The Bible by David Alley

The Bible by David Alley

di David Alley
Miglioramento personaleCristianitàReligione
Stagione 1

1 Samuel 21 - David's Marriage to Michal | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 21, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In 1 Samuel Chapter 21 David goes to Nob to get help from the priests. The tabernacle was in Nob, but not the ark of the covenant which was in Kiriath Jearim for a long period of time as recorded in 1 Samuel 7. When Shiloh was destroyed at the first battle of Ebenezer, while the town was destroyed it seems the actual tabernacle and its other furnishings were saved. This may have been because they had warning about the coming Philistines and the priests there acted quickly. In any case, we have a period of time where there is no ark in the tabernacle. It was at least twenty years in Kiriath Jearim, plus at most thirty-three years in Jerusalem with David, and then almost eleven years with Solomon before the temple was finished. So it seems about sixty-four years. Even after the ark was returned to Jerusalem by David he set it up in his own special tent, we call the tabernacle of David. The priests are worried about David’s mission. David then lies about his purpose, but it is for the safety of the priest. If the priest doesn't know the truth, he won’t be guilty of working against Saul right? The priest gives David 5 loaves of bread - the number of grace. He also gives him the sword of Goliath. In the NT Jesus commented on this event in Matt 12:3-4 using it as evidence that it was ok to pick grain on the Sabbath. Sometimes the need outweighs the strict rules. The priests had the freedom to bend the rules in the sake of real need. In the Mark 2 version of this story it says that it was in the time of Abiathar the High Priest not mentioning Abimelech the priest, but these were father and son. Both were working in the tabernacle. There is no contradiction, Abimelech gave the bread to David at the time that Abiathar was the high priest. After taking Goliath’s sword, David goes down to the land of the Philistines. How does David who killed Goliath of Gath, go to Gath and survive? What is interesting is that he no sooner takes the sword of Goliath, that he goes to Gath where the sword comes from. To seek asylum in Philistine territory is most unexpected. Did he take Goliath’s sword back to its home town as a peace gift seeking asylum?
S1 · E257
18 nov 2022
12:54

1 Samuel 20 - David and Jonathan's Covenant | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 20, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In 1 Samuel Chapter 20 David leaves Samuel to get intelligence about what is happening, and why Saul is trying to kill him. But Jonathan seems to know nothing about it. The period between his fleeing to Ramah, and this coming back must have only been a short period for Jonathan to have remained ignorant. Jonathan and David agree on a system to find out and pass on information about the truth, and they do it with a secret message sent via the archers bow. Here we see an example of the world of espionage as in ancient times, passing on secret messages as used to happen before technology changed everything. After the message from the archer’s bow confirmed David’s life was in danger, he and Jonathan briefly talked, agreed to treat each other's families well in the future, embraced and departed in great sadness. This was the second last time they were to see each other in life, not that they were to know this of course. The Last was in 1 Samuel 23 when Jonathan snuck out to see David while he was hiding out in the wilderness. Not only was David in a difficult place, Jonathan was too being loyal to his father and also loyal to David. What should he have done? Should he have left his father to serve David, or stayed with his father as he did? Perhaps if he had left his father to serve David he may have survived the battle of Mt Gilboa at the end of 1st Samuel. Meanwhile, though in exile, David himself actually remained loyal to Saul in his heart. Despite being physically separated he was emotionally connected. Contrastingly many people remain physically connected but emotionally separated. It takes a great man or woman, to give the heart to another, and to not remove it even when things are not to your advantage.
S1 · E256
17 nov 2022
13:56

1 Samuel 19 - David's Escape | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 19, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In 1 Samuel Chapter 19 things were peaceful and Saul stopped trying to kill David for a while at least, but there was war again. It seems that war, and David’s clearly better military skill is the catalyst for jealousy. Saul tries to pin David with a spear again. This isn’t a repeat of the previous story, but a separate incident. There had been a period where things seemed to have improved, but Saul slips into another bad patch and David escapes. Saul then sends soldiers to David’s house to kill him in his bed. He escapes out the window at his wife’s advice. She puts a teraphim, an idol in the bed to pretend he is there. David’s house was built into the wall just like Rahab in Jericho. David fled to live with Samuel - for a little while. He probably had no idea what to do when on the run, and here he is seeking the Lord’s will. This is what we should all do when in trouble. Saul tries to follow David to where Samuel is, but the spirit of God waylays him and he prophecies. Saul is someone who actually prophecies a number of times in the Bible - he has the gift of prophecy. This is a gift, not something based on merit or righteousness which clearly he is lacking. Gifts from God do not authenticate a person or their character.
S1 · E255
16 nov 2022
12:26

1 Samuel 18 - Saul's Attempts to Kill David | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 18, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In 1 Samuel Chapter 18 Jonathan and David discover they have the same heart, and they love one another in the Lord. Previously Jonathan had shown huge bravery at Michmash, and is a warrior-like man similar to David. Here the Lord knits their hearts together. David then enters Saul’s service and participates successfully in many battles over an undetermined period of time. After a while, the Israelite women sing a song which makes Saul jealous. This didn’t happen after the Goliath victory, but at some point later. Verse 6 says “after he returned from defeating the Philistine.” However, according to the margin of the ESV translation, Philistine here is plural. So it was after the slaughter of the Philistines, not referring to defeating Goliath, but to an extensive campaign of war as indicated in verse five. And so Saul becomes jealous. Jealousy is a terrible sin, perhaps one of the worst. In the New Testament we are warned against such things, saying they are a “work of the flesh” and that people like this will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Galatians 5:19-21. Jealousy is the breaking of multiple commandments at once, that of covetousness, failing to love others, of murder all combined with a lack of faith in God, and overwhelmed by fear. According to James 3:14-15 jealousy is demonic, and out of it comes disorder and “every evil.” Saul now tries to kill David in multiple creative ways. Yet everything was going David’s way... the Lord was with him, and this is the nature of it. Even what the enemy plans for evil turns to good.
S1 · E254
15 nov 2022
16:14

1 Samuel 17 - Jonathan's Friendship with David | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 17, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In 1 Samuel Chapter 17 David slays Goliath, in what is a rare example of representative fighting or one-on-one combat. One-on-one combat was a way of saving many lives, but also required a lot of bravery, even on the part of Goliath. One-to-one fighting was not common in the Middle East, and here Goliath actually educates the Israelite army about how it works. In the process, which drags over forty days, the biblical number for testing, Goliath also insults the Israelites, presumably with many different insults that are not recorded. In the Jewish Targum it notes Goliath as claiming to be the one who killed Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, and being the one who captured the ark of the covenant. That probably wasn’t true, but it didn’t mean Goliath wouldn’t have said things like that to get them worked up. Another giant also called Goliath is named in 2 Sam 21:19 - this isn’t the same person as there were multiple people called Goliath in ancient times. David is a symbol of Christ who defeated Satan and humiliated him. David’s five stones are a symbol of grace that we receive, and the victory of David seemed uncertain, but was absolutely certain, just as Christ’s victory was never in doubt. There are many “David facts” that are not quite right, such as his age, the size of the armour and more. This video goes over some of the differences between reality and the Sunday school story versions of this story. Back in the book of Numbers, Israel was afraid to take the land because of the giants. And now we see the same thing present here. Only two people in Israel back then were filled with faith, Caleb and Joshua. And now, we will see there was only one, David.
S1 · E253
14 nov 2022
24:49

1 Samuel 16 - Saul's Jealousy of David | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 16, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. We are in 1 Samuel Chapter 16. Previously we saw three stages in the raising of Saul to King - the private anointing, the public choosing, and the obtaining of public approval. Here David is now at stage one, being privately anointed, but the other stages do not come from a long time, like twenty years. As Christians, this is like when we are given a promise from God. It’s tempting to try and make it happen in our own strength. Instead we walk with Christ in faith until he brings it about. We don’t remain passive, but obey. David is the eighth son - 8 is the number of new beginnings and Israel is going to start again with a new king, new tribe, and this time a dynasty that will lead to Christ. In this chapter after the Holy Spirit departs Saul, he is tormented by an evil spirit from God. How does an evil Spirit come from God? Simple, this is the shorthand way of saying that God allowed it. We see this type of thing in the book of Job where the devil attacks Job, but God allowed it, and all through the narrative everyone clearly sees the things that happen as having come from God. God doesn’t torment Saul, but because of God's choices this indirectly happens. Because of Saul’s torment, he seeks a musician to make him feel better, and David is selected. God is opening doors for him. This and also later events, such as Goliath, indicate the Holy Spirit is now helping David. Meanwhile with Saul, common grace at work. Even when someone has turned their heart away from God, the Lord still sends his servants to minister to them. All over the world, the spirit of God is always appealing to those who are lost.
S1 · E252
13 nov 2022
11:46

1 Samuel 15 - David and Goliath | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 15, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In 1 Samuel Chapter 15 is illustrated how Saul didn’t really care about what God wanted - that is, he didn’t have a heart after God. Many Christians do things for God, but don’t care about what God wants. They serve God for their own benefit, as Thomas a Kempis called it, as “spiritual mercenaries.” Very few serve God because they love Him and love His ways. The amalekites were the first nation to attack Israel after they left Egypt - and may have been aligned with Pharaoh. Now God wants to deal with them, but they fail to do the job properly. Much later in the story of Esther, the antagonist, Haman is a descendant of Agag the Amalekite. Because they didn’t properly finish the job off and it came back to be a problem later on. After Saul’s disobedience, Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Yahweh’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. Listening to God isn’t about just knowing what he is saying, but about putting it into practice. True listening is challenging and requires grace. Saul says “I have sinned.” This is something that six others in the Bible also said. These are Pharaoh, Balaam, Saul, David, Shimei, Judas and the Prodigal son. Of the seven people in scripture who said “I have sinned”, only David’s (plus the prodigal son” exhibit true repentance. The others simply regret they have been caught, or regret how it turned out.
S1 · E251
12 nov 2022
13:50

1 Samuel 14 - David Anointed as Future King | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In 1 Samuel Chapter 14 recounts Jonathan and Israel’s victory at Michmash. This was the scene of a similar WWI victory in 1918 with the General Allenby’s British troops copying Jonathan’s example. A soldier who knew his Bible pointed it out, leading to the soldiers scaling the cliffs for an assault on Ottoman troops. Allenby decided to attack with just one troop instead of the whole company and the Ottomans were unsuspecting and fled, just as the Philistines did. Source: Gilbert, Major Vivian., The Romance of the Last Crusade with Allenby to Jerusalem, Appleton and Company. Once Saul knows they are winning, he tells Ahijah the priest to stop inquiring of the Lord, so they can get into the attack. Circumstances being what they were, must have convinced him he already knew what God wanted and decided to save time. This is the Lesson, don’t assume that circumstances prove God’s voice. Can you think of a time this wasn’t true? Once Jonathan attacked the Philistines panicked, fled, and even started fighting themselves. Previously a number of Hebrews had aligned themselves with the Philistines. Everyone wants to be on the winning side, and when it was evident God was delivering the Philistines up, they switched back. This also helps explain why the “Philistines” were fighting against themselves.
S1 · E250
9 nov 2022
16:11

1 Samuel 13 - Saul's Disobedience | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In 1 Samuel Chapter 13 we find a genuine textual issue. They are not common, but here the age of Saul and the length of his reign is odd in the Hebrew. This verse is translated in so many different ways. KJV: "Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel," ESV: "Saul was ... years old when he began to reign, and he reigned, ... and 2 years..." NIV: "Saul was 30 years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel 42 years." NASB: "Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 42 years..." LXX: Simply left out. The number of theories about this verse are astounding. What we learn elsewhere is that Saul actually reigned for 40 years. We get this from Paul in Acts 13:21. Josephus also tells us that Saul reigned for 40 years. He clearly didn’t start reigning when he was 1 year old. This chapter outlines Saul’s first major act of disobedience/sin. He is to wait for Samule for the sacrifices, but Samuel is late. Saul acts out of fear and conducts the sacrifice himself, rather than be obedient to his instruction. He also takes the role of priest which was not his job. Saul is rejected and God wants a king who is after his heart. This raises the question, what is God’s heart? How does one go after it?
S1 · E249
8 nov 2022
15:52

1 Samuel 12 - Samuel's Farewell Address | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 12, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In 1 Samuel Chapter 12 the prophet Samuel recounts a basic history of Israel, covering the Judges up to the first King. He was building a case that the choosing of a King was a sin. This summarised recounting of the Judges is interesting because Bedan is a new name here. Either it's another Judge we didn't know about, or it's Samson or Barak. St Jerome had translated it as Barak as hae others, for various reasons and the word Bedan literally means “in Dan” giving some the idea it was Samson, the judge from Dan. Samuel tells them that he is going to pray for thunder and show them that choosing a king was a sin, and this is what happens. So even though the selecting of Saul as King was a great success, and his initial battle was a victory, Samuel confirms here their great sin in rejecting God. Samuel closes his speech with this “Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. But if you keep doing evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king.” The last sentence is a prophecy, and it comes to pass in 586 BC.
S1 · E248
8 nov 2022
9:31
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