{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvertical.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fteaching-sep-6-26-HGOCkf1F","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"The True and Better King | 1 Samuel 18 | Nathan Hughes","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/9689ac23-2320-4b64-bf07-a443a5ebe021/6b13efe6-cd0a-443e-98a6-445ce69aef3e/taleoftwokingspod.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"","height":200,"description":"Who is really sitting on the throne of your life?\n\nThroughout the story of Saul and David, we see two kings with very different hearts. Saul is driven by fear, insecurity, and control. David shows us trust, humility, patience, and repentance—but even David eventually fails. The same man who showed incredible restraint in a cave would later show devastating selfishness from the rooftop of a palace. Even a man after God’s own heart needed grace.\n\nThat’s why the story doesn’t end with David.\n\nIn 2 Samuel 7, God makes a covenant with David: his throne and kingdom will be established forever. Centuries later, that promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ—the Son of David, the promised King whose Kingdom will never end.\n\nThe gospel isn’t “Stop being Saul and try harder to be David.” David needed grace too. The gospel is that the true and better King has come.\n\nJesus remained faithful where every other king failed. He gave Himself for His people, purchased our forgiveness, and invites us to surrender every rival throne in our hearts to Him.\n\nJesus, I am not King.\nMy fear is not king.\nMy desires are not king.\nMy reputation is not king.\nMy wounds are not king.\nMy plans are not king.\nJesus Christ is King.\n\nSCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 7:8–16; Luke 1:31–33; Luke 22:19–20\n\nTHE TRUE AND BETTER KING\nA Tale of Two Kings | Vertical Church"}