Born in Bethlehem, raised as a shepherd, and slew a giant. David’s story foreshadows the story of Jesus, born of Bethlehem, shepherd of our souls, who slew the greatest giant of all - sin.
Today's Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 2:14, from the King James Version.
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<v Speaker 1>Let us pray now. Thanks be to God who always
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<v Speaker 1>leads us in triumph in Christ and reveals through us
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<v Speaker 1>the sweet aroma of His knowledge in every place. Tewod
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<v Speaker 1>Corinthians two fourteen. Dear Lord, we come to you with
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<v Speaker 1>grateful hearts, acknowledging our victory in You. Thank you that
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<v Speaker 1>you always lead us in triumphal procession and through us
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<v Speaker 1>spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. As
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<v Speaker 1>we journey through this life. We ask that you guide
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<v Speaker 1>us in your ways, using us as vessels to spread
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<v Speaker 1>the beautiful fragrance of your love, grace and truth. May
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<v Speaker 1>our lives be a living testament to our victory in Jesus,
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<v Speaker 1>and may our words and actions point others to Him.
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<v Speaker 1>Help us, O, Lord, to remain faithful and diligent in
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<v Speaker 1>our walk with You, even when faced with child lenges
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<v Speaker 1>or adversities. In every situation, remind us of the triumph
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<v Speaker 1>we possess through Christ and the power of Your love
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<v Speaker 1>that overcomes the world. In the mighty name of Jesus,
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<v Speaker 1>we pray, Amen, Thank you for praying with me today.
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<v Speaker 1>Stay tuned now for another episode of Stories of the
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<v Speaker 1>Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
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<v Speaker 2>Situated on opposing hills with a valley in between, the
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<v Speaker 2>Israelites and the Philistines prepared for an impending clash. Blackened
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<v Speaker 2>clouds obscured the sun, casting a somber shroud over the battlefield.
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<v Speaker 2>Israel stood ready to defend their homeland from the Philistines
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<v Speaker 2>encamped at their doorstep. This was a critical juncture, Israel's
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<v Speaker 2>last line of defense before an invasion. The fatigue of
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<v Speaker 2>war had already crept in. Both sides were battle worn
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<v Speaker 2>and weary. The Philistines were bent on enslaving the Israelites.
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<v Speaker 2>King Saul stood with his men arrayed behind him. His
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<v Speaker 2>gaze was fixated to cross the divide, where the Philistine
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<v Speaker 2>army stirred, making room for an emerging figure. With each step,
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<v Speaker 2>the earth seemed to shudder, provoking gasps of astonishment from sautsmen.
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<v Speaker 2>A beastlike man emerged from the Philistines. He dwarfed the others.
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<v Speaker 2>His chest was a mountain of muscle, his arms like stones,
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<v Speaker 2>and his legs as thick as oak trees. Goliath, the
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<v Speaker 2>champion of the Philistines and Titan of Gath, cast a
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<v Speaker 2>long shadow over the valley. A defiant smile glinted beneath
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<v Speaker 2>his helmet as he looked at the Israelites. He was
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<v Speaker 2>like a ravenous war ding Saul, he shouted, with a
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<v Speaker 2>voice that seemed capable of splitting the earth.
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<v Speaker 3>I stand for the Philistines as their champion. Select a
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<v Speaker 3>man brave enough to fight me. If he bests me,
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<v Speaker 3>the Philistines will be your servants. Yet should I crush him,
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<v Speaker 3>you Israelites will grovel before us like the dogs you are.
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<v Speaker 2>The Philistines rallied behind Goliath, their rhythmical pounding on shields,
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<v Speaker 2>intensifying saul perspiration of dotting his brow felt the dread
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<v Speaker 2>settling over Israel. Goliath's challenge echoed daily for forty days,
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<v Speaker 2>invading the Israelite camp, his voice at tormenting specter, haunting
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<v Speaker 2>Saul's dreams. The Israelite soldiers were immobilized by fear. Nobody,
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<v Speaker 2>not even the King, dared challenge him.
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<v Speaker 4>Hello and welcome to another episode of the Jesus Podcast.
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<v Speaker 4>I'm Athan Frompray dot Com, here to guide you through
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<v Speaker 4>some of the most iconic stories ever told. This podcast
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<v Speaker 4>has blessed you thus far. Please take a moment to
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<v Speaker 4>leave a comment and review. Doing so, will make sure
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<v Speaker 4>others discover these life changing stories and be sure to
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<v Speaker 4>download the Prey dot Com app to hear the Bible
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<v Speaker 4>come to life and make prayer a priority in your
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<v Speaker 4>daily walk with God. We've been traversing the peaks and
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<v Speaker 4>valleys of the Bible's most famous characters. These people's lives
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<v Speaker 4>were marked with tragedy, triumph, faith, and failure. These heroes
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<v Speaker 4>ultimately point us toward the greatest hero of all, Jesus.
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<v Speaker 4>Thus far, we've explored the stories of Adam, Cain, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua,
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<v Speaker 4>and Boas. And now we enter the most iconic battle
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<v Speaker 4>of the Bible, David versus Goliath.
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<v Speaker 2>Weeks into the standoff between Goliath and the armies of Soul,
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<v Speaker 2>David prepared food for his brother who were soldiers under Saul.
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<v Speaker 2>At daybreak, he loaded his donkey and set off for
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<v Speaker 2>the base. As he approached, he heard a strange sound
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<v Speaker 2>echoing from the battlefield. He climbed a rock for a
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<v Speaker 2>vantage point and saw the giant cursing God in marking
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<v Speaker 2>Saul's armies. David looked at the Israelite army. They were
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<v Speaker 2>all cowering in fear. David's jaw tightened as he molded
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<v Speaker 2>over Goliath's blasphemous words. A divine rage ignited within him.
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<v Speaker 2>Who is this philistine to dare.
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<v Speaker 5>And sold the armies of Israel on the living God?
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<v Speaker 2>David murmured Saul and his men retreated to camp, once
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<v Speaker 2>again refusing to challenge Goliath. David darted towards Saul's tent
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<v Speaker 2>without formal imitation. David burst in and knelt before the king,
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<v Speaker 2>boldly declaring.
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<v Speaker 5>Don't let anyone lose heart because of this giant. I
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<v Speaker 5>will confront him.
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<v Speaker 2>Saul and his men suppressed their laughter at the shepherd boy.
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<v Speaker 2>Saul helped David to his feet.
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<v Speaker 5>Saying, you can't go against him. You are just to boy,
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<v Speaker 5>and he has been a warrior since his use.
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<v Speaker 1>David grinned, his.
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<v Speaker 2>Eyes, shimmering with determination and hope.
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<v Speaker 5>As you know, I shepherd my father's flock. Whenever a
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<v Speaker 5>lion or a bear to the lamp, I would chase
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<v Speaker 5>it down and kill it. I've rescued sheep from the
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<v Speaker 5>lion's jars. I have slain them. This milstine will be
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<v Speaker 5>just like them, as he has defied the.
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<v Speaker 1>Flock of God.
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<v Speaker 2>The room fell silent. Face is tense. David said.
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<v Speaker 5>The Lord has saved me from the lion and the bear.
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<v Speaker 5>He'll save me from this giant too.
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<v Speaker 2>Saul looked at David thoughtfully, but perhaps this youth bore
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<v Speaker 2>God's favor. David held his breath, awaiting Saul's verdict. Saul
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<v Speaker 2>finally spoke.
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<v Speaker 3>Go, May the Lord be with you.
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<v Speaker 2>David collected his shepherd's staff and left. David picked five
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<v Speaker 2>smooth stones at the nearby street, tucking them into his
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<v Speaker 2>pouch as he prayed for God's blessing. His staff and
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<v Speaker 2>sling were his weapons, and faith was his only armor.
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<v Speaker 2>Yet David advanced confidently onto the battlefield where Goliath. Goliath
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<v Speaker 2>looked down at David and scoffed.
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<v Speaker 3>Am I a dog that you come to me with
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<v Speaker 3>a stink? Gone? And I will feed your flesh to
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<v Speaker 3>the birds and beasts.
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<v Speaker 2>David returned Goliath's scornful gaze.
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<v Speaker 5>You rely on sword and spear, but I face you
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<v Speaker 5>in the name of the Lord of Heaven and Earth.
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<v Speaker 2>David's heartbeat intensified, and he raised his staff towards Goliath
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<v Speaker 2>with defiant strength.
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<v Speaker 1>It is my God you've choused, Goliath, not I today,
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<v Speaker 1>the Lord will deliver you into my hands.
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<v Speaker 5>Your head will roll off your shoulders, and the world
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<v Speaker 5>will know God fights for us. Enraged, Goliath charged it David.
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<v Speaker 2>As the giant thundered.
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<v Speaker 5>Towards him, David.
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<v Speaker 2>Calmly readied his sling, a single stone nestled within. He
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<v Speaker 2>had but one opportunity to land the stone. David readied
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<v Speaker 2>the sling and began to swing it behind him. He
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<v Speaker 2>took a deep breath and peered at the galloping Goliath.
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<v Speaker 2>David swiveled his hips and released the stone. It whistled
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<v Speaker 2>through the air, striking Goliath's forehead. The impact interrupted the
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<v Speaker 2>giant's momentum, and he crumpled to the ground. Without delay,
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<v Speaker 2>David swiftly approached the fallen Philistine, grabbed his sword and
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<v Speaker 2>swung downward at his neck, instantly decapitating the giant. Holding
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<v Speaker 2>up Goliath's head, he showed it to the stunned Philistine's
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<v Speaker 2>Goliath was defeated by a shepherd. Empowered by God. The
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<v Speaker 2>victorious roar of the Israelite soldiers filled the air as
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<v Speaker 2>they charged the Philistines. David joined his brethren, fighting bravely.
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<v Speaker 2>David's triumph brought liberation to all of Israel. His courage
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<v Speaker 2>and faith symbolized a deeper narrative in Israel. The story
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<v Speaker 2>of a shepherd willing to risk his life to protect
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<v Speaker 2>his sheep, to confront lions, giants, and armies, to guide
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<v Speaker 2>his flock to safety and abundance. David's bravery reflected God's
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<v Speaker 2>shepherding heart towards Israel. In the coming years, God would
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<v Speaker 2>use David to god his flock towards prosperity and security
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<v Speaker 2>in the future. From Bethlehem, God would send another shepherd,
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<v Speaker 2>one who would conquer the ultimate foe, death itself.
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<v Speaker 4>This clash between the giant and the shepherd is famous
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<v Speaker 4>for a reason. It speaks to the underdog in all
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<v Speaker 4>of us who want to stand up to life's challenges.
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<v Speaker 4>But I fear this story has been misunderstood by pop
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<v Speaker 4>culture and Sunday School theology. As much as we'd like
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<v Speaker 4>to think we are like David, we aren't. This story
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<v Speaker 4>is an image of something greater going on. Goliath represents sin,
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<v Speaker 4>death and destruction. He's an archetype for the evil that
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<v Speaker 4>wants to oppress our souls. Much like Saul and the
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<v Speaker 4>armies of Israel. We feel hopeless and paralyzed to do anything.
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<v Speaker 4>We are not David. We are not the heroes of
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<v Speaker 4>this story. We are ineffective in the face of Goliath.
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<v Speaker 4>The giants in our lives loom over us with menacing power,
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<v Speaker 4>like Saul and Israel. We require a brave champion, a
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<v Speaker 4>good shepherd, someone who will run toward evil instead of
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<v Speaker 4>run from it. David was the champion to face Goliath.
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<v Speaker 4>But who is the champion to face our sin? Let's
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<v Speaker 4>dive into the story of Jesus. Right before he's taken
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<v Speaker 4>to be tried, beaten and crucified. Death pursues Jesus. Will
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<v Speaker 4>he flee or will he fight? Let's find out now.
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<v Speaker 2>The brook Kidron flowed downward from the Temple mount The
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<v Speaker 2>water was stained crimson from the blood of animal sacrifices.
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<v Speaker 2>Jesus looked down at the brook, seeing his reflection in
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<v Speaker 2>the red ripples. It was time for him to be
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<v Speaker 2>the sacrifice. Now an enemy awaited him on the mountain
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<v Speaker 2>of Calvary. On the other side of the brook. A
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<v Speaker 2>band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests march
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<v Speaker 2>with torches and swords. They had come for him. They
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<v Speaker 2>intended to drag him away to be tried, flogged and crucified,
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<v Speaker 2>But the son of God didn't flinch. He set his
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<v Speaker 2>will like a flint and stepped over the crimson brook
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<v Speaker 2>towards his enemies. Their swords glimmered in the torchlight, but
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<v Speaker 2>Jesus was unfazed. They thought they had come to capture him,
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<v Speaker 2>but they were at the mercy of Jesus. Judas appeared
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<v Speaker 2>from them like a wolf sauntering out of its den.
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<v Speaker 2>The wolf and the lamb stood yards away from each other,
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<v Speaker 2>hiding the cowardice beneath an insincere smile. Judas approached his
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<v Speaker 2>master and greeted him Hellorabi, he said. Then he gave
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<v Speaker 2>Jesus a single kiss. It was the signal for the
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<v Speaker 2>soldiers to attack, but they refrained. Jesus looked over Judas's shoulder.
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<v Speaker 1>Whom do you seek, he asked the.
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<v Speaker 2>Soldiers, Jesus of Nazareth. They answered, with their hands gripping
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<v Speaker 2>their swords. I am he, he answered, And as he did,
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<v Speaker 2>something stirred among the heavens, and the earth. Thunder rumbled,
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<v Speaker 2>Lightning streaked across the sky, and the mighty winds of
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<v Speaker 2>God bellowed against the soldiers. With verocity, pushing the men
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<v Speaker 2>off their feet and onto their backs. Jesus knew he
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<v Speaker 2>was being sent to slaughter, but he would not be
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<v Speaker 2>taken as a victim.
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<v Speaker 4>No, he was the victor.
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<v Speaker 2>He allowed himself to be bound and taken to the cross.
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<v Speaker 2>He was determined to face the giant of sin, death,
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<v Speaker 2>and shame.
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<v Speaker 4>Jesus and David are connected on many different levels. First,
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<v Speaker 4>Jesus is a direct descendant of David from the tribe
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<v Speaker 4>of Judah. God made a covenant with David that the
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<v Speaker 4>ultimate king would come through his lineage. Jesus is the
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<v Speaker 4>fulfillment of that promise. Secondly, the brook Kidron that Jesus
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<v Speaker 4>cross to go toward his enemies was the same brook
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<v Speaker 4>that David crossed to run away from his enemies. As
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<v Speaker 4>heroic as he was, failed in many ways, he was
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<v Speaker 4>a great hero, but his life was also marked by
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<v Speaker 4>scandal and moments of cowardice. Where David failed, Jesus succeeded.
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<v Speaker 4>Jesus ran toward his betrayers and fearlessly pursued his enemy. Lastly,
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<v Speaker 4>David's story points to Jesus's ultimate victory over sin, death
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<v Speaker 4>and destruction. Second Corinthians, Chapter two tells us that God
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<v Speaker 4>leads us to triumph in Christ. Jesus Romans chapter eight
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<v Speaker 4>declares that we are more than conquerors in Christ. Jesus.
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<v Speaker 4>David may have defeated Goliath, but he could not conquer
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<v Speaker 4>his sin. Jesus was victorious over sin. In this way
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<v Speaker 4>we have an assurance that Jesus is the greater David.
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<v Speaker 4>Join us next time as we explore the story of
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<v Speaker 4>the tortured philosopher and king Solomon. This son of David
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<v Speaker 4>was heralded as the wisest man ever to live. He
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<v Speaker 4>was responsible for building the Temple of God. But for
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<v Speaker 4>all Solomon's wisdom, darkness constantly crept at the doorstep of
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<v Speaker 4>his heart. So stay tuned for the next episode to
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<v Speaker 4>learn how Jesus is the greater Solomon.
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