" => humility9:9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall always eat at my table.”There is no merit in the case of Mephibosheth. Disability brings no entitlements.Provision in perpetuityThe "king's table" (provision, not necessarily presence)Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king's table. Now he was lame in both his feet.Grace brings us to the King’s presence.Sons (and daughters) of the King!Mephibosheth is no longer a boy -- he is a grown man and a father.16:1 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3 And the king said, “And where is your master's son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’” 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”Ziba shows grace to the king and his men -- or is this disingenuous?Mephibosheth has political aspirations -- really? (Is Ziba speaking the truth?)Compare Mephibosheth's disposition to that of Adonijah in 1 Kings 2:15.16:24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had neither taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back in safety. 25 And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26 He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said to him, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ For your servant is lame. 27 He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you. 28 For all my father's house were but men doomed to death before my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to cry to the king?” 29 And the king said to him, “Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.” 30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.”Mephibosheth's lack of grooming indicates his grief over the coup, not giddy expectancy that his own situation now stands to gain.BetrayalDeceptionSlanderHow do we react when this happens to us?Is Ziba speaking the truth?Division of property is redolent of 1 Kings 3:26 (“Let him take it all” —  like the prostitute who spoke honestly)GraceMephibosheth shows grace.Doesn’t try to fight his steward, who betrayed himCould also have been bitter towards his nurse. But he models a better way.Received grace, and therefore shows grace?David -> MephiboshethMephibosheth -> ZibaThe story of Mephibosheth is there to answer a question: What sort of man should be the ruler of God's people? What kind of a man deserves to be king? The one who realizes he too is crippled in both feet. The world has a tendency to exalt bullies. See 1 Sam 8.As "Son of David," Jesus treats the lame outcast poor marginalized in the same way.Luke 14:14; 18:14.The human tendency is to turn a story of humility into one of personal triumph. (How a David reaches out to a Mephibosheth!What should the church look like? It should picture restored humanity. A church of elevators. Not going up if someone is left behind. Walk alongside those who are lame. Yet to find healing.Examples of disabled persons who respond graciously.Richard Turner, card mechanic, blind yet grateful for his condition (Watch Dealt).My friend Tom, who thanks God for his Multiple Sclerosis every day.A middle-aged Christian leader recently stricken with diabetes -- and yet does not evince even a trace of bitterness.A one-legged Christian sister, wounded in drive-by shooting, who models joy and love (not self pity).Our own suffering may lead to our developing empathy -- to a ministry (see 2 Cor 1).ConclusionLife isn't always fair. (In fact, it usually isn't fair.)The point is not to receive justice or equality. In Mephibosheth's case, the point was not to receive healing, but to draw near to God -- to receive and model grace.We are all needy.Disabled by damage inflicted by others -- or by myselfHandicapped by ignoranceCrippled by sinShow grace; let things slide.Mephibosheth does not demand equality (50/50 split with Ziba), nor in fact anything at all (he is happy for Ziba to have it all). His life is not defined by material possessions.Example: Christians and lawsuits.To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? - 1 Cor 6:7The early Christians did not take people to court (see NT chapter notes on 1 Cor 6) -- especially one another!Care for the needy, the infirm, and the disabled.FurtherMeriba’al seems to have been Mephibosheth's original name (1 Chr 8:34; 9:40). Mephibosheth = "from the mouth of shame" (Hebrew).Yet there is no shame in being needy, nor in receiving help from others.For, as Jesus said, "Freely you have received; freely give" (Matt 10:8). Listen also to the podcast on Jonathan, father of Mephibosheth, and David, his benefactor.

A five-part series from the Shippensburg bible school 2019 the studies delve into the life and example of Jonathan ( Saul's son) who demonstrated great love and friendship towards his friend David. Wonderful example are presented to us to reflect upon as to how we too ought to show love to one another. Watch the video version here... https://bibletruthandprophecy.com/jonathan-whose-love-was-wonderful-5-videos/

Jonathan Saul speaks with Michael Herbert, an internationally recognized clinician, speaker, and leader in addiction treatment. Michael has over 25 years of professional experience in the field of recovery and has helped thousands of people from all parts of the world. It was a pleasure having Michael Herbert on our recovery podcast. You can learn more about Michael Herbert at his website RecoveryGuide.com. View more episodes at: http://brightonrecoverycenter.com/podcast Jonathan Saul is the Executive Director and a founding partner of Brighton Recovery Center. Without Jonathan, this recovery podcast wouldn't exist. You can learn more about Jonathan Saul here. You can subscribe to the audio version on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and Libsyn.  

Northwest Theological Seminary presents a study of the Life of David, taught by Academic Dean James T. Dennison during the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters.