One quick note before we begin this episode, there's a big question among Old Testament scholars as to the exact identity of the king in this episode.

There are a few possibilities, and you'll hear that I've chosen one of them and leaned into that in my telling of the story.

That's not to say that I'm right. It's just to say that I think there's a good reason for this choice.

And when you're telling a story like this, you've got to choose something.

If you're interested in why I made this decision, keep an eye out for the next issue of the latest.

It's the email that I send out every couple of weeks. It's free. You can sign up at holy ghost stories.org. Thanks.

Good, sign up at holy ghost stories.org. Thanks. Good counsel is a precious thing.

Its absence fetters leadership limits it to the inevitable weaknesses of a singular point of

view. In its presence, though, any wisdom finds multiplication.

And if the council is divinely inspired, the increase is exponential.

This is a story about losing what's valuable and realizing in the midst of the ensuing panic that the greatest of treasures are held by hands sturdier than our own.

It's a story about trust and providence and common grace.

And it's a story about a God who so often has more than one objective in mind.

I'm Justin Gerhardt.

Welcome to Holy Ghost Stories.

Music Welcome to Holy Ghost Stories. He stretches his broad chested body, blinking awake in the darkness.

Immediately, he feels it, that familiar pain in his midsection, and the tinge of anger it provokes.

He's hungry.

He breathes deeply through his nose, hoping for clues that someone might be bringing a meal to begin his day.

Nothing. He sniffs in disappointment. Yons. Nuzzles the sleeping form next to him.

All 400 pounds of him drifts back to sleep, saving his energy for when it's needed next.

Hopefully that will be soon.

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