David & The Broken Prince

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein

Episode Title: David & The Broken Prince
Release Date: July 14, 2025
Host/Author: Pray.com
Narrator: Paul Coltofianu
Character Voices: Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, et al.

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Introduction

In this poignant episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, titled David & The Broken Prince, listeners are transported into the heart of an Old Testament narrative that explores themes of friendship, loyalty, mercy, and redemption. Yael Eckstein masterfully intertwines storytelling with deep theological insights, presenting a story that resonates with timeless truths applicable to modern life.

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Plot Overview

Setting the Stage (00:00 - 01:02):

The episode opens with a flashback scene featuring David and Jonathan, highlighting their deep bond. David entrusts his royal armor to Jonathan, symbolizing a covenant of brotherhood that transcends ambition and jealousy.

• David (00:32): "These are yours now. My royal armor and robe. Take care of them as you would your flock."
• Jonathan (00:45): "Let there be a covenant between us. Under the eyes of God, we swear loyalty to one another."

The Tragedy Unfolds (02:36 - 07:52):

The narrative shifts to a tense moment where Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, witnesses the fall of Israel under Philistine attack. In a frantic escape, he suffers severe injuries that leave him crippled. Meanwhile, King David reflects on his enduring friendship with Jonathan and his promise to protect Jonathon’s lineage.

• David (06:46): "Do you remember what I told you the night I gave you my armor?"
• Jonathan (07:09): "I swear it by the Lord's name. I will show your house kindness."

A Quest for Redemption (08:47 - 16:19):

Years later, David seeks to honor his covenant by finding and restoring Mephibosheth. He summons Ziba, the former steward of Saul’s household, to uncover any surviving heirs. Ziba reveals the existence of Mephibosheth, who is now living a life of obscurity and hardship in Lodobar.

• Jonathan (09:15): "I must know."
• Ziba (10:35): "There is us a son. Jonathan's youngest."

Reunion and Restoration (14:08 - 25:34):

Mephibosheth, now a broken prince, is eventually brought before King David. In a heartwarming and transformative encounter, David kneels to meet him, extending mercy and honoring their ancient covenant. This act of chesed (loving-kindness) restores Mephibosheth’s dignity and integrates him into the royal fold.

• Jonathan (20:28): "Had I known you were alive, I would have sent for you long ago. I am so sorry. Please forgive me."
• David (25:22): "You are the son of Jonathan and a child of God. He has not forgotten you, and neither will I."

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Key Themes and Insights

1. Covenantal Loyalty (Chesed):

   • The episode underscores the Hebrew concept of chesed, which embodies steadfast love and loyalty beyond obligations. David’s unwavering commitment to honor his promise to Jonathan exemplifies this enduring covenant.

2. Mercy and Restoration:

   • David’s decision to restore Mephibosheth, despite his diminished status, highlights the power of mercy to transform lives. This act challenges societal norms of power and emphasizes the intrinsic value of every individual.

3. Redemption and Dignity:

   • Mephibosheth’s journey from a forgotten prince to a dignified member of David’s court illustrates the redemptive potential of compassionate leadership. It serves as a testament to the belief that everyone deserves recognition and respect, regardless of their circumstances.

4. Legacy of Friendship:

   • The enduring friendship between David and Jonathan serves as a cornerstone for the entire narrative, showcasing how personal bonds can transcend political and social upheavals.

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Notable Quotes

• David on Covenant:
  "The covenant of brotherhood. May God grant us favor."
  (00:59)

• Ziba Revealing Mephibosheth’s Fate:
  "He does, though he is broken, my lord. Crippled in both feet since childhood."
  (10:52)

• David’s Apology and Promise:
  "Had I known you were alive, I would have sent for you long ago. I am so sorry. Please forgive me."
  (20:28)

• Yael Eckstein’s Reflection:
  "David acted on chesed. He embodied it. David had made a promise to Jonathan, a covenant of brotherly love and an unbreakable bond."
  (25:17)

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Yael Eckstein’s Commentary

Yael delves deep into the narrative, drawing parallels between ancient acts of mercy and contemporary applications. She emphasizes the importance of keeping promises even when they go unnoticed by the world, highlighting that true acts of integrity are often performed in solitude.

• On Chesed:
  "Chesed means loving kindness, yes, but more than that, it's a covenantal loyalty. It's a steadfast mercy."
  (25:17)

• On Modern Application:
  "We've all been Mephiboshet, dragging our past behind us, wandering and wondering if we're worth remembering. And we've all been David, standing at the precipice of a vow we've made, deciding whether or not we'll keep it."
  (25:22)

Yael connects the story to the mission of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, encouraging listeners to reach out to the forgotten and marginalized, embodying the chesed demonstrated by David.

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Conclusion

David & The Broken Prince is a compelling exploration of unwavering loyalty, mercy, and the transformative power of compassionate leadership. Through rich storytelling and insightful commentary, Yael Eckstein invites listeners to reflect on their own commitments and the impact of their actions on others. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that true leadership is measured not by power or prestige, but by the ability to honor promises and uplift those who have been overlooked.

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Listen to the episode on The Chosen People and immerse yourself in this moving tale of faith, friendship, and redemption.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Previously on the Chosen People.

[David]

I love you more than a brother. Giant Slayer. Thanks for having my back.

[Jonathan]

At your service, my prince.

[Narrator]

Jonathan sat across from him, silent, thoughtful. Jonathan, the son of a king, the prince of Israel, was born to lead men. Yet Jonathan knew that the Lord's hand was resting not. Not on him, but on the young shepherd boy who now stirred the coals in front of him.

[David]

These are yours now. My royal armor and robe. Take care of them as you would your flock.

[Jonathan]

Why are you giving me these? Are you leaving?

[David]

Not because I must. Because I love you as my own soul.

[Jonathan]

Let there be a covenant between us. Under the eyes of God, we swear loyalty to one another. Our bond will be stronger than ambition, jealousy, marriage.

[David]

The covenant of brotherhood. May God grant us favor.

[Narrator]

The fire crackled softly between them. As the night stretched on, they spoke of many things. Of Israel's future, of war and peace, of God's power and grace. David's heart, long scarred by rejection and loneliness, began to heal in Jonathan. God had given him not only a friend, but a brother. Foreign.

[Yael Eckstein]

This is an I Heart podcast. There was no more hiding, only hope. Shalom, my friends. From here in the Holy Land of Israel, I'm Yael Eckstein with International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. And welcome to the Chosen people. What if everything you were born into, your name, your future, your entire legacy, was shattered in a single night? Today, in 2nd Samuel, chapter 9, we meet a boy born of royalty but raised in the shadows. He is a prince turned pauper, his life interrupted by war and swallowed by silence. Until one day. The king remembers. In past episodes, we followed David through war and loss and ascension. We watched him wrestle with power and promise. But today we see something quieter, something tender. A covenant remembered. A broken boy summoned and a table set not for the mighty, but for the forgotten. Are you ready?

[Nursemaid]

Wake, my prince. Wake.

[Narrator]

The woman's hands trembled as she shook the boy, her voice sharp and terrified. Mephibosheth opened his eyes. His nursemaid tore the furs from his bed and thrust his tunic over his small arms with frantic fingers.

[Nursemaid]

We must go. There is no time, sweet boy. No time at all. Come now.

[Narrator]

Up. The halls were choked with smoke. Shouts echoed beyond the door. The boy stumbled as she pulled him along, bare feet slapping against the cold flagstone.

[Jonathan]

What's happening?

[Mephibosheth]

Where are we going?

[Nursemaid]

The Philistines. They've come. The borders are broken. Your father, your grandfather. They've fallen. You must flee, my prince. You are all that remains.

[Narrator]

The child pulled at her hand. Small and desperate, they burst onto A balcony overlooking the upper tiers of Gibeah. The city was bleeding fire. Where's Mama?

[Mephibosheth]

Where's Abba? I want my Abba.

[Nursemaid]

Your father. He's gone. Sweet child.

[Mephibosheth]

No. No. No. I want him. I want him now.

[Nursemaid]

This isn't the time for tears. Now we run. We run for our lives.

[Narrator]

The nursemaid scooped Mephibosheth up in her arms. The boy writhed and kicked, blinded by tears and terror in his flailing, he slipped from her arms. His body tumbled through the air and struck the stairwell hard, bones crunching like snapped branches. The nursemaid screamed. She leaped after him, cradling him in her arms where he lay on the stone steps. His legs twisted beneath him at angles no child's limbs should bend.

[Mephibosheth]

My legs. My legs. Make the pain stop. Make it stop.

[Narrator]

The world around them burned. The banners of Saul no longer flew above the citadel. Screams echoed from the lower city and ash began to fall like snow. Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, was scooped up and taken to safety, and no one came back for him. His birthright was taken, his legs shattered and his name lost to history. From the rooftop of his palace, David watched the evening fall like a velvet curtain. Below him, the streets murmured with the slow life of twilight. Merchants closing stalls, children shouting their last games before being called in. The scent of bread and burning oil wafting up to the Heights. The City of David, they called it now. A monument to his triumphs carved in cedar and stone. David tilted his head to the sky where the sun kissed the horizon with a bleeding orange. He breathed deep, and the air filled his lungs with the scent of lavender and dust. Yet it was not peace that filled him, only longing. His thoughts, as they often did, wandered back to Jonathan. David remembered his voice. Steady, noble, unwavering. He remembered the clasp of his hand, the strength in his arms when they embraced. He remembered a brother, not by blood, but by oath. And he remembered the promise. That night in the wilderness, when the world had turned against them and Saul's madness hunted them both, Jonathan had spoken with the clarity of a prophet.

[David]

Do you remember what I told you the night I gave you my armor?

[Jonathan]

You said I would be king.

[Narrator]

I still believe it.

[David]

And I'm certain my father believes it, too. That's why he hates you. When that day comes, when my father is dust and you sit on the throne, I ask only this. Show mercy to my house. Protect my wife, my children.

[Jonathan]

I swear it by the Lord's name. I will show your house kindness.

[Narrator]

David pressed his lips together and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. The House of Saul had crumbled, burned by war, shattered by its own pride. Yet if any thread remained from Jonathan's line, David would find it. He would keep his word. He had failed friends before. He would not fail this one.

[Jonathan]

I will keep my promise. You're gone, Jonathan. But I will not break my covenant with you.

[Narrator]

The morning was quiet save for the faint scratching of quill upon parchment. David sat beneath a latticed window, the warm light of the sun falling upon scrolls, maps, and trade contracts. His crown lay unworn upon the table. A knock broke the silence. One of his guards opened the chamber door and an old man shuffled in. He was gray bearded and stoop shouldered, dressed in the humble linens of a house servant, but he carried himself with the careful grace of someone once accustomed to courtly halls. His name was Ziba, once chief steward to the House of Saul, once servant to a dead king, now displaced and forgotten like so many relics of the old order.

[Ziba]

You summoned me, my lord?

[Narrator]

David rose, motioned the man forward, gestured to the seat across from him. His voice was gentle, but there was a tension in his shoulders.

[Jonathan]

Yes, Ziba. I need your memory. You were a steward in the House of Saul, yes?

[Ziba]

Yes, my king. My served soul of blessed memory. And his children.

[Jonathan]

Tell me, does any soul yet live from the House of Song? Any child? Any heir?

[Narrator]

Ziba turned flush at that question. His fingers twitched nervously and his eyes darted to the left. David could sense his nervousness.

[Jonathan]

I don't seek enemies, but kin. For the sake of Jonathan, I would show kindness.

[Ziba]

My lord. It is not often that new kings seek to bless the blood of those who once sat the throne. More often they cleanse it.

[Jonathan]

I am not Saul, and Jonathan was no rival. He was my brother in all but blood. If there is anyone left of his house, I must know.

[Ziba]

The Philistines were ruthless when they marched on Gabeah. Merciless, like animals. I barely escaped with my life and.

[Narrator]

Ziba trailed off, weighing the cost of the information he held. Then he looked at David. There was an earnestness in his eyes.

[Jonathan]

Ziba, I love. Loved Jonathan more than anyone else in this world. Please, please, tell me what you know.

[Ziba]

There is us a son. Jonathan's youngest.

[Jonathan]

He lives?

[Ziba]

He does, though he is broken, my lord. Crippled in both feet since childhood. The nursemaid fled with him the day your enemies took Sol in. Jonathan. In her haste, the boy fell down the stairwell. He has never walked correctly since.

[Narrator]

The king's breath caught in his chest.

[Jonathan]

All these years, all this time, I had no idea where is he now?

[Ziba]

He lives in Lodobar, in the house of Makir, son of Amiel. A quiet place forgotten by most. The boy is no prince there. He tends animals, sleeps among the straw. A servant, not a sovereign. I assure you, my king, he is no threat.

[Jonathan]

I didn't ask you out of jealousy, Ziba. Please believe me. I asked out of love.

[Narrator]

Ziba bowed once more.

[Jonathan]

Bring him to me. I must look upon him with my own eyes. I must do what I swore to do so many, so many, so many winters ago.

[Narrator]

As the steward departed, David walked to the window. The sun had climbed higher now, warming the stone beneath his feet, but the king felt cold. He placed a hand over his heart and whispered, forgive me, Jonathan.

[Jonathan]

I'm late. But I have not forgotten.

[Narrator]

Mephibosheth crawled from barn to well and back again, dragging behind him a small wooden cart bearing two sloshing pails of water. His arms, wiry and bruised, bore the burden with dark, dogged resolve. He had grown strong in his own way, not the strength of swords or spears, but the quiet, stubborn strength of one who refuses pity. His legs, twisted and useless since the fall, ached with every motion. His palms were thick with calluses, but Mephibosheth offered no complaint. He was like his father in that way, stubbornly optimistic against the tragedies of life that wouldn't relent. Since the war, he had lived here in the shadows of another man's fields. Makir of Gilead had taken him in and clothed him, given him food, shelter, and quiet. But charity has its limits. Even when kindly given, he was tolerated. Not quite family, pitied, not quite loved. Mephibosheth did not begrudge it. That was the way of the world. Kingdoms fall, and with them princes crawl. He was halfway through his eighth journey from the well when the door to the house creaked open. Makeir's voice echoed across the yard.

[Jonathan]

Mephibosheth. Come in, my boy. There's someone here who claims to know you.

[Narrator]

Mephibosheth froze. His hands slipped a little on the edge of the cart. No one came to see him. No one even knew he was alive. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand and crawled slowly to the house. There, standing amidst the clay jars and linen, was a man he had not seen since childhood.

[Makir]

Siba.

[Narrator]

The old steward turned and smiled, his eyes crinkling with fondness and regret.

[Ziba]

It is I, my prince. You've grown.

[Narrator]

Mephibosheth embraced him. There was an exchange of laughter, followed by the low tone of Ziba, I.

[Ziba]

Have come to take you to Jerusalem. The king has summoned you. He wishes to speak with you.

[Makir]

He knows I'm alive?

[Narrator]

Ziba nodded. Mephibosheth turned to Makeir, his eyes searching.

[Makir]

Is it to kill me? Has the new king found the last scrap of Sol's house and come to sweep it away?

[Narrator]

Ziba shifted uneasily, and Makeir crossed his arms.

[Ziba]

He says his intentions are good, but who can know for sure? Sol, your grandfather dedicated the last years of his life trying to kill the king. Called him serpent, traitor, usurper.

[Narrator]

Mephibosheth looked down at his withered legs. He was no threat. He had no sword, no armies, no claim. Only his name.

[Makir]

There is no more hiding.

[Ziba]

No, there is not. Whatever King David intends for you, it's inevitable.

[Narrator]

Mephibosheth winced and tightened his fists. He had to be brave. Brave like his father.

[Makir]

Then take me to him.

[Narrator]

The wheels of the carriage creaked as it climbed the hill toward the heart of Jerusalem. Ziba sat still, the reins loose in his hands, his eyes fixed for forward. Mephibosheth said nothing. He sat hunched, his twisted legs folded awkwardly beneath him, the heat of the morning sun pressing down through the open slats of the carriage canopy as the city walls rose into view. Mephibosheth's breath caught in his throat. Towers crowned the skyline, and banners of deep red and gold fluttered in the breeze. The City of David. He felt small. The carriage halted before the gates of the palace. Great oaken doors stood open. Benaiah was there to welcome them.

[David]

Ziba, thank you for bringing Mephibus Chef to us. I will escort him from here.

[Narrator]

Ziba knelt to Mephibosheth and gave him a hug.

[Ziba]

Be brave, my prince.

[Narrator]

Mephibosheth nodded and followed Benaiah through the palace doors. There was no fanfare, no trumpets. He followed behind Benaiah, dragging his frame on hands and knees. The hallway before the throne room stretched long and golden, lit by torches flickering against tall, polished walls. Once in the halls, Benaiah left. The doors echoed as they shut. Mephibosheth was alone, waiting, vulnerable. His eyes were drawn upward to the colors woven into the tapestries. They lined the stone walls like ancient memories stitched in cloth. Heroes and horrors both. One caught his eye, a boy with a sling and a giant with a spear. Another showed the king, bloodied and roaring amid a circle of philistines. But it was the final tapestry that stopped him cold. There were two men standing back to back in the thick of battle. One held a sword, the Other a spear. Amalekites surged around them like a tide. One was David. Mephibosheth recognized him from the stories. The other wore armor etched with the sigil of the House of Saul. His hair curled like Mephibosheth's. His stance was familiar. His face.

[Jonathan]

Father.

[Narrator]

Mephibosheth reached out his hand, trembling fingers brushing the cloth. His father stood frozen in the weave of war, forever fighting, forever young. Pain welled up inside him. He wept quietly. A tear rolled down one cheek, carving a path through the grime of travel. As Mephibosheth stared at the tapestry, a voice called from the shadows, low but warm.

[Jonathan]

Mephibosheth.

[Narrator]

He turned. There, a few paces away, stood the King of Israel. The boy dropped his gaze and fell prostrate to the floor. His voice trembled.

[Makir]

Please, my lord. I'm your servant. I am no threat to your kingdom. Please, I beg you. Do not kill me.

[Jonathan]

Kill you? No, my son. Do not be afraid.

[Narrator]

David approached and the boy flinched. David paused, then did something no king in the known world would ever do. He knelt down to his level, where they could speak eye to eye.

[Jonathan]

Had I known you were alive, I would have sent for you long ago. I am so sorry. Please forgive me.

[Makir]

Why would I need to forgive you?

[Jonathan]

Because your father was my brother. He was the finest man I've ever known. And I swore to him by the God we both served that I would look after his house as if it were my own.

[Makir]

You loved my father, didn't you? I remember so little of him.

[Jonathan]

I loved him more than I can say. He was brave, but not brash. He was righteous, but not self righteous. And he saw something in me that nobody else but the Lord saw.

[Narrator]

David saw the longing in Mephibosheth's eyes. David may have lost a friend and brother, but he had lost a father. David smiled and gestured to the hall.

[Jonathan]

Come. Walk with me.

[Narrator]

David slowed his pace to match the crawl of Jonathan's son. They crossed the great hall and servants pulled wide the iron banded doors to reveal a long table set with meats, bread, honey and fruit. No royal feast had ever been laid for one such as Mephibosheth. But David bade him sit. And for a long time they dined and talked as family. David spoke of the battles he and Jonathan had fought of late nights, whispering under the stars of blood shed and oaths sworn.

[Jonathan]

I vowed I would care for you. Today I make good on that bow. You shall eat at my table like my own son.

[Narrator]

You shall be one of us, Mephibosheth. Trembled. His calloused hands curled tightly. He bowed his head and tried to speak, but words choked in his throat. At last, with shame and tears, he found his voice.

[Makir]

No.

[Jonathan]

I'm not worthy.

[Makir]

Who am I that a king would be mindful of me? I'm broken. A dead dog. Nothing more. I'm not my father. He was a prince and a warrior, and I'm. I'm no one.

[Narrator]

David stood, walked around the table and knelt again at the boy's side.

[Jonathan]

Come with me.

[Narrator]

They ascended to the rooftop, where the wind blew clean and the stars spilled like fire over the sky. It was just David and Mephibosheth, the king and the broken prince. David pointed up to the heavens.

[Jonathan]

Look out, my son. What do you see?

[Narrator]

Mephibosheth was used to looking up, but not like this. He lifted his eyes. For the first time in years, he truly looked, not just with his eyes, but with his soul. The heavens danced with light, and it seemed as if the whole world had been cast in silver. David raised his head and began to recite a psalm of his heart. His voice was a hush upon the breeze.

[Jonathan]

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name. In all the earth above the heavens, you set your glory out of the mouth of babes. You have drawn strength when I consider the moon and stars, the work, your hands.

[Narrator]

What is the Son of Man?

[Nursemaid]

You care for him, and you have.

[Jonathan]

Crowned him with glory and honor.

[Narrator]

He fell silent. Nephibosheth could not speak. David looked at him earnestly.

[Jonathan]

You asked the question of why you're worthy of such honor, affection. I asked the who am I that the Lord will be mindful of me? Who am I that he would consider me at all?

[Narrator]

David knelt again to the boy, tears on the creases of his eyes, glistening in the starlight.

[Jonathan]

You are not a dead dog. You are the son of Jonathan and a child of God. He has not forgotten you, and neither will I.

[Narrator]

He called for Ziba, who appeared like a ghost in the torchlight.

[Jonathan]

Ziba. I restore to Mephibosheth all the lands of his grandfather. Saul. You and your sons shall tend them. And the prince shall eat at my table all the days of his life.

[Narrator]

And Mephibosheth, the forgotten son, crawled to David and threw his arms around him. And David held him like a father holds a wounded child. For the first time in his life, Mephibosheth felt tall.

[Yael Eckstein]

Today's Bible story really moved me. Not in a loud and obvious way. It moved me in the way that sneaks into your chest and just sits there. You know what I mean? It would be easy to say that this story is about royalty or war or the slow grind of political power shifting hands, but. But that would miss its true point. This story, it's about mercy where it ought not to be. You know, we've all been them. We've all been Mephiboshet, dragging our past behind us, wandering and wondering if we're worth remembering. And we've all been David, standing at the precipice of a vow we've made, deciding whether or not we'll keep it. Today's story actually begins back in First Samuel, chapter 20. Do you remember back when we looked at the friendship between Jonathan and David, when Jonathan made this very covenant? Jonathan said to David, do not ever cut off your kindness from my family. Not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth. Long after Jonathan died, David showed his friend respect by extending mercy and compassion to Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth. But it's a lesson for all of us today. Keeping our promises when others know about our promises is one thing. But to keep a promise when nobody knows about it, when nobody would even know the difference, that is a godly act. Let's all follow David's godly example and be the type of promise keepers who honor our commitments even when God is the only one who knows. But looking at this Bible stories a bit deeper, I'm left asking, what would a king do? And why would a king do this? Why risk power, perception, and peace for the sake of a crippled child hidden away in obscurity? Why keep a promise that nobody else remembers? Now, in Jewish tradition, when a question feels too obvious, it's usually because we've missed the deeper lesson that's underneath it. So here it is. Hesed. It's a Hebrew word that we've come back to again and again as we've studied God's word together. Chesed means loving kindness, yes, but more than that, it's a covenantal loyalty. It's a steadfast mercy. It's a kind of love that doesn't falter even when we might. David acted on chesed. He embodied it. David had made a promise to Jonathan, a covenant of brotherly love and an unbreakable bond. And that is where the deeper insights lie. Mephibosheth's name literally means from the mouth of shame. He wasn't just physically broken, he was shame. He carried shame. And in ancient Israelite culture, to bear such A name was truly a shame. But then the king calls Mephiboshet. The opposite of shame isn't pride, it's dignity. And David gives Mephiboshet back his dignity, not because the boy earned it, but because Chesed demands it. Now, notice David doesn't act like a normal king here. I mean, in ancient Near Eastern world, kings didn't kneel to descendants of rival dynasties. They eliminated them. But David kneels. Today's story perfectly illustrates the story that we're reading together of the Bible, of God's word, which stands not of power, not punishment, but of mercy and remembrance. God remembers Noah and has mercy on him. God remembers Rachel and has mercy on her. God remembers his people in Egypt and has mercy on them. And here, David remembers Jonathan's son and extends mercy. So let us ask ourselves, have we forgotten? Well, one of my greatest privileges of leading the international fellowship of Christians and Jews is meeting countless people who have been forgotten and they feel forgotten. But those are the people that we look for at the fellowship. And through this partnership of faithful Christians and Jews, we are able to go and bring food to the forgotten table, to visit them with dignity and love and make them feel whole again, to make them know that they're loved, let them know that God has not forgotten them. And neither have we. As we've taken this journey with the chosen people. You've probably noticed I quite often quote Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Pastor Bonhoeffer bravely stood up for his Jewish brothers and sisters throughout the Holocaust and forfeited his life for his holy actions. Of the many inspiring quotes by him, there's one that says the test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children. In this story, we see this in action, this story of a king who goes looking for the least, not to eliminate him, but to elevate him. And he does it because of promise. Throughout the Bible, we find leadership tied to responsibility, not advantage. David doesn't act like kings of the nations. He acts like someone who remembers the God of creation, the God of Exodus, the God who hears the cry of the afflicted, the God who, as we read in Psalms 113, lifts the poor from the ash heap and seats them with the princes. We live in a world that measures people by their ability, by their success, by their output. But that's not how God measures it, is it? Maybe you felt like Mephiboshet lately, beaten down, forgotten, dragging yourself through the day, wondering if anyone even sees you. Or maybe you've been called, like David, to remember someone that the world has forgotten. Either way, this story calls us back to the essence of our faith. We are seen, we are remembered. And the King, well, he has made a place for each and every one of us.

[Narrator]

You can listen to the Chosen People.

[Paul Coltofianu]

With Yao x Dean ad free by downloading and subscribing to the pray.com app today. This pray.com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Catena, Max Bard, Zach Schellewager and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of the Chosen People with Yael Eckstein. Edited by Alberto Avila. Narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Jr. Rosanna Pilcher and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith. Written by Aaron Salvato, Bree Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin Van Etten, Caleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Pray.com productions on the Pray.com app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed the Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.

[Yael Eckstein]

This is an iHeart podcast.