Hi, I'm Dr. Tony Evans, your host for the Heroes in the Bible podcast. Before we begin, be sure to follow this podcast on Apple or Spotify so that you're updated on the newest episodes as they become available. So where do we begin? Well, we do not begin with David at all. In fact, his name isn't even mentioned until later.

First, we will begin this and every story with a prelude, a tale from another point in time

that carries hidden messages for us. Then, we will begin our journey by meeting an old prophet

named Samuel.

He is the final judge of Israel, tasked with finding a king for the fallen children of God.

The first king of Israel seems on the outside to be noble, strong, and worthy of the throne.

But there's only one worthy to sit on the throne.

There is only one true king of Israel.

This is an I-Heart podcast.

Prelude to Chapter 1.

It was a brutal and agonizing slaughter.

The men of Israel were thrown around like dogs of the hands of the Philistines. Their blades thrust through Israelite flash swiftly and without mercy.

There was no hope for them to recover their position. Every man was doomed to either die

under the sword of the enemy or flee like cowards into the wilderness.

Thirty thousand soldiers of the Lord's army lay dead in the valley, with crows pecking at their

rotting flesh in the hot sun. They had begun the battle hopeful. Their swords were sharpened

and their armor glimmered in the sunlight. After several defeats to the Philistines, they chose to bring in the Ark of the Covenant,

the manifest presence of God and a symbol of his companionship with the Nation of Israel.

They shouted war cries of victory as they paraded the Ark of God before the Philistines.

They had lost many battles and decided to use God's presence as a tool of fear and boasting.

They thought if they had the Ark of the Covenant in battle with them, that God would somehow condone their arrogance. They wanted the appearance of holy strength without the devotion

to the one who was holy

...