Podcasts about Philistines

“Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the Lord and the wall around the city.” (1 Kings 3:1 NLT) Solomon’s fall and disillusionment began with a series of compromises, one of which involved marrying the daughter of Pharaoh. Solomon did this because he wanted to establish a political alliance with Egypt. It was a strategic move. For all practical purposes, Solomon “yoked” himself unequally with a nonbeliever—something God had forbidden. God had told the Jewish people not to intermarry with other nations. This was not a racial issue; it was a spiritual issue. God didn’t want the Israelites aligning themselves with people who worshipped false gods. He knew how powerful the temptation of idolatry was. He knew that the Israelites’ hearts would turn away from Him if they established relationships with nonbelievers. God’s warning should resonate with His people today as well. We have an enemy who will use anything—including other people—to disrupt our relationship with God. And when those other unbelieving people inspire a romantic attraction in us, their negative impact is magnified. That’s how the devil took down Samson, perhaps the strongest man who ever lived. Samson had a natural attraction to Philistine women, even though they were not only idol worshippers but also enemies of Israel. The devil fanned the flames of attraction until Samson turned his back on his spiritual responsibilities to pursue ill-considered relationships. The race that is set before us as God’s people is difficult. A wise strategy is to run it with a partner who loves the Lord as much as you do. If you are a single person, you should pray for and wait on the godly man or woman that the Lord will bring into your life. You can be sure He would not want you romantically involved with a person who does not believe. The struggles, temptations, and negative influences are simply too great to be ignored. The Bible tells us, “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6:14–15 NLT). In the race of life, you want to run with someone who is going in the same direction that you are. And if you are Christians, both you and your mate will be running toward the Lord and His plan and purpose for your lives. Solomon did not live by that principle. He teamed up with people who did not share his faith or his God. Be wiser than the wisest man who ever lived. Don’t become a partner with an unbeliever. Reflection question: How can you determine whether someone is going in the same direction as you, spiritually speaking? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did the Phoenicians create the alphabet we still use today? Was the Bronze Age collapse comparable to the fall of Rome? What does DNA evidence tell us about the origins of the Philistines and Israelites? William is joined by Professor Eric Cline, author of 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed and After 1177 B.C.: The Survival Of Civilizations, to explore the era of recovery that followed the Bronze Age collapse and the new world which emerged from its ashes.  Join the Empire Club: Unlock the full Empire experience – with bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to miniseries and live show tickets, exclusive book discounts, a members-only newsletter, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at empirepoduk.com  For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: empire@goalhanger.com Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Editor: Adam Thornton Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8 NKJV) The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.” And Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote, “The end of a thing is better than its beginning” (Ecclesiastes 7:8 NKJV). Starting strong is overrated. Take sports, for example. Few baseball statisticians keep track of which team was ahead after the first inning. What matters is the final score. Likewise, starting strong is overrated in our spiritual journey. The Bible gives us examples of people who started strong in their service to the Lord, only to falter later. Scripture doesn’t celebrate these early successes; instead, it uses the people’s experiences as cautionary tales for other believers. One of the most memorable of these cautionary tales is that of Samson. Samson had a great beginning. He was blessed with superhuman qualities. Physically, there was no one stronger. We get a sense of his power in Judges 14:5–6: “As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily as if it were a young goat” (NLT). Samson was a one-man army, a judge chosen by God to make a difference on behalf of His people. On one occasion Samson killed thirty Philistines—the enemies of the Israelites—to settle a bet. On another occasion he killed 1,000 Philistine warriors on the battlefield with a bone that he picked up from the ground. He wasn’t a fictitious superhero; he was the real deal. For a time, Samson was a mighty man of God. And for a time, he was even a true world changer. Eventually, however, the world began to change him. Samson turned his back on God. He had an amazing beginning but a tragic ending. One day your life will be summed up in a paragraph or two on a bulletin that will be handed out at your memorial service. No one will care about how much money you made or how much stuff you owned. No one will care how high you climbed in your profession. Instead, they’ll talk about what kind of person you were. We don’t decide the day of our death any more than we decided the day of our birth. But we do determine the spiritual state we’ll be in when we die. God wants us to be close to Him. God wants us in friendship and fellowship and intimacy with Him. But it’s our choice whether to have a relationship with the Lord or not to have a relationship with Him. We must choose wisely so that we finish well. Reflection question: How do you want to finish your walk with the Lord? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8 NKJV) The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.” And Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote, “The end of a thing is better than its beginning” (Ecclesiastes 7:8 NKJV). Starting strong is overrated. Take sports, for example. Few baseball statisticians keep track of which team was ahead after the first inning. What matters is the final score. Likewise, starting strong is overrated in our spiritual journey. The Bible gives us examples of people who started strong in their service to the Lord, only to falter later. Scripture doesn’t celebrate these early successes; instead, it uses the people’s experiences as cautionary tales for other believers. One of the most memorable of these cautionary tales is that of Samson. Samson had a great beginning. He was blessed with superhuman qualities. Physically, there was no one stronger. We get a sense of his power in Judges 14:5–6: “As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily as if it were a young goat” (NLT). Samson was a one-man army, a judge chosen by God to make a difference on behalf of His people. On one occasion Samson killed thirty Philistines—the enemies of the Israelites—to settle a bet. On another occasion he killed 1,000 Philistine warriors on the battlefield with a bone that he picked up from the ground. He wasn’t a fictitious superhero; he was the real deal. For a time, Samson was a mighty man of God. And for a time, he was even a true world changer. Eventually, however, the world began to change him. Samson turned his back on God. He had an amazing beginning but a tragic ending. One day your life will be summed up in a paragraph or two on a bulletin that will be handed out at your memorial service. No one will care about how much money you made or how much stuff you owned. No one will care how high you climbed in your profession. Instead, they’ll talk about what kind of person you were. We don’t decide the day of our death any more than we decided the day of our birth. But we do determine the spiritual state we’ll be in when we die. God wants us to be close to Him. God wants us in friendship and fellowship and intimacy with Him. But it’s our choice whether to have a relationship with the Lord or not to have a relationship with Him. We must choose wisely so that we finish well. Reflection question: How do you want to finish your walk with the Lord? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Strategies of the Enemy (Exodus) There are Five Strategies I Want to Look at: (I'm sure there are others too) 1. DiscouragementDiscouraged by CircumstancesExodus 6:9 (NLT)“So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.” Discouraged by the EnemyExodus 13:17-18 (NLT)“When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” Discouraged by One AnotherNumbers 32:7-9 (NIV)“Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them? This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land. After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the Lord had given them.” Antidote: Encourage and Build UpHebrews 3:13 (ESV)"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)"...Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together... but encouraging one another.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”       2. DistractionAntidote: Stay FocusedHebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” 3. Disruption/DivisionAntidote: Walk in Unity1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” Philippians 2:2 (NIV)“Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” Colossians 3:13-14 (NV)“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” 4. DeceptionAntidote: Hold Fast to TruthJohn 8:32 (NIV)“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 17:17 (NIV)“Jesus said, ‘Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth'.” Psalm 51:6 (ESV)“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” 5. DestructionAntidote: Choose LifeProverbs 14:2 (NIV)“There is a way that seems right to man, but the end of it is destruction.” Acts 2:21 (NLT)“But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 2 Samuel 22:2 (ESV)“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer."

What happens when people try to control God instead of honoring Him? In this powerful message from 1 Samuel 5, we watch what happens after the Ark of the Covenant is captured and placed in the temple of Dagon. The Philistines assume their god has defeated the God of Israel. But by morning, their idol is face down. And the next morning? It's shattered. This message reminds us that: God will not share His glory. Idols eventually fall. Pain can be a wake-up call. The power isn't in objects, rituals, or strategies. The power is in the presence of God. If you've been tempted to prop something else up in God's place—career, relationships, comfort, control—this message will challenge and encourage you. God is loving. God is holy. And He refuses to be treated lightly. Take your next step. Press play.

Text:  Genesis 26:1-35   The Presence of God in Our Suffering (Gen. 26:1-5) A famine threatens Isaac and his family. God reaffirms His covenant to Isaac and promises His presence.   The Presence of God in Our Sin (Gen. 26:6-11) Isaac deceives Abimelech about his wife being his sister. Isaac is confronted in his sin, and God protects him.   The Presence of God in our Successes and Struggles (Gen. 26:12-35) God prospers Isaac in wealth and harvest in the land of the Philistines despite opposition from others. Isaac builds an altar of worship to God as God rehearses His promise to Isaac and reminds him of His presence. Abimelech recognizes that Isaac is blessed by God and establishes a treaty with him. Esau's life serves as a warning as he becomes a source of bitterness for his family.   Life Application We are not doomed to repeat our parent's sins. We will be tempted to repeat our parent's sins.  We must walk by faith in Christ, knowing that He will be with us.

Tales of Glory - Reading of His Word. A simple, informal morning reading of scripture from 1 Samuel, chapters 5-8. Yahweh invokes his judgment on Shiloh and allows the Ark of the Covenant to be seized by the Philistines. In chapter 5, we see evidence of cosmic geography and spiritual warfare in the temple of Dagon. Where God establishes Himself as the creator and superior deity over His creation. The Israelites reject God and His system of Judges. Timeline:00:00:00 Introduction to 1 Samuel 5-800:04:32 5 Polemic of Yahweh vs. Dagon00:11:52 6 Philistines return the ark.00:17:33 7 Samuel becomes the judge of Israel.00:26:39 8 Israel demands to be ruled by a king.00:30:41 Conclusion Opening show music - ⁠Meagan Wright - My Inheritancehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA4wqaymEl4&list=OLAK5uy_lyCWY8yIQLH2AVCmjb7vOGk1-U7qfeo_o

In this message, Alan opens 1 Samuel 3–6 to show what happens when the glory of God won't stay confined to familiar spaces. Israel assumes "the glory has departed," but Scripture reveals something deeper: the glory has gone before them—into places no one expected, even into enemy territory. As the ark is carried into the Philistines' temple, idols fall overnight—not because anyone is striving, but because God is already at work. Alan reframes seasons that feel like loss or distance as divine repositioning: God isn't retreating—He's advancing. He's working behind the scenes, dismantling what has oppressed, and preparing new territory for His people. This talk invites us to bring a wider expectation into everyday life—especially the workplace. Favor often begins hidden, then becomes visible over time. The God of restoration goes "off the reservation," and what the enemy meant for loss becomes provision, open doors, and a renewed vision of dwelling place as a people who carry His presence everywhere.

Judges – Session 6 | Strength from God, Failure through Compromise, and Restoration through Repentance This session centers on Judges chapters 14–16, exploring the life of Samson — a man chosen by God, empowered by the Spirit, yet vulnerable to compromise and temptation. The message opens by emphasizing Samson's unique calling. His birth was foretold by God, and he was set apart as a Nazarite from birth. Unlike other judges, Samson often fought alone, relying directly on the power of the Holy Spirit rather than armies — a picture pointing forward to Christ, who would accomplish salvation alone. As Samson begins his conflict with the Philistines, God uses unexpected circumstances — including Samson's marriage, the lion encounter, and the riddle at the wedding feast — to stir confrontation with Israel's enemies. Repeatedly, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Samson, enabling supernatural victories that could never be achieved by human strength. Yet alongside divine power runs human weakness. Samson continually places himself in dangerous situations, forming relationships that draw him closer to temptation. His involvement with Delilah becomes the clearest picture of how compromise works slowly — one small step at a time — until spiritual strength is drained away. One of the most sobering moments in Scripture is highlighted: Samson does not realize that the Spirit of the Lord has departed from him. This reveals the danger of persistent disobedience — a gradual drifting from God that can happen without immediate awareness. Despite Samson's fall, God's mercy is not finished with him. As his hair begins to grow again, it symbolizes repentance, renewal, and restored relationship. In his blindness and suffering, Samson finally cries out to God with complete dependence. In his final act, Samson brings greater defeat to Israel's enemies in his death than in his entire life — powerfully foreshadowing Christ, who destroyed Satan's power fully through His sacrifice on the cross. The session concludes with hope: God does not discard flawed people. Though sin carries consequences, repentance opens the door to restoration. Even after failure, God can still use a surrendered life for His glory. Key Takeaway True strength comes from God alone. Compromise weakens spiritual power, but repentance restores it — and God's mercy is always greater than human failure.

2 Kings 8:1-6Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the Lord has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.” So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land. Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.” And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.” English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

This episode explores a striking parallel between ancient symbolism and modern politics. Drawing from the biblical story of Samson, who humiliated the Philistines by carrying away Gaza's gates as a public spectacle, we analyze a political style defined by dramatic theater over traditional procedure. We examine how weaponized humiliation, the redefinition of contested spaces, and a focus on dominating the public arena can reshape the psychological landscape of power, offering a timeless framework for understanding a certain mode of disruptive, spectacle-driven leadership.

To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam[a] of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. 56 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; 2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? 5 All day long they injure my cause;[b] all their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. 7 For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! 8 You have kept count of my tossings;[c] put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? 9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that[d] God is for me. 10 In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, 11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Prophets, Shepherds, Poets and Kings is a series delving into the history of the people of God found in 1 and 2 Samuel. Beginning with a longed for baby, leading to a cry for a king and the establishment and dissolution of a kingdom, the series will focus on the lives of Samuel, Saul and David. We continue the story with discussion of the ark, the Philistines and the tragic demise of Eli and his family, as the glory of the Lord departs from his people in 1 Samuel 4-8. There are segments to enjoy including the reading of the passage, 'The Cloud' and 'What Now?'. This episode was engineered and edited by Aimee Higgins. ------- Show Notes The Outspoken Bible is hosted by Fiona Stewart with Neil Glover and Jen Robertson. All opinions are those of the individual contributors and don't necessarily reflect the view of the Scottish Bible Society as an organisation.  ------- 1 Samuel for You Tim Chester 1 Samuel: Looking on the Heart Dale Ralph Davis https://bibleproject.com/videos/1-samuel/ Practicing the Way John Mark Comer  Huia Come Home Jay Roka Bible Society New Zealand Empire Podcast Episode 291 History of Gaza (part 1) ------- Get in touch here or by emailing outspoken@scottishbiblesociety.org. ------- In our next episode, we'll continue by hearing about the dark violent times in 1 Samuel 9-10.

We are all very loyal...to _________________. [Matthew 26:33-35] Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” [34] Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” [35] “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same. True loyalty is ________________ not proclaimed. [Proverbs 20:6] Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? [1 Samuel 14:6-7] “Let's go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!” [7] “Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I'm with you completely, whatever you decide.” Loyalty does not ________________. [1 Samuel 14:12-14] Then the men from the outpost shouted to Jonathan, “Come on up here, and we'll teach you a lesson!” “Come on, climb right behind me,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “for the Lord will help us defeat them!” [13] So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed those who came behind them. [14] They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre. Loyalty is a willing ________________. Loyalty may eventually require ________________. Loyalty to God will be ________________. [James 4:8] Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. All disloyalty is born out of a ________________ heart.

Who were the ‘Sea Peoples'? Was the Bronze Age Collapse caused by a single catastrophic event? How did the Egyptians try to adapt to the changing climate? From the scientific evidence hidden in ancient pollen to the first historical mention of "Israel" and the rise of the Philistines, this episode uncovers how a global systemic collapse redrew the map of the ancient world. William and Anita are joined by Professor Eric Cline, author of 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed, and After 1177 B.C.: The Survival Of Civilizations, to explore how a series of catastrophes shattered the interconnected superpowers of the Pharaohs, Hittites, and Mycenaeans…  Join the Empire Club: Unlock the full Empire experience – with bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to miniseries and live show tickets, exclusive book discounts, a members-only newsletter, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at empirepoduk.com  For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: empire@goalhanger.com Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Editors: Bruno Di Castri and Jack Meek Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A – About: This passage recounts the battle between Israel and the Philistines in First Samuel 17, where David faces Goliath. While Israel trembles in fear, David trusts the Lord to deliver him. God displays His power and glory by granting victory—not through human strength, but through faith. B – Best Verse: "Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's…" (1 Samuel 17:47 NKJV) C – Called to Do: We are called to trust the Lord rather than our own strength, walk in faithful obedience, and rest in the greater victory of Jesus Christ—our true and better Champion.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT) In our last devotion, we saw how God used Samuel because Samuel made himself available. Today, we’re going to look at another factor as we try to determine why God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Part of our human nature is to prefer heroes and leaders who come from central casting. People who look the part: tall, solidly built, and good-looking, with a chiseled jawline and a thick head of hair. God prefers a different criterion. Time and time again in Scripture, He defies conventional wisdom in choosing people to accomplish His will. When God sent Samuel to anoint the son of Jesse as the king of Israel, Jesse paraded every son but one in front of the prophet. He didn’t bother sending for David because he believed there was no way God would choose a lowly shepherd to lead His people. He was wrong. God revealed His criterion to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7: “Don’t judge by his appearance or height. . . . The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (NLT). A chapter later, when David traveled to the battlefield where the Israelites were squaring off with the Philistines, it wasn’t to fight the giant Goliath. It was to take food to his brothers on the front line. Fighting the Philistine champion was a job for King Saul or one of the battle-hardened soldiers in Saul’s army. But that’s not who God had in mind for the task. He sent the shepherd boy who was offended by Goliath’s taunts and who recognized that the giant was no match for God. He sent the only person who wasn’t paralyzed by fear. He sent the person for whom a weapon was an afterthought. He sent the person who would make sure that God would get the credit for the victory. God saw David’s heart. He sees our hearts as well—and He uses us accordingly. If you want to be used mightily by God, work on your heart. Hide God’s Word in it. Pour it out to Him in prayer. Love your neighbor, your enemies, and your fellow believers with all of it. If you have faith in God, if you believe that He can use you, if you are willing to take a step of faith here and there, then God can and will do incredible things through you. One thing I’ve said many times over the years is that God is not looking for ability but availability. He can give you ability in time. But God is looking for someone to say, “I would like to make a difference where I am. Lord, I am available.” If you do, just watch what God will do. Reflection question: What do you want God to see in your heart? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight's episode comes after the episode called The First King of Israel. Saul is king, and he and his son Jonathan are in a constant war with the Philistines. Here we learn that obedience is far better than sacrifice. Saul's disobedience to God eventually costs him and his lineage the kingdom. We are reading 1 Samuel 13 through 15 (NIV).If you have been blessed by this podcast and would like toshow your support with a $1 donation, please go to paypal.me/hcharltoncrespin. For Venmo, please use @Heather-C-Crespin.  Don't forget to Like and Subscribe on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@BedtimeBibleStoriesforAdults 15% off ClevrBlends Sleeptime Latte: https://www.clevrblends.com/discount/BLONDE15?rfsn=6713548.9b6046f Cozy Earth Bamboo Pajamas and Loungewear 20% off! Use code: HEATHERChttps://cozyearth.com/heatherc

February 15, 2026Judges 13:1-5, 14:1-9And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.  Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean,  for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines.  Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.” But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”  His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring.  Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.  Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson's eyes.After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion.Big Idea: God's story of deliverance doesn't end with defeat or death, so we must live into our powerless posture to reveal the grace of God.

We saw last week, when we began our study of First Samuel chapter 17, that the stage was being set for this epic battle, a battle that would bring a great transition. And I'm speaking about this battle between David and Goliath, that Philistine giant, and we need to see that David looked at this situation very different than everyone else among the armies of Israel. Why was that? Well, remember what we have learned about David. To donate please visit us at:https://loveisrael.org/donate/Checks may be sent to:LoveIsrael.org

We saw last week, when we began our study of First Samuel chapter 17, that the stage was being set for this epic battle, a battle that would bring a great transition. And I'm speaking about this battle between David and Goliath, that Philistine giant, and we need to see that David looked at this situation very different than everyone else among the armies of Israel. Why was that? Well, remember what we have learned about David.To donate please visit us at:https://loveisrael.org/donate/Checks may be sent to:LoveIsrael.org

Send a textWhen enemies pitch their tents in sacred ground, it's rarely overnight. We open Judges 15 and watch the Philistines “go up” and “spread themselves” in Judah—a chilling twist on language usually reserved for worship. That turn of phrase becomes our roadmap to understanding how spiritual decline works: not through sudden collapse, but through slow, tolerated encroachment that feels polite until it conquers.We walk the path from Moses to Joshua to Samson to show how a people charged to drive out oppression came to negotiate with it. At Lehi—literally “jawbone”—God stages a reversal. The place of humiliation turns into a theater of deliverance, and Samson, the last warlike judge, stands as God's instrument against an occupying power. But Judah's response exposes the deeper wound: instead of rallying to the defender raised on their behalf, three thousand men choose appeasement, bind Samson, and hope for peace on the enemy's terms. We confront why communities still make that trade today, renaming compromise as kindness and surrender as prudence.Across the conversation, we draw out the principles that make this ancient account uncomfortably current: how toleration of error becomes invasion; how gradual encroachment studies our fear; and how the church can resist without spectacle by guarding doctrine, cultivating courage, and standing where Scripture stands. We also reframe the big-picture arc—judges to kings to the King of Kings—underscoring that national promises have been fulfilled and the call now is faith in Christ alone. If you've felt the pressure to “keep the peace” by giving up ground, this is a clear, steadying case for faithful resistance and a reminder that deliverance often begins where pride expects defeat.If this resonated, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—we'd love to hear where you're choosing conviction over comfort.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

2 Chronicles 28:16-22 New International Version 16 At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings[a] of Assyria for help. 17 The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away prisoners, 18 while the Philistines had raided towns in the foothills and in the Negev of Judah. They captured and occupied Beth Shemesh, Aijalon and Gederoth, as well as Soko, Timnah and Gimzo, with their surrounding villages. 19 The Lord had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel,[b] for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the Lord. 20 Tiglath-Pileser[c] king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help. 21 Ahaz took some of the things from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace and from the officials and presented them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help him. 22 In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1 Samuel 26–27, David passes the test of power again by sparing Saul's life a second time, proving he is free enough to trust God's timing instead of seizing the throne. Yet in the very next chapter, weary of waiting, he stops inquiring of the Lord and seeks safety among the Philistines, showing how even faithful obedience can erode when trust gives way to survival.

1 Sam 31:1-13. Saul’s final battle with the Philistines ends in complete defeat, the death of his 3 sons and the loss of his own life. His tragic end serves as a warning against continued disobedience and rebellion towards God. May we seek a closer daily walk with the Lord, that we may finish our […]

The sermon centers on God's sovereign and intentional decrees, revealing His mindful justice and mercy through the prophetic book of Zephaniah. It unfolds a divine narrative where God's judgment on sin—particularly against the shameless nation of Judah and the Philistines—is both inevitable and urgent, yet accompanied by a call to repentance, humility, and seeking righteousness. Through vivid imagery of chaff passing away and cities being destroyed, the message underscores the fleeting nature of unrepentant rebellion and the necessity of turning to God before the decree takes effect. Yet amid judgment, God's promise of salvation emerges: those who seek Him in humility will be hidden from wrath, restored, and ultimately inherit a renewed creation where His people—Jew and Gentile alike—will graze in safety and dwell in His mindful care. The passage culminates in a cosmic vision of restoration, where God's kindness fulfills His eternal purpose to reclaim all things through Christ, calling believers to live in faithful anticipation, repentance, and communal worship.

Why did Uzza, Uzza get struck down the moment he reached out to steady the Arc of the Covenants? Many people today think it was just a tragedy and poor- the poor man, he was just trying to help. But the lesson goes far deeper. It's about boundaries. Boundaries that God is protecting. Samuel and first Chronicles record it clearly. That day King David was bringing the ark back to Jerusalem, but they did not follow God's law. See we, we, we serve God's way or our serving doesn't help as much, God doesn't reward us, we are just greedy people. King David was bringing the ark back to Jerusalem but he did not follow God's laws. They didn't have the Levites carrying it on their shoulders. Instead, they copied the Philistine method, placing the ark on a new cart, treating it like an ordinary piece of furniture. Okay, just that little bit of scripture, does it tell you anything? They weren't following the law. God has laws and if you don't do it His way, He doesn't care about yours- your way, it's called insurrection. It's called disobedience. It's called irreverence. It's called you want to do it your way, your selfish independent way. God doesn't tolerate your selfish independent way. Do you ever wonder why maybe that's a reason you're in trouble a little bit? "There's a way that seems right unto man," God says, "But the end is death." The Levites were supposed to carry the ark on their shoulders, not copy the Philistines in a cattle cart. When the cart reached the threshing floor of Nacon, the ox stumbled. Uzza instinctively reached out to steady the ark and the instant his fingers touched it, his body was limp. His knees gave way and he fell, not injured, he was dead. It sounds brutal, doesn't it?

Before his final battle with the Philistines, Saul had lost all contact with God. In desperation, he consulted a necromancer who channeled the ghost of Samuel who predicted Saul's defeat and death. David meanwhile was rejected when he tried to join the Philistine army fighting against Israel. This was quite providential because he would have had a very difficult time uniting Israel under his reign had he sided with their enemies.

In 1 Samuel 4-7, an important question is asked: “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God?” Samuel's answer comes with a promise: To stand in the presence of the LORD, you must humbly repent of your dishonoring him, put away all your idols, and serve the LORD with your whole heart . . . and he will deliver you from the Philistines--or in our case, every weight and sin which clings so closely. Today, the call of the LORD to us is the same: With all your heart, humbly destroy the idols that gravely dishonor the Lord, and serve the LORD only. By faith in Jesus, we have the grace to stand in the presence of the LORD. Hallelujah!

In this episode, Pastor David Maestas walks through 1 Samuel 4:1–5:5, a dramatic and sobering moment in Israel's history. The Israelites are at war with the Philistines, but instead of seeking God's heart, they try to use God's presence like a lucky charm. They bring the Ark of the Covenant into battle, assuming it will guarantee victory, and they are devastatingly wrong. This passage forces us to ask a hard question: Do we actually trust God, or do we just want Him to bless our plans? We explore how Israel confused religious symbolism with real relationship, treating the Ark like a spiritual weapon rather than a holy representation of God's covenant presence. When the Ark is captured, it shakes their identity, exposes their spiritual drift, and reveals a painful truth — God will not be manipulated. Then the story shifts to Philistine territory, where the Ark is placed in the temple of Dagon. What happens next is both ironic and powerful. The false god falls face down before the Ark — twice. Even in captivity, God proves He is still sovereign.

A — About This passage shows Israel's growing weakness under Saul's leadership as the Philistines strip them of weapons, highlighting the consequences of disobedience and spiritual decline. B — Best Verse "But there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel…" (1 Samuel 13:19) C — Called to Do We are called to trust and obey the Lord fully, recognizing that disobedience leaves us spiritually unprepared, while faithfulness keeps us dependent on God's strength, not our own resources.

“And David enquired of the Lord.” — 2 Samuel 5:23 When David made this enquiry he had just fought the Philistines, and gained a signal victory. The Philistines came up in great hosts, but, by the help of God, David had easily put them to flight. Note, however, that when they came a second time, […]

This powerful message takes us on a journey through the Ark of the Covenant, revealing what happens when we approach God with enthusiasm but without reverence.We explore the tragic story of Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6, who reached out to steady the ark and died instantly—not because God is capricious, but because the Israelites had abandoned God's clear instructions about how His presence should be honored. They borrowed a 'new cart' idea from the Philistines instead of following God's original design with consecrated Levites carrying the ark on poles. This raises an uncomfortable mirror to our own lives: How often do we borrow the world's ideas and present them to God as improvements on His Word? Whether it's our views on sexuality, relationships, language, or priorities, we can fall into the trap of casual Christianity—believing in God while not actually obeying what He says. The Ark's power wasn't meant to be punitive but purposeful; when Obed-Edom honored God's presence correctly, his entire household was blessed. The message calls us back to reverence, reminding us that before we can be leaders in God's kingdom, we must first be followers. It challenges us to take six deliberate steps in our walk with God: acknowledging He is God and we are not, following rather than leading Him, trusting His ways are higher, decreasing so He can increase, obeying rather than expecting Him to obey us, and keeping Him as our only God without idols. This isn't about fear that drives us away, but reverence that draws us into the fullness of His blessing.Website: https://impact.church Facebook: https://facebook.com/ImpactChurchHome Instagram: https://instagram.com/ImpactChurchHome YouTube: https://youtube.com/@impactchurchhome TikTok: https://tiktokcom/@impactchurchhome

A — What is this about? This passage shows Saul facing fear and pressure as the Philistines gather for war. Instead of waiting for Samuel as God commanded, Saul takes worship into his own hands, acting out of fear rather than faith. His disobedience costs him the lasting establishment of his kingdom. B — Best verse to summarize the passage "Samuel said to Saul, 'You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you.'" (1 Samuel 13:13) C — What are we called to do? We are called to trust God's timing, obey His commands, and resist fear-driven decisions. Faith waits patiently on the Lord rather than forcing outcomes through human effort.

God blesses His people through His blessed King 1.  Israel is blessed as it covenants with God's King (2 Sam. 5:1-16)​ 2. David defeats the Philistines by God's help (2 Sam. 5:17-25)​ ​ ​

Are you living like you don't need God? Many people today believe they can do it all myself, thinking they don't need religion or any higher power to guide their lives. But what happens when we keep saying no to God and try to do what you want without His direction? In this powerful message, we explore the consequences of rejecting God's ways through the shocking story of the Philistines who captured the Ark of the Covenant and faced God's judgment. Discover how their god Dagon couldn't stand before the one true God, and learn from the demon possessed man in Mark 5 who experienced complete transformation when he finally said yes to Jesus. This message will challenge you to examine your daily choices and understand that every decision to say yes to God leads to purpose, peace, hope, and eternal life. Whether you think you don't need God or you're struggling with surrender, this teaching reveals why saying yes to the Lord is always the best decision you can make.

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning. Through snow and ice and disconnected H VAC units, we have finally gathered together, and we are getting ready to finally start Second Samuel. So if you're with us in the fall, we finished up First Samuel. We. We took a break with the Remember series and Give series, and now we get to start Second Samuel. We kind of jump into the middle of the story. First and Second Samuel actually were written as one book together. If you remember this when we first started, it's written as one book together because of how scrolls worked back in the day, they had to divide it in two separate scrolls. So it's one story. And we're jumping in the middle of a story at the beginning of 2 Samuel chapter 1. And we jump in the middle of a sad moment. And what we're going to see today is a lament that David has wrote for the people of God. And there are times where it's good to be sad. And when tragedy hits, when loss hits, there's something in us that aches for a response. I remember in 2001 when 911 happened, that as a nation, we were just collectively at a loss of words, and there was just a deep sadness for what many of us witnessed on TV and all the horror and the pain that came with that. And in November, two months after. I remember at the cmas, which is the Country Music Awards, Alan Jackson, he performed a song that he had written just a few weeks before. It's called Where Were youe In the World? Stop Turning. And the whole song is. It's a lament. It's country music, but it's a lament that captures how everyone felt in that moment as we witnessed all the pain and suffering at 9 11. And I just remember watching that with my parents and just being. Just felt it. You felt it in the room. And, you know, people outside of country music that don't even like country music, which is quite a few people, they actually, some of them very much appreciated the moment because what he was doing was capturing what we just felt. And that's what lament does. It captures this. This suffering, this. This loss, this pain that we feel. And it's good for. For us to sit in that. And poetic songs and poetic laments capture that. And that's what we get to see today as we jump into the middle of a story where we finish up in Second Samuel. We see the death of Saul and Jonathan and the defeat of Israel. We're going to walk through how David finds out about this. Then we're going to see how he laments and then as Christians, we're going to be able to sit in this and understand the importance of. Of what it means to be a people who lament. Well, so I'm going to pray for us, and then we'll walk through this together. Heavenly Father, I thank you for your word. It is precious, it is a gift, and it communicates wonderful, eternal truths that mold and shape us and conform us into your image in new and better ways. And I pray that you would do that to us this morning as we read and study and sit under the authority of your precious word. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.Okay, so if you weren't here for First Samuel, let me just give a quick summary. If you were here and it's been months, let me just help us remember. In 1st Samuel, God calls the final judge and the period of the judges and prophet Samuel. Because first and Second Samuel in the Old Testament is the beginning of the age of the kings. So the people are longing for a king. They want a ruler. They had God as their ruler. They had God as their king. And God used judges to reign them in at times. But this moment, they want a king. They go to Samuel. Samuel listens to the Lord, gives them their first king, which is Saul. And at first it goes well. Saul fits the bill. He looks like a king. He's tall, he's handsome. He leads the people, and they beat, they defeat the Ammonites. They do all kinds of things like this. And it's wonderful. And then as you keep reading, you see that his heart actually isn't fully for the Lord, that he has moments of deep faithlessness. And in his faithlessness, God rejects him as king. He anoints David, who is the next king of Israel. If you're familiar with anything in first and Second Samuel, you're probably familiar with the story of David and Goliath. That is when David steps onto the national scene after he's anointed by Samuel and he becomes a hero. He defeats Goliath, and then Saul appreciates David for, like, 10 minutes. It seems it's not very long. He, like, invites him to marry his daughter. He marries into the family. Things are good for a moment. And then quickly, I think Saul realizes, oh, David is the next king, and he becomes a threat. And the whole rest of 1st Samuel is Saul trying to kill David over and over and over again until finally we get to chapter 31 of 1st Samuel, when finally God brings judgment upon Saul and his house, and they're defeated by the Philistines.In 1st Samuel 31 it says,> Then the battle went hard against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.> Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and mistreat me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he was very afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.> And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died with him.> So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.So that is the end of Saul and 1st Samuel, or 2 Samuel chapter 1 picks up right where that leaves off a few days later. Verse 1.> After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.> And on the third day behold, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage.So while Saul was fighting the Philistines, David was facing off with a band of Amalekites who had kidnapped him and his men's families. So he goes, he defeats them, and this is them kind of resting after the battle. And then all of a sudden, verse two, it says, and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. So clothes torn and dirt on your head. That was an immediate sign to David and his men that something bad has happened. That's a sign of lament. You're in your garments, you put dirt on your head. Something major has happened. Which David said to him, verse three, where do you come from? And he said to him, I have escaped from the camp of Israel. And David said to him, how did it go? Tell me. And he answered, the people fled from the battle. And also many of the people have fallen and are dead. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead. So this is the first that David hears of this, that Saul, Jonathan, his friend, they're gone.Now, put yourself back in when we finish this up in the fall, and remember all that David went through to get to this moment and understand the complexities of how he must have been feeling. Saul tried to kill him over and over and over and over again, hurling spears, chasing him in the wilderness, chasing him in and out of towns, and finally it's over. And David had opportunities. He had opportunities to kill him himself. He had two opportunities with his hand in his life, and he spared him because he would not raise his hand against the Lord's anointed. He said, God will bring judgment on Saul. I will not. And it's finally happened. So that's in the background. And then also, Jonathan was one of his closest friends. Jonathan was a dear friend to him. If you remember when we walked the story of David and Jonathan, we got to see Jonathan, who was the next in line to be the king. Saul's son was. He was beloved by the people. He was a mighty warrior. And when David steps on the scene, he yields. It's very clear that he trusts that God has anointed him to be the next king. And that doesn't happen in the Old Testament, that doesn't happen in history. People don't give up their right to the throne like that. But he's a faith filled man and he trusts the anointing that David has. And you see, even when they talk, he longs to be serving in David's court one day. And he also. We saw how much Jonathan honored his father. He called him out at times for how he was pursuing David, but he honored him and stood by him in this battle. And his friend Jonathan is dead. So there is a lot happening in the soul of David as he receives this.And then in verse five, it says,> And the young man who told him said, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were closing in on him.> And when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, 'Here I am.'> And he said to me, 'Who are you?' And I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'> Then he said to me, 'Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.'> So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen.> And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm and brought them here to my lord."Okay, if you're reading first into second Samuel, just chapter 31, straight into this right here. That's quite jarring because those aren't the same stories. That is two different tellings of what happened. And I just want to show you the differences in this. I've got a chart up here. And first Samuel, chapter 31, the narrator tells us that archers surrounded Saul and badly wounded him. But when the Amalekite retells, he says, no chariots and horsemen were close upon him. And in 1st Samuel 31, the narrator tells us that Saul turns to his armor bearer and asks to kill him because he doesn't want to be mistreated. But Amalekite says no. He called out to me. He said, I'm. He said, ask me to kill him. In 1st Samuel 31, we see that the armor bearer refuses. So Saul kills himself, but the Amalekite says, no, I killed him. The only part where. Where it is similar and you can line them up in compatibility is when it says in 1st Samuel 31 that the Philistines recovered just the armor. And then we get in the Amalekite retelling that the crown and the armlet he had so that you can line up, but everything else is different. So when we come upon situations like this in the Bible where there's. There's two differences there, that's an opportunity to lean in and to ask why? Why are these accounts different? And if you are undiscerning and you hop on the Internet and you get into the deep pages of Reddit or Google or wherever you go, you might find the lazy approach that's like, aha. Contradictions. See, your Bible is not trustworthy. And that's an opportunity to just sit in it longer, to ask deeper questions, to be more thoughtful and discerning. And once you do that, it's very clear what's happening. The Amalekite is lying. He's a liar. He's an opportunistic liar. He stumbles upon the battle. He sees Saul. Everyone knows that if Saul's dead, David is the next king. This is an opportunity for him to be rewarded in his mind. Grabs the crown, he grabs the armlet, he makes up a story, he leaves. And then he comes and he tells David the story. So he tells him this. Now David begins to really lament.Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.> Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and likewise all the men who were with him.> And they mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.For Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword, which is just a picture. When, when the leader mourns and laments, everyone does. They follow suit. They tear their clothes, they weep, they fast. Which just as a thing to think about, that's one of the reasons for fasting. Like we're in the south and when someone dies, we eat. Which I think can be fun, but also have a category for fasting is good for the people of God to actually to. To fast and to pray and depend upon the Lord. And that's what they do until evening.And David said to the young man who told him, where do you come from? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner and Amalekite.> And David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?" And he answered, "I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite."David said to him, how is it you who. How is it you who were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed? So this is about the moment the Amalekite begins to realize that he has made a massive mistake. Because David had multiple opportunities to do just this. David could have ended Saul's reign, could have taken the throne, could have seized power. But he feared the Lord and he trusted the Lord. And he was not going to do and raise his hand against the Lord's anointing. He was going to trust the Lord when the Lord decided to bring judgment. So how in the world could this Amalekite, this person who belonged to a people who were enemies of God, think that he could raise his hand against the Lord's anointed and this would somehow be rewarded? This is not the case. And he realizes he has made a mistake, that condemnation is coming.Then David called out, called one of the young men and said, go execute him. And he struck him down so that he died. And David said to him, your blood be on your head for you, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, I have killed the Lord's anointed.> And David said to him, "How is it you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"> Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go near and execute him." So the young man struck him down, and he died.> And David said to him, "Your blood is on your head; your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the LORD's anointed.'"So the Amalekite, his reward for opportunistic lying is execution. And that's is another example from the scriptures of the dangers of lying. You can do a whole sermon on that right there. But that's actually not the main point of this story. And we're going to move on to what is the main point, which is this moment of loss for David and the people. And David is going to enter into a lament that he has written. We get the setup for that in verse 17 when it says,> And David took up his lament over Saul and his son Jonathan, and he ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.So what we're about to read is a lamentation, a poetic sadness that the people of God are meant to read for centuries to come. And we also see that it's recorded in the book of Joshar, which. That is a Jewish history book that's referenced a few times in the Old Testament. It's lost to history. We don't have any more copies of it, but it was written in the Book of Joshar for the people, and it was recorded here in these scriptures for the people to remember and to lament together. So we're going to read this lament. But as we read this, I want us, as we catch this poetic capturing of the sadness of the people of God and David, we should remember the complexities of how David is feeling in this, of everything that's happened to him and everything that even Saul and his relationship and how complicated that was, that Saul was his enemy, that Saul wanted him dead, but Saul was also his father in law. Saul was also his king. Saul was also his commander. And now he's gone and so is his friend Jonathan. So there's a lot happening here. And we'll read this lament together. He said.> Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!> Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.> O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.> From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.> Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions.> O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.> How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places.> I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.> How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!If you have a title for this lament, it's how the mighty have Fallen, which I got curious and I was wondering, and as best I can tell, that is where we get the sarcastic play on Lament, oh, how the mighty have Fallen. So this is. It comes back to this. It's how the mighty have fallen. One of the things he laments in the loss of Saul and Jonathan and this army is that the daughters of the Philistines rejoice. And this is. This is a picture of the people in Gath and Ashkelon. These are cities in Philistia. They're all celebrating. So not only have they lost their leader, but also their enemies are rejoicing and they're sad.You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul not anointed. With oil. Mount Gilboa is where this battle happened. It's where Saul died. And David curses it. He curses it. He wishes this place to be as desolate and devoid of the life that was taken there. Cursed be Mount Gilboa. Says, from the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back. And the sword of Saul returned not empty. Which, every now and then the ESV translations get a little clunky. I think it's helpful if you reverse this. The bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty from the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty. What that is saying is that they once were mighty warriors. They. They once fought for Israel, they slayed their enemies, and now they're gone and they're lamenting the loss of their mighty warriors. So Saul and Jonathan, beloved, beloved and lovely in life and death. They were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions. And we've seen this, we talked about this, that they, that. And through everything that was going on with Saul and David, Saul or Jonathan, honored both his friend and also his father. And they fought together, and they were mighty in battle. You read that in First Samuel. Together they were mighty warriors who defeated their enemies. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.You, daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. Remember how when he reigned, how prosperous we were. How, how the daughters of Israel had scarlet and gold. He says, oh, how, he said, how, how the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle. And this refrain leads into David reflecting on his friendship with Jonathan. Jonathan lies slain on your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. Very pleasant have you been to me. Your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. So we catch this final glimpse of David's great love for his friend. And he describes this brotherly love that he had with Jonathan as surpassing the love of women, which we talked about this in the David and Jonathan sermon in First Samuel. If you weren't here, I'd encourage you to go back and listen to it. But just a moment to sit in that idea. It is good to have deep friendships like this. And more specifically, it is good for men to have deep friendships with other men. And a time where it is regularly written about that, that male. That male loneliness is a crisis. It's talked about as an epidemic, that men, especially young men, suicide rates are through the roof, substance abuse is through the roof. Drug overdoses has been through the roof. Sports gambling is an absolute disaster right now for young men. And on and on and on. It's just, it's regularly observed there's something wrong and that they're. There's a need for men to have deep friendships. And we aren't culturally set up well to do this. The men aren't culturally set up well to do this. In fact, it's very apparent that culturally we don't understand a depth of friendship like this. Because people read this and they, they, they jump to, oh, something, something sexual in nature must have been going on between those two. I mean, that is, that is, that is what some people will argue that this is evidence that something was happening between those two men. And it's like we've so misunderstood and are so underprepared to understand how important is to have deep relationships with other men that you can walk side by side and that you can see as brothers. So we, we need to, to grow in this. And especially if you're, if you're married. Let me just say this very clearly. If you're married and your wife is your only friend, nowhere in the Scriptures do I see that as wise. You should absolutely have friendship with your wife. Also, you should have depth of relationship with other men. She should not be your sole confidant. We have care nights where we separate the men and women. And one of the reasons we do that is so that men can grow in friendship and brotherhood and accountability and depth. And that matters. So you can go back, listen to that sermon. More was said there, but I'll move on. And he is just lamenting the loss of this great friend that he had. Verse 27. He ends, how the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war perished. So he ends that refrain, the reminder of what they lost in Jonathan, what they lost. And when you think about what David's doing on behalf of the people of God and personally, and thinking about this, it's very peculiar because you have to recognize that ultimately for David, this is a good thing for him. He's not going to have to look over his shoulder. He's not going to have to be on the run. He's not going to have the threat of death hanging over him over and over and over again. Saul for years has made his life miserable. And you can see this very clearly not just in First Samuel, but when you read the Psalms, particularly the Psalms that David wrote while he was on the run from Saul. You see this in Psalm 57. 4. It says, My soul is in the midst of lions. I lie down amid fiery beasts, the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp, sharp swords. I mean, you see the distress as. As Saul and his men, and all the lies and all the. All the slandering, all the. The threats. In Psalm142.3, another Psalm he wrote on the run from Saul, it says, when my spirit faints within me, you know my way in the path where I walk, they have hidden a trap for me under the threat of being captured continuously. Psalm 54, another Psalm that he wrote while on the wrong from Saul, he says, for strangers have risen against me. Ruthless men seek my life. They do not set God, God before themselves. They seek Saul and his ambition, but they don't consider the Lord. And you see the turmoil that David was in for years. So it's reasonable to assume this moment that he hears of Saul's death, that he's relieved. But that's found nowhere in this lament, not for a moment as you celebrate this, even though ultimately this is for David's good and he knows now I'm able to step into the throne that God has prepared for me, he still appropriately laments. He laments the loss of this nation's leader. He laments the loss of his king, he laments the loss of his friend. And he does this for himself and the people of God to remember. And I think David's response is exemplary. I think it's a very helpful example for us to have this category of lament, even though good things may await us, because I think as Christians, we are just in America. I think we're weaker here. And I see this in a few different ways. I see this in the way that some Christians approach funerals. And I'm not here to attack you. If you've said this or if you believe this, I do want to correct you. I've heard Christians say, well, this brother or sister died, and we're not having a funeral, we're having a party. We're having a celebration because we know where they are, and where they are is far better. So there will be no tears. We will celebrate. And I just go, where do you get that from the Scriptures? Where do we get that idea that we smile in the face of death? Where do you get the idea that we should just be happy? We know that good things just. David knew that good things awaited him. But in the moment of death, the appropriate response is lament. I see people when they lose a job, some Christians come alongside them and they're quick to just want to point out things and they'll say things like, yeah, you know, but it's an opportunity for you to trust the Lord. And it seems like you're really upset about losing this job. You might want to check your heart. It's possible that you have some idolatry for this job. It's possible that you have some control idolatry, that you're trying to control everything. And this is an exposure. God is working in this trial to teach you you should be joy filled. And it's like, whoa, he just lost his job. She just lost her job. There's a moment that it's appropriate to be sad. And certainly we can work through the other things later and count it joy for sufferings. But must we jump straight into the good things that might away? This happens with health trials, various members of our church going through all types of health trials and battles. And I appreciate some of the optimistic culture that surrounds all of that. You hear people say, you know, God's got this and, and, and we're, you know, just. And I appreciate aspects of that that rally in a way that's appropriate and good. But there also, there's a moment and there are days that it's just okay to be sad. It's just okay to lament the reality of suffering. And we should hold these together because human emotion is far more complex than this. We as Christians should be the best at this, y', all to have moments where we are just sad for the reality of death and loss and suffering, while also having our hope secured and tethered to the reality of the future promises that await God's people. We should be able to hold both intention together. And no one exemplifies this better than Jesus Christ.When you get to the Gospel of John in chapter 11 with the recounting of the story of the death of Lazarus and his resurrection, when you read that in verse 11, it says, after saying these things, he said to them, our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him. And that's important because Jesus absorbs the reality that his friend is dead, that Lazarus is dead, while also saying, I'm going to raise him. Jesus knows exactly what he's about to do. He's about to raise Lazarus from the dead because that resurrection is going to point forward to later, not far actually down the road where Jesus Christ will be resurrected, which again points to the future resurrection. So he's doing something bigger here. He knows what he's about to do. He knows the good things that are about to happen. And yet when he meets his friends Mary And Martha, verse 32, it says now, when Mary came to see to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews would come with her, also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, where have you laid him? They said to him, lord, come and see. Verse 35. Jesus wept. And I think that's important because I think if some American Christians would have written this story, they would have said, Jesus comes on the scene and he sees them weeping and he says, dry your tears because I'm about to do something big, I'm about to do something good. I'm going to do something glorious. But he doesn't. He sees his friends who are broken and in tears, and he's deeply moved in his spirit and he weeps. It doesn't say he cried a few tears, it says he weeps. What a wonderful example we have in our Savior. And seeing the need to lament, knowing that good things may await. But the reality is, is that death stings. Yes. Oh, death, where's your sting? That's future looking. But the sting is now. And there are moments where that recognizing that and living in that reality is beautiful and good for our souls. We should be a people who do this well. We should be a people who both hold the reality of death in front of us and cry. And also hold the reality of the future resurrection and new heavens and new earth, where there is no more death, where there is no more sting, where there is no more tears. And hold those both together. I mean, that's when Paul is writing to the Thessalonians. In 1st Thessalonians 4, he says, but we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who do not have hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. And I think some people just jump to the we have hope. We have hope. And it's like. But it presupposes what he just told them. He says, may not grieve as others who do not have hope. But he doesn't say, don't grieve. He says, no, we're going to grieve, but we're going to do it as those who have hope. Those who are grounded in the hope of the future resurrection. And that's what we're called to do. That when someone dies, the appropriate response is, if they're a Christian, is not, let's have a party. It's like, no, no, Death is awful. Now, we had a funeral here three weeks ago for one of our members, Ms. Valerie. And she was 93 years old. And y', all, she suffered greatly in the last few years of her life. And I could hold the thought in my head that says, I'm so thankful for where she is now. But when I sat with her family, I said, y' all should feel this death stings and it's okay to be sad. And we could hold both of those thoughts together. That when you experience loss, when you lose something, that you can be sad while also having your faith anchored in the reality that one day there will be no more losing, there will only be gain. That we as Christians can have sufferings. And know what James 1 says, when it says, count it all joy. My brothers know what Romans 5 says, that suffering produces character, care produces endurance. Like we can have all these together while also being faith filled and sad and also putting our hope in what is to come and growing and maturing along the way that we should be able to hold these both together. Because we as Christians live between the already and the not yet. We live between the reality of present suffering and the future promises that await. And we should be a people who lament well personally, but also we should help others lament, brothers and sisters. Do not rob others of the opportunity to both grieve and be sad and let God meet them in their grief. Because I think sometimes because we're uncomfortable, because we don't like the silence, or because we lack the theological depth to understand how we should respond. And we'll just offer shallow truisms or Christian niceties. We need to grow in helping other brothers and sisters who are lamenting suffer well and lament well so that God can meet them in their grief and grow their faith in wonderful ways.I was on the Internet the other day and I saw one of my friends from college post this, one of the most moving things I've ever read on grief. And him and his wife had struggled with infertility for years. They six months ago had twin boys and were excited and did the gender reveal and all the things. And we're all very excited. And at 22 weeks, everything fell apart. They had emergency delivery and their boys lived for only a day. And then this past week, after six months of reflecting, he wrote this. And I Want to ask permission for me to read this because I found it to be very moving, very helpful. How God can meet us in our grief and our lament. And here's what he wrote. He said, grief is about allowing loss to enlarge my heart and increase my capacity to hold both joy and sorrow. Grief is teaching me that my boys live on in me and will always be a part of me. Grief is instructing me to cry out to God and complaint and lament long enough to hear him whisper, I know what it's like to lose a son. Grief is increasing my longing for heaven and the renewal of all things. Grief is daring me to believe that despite our loss, God is still writing a good story. Grief is consistently inviting me to choose life in the face of death. I'm a different person than I was six months ago. But as a friend who knows what it's like to lose a child, has told me I want my child back, but I don't want the old me back. I think I'm just starting to believe him. So it is through grief that I echo the words of Nicholas Wolterstaff in his book of Lament of a Son. I shall look at the world through tears. Perhaps I shall see things that dried eyed I could not see. I read that and I just was like, you don't arrive at that conclusion without having your faith so deeply anchored. The reality that one day he will make all things new, but he's sufficient to meet us in the moment of lament that comes through faith filled lament. You don't see God like this without him meeting us in our grief like this, knowing that God in our suffering gives us eyes to see, even if those eyes are stained with tears. You don't embrace this without faith filled lament. You don't refuse it. You lean into it. And that is something that we need to grow in as Christians. We need to grow in learning to lament well. We need to grow and having this trusting the Lord in the middle of the suffering and the loss.And one of the ways we get to do that is through taking the Lord's Supper and through singing, which we're going to do in a moment. We're going to take the Lord's Supper and we're going to sing a song of lament. As we come to the table as Christians, we're reminded of what Jesus instituted for us on the night that he was betrayed. He took bread and he broke it. He said, this is my body that was broken for you. And he took the cup of the new covenant. He said, this is my blood that was shed for you, that as often as you eat and drink this, you proclaim my death until I return. Jesus instructs his church to practice this practice, to remember that he secured salvation for us on the cross while also pointing forward to one day when the final feast happens. And that we as Christians live in the middle between both. So we don't come to the table all the time with just joy filled hearts. Sometimes we come with heavy hearts, and that's good. If you're a Christian, you get to consider your sin, you get to consider our sufferings, and we also get to consider our Savior who meets us in our sufferings. And in a moment you'll come to the table and I invite you to. If you're not a Christian, we don't want you to come to the table. We want you to come to our Savior. That walking through this life will be filled with suffering, it will be filled with trials, it will be filled with death. And I hope that reality is impressed upon your heart to see that there is someone who can meet you in that and can point you to the hope that we have that is secure. So don't come to the table, come to Jesus Christ in faith. But the band's going to come up now. They're going to take the Lord's Supper, and then we're going to sing a song of lament that is meant to help us learn how to grieve well, how to lament well. And we will sing this out together.

This powerful exploration of spiritual warfare pulls back the curtain on the invisible realm where angels and demons clash over our prayers, families, and daily battles.Through David's encounters with the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5, we discover a God who doesn't just bless our plans—He goes before us with armies of angels when we wait for His timing.The imagery is stunning: David waiting to hear the sound of marching in the poplar trees before moving forward, understanding that victory comes not from rushing ahead but from staying aligned with God's movement.We're introduced to 'Lord Sabaoth'—the God of angel armies—a name first cried out by a desperate mother named Hannah and passed down through generations.This isn't the sanitized, theoretical Christianity many of us learned in Sunday school. This is visceral, tangible faith that recognizes every prayer we utter launches spiritual warfare in the heavenly realms.When we pray, angels are dispatched. When demons resist, battles rage for days or weeks before breakthrough comes. The revelation from Daniel 10 is sobering: our prayers matter so much that they trigger cosmic conflicts we cannot see.The challenge before us is profound—are we living with what one commentator called 'a refined spirit of atheism,' believing in God intellectually while making decisions as if He doesn't exist? Or will we call on the God who mounts cherubim, rides through the heavens, and reaches down to rescue us because He delights in us?Website: https://impact.church Facebook: https://facebook.com/ImpactChurchHome Instagram: https://instagram.com/ImpactChurchHome YouTube: https://youtube.com/@impactchurchhome TikTok: https://tiktokcom/@impactchurchhome

Samson's story is unlike any other judge. From a wedding gone wrong to personal vendettas against the Philistines, his life unfolds as a series of individual confrontations rather than national battles. This episode traces how Samson's personal desires, broken Nazirite boundaries, and complicated relationships became the very means God used to weaken Philistine control. From burning grain fields to collapsing a temple, Samson's strength—and his downfall—reveal how God works even through flawed deliverers to accomplish His purposes. Highlights Samson's Wedding Fallout Fire in the Fields Strength Without Discipline Delilah's Betrayal Victory Through Death Support & Engagement If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and follow The History of the Bible on your favorite podcast platform. Your ratings and reviews help others discover the show and support the creation of future episodes. If you'd like to support The History of the Bible, visit our Patreon Page. Follow the show on Facebook: The History of the Bible on Facebook Your feedback is valuable to us! Share your thoughts and insights via our feedback form. Let us know how this podcast has impacted you or someone you know by filling out our impact form. If you have concerns about any information presented, please inform us via our correction form. Scripture Judges 14 Judges 15 Judges 16 Hashtags #BibleHistory #Samson #Judges #OldTestament #Philistines #NaziriteVow #BiblicalArchaeology #AncientIsrael #BiblePodcast #HistoryOfTheBible #BiblicalStudies #IronAge #AncientNearEast #SamsonAndDelilah #Dagon #Shephelah #FaithAndFailure #JudgesOfIsrael #AncientWarfare #BibleTeaching Sources BlueLetterBible.org BiblicalArchaeology.org Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (NIV) ESV Study Bible ESV Archaeology Study Bible New Spirit-Filled Life Bible (NLT) Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps, and Timelines Satellite Bible Atlas by Barry J. Beitzel (Schlegel) The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History WorldHistory.org ArmstrongInstitute.org Chabad.org

Stone of Help Are you waiting on God to show up while secretly wondering if He still will? If you're starting 2026 craving clarity, tired of striving, or unsure why breakthrough hasn't come, this episode is for you. In Altar of Help, Pastor David unpacks how surrender—not superstition—opens the door to God's power. It's not about hype; it's about humility. Tune in and discover what happens when you can't feel it but choose to remember it. 1 Samuel 7 Discussion topics HEAD – What did Jesus say to you through the Word? What was the spiritual condition of Israel before God helped them in 1 Samuel 7? How does the story of the Ark in Philistine territory challenge our understanding of God's holiness? What do Baal and Ashtoreth represent spiritually, and how do they still show up in our lives today? HEART – How did it make you feel? Do I ever assume God will help me even when I'm not living in surrender or obedience? Have I treated God's presence casually or used Him like a “good luck charm” in any area? How do I typically respond when conviction comes—do I surrender, resist, or push God away? HANDS – What are you going to do with it? What is one idol (false security or source of intimacy) I need to remove from my life? What could it look like to build a personal “altar” this week (journal, prayer, conversation, etc.)? Is there a past place where God helped me that I need to revisit in gratitude or repentance? Check out our other audio series and video playlists that can help you find Jesus in every moment and then discover what's next

The mighty men of David broke through the Philistine host to get a fresh drink of well water from Bethlehem. It's time for you to say devil you are standing between me and what God has coming to me. I'm going to break through the Philistine host and get a fresh drink of well water from Bethlehem! This message will help you get the breakthrough God has for you!

It's easy to think we'd be happier without anyone to clash with, but that's not quite right. Growth often happens when there's some pushback, and we shouldn't jump to the conclusion that we'd be better off without any conflict. Listen as we encourage KingdomSpeakers to appreciate those who stand against them.   #KingdomSpeak #Podcast  #Thankfulness

Renue Healthcare https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit https://Renue.Healthcare/Todd Bulwark Capital https://KnowYourRiskPodcast.comFind out how the future of AI could impact your retirement during Zach Abraham's free “New Year Reset” live webinar This Thursday January 29th 3:30pm Pacific. Register at KnowYourRiskPodcast.com.Alan's Soaps https://www.AlansArtisanSoaps.comUse coupon code TODD to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bonefrog https://BonefrogCoffee.com/ToddThe new GOLDEN AGE is here!  Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE at:The Todd Herman Show - Podcast - Apple PodcastsThe Todd Herman Show | Podcast on SpotifyWATCH and SUBSCRIBE at: Todd Herman - The Todd Herman Show - YouTubeIt's Not A Protest It's A Revolution Attempt // The NFL's Ketanji Brown Jackson // The Bible's Structural PerfectionEpisode Links:BREAKING: Just a week before his fatal fight with Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, Alex Pretti had ANOTHER tussle with federal agents causing him to break a rib. The dude was a full on MILITANT impeding ICE operations — not a “protestor” “I Got Inside the Signal Chats Used by Far-Left Extremists in Minnesota—Here's What I Saw; Inside the paranoia consuming the far-left encrypted chatrooms that are organizing the mass mobilization against the U.S. government”A link to their training doc from SignalHere's the ICE watch training video @camhigby found. Let's deconstruct the first few minutes. Lead by Eric Ward, a senior fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center, a far-left NGO with nearly a billion-dollar endowment.I am horrified. I cannot believe it. I analyzed public databases and media reporting on violent confrontations with ICE over the past year. Just 9 counties accounted for TWO-THIRDS of violent confrontations with ICE in America. This is twice all violent confrontations in the remaining 3,134 counties COMBINED.Democrats are in on it. They're on the ground hugging ICE riot leaders. Minneapolis man comfortably speaks to Democrat Senator Ro Khanna saying the violence will continue to escalate. “If they bring their asses here f*cking with us, it's gonna get worse” saying to deliver this message to Capitol HillHere's the video of that scumbag Bad Bunny sitting during a singing of God Bless America at the Yankees game this week. You pick a real winner Roger GoodellHall of Fame NFL running back Eric Dickerson reacts to “Bad Bunny” performing at the Super Bowl: “I'm not surprised the NFL would do something like this. That's how they got all that political crap… Where is Bad Bunny from?” “Puerto Rico” “Keep his ass in Puerto Rico!”What Does God's Word Say?1 Kings 19:1-619 Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David 2 and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. 3 I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”4 Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. 5 He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?”6 Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.”

“(Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.) And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them. But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so he called its name Sitnah. And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, saying, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”- ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭26‬:‭15‬-‭22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Send us a textAn angel tells Manoah's wife that her baby, Samson, will be a Nazarite—set apart for God. Samson grows super strong, but his choices are not always wise: he plays with danger, makes enemies, and finally tells Delilah the secret of his strength. Captured and blinded, Samson prays for God's help one last time. God answers, and Samson pushes down the temple pillars, defeating Israel's enemies and beginning their freedom. This powerful story shows that our strength comes from God, and that He still hears us when we turn back to Him. Talk about it:What does it mean that Samson was a Nazarite “set apart” for God?How did Samson's choices get him into trouble?What changed when Samson prayed at the end of the story?What's one way you can use your strengths to honor God this week?Visit our website: kathyskidsstorytime.orgWe'd love to hear from you.To reach us quickly, click the “Send us a text” link at the top of the episode description.Or write to us by mail:Kathy's Kids StorytimePO Box 44270Charlotte, NC 28215-0043

ALC Recommends: Sowing into an ALC Project (Cuba, Honduras, SURGE, 417 Missions)abundant.us/give“He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.” ‭‭- Genesis‬ ‭26‬:‭14‬ ‭ESV

1 Samuel 14:20 – 14:46. Saul almost kills Jonathan.   When God brings a big victory through Jonathan's faith, King Saul turns it into a mess with a selfish oath that leaves Israel exhausted and almost costs Jonathan his life. In this episode, kidzos learn why trusting God matters more than trying to take the credit.  

David writes more psalms while hiding out from King Saul.  He pretends to be insane around the Philistines. Saul has priests killed for helping David. Psalm 56, 34; I Samuel 22:1-2; Ps 142; I Chronicles 12:8-18; I Samuel 22:3-5; I Sam 22:6-23; Ps 52:1-9. #everydaychristians

The drama continues with the Philistines having to surrender the Ark of the Covenant to Israel and Saul becomes Paul in a radical conversion.Connect with us on social:Telegram: @beholdisraelchannelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amir.tsarfati/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beholdisrael/X: https://x.com/beholdisraelYouTube: https://youtube.com/@beholdisrael