Podcasts about Philistines

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

Matthew week 92   Matthew 14:30 ESV   30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”       Romans 7:21-23 ESV   21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.       Matthew 15:13-14 ESV   13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides.       Matthew 15:21 ESV   21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.             Matthew 15:22 ESV   22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”       Judges 10:6 ESV   6 The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him.       Matthew 15:23 ESV   23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”       Matthew 15:24-28 ESV   24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.       Genesis 12:3 ESV   3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”         Matthew 5:7 ESV   7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.       1 Timothy 1:13a ESV   13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy       1 Timothy 1:16 ESV   16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

Hey y'all ! Welcome to another Friday with CWCOI ! In this week's episode, our host, Ally Yost retells the story of David and Goliath which is found in 1 Samuel 17. David was a young shepherd boy from Israel who was called to defeat a Philistine giant named Goliath. We learn through David's unwavering faith that with God, we can conquer anything big or small. "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods." Psalm 40:4 _____________________________________________  ☆ REP CWCOI MERCH ➤ https://allyyost.com ☆ MY BIBLE (code ‘ALLYYOST' at checkout) ➤ https://hosannarevival.com/collections/beautiful-bibles/products/nlt-notetaking-bible-versailles-theme  ☆ TUMBLER LINK ➤ https://allyyost.com/products/travel-tumbler ☆ JESUS FREAKS | OFFICIAL TRAILER ➤ https://youtu.be/DbbJHm0WfJg?si=ErjC8Z9_TmC5VLar ☆ EARLY ACCESS TO EPISODES AND BONUS PERKS ➤ https://patreon.com/CWCOI  ☆ GIVE TO CWCOI ➤ https://www.paypal.me/CWCOI _____________________________________________  Connect further with us ! TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@christwithcoffeeonice  Instagram ➤ https://instagram.com/christwithcoffeeonice _____________________________________________  Connect further with Ally !  TikTok (2M) ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@ally_yost  Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/ally_yost/  ShopMy ➤ https://shopmy.us/allyyost Pinterest ➤ https://www.pinterest.com/ally_yost1/_created/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gospel Daily with Josh Weidmann Tola and Jair: Complacency or Commitment? Part 2 Series: Judges Scripture: Judges 10 Episode: 1252 In Judges 10, the story shifts to two lesser-known leaders, Tola and Jair, who serve as judges of Israel and bring brief periods of peace. After their rule, Israel once again falls into idolatry, serving multiple false gods and abandoning the Lord. As a result, God allows them to be oppressed by the Ammonites and Philistines, causing great distress. When the Israelites cry out, God rebukes them for their repeated unfaithfulness. However, after they repent and remove their foreign gods, God's compassion is stirred. Key themes include leadership transitions, Israel's cycle of idolatry, repentance, and God's mercy.

In this Bible Story, the Philistine horde rises up against Israel. David continues to wrestle with his alliances. While Saul, now living apart from the spirit of God, turns to dark arts to settle his weary and restless soul. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 27. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 27:7 from the King James Version.Episode 93: David, still playing the role of a Philistine marauder in Ziklag, found himself in the camp of the enemy as they were marching up against Israel. But the lords of the Philistines disapproved of this and petitioned Achish to send him and his men away. God kept David from killing his brethren that day, but when they returned to Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had raided their city and taken their wives and children. So David sought God and pursued the Amalekites to overtake them, bringing back their wives and children. God gave them favor, and the women, children, livestock, and goods were saved! David got his first true taste of what it meant to be king.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gospel Daily with Josh Weidmann Tola and Jair: Complacency or Commitment? Part 1 Series: Judges Scripture: Judges 10 Episode: 1251 In Judges 10, the story shifts to two lesser-known leaders, Tola and Jair, who serve as judges of Israel and bring brief periods of peace. After their rule, Israel once again falls into idolatry, serving multiple false gods and abandoning the Lord. As a result, God allows them to be oppressed by the Ammonites and Philistines, causing great distress. When the Israelites cry out, God rebukes them for their repeated unfaithfulness. However, after they repent and remove their foreign gods, God's compassion is stirred. Key themes include leadership transitions, Israel's cycle of idolatry, repentance, and God's mercy.

Today, we'll conclude the account of Samson, one of Israel's judges. As you may recall from the last episode, Samson was supposed to be dedicated to the Lord as a Nazirite from birth, and yet he did very little to keep that vow. We pick up his story with the account of his interactions with a Philistine woman named Delilah, a woman of the very nation that Israel had been tasked with destroying for their perpetual evil. As a representative of Israel, it's no surprise that in the end, he falls to the strength of another nation because he gives into his passions. In the end, however, the angel's prediction is true: he will begin to save Israel from the power of the Philistines.Judges 16 - 1:01 . Judges 17 - 9:24 . Judges 18 - 11:46 . Psalm 82 - 18:24 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

The David Dilemma #Nightlight #RTTBROS "Trusting God's Call: The David Dilemma"Bible Verse: "And David said, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee." (1 Samuel 17:37, KJV)Devotion: In this powerful verse from the book of 1 Samuel, we witness a remarkable exchange between David and Saul, as David prepares to face Goliath. David's faith in God is on full display here, as he exhibits two key components of trusting in the Lord: action and belief.David's first display of faith comes from his willingness to act on his experiences. He has seen God deliver him from dangerous situations before, and he trusts that God will do so again. By agreeing to face Goliath, David is demonstrating a faith that is grounded in action and reliance on his God-given abilities.Secondly, David's belief in God's power is unwavering. He declares that the battle belongs to the Lord, showing that he trusts not only in his own skills but also in God's ultimate authority over the situation. David's faith is a beautiful example of how we can both take action and trust in God's power simultaneously.So, as we face our own "Goliaths" in life, let us remember the David Dilemma: to act with courage, using the gifts God has given us, while also placing our ultimate trust in His mighty hand.#DavidDilemma #TrustInAction #FaithOverFear Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

“And the Lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”- ‭‭Judges‬ ‭16‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Today, we'll begin to look at the life of Samson, a man who kept the Nazirite vow from his birth, until he didn't, and violated it several times over. In short, Samson is a picture of Israel in one person. Meant to be set apart and holy, he instead takes his vows and his God lightly, defiling himself over and over. A Nazirite was supposed avoid dead bodies, yet he eats honey from a lion's carcass and uses a jawbone for a weapon. A Nazirite was supposed to abstain from wine, yet Samson threw a drinking party for the Philistines. And, in our next episode, the last vow to go is that of not cutting his hair, which he hands over to a Delilah, a woman of the very nation that Israel had been tasked with destroying for their perpetual evil.Judges 13 - 1:00 . Judges 14 - 5:43 . Judges 15 - 11:06 . Psalm 81 - 15:47 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

limitation Denying Faith #RTTBROS #NightlightFaith That Defies Limitations #Nightlight #RTTBROS Faith That Defies Limitations"Then said Jonathan, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few." - 1 Samuel 14:6 (KJV)Jonathan found himself in a seemingly impossible situation. The Philistines had established a formidable garrison, and the Israelite forces were vastly outnumbered and poorly equipped. King Saul, Jonathan's father, was hesitant and uncertain. But Jonathan saw beyond the physical limitations to the unlimited power of God."There is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few." These words reveal the heart of true faith—a recognition that God's ability to work is not constrained by human limitations. Jonathan understood that victory doesn't depend on the size of the army but on the size of our God.How often do we find ourselves looking at obstacles rather than opportunities? We count our resources, measure our abilities, and conclude that certain challenges are simply beyond us. We forget that the God we serve specializes in doing the impossible through those willing to step out in faith.Jonathan didn't say, "The LORD will definitely work for us." He said, "It may be that the LORD will work for us." This wasn't doubt but humble dependence. Jonathan recognized God's sovereignty while still being willing to act. His faith wasn't presumption; it was courageous obedience with an open hand.The results were remarkable. With just his armor-bearer by his side, Jonathan launched an attack that triggered a chain reaction, resulting in a great victory for Israel. What appeared to be a foolish risk became a powerful testimony to God's faithfulness.Where in your life do you need to declare, "There is no restraint to the LORD"? What impossible situation are you facing that requires Jonathan-like faith? Remember, God is not limited by your limitations. He delights in showing His strength through our weakness.Let us be people who, like Jonathan, are willing to step out in faith, recognizing that our God is not constrained by numbers, resources, or human impossibilities. May we have the courage to say, "Come, and let us go," trusting not in our own strength but in the unlimited power of our God.#FaithOverFear #NoRestraintToGod #VictoryInJesus Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Two judges of Israel follow the death of Abimelech, and we know little about them, except that they each judged Israel for over 20 years with no ruckus to speak of. When Israel turns to idols yet again, they suffer under the Philistines & the Ammonites. They cry out to the Lord, but he rejects their pleas. When they confess sin and burn their idols, God begins to become weary of their misery. Later, God appoints a ne'er-do-well named Jephthah to deliver Israel from the Ammonites. Sadly, Jephthah doesn't truly know the Lord or His commands, and he makes a vow to the Lord that is abominable in the Lord's sight, standing in direct conflict with the statutes handed down through Moses. Thinking that he is being faithful to the Lord, he makes a heartbreaking decision.Judges 10 - 1:02 . Judges 11 - 5:00 . Judges 12 - 13:19 . Psalm 80 - 16:18 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

MAY. 4, 2025Why can't we work together? (1)"Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence." 3Jn v. 9 NKJVReason one: insecurity. The Florentine philosopher Machiavelli said, "The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him." Insecure leaders are threatened by talented individuals, so they surround themselves with weak people. As a result, the work suffers, and everybody involved suffers too. When a leader responds to a genuine question by saying, "How dare you challenge my authority," they're dangerous and often not worth following. Insecure leaders usually fail for two reasons: They want to maintain control over everything, or they're afraid of being replaced by someone more competent.Either way, leaders who don't encourage teamwork weaken their own potential and discourage those around them. President Woodrow Wilson said, "We should not only use all the brains we have, but all that we can borrow." John the Apostle tells us that Diotrephes, a leader in the church, "loves to have the preeminence." What was this man's problem? He wanted to blow everybody else's light out in order to let his own light shine. So, John writes: "When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church. Dear friend, don't let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God's children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God" (3Jn vs. 10-11 NLT). Let God's approval— which you already have—make you secure!Why can't we work together? Let God's approval make you secure!Share This Devotional"Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul." 1Sa 14:7 NIVReason two: naivety. An old Chinese proverb says, "Behind every able man there are always other able men." Even if you can do the job yourself, isn't it wise to stop and ask, "Who do I know who could help me to do it better?" That question defines the difference between mediocrity and excellence. Business consultant John Ghegan keeps a sign on his desk that reads, "If I had it to do all over again, I'd get help." We all need that sign! When you have a few victories under your belt, you're at an increased risk of thinking you can do anything and everything by yourself. But when your dream is from God, it will always be greater than your individual capacity and gifts, which means you will have to reach for others. Two men, Jonathan, and his armor-bearer, wiped out an entire Philistine garrison. How? "Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, 'Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.' 'Do all that you have in mind, his armor-bearer said. 'Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul'" (vv. 6-7 NIV). Jonathan, the leader, needed the encouragement and support of his armor-bearer. And his armor-bearer needed the courage and leadership of Jonathan. Together they accomplished amazing things for God.The truth is teamwork is at the heart of all impressive triumphs. The question isn't whether teams have value; it's whether you are humble enough to acknowledge that fact and become a better team player.Why can't we work together?  Become a better team player.Share This DevotiSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

ALC Recommends: Mother's Day is this Sunday!“Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord's sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years. In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children. The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah's wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”- Judges‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In this Bible Story, Saul seeks redemption and David has the perfect opportunity to take Saul's life and end his suffering as an exile, but chose to show Saul mercy. The two embraced as father and son, and David is restored to good standing among Israel. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 24. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 24:4 from the King James Version.Episode 90: David and the men who gathered around him were living in the forests of Judah when a message came to him that the Philistines were raiding the people of Keilah. So David inquired of God and he and his men went to save the city! But with Saul still after him, he was forced to go on the run again. One day as Saul was hunting David, he went into a cave to rest. He had no idea that David and his men were hiding in the back of that cave. God had placed an opportunity for revenge in front of David, but David chose to spare his life. Showing us that it is better in God's eyes for us to choose mercy rather than vengeance.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we uncover the fascinating story of Shamgar, a lesser-known but mighty figure from Judges 3:31. Was he truly an Israelite judge or a foreign mercenary used by God? Join us as we explore his possible Hurrian or Canaanite roots, his ties to Egypt, and his epic stand against the Philistines, early Sea Peoples of Aegean descent. Through historical insights and biblical context, we reveal how Shamgar may have brought peace to Israel in a time of chaos. Don't miss this deep dive into ancient history, biblical mystery, and divine providence.   If you'd like to support "The History of the Bible", visit our Patreon Page at https://patreon.com/TheHistoryoftheBible. Your feedback is valuable to us! Share your thoughts and insights via our feedback form at https://forms.gle/AtzUReJ8gLuFYPaP8. Let us know how our podcast has impacted you or someone you know by filling out our impact form at https://forms.gle/jr4EdGsqCaFk4qZm8. If you have concerns about any information presented, please inform us via our correction form at https://forms.gle/PiMMkPnJFaa4j5p37.   #BiblePodcast, #BiblicalHistory, #OldTestament, #BookOfJudges, #Shamgar, #Philistines, #SeaPeoples, #AncientIsrael, #BiblicalArchaeology, #ChristianPodcast, #BibleStudyPodcast, #HiddenBibleFigures, #GodsWarrior, #HistoricalBible, #FaithAndHistory, #UnexpectedHeroes, #DivineProvidence, #BiblicalMystery, #Hurrians, #EgyptianMythology   Episode's Sources Bible, NIV Study Bible.  Bible, ESV Study Bible https://www.gotquestions.org/oxgoad-Bible.html https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/who-were-philistines-where-did-they-come-from/ https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/illuminating-the-philistines-origins/ https://www.worldhistory.org/Philistines/

Is there a Dagon in your Heart?        In this message rooted in 1 Samuel 5, the speaker explores the consequences of Israel's disobedience and the sovereign power of God displayed even in exile. Israel had treated the Ark of the Covenant like a good-luck charm rather than a symbol of God's holy presence, bringing it into battle while their hearts remained far from Him. After their defeat and the Ark's capture, God demonstrated His supremacy—not through Israel's strength, but by humbling the Philistine god Dagon and judging the Philistines without any human aid. The sermon challenges believers to tend the fire of their relationship with God, reject idols (our modern “Dagons”), and humbly come out of the shadows by confessing weakness, weariness, or disobedience rather than hiding behind pride or religious habits. Ultimately, it is a call to personal surrender, daily obedience, and openness to God's refining work—not confined to a church building, but in every area of life where His glory desires to be revealed.

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 12:26-31 With the daily reports of warfare in almost every corner of the world, we may not expect or desire to come to the Bible and read about wars.  But the stories of Old Testament Israel are filled with accounts of the fierce fighting between the Israelites and their enemies.  This is especially true of the reign of King David, who was described as a “man of war” (1 Chron 28:3).  2 Samuel 12:26-31 describes the battles between Israel and the Ammonites.  It was the Ammonites that Israel was fighting when David committed his sin of adultery (2 Sam 11:1).  One question for us is this: what are we to learn for our own lives from Old Testament passages like this, recounting the wars of Israel? One truth revealed in this passage is the faithfulness of God to His promises.  He had promised, "By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies" (2 Sam 3:18).  God's promises and warnings are all true and utterly reliable.  God's faithfulness to His word is illustrated in this passage. Second, God's holiness and justice are revealed in this passage.  The Ammonites were a detestable, idolatrous people.  Their main god was Molech (or Moloch or Milcom) and people offered their children as sacrifices to this god (Lev 18:21; 20:1-5; 2 Kgs 23:10).  So when the Israelites defeated the Ammonites in war, this was God's judgment on the wickedness of these idolaters.  God used war as an instrument of His justice.  These Old Testament stories have relevance to us in that they reveal attributes of the living God who never changes.  This is the same God who reigns over his world today.  Let us come to know Him and rejoice.

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning. My name is Chet. I'm one of the pastors here. We are in First Samuel chapter 10, and we're picking up where we left off last week. Last week, we read about Saul being anointed as king. He went looking for some lost donkeys, and eventually, he went to a place where there was a prophet. It turned out that prophet was Samuel. Samuel sees Saul, and God tells Samuel, "That's him. That's the guy I told you was going to be king. I told you you'd see him today." And there he is. He anoints him as king. Saul goes to a dinner where he sits at the head of the table. Then he goes home and tells no one that he has been anointed king.We're going to pick up today where we left off. Spencer told us a little bit about where this ends up with Saul, and that it doesn't go well for him. But we're not there yet in the story, and today we're going to look at how his story begins. It starts off okay. So, we're going to look at verse 17 of 1 Samuel chapter 10. It says this: Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mispa. He said to the people of Israel, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I've brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you. But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, 'Set a king over us.' Now therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands."They said they want a king. They're bringing together to give them a king. Normally, in these sorts of things, the first person who gets up and talks pumps some ceremony and highlights the importance of the day. Samuel gets up and says, "You used to follow God who saves you from everything. You've rejected him, and today you won't have God. You'll have some guy." Now, line up. It's not the best start, but they're going to line up. They're going to choose a king by lot.By lot just means a system for randomly choosing. We do some things by lot culturally; we don't call it that, but we draw straws, flip a coin, pull a name from a hat, hold a lottery, or a raffle. Paper rock scissors is just competitive lots where you feel like you won something, even though it was still pretty random.A lot of things were done by lot historically and culturally all over the place. It just means they have a random system for choosing. They would use urim and thummim. They had the breastplate of the high priest that they would use for this at times. They also may have used some other different methods. People trusted that God would give them the answer through this.This is not uncommon to them. We see a whole section of this playing out in Joshua chapter 7, where they are trying to find out who sinned against God, and they walk it all the way down to the household of Achan. So they're going to choose by lot. Samuel, verse 20, brings all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.Now, God already told Samuel who was going to be king. Samuel already told Saul he was going to be king. They're going to do this now by lot. Samuel is going to see, and Saul's going to see, that God is overseeing the lot. But for everybody else, they're just going to see that this is how God works in choosing, and they may not have known or wouldn't have known already that Saul is the one to be chosen. But Benjamin is the tribe he comes from, that Saul is from.It says the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot. Saul, the son of Kish, was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found.So, however they were taking lots and doing this, there was some sort of representative tokens or something used to pick a person because they selected a person who's not there. So the lot falls on Saul, the son of Kish, and he's not there.They looked for him. So they're doing this, and they're like tribe of Benjamin. They move up, and then they do the next process, and they say the clan of the Matrites. Then everybody moves off, and the Matrites come near somehow and then they say Saul, the son of Kish. So is Saul here? Where's Saul? Like, they have to go look for him, and the whole country's here, and now we're looking for Saul. The whole process has stopped to the point that it says, "But when they sought him, he could not be found."Verse 22: So they inquired again of the Lord, "Is there a man still to come?" It slows down so much that they're like, "Let's ask God again." They inquire of the Lord, "Are we waiting for somebody else? Did we do what is happening?" And God says, "Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage."We know that Saul showed up, but we don't know at what point he hid. Maybe it was right when they said line up. Maybe it was when Benjamin got picked and he thought, "Oh no." Maybe he waited till it was the Matrites, then he was like, "Oh no." But he definitely wasn't there when they said Saul, the son of Kish. The baggage is the luggage that everybody has shown up with; they just piled all their gear up, all their supplies in a certain spot. And Saul goes and hides, which is a real cute look for your new king.So God tells them, "No, I picked the right person. He's hiding." Then it says, "Then they ran and took him from there." I would assume, just trying to picture this, they're excited. They run. I also think that means there's a lot of children involved. They say he's in the supplies, and everybody just takes off. This whole group takes off and finds Saul hiding.I don't know how he hid. The text doesn't tell us. It's possible there was no one near the supplies and he just went there. It's possible he hid. You remember playing hide-and-seek? The better your hiding spot, the more awkward it is to get out of it once you've been caught. We're told that Saul's a big dude. I don't know if he was just tucked behind stuff, and they were like, "God told us you were here," and he came out. Or if he was in stuff, and they had to be like, "Hey man, get up," and he had to crawl out of things. But it's not a good look.They bring him out. Samuel said to all the people, oh sorry, they ran and took him, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. They bring him out, and he's a head taller than everybody. Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people."There are a couple of ways to understand what he's saying there. He possibly is just saying now that he is king, he stands above everybody else. Here's your king, and no one's like him. It's a from now on kind of thing. It's also possible that all he's saying here is look at him, remember what he looks like, and he looks different than everybody. So later, when you see a guy who's taller than everybody, you can say, "Oh yeah, I remember that. That's our king." It's possible he's just commenting on what he looks like. It's also possible that what he means is now he stands above everybody, not literally but figuratively.All the people shouted, "Long live the king." They've chosen the king. They know who it is, and they all shout, "Long live the king."Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, wrote them in a book, and laid it before the Lord. We don't know what he wrote. My guess is it included some of the stuff we've read in Deuteronomy about what a king is supposed to be like. It probably included some things Samuel said—that if you get a king, he's going to do all this stuff—but he gives some restrictions, this is what a king is allowed to do, and duties, here's what he's supposed to do, has to do. He declares it all to everybody, like, "Alright, y'all got a king now and here's what a king can and can't do and should do." He writes it all down and puts it before the Lord.Samuel sent all the people away, each to his home. We're going to get more information about how this plays out. I appreciate the detail. They get everybody together; they choose a king. Then they go play hide-and-seek with the king, find him, then Samuel says, "Look at him." He announces, and then he just goes, "Alright, go home."We're told Saul goes home because they've never had a king before. He doesn't have a palace. He's no castle. They just say, "Here's what kings are allowed to do. You got one. Yay. Go home."It says, "Saul also went to his home at Gibeah." He just was like, "Okay, I'm king now. I'm going home." With him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched.God begins to work and sends brave, capable, valiant men with Saul. But some worthless fellows said, "How can this man save us?" They despised him and brought him no present. Other people were apparently prepared to give something to honor the king. But they're like, "We're not doing it. He'll get no present from us. We don't like him."They despised him, brought him no present, but he held his peace. We're told God touches the hearts of valiant men, and these worthless men reject Saul. But I can't help but feel like the worthless men have a point. They're in a time of war. Part of the reason they've picked a king is they want someone to save them. That's part of the reason Samuel's upset with them: God saves them.But they are constantly at war with the people around them. They want someone to go out and fight their battles. They say, "How can this guy save us?" Saul's start isn't a good one.What do we know about Saul at this point? We've read chapters 9 and 10 and were introduced to him in chapter 9. We know his dad is wealthy. If you wanted to talk about that nicely, you'd say he's from a well-off family. If you didn't like Saul, you'd say, "Yeah, daddy's rich." You could spin that one way or the other.We know his family is wealthy. We know Saul is tall and handsome, so if you wanted to date him, these are the categories you'd pick. I told you a couple of weeks ago that they're not the best ones, but tall, handsome, rich—that doesn't make you king.So far, we've seen him unsuccessfully find donkeys, and then hide when they called his name. That's what we know of Saul. He was humble, but he seems humble to the point of not wanting to do this.I don't know if we would like him. Some people would like that he was tall, might like that he was wealthy, and you might appreciate that he's handsome. But I don't know if we'd pick him as king.In our country, Kennedy and Nixon have a debate, and Nixon was sweaty and people were like, "Seems real sweaty. Can't elect that guy." He lost. I can tell you it's a big deal because I know about it.The first election I was able to vote in was Obama, way after Kennedy and Nixon. If Nixon had been hiding in the back under a table, not well, hyperventilating, and they had to start off by saying, "Candidate Nixon is hiding in the back under a table, breathing in a bag, refuses to come out, says that he'd like to speak to his mother," they would have had a tough time. They would ask Senator Kennedy what he thought about that. But Nixon was just sweaty. He glistened too much on TV, and people said, "Can't trust him." People were kind of right.So there you go. This guy hid. They had to go find him. What makes him special? Why is God blessing and sending valiant men with him? And why are these people called worthless? He didn't win a battle. He didn't accomplish anything. He didn't win a tournament. He wasn't the most anything, really—most tall. I want to show you all what it says.Verse 24: Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen?" Now we know why he's special—the Lord chose him. Therefore, it's worthless to reject him whom the Lord has chosen, and it's a good thing to do to follow him whom the Lord has chosen because he's chosen.That's what makes him special—God, in his divine choosing, chose him.But everybody goes home. Saul keeps his peace. We're going to chapter 11.Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. We've been hearing about problems with the Philistines on the west. Israel is in the middle. Jabesh Gilead is over here on the east, and the Ammonites are over here. The Ammonites have now besieged Jabesh Gilead on the other side of the Jordan.Isn't it nice to live where and when we do, where this doesn't happen as often? Historically, this was super common: an army shows up, you're hanging out, suddenly you see people marching, your walled city is surrounded, and they just besiege it. If you have a big enough army, you're ready to go get some stuff.All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us and we will serve you." That phrasing is actually "cut a treaty with us," which is how they would cut a covenant. They would cut up an animal, mingle the blood, then walk through. It's officially called a suzerain and vassal covenant, where you have one ruling authority over a vassal state that will pay tribute, taxes.So they say, "That's a nice besieging army you have there." They send out an envoy and say, "We'll cut a covenant with you and start sending you money. Deal." Nahash says, "Deal." But Nahash the Ammonite said, "On this condition: I will make a treaty with you that I gouge out all your right eyes and thus bring disgrace on all Israel."They're not going to cut up an animal; they're going to cut up you. Line up. I'll pop out all your right eyes and bring shame on all Israel. That'll be the covenant, then you'll owe me taxes.The elders of Jabesh said, "Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you."That's desperation. What else can they do? They said, "Let us go through all Israel and ask." He says yes, which seems crazy culturally—that he would say yes.They basically say, "Give us a chance to see if someone wants to come kill you. If they do, thanks for waiting. If they don't, you can gouge our eyes out." It makes some sense because his goal was to bring shame on all Israel.They said, "Let us go through all Israel and ask." He apparently says yes because next we hear: when the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter to the people, and all the people wept aloud.They heard the news; they were heartbroken. This is awful. They seem despondent. What are we going to do?The people of Israel have been a loose collection of peoples, tribes, and have never really banded together for some things. That's part of the reason Nahash thinks, "Sure, try to get those people together."Now Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. He's gone back to work. Saul said, "What is wrong that the people are weeping?" They told him the news about Jabesh.The spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. He took a yoke of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all Israel by messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen."Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.Imagine someone rides into your town with two-day-old ox pieces, tosses it down, and says, "Hey." Everybody's like, "What are you doing?" He says, "Saul, our king, cut that ox up." He says, "Get your weapons and muster or he's going to cut your oxen."It's an effective message. The dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they come as one man.Verse 8: When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000. They told the messengers, "Say this to Jabesh Gilead: Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have salvation."Their city's besieged. To get that message in, these people must cross back through. Nahash knows they're going back in; people are returning now with the answer. When the messengers told Jabesh, they were glad.Verse 10: They said to Nahash, "Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you and you may do to us whatever seems good to you."That phrase is fair translation, or, "We'll come out to you. We'll march out." They intentionally tightrope walk—"We'll come on out; you can do whatever you want to."There's a little eye play on words, too: "We'll let your eyes do what you want to do," which is what they said.Verse 11: The next day Saul put the people in three companies; they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, before sunrise, and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered so no two of them were left together.Nahash surrounded a city, very confident, then 330,000 Israelites showed up in the middle of the night, and it went very poorly for Nahash.Verse 12: The people said to Samuel, "Who said Saul shouldn't reign over us? Bring those men so we may put them to death." Those who stood against Saul did it publicly. After Saul showed he can lead, muster, bring rescue, they said, "Who said Saul wasn't going to be in charge? Let's kill them, too."Those guys are there because they all showed up, and they were like, "No, this turned real quick."Saul said, "Not a man shall be put to death today, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel."Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom." All the people went to Gilgal; there they made Saul king before the Lord. They sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and Saul and the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.So we've seen Saul anointed, chosen, and now solidify as king.We've seen bits and pieces of his character. One thing to keep asking: what makes him special? Why is he special? What's worked here to make this good?Reading the text, God chose him and empowered him. The Spirit of the Lord fell on him, kindled his anger, then Saul acted. The last time we saw him do something good was prophesying when the Spirit fell on him.He's been chosen and empowered by the Spirit. God hasn't just picked out the best guy—he's picked someone and is empowering them.I want to take a moment as a church family, as Christians, those following Jesus, to wrap our heads around what Saul has. We have something even better.What happened for Saul? Something even better has happened for us. So, turn with me to Ephesians 1.Paul writes to Christians about what it means to belong to the Lord. In verse 3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."That's wonderful. We are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing."He chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him."What makes us special? He chose us. What made Saul special? He was chosen.In the New Testament, he chooses those whom he blesses. We're blessed because he chose us."He chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him." If you belong to Jesus, you are holy and blameless because of Jesus, not you. You're blessed because of his choosing, not you.He did this before the foundation of the world. If you're a Christian and wonder why you're special, why did I get to believe this, why me? Because he chose. He did this.When we look at Saul and say, "Why did he choose Saul?" It doesn't tell us why. It tells us some things, but not the reason.Why did he choose me? It says, "In love." It's not in us; it's in his love.We were loved in him, so we love him because he first loved us."He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will."He loves us and brings us to himself, which is wonderful. If you belong to Jesus, you don't get in on a technicality like, "Try not to cause problems; you got in because you trusted in Jesus." No."In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons." He wants you and me, the church, to belong to him, to be enjoyed, to be delighted in.Why does he love me? "According to the purpose of his will."Then it says to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he blessed us in the beloved. Grace is unearned favor—unearned, unmerited, undeserved.What gets praised? Not anything you've done or accomplished; it's grace, glorious grace.You say, "I don't feel good enough." It's not about that. He saved you by glorious grace, and he's wonderful.According to the purpose of his will.This is beautiful—that it's by his divine choosing.Imagine being gathered with the people of Israel and the lot falling to you and saying, "What?"But what we've been chosen for is so much more glorious, wonderful, eternal. It's staggering what he, in his divine purpose and glorious grace, has chosen in the blood.It keeps going. Ephesians 1:7, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time—to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."Highlight this: in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.If you're keeping score at home, trespasses are what you brought."According to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us in all wisdom," making known the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ, not in you.He purposed and accomplished it in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him—heaven and earth.This is about Jesus and God's glorious will.If you belong to him, it's because he has made you belong to him.You've been chosen because he's chosen.You brought sin that made the sacrifice necessary, but you didn't earn, achieve, or keep it. It's not about you.If they had gathered the people and said, "Hold on. Let's see if he's good at this. Let's watch him a while."They would all be wrong because God already chose.If you've trusted Jesus, it's in response to his divine choosing.You are kept, held, worked on because of him and what he has done.He has qualified you.It's about him, not you.And if you've met yourself, that's great news.I've had times when I go into a tough conversation prepared, using pep talks, and still fall apart.It's not about your ability to hold it together or keep it.It's not about your ability to earn it.It's about him.Ok, hold on, sorry.Verse 11 repeats, but in him we have attained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.If chosen, it's because he did this.So we who first hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.So he's glorified, praised, exalted.It's not about you.You're involved as the object, the recipient.When you consider your walk with Jesus, you're not the subject or the verb.God is doing the work, Christ is doing the work.You're down here being acted on by a glorious God who divinely chooses, rescues, saves, redeems, and keeps according to the purpose of his will, because of his love, because of his glorious grace, and to the praise of his glory.You shouldn't think, "I must be one of the good ones."God didn't pick you because of something special.You wouldn't conclude you earned or achieved this.You'd conclude you need to praise his glory.Why are you a Christian? Because Jesus is wonderful, good; he redeems, saves, and loves.That would all turn back to praising his glory and grace.But you say, "Saul falls apart. God chooses, Saul loses it."Good point.That's why I said we have something better than Saul.Saul was chosen for a role in an earthly kingdom.He was chosen temporarily as a king in a temporary kingdom.He was empowered by the Spirit for some of what God was going to do, but he ultimately lost it.We in Christ are not chosen by lot.We're chosen by grace.Not chosen by Samuel through lots, but chosen by Jesus through his blood.Chosen for an eternal kingdom.Verse 13: "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation"—that is, Jesus Christ came, died on the cross, rose again so you might have hope and faith.That's proclaimed in baptism: Jesus was dead and buried, and with him we die and bury our sin.Without Jesus, we don't rise, but because Jesus rose, we rise.We are washed clean, made new, given new life; our sin is dead and buried with Christ, and we rise with him with justification—we're made new and whole.That's what we celebrate.The gospel says when you heard it and believed it, believed in him, you said, "It's not about me; it's about him. I don't believe in me; I believe in him."That's your process, your response.You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.Sealed.Saul was empowered; we are too.The New Testament tells us he's empowered us for mission.But we're not just empowered; we're sealed.The promised Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.The Spirit will keep you going until you get the full inheritance of all the blessings of Christ.It's guaranteed; a guarantee is as good as the person who makes it.And it's the God of the universe.You're not just empowered; you're sealed, kept, and guaranteed.Jesus says you're put in his Father's hand, and no one takes anything from the Father's hand.If that's true for me and my sons, 10 and 7, it's true for God.If He's holding something, He's not letting go.It's guaranteed.Sealed by the Spirit, and it's working.He says in chapter 4, "Don't grieve the Spirit by whom you were sealed for the Day of Redemption."You say, "But I'm doing bad stuff, grieving the Spirit, causing problems."He says, "Yes, don't do that, but you're sealed for the day of redemption."That's the Spirit you're grieving—who will be with you the entire time until he brings you to the conclusion of the inheritance, till he gets you where he plans to take you by his purpose.He ends, "To the praise of his glory."Oh, that he might be praised, exalted, lifted up.Do you realize you've been chosen in a lottery far better than being the king of Israel?If you belong to Jesus, you've been chosen by his divine choosing and good pleasure, according to the purpose of his will.He lavished grace upon you, made you his forever, sealed you with the Spirit, and will bring you to the end.May we praise him, honor him, follow him, and not grieve the Spirit.At all points, may we know it is by his glorious grace, accomplished in him, brought about by him, and about him.At no point say, "But I haven't done this," or "I haven't done that."Have you trusted in him? Then stop talking about you.Do you believe in him? Or do you believe in yourself?We say, "No, I believe in him."Therefore, we are made free; we are brought to the end.Praise his name.Let's pray

Most of us know David first and foremost because of his bout with Goliath.  But what we never examine is that David didn't stop fighting after Goliath fell. That was just the opening round.See, we often celebrate the slingshot moment — that one win that silences the doubters, the breakthrough that puts our name on the map, the miracle that makes us believe. But what we don't talk about enough is the decades of battles that followed.David was continuously at war. He fought the Philistines as a boy with a stone and a sling. He then found himself a fugitive, dodging Saul's spears while still leading God's armies. And even when he was finally able to take the throne, wear the crown, and have an army behind him, He was still called to war.Why?Let me make this clear - anointing attracts warfare.The Battle Is The Lord's by Yolanda Adamswww.BibleDeliverance.org

A reluctant king rises to the challenge of leading a nation. King Saul's humility and obedience brings his people back to worshipping God. But as the Philistine armies prepare to attack, the king's faith is put to the ultimate test.View this week's Tools for Parents: The Story of Saul

A reluctant king rises to the challenge of leading a nation. King Saul's humility and obedience brings his people back to worshiping God. But as the Philistine armies prepare to attack, the king's faith is put to the ultimate test. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/198/29

Chapter 03 of Heroes in the Bible: David with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by 1 Samuel 14:1-46. The Failed Father & Warrior Son - We are introduced to the son of Saul - Prince Jonathan. His courageous heart defies his father, brings glory to God, and delivers Israel’s armies from the grip of the Philistines. Today's opening prayer is inspired by Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Listen to some of the greatest Bible stories ever told and make prayer a priority in your life by downloading the Pray.com app. Sign up for Heroes in the Bible devotionals at https://www.heroesinthebible.com/ Learn more about Dr. Tony Evans at https://tonyevans.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samson’s marriage to a Philistine woman. For more resources on reading through the Bible in a year, visit my church's website at this link or text us at 888-644-4034. Feel free to join me on my other daily podcast, Your Next Step. God bless - Doyle See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In short, Samson is a picture of Israel in one person. Meant to be set apart and holy, he instead takes his vows and his God lightly, defiling himself over and over. A Nazirite was supposed avoid dead bodies, yet he eats honey from a lion's carcass and uses a jawbone for a weapon. A Nazirite was supposed to abstain from wine, yet Samson threw a drinking party for the Philistines. The last vow to go is that of not cutting his hair, which he hands over to a Delilah, a woman of the very nation that Israel had been tasked with destroying for their perpetual evil. In the end, the angel's prediction is true: he will begin to save Israel from the power of the Philistines.Judges 13 – 1:14 . Judges 14 – 6:20 . Judges 15 – 10:52 . Judges 16 - 15:52 . Psalm 75 - 23:30 . Psalm 76 – 24:49 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Judges- Abimelech's conspiracy. Shechem and Abilelech fall. Oppression by Philistines and Amonites.

House of David on Amazon Prime tells the story of the shepherd boy who brought down a giant Philistine warrior with a slingshot and a stone and, ultimately, became king. But the story of David – outcast David, underdog David, King David – is more than a single parable – and the first season of House of David lays out David's journey from childhood until moments after he felled Goliath with a single stone. Although the series – which aired its first season finale earlier this month and has already been renewed for a second season – is filmed in Greece, it boasts an impressive contingent from Vancouver. Louis Ferreira is David's father, Jesse. Kimani Ray-Smith is stunt coordinator. Todd Giroux is post producer. Alexandra La Roche and Michael Nankin directed episodes. And Vancouver's own Jonathan Lloyd Walker is executive producer, writer, and season one show runner. In this compelling conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Jonathan discusses his journey to House of David, the joys and challenges of bringing these biblical personages to the screen, and where the show will take viewers in season two. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Psalm 132 (NKJV)Andrew and Edwin recognize God's own pilgrimage, seated above the Ark, into Jerusalem.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=21211The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

In this Bible Story, David promises to take down the Philistine giant. David triumphs over Goliath and the Israelites race into battle behind David, and defeat the Philistines. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 17. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 17:45 from the King James Version.Episode 85: Israel and the Philistines were hard at war, camped with just a valley between them. When out of the camp of the Philistines, a champion arose, Goliath. He came with an offer; if any man was willing to fight him in one-on-one combat and win, the entire nation would bow down to them. He was a giant and nobody in the camp of Israel wanted to defy him. Then one day, while David was in the camp on an errand for his father Jesse, he heard what the Philistine champion was saying and grew indignant at the way this heathen was talking about his God. So he decided to take him up on his offer and challenge him to one-on-one combat in the valley. In this Valley, Goliath would learn that the God of Israel, our God, is stronger than any army.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this powerful Bible story, Jonathan, the son of King Saul, demonstrates unwavering faith and trust in God as he takes on the mighty Philistine army. Despite being vastly outnumbered, Jonathan's bravery and conviction inspire his armor-bearer to stand with him, and together they experience a miraculous victory. Join us as we explore this epic battle and discover the incredible ways God's power can transform even the most daunting challenges.

In today's episode, Emma Dotter helps us understand who the Philistine giants, where they came from, and the picture they give of our salvation. These chapters remind us to trust in the better David, Jesus, for our victory of the giant of sin and death. Jesus has already won this battle through the cross, and we can rest in that victory! Scriptures Referenced: 1 Samuel 17:4; Romans 8:37Come celebrate 100 days of reading the Bible together with us! https://www.watermark.org/events/6472-celebrating-100-days-of-families-reading-the-bible

As 2 Samuel draws toward its conclusion, several events shed light on the entirety of David's reign. After a lengthy famine, David learns from the LORD that bloodguilt remains on Israel due to a crime Saul committed against the Gibeonites. David seeks to make atonement for this sin while also remaining merciful to the oath that he swore to Jonathan. David's battles and victories against mighty Philistine warriors were worked by the LORD through Israelite soldiers even after David was no longer fighting with his army.  Rev. Zelwyn Heide, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hanover, ND and Zion Lutheran Church in New Salem, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Samuel 21:1-22.  "A Kingdom Unlike All the Nations” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Samuel. This time in Israel's history has its highs and lows, but the LORD's faithfulness never wavers. He provides His Word to be proclaimed faithfully through prophets like Samuel and Nathan. Even as princes like Saul and David sit on an earthly throne, the LORD remains King over His people, even as He does now and forever through the Lord Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Sam 28-29; Ps 109; Matt 11 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, your host Hunter invites you to join him on Day 115 of our year-long journey through the Bible. We begin in 1 Samuel 28 and 29, where King Saul is desperate for guidance in the face of looming conflict with the Philistines. Next, we reflect on the heartfelt cries of David in Psalm 109. Finally, we turn to Matthew 11, where John the Baptist—struggling with doubt in prison—sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is truly the Messiah. Jesus' response carries powerful reassurance for anyone wrestling with discouragement. Hunter offers encouragement and prayer, reminding us that even when God seems inattentive to our circumstances, He is still at work, His eye is upon us, and we are deeply loved. Join in as we read, reflect, and pray together—finding hope and renewed vision in God's enduring promises. TODAY'S DEVOTION: See Beyond the Walls. What do you do when it feels like God isn't paying attention to what you're going through? Are you tempted to lose faith, to shut down, or to try and go it alone? If so, you're not alone—John the Baptist felt that too. In our reading today, we find John in prison. His circumstances are dire and his future uncertain. He was the forerunner, the one sent to prepare the way for the Messiah, but now, awaiting execution, everything he thought he knew is called into question. From his cell, John sends his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah, or should we keep looking?” John's vision has shrunk to the walls of his prison, clouded by uncertainty and disappointment. God's apparent inactivity has left him confused and maybe even hurt. And Jesus—notice how he responds. Jesus doesn't send a promise of rescue or a word of immediate deliverance. He doesn't assure John that everything will soon be alright. Instead, he tells John's friends, “Go report what you see and hear: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Jesus invites John—and invites us—to see beyond our circumstances, to recognize what God is doing beyond the present moment. God is at work, even if we cannot perceive how in our pain or our disappointment. When the walls start to close in and it feels like your faith is being swallowed by uncertainty, Jesus points us outward—to signs of hope, to evidence of his ongoing work in the world. Let this be a word for you today. Don't let your faith hinge on your current struggles, or on what you think God has or hasn't done for you lately. When your vision matches the dimensions of your troubles, remember Jesus' response. Remember that God is not inattentive or neglectful. He sees you. He is working all things out for your good and his glory, even when you can't see it. Jesus had not forgotten John. He has not forgotten you. He is with you, closer than you know. So let's pray for renewed vision—a vision of the God who always works and always sees us. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

In this Bible Story, Jonathan shows bravery against the Philistines by breaking up the enemy's camp and sending them into a frenzy. Saul capitalizes on Jonathan's bravery and sends his army in to defeat the Philistines. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 13-14. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 14:12 from the King James Version.Episode 82: As Israel was preparing for battle against the Philistines, Jonathan and his armor bearer decided to investigate the Philistine camp to see if God would give them favor in launching an attack. Jonathan trusted God, and God used Jonathan and his servant to conquer the entire camp. But Saul, wanting to seize the momentum, made the Israelites under his camp vow not to eat anything until the rest of the Philistines had been driven out. Jonathan knowing nothing of this vow disobeyed his father, who would have killed him if not for the people of Israel who interceded.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Sam 18; 1 Chron 6; Ps 11; Matt 3 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, where we journey through the pages of Scripture together every single day. In today's episode, Hunter—your host and Bible reading coach—guides us through pivotal passages from 1 Samuel 27, Psalm 141, 1 Chronicles 9, and Matthew 10. We'll witness David's escape to Philistine territory, hear the heartfelt prayers of the psalmist, trace the returning exiles in Israel's genealogies, and listen as Jesus sends out his disciples with challenging words on mission, authority, and compassion. Along the way, Hunter offers encouragement for our own walk with Christ—reminding us that, like the disciples, we are sent into the world with both Jesus' credentials and his compassion. Through prayer and reflection, today's episode is an invitation to renewal, perseverance, and joy—even in the midst of life's challenges. So grab your Bible, settle in, and let's discover what God has in store on this day in our journey together. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He sends us out with his credentials and his compassion. In today's reading from Matthew 10, we see Jesus sending out his twelve disciples. He isn't sending them out on their own or with their own limited resources—he's sending them with his authority, his message, and his compassion. The disciples are given the power to heal, to cast out evil spirits, to announce the kingdom of heaven. They go out in his name, equipped to do his work, to be his presence in the world. But Jesus also tells them, and us, to be prepared for misunderstanding and rejection. It's all a part of following him. If he was misunderstood and persecuted, it shouldn't surprise us if we are treated in the same way. Even when we offer Jesus' message of love and grace, we may face resistance—maybe even from those closest to us, in our families or our communities. But we are not to lose heart. He is clear: What happened to him will happen to those who walk in his way, but he still sends us out empowered by his Spirit. And he sends us not as distant messengers, but as his apprentices. Christ in us—his presence moves through our actions, our words, our lives. He asks us to see the world as he sees it: through the eyes of the Father, with a heart determined to restore, heal, and make new. We are to take that compassion, that vision, and move out into the world with it. That is our calling—to show up, to represent his credentials, and to live out his compassion. This journey will not always be easy. It may involve suffering, rejection, or leaving things behind. But Jesus promises that life—true and abiding life—is found when we give ourselves to him and his mission. If we lose our life for his sake, we will find it. Let's respond to his sending. Let's go into the world, our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our homes, with his credentials and compassion. Let's seek to see as he sees, to love as he loves, and to bring his message of hope and healing. He is with us. Christ is in you. Go with great joy in the power of the Spirit. That is a prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that is a prayer I have for you. May it be so. EVOTION: TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Host: Wayne Jones  |  Released Wednesday, April 23, 2025 Understandably, Samson is normally an example of what not to do in leadership. In this weeks’s episode of Authentically Adam, Wayne uses Samson in the usual fashion. Specifically, the discussion centers around Judges 15 and the back-and-forth exchanges of retaliation between Samsons and the Philistines. “As […]

Host: Wayne Jones  |  Released Wednesday, April 23, 2025 Understandably, Samson is normally an example of what not to do in leadership. In this weeks’s episode of Authentically Adam, Wayne uses Samson in the usual fashion. Specifically, the discussion centers around Judges 15 and the back-and-forth exchanges of retaliation between Samsons and the Philistines. “As […]

Summary of Judges 16 (Samson and Delilah)Judges 16 tells the story of Samson, a man blessed with supernatural strength by God, and his downfall through betrayal. Samson falls in love with Delilah, who is bribed by the Philistine rulers to uncover the secret of his strength. After several failed attempts, Samson finally reveals that his strength lies in his uncut hair—a symbol of his vow to God.Delilah cuts his hair while he sleeps, and the Philistines capture him, gouge out his eyes, and imprison him. While in prison, Samson's hair begins to grow back. During a Philistine celebration in their temple, they bring him out to mock him. Samson prays to God for strength one last time. He pushes down the temple pillars, killing himself and thousands of Philistines—defeating his enemies in death.Your words were found and I ate them

In this Bible Story, Saul's pride and disobedience begins to show. Although he claims many victories, his attitude against God was muddied by his own pride and anxiety. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 13. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 13:11 from the King James Version.Episode 81: While Samuel was aging and retiring from his role as judge, Saul was gaining favor with the people with every battle won. Saul was swelling with pride and becoming addicted to the praise of his people, while Samuel led the people into habitually seeking God before every battle. One day, while preparing for battle against the Philistines at Gilgal, Saul gave in to his anxiety and people-pleasing attitude by taking on the duties of a priest, duties that at this time belonged solely to Samuel. Saul's disobedience and petty excuses led to God removing the kingship from his dynasty and passing it onto one whose heart would seek after God.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every week, members of The Gospel Project for Kids team offer guidance to help you as you prepare to teach each session to preschoolers and kids. This week, we discuss Unit 8, Session 4—Samson and the Philistines.

Today we read the epic story of how David defeats Goliath, a giant Philistine warrior. Fr. Mike points out that David's heroic courage in this battle came from David's faithfulness to God and to the small tasks entrusted to him as a shepherd. We learn that when we are faithful and courageous in small matters, we can face the giants in our bigger battles. Today's readings are 1 Samuel 17 and Psalm 12. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Friday Bible Study (4/11/25) // 2 Kings 18:1-12 // Visit our website: https://mbchicago.org Follow us to remain connected: Facebook:   / mbc.chicago   Instagram:   / mbc.chicago   TikTok:   / mbc.chicago   Podcasts: Listen on Apple, Spotify & others To support this ministry, you can donate via: Zelle to: info@mbchicago.org Website: https://mbchicago.org/give Venmo: https://venmo.com/mbchurch DAF Donations: https://every.org/mbc.chicago PayPal: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_but... 2 Kings 18:1-12 (ESV)Hezekiah Reigns in Judah18 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 4 He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan).[a] 5 He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him. 8 He struck down the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.9 In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it, 10 and at the end of three years he took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 11 The king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, 12 because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened nor obeyed.Footnotesa. 2 Kings 18:4 Nehushtan sounds like the Hebrew for both bronze and serpent#mbchicago #2kings | #BibleStudy | #DanielBatarseh | #mbchicago | #mbcchicago | #Bible | #livechurch | #churchlive | #chicagochurch | #chicagochurches | #versebyverse | #church | #chicago | #sermon | #bibleexplained | #bibleproject | #bibleverse #versebyverse #oldtestament

Fr. Mike highlights Saul's brokenness and vanity as he makes an unlawful sacrifice and a rash oath in order to save Israel in the midst of war. Today's readings are 1 Samuel 13-14, and Psalm 58. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

In this Bible Story, Israel, God's chosen people, shout and beg for a king to rule over them. Despite Samuel's warnings, Israel's demands for a king to reign over them completely and protect them from their enemies. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 7-8. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 7:4 from the King James Version.Episode 78: The Ark of God had been returned to Israel, but not every Israelite abandoned their idols, so Samuel spoke to the people, instructing and encouraging them to truly return to God. And they did! But as Israel was worshiping God, the Philistines launched an attack against them. However, this time, Israel sought God on His terms, instead of reacting out of fear, and God showed up. All was peaceful in Israel from that time, until the day they asked for a King.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Genesis 26:17-18 — The condition of the church today suggests that her need is as urgent as it has ever been. In this sermon on Genesis 26:17–18 titled “Revival Sermon: The Modern Philistine,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expands on the great and urgent need for revival and reawakening. To influence this, he says, the church must follow Isaac, who dug again the wells of his father Abraham: “The essence of wisdom for the church at a time like this is to look back into her own history.” When she does this, what will she find? She will find that no revival has ever been known in history that denied the fundamentals of the Christian faith or neglected such vital truths. These truths are constantly buried by “the rubbish of the Philistines.” Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains the vital truths and doctrines denied by the Philistines: the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Bible, the doctrine of sin, and the wrath of God. Revival cannot happen without the proclamation of these truths. It is with arrogance, pride, and the tendency to glorify oneself rather than God that stands between us and His mighty blessings of revival.

In this Bible Story, God is victorious over the Philistines and returns to Israel. He plagues the Philistines with tumors, and makes it known that he is the God above all other gods. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 5-6. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 5:4 from the King James Version.Episode 77: All of Israel mourned the loss of the Ark as it was dragged to the city of Ashdod. There, they placed it at the feet of their god, Dagon. The next morning their statue of Dagon had fallen, and was bowing before the Ark of God. The hand of God was heavy against The Philistines, and He afflicted them with plagues of tumors and rats. And so the Philistines, recognizing what Israel and Egypt did not, sent the Ark of God back to Israel with gifts to honor God and beg for His forgiveness. Teaching us rightly to fear God and not take His name or power lightly.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Genesis 26:17-18 — What are the needs of the church today? Have the needs of the church changed since early Christianity? Does the church face the same issues as it did since it first began? In this sermon on Genesis 26:17–18 titled “Revival Sermon: The Power and the Possibilities,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers that as Isaac dug again the wells of his father Abraham, the church must also dig again the wells that have been filled by modern Philistines in order to rediscover the history of the church: “There is nothing so foolish as to ignore the past.” It is wise to study the pattern of revivals as they have taken place, so as to expose the one main issue that hinders the growth of the church. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes clear, “My dear friends, there is only one explanation of the state of the church today: it is the work of the Philistines.” He explains that the church doesn't seem to see this, and instead puts the blame on false ideas such as the modern day or “new knowledge.” Christians must recognize that humanity's problem is still the same, God is the same, and the solution of the problem is the same: Jesus Christ.

In this Bible Story, Israel is defeated at the hands of the Philistines. Israel summoned the ark of the covenant to the battle field, but the Philistines defeated them and took the ark, and all of Israel mourned the loss of the ark.This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 4. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 4:22 from the King James Version.Episode 76: The wisdom and closeness to God of Samuel brought comfort to the people. But on the outskirts, the Philistines were plotting an attack against Israel. After losing the first battle, the elders of Israel remembered the battles fought during the time of Joshua and brought the Ark of God onto the battlefield. God was not for this plan and Israel lost both the battle and the Ark. When the news came to Eli the priest that his sons were dead, and the Ark had been lost, he succumbed to his grief and died. But we can still take hope because our God is not a weak and worthless God, and He cannot be captured by men as the Philistines will soon learn.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fr. Mike zeroes in on Samuel's dramatic prophecy and the tragic moment when the Philistines capture of the Ark of God. We learn that God is mighty and holds his people to a high standard. Today we read 1 Samuel 3-5 and Psalm 150. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.