Baseball and the Bible
Fun podcast discussing baseball and baseball training. We will also be getting into the Bible and doing weekly devotionals.
Baseball and the Bible
Is Mike Trout back?
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The conclusion of 2 Samuel presents us with powerful truths about leadership, consequences, and repentance that resonate deeply in our modern lives. As we journey through these final chapters, we encounter David's continued struggles with the fallout from past decisions—both his own and those of King Saul before him. The three-year famine that opens chapter 21 reminds us that leadership carries weight far beyond a single moment or decision. We see how one leader's choices can affect generations, yet we also witness David's heart of worship in chapter 22, where he declares 'The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.' This beautiful contrast teaches us that while our mistakes have real consequences—consequences we cannot escape even through repentance—we can still maintain a posture of worship and dependence on God. The account of David's mighty warriors in chapter 23 inspires us to consider what it means to be faithful in our own battles, while the final chapter's sobering plague reminds us that even forgiven sin carries earthly weight. David's insistence on paying for the threshing floor rather than offering God something that cost him nothing challenges us to examine the authenticity of our own sacrifices and worship.
Welcome back to another episode of Baseball in the Bible. I am Riker Dotson here with my father Ryan Dotson. We're back with another podcast episode. I'm excited to be here.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Welcome back.
SPEAKER_01Yep.
SPEAKER_00Let's dive into it. Hope you guys are doing well. And we've got some uh fun things to cover. Another great week of baseball.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00But we're gonna jump right into our devotion and wrap wrap up 2 Samuel today, right off the bat.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00What do you say about that? Let's get kicked off. If you have been following with us, um we've again we've been working our way through first and 2nd Samuel, and this week we wrapped up the last four verse, four chapters of 2 Samuel. Um, and so again, as we've said previously, very engaging, very uh um, I guess mature-rated definitely a lot of a lot of probably 2 Samuel, yeah. 2 Samuel, a lot of fighting, a lot of heavy subject matter, but um again, it is true, it is the word, and um it is interesting to read through for sure. And so uh these last four chapters uh of the of the book, more of the same. Um, and much as we've done all throughout this, we'll keep it PG. Keep it PG, we'll skim through it, um, talk about it, and uh encourage you to read along with us. Um it's been fun. We do something a little different on the next devotion, but uh kind of pick back up on this at some point. But it's it's it's kind of fun to be going through this at home and talk a little bit about it here on the pod. So um, yeah, let's get into these last four chapters again. Where we've kind of been riding this ride. Uh the beginning of 2 Samuel, David has become king and uh things are going well, then he makes some mistakes.
SPEAKER_01Uh some is good and his kids make some decisions.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, the consequences come from well, some of David's decisions as well led to that. But uh so now again we get into to 21. I don't know if I have a verse for you. Let me see what I had here. Um I don't have anything in the verse in chapter 21. Basically, um there's a famine that's been going on. It's going on for three years. You know what a famine is?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's like a lack of food.
SPEAKER_00Correct. Um, and so that was going on, and David was asking the Lord why why is this happening? And it was uh if you want to read there, just read that first verse, Riker, because it kind of sums it up.
SPEAKER_01Yep. During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years. So David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, It is on uh it is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house. It is because he put the Gibbonites to death. Gibeonites. Right, the Gibeonites.
SPEAKER_00Uh and so the king summons them in, if you go on to read, and um basically again, it's just crazy that um all these years later, still dealing with some of the fallout from Saul. Saul. And again, as as leaders, that's we've talked about this, you know, how much how important leaders are, and again, you don't have to you don't have to be perfect, but there are consequences, and Saul made some pretty bad decisions that affected people even even after he's gone. Um, and they're gonna affect his family here because basically he was told not to um was told to spare them, and he uh oh yeah, he didn't, and so um that's why the famine's happening. So David brings him in and and um basically is saying, like, how can I make this right um with you? And they kind of go back and forth, and ultimately they decide on seven descendants of Saul that uh will be uh killed for to kind of to make things right, and so he brings in now, he spares um uh I can't even pronounce his name Mephibosheth. I think it's Jonathan's son.
SPEAKER_01Mith oh yeah, oh yeah, Mephibosheth.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, oh yeah, yeah. Just like, yeah, but it's the son of Jonathan. So he spares him. He won't he doesn't call them in because uh because of his oath uh to the Lord with Solomon and about Solomon, I mean about Jonathan, and so uh spares him, but brings in some of the other descendants, and they are uh they are killed there, and um kind of atones for everything, makes things right, and after that uh God answered prayer on behalf of the land, and the famine ceases. So opens with a bang there in chapter 21. At the end of uh 21, uh if if you're reading in your Bible and you have little notes there, mine just says again, wars against against the Philistines again. Uh another fight with the Philistines. This one it goes on to talk about too, some of like even uh Goliath's brothers involved in this, and they get they get struck down. Um so just more fighting against the Philistines and more David leading victories against the Philistines.
SPEAKER_01I find it funny because you know we were joking, like it happened again. They always get in fights with the Philistines. This little like the part of this says once again.
SPEAKER_00Once again, there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. It's an ongoing feud. The Hatfield and McCoys. That was that it's in that reference.
SPEAKER_01I I wouldn't get it.
SPEAKER_00But uh, all right. Um if we read, if we move on to chapter 22, uh that's it's really this whole chapter, it's an awesome chapter, and we'll read the first couple verses because they're very familiar verses. Probably sung them at your church at some point. Um but uh just it's all it's all a song of praise from David to the Lord. And uh so Riker, if you'll read, read verses two and three.
SPEAKER_01Okay. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. The Lord is my rock in whom I take refuge, my sea my shield in the horn of my salvation. He is the stronghold, my refuge, and my savior. From violent people you save me.
SPEAKER_00Yep. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. Again, when you read through this, it just sounds, I mean, it's a it's a worship song. Um that's what he's doing, and that's one of David's greatest attributes was that he was a worshiper. So um yeah, so that that'll probably make um that our verse of the week there, those two verses. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock in whom I take refuge. All right. Um we move on to twenty-three. Um this is a cool chapter to me, uh, but go ahead and read uh verse three. Okay Riker in chapter twenty-three.
SPEAKER_01The God of Israel spoke. The rock of Israel said to me, When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, he he's basically explaining and and outlining here. Um he's like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning. He's just saying how good it is when a king, when someone rules over people in righteousness. So it could be a king, it could be anything. Uh whatever place of leadership it is, when they're ruling that that land and those people uh in righteousness, it's like all these things here. It's like uh the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth, you know. That's uh one of those like poems, yeah. Yeah, well, it's just like things are good, yeah, things are how they're supposed to be when the leader is leading with righteousness. Um, and it you know, so it's just a great uh word picture, basically.
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_00Um, and then we get into uh the second part of 23, which is really cool. Uh starts to name some of David's mighty warriors. And this has always been a fascinating uh group right here to me. Um would love to have been part of these 30 mighty warriors. Uh, but there was three guys that of the 30 that really stood out, and so uh, but just to be listed in here in the Bible um for being a a great uh just warrior, yeah. And so I'm trying to find here so we can read some of it, so you can read. Here's one one story here. Go ahead. Um chapter thirteen. You'll read start reading there, but just one story here.
SPEAKER_01During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adulum. Yeah, Adulum, while a band of Philistines was encamped in a valley of Repheem. Repheem. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem, and David longed for water and said, Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem. Keep going. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00So he's thirsty, and here's what they do.
SPEAKER_01So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and carried it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out before the Lord. Far be it from me, Lord, to do this. He said, Is it not from the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives, and David would not drink it?
SPEAKER_00Yep, and such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors. And it goes on to talk about uh Abishai, the brother of Joab, son of Zariah, was chief of the three. He raised his spear against three hundred men whom he killed. Um and trying to find so Benaniah, son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter, uh, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab's two mighty, mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. Uh, and he struck down a huge Egyptian. Just great stories here. If you read through it, I was trying to find because some of them were like some of them killed 800 men, one of them killed 300 warriors, uh, just these three guys, and then you have the the list of the 30 um 30 mighty warriors uh there. It's just a cool thing, again, to uh to ending to a chapter of all this all these battles, it's almost like you're getting a shout-out to some of the guys that made it happen, you know, um, and some of the key guys, and just you know, you have all these movies nowadays about guys that are these you know fictitious bad dudes that can take out crazy people, and then you have and guys that really did it, you know. Exactly. Um, and in a time where it wasn't like stand a long way away and shoot somebody, it was hand-to-hand combat, you know.
SPEAKER_01You had knives, you had swords.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so just a really uh cool ending there to that to that chapter, and then chapter 24 is uh really the end, it's in the end of the the book, and um if you'll read chapter or uh verse 24, uh Riker. Read that from chapter 24, read verse 24.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_00Actually, let me let me set it up a little bit before you read that. So David, again, he makes a mistake here and uh does something that he was not told to do, um, basically calling all the fighting men, uh, having Joab go through and enlist these men, uh, doing something that he he shouldn't have done, and um feels guilty about it, tells the Lord, you know, I'm I'm sorry, what a I've done a foolish thing, and and then a prophet comes to him and says, which is just a crazy thing, you don't see this very often, but uh he asked, you know, he says, Lord, you know, what can I do to make it right? Uh so uh Gad went to David and said to him, Um he basically gives him three options, and he says, one of these three you have to pick. And it was three years of famine, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or uh three days of plagues. So it was three years of famine, which they had just come out of, or had come out of, I don't know, three months of basically running for your life, or three days of plagues. Um and David wrestled with the decision, but he ultimately he they went with plagues. Um and so because of again, because of David's rash decision on what he did, not seeking the Lord there, making a mistake as humans do, but it was a costly one because with that plague, 70,000 uh people from Dan to Beersheba died. Um and so it cost a lot of people their lives. Um, and uh one point there um there was uh a spot um on a threshing floor where um David is is talking to the angel who was striking down the people. Um and they basically he's gonna make an altar there because the Lord was gonna withdraw his hand and there's gonna be no more lives taken. So he was gonna build an altar there on the floor of this threshold on this threshing floor. Uh and so he's going to the guy that owns that, and he wants to build the altar, so he wants to buy it. That's where we're at, where you're gonna read the verse. And so the guy he's wanting to buy it, the guy knows he's the king, and he's saying to him, I'm not gonna charge you anything for it. And this is David's response. 24, verse 24.
SPEAKER_01But the king replied to Arona. Sure. But the king replied to Arona, No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
SPEAKER_00Yep. Uh then the Lord answered his prayer on behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped. Um so there you go. That's the end of uh 2 Samuel. What'd you learn in 2 Samuel?
SPEAKER_01I learned a lot of things I can't say on this podcast.
SPEAKER_00Key things, what would we say are key takeaways? Uh leadership matters, our mistakes have consequences.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely, no one's perfect.
SPEAKER_00No one's perfect. Um having a heart of even again, even when we make mistakes, just a heart of um repentance. Repentance, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Uh I think I I heard this somewhere, but I I think it's also fits uh Second Samuel. Um what was it? Set myself up now. It was uh be free of Oh dang it. Okay. I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_00Well, I'm sure it was good and brilliant, whatever you're gonna say. It was very wise. And well, if it comes back to you, we'll say it. All right. Dang it. Well, it was good. Um again, hope you guys enjoyed it. It's a lot there. Um trying to cover it as quickly and efficiently as we can, but um thankful for the word um and the truths, the timeless truths that are still in it today. And uh want to be one of those mighty men. I want to be one, I want you to be one. So all right, we're gonna do a little baseball talk real quick. Yes. Recap what's happened since the last time we were here and uh Oh, I just remembered it. Oh, what we got.
SPEAKER_01Uh you can be you can repent, but you can like you can be free from your sin by repenting, but you cannot be free of consequence, essentially. Consequence will come even if you apologize and say sorry.
SPEAKER_00Correct.
SPEAKER_01I I thought that kind of fit.
SPEAKER_00It does fit. And we talked about it last episode where we said, you know, even when David uh or even like uh like that's what for me, if I do something illegal and then I ask the Lord to forgive me, I can be forgiven.
SPEAKER_01But you'll still pay your time.
SPEAKER_00I could still go to jail, right? So just because you know there are still earthly consequences for our decisions, you know. So yeah. I'm glad you got it. I'm glad you remembered it.
SPEAKER_01Mine very wise.
SPEAKER_00All right. Quick updates on where we uh are across the majors, quick standing update as of today. Things change quickly uh in this. I mean, um looking in the National League Central, the last week we were here, Cubs were in last place. They have not lost a game since our last recording. Um they've jumped up to 14 and 9 at this moment. I don't think they've played today when we're recording this. Uh Cars played today, they lost. Um still playing good. The central National League Central is the only division in baseball where all five teams, all teams in the division are above 500. So the Pirates are now in last. They were in first when we did this episode last week. Uh but they're still 13 and 10. Uh but the Reds are leading the way, 16 and 9. So the Reds have been on the hot streak playing very good. Uh Cubs are 14-9, Milwaukee's 13-9, Cards are 14-10, Pirates 13-10. So uh best division in baseball right now, National League Central, which is kind of surprising. See if it'll stay. Um, the East right now, uh Braves are the only team above 500, and they're 16 and 8. Everybody else is struggling. The the we had, I'm pretty sure in our picks, we both had Atlanta, but uh did you also have the Mets and the Phillies? Did you have three teams out of the East? I feel like you did.
SPEAKER_01I've I definitely had the Mets.
SPEAKER_00I know I did, and I had the Phillies going to the World Series. Again, it's it's still early, but man, the Phillies and the Mets are both the Mets as of today are have lost 12 in a row. They officially had the worst record in the league right now. It's 7 and 16. So again, they lost 12 in a row. Juan Soto comes back tonight. We'll see how that helps, but they're struggling.
SPEAKER_01Um I had them going pretty far.
SPEAKER_00Well, we didn't pick how far they were going, other than we picked our playoff team and our I think I thought you know, in my brain. Well, again, it's still a long way to go, so they could turn it around. They have a lot of good talent, but right now them and the Phillies. Phillies are eight and fifteen, so they're only one game better. So they're both both struggling. Uh in the West, another good division. Um, of course the Dodgers, but the Padres have now tied 'em. They're both sixteen and seven. Um the Diamondbacks are thirteen and ten, so good ball being played out there. Uh the American League Yankees are fourteen and nine. Tampa, Baltimore, Toronto is still struggling a little bit. Boston's still struggling. I had both of those teams. Actually, the three teams at the bottom are my playoff teams for that division. So we'll see how that turns around. The Central Guardians still hanging tough. 14 and 12 back in first place. Twins were in first last week. I did not have them either. We both had the Royals, I think. Or you had the Royals and Tigers.
SPEAKER_01I had Royals and Tigers.
SPEAKER_00Well, the Royals are in last. They're also 8 and 17, so they are not playing well either, which is surprising. And then in the West, Rangers leading the division 12 and 11. Then you got the A's, the Angels, the Mariners still struggling, and then the Astros. Astros are not very good. Cardinals swept them last week, so that was nice. So there you go. Quick update for that. And you look at the Angels. So I think his ERA is down to 0.24 or something crazy like that. So he's he's dealing. Then you had Mike Trout. When we recorded last week, him and Judge had just played the first game of that series, the Yankees, and they both had two home runs in that game. We talked about that. But then the rest of that series, Mike Trout just continued to go on a tear. So we had two that game, and then he had three consecutive the night. So he had four home runs consecutively there at Yankee Stadium, five total. He's the first player uh to hit four home runs consec in consecutive days at Yankee Stadium. So um that would be new Yankee Stadium, I assume. But uh so he just had a great week. Um hit a bomb today as we were watching it coming in, hit a 428-foot bomb uh against the Blue Jays as they won that game. So uh he's appears to be back to being vintage Mike Trout. Um and you got him and then you got again Soriano who's dealing right now for him, but they're still two games under 500. So uh that's a quick update there uh around the league. Um players of the week this week. You want to cover that?
SPEAKER_01Let's yeah, go ahead and do it.
SPEAKER_00Okay, let's cover the players of the week. So again, we're going and unless we see something that like that we just want to cover.
SPEAKER_01Like the uh three home run robbers, like Joe Adele.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, we'll we'll we'll do that. But we're gonna go with major leagues uh picks.
SPEAKER_01We're not the professionals, we'll listen to the professionals.
SPEAKER_00So this week, uh two players, uh one from American League, one from National League. Jose Ramirez from the Guardians was the American League player of the week. Um he went eight for 22 uh with which is 364 with a double, four homers, five RBIs, and five steals. He also walked eight times during the week uh for an incredible five 0.533 on base percentage. Um Ramirez is a common one to win that award. He's again one of those probably the most um undercovered, undervalued superstar in the league. Just puts up numbers constantly. Um and then in the National League, uh hate to admit it, but the Cubs have been on a roll. They won seven in a row, and a big part of that was uh Nico Horner, um, who's having a great year this week. He was uh nine for 26, 346 average, two homers, 11 RBIs, two steals. Um and so uh that lifted his batting line to 325 batting average. He has three home runs, seven steals, and a major league uh baseball high tying 21 RBI. So he's off to a great start. So Nico Horner, nationally player of the week, Jose Ramirez, American League uh player of the week. And then we're gonna do a play of the week. Again, it happened last Wednesday when we were recording on Jackie Robinson Day. You'll see this in the highlight because he's wearing 42, and you'll see it as he goes over the wall. But we're gonna show this record. You want to look at it real quick?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, let's review this.
SPEAKER_00Let's see here. Oh give us a few seconds while the ad plays, and then we'll watch this video. Uh but this is Jackson Merrill uh for the Padres robbing uh home run. So here we go. Play of the week, Jackson and Merrill. Um all right, one of the things we wanted to get back into uh is just highlighting some uh old school players of the week. We're gonna get into our records really wanting to bring our baseball cards back. But for today, open up our our baseball bag here and bring out the old school box. We're gonna learn about an old school player, a little card roulette here, whatever you whoever you pick, make it a good one. We're gonna learn about that person.
SPEAKER_01Oh wow, there's dust coming out of this box.
SPEAKER_00Who do we got? Again, we're gonna get back into opening the the current baseball cards, still trying to get a JJ Weatherholt rookie card.
SPEAKER_01We have uh two options here. Alright. So we can they're both angels. Okay. Funny enough, we're we were just talking about them. We have Daryl Miller or Tony Armist.
SPEAKER_00Let me see.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_00Um, I have I don't remember any of these guys. I'm trying to see who has any kind of time on the so we'll go Tony Armist. Okay. That's our winner right there. Hold that card up. And in real time, we're gonna learn about Tony Armis together.
SPEAKER_01Alright. Angels. They're gonna take the other card out.
SPEAKER_00Okay. Alright, back into the time machine to get Tony Armis. Uh Venezuelan, former professional baseball player. Uh played from he was an outfielder, played from 1976 to 1989. I'm gonna get this photo up here of him. Uh show you a nice old school photo there of him in the in the A's uniform. Um and he played for, again, he played for the Pirates, played for the A's, the Red Sox, and then the Angels, which is that that card right there. Uh he was a two-time All-Star, uh, 81 and 84. Uh, won a Silver Slugger Award in 1984. Uh man, two-time AL home run leader in '81 and '84. Stud and AL RBI leader in 1984. 84 was his year. He had a couple of good years there. Uh batting average, career batting average of 252, 251 career home runs and 815 runs batted in. Uh made his debut September 6, 1976 for the Pirates, and his last Major League appearance was October 1st, 1989 for the California Angels. Um, he was the first Venezuelan baseball player to win a Major League Baseball home run title. Um looks like he was prone to injuries and went on the DL 12 times, and so that could have cost him some of his stats, missing 302 games uh in his career. Um he is a member of the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame, inducted in 2005. So also fitting because Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic this year. So there we go. Tony Armis. Um looks like his man, his best years if he 81 and through 84, so 81, 82, he was still with the A's. 84 when he was the RBI leader and the home run leader, he would have been with the Red Sox at that time. Uh then that card would have been at the end of his career. So Tony Armist is our old school player of the week. I feel like I should know about him, but honestly, this is the first I'm learning. So this is an education for me as well. Um if he's accomplished that much. So pretty cool. Good good pick.
SPEAKER_01I I just want everyone at home to appreciate I look how many cards are in this box. I my dad when he was my age went on a collection.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's one of a lot of one right here. I know, I know, but there's one that's one of a lot of boxes.
SPEAKER_01So you you have a lot. Um they're mine now.
SPEAKER_00They're yours. Alright, we're gonna end with the most wholesome thing of the week.
SPEAKER_01And uh take notes.
SPEAKER_00Well, you take notes because it was the brother with the with the sister. So if you haven't seen it yet, um I'll put throw it up here, but um we'll watch it uh together. But it's it's a clip, it's um well, let me just find it and let me put it up so I can do it justice. It's a clip of uh the brother and sister at a pirates game. There we go. I'm finding it. So uh during the during the game, uh Jank Jake Mangum uh is outfield there for the pirates, and he sees a kid wearing his jersey, so he goes to toss it to it. He tosses it um to her brother, who's wearing a Paul Skeens jersey. He reaches over the rail, catches it. And wants to make sure he turns and gives it to that his sister and she gives you bring your gloves. That's heartwarming, just uh a cool little heartwarming moment. And uh actually Jake Mangum saw that or at least was told about it, but I think he saw it. But he he's gonna he contacted them, so they're gonna get to come watch a game, I think, in a suite and get to meet him. And so just a really cool moment. That's our heartwarming moment of the week. Do right by your siblings, be nice to one another.
SPEAKER_01And you like it in a pirate or Padre suite, you know.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, a pirate suite. And and get, you know, they've been it's if I'm sure if you've been paying attention, you've seen it because it's been c all over the place. Just a nice heartwarming clip there. Her reaction is is just awesome. So uh that's a great way to end it today. And uh remind you to be nice to your sister and be nice to your siblings. Yes, yeah. All right. Okay, we got a uh fun episode coming next week. That's all I'm gonna say. Be ready for it. Um and uh record pray us out, and we'll get out of here.
SPEAKER_01Lord, thank you for this day, and thank you just for another podcast where we can come here to talk about baseball and honor you, Lord. I just pray that we would just take something away from this, and then that is nobody is perfect, but we can all find repentance in you, Lord. Uh I just pray that everyone would just have a good day. In Jesus' name, amen.
SPEAKER_00Love you guys. See you next time.