June 16 – Listening Over Isolation

1
00:00:02,480 –> 00:00:05,800
Welcome to Bible Chat, where we
have devotional conversations

2
00:00:06,120 –> 00:00:10,960
rooted in Scripture and relevant
for today, June 16th.

3
00:00:11,520 –> 00:00:16,079
Listening over isolation.
There’s a particular kind of

4
00:00:16,079 –> 00:00:19,880
loneliness that comes not from
being physically alone, but from

5
00:00:19,880 –> 00:00:23,320
feeling like nobody gets you.
Like you’ve explained yourself

6
00:00:23,320 –> 00:00:27,880
100 times and people still
misunderstand and after a while

7
00:00:27,880 –> 00:00:31,800
it just feels easier to shut
down, go quiet, and stop trying

8
00:00:31,800 –> 00:00:34,320
to connect.
Why bother if people aren’t

9
00:00:34,320 –> 00:00:38,920
going to listen anyway?
Proverbs chapter 18, verses one

10
00:00:38,920 –> 00:00:41,480
and two address this with some
real honesty.

11
00:00:42,040 –> 00:00:44,960
Whoever isolates himself seeks
his own desire.

12
00:00:45,320 –> 00:00:47,760
He breaks out against all sound
judgment.

13
00:00:48,240 –> 00:00:51,400
A fool takes no pleasure in
understanding, but only in

14
00:00:51,400 –> 00:00:53,960
expressing his opinion.
Ouch.

15
00:00:54,440 –> 00:00:57,080
That’s direct, but it’s also
true.

16
00:00:57,360 –> 00:01:00,600
When we completely withdraw from
community and stop listening to

17
00:01:00,600 –> 00:01:03,640
anyone else’s perspective, we
stop growing.

18
00:01:04,080 –> 00:01:07,840
We get stuck in our own echo
chamber, and that never leads

19
00:01:07,840 –> 00:01:11,320
anywhere good.
Now contrast that with David in

20
00:01:11,320 –> 00:01:15,360
Psalm 70, verse one.
Make haste, Oh God, to deliver

21
00:01:15,360 –> 00:01:17,920
me.
Oh Lord, make haste to help me.

22
00:01:18,360 –> 00:01:22,560
David wasn’t isolating, he was
calling out in desperation and

23
00:01:22,560 –> 00:01:25,320
urgency.
He turned toward God rather than

24
00:01:25,320 –> 00:01:27,360
inward.
There’s a difference between

25
00:01:27,360 –> 00:01:31,320
solitude with God, which is
healthy and necessary, and

26
00:01:31,320 –> 00:01:34,520
isolation that pushes everyone
out, including God.

27
00:01:35,000 –> 00:01:40,280
David models the first, Proverbs
warns against the 2nd, and then

28
00:01:40,280 –> 00:01:43,320
first Samuel chapter 18 adds
another layer.

29
00:01:43,720 –> 00:01:47,040
David’s success and favor with
people triggered something ugly

30
00:01:47,040 –> 00:01:49,960
in Saul.
Jealousy verse 8 says Saul

31
00:01:49,960 –> 00:01:53,320
thought he has become more
honorable than I, and everything

32
00:01:53,320 –> 00:01:58,320
he does succeeds.
Comparison, insecurity, anger at

33
00:01:58,320 –> 00:02:01,640
someone else’s blessing.
These are the things that make

34
00:02:01,640 –> 00:02:05,560
us want to pull back, to compete
rather than connect, to see

35
00:02:05,560 –> 00:02:08,560
other people’s wins as threats
to our own identity.

36
00:02:09,440 –> 00:02:12,520
Teen life, really all of life,
is full of this tension.

37
00:02:12,960 –> 00:02:17,160
Social dynamics, peer pressure,
the constant comparison cycle of

38
00:02:17,160 –> 00:02:20,400
social media, it can make you
want to either compete

39
00:02:20,400 –> 00:02:22,880
aggressively or disappear
completely.

40
00:02:23,320 –> 00:02:25,760
But God is calling us to
something in between.

41
00:02:26,280 –> 00:02:30,600
Humility that stays connected,
honesty that listens, and trust

42
00:02:30,600 –> 00:02:33,680
in God that doesn’t rise and
fall with what other people are

43
00:02:33,680 –> 00:02:37,680
doing or saying about us.
You don’t have to have the last

44
00:02:37,680 –> 00:02:39,960
word.
You don’t have to win every

45
00:02:39,960 –> 00:02:42,320
argument.
You don’t have to perform your

46
00:02:42,320 –> 00:02:45,920
success for an audience.
Just stay connected to God.

47
00:02:46,200 –> 00:02:50,040
Stay open to wisdom from others
and trust that His plan for your

48
00:02:50,040 –> 00:02:53,000
life is not threatened by anyone
else’s success.

49
00:02:53,920 –> 00:02:57,720
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, thank you for

50
00:02:57,720 –> 00:03:00,920
always being ready to hear us
and help us when we feel

51
00:03:00,920 –> 00:03:03,240
misunderstood or tempted to pull
away.

52
00:03:03,760 –> 00:03:07,480
Help us to turn towards You and
toward wise community rather

53
00:03:07,480 –> 00:03:09,360
than isolating in our own
thoughts.

54
00:03:09,840 –> 00:03:13,920
Teach us to listen well, to stay
humble in success, and to trust

55
00:03:13,920 –> 00:03:17,200
Your plan for our lives without
comparing ourselves to others.

56
00:03:17,680 –> 00:03:23,120
In Jesus name, Amen.
What if the road ahead is not

57
00:03:23,120 –> 00:03:26,240
meant to be rushed, feared, or
walked alone?

58
00:03:26,800 –> 00:03:30,040
Going with God is a prayer
script series for believers who

59
00:03:30,040 –> 00:03:32,280
need more than encouragement for
the journey.

60
00:03:32,760 –> 00:03:35,760
They need prayer language for
walking with the Lord in real

61
00:03:35,760 –> 00:03:39,760
life, right where they are.
Through themes of pace, peace,

62
00:03:39,800 –> 00:03:42,960
paths, provision, and
protection, this series helps

63
00:03:42,960 –> 00:03:46,920
you surrender urgency, receive
steadiness, seek direction,

64
00:03:46,920 –> 00:03:50,320
depend on God’s care, and pray
with confidence over the road

65
00:03:50,320 –> 00:03:52,920
before you.
Whether you feel stretched thin,

66
00:03:53,120 –> 00:03:57,760
uncertain, weary, or hungry for
a closer walk with God, Going

67
00:03:57,760 –> 00:04:00,960
with God invites you to move
forward with a deeper awareness

68
00:04:00,960 –> 00:04:02,800
of His presence and faithful
care.

69
00:04:03,400 –> 00:04:06,960
Order now on Amazon or visit
prayerscripts.org.

70
00:04:11,520 –> 00:04:14,520
Now I invite you to spend time
with God in today’s three-year

71
00:04:14,520 –> 00:04:19,519
Bible reading plan.
Proverbs chapter 18 verses one

72
00:04:19,519 –> 00:04:24,200
to two world English Bible A man
who isolates himself, pursues

73
00:04:24,200 –> 00:04:29,440
selfishness and defies all sound
judgement a fool has no delight

74
00:04:29,440 –> 00:04:32,520
in understanding, but only in
revealing his own opinion.

75
00:04:33,080 –> 00:04:38,280
Psalm Chapter 70 World English
Bible Hurry God to deliver me,

76
00:04:38,640 –> 00:04:42,960
come quickly to help me, Yahweh.
Let them be disappointed and

77
00:04:42,960 –> 00:04:46,960
confounded who seek my soul.
Let those who desire my ruin be

78
00:04:46,960 –> 00:04:50,000
turned back in disgrace.
Let them be turned because of

79
00:04:50,000 –> 00:04:53,200
their shame.
Who say Aha, aha.

80
00:04:53,360 –> 00:04:55,880
Let all those who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you.

81
00:04:56,400 –> 00:04:59,440
Let those who love your
salvation continually say, Let

82
00:04:59,440 –> 00:05:03,640
God be exalted, but I am poor
and needy, come to me quickly.

83
00:05:03,640 –> 00:05:07,680
God, You are my help and my
deliverer Yahweh.

84
00:05:07,680 –> 00:05:11,120
Don’t delay.
First Samuel Chapter 18 World

85
00:05:11,120 –> 00:05:15,200
English Bible When he had
finished speaking to Saul, the

86
00:05:15,200 –> 00:05:19,040
soul of Jonathan was knit with
the soul of David, and Jonathan

87
00:05:19,040 –> 00:05:23,280
loved him as his own soul.
Saul took him that day and

88
00:05:23,280 –> 00:05:25,680
wouldn’t let him go home to his
father’s house anymore.

89
00:05:26,200 –> 00:05:29,720
Then Jonathan and David made a
covenant because he loved him as

90
00:05:29,720 –> 00:05:33,160
his own soul.
Jonathan stripped himself of the

91
00:05:33,160 –> 00:05:37,360
robe that was on him and gave it
to David and his clothing, even

92
00:05:37,360 –> 00:05:39,960
including his sword, his bow,
and his sash.

93
00:05:41,040 –> 00:05:44,360
David went out wherever Saul
sent him and behaved himself

94
00:05:44,360 –> 00:05:47,240
wisely, and Saul set him over
the men of war.

95
00:05:47,760 –> 00:05:50,520
It was good in the sight of all
the people, and also in the

96
00:05:50,520 –> 00:05:53,720
sight of Saul’s servants as they
came.

97
00:05:53,720 –> 00:05:56,880
When David returned from the
slaughter of the Philistine, the

98
00:05:56,880 –> 00:06:00,840
women came out of all the cities
of Israel singing and dancing to

99
00:06:00,840 –> 00:06:05,640
meet King Saul with tambourines,
with joy and with instruments of

100
00:06:05,640 –> 00:06:08,640
music.
The women sang to one another as

101
00:06:08,640 –> 00:06:12,240
they played and said, Saul has
slain his thousands and David

102
00:06:12,240 –> 00:06:15,760
his ten thousands.
Saul was very angry and this

103
00:06:15,760 –> 00:06:19,920
saying displeased him.
He said they have credited David

104
00:06:19,920 –> 00:06:23,400
with 10 thousands and they have
only credited me with thousands.

105
00:06:23,720 –> 00:06:25,320
What can he have more but the
Kingdom?

106
00:06:25,800 –> 00:06:28,400
Saul watched David from that day
and forward.

107
00:06:29,480 –> 00:06:32,040
On the next day.
An evil spirit from God came

108
00:06:32,040 –> 00:06:34,880
mightily on Saul and he
prophesied in the middle of the

109
00:06:34,880 –> 00:06:37,960
house.
David played with his hand as he

110
00:06:37,960 –> 00:06:41,800
did day by day.
Saul had his spear in his hand,

111
00:06:42,080 –> 00:06:45,440
and Saul through the spear, for
he said, I will pin David to the

112
00:06:45,440 –> 00:06:47,840
wall.
David escaped from his presence

113
00:06:47,840 –> 00:06:51,320
twice.
Saul was afraid of David because

114
00:06:51,320 –> 00:06:54,160
Yahweh was with him and had
departed from Saul.

115
00:06:55,240 –> 00:06:58,560
Therefore Saul removed him from
his presence and made him his

116
00:06:58,560 –> 00:07:01,680
captain over 1000.
And he went out and came in

117
00:07:01,680 –> 00:07:05,560
before the people.
David behaved himself wisely in

118
00:07:05,560 –> 00:07:07,840
all his ways, and Yahweh was
with him.

119
00:07:08,320 –> 00:07:11,880
When Saul saw that he behaved
himself very wisely, he stood in

120
00:07:11,880 –> 00:07:15,200
awe of him.
But all Israel and Judah loved

121
00:07:15,200 –> 00:07:17,880
David, for he went out and came
in before them.

122
00:07:18,440 –> 00:07:22,160
Saul said to David, Behold my
elder daughter Marab, I will

123
00:07:22,160 –> 00:07:26,200
give her to you as wife.
Only be valiant for me and fight

124
00:07:26,200 –> 00:07:29,520
Yahweh’s battles.
For Saul said, don’t let my hand

125
00:07:29,520 –> 00:07:32,440
be on him, but let the hand of
the Philistines be on him.

126
00:07:33,080 –> 00:07:37,960
David said to Saul, who am I and
what is my life or my father’s

127
00:07:37,960 –> 00:07:41,080
family in Israel, that I should
be son-in-law to the king.

128
00:07:41,720 –> 00:07:44,520
But at the time when Merab,
Saul’s daughter, should have

129
00:07:44,520 –> 00:07:48,520
been given to David, she was
given to Adriel the Mahalathite

130
00:07:48,520 –> 00:07:51,800
as wife.
Mikkel, Saul’s daughter, loved

131
00:07:51,800 –> 00:07:54,640
David, and they told Saul, and
the thing pleased him.

132
00:07:55,640 –> 00:07:59,360
Saul said, I will give her to
him, that she may be a snare to

133
00:07:59,360 –> 00:08:02,600
him, and that the hand of the
Philistines may be against him.

134
00:08:03,680 –> 00:08:07,040
Therefore Saul said to David,
You shall today be my son-in-law

135
00:08:07,040 –> 00:08:10,160
a second time.
Saul commanded his servants,

136
00:08:10,400 –> 00:08:13,840
Talk with David secretly and
say, Behold, the king has

137
00:08:13,840 –> 00:08:18,840
delight in you, and all his
servants love you now therefore

138
00:08:18,840 –> 00:08:22,400
be the King’s son-in-law.
Saul’s servant spoke those words

139
00:08:22,400 –> 00:08:26,200
in the ears of David.
David said, Does it seem to you

140
00:08:26,200 –> 00:08:28,960
a light thing to be the King’s
son-in-law, since I am a poor

141
00:08:28,960 –> 00:08:32,120
man and little known?
The servants of Saul told him,

142
00:08:32,120 –> 00:08:37,919
saying David spoke like this.
Saul said, Tell David the king

143
00:08:37,919 –> 00:08:42,799
desires no dowry except 100
foreskins of the Philistines, to

144
00:08:42,799 –> 00:08:44,520
be avenged of the King’s
enemies.

145
00:08:45,040 –> 00:08:47,840
Now Saul thought he would make
David fall by the hand of the

146
00:08:47,840 –> 00:08:51,160
Philistines.
When his servants told David

147
00:08:51,160 –> 00:08:54,040
these words, it pleased David
well to be the King’s

148
00:08:54,040 –> 00:08:57,360
son-in-law.
Before the deadline David arose

149
00:08:57,360 –> 00:09:00,760
and went he and his men and
killed 200 men of the

150
00:09:00,760 –> 00:09:03,720
Philistines.
Then David brought their

151
00:09:03,720 –> 00:09:07,280
foreskins and they gave them in
full number to the king, that he

152
00:09:07,280 –> 00:09:10,960
might be the King’s son-in-law.
Then Saul gave him Mikkel, his

153
00:09:10,960 –> 00:09:14,680
daughter as wife.
Saul saw and knew that Yahweh

154
00:09:14,680 –> 00:09:17,960
was with David, and Mikkel,
Saul’s daughter, loved him.

155
00:09:18,480 –> 00:09:21,920
Saul was even more afraid of
David, and Saul was David’s

156
00:09:21,920 –> 00:09:25,080
enemy continually.
Then the Princess of the

157
00:09:25,080 –> 00:09:28,760
Philistines went out, and as
often as they went out, David

158
00:09:28,760 –> 00:09:32,480
behaved himself more wisely than
all the servants of Saul, so

159
00:09:32,480 –> 00:09:34,440
that his name was highly
esteemed.

160
00:09:36,480 –> 00:09:39,720
Thanks for joining us on Bible
Chat, where Scripture meets

161
00:09:39,720 –> 00:09:42,960
everyday life.
If today’s devotional encouraged

162
00:09:42,960 –> 00:09:46,600
you, share it with a friend and
be sure to follow the podcast so

163
00:09:46,600 –> 00:09:48,400
you won’t miss the next
conversation.

164
00:09:48,760 –> 00:09:52,200
Until next time, stay rooted in
truth, anchored in hope, and

165
00:09:52,200 –> 00:09:53,720
walking daily with Jesus.