{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Healing Eden, Part 18: Saul\u2019s Foolish Sacrifice","description":"Today we arrive at a pivotal moment in Israel\u2019s young monarchy as King Saul faces battle against the vastly superior Philistine army. So great is the Philistine advantage that fear begins to grip the Israel ranks \u2013 to the point that Saul fears his troops may disintegrate before the first arrow is fired. And thus, Saul is confronted with a choice: wait (as he has been strictly instructed to do), or act of his own accord. Saul acts\u2026, in what feels to us a very understandable way. And yet that action brings the severe judgment of the Lord. Indeed, Saul\u2019s decision will cost him a dynasty (an especially troubling punishment in light of a crime that feels far lesser than crimes later committed by David, to whom God will pledge a covenant of perpetual reign!). And with Saul\u2019s fate, we are confronted with the fundamental question of: why??? Why is Saul treated so harshly? And what does such treatment say about God and about justice and about the whole concept of earthly kingship\u2026? They are questions hardly limited to the 11th century BC as we might ask them of ourselves today. And, as always, I\u2019d love to know what you think about it \u2013 about the sermon, the series\u2026the podcast as a whole. Or I\u2019d love to have you come and just say \u201chi!\u201d If you\u2019re up for it, you can reach me anytime via the contact link at jesusat2am.com, by sending me email, chatting with me on BlueSky, or finding me on Facebook or Instagram.  And while you're at it, might you be up for supporting the podcast? You\u2019re tax-deductible gift to Canvas is a major help. As are your prayers, your online reviews, telling a friend or two! Want to follow along with the biblical texts for this sermon? Here's the link: 1 Samuel 13:1-15 (NRSV).  ","author_name":"Jesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of Faith","author_url":"http:\/\/www.jesusat2am.com","html":"