The Bible Recap – Day 109 (1 Samuel 28-31, Psalm 18) – Year 8

Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: April 19, 2026

Episode Overview

In this milestone episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble guides listeners through the dramatic end of 1 Samuel, exploring King Saul’s tragic decisions, David’s crisis and rescue at Ziklag, and Psalm 18’s testimony of God’s deliverance. The recap highlights why God sometimes remains silent, unpacks the spiritual and political turmoil surrounding Israel’s first king, and reflects on David’s gratitude and dependence on God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Setting: Cliffhanger and Crisis (00:01–03:00)

• Celebrates finishing the 10th book of the Bible and introduces the high-stakes narrative: “We opened with a bit of a cliffhanger…the Philistines, led by Achish, are going to attack the Israelites. And Achish is relying on his old buddy David to help him out.”
• Sets up David’s ambiguous loyalties and raises the question: What will David do?

2. Saul’s Desperation and Spiritual Downfall (03:00–07:45)

• Tara-Leigh contextualizes Saul’s spiraling: “When you've had two near death experiences and your life has been spared, it might shake you up a bit... you're being tormented by a demon, you about to lose your job, and you're being attacked by one of your long-standing enemies.”
• Examines Saul’s attempts to hear from God: “When someone asks God for direction, but they aren't following the existing direction God has already given them, God often won't tell them anything new.”
• Saul’s unrepentant heart blocks him from divine counsel; he seeks help from a medium, violating God’s law and his own earlier edicts.
• Quote [05:32]: “Saul decides to double down on his sin. He disguises himself and goes to consult a medium which God has strictly forbidden. Not to mention the fact that Saul was supposed to put all the mediums to death, not just banish them.”
• The medium is shocked when Samuel truly appears: “She actually screams…this is a rare occurrence and one that is outside of her control.”
• Samuel’s grim message: Saul and his sons will die, Israel will fall, linking directly to Saul’s unfaithfulness (cf. 1 Chronicles 10).

3. David in Ziklag: Grief, Leadership, and Generosity (07:45–13:45)

• Philistine lords mistrust David, sparing him from battling Israel—possibly a providential escape: “It’s possible that God saved David from having divided loyalties that day, which could have possibly disqualified him from serving as Israel’s king.”
• David returns to Ziklag to find devastation by the Amalekites—city burned, families taken, his own men turn on him.
• Unlike Saul, David turns to God: “In the midst of such a tragic loss, David knows where to turn for hope and strength. Heartbroken, he inquires of God and God answers him.”
• Pursues the Amalekites, helped by an Egyptian slave: “Wow. It's truly shocking that David isn't paranoid like Saul is.”
• After victory, David shares spoils with all his men, including those too exhausted to fight—a lesson in generosity and grace.
  • Quote [12:40]: “Some of the 400 were not happy about this, but David shuts them down. This reminds me of the parable Jesus told in Matthew 20...David demonstrates God’s generosity here, recognizing that all of this is a gift from God that he can freely share.”

4. Saul’s Death and Aftermath (13:45–16:00)

• Israel is defeated; Saul and his sons are killed in battle. The loss is complete: “The Israelites...flee and the Philistines take over their towns.”
• Memorable Moment [15:15]: “Do you want to hear something creepy? …the Philistines took the head of Saul and affixed it to the headless body of Dagon in their temple. Yikes.”
• Citizens of Jabesh Gilead honor Saul with a proper burial, recalling his early heroism (1 Samuel 11).

5. Psalm 18: David’s Song of Rescue (16:00–18:10)

• Introduces Psalm 18 as David’s response to God’s deliverance, tying together today’s narrative: “This psalm is a testament to the goodness of God through all of David's trials.”
• Key insight: David’s righteousness is God-given, not self-earned.
  • Quote [17:12]: “He describes his righteousness as being a gift from God. In verse 32, he says, ‘it is God who makes his way blameless.’”
• Parallels David’s earlier strengthening in God during crisis: “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. David didn't strengthen himself in himself, he strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “When someone asks God for direction, but they aren't following the existing direction God has already given them, God often won't tell them anything new.” (Tara-Leigh, 04:10)
• “Saul is seeking answers from the enemies of Yahweh. He asked the medium to help him communicate with the dead, specifically Samuel.” (06:00)
• “It's truly shocking that David isn't paranoid like Saul is.” (10:30)
• “David shares the spoils not just with the 400 warriors who fought, but even with the 200 who were too exhausted to fight.” (12:35)
• “Do you want to hear something creepy? ...The Philistines took the head of Saul and affixed it to the headless body of Dagon in their temple. Yikes.” (15:15)
• “God is the source of all the good things we have to offer back to him, and he's where the joy is.” (17:50)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01–03:00: Setting up the conflict – David’s ambiguous loyalties, Saul’s crisis
• 03:00–07:45: Saul’s attempts to hear from God, turning to a forbidden medium
• 07:45–13:45: David at Ziklag – loss, prayer, rescue, restoration, and radical generosity
• 13:45–16:00: Saul’s defeat and gruesome aftermath, legacy remembered by Jabesh Gilead
• 16:00–18:10: Psalm 18 – David’s song of victory, focus on God’s righteousness

Key Takeaways

• God’s silence is often linked to known, unrepented sin, as seen with Saul.
• David contrasts Saul not in perfection, but in posture—he seeks strength from God, not himself.
• True generosity flows from knowing that everything we have is a gift from God.
• Even in moments of defeat and darkness, God remains the source of rescue and renewal.
• “God is the source of all the good things we have to offer back to him, and he's where the joy is.” (Tara-Leigh, 17:50)

This episode offers a rich, narrative-driven recap that integrates biblical context, practical application, and personal encouragement, true to Tara-Leigh Cobble’s engaging and relatable style.