The Daily Audio Bible
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5 David went everywhere that Saul sent him, and did well. Saul had him lead the men of war. And it was pleasing to all the people and to Saul’s servants.
6 When David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, playing songs of joy on timbrels. 7 The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” 8 Then Saul became very angry. This saying did not please him. He said, “They have given David honor for ten thousands, but for me only thousands. Now what more can he have but to be king?” 9 And Saul was jealous and did not trust David from that day on.
10 The next day a bad spirit sent from God came upon Saul with power. He acted like a crazy man in his house, while David was playing the harp. Saul had a spear in his hand, 11 and he threw the spear, thinking, “I will nail David to the wall.” But David jumped out of his way twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had left Saul. 13 So Saul made David go away from him, and had him lead a thousand men. And David went out to the people. 14 David did well in all that he did, because the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw how well he did, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
David Marries Saul’s Daughter
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you as a wife, if you only work for me with strength of heart and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “I will not go against him. Let the Philistines go against him.” 18 David said to Saul, “Who am I? What is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” 19 But at the time when Saul’s daughter Merab should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.
20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. When they told Saul, it pleased him. 21 Saul thought, “I will give her to David. I will use her to trap him, and the Philistines will go against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “Now you may be my son-in-law.” 22 Then Saul told his servants, “Speak to David in secret. Tell him, ‘See, the king is happy with you, and all his servants love you. So now become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23 So Saul’s servants said this to David. But David said, “Is it not important to you to become the king’s son-in-law? I am only a poor man and am not very respected.” 24 Saul’s servants told Saul what David had said. 25 Then Saul said, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no marriage gift except the pieces of skin from the sex parts of a hundred Philistines, to punish those who hate the king.’” Saul planned to have the Philistines kill David. 26 When his servants told this to David, it pleased him to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the time was finished, 27 David and his men went and killed 200 Philistine men. Then David brought their pieces of flesh and gave all of them to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 28 When Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, 29 Saul was even more afraid of David. So he hated David always.
30 Then the Philistine leaders went out to battle. And when they did, David acted with more wisdom than all the servants of Saul. So his name became very important.
Saul Tries to Kill David
19 Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan found much joy in David. 2 So Jonathan told David, “My father Saul wants to kill you. I beg you, be careful in the morning. Stay hidden in a secret place. 3 I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are. I will speak to my father about you. If I find out anything, I will tell you.” 4 Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, saying, “Do not let the king sin against his servant David. He has not sinned against you. What he has done has been good for you. 5 He put his life in danger and killed the Philistine. And the Lord helped all Israel with His saving power. You saw it and were glad. Why then will you sin against him who has done no wrong, by killing David for no reason?” 6 Saul listened to Jonathan, and promised, “As the Lord lives, David will not be killed.” 7 Then Jonathan called David and told him all these things. He brought David to Saul, and David stayed with Saul as before.
8 When there was war again, David went out and fought with the Philistines. He killed many of them, and the others ran away from him. 9 Then a bad spirit sent from the Lord came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. David was playing the harp. 10 Saul tried to nail David to the wall with the spear, but David got out of the way. Saul hit the wall with the spear, and David ran away that night.
11 Then Saul sent men to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal told him, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” 12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he ran away. 13 Michal took a house god and laid it on the bed. She put a goat hair pillow at its head, and covered it with clothes. 14 When Saul sent men to take David, Michal said, “He is sick.” 15 Then Saul sent men to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.” 16 When the men came in, the house god was on the bed, with the goat hair pillow at its head. 17 So Saul said to Michal, “Why have you fooled me like this and let the man I hate go? Now he has run away to be safe.” Michal said to Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’”
18 Now David ran away from Saul and came to Samuel at Ramah. He told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth. 19 Saul was told, “See, David is at Naioth in Ramah.” 20 So Saul sent men to take David. But when they saw the men of God saying what was going to happen, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon the men sent by Saul. And they began saying what was going to happen also. 21 When Saul heard this, he sent other men, and they began saying what was going to happen. So Saul sent men for the third time, and they began saying what was going to happen. 22 Then he himself went to Ramah, and came as far as the large well in Secu. He asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “See, they are at Naioth in Ramah.” 23 So he went to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also. As he traveled he said what would happen, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 He took off his clothes and said what was going to happen in front of Samuel. He lay down without clothing all that day and all that night. So they say, “Is Saul among those who say what will happen?”
31 He said to the Jews who believed, “If you keep and obey My Word, then you are My followers for sure. 32 You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”
Jesus Teaches What It Means to Be Free
33 They said to Jesus, “We are children of Abraham. We have never been servants to anyone. What do you mean when You say, ‘You will be free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “For sure, I tell you, everyone who sins is the servant of sin because sin has a hold on him. 35 And the servant does not belong in the house. The son belongs in the house. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free for sure.
37 “I know that you are the children of Abraham. But you want to kill Me because My Word is not in your hearts. 38 I speak of what I saw when I was with My Father. You do what you have seen your father do.”
39 They said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said, “If you were children of Abraham, you would do what he did. 40 I am a Man Who has told you the truth as I heard it from God. Now you are trying to kill Me. Abraham never did anything like that. 41 You are doing the works of your father.” They said to Him, “We were born of parents who were faithful in marriage. We have one Father. He is God.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love Me. I came from God. I did not come on My own, but God sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you do not want to hear My teaching. 44 The devil is your father. You are from him. You want to do the sinful things your father, the devil, wants you to do. He has been a killer from the beginning. The devil has nothing to do with the truth. There is no truth in him. It is expected of the devil to lie, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 I tell you the truth and that is why you do not put your trust in Me. 46 Which one of you can say I am guilty of sin? If I tell you the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 Whoever is born of God listens to God’s Word. You do not hear His Word because you are not born of God.”
The Jews Say Jesus Has a Demon
48 The Jews said to Jesus, “Are we not right when we say You are from the country of Samaria, and You have a demon?” 49 Jesus said, “No, I do not have a demon. I honor My Father. You do not honor Me. 50 I am not looking for honor for Myself. There is One Who is looking for it. He says what is right from wrong. 51 For sure, I tell you, if anyone keeps My Word, that one will never die.”
52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know You have a demon. Abraham died. The early preachers died. You say, ‘If anyone keeps My Word, that one will never die.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died and the early preachers died. Who do You think You are?” 54 Jesus said, “If I honor Myself, My honor would be worth nothing. My Father honors Me. You say He is your God. 55 You have never known Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know the Father and obey His Word. 56 Your father Abraham was glad that he was to see My coming. He saw it and was happy.”
57 The Jews said to Jesus, “You are not even fifty years old. How could you have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “For sure, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I was and am and always will be!”
59 Then they picked up stones to throw at Him. Jesus hid Himself *and left the house of God.
Good Comes to the Person Who Honors the Lord
112 Praise the Lord! How happy is the man who honors the Lord with fear and finds joy in His Law! 2 His children will be powerful in the land. Each family who is right will be happy. 3 Riches and well-being are in his house. And his right-standing with God will last forever. 4 Light rises even in darkness for the one who is right. He is kind and has loving-pity and does what is right. 5 Good will come to the man who is ready to give much, and fair in what he does. 6 He will never be shaken. The man who is right and good will be remembered forever. 7 He will not be afraid of bad news. His heart is strong because he trusts in the Lord. 8 His heart will not be shaken. He will not be afraid and will watch those lose who fight against him. 9 He has given much to the poor. His right-standing with God lasts forever. His horn will be lifted high in honor.
10 The sinful man will see it and be troubled and angry. He will grind his teeth and waste away. The desire of the sinful will come to nothing.
12 A man who laughs at the truth has no love for the one who speaks strong words to him. He will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a happy face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
14 The mind of him who has understanding looks for much learning, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolish ways.
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