Paws & Tales

Ned: Welcome to another episode of my personal podcast, Ned Knows. Today, I'm talking to the creator of Paws & Tales, Dave Carl. Well, thanks for being with me today, Dave.

Dave Carl: It's a pleasure to be here, Ned.

Ned: So because I'm me, I happen to know that you have written the first-ever Paws & Tales book. Tell me more about that.

Dave Carl: I'd love to. It's called The Overcomers, and reading this book will be like reading maybe five regular episodes. The club is in the middle of a big new adventure and there are new characters we introduced.

Ned: That's fascinating, Dave. I have it, though, by good authority that this book centers around Ned and how he saves the day for everyone.

Dave Carl: Well, no, that's not what the book is about. It is significantly about the struggle against evil that lurks high up in Wild Mountain. If anything, I'd have to say it centers around Stacy.

Ned: What? I gave you really good notes when you were writing this. What happened to all my great ideas?

Dave Carl: Well, mostly I didn't read them. There was a lot of notes, Ned. In the book I did write, we meet Smidge, a badger who really wants to become someone who will make a difference. And he meets up with Crockett, a genuine overcomer who begins to teach him how to survive in the woods and how to take care of the miners digging for gold in the tunnels of Wild Mountain.

Ned: Ned knows what this book was supposed to be about. In those notes you did not read, Ned inherits a million dollars but he does not let anyone know about it. And he sneaks around and secretly helps those in need and uses all kinds of really neat gadgets to fight crime.

Dave Carl: I did read that part of the notes. But in this first Paws & Tales book, The Overcomers, we follow the club as they begin a new adventure and we see how Crockett battles bandits and the evil minion in only the way an overcomer can.

Ned: Well, I did not know that you changed the whole book, Dave. This is a bitter disappointment. Well, this ends this episode of Ned Knows. Thanks for joining me, Dave Carl, who ignored all my notes. I'll see you all next time for another episode of Ned Knows. Stop tape.

Guest (Male): Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr. Collins and the story of King Saul.

Samuel: Samuel, the nations around us all have kings. Kings that lead them into battle, kings that the people can follow and be inspired by. We want you to appoint a king like the other nations have. We want a king.

Guest (Male): Samuel, do what they have asked. They are not rejecting you. They've rejected me as their king. Let them have their own way.

Saul: Samuel, I will do anything. I will serve the king with my life.

Samuel: More is required of you than your life. Odetta, Samuel anointed me?

Odetta: What? He anointed me king of Israel.

Narrator: Welcome to the world of Paws & Tales. Wild Mountain can be a pretty dangerous place. Stay on the trails and stick with me. There's adventure to be had there too.

Guest (Female): Come on, CJ, jump.

Guest (Male): It's too far.

Guest (Female): It wasn't too far for me.

Insight for Living: Insight for Living is proud to present Paws & Tales.

Narrator: 1 Samuel chapter 11, verse five. Now King Saul was coming in from the field behind the oxen.

Odetta: Master, if you would just stop and listen to me. Whoa, there. Yes, Odetta, what do you have? A list. I have a list of things that need to be done. People are making requests of you. There are decisions to be made. You can get anyone to plow a field. You are the king now. Go ahead. Go ahead and say it. You need to start acting like a king.

Saul: Odetta, I don't know what to do. I've heard nothing from God, nothing from Samuel. How am I supposed to know what to do first and then second?

Odetta: Heard nothing from God? Does God speak only with his throne? The people are starved for a king to lead them, lead them to worship God like they have not since the fall of Jericho. Our enemies raid our cities at will. The people need protection and we have no army. It is very clear what God wants you to do first and second. You just need to do them. I apologize. That was foolish and disrespectful. I shouldn't have spoken like that.

Saul: Odetta, you should have been made king. You're both good and wise. I only pray that one day I'll be... What's going on?

Messenger: Something terrible. Come on.

Saul: What's the matter? What's going on?

Messenger: Saul, King Saul, it is terrible. It's Nahash again, the Ammonites. Nahash attacked Jabesh-Gilead and the men of Jabesh said that they would surrender and serve him.

Saul: They said what?

Messenger: Nahash said he would accept the surrender only after he gouged out the right eye of every man.

Saul: What?

Messenger: He wants to shame all of Israel. God be with us.

Narrator: When Saul heard this, the Spirit of God came upon him and he flew into a rage. He took the yoke of oxen and cut them into pieces. He then sent the bloody parts throughout the territory of Israel by messenger, saying, "Anyone who refuses to join King Saul and Samuel, this will be the fate of his oxen."

Then the terror of God seized the people and they came. They came every one of them. King Saul took command of the people. There were 300,000 men from Israel and another 30,000 from Judah. Long before dawn the next day, King Saul had strategically placed his army in three groups. At first light, they broke into the enemy camp and slaughtered Ammonites until noon. Those who were left ran for their lives, scattering in every direction.

Saul: God has won a great victory here today.

Odetta: Yes, he has. Master, there is an issue.

Saul: An issue?

Messenger: Where are those men who said King Saul is not fit to rule over us? Let's make an example of them. Bring them here and we'll kill them right now.

Saul: No one, no one will be put to death today. The Lord has accomplished deliverance in Israel. Samuel, look what the Lord has done.

Samuel: I see. I see. You have done well this day. Continue to follow the Lord and you will be a great blessing to your nation.

Saul: Come, and let us go to Gilgal and reconsecrate the new kingdom there.

Narrator: They marched unto Gilgal. There before God, they crowned Saul king. And there they worshipped, sacrificing peace offerings. King Saul and all of Israel celebrated with all of their heart.

Guest (Male): (Singing)

The enemy had tossed us, enemies crossed our line in the sand.

Pressed to our borders, led to our borders.

Go defend the land.

We were no vast mighty army, we had no sure-fire plan.

Yet till the heat of the day, in the heat of the battle,

We trusted our Lord. Now we are standing in victory, victory.

Over the enemy. God is gracious, he has saved us.

And he gave us, he gave us the victory, victory.

May all of the nations see the power and majesty of the Lord

Who brings victory.

Lord, by your hand the sun you command to rise every day.

By that same power in our darkest hour your light made a way.

Oh, how we reach to the heavens.

Now you have answered our prayer.

And when in faith we obey, when we follow your wisdom,

You lead the way out of despair into victory, victory.

Over the enemy. God is gracious, he has saved us.

And he gave us, he gave us the victory, victory.

May all of the nations see the power and majesty of the Lord.

Rejoice, rejoice. Look what the Lord our God has done.

Rejoice, rejoice. Praise him, the battle is won. Rejoice.

He is our shelter, our defender, he's our fortress, mighty counselor.

He's our helper and protector, who was and is forevermore.

He's our refuge and a fire, he's a savior, our deliverer.

May we ever give him honor and together magnify the Lord.

He's our shelter, our defender, he's our fortress, mighty counselor.

He's our helper and protector, who was and is forevermore.

He's our refuge and a fire, he's a savior, our deliverer.

May we ever give him honor and together magnify the Lord

Who brings victory, victory.

May all generations see. God is faithful, he is able.

Ever grateful, he brought us the victory, victory.

We worship and bless the holy God of all glory, of all glory.

Give thanks to the Lord for his victory, victory.

Rejoice.

Samuel: Listen, oh Israel, here is the king you asked for. God has let you have your own way. If you fear God, worship and obey him and don't rebel against what he tells you. If both you and your king follow God, all will go well.

Saul: Odetta, I'm overwhelmed. One day I'm going along minding my own business and now look at me.

Odetta: Yes, master. Do you hear what Samuel is saying? Maybe I can do this after all. The people are behind me.

Samuel: But if you don't obey and rebel against what God tells you, king or no king, you will fare no better than your fathers. Pay attention. Now watch this wonder that God is going to perform before you now. The season of rain is over, but I'm going to pray to God and he'll send thunder and rain, a sign to convince you of the great wrong you have done to God by asking for a king.

Don't be afraid. It's true that you have done evil, but do not turn your back on God. Worship and serve him heart and soul. If you do not follow hard after God, both you and your king will be swept away.

Odetta: Saul, you don't look well. Are you all right?

Saul: Yes, yes, I am. Saul, the Lord is with you. He's teaching the people to support you, to love him and to follow you. God has smiled on me, that's true. Do you see that all of your fears are needless?

Odetta: Really? How are they needless? God be forever praised. It's our hearts. The kingdom's future depends on the condition of our hearts. Just as Samuel told them. My Lord, you are due to begin the banquet.

Saul: Must we go?

Odetta: We must go. It's not on our strength, not on our wisdom, but on our love for the God of hosts. Your reign will be great and blessed if we all give our hearts to the Lord. God be praised, our God is great and mighty.

Saul: Yes, he is indeed. I hope they learn. I just hope the people learn.

Isaiah: Hello, my name's Isaiah and I'm five years old. I like to listen to Paws & Tales and you will too. Tune in today.

Stacy: Hey everyone, Stacy here from Paws & Tales. We've had kids from all over the country send in their announcer recordings and they are heard every day on the program. But we haven't heard one from you. Just head on over to pawsandtales.org and pop into the clubhouse to get one of the announcer scripts. Record yourself on your parent's phone and send it in to us so we can get your voice heard around the world. That's pawsandtales.org. This is so exciting.

Saul: That was the fourth attack by the Philistines. The Philistines. I will not stand for it any longer. I want you all to put together a plan of attack. They will be stopped.

Guest (Male): But sire, you just told us that we needed to work on the plans for the palace. Which should we do first?

Guest (Male): And sire, there are but two swords in all of Israel to fight with. We must beat back the Philistines before we make weapons. But we can't beat back the Philistines without weapons. What are we to do?

Guest (Male): My king, we cannot make weapons until we've begun to collect taxes. We must stop all other activities and concentrate on collecting money so that your kingdom can function.

Saul: Enough. You all nag like old women. Out, all of you, out. Let me think. Odetta, where is Odetta when I need him? Send for Odetta.

Guest (Male): As you wish, my king.

Guest (Male): My king.

Saul: I said get out. Don't you have ears?

Guest (Male): My king, I think I just may have what you need.

Saul: Do you now? And what is it that I need, Elder Okran?

Elder Okran: My king, this is Danaw.

Saul: How am I in need of Danaw?

Elder Okran: He's spent four years in the palace of King Agag.

Saul: Doing what?

Danaw: Serving the third prince, my Lord. I have spent much time instructing the young prince how to behave in a more royal way, how to act more like his father, the king.

Saul: You are a tutor.

Elder Okran: Danaw can guide you as to the ways of kings. There are certain ways of doing things that inspire fear and confidence in a king.

Saul: Perhaps you can be of some assistance. Elder Okran, you're dismissed.

Elder Okran: Yes, of course. However, it would be my suggestion that together Danaw and I could help you.

Danaw: If I may, my Lord, he has just ignored a direct order from the king of Israel. He should be dragged out by the guards and made to be an example.

Saul: Guards, drag Elder Okran out and let it be known the throne will not suffer disobedience lightly.

Elder Okran: But my king, I just wanted to... But my king, forgive me, I meant no offense. Forgive me.

Danaw: Well done, my king. He meant no real offense. Sire, you are not just the king. You are Israel. In you are the hopes and dreams of all the people. Your victories must be celebrated and your missteps ignored. You must always be right and you must always be obeyed.

Saul: And what happens when I fail?

Danaw: Sire, the king never fails. Even if you fail, the king never fails. You own the nation and the people, but you must manage them or they will turn on you and tear your throat out from under you.

Saul: That may be true of the Amorites, but no one in all of Israel would turn on the king that the Lord chose.

Danaw: With all due respect, my Lord, you have much to learn about the life of a king. Everyone is a potential enemy. You must control your kingdom with fear and power.

Odetta: My king, how can I serve you?

Saul: Odetta, this is Danaw. He is my new advisor.

Danaw: To serve you is a great honor, Odetta.

Narrator: Now Jonathan, King Saul's son, had led an attack on the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines were out for revenge. King Saul summoned the people to Gilgal, but the Philistines were gathering to attack.

Messenger: King Saul, may your reign forever.

Saul: Yes, you have word?

Messenger: I do. The Philistines have 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen. And the soldiers couldn't be counted. They're like sand on the seashore. We should have never started this.

Guest (Male): We had to start it. Even if we die, we will not let them raid us and kill us at whim. My king, what should we do?

Saul: What should we do? Captain Shemesh, we will fight and we will win. We have God on our side.

Captain Shemesh: Yes, of course we have God on our side, but they have 6,000 horsemen and we have farming tools. We cannot fight off chariots with a garden hoe.

Elder Mensis: My king, is it true?

Saul: Elder Mensis, what true?

Elder Mensis: About the chariots and horsemen. Word has gotten out. The men will start deserting soon.

Captain Abner: Soon? Captain Abner, they are running off right now. We must start the attack now or we won't have any men left to attack with.

Saul: Samuel said to wait for seven days and he will come to make the burnt offering and the peace offering. When he comes, the men will find their courage. God will win this battle, not us. My king, what do you say? When will Samuel be here?

Captain Shemesh: He just said seven days. It could be tomorrow morning or tomorrow night. We will wait. We must have God's blessing or we'll be swept away by the Philistines.

Saul: With all due respect, Captain Shemesh, we wait. Tend to your troops. We'll talk again in the morning.

Danaw: My king, we need to send envoys to the Philistines with terms of our surrender.

Saul: Surrender?

Danaw: Samuel has not come and there's no way to know when he will come. The people are terrified. They are, as we speak, they are hiding themselves in caves and pits. They know the Philistines will destroy us all.

Saul: We do not surrender ever.

Guest (Male): My king, it's been eight days now. Where is Samuel?

Odetta: Samuel will come. We must be patient. Odetta is right. Without the blessing of the Lord, we can't go into battle.

Guest (Male): There will be no battle. There will only be slaughter. One more day and the five of us here will be the only ones left to fight.

Danaw: My king, perhaps a compromise would help. Danaw, if you have an idea, let's hear it. It is a bit unusual and it has never been done before. Danaw, what is it? Are you not the heart and soul of the nation? Are you not the God-chosen king whom the very Spirit of God has come to?

Odetta: Danaw, we do not have time for your self-serving flattery. What are you building to?

Danaw: Perhaps you could perform the offering.

Odetta: What? Instead of Samuel? Are you insane?

Danaw: Hear me out. The people need to feel that God is with them. Once they see the offering has been made, their courage will return.

Saul: You may just have something there.

Odetta: The offering is not to impress the people. It is to serve the Lord and obey his command. No one but a priest is to perform a sacrifice. Danaw, you have spent too much time with pagan kings. The very thought is too much to imagine.

Danaw: If you would, my king, we must wonder if Samuel would even come if he were coming. Enough. Prepare the sacrifice. If Samuel has not come by the time it's ready, I am the God-chosen king and the people need to see me leading them.

Odetta: My king, may I speak openly?

Saul: You always do, Odetta. Yes, speak openly.

Odetta: If we had every man in Israel ready to fight and armed with swords and bows, we could not win this battle. God will win this victory for us if we will just obey him. The people need to see a king that is devoted and obedient to God, especially when the circumstances are desperate.

Danaw: The king is obedient to God. God has given him the nation and he is to do whatever he sees best.

Odetta: God has not given him the nation. The kings around us act as if they own the land and the people as their personal property. That is their way. That is not so with Israel. Our king is to serve God humbly and let God possess the land. We are not like the pagan kingdoms around us. My king, do not give in to despair or distraction. This is what Samuel warned you about before you were anointed.

Saul: Despair and distraction? Are you calling me a donkey?

Odetta: No, my king, I merely...

Danaw: Wake up, you fool. We are in the real world now. The stakes are real and they are high. It is up to the chosen king of Israel to decide what God's will is for his nation.

Saul: Enough, both of you. Prepare the sacrifice. Come get me when it's ready.

Odetta: I don't know about this.

Danaw: What else could he do? It will all be fine. Perhaps even better. Saul, the king priest of Israel. Odetta, tear your robe as much as you want. I guarantee you this will be a day that Israel will remember forever.

Narrator: King Saul came out before the people of Israel playing the role of priest to perform the burnt offering.

Saul: See, oh Israel, that the Lord is good.

Narrator: And Odetta, alone in his tent, fell to the ground crying out to God.

Odetta: Oh, God of hosts, I beg you. Do not let King Saul perform this unholy act of rebellion.

Saul: To you, oh God of hosts, we devote ourselves to you entirely.

Odetta: Have mercy on us all for this great sin that the king is committing.

Saul: I entreat, oh Jehovah, your covering over your servants this day. Forgive us our fear and doubt of you.

Odetta: Forgive him for his fear and for doubting you in this time of great need. Spare the king from your wrath and the people from suffering because of his sin.

Saul: Now guide your faithful servants into battle this day and may you be honored by our victory.

Messenger: It's Samuel. Samuel. Samuel is here. Where is he? Samuel, God be praised.

Samuel: What have you done?

Mariana: Hi everyone, my name is Mariana Roberson. I am seven years old. I listen to Paws & Tales when I go anywhere in the car. You should too. Bye-bye.

Dave Carl: Hey there everyone, Dave Carl here. We want to put your kid on an episode of Paws & Tales saying something like this: "Hi, I'm Henry from North Carolina. If I could spend the day with CJ, I'd want to build a treehouse together." Now we have some suggested scripts for you waiting just inside the clubhouse. We can't wait to hear what you all come up with. Record them, send them in, and we'll broadcast them to the world.

Samuel: What have you done?

Saul: When I saw I was losing my army out from under me and that you hadn't come when you said you would, I thought the Philistines are about to come down on me and I haven't yet come before God asking for his help. So I forced myself to take things into my own hands and I sacrificed the burnt offering.

Samuel: Saul, you've acted foolishly. If you had waited for God, he would have set a firm and lasting foundation under your kingly rule over Israel.

Saul: I had to.

Samuel: But now your kingdom will crumble away from you.

Saul: What?

Samuel: God has another in mind. This time, he'll choose the king. You have caused this with your disobedience. Forgive me. Don't go. Forgive me.

Danaw: My king, the people are still with you. Bring the advisors to the king's tent now. Please come with me, my Lord.

Saul: What have I done? My kingdom. I've lost my kingdom. Danaw, how is the king?

Danaw: He is shaken, Captain Shemesh. He is shaken.

Captain Shemesh: We are undone.

Danaw: Come now and let us think calmly and clearly.

Odetta: I must see the king.

Danaw: Why is he here?

Captain Shemesh: You asked for the king's advisors. Odetta has been with the king since...

Danaw: Enough. The king is resting. We must be calm and manage this setback.

Odetta: Setback? Am I the only one who understands what's going on? The Philistines are about to destroy us. We have no army and our king has just lost his kingdom.

Danaw: This sort of thing happens all of the time. Kings are often on the verge of losing power. It's the strong that survive in battle. We have been hurt. Now we need to recover.

Odetta: You can feel the wind, but you can't see the storm. Odetta, really?

Danaw: This is why I didn't want him here. We need to help the king recover his position and his kingdom. You want to sit back and be spiritual and vague.

Odetta: I am completely devoted to King Saul. I would lay down my life for him. But he is now a temporary king by command of the Lord. He is not supposed to recover. I pray he never recovers from this. Oh, please. He is supposed to repent of the pride that has brought this storm. He is supposed to stop trying to be a king of the people and start being an obedient king of God.

Danaw: We do not have time for this posturing. The Philistines are ready to attack. Odetta, I pray the king will see that everything you say is leading to destruction. And I pray that he will send you back to the pit you crawled out of and humble himself before God.

Odetta: Who do you think you are? Let's just calm down. Please, let us be civil.

Danaw: I will see you crushed for your insolence.

Odetta: We have a battle waiting for us outside. Let's not start one in here.

Saul: That's enough. You two stop it now. You over there. You back. Is there a problem?

Danaw: My king, we were just debating our next course of action.

Saul: That would seem to be the prudent thing to do. How are you, my king? How am I? What kind of question is that? We're facing impossible odds in battle. Yes, we are. We're losing our troops and now those remaining are rattled because of what Samuel has said. Yes, my king, that is what we were discussing.

Danaw: But the burnt offering has nonetheless been made and we are now ready for battle. I suggest we gather up the army we have left and beat them back with the strength of the Lord.

Saul: Bring my horse. Gather the men. I can't believe it. I'd say he's recovered nicely. That, my friends, is a man who knows who he is. Honor to the king.

Odetta: He doesn't believe Samuel. It's as if it never happened. God has chosen a new king for himself and King Saul is unmoved. He doesn't grasp the depth of his sin or its consequences. He will sin this way again. A storm of destruction is coming and Saul doesn't see it. God be with us all.

Insight for Living: To order a copy of today's program, The Story of Saul, the First King of Israel, visit us at pawsandtales.org. The Story of Saul, Part 2 was written and directed by David Carl. The song Victory, Victory was written by Sandy Howell and Bob Sobo. Music was by Tim Hosman and our sound designer was Jerry Swafford. Paws & Tales is an Insight for Living production and a proud member of the hiskids.net alliance. To hear this and other great programs for kids, visit hiskids.net.