2 Samuel One….(1-27)

We now see  David, as  the Lord’s choice for king, begin his reign……..

1.  Verses  1-27

a. News travelled slowly in those days…what had David been doing and .how long did it take for him to hear about Saul’s death?  (verses 1-2)

David had been busy reclaiming his wives and stuff from the Amalekites, and it was three days before someone came with the news about Saul.

b.   What story did this messenger tell David? What proof did he have?         (verses 3-10)

He said he was an Amalekite and had seen Saul trying to kill himself off by falling on his spear, and how Saul asked him to finish the job as he was in terrible agony. He was sure Saul could not live, so he did and took his crown and bracelet to show David.

c.   What was David’s unexpected reaction now that his enemy was dead ?         (verses 11-12)

He mourned and wept for Saul and most of all for Jonathan,  and the men of Israel who had fallen.

d. We have already seen that this young man was an Amalekite and therefore a picture of the flesh in a believer’s life…what did David do to him? What must we do with our fleshly nature?  (verses 13-16; Romans 6:6; Galatians 5:24)

David ordered him to be killed for having had a hand in Saul’s death….we too, have to crucify and put to death our old nature so we are not ruled by its attitudes or actions.

e.  What phrase did David use three times in connection with the death of Saul and Jonathan? ( verses  19, 25, 27)

How are the mighty fallen!

f. What truth is this an example of?      (Proverbs 16:18)

Pride comes before a fall!

g. Can we, like David, say good things about those who dislike us? What did our Lord say about our attitude to our enemies?         (Matthew 5:43-45)

We are to do good to our enemies, pray for them and seek to love them!

h. What did David say about Jonathan?  (verses 23, 25-27)

He was closer to David than his brothers or his wives….his friendship meant everything to David.

i.   What does love for one another do for us?  (1 Corinthians 13:4-6; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:7-11)

It helps us to overlook other people’s faults if we love them….notice how a parent will always make excuses for a wayward child!

2 Samuel Two….(1-32)

1.  Verses  1-32

a. What was the first thing that David did now that he no longer needed to run from Saul?  (verse 1)

He asked the Lord where he and his men should settle, and God told him to go to Hebron.

b.   What happened there?         (verses 2-4)

They settled there with their families, and the people of Judah anointed David as their king.

c.  What did David hear once this was done? (verses 5-7)

He heard how the people of Jabesh-gilead had given  Saul and his sons a proper burial, and he commended them for this and promised them protection and provision.

d.   What do we see happened next?  Was this of God?  (verses 8-11)

The general of Saul’s army, Joab, took the last son of Saul and made him king over the rest of Israel; this was not part of God’s plan and it only lasted for two years..

e.  There is a bit of time discrepancy here…how long did Ishbotheth reign? How long was David king in Hebron over just Judah?     ( verses 10-11)

It must have taken some time before Ishbosheth was made king over Israel, because David remained king over just Judah for seven years.

f. What do we see in this next section?      (verses 12-17)

The two generals (Abner and Joab) each took twelve athletic young men and lined up on either side of the pool in Gibeon. Whether it was meant to be a friendly joust or indeed was a precursor to war is uncertain, but neither trusted the other and went into it to kill with the result that all twenty-four died. This caused a bitter battle between the two sides with Joab (David’s general) being victorious.

g. What happened next?          (verses 18-19)

David’s nephew Asahel  (brother of Joab and Abishai  who were sons of David’s sister), chased after Abner and was gaining on him.

h. To be fair to Abner, what did he say to Asahel?  (verses 20-22)

Stop chasing me or else get some armour on….how will I be able to face your brother Joab if I kill you?

i.   What happened?  (verses 23-25)

Asahel refused to take notice, and was almost ready to pounce on Abner when he threw his spear behind as he ran and it went right through Asahel and he died there. Joab and Abishai and their men continued to chase Abner and his men.

j. What happened next?  (verses 25-29)

The two opposing sides lined up on opposite hills and called a truce then went in different directions.

k.   How many of David’s men were killed in contrast to Israel’s army?  (verses 30-31)

David had lost nineteen men while Abner had lost 360 men.

l.   What did Joab do next?  (verse 32)

He saw to it that Asahel was buried in the family tomb, and then went back to the city of Hebron.

2 Samuel Three….(1-39)

1.  Verses  1-39

a. What do we notice about the political situation at this point?  (verse 1)

We see that David’s rule was growing stronger by the day while Saul’s line under Ishbosheth was getting weaker and weaker.

b.   What do we see about David’s domestic life at this time?         (verses 2-5)

David had six wives, and six sons were born to him while at Hebron…some of them we have already heard of and some come to light later.

c.  People often use David’s (who was a man after God’s own heart) many wives as an excuse for plurality of wives….was this God’s original plan for mankind? (Matthew 19:4-6)

No, God’s plan is for one man, one woman, and not to let anything come  between them.

d.   What is God’s criteria for leaders in the church today?  (1 Timothy 3:2, 12)

A leader of the church is to have only one living wife.

e.  What happened to make Abner turn against Ishbosheth?     ( verses 6-11)

It was over the matter of a woman that Abner took from Saul’s harem, and Ishbosheth remonstrated with him for doing it. Abner took exception to this and as he could see which way Ishbosheth/’s rule was heading, he decided to go to David with a proposition.

f. What was this proposition, and where was Joab when Abner came?      (verses 12-22)

Joab was away on a side issue when Abner came telling David that he would get all Israel under his rule if he (David) would make a league with him (to save his head)

g. What did Joab think of all this when he arrived back to David and heard of it?          (verses 23-27)

Joab didn’t agree with it or trust Abner’s motives, and he secretly dealt with the problem by killing Abner at the gate of Hebron .

h. Why did David say Abner died as a fool?  (verses 28-34; Numbers 35:11-15; Joshua 21:13)

He was a fool for going outside the city of Hebron  (which was a city of refuge) to talk to Joab. If he had stayed inside the city, Joab couldn’t have touched him.

i.   What does this story remind us of?  (John 3:36; Hebrews 6:27-30)

That when we place our trust and belief in God and Jesus Christ, He is our Refuge and we are safe from His judgment and anger.

j. How can we see God’s hand in this for bringing David to reign fully over all Israel as He had intended ?  (1 Samuel 13:13-14)

If Abner had remained alive, there would have been continual conflict between the two generals, and possibly another division in the kingdom….God’s intention was for David to reign over the whole kingdom and this came to pass.

k.   David was now established as king over all Israel….what did the people generally think of him? Why?  (verses 31-39)

The people were very pleased with David…they could see that he had nothing to with Abner’s death, and this was shown in the way he mourned for him. David took the humble place  before the people in this matter.

2 Samuel Four….(1-12)

1.  Verses  1-12

a. What is this chapter all about?  (verses 1-12)

It is about the remaining members of Saul;’s family…about Jonathan’s young son who became a cripple and how Ishbosheth was killed.

b.   Who did Ishbosheth have for his two captains now that Abner was dead?         (verse 2)

He had two brothers, Ba-anah and Rechab as his captains.

c.  What did they plot to do?  How did they go about it?     (verses:5-7)

They planned to get rid of Ishbosheth , and went to his house where he was resting after lunch, and killed him in his bed without anyone knowing, then got away.

d.   What did they probably think when they went to David with the news?  (verse 10)

They probably thought that David would reward them for getting rid of the last of Saul’s family.

e.  What actually happened to them? Why?     ( verses 9-12)

David did not commend them, instead he condemned them and ordered that their lives were forfeited for doing such a dastardly thing in cold blood to a man at peace in his own house.

f. How did the people regard David after all this settling in period?      (ch 3:36)

They understood that it wasn’t his idea to get rid of Saul’s family or general, and they were pleased with his actions.

2 Samuel Five….(1-25)

1.  Verses  1-10

a. Up until this time, David had been reigning as king over only the tribe of Judah with his base in Hebron…what change of attitude did the men of the rest of Israel now have towards him?  (verses 1-3)

They remembered how the Lord had said back in Samuel’s time that David would be His annointed king over the whole of Israel, so they went to him and told him they would agree to be one nation again under his rule.

b.   How old was David when this happened? What is this age usually regarded as?  Who else started their life work at that age?       (Genesis 41:46; Luke 3:23)

David was thirty years old….this is generally regarded as being at the peak of one’s physical strength, coupled with enough wisdom and maturity to rule.  We see that Joseph was thirty when he became prime minister of Egypt, and it was also the age when the Lord Jesus began His public ministry.

c.  David’s headquarters up until this time had been at Hebron…what did he turn his attention to now? What was this place like?     (verses:6-7;l Judges 19:10)

He looked at Jerusalem which was named Jebus, and was inhabited by a heathen people called the Jebusites; there were also a lot of handicapped people living there  which David couldn’t stand.

d.   What happened with this city? Why was it a special place?  (verses 7-10; Genesis 22-23; Psalm 116:19; John 19:17)

David took it and cleansed it of all imperfections and it became his headquarters…it was where the great temple of Solomon was built and subsequently Herod’s temple. This was the same place that God had told Abraham to offer his son Isaac and the same place where our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. It is a place of great significance to the world.

e.  What other names did David give to Jerusalem ?     ( verses 7, 9; Psalm 135:21, 147:12)

David gave Jerusalem the name of Zion and he also referred to it as the city of David.

f. Does the name “Zion” have any spiritual significance for us today?      (Hebrews 12:22)

Zion in the New Testament is the name for the heavenly Jerusalem , and refers to heavenly state that all believers will enjoy in eternity; it is God’s dwelling place with His people.

g. What significant statement do we read about David here?          (verse 10)

Not that he grew great, but that the Lord God of Hosts was with him.

h. Can people see that in us and say that about us?  (Galatians 2:20)

This is how every believer should live, so that others can see that Christ lives in us.

2.  Verses  11-25

a. Who was Hiram? What did he do for David?  (verse 11)

Hiram was king of Tyre where all the choice cedar trees grew, and he sent David the cedar timber for his house.

b.   What did David see about the Lord’s doings at this time?       (verse 12; Psalm 78:70-71)

He could see that the Lord had made him king and established his kingdom…and that God had taken him from feeding the sheep to feed the people of Israel.

c.  What did David do now that his kingdom was at relatively at peace?     (verses 13-16)

He took more wives and had eleven sons born in Jerusalem (as well as daughters!)

d.   What did the Philistines now do to David?    (verses 17-18)

Even though they were all living peacefully together, they decided to attack him and disturb things.

e.  Remembering that the Philistines are a picture of the flesh (our old nature), what can believers expect ?     ( Romans 7:18-25)

We can still be attacked by old habits and evil thoughts etc.

f. What can we do when we are attacked?      (Ephesians 6: 10-17; 1 John 1:7,9)

We are to put on the whole armour of God and rely mightily on His Word; we can claim the blood of Christ to cleanse us from ALL sin and to confess them to be forgiven and cleansed.

g. What did God tell David to do?          (verses 19-20)

To go and counter attack.

h. What are we to do to cause Satan to back off and leave us alone?  (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9)

To submit to God,  standing  firm and resisting Satan’s attacks.

i.  What did David do when the Philistines had fled?  How is this important for us too?  (verse 21)

He saw their idols left behind and he burned them, completely destroying them. We are to do this with things that tempt us to do evil…it is not enough to put them in the cupboard, they must be completely destroyed and got rid of if you can’t overcome the temptations that they make available. There is so much evil so easily available today, especially on the internet.

j. What did David do the second time he was attacked? Did he just go and do what he had done before?   (verses 22-25)

No, he asked God again what to do, and God gave him a different plan of attack this time and told him to stand aside and watch Him at work.

k.   Will Satan leave us alone once we have stood firm? What are we to do?  (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

Satan and the old nature will never leave us alone…we are to depend on God continually, especially when we feel we have reached the end of our strength, then He will remove the temptation and burden from us.

2 Samuel Six….(1-23)

1.  Verses  1-7

a. What was David’s first thought, now that he was established as king over all Israel?  (verses 1-2)

He wanted to bring the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem where his headquarters now were.

b.  What had happened to the Ark of God?   Where had it been for the last twenty years?       (1 Samuel 5:8; 6:1, 14-15; 7:1-2)

The Ark had been taken captive by the Philistines and carted around from place to place with disastrous results until it was sent back to Israel on a cart. It finally came to rest at the house of Abinadab  in Gibea where is stayed until this time.

c.  How did David organise to move the Ark and what were the consequences?     (verses 3-7)

He put it on a new cart that was being pulled by oxen with two men driving them. The oxen stumbled and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark and dropped dead as a result.

d.   Why did God’s anger rise against Uzzah for doing this?  (verse 7;  Numbers  4:15)

Because the Ark was being transported contrary to God’s instructions and it was touched by a person not a member of Kohath’s family or descendants.

e.  How did God mean for it to be transported ?     ( Exodus 25:10-15)

It had been made with rings at each corner and two long rods to go through these rings….these rods were never to be taken out. It was to be carried by four men of Kohath’s family high on their shoulders…there would never be a chance of it falling this way.

f. So David was doing the right thing in the wrong way and Uzzah lost his life as a result of it….what lesson does this teach us?      (Proverbs 3:5-6; 16:25)

We must realise that God is not to be taken lightly, and that we must look to Him  and make sure we are doing things according to His rules.. Uzzah thought he was doing the right thing to save the Ark, but it ended in his death.

g. What effect did this have on David?          (verses 8-9)

He was upset and began to look into the proper way to move the Ark.

h. What effect did the Ark have on the place where it was left? How long was it there for?   (verses 10-12)

It was left at the house of Obed-edom and God blessed him abundantly (enough for people to notice) in the three months that it was there.

i.  David decided to carry on with his plan to get the Ark to Jerusalem ….how did he transport it this time?  (verses 13-15)

He saw to it that it was carried on the shoulders of four men as God had ordained, and as it went along he sacrificed animals…he was dancing before the Lord dressed in priest’s clothes (an ephod) with the trumpet being sounded and much shouting as it went on its way.

j. What lesson is there in this for us?   (1 Corinthians 14:33, 37, 40)

We cannot expect the Lord to bless what we do, if we do it in a manner or attitude that is contrary to His Word. David’s attitude was right the first time, but his action was wrong….he was following what the Philistines did.

k.   David was doing what the Philistines did the first time, in putting the Ark on a cart….what must we beware of?  (Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:3a)

Doing the Lord’s work in the world’s way and with the wrong attitude. We must seek the Lord’s face first and line up our motives and actions by God’s Word.

l. What did David do when the Ark finally came to rest in the place he had prepared for it?  (verses 17-19)

He offered more sacrifices, and blessed all the people in the name of the Lord, and gave them each a present of  bread, flesh and wine.

m.   What did Michal have to say to him when he went home? How did she feel about the whole thing?       (verses 16, 20)

She didn’t appreciate how David felt and acted, and sarcastically told him so.

n.  What did David say in reply?     (verses 21-22)

He said he was doing it as to the Lord, and others could appreciate it even if she didn’t.

o.   What happened to Michal as a result?    (verse 23)

She had no child to David.

p.   What do we have to be careful of in similar circumstances? What did our Lord have to say about this sort of attitude?    (Mark 9:38-40)

We have to be careful not to despise those who do things differently to us….if God is blessing their work we must stop and take notice.

2 Samuel Seven….(1-29)

1.  Verses  1-17

a. David had a settled time of peace in his kingdom….what project did he think of doing during this time?  (verses 1-2)

He told Nathan the prophet that he would like to build a proper house for the Ark of the Lord.

b.  What did Nathan think of this idea?       (verse 3)

He thought it was a great idea, and told him to go ahead.

c.  What did God think of this idea?     (verses 3-17; 1 Chronicles 28:2-3, 6)

He told David he was not to build it, but that his son would after he was dead. God said He didn’t need a solid house for the Ark….He had ordained the tabernacle to house it as it moved around.

d.   Did God give David a reason for refusing to allow him to build this place?  (verses 9-10; 1 Chronicles 28:3)

Yes, David was a man of war, and his job was to settle the land and establish Israel as a force to be reckoned with.. It was the first time the nation had been one, under a ruler who knew what he was doing (Saul had been gone in the head for years).

e.  What was God’s plan for David’s life ?     ( verses 8-9)

It is not your job to build me a house…your job was to leave the sheep of your father and be ruler over My people….I have been with you, have cut off your enemies and given you a great name in history.

f. What lesson can we get from this?      (Romans 15:22)

We can’t always do what we would like to do….even though it seems a good idea, and even when other people think so too, it may not be God’s plan for US to do it. We have to be very sure  of God’s leading before we act.

g. David was concerned about doing this building for God, but what was God more concerned about? What promise did He give to David?          (verses 11-13, 16)

God was looking at the overall picture….He had plans for David that were far beyond David’s comprehension. David wanted to build God a house, but God was going to build a house for David that would last throughout eternity!

h. In what way was this fulfilled?   (Matthew 1:1; Revelation 22:16)

Jesus Christ calls Himself the Root (and offspring)  of David, and of His house there is no end….David had a part in this. This is an eternal kingdom that is being established through Jesus Christ, even today.

i.  What reason was there why it was David’s kingdom that would be established for eternity?  (1 Chronicles 29:23; Jeremiah 33:15-17, 20-22)

Because  it was not actually David’s throne….David was sitting on GOD’S throne; God had ordained in eternity past, that David’s descendants would number more than could be counted and that there would always be a king for eternity from Him.

j. How do we see this being fulfilled?   (1Timothy 6:14b-6; Revelation 1:5-6; 5:5, 11-12)

Through Jesus Christ who is described as  the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David, and through Him all the myriads of the redeemed. He is described as the only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords for everlasting.

2.  Verses  18-29

a. How did this promise make David feel?  (verses 18-20)

It made him feel very small and humble, and he wondered why God had  chosen him for this honour.

b.  How did it make him view God?       (verses 21-29)

He realised afresh God’s greatness and how there was no-one else like Him in all the universe.

c.  What promises do all believers have from God, regardless of their circumstances, that show His greatness and His magnificence?     (Ephesians 1:7, 18b; 3:8b-11, 16-19; 1 Timothy 6:17)

We are told in these verses of the riches of God’s grace, and the riches of the glory of His inheritance (which is His people!);  His riches are unsearchable….we can never come to an end of them…the riches of His glory which His Spirit dispenses to all of His people to richly enjoy.

d.   How should we feel as we contemplate these things?  ()

These things should take over our minds and make everything else in this world seem unimportant.

e.  Whose fault is it, if we are not living in the enjoyment of these “ALL THINGS” that God has for us ?     (Philippians 4:4, 8)

It is our own fault if we miss out on the enjoyment of these blessings…we are to rejoice in the Lord and all that He has done for us, and to only think of those things which are positive and good, lovely and honest. We have so many resources at our fingertips to do this, in this day and age. God has done and provided so many wonderful things for us to marvel at and rejoice in!

f. How did David take this wonderful promise from God, and what can we take from his attitude?      (verses 27-29)

He believed it, accepted it and rejoiced in it….we can do the same with all of God’s promises to us! We have no need to ever feel depressed, no matter what our circumstances!

2 Samuel Eight….(1-18)

1.  Verses  1-18

a. Read this chapter right through at one sitting…what is it all about?  (verses 1-18)

David subdued all his enemies round about and kept them under control so that they became his servants.

b.  Remembering that the enemies of Israel are a picture of things that would tempt and drag down the believer, what lesson is there in this for us?       (Romans 13:14; Ephesians 4:12-24; Titus 2:12)

We are to be on guard against everything that is unholy or  of the world….we are to keep our old nature under control and to make no provision for its desires. We are to follow the Lord Jesus and cultivate His nature, seeking to please Him at all times.

c.  What was David’s resolve? Where do we have to most be  on our guard?     (Psalm 101:1-7)

David said he would not let down his guard at home, and would guard his eyes and mind while relaxing. What we are home, is what we REALLY ARE! How we treat our families, what we read and watch, and how we use the internet. There is so much evil and temptation at our fingertips in this age, we are not to yield in the slightest, but be always on guard, nor are we to indulge in gossip (listening to those who lie).

d.   What did David do with what he took from his enemies?  (verses 7, 10-11)

Whatever he took as loot from his conquests, he dedicated to the Lord and laid it up for the future building of the temple.

e.  What does this tell us about any natural talent that we might have ?     ( Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 10:31b)

Whatever we can do, whether it be in music, art or general handy-man work, or behind the scenes, we are  to do it for the Lord and for His glory.

f. What are we told twice in this chapter about what God did for David?      (verses 6, 14b )

That God preserved David wherever he went and in whatever he did.

g. How can we apply this to ourselves?          (Romans 8:35-39; 1 Peter 1:5)

Once we belong to the Lord, NOTHING can separate us from His love, no circumstance or creature or spiritual force can take us away.

h. What was David known for in his kingdom?   (verse 15)

He was just and fair in all his dealings with his people.

i.  What do we see in the last few verses? What do we learn from this?  (verses 16-18)

David appointed capable men as his officers over different departments….God expects no one person to do everything themselves….no-one is indispensible!

2 Samuel Nine….(1-13)

1.  Verses  1-4

a. What did David remember once his enemies were all subdued and under control?  (verse 1)

He remembered his old friend Jonathan and his promise to him.

b.  What was this promise?       (1 Samuel 20:14-16, 42)

David and Jonathan had made a covenant, a binding forever promise to each other, that when David was king he would not cut off Jonathan’s family.

c.  Was this a normal practice to elevate one of the previous king’s descendants? Why not?   

No, because they might have got ideas of setting themselves up to reclaim their father’s kingdom….there would always be friction between people taking sides.

d.   How do we see this in David’s case immediately after Saul’s death?  (chapter 2:8-10)

Abner, captain of Saul’s army, took Ishbosheth  the last remaining of Saul’s sons, and made him king over the tribes of Israel while David was reigning over the tribe of Judah.

e.  Who actually took the kingdom from Saul’s dynasty? Why ?     ( 1 Samuel 15:23, 26, 28)

God was the One who took Saul’s kingdom away from him and his family…it was because of Saul’s disobedience in thinking he knew better than God.

f.  We see that Ishbosheth was not a strong king and was killed in his bed by his own servants after two years….who else was left of Saul’s descendants ?     ( verse 2-4)

Jonathan had one remaining son named Mephibosheth, who had a servant named Ziba. It was because of question C that Mephibosheth was keeping a very low profile….he was afraid (for his life) of David.

g. What do we know about Mephibosheth?          (verse 12; chapter 4:4)

He was five years old when  the news came through of Saul’s and Jonathan’s deaths, and his nurse had tripped and fallen on him breaking his legs when she was fleeing and carrying him. So he remained a cripple all his life. He was a married man at this time with a young son.

h. About how old would Mephibosheth have been at this time?   (chapter 2:11; 4:4)

He was five when his father was killed and David had been reigning in Hebron for seven years before moving to Jerusalem , then there were the intervening years when David was mopping up all his enemies. Mephibosheth may have been in his early twenties….at any rate he had a young son at this time.

i.  How did David feel about cripples and handicapped people?  (chapter 5:8)

David couldn’t stand them….he went for physical fitness!

2.  Verses  5-13

a. How do you think  Mephibosheth felt when he was called into David’s presence?  What did he do? (verse 6)

Mephibosheth was probably very afraid, having no idea of what was in David’s mind. He took the humble place and fell on the ground before David, prostrating himself before him.

b.  What did David say as introduction,  and what did Mephibosheth reply?       (verses 7-8)

David told him that he would be kind to him for his father Jonathan’s sake…Mephibosheth classed himself as a “dead dog” ( as one who was good for nothing at all!)

c.  What did David go on to tell him?     (verses 9-11)

That he would restore all Saul’s lands and farms to him and then called Ziba (Saul’s servant)  telling him that he was to look after this for Mephibosheth and give him the proceeds.

d.   What had David done about Mephibosheth’s handicap?  (verses 10b, 11b)

He completely overlooked  it.

e.  What is David’s kindness to Mephibosheth a picture of ?     ( Titus 3:3-6)

It is a picture of God’s kindness to undesrerving sinners who were crippled and under the power of sin which God hates; we were His enemies by nature, and yet God in His kindness provided a way of escape through Jesus Christ, giving us an inheritance  in the process, which can never be taken away.

f.  What did David do  for Mephibosheth as well, for Jonathan’s sake ?     ( verses 9-10)

He didn’t hold his lameness against him, but gave him back all of Saul’s land, appointing Saul’s servant Ziba to look after it for him, as well as giving him a place at his table with his sons.

g.  What did Mephibosheth have to do to enjoy all these benefits ?     ( verse 2-4)

He humbly and gratefully accepted it all, and then enjoyed it.

h. What do people have to do today to enjoy God’s forgiveness and provision?   (John 3:16; Romans 10:9)

Just accept it thankfully and follow Him….believe and enjoy! Then tell others about it.

i.  What other parallels are there between Mephibosheth and believers today?  (Galatians 4:5-7; Ephesians 2:4-8; 1 John 3:1-2)

Mephibosheth was given far more than he deserved, being treated as one of the king’s sons; we too, do not deserve what God has given us, all the blessings in Jesus Christ , being made the sons of God and brought into His family.

2 Samuel Ten….(1-19)

1.  Verses  1-19

a. Read this chapter through…what is it all about?  (verses 1-19)

It is about the heathen nations coming against David and how he defeated them.

b.  What was David’s initial feeling for Hanun, and why?       (verse 2)

He felt sorry that Hanun’s father had died and sent a message of sympathy to him.

c.  What did Hanun’s officers think of David’s men? What did they do them?     (verses 3-4)

They didn’t believe that their message of sympathy was genuine and thought that they were secretly spying out the land, so they took them and shaved off half their beards and cut off half of their clothes before sending them away.

d.   What did the men feel at this? What did David think of Hanun’s behaviour?  (verses 5, 7)

David felt sorry for his men who had been shamed in this way, and told them to wait  at Jericho until their beards had grown again. David stood no nonsense from the army coming against him and got his own men together..

e.  What was Joab’s attitude as he went into battle ?     ( verses 9-12)

He did his best strategically, with a positive attitude, and looked to God for help before going out to battle.

f.  How did the Syrians take their defeat ?     ( verses 15-18)

They came back for a second offensive against Israel, and David took the lead this time and came back triumphant.

g. What happened to the defeated enemy after this battle?          (verse 19)

They made peace with Israel and served them in paying taxes etc.

h. What does this story show us about believers trying to make friends with the world in socialising etc?   (1 John 2:15-17)

It doesn’t work….we cannot be friends with the world and get caught up in its system, and follow the Lord at the same time

i.  What are some ways that the world’s activities cut across a Christian’s activities?  ()

Sunday sport, socialising and drinking, listening to the negative talk and dirty jokes that go on in their club rooms, to mention just a few.

j. What does James say to do when we are tempted to be drawn into these things?   (James 4:4-8)

He says to stand firm against these temptations, and that God will give us the grace and strength to stand against them…it is of the devil and we are to resist him.

k. If we are good at something (sport, drama, or singing) what do we often find, parallel to this story?   (verse 15)

The world doesn’t give up easily, and it will come back with more tempting offers to attack us with.

l. How can we stand against these things?   (Psalm 119:9, 11; Ephesians 4: 22-24; 6:10-17)

It starts in our minds….we have to make up our minds to stand firm no matter what, and then take and use  the spiritual weapons which God has provided. God’s Word is our strongest weapon…we have to ask ourselves if what we are thinking about,  in line with it?

m. What did David do with these former enemies of his? How can we equate that with our own actions?  (Philippians 3:4-10)

David made them his servants, and we should keep and use our natural advantages and talents for the Lord and His glory. In themselves they are nothing but glory for self. Paul counted his qualifications as nothing but rubbish compared to knowing the Lord and serving Him.

2 Samuel Eleven….(1-27)

   We come to a rather sad episode in David’s life…a series of mistakes (sins)  that led to a matter that would have been better untold; yet it has been told so we can see that David had his weaknesses just as so many of us have………..

1.  Verses  1-27

a. What was David doing at this time? Where should he have been?     (verse 1)

David sent Joab off to fight the nation’s battle while he was loafing around Jerusalem ….he should have been out with his men and this affair would never have occurred.

b.  What time of the year was it? Why do you think so?       (verse 2)

It must have been summer with the weather too hot to sleep, and warm enough for someone to bathe outside in the open.

c.  What was David’s second mistake?     (verses 2b-3)

He took another look and then made enquiries who she was.

d.   What was his third mistake?  (verse 4)

David sent messengers to bring her to him and then committed  adultery with her and sent her home, thinking no-one would know.

e.  When does temptation become a sin ?    

When we take a second look at it and then give in.

f.  The first sin ever committed was a classic case of this….what did Eve do ?   ( Genesis 3:1-6) 

She KNEW what God had said, she LISTENED to the tempter, she LOOKED, and then she TOOK what she wasn’t supposed to.

g.  What was the consequence of David’s action, and what did he try to do about it  (David’s fourth mistake)?     ( verses 5-8)

The woman conceived and sent a message to David….he panicked and called for the woman’s husband from the war  and told him to go home and take a rest. He thought no-one would know then whose the child really was….he tried to cover it up.

h. Why didn’t David’s attempt to cover up not work?   (verses 6-12)

Because Uriah was a trusting and honourable man who refused to do it…he felt it wasn’t fair for him to have home comforts while his comrades were still on the battle field.

i.  How did David add to his series of sins?  (verse 13)

He made Uriah stay another day and got him drunk, thinking he would go home then, but he didn’t.

j. What did David do next, still trying to cover his first sin (his sixth mistake) ?   (verses 14-25)

He cause the death of Uriah by sending a letter to Joab telling him to put Uriah in the front line of battle purposely so he would be killed by the enemy…he caused Uriah’s murder.

k. What do the Scriptures teach us about trying to hide sin?   (Numbers 32:23)

It can’t be hidden…it will find us out in the end!

l. What happened then?   (verses 26-27)

When Bathsheba heard the news, she mourned for her husband and then David took her into his harem and she became one of his wives, and eventually bore a son.

m. What did God think about this? Had He taken notice of it all? Was everything OK now it was all over?   (verse 27c)

God had certainly seen it all and he was very displeased with David. But it was not the end of the story as we shall see in the next chapter.

n. What does the fact that God saw and noted what David did, tell us for today?   (2 Chronicles 16:9a; Psalm 139:1-4)

That God sees all we do and knows all we think and say….we cannot hide ANYTHING from God.

o What are we told about even THINKING wrong thoughts?   (Matthew 5:27-28)

We may not be able to help the first thought, but if we contemplate a second thought along the same lines, it is as bad as actually doing the deed…it is SIN.

p. What should be our constant prayer?   (Psalm 19:14;  139:23-24; Jeremiah 17:9-10)

We should pray constantly that our thoughts be acceptable to God, because we can never be sure of our own  motives. Our hearts are deceitful above all things and we can always rationalise and excuse ourselves for what we think, say and do. Only God can search our hearts and know our real motives. We know what we ought to think and do, and we know  we would like to be like that, but ARE WE?

2 Samuel Twelve….(1-31)

   David’s sin comes back to bite him…let’s see what we can learn from this…..

1.  Verses  1-14

a. We have already seen that the Lord was displeased with David’s actions….did He leave it at that? What did He do?     (verse 1)

No, God didn’t leave it at that….He sent the prophet Nathan to David with a sad story.

b.  What was this story?       (verses 2-4)

How a rich man with plenty of flocks and herds took from a poor man his one and only lamb to feed one of his visitors.

c.  What was David’s reaction to this story?     (verses 5-6)

He rose up in righteous anger and said that the rich man must be put to death for such a deed.

d.   What was Nathan’s reply to that?  (verses 7-10)

YOU are the man! God says that He has given you all you have and want, and you have gone and taken a poor man’s wife and put him to death so you could have her!

e.  Did God let David get away with this? What was his punishment ?    (verses 10-14)

It was threefold…he would always have wars and trouble; his wives would be taken from him by another person; the child by this union would die.

f.  What was David’s immediate reaction?  How did God take this admission? ( verse 13) 

He admitted his sin, and God forgave him, but didn’t rescind the consequences which would follow.

g.  What was the difference between Saul’s admission of sin, and David’s?     ( 1 Samuel 15:24-30; Psalm 51: 1-12)

Saul was only sorry he had been caught out, but David was truly repentant from the depths of his heart. David knew God’s forgiveness, whereas  it all played on Saul’s mind until he had a mental illness.

h. What must we be careful of not doing? What had David’s actions caused?   (verse 14)

David had caused God’s enemies to be able to point the finger and brought shame on His name; we too must be  careful to not do anything that will bring dishonour on God’s name.

i.  What lessons can we get out of this sad story?  (Psalm 139:2-3; Romans 14:7-8; Hebrews 12:6)

We may think we are sinning in secret, but God sees and knows what we are up to; We cannot get away with it….God’s chastisement will catch up with us; it causes others to mock Christianity and brings shame on the name of Christ. .

j. What is the long term result of our actions and unconfessed sin ?   (Romans 14:12)

We will all give an account of ourselves (not the next person!)  personally to God….nothing will be forgotten or left out.

2.  Verses  15-31

a. We are not told of David’s repentance in this chapter, but Psalm 51 pours it all out….what was David’s initial response?  What would be his main feeling as he realised this was God speaking to him?    (Psalm 51:1-6)

He knew he was at fault and admitted it openly….he acknowledged his sin and the fact that it God he had sinned against; he was conscious of his sin and God’s holiness and truth. He would have been covered in shame and remorse as well as repentance.

b.  What did he go on to say after his initial response?       (Psalm 51:7-11)

He needed cleansing from his sin, and a new heart and spirit; he begged that the Lord would not depart from him.

c.  How did he feel once he had faced and confessed his sin?     (Psalm 51:10-12)

He felt relieved and asked for the joy of salvation to be restored to him…he KNEW that God had heard his prayer and seen his contrition.

d.   We would do well to follow this pattern when we sin…what else are we told?  (1 John 1:7c-10)

We are told that we all sin in our daily walk, and that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son will cleanse us from it, BUT we have to confess it and believe that God has forgiven us  and go on to rejoice in Him.

e.  What was the first thing that David knew of God’s chastisement? What did David do ?    (verses 14-20)

Bathsheba’s son became very ill and David fasted and wept before the Lord praying that the child would recover. But he didn’t, and he died after a week’s illness; David got up, washed and dressed, and ate once more and then worshipped before the Lord.

f.  His servants couldn’t understand him….what reason did David give? ( verses 21-23) 

He said he had hoped the Lord would be gracious and spare the child, but when He didn’t, there was no point in continuing to grieve.

g.  What truth did David say which can be a comfort to Christian parents mourning the death of little children?     ( verse 23)

He knew the child was in God’s care and that he would one day see him again.

h. Who was the next son born to David and Bathsheba? What promise did God give concerning this child?  (verse 24; 1 Chronicles 22:9-10)

David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and the next son she had was named Solomon…God promised that he would be a great king who would have peace all his days and that he would build the temple of David’s plans.

i.  Joab was engaged in battle against the Ammonites….what did he think David should be doing? What happened when David did this?   (verses 26-31)

He felt David was shirking his duty and should be out in battle leading the people to victory; David went out and won the battle, took the spoil for the betterment of the land and made the people his servants.

j. What can we learn from this for ourselves ?   (Ephesians 6:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:3-4, 15)

We must realise that we are engaged in a spiritual warfare and that other people cannot fight our battles for us, but must be diligent in self discipline at all times, keeping our old nature under control and continuing our daily study of God’s Word for the necessary strength.

2 Samuel Thirteen….(1-39)

This is not a very nice story in the life of David’s family….lets look at it and see if there is anything we can learn from it…..

1.  Verses  1-20

a. Where did Amnon come in David’s family of sons?     (1 Chronicles 3:1-4)

He was David’s first born son, and his mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.

b.  Who was the mother of Absalom and Tamar?       (1 Chronicles 3:2)

She was  Maacha, the daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur.

c.  How many sons did Bathsheba have?     (1 Chronicles 3:5)

She had four sons beside the little one that died.

d.   Each wife would have had her own establishment so Amnon and Tamar would not have been brought up as brother and sister….what did Amnon feel for Tamar as he saw her around?  (verses 1-2)

He thought she was beautiful and lusted after her., but he thought he was in love with her.

e.  What did his friend suggest? What should he have done in the circumstances ?    (verses 4-6, 13b)

His friend said to pretend to be sick and ask David if Tamar could come and wait on him. He should have told David the truth, that he was in love with her and wanted to marry her.

f.  What happened when Tamar was looking after him? ( verses 8-14) 

His passion overtook him and he raped her; then his passion turned to hatred and he sent her off in anger.

g.  What was her attitude?  How did she feel? Where did she go?     ( verses 12-13, 16-20)

She tried to resist him and told him that her father would give her to him as wife if he would only go through the proper channels. She felt devastated after he sent her away and mourned and wept feeling desolate in her brother Absalom’s house

h. What had overcome Amnon in this situation?   (verse 11)

His lust overcame his commonsense….he didn’t really love Tamar at all, he had only lusted after her.

i.  What lessons can we get out of this sad story?  What must we be careful of?  (James 1 13-15; 2 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 2:15-17)

We must never allow ourselves to be put into compromising situations….we cannot blame God for tempting us and not keeping us safe if we do…God will never tempt us with evil and will deliver the godly from temptation.

j. If we DO fall, what are we to realise and do ?   (Proverbs 28:13; John 8:11-12;  1 John 1:9)

We are to face our sin and confess it before the Lord, then turn away from it altogether.

2.  Verses  21-39

a. How did David feel when he heard what Amnon had done to Tamar?     (verse 21)

He was very angry, but did absolutely nothing about it.

b.  What did Absalom feel and do? How long did this go on for?      (verses 22-23)

He hated Amnon with a great hatred and  refused to speak to him…..this went on for two years.

c.  What did Absalom plot at the end of this time?     (verses 23-29)

He had a sheep shearing feast and asked the king’s sons to attend and then organised his servants to assassinate Amnon while everyone was drunk.

d.   Absalom had been harbouring bitterness and hatred for two years….where are we told that this sort of thing comes from?  (John 8:44; James 3:14-16)

It originates from Satan who was a murderer from the beginning, and he has implanted it into the world system.

e.  What warning are we given about remaining bitter towards people or circumstances ? (Hebrews 12:14-15)

It is not being holy towards God and will only continue to trouble us as long as we give into it and harbour it…..not only that, but  it will fester and grow like a living organsim, and show in our speech and actions..

f.  David got the wrong message at first and there was great mourning in his household for this thing that had happened. What did Absalom do now? How did he know Talmai, king of Geshur? ( verses 30-38; 1 Chronicles 3:2) 

Absalom fled from his father’s court and went to stay with his mother’s father in the neighbouring country.

g.  How long was he there for? How did David feel about this?     ( verses 37-39)

Absalom was away for three years, and David missed him terribly and mourned for him every day, longing to see him again.

h. What sort of a father did David appear to have been in his dealings with his sons?   (verse 13, 25; 2 Samuel 18:5, 33)

It seems he was an indulgent father who didn’t discipline his sons….he would have given them anything they asked for; if David had dealt with Amnon after the episode with Tamar, Absalom wouldn’t have been eaten up with bitterness like he was and none of this would have happened. Then later when Absalom tried to take the kingdom, he should have taught him a lesson, instead of running away from him. The  people couldn’t understand the way he mourned for Absalom.

i.  What lessons can we get out of this episode in David’s life?  (Proverbs 4:10, 20-23)

We must  teach our children right from wrong, from when they are young, and then deal with matters as soon as they arise, being fair to all concerned.

2 Samuel Fourteen….(1-33)

1.  Verses  1-28

a. What did Joab observe about David during this time?     ( verse 1)

He saw that David was fretting for Absalom.

b.  What did Joab do about it?       (verses 2-3)

He called for a wise woman that he knew and told her to go to the king with this fabricated story about her two sons and how one killed the other and now the rest of the relatives wanted to kill him to avenge the death of his brother….this would leave her with no-one to carry on the family name.

c.  She agreed to do this….what was David’s initial reaction to this supposed situation?     (verse 11b)

He said that no-one should be allowed to touch the remaining son.

d.  What did she go on to say to David?     (verses 13-14)

She asked why he didn’t bring home the one of his own family that was in exile….this next move had to come from him as the father.

e.  David started to get suspicious bout this story she was telling….what did he then ask her ?  (verse 19a)

Has Joab put you up to this?

f.  What did David do about the situation now? ( verses 21-23) 

He told Joab to go and tell Absalom to come back to Jerusalem.

g.  David had half rectified the situation, but what was still wrong?     ( verse 24)

David refused to see him

h. How long did this situation last for?   (verse 28)

Another two years passed and  David still hadn’t called for Absalom  to come and see him.

i.  How many years was it now since Absalom killed Amnon?  (verse 28; ch. 13:38)

It was five years since David had seen him.

j. What is the right way to deal with family grievances (or any misunderstanding with anyone) ?   (Matthew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3-4)

To go direct to the person and talk it out, and if they won’t listen then you are to forgive them just the same.

k. Where do situations like this put a parent?   (Luke 15:11-24)

Parents cannot afford to stand off in righteous anger even when they are the ones who have been sinned against..,..they have no option but to freely forgive to get the relationship back to what it used to be.

l. How many times are we to forgive a rebellious child?   (Matthew 18:21-22)

Forever!

2.  Verses  25-27; 29-33

a. How would you describe Absalom? What did we read about David’s appearance?     ( verses 25-27; 1 Samuel 16:12)

Absalom was a handsome man with a mass of thick wavy (?) hair that he cut once a year…he had inherited his looks from his father and passed them on to his daughter who he had named after his sister. David had been a handsome young man with pink cheeks.

b.  What did Absalom do about getting to see his father?       (verses 29-32)

He called twice for Joab to come to him to act as go-between, but Joab took no notice of him. Absalom got annoyed with this and set Joab’s fields on fire, burning up his crops. This brought about the desired result….Joab went to see him about this matter!

c.  What happened then?     (verses 32-33)

Joab took the message from Absalom to David, to say what was the point of him coming home when David refused to see him! So David agreed to a visit, and there was a form of reconciliation with Absalom bowing low before David and David kissing him.

d.  What lesson can we learn from all this?     (Ephesians 4:30-32; Colossians 3:12-14)

We have to forgive one another whole heartedly, regardless of whose fault it all is, otherwise we are grieving the Holy Spirit.

2 Samuel Fifteen….(1-37)

1.  Verses  1-23

a. What was Absalom’s ambition?     ( verse 10)

He wanted to be king instead of his father.

b.  How did he prepare for this?       (verses 1-6)

He had  a small band of soldiers with horses and chariots and would sit at the gate to the city and intercept any who were going to the king for judgment, saying he would sort them out; he was very charming with them and said if only he had the authority he would see to it. So everyone thought he was just the greatest person….he had established a high profile and the people loved him.

c.  We know that David reigned for forty years (2 Samuel 5:4) , and that Absalom was born in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2-3) so it must have been towards the end of David’s reign that this happened….what did Absalom now go to the king and say?     (verses 7-9)

He said that he had promised God that if he got back to Jerusalem he would serve Him, so he wanted to go to Hebron to do this.

d.  David told him to go then, but what was Absalom really planning?     (verse 10)

He was planning to set himself up as king in Hebron and sent messengers to all the people of Israel  to tell them this.

e.  Who else did Absalom get on his side? How did David feel about this? (verse 12; Psalm 55:12-14, 16-17)

Absalom got Ahithophel, David’s counsellor, to defect from David and go with him. David was devastated at this, saying he could have borne it if it were someone else, but Ahithophel, his best friend? He felt he couldn’t trust anyone, and called on the Lord for help.

f.  What great statement did David make at this time that we can fall back on today when we are in trouble? ( Psalm 55:22) 

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.

g.  We notice that even though David was prepared to do this, he didn’t seem to ask God’s advice on what to do….what did he do instead?     ( verses 14-18)

David gathered up all his household and servants (except for ten women servants who were his concubines) and fled the city.

h. Who went with David as he left Jerusalem ?   (verses 16-22)

David’s household all left along with six hundred armed men, along with Ittai the Gittite,  a stranger who was in exile there. David told him he would be safe enough to stay, but Ittai said that he wanted to be with David wherever he went.

i. What did the local people think of all this, seeing their king run away from his son?   (verse 23)

They didn’t like it and all wept aloud as they watched him go.

j.  What should David have done instead of running from trouble? What are we told to do when faced with problems, family or otherwise?   (Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:8-10)

We take it to the Lord in prayer and then confront the problem, resisting the devil and his upsets; we are not to allow ourselves to be overcome.

2.  Verses  24-37

a. What was being taken into exile with David?     ( verse 24)

The priests had picked up the Ark of God and were taking it with them.

b.  What did David say when he saw this?       (verses 25-29)

He told the priests to take it back to its place….God was able to look after him even if the Ark wasn’t with him. He told Zadok to keep an eye on things and send his sons to report events to David while he was away.

c.  What hurt David more than anything else? What was David’s prayer about this?    (verse 31)

David was really hurt that Ahithophel was with Absalom, and he prayed that the Lord would turn Ahithophel’s advice to Absalom into foolishness.

d.  What friend did David have left who he could depend on? What did he tell him to do?  (verses 32-37)

Hushai the Archite caught up with David as he had stopped to have a time of prayer, and wanted to go with him.  David told him to go back to the city and when Absalom came there as king, to go to him and say he would serve him as he had served David. But he was to send the priest’s sons with whatever news there was of events as they unfolded.

e.  What other advantage was there for David in this arrangement?      (verse 34b)

Not only would David find out what was happening, but he hoped that Hushai would be able to counteract Ahithophel’s advice to David’s advantage.

f.  What example do we see in Hushai that we should follow?  Who is our great example in this respect?  ( Mark 10:43-45; Philippians 2:5-8) 

He was prepared to serve David no matter what, and we should be prepared to serve each other, and especially the church leaders. Our Lord humbled Himself to do the will of His Father and left everything behind Him in heaven when He came to earth to live and die as a man.

2 Samuel Sixteen….(1-23)

1.  Verses  1-23

a. Who came to light again in this story? What do we remember about him?     ( verse 1; chapter 9:1, 9-10)

Ziba had been one of Saul’s servants, and when David had given Mephibosheth back the land of Saul, he had also given Ziba the job of farming this for him.

b.  What did Ziba now see for himself in the circumstances that had arisen?       (verses 1-4)

He saw an opportunity for personal gain which worked. He had taken food and wine for David and when he was asked where Mepohibosheth was, he told lies about him, saying that he stayed back in Jerusalem to get the kingdom of his grandfather back. David believed this and told Ziba he could have all of Mephibosheth’s land for himself!

c.  What was the REAL situation with Mephibosheth?     (chapter 19:24-30)

When David finally returned he found that Mephibosheth had mourned the whole time he was away and that Ziba had told a pack of lies about him.

d.  What do we learn from this?     (

To not take things at face value, but to check the facts out before acting; even people we trust do not always have the facts right.

e.  What trial did David face next as he continued in exile?     (verses 5-13)

One of Saul’s relatives came and walked through the middle of David’s crowd cursing and swearing as he went, and was throwing stones at them as he went.

f.  What did David’s men say and how did David take this? ( verses 9-13) 

Abishai wanted to go and take off his head, but David wouldn’t allow it….he felt it may have been from the Lord, and if his own son had turned against him, this man’s cursing was of no consequence….God would sort it all out in the end.

g.  How are we to treat those who turn against us and put all sorts of slander out against us?     ( Matthew 5:43-44)

We are to pray for them and do them good, then leave the rest to the Lord to deal with.

h. How did David deal with Shimei when he returned to Jerusalem later ?   (chapter 19:23)

He spared his life in spite of Abishai wanting to take his head off.

i. Absalom and his men, along with Ahithophel, arrived in Jerusalem….who else turned up and what did Absalom think of this?   (verses 15-16)

Hushai turned up, pretending to go along with Absalom’s claim to be king….Absalom was a bit suspicious of this and asked why he wasn’t supporting his friend (David). Ahithophel replied that he was going to advise Absalom the same way he had advised David.

j.  Ahithophel was seen to be a very wise man, both with David and now with Absalom….what did Absalom ask him now? For what reason?   (verses 20-21)

Absalom wanted to know the best thing he could do to establish the fact that he was now king, and Ahithophel said that if he publicly took his father’s concubines, this would show Israel his contempt for his father and that he was now greater then he was.

k. Absalom did this…..what was this in fulfillment of?   (chapter 12:10-12)

This was part of David’s punishment from the Lord when he sinned in taking Bathsheba and killing her husband.

l. How highly did both David and Absalom regard Ahithophel?   (verse 23)

They took his advice as though it was from the Lord.

m. What must we beware of?   (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

To be careful who we listen to….if their message doesn’t follow through what the Scriptures teach, they are to be taken no notice of, no matter how charismatic their manner is. Even Satan can appear like an angel of light telling the truth!

2 Samuel Seventeen….(1-29)

1.  Verses  1-29

a. Absalom must have been wondering what to do next to solidify the kingdom….what advice did Ahithophel give him? What did Absalom think of this idea?     ( verses 1-4)

Ahithophel told him he would take 12,000 men and capture David while he was weary and weak, and then kill him only, and bring all his men back to Absalom. Absalom thought this was a good idea, but he must have still had some reservations.

b.  What did Absalom do next? What advice was he given from this direction?       (verses 5-14)

He then went to Hushai and asked what he would advise….Hushai reminded him that David was a mighty man of war (the idea of him being worn out was ludicrous!) and said it was a better idea if Absalom went himself with the whole army and pounced on him where he was hiding.

c.  Which man’s advice did Absalom choose to follow? Why? What did Hushai do?     (verses 15-22)

Absalom thought Hushai’s advice was better….it was God who inclined his thoughts this way as His plan was to get rid of Absalom. Hushai immediately sent his two messengers to David telling him what was going to happen.

d.  What did Ahithophel do when he saw Absalom didn’t take his advice?     (verse 23)

He went home, put his affairs in order and then hung himself.

e.  What did David do when he got the news of Absalom’s plans?     (verses 21-22)

He got all his people on the move and went across the river Jordan to Mahanaim.

f.  What did Absalom do then? ( verse 24) 

He followed him across the river with all his hordes of men, and pitched his camp in the land of Gilead.

g.  How did God provide food for David’s men?     ( verses 27-29)

He inclined three men to provide all that David needed.

h. What was David’s confidence at this time when he was on the run from Absalom ?   (Psalm 3:1-8)

He knew that God was watching over him, and he was able to sleep peacefully in spite of his circumstances….he wasn’t afraid of the enemy (who was his own son at this time) and he looked to the Lord to save him.

i. What are we to remember when things are going wrong for us?   (Psalm 42:1-11)

When we feel down in the dumps, we are to remember to hope in God….things WILL come right in the end! No matter how bad things seem at the moment, God is there with us and will bring us through.

2 Samuel Eighteen….(1-33)

1.  Verses  1-33

a. David was an experienced man of war…what battle strategy did he order?     ( verses 1-2)

He divided his men into three bands and said he would go with them.

b.  What did his men think of this idea?       (verse 3)

They didn’t think he should go with them as they said that he was the one that Absalom’s men would be after…he was a greater prize than any of them, so he should stay in the city and organise them from there.

c.  What did David decide to do in the face of that advice? What did he tell them to do with Absalom?     (verses 4-5)

He agreed to it, and stood in the gate as the men of war marched out. He gave orders to the three generals to deal gently with Absalom….in other words he didn’t want him killed….and everyone heard him say this.

d.  Where was the battle fought and what happened to Absalom there?     (verses 6-13)

It was fought in the woods of Ephraim,  and David’s three bands of men went in from different angles….as  Absalom’s men scattered, David’s men caught up with them among the trees, and twenty thousand men of Israel were slaughtered. Absalom saw what was happening and as he fled on his mule, his head got caught in the boughs of a thick tree. The mule went off from under him and he was stuck fast there. One of Joab’s men saw him and told Joab, who then went off and thrust three darts through his chest. He called the battle off and they tossed Absalom’s body into a big pit and threw a heap of stones over it.

e.  How did the news get to David?     (verses 19-23)

Joab refused to sent the news immediately, and then sent Cushi off to tell David. Ahimaz, who David had appointed to be the news bearer, badly wanted to go too, and left after Cushi. He was a faster runner (or may have gone a different way) and got to David first.

f.  What was David doing? What news did Ahimaz give? ( verses 24-29) 

David was waiting anxiously in the gate for news. When Ahimaz got there, he couldn’t bring himself to tell David what had really happened, so he waited for Cushi to arrive.

g.  How did David take the news?     ( verses 30-33)

He was very upset and lamented much for Absalom…he even said he wished that he been the one to die!

h. What was Absalom’s death proof of ?   (chapter 17:14)

God had ordained that it should happen at that time….Absalom was NOT God’s choice of the next king.

2 Samuel Nineteen….(1-43)

1.  Verses  1-43

a. What did David continue to do after Absalom’s death? What effect did it have on those around him?     ( verses 1-4)

He continued to mourn and lament and feel that life wasn’t worth living…his people started to leave him as they couldn’t handle this display of grief any longer.

b.  What did Joab tell him?       (verses 5-7)

He rebuked David and said it almost seemed that David thought more of that son who had become his enemy, than he did of those who loved him and stood with him. He told him straight that he was shaming his friends and family by his behaviour and that he had better pull himself together, and reminded him of his responsibilities to his people as their rightful king..

c.  What can we learn from this?     (Isaiah 53: 4-5)

To not allow our private griefs to overflow and affect others around us….after all no-one else will really understand, so we might as well pull ourselves together and present a cheerful front. We are to remember that God understands our griefs and that our Lord has borne far more for us….He was classed as a Man of Sorrows.

d.  So what did David do? How did they cross the river Jordan?     (verses 8-18a)

David brightened himself up and sat in the gate of the town where he was, then took his people back across the river Jordan to Jerusalem ….they crossed on a ferry boat.

e.  Who was the first to meet David as he returned? Why?     (verses 19-23;chapter 16:5-13 )

Shimei was the first to meet David and apologise for having cursed him when he was leaving….he was afraid of losing his head which was what Abishai wanted to do to him.

f.  How did David view Shimei’s actions as he was leaving? What about now as he heard his apology? ( verses 22-23; chapter 16: 10-12) 

He felt it was part of the Lord’s doings, and that maybe he deserved it; he was prepared to overlook Shimei’s earlier behaviour and save his life.

g.  Who else came to meet David as he returned?     ( verses 24-30)

Mephibosheth also came to meet David in a very shabby condition….he hadn’t changed his clothes or combed his hair since David left to show how much he missed him. He knew that Ziba had slandered him before David.

h. Why hadn’t Mephibosheth had gone with David when he went into exile ?   (verse 26; chapter 16:3)

Because Ziba had deceived him for his own gain, and hadn’t got the donkey ready for Mephibosheth to ride. He made out to David that Mephibosheth was planning a coup to take back the kingdom.

i. David seemed to be a bit peeved with Mephobosheth, almost as though he didn’t believe him…what indicates this?   (verse s 29-30)

David still allowed Ziba to take Mephibosheth’s land.

j.  Who was the third person to meet David? What do we know about him?      (verses 31-40; chapter 17:27-29)

Barzillai was over eighty years old and he was one of the three men who took provisions to David’s band of people when they first ran away from Absalom. He now came to meet David as he went back across the river Jordan….David wanted him to go right to Jerusalem with him, but he spoke up for a younger man, Chimham, to go in his place.

k. What sort of welcome did David receive when he got back to Jerusalem? What had happened to people without a leader ?   (verses 41-43)

The nation was divided and they were squabbling among themselves…Judah said the king belonged more to them than to the other ten tribes, while the other side said there were more of them, therefore they had more say.

l. What lesson can we get out of this whole episode of David and Absalom?  (Matthew 18:15-17)

David should have confronted his sons away back when Amnon had raped his sister ; perhaps if he had dealt with him then, Absalom wouldn’t have killed Amnon and run away….the whole family was in disarray and squabbling amongst themselves; then David shouldn’t have sulked with Absalom for those five years, as it gave Absalom time to set himself up against his father. It doesn’t pay to run from trouble when we have the power to correct and fix it….we must face it and do our best to put it right.

2 Samuel Twenty….(1-26)

1.  Verses  1-26

a. Who rose up against David next?     ( verses 1-2)

A man called Sheba who saw an opportunity to take the leadership from David.

b.  What was the first thing that David did when he returned to his home in Jerusalem?       (verse 3)

He dealt with the ten concubines he had left behind when he fled,  and shut them up, providing food and drink for them, but having no more to do with them.

c.  Who was Amasa?  What was his role? What do you think of this?   (verses 5-6; chapters 17:25; 19:13; 1 Chronicles 2:12-16)

Amasa was a nephew of David’s and first cousin to Joab….David gave him Joab’s role of captain of the army. One would have thought that David would have known Joab well enough to know that he wouldn’t take that lying down. David seems to have been not only impulsive, but also a bit foolish in this.

d.  What did David tell Amasa to do? What DID Amasa do?     (verses 4-5)

David told Amasa to have the men of war ready within three days, but he didn’t do as David said and dithered around.

e.  What could David see was going to happen with this delay? What did he do about it?     (verses 6-7)

David could see that Sheba would do more harm to his kingdom that Absalom did, and that the men of Israel were following him rather than David, so he told Abishai to get David’s men together and go after him.

f.  What happened to this set up now? ( verses 8-15) 

Joab came to light again and he and his men joined forces with Abishai. Joab caught up with Amasa and gave him a friendly greeting but stabbed him at the same time so that he died. He was left on the roadside wallowing in his blood and the people wouldn’t go past until his body was removed. They then went on their way and besieged the town where Sheba was taking refuge.

g.  Who rescued the town from total destruction?     ( verses 16-22)

There was a wise woman in the city who was not afraid to confront Joab and ask what was going on…she told him they were a peaceable town and asked what he wanted. He said that if they delivered Sheba to him he would go away, so the men of the place cut off Sheba’s head and tossed it over the wall to Joab, and he went off back to Jerusalem.

h. We see a list of David’s officers next….what position was Joab back in ?   (verses 23-26)

Joab was reinstalled as captain of the army.

i. How did David’s treatment of Sheba ( a rebel) compare with his treatment of Absalom (also a rebel)? 

He was more decisive with  Sheba and didn’t mess around, dealing with him as a rebel’s behaviour deserved, whereas he was too soft with Absalom and didn’t deal with him as he deserved.

j.  What lesson can we as parents learn from this?      (Proverbs 29:15-17; Hebrews 12:9-10)

To correct and punish our children fairly when they are young, and they will grow up to respect us….Absalom was never corrected by his father and he brought shame and unrest to David….he gave no delight to his father at all, only sorrow and mourning!

2 Samuel Twenty-one….(1-22)

1.  Verses  1-22

a. What went wrong for David next? Why was this?     ( verse 1; Joshua 9:2-16)

There came on the land a famine for three years, so David asked the Lord why this was so. The Lord said it was retribution for what Saul had done to the Gibeonites some years earlier, going against the treaty that Israel had made with them in Joshua’s time.

b.  What does this tell us about how the Lord views things?       (verse1c)

God takes promises that a person makes very seriously….whereas we take it or leave it, this is not God’s view.

c.  What did David do for reparation?   (verses 2-9)

He went to the Lord first to find out why; then he did what he could to rectify the situation.

d.  What did the Gibeonites ask for?     (verses 4-6)

They said they didn’t want money, but asked instead for the lives of seven of Saul’s descendants to make up for the lives of their people that Saul had taken.

e.  Who did David spare? Why?     (verse 7)

David spared Mephibosheth  because of the promise he had made to Jonathan.

f.  What happened to these seven men? ( verses 8-9) 

David gave them to the Gibeonites and they killed them and left their bodies strung up….one of Saul’s women watched over the bodies, keeping the birds and wild animals from eating them.

g.  What did David do then for the bones of Saul and Jonathan?     ( verses 12-14)

He had them exhumed and reburied with these seven men in the family burial place of Saul’s father Kish.

h. We are not given any time frame for these events….what do we find about David at this stage?   (verses 15-22)

David was still being harassed by the Philistines, and went out to fight against them, but he wasn’t as fit as he used to be and got tired very quickly. His nephew Abishai stood beside him, and killed the giant that was his adversary, and his men told him that he wasn’t to go out to fight any more, they would do it.

i. David had been fighting against the Philistines for many years, and here they were, still coming to light against him….what do we find in our Christian life?  (Romans 7:18-25)

We never completely conquer the sins and bad habits that beset us…. we want to serve God with a pure heart, but it seems impossible.

j.  What can we do when we slip and sin?      (1 John 1:9; 2:1-2)

We have an Advocate in Jesus Christ the only righteous One who paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, and if we confess our sin to Him, He will forgive us, and present us to His Father.

2 Samuel Twenty-two….(1-51)

1.  Verses  1-43

a.  This chapter is almost word for word the same as Psalm 18…..what is David saying to the Lord?     ( verses 1-4)

He is giving thanks and praise to the Lord for delivering him from all his enemies, and acknowledging that it is God alone who has preserved him.

b.  Ten is the number of perfection….what ten things can we see here that are part of God’s character?       (verses 2-4)

Rock;        Fortress;     Deliverer;   God of my Rock;      Shield;    Horn of Salvation              High Tower;     Refuge ;        Saviour   ;       Worthy of  Praise

c.  When did David call on the Lord?   (verse 7)

When he was in distress.

d.  Where did David’s idea of the appearance of God probably come from?     (Exodus 19:18-20; 20:18)

From what Israel saw when God was giving them the ten commandments on Mount Sinai.

e.  What was God’s physical presence accompanied by?     (verses 8-14; Exodus 20:18; Acts 9:3-4)

God’s physical presence is always accompanied by great light, and often with an earthquake and great rumblings and lightning.

f.  What state did David feel the Lord had brought him from? ( verses 17-18) 

He felt he had been taken from floundering  and nearly drowning to being delivered from his enemies.

g.  What sort of area did he now feel he was brought into?  Why?    ( verses 20-21

He felt he was set free and liberated into wide open spaces because he was delivered

h. David felt that he was righteous before God….where do we get our righteousness from?   (verses 23-25; Philippians 3:9)

David felt he had done the best he could….we know that we have no righteousness of our own, but only what God has given us by coming to Christ and believing on Him

i. What is a person’s own natural goodness like in God’s sight?  (Isaiah 64:6-7)

It is no better than filthy smelly rags…we can only claim the righteousness that Jesus Christ gives us when we believe on Him.

j.  Why isn’t being good enough in God’s sight? What more is needed?      (Micah 6:8; Romans 3:20, 23)

Our own standard of goodness does not reach God’s requirements…we still fall short of it. God does require us to be good and kind to others, but He also requires us to humble ourselves to walk with Him.

k. Who does David give the credit to? What twelve things do we see about God here ?   (verses 31-37)

David gives all the credit to God….he says it is God who gives these things….

His perfect way;     Trustworthy Word ;      Protection ;     God alone;     Stable Rock; Gives strength and power;    Maps our perfect way;       Gives speed;       Gives position; Gives Victory;              Gives Salvation;        Gives stability

l. When we look to God alone for strength in life’s battles, what happens?  (verses 38-44; Romans 8:37-39)

We get the victory! We are more than conquerors through the Lord Jesus Christ.

m. What has God provided for us to use to continue to live our Christian life?   (Ephesians 6:11-17)

He has given us His armour to protect us  from Satan’s darts and to encourage us and give us the victory.

2.  Verses  44-51

a.  What is David saying here?     ( verses 44-46)

He is acknowledging how God has delivered him from the squabblings of his own people and given him a wider kingdom than just his own people; those who would not submit to him would just fade away out of the picture.

b.  What is the wider picture that David is giving…who else can we see that fits this picture?    (Psalm 2:7-8;  Ephesians 2:10-22)

Our Lord Jesus has received an inheritance from His Father that covers not just the people of the old covenant (Israel) but also people who never knew Him, who were far away from God and from His covenants of promise. Through His work on the cross, He now has a people who will serve Him.

c.  What is David basically saying in these verses?   (verses 45-51)

He is giving God thanks and praise for giving him the position he now found himself in.

d.  What was David reminding himself of here?     (verse 51)

How that God had promised that his royal line would go on for ever.

e.  When did God first give this promise to David?     (chapter  7:8-29)

When David was contemplating build the temple for the Lord….God told him He didn’t want him to do it, but his son would instead; instead of David building Him a house, He (God) would build David an everlasting house.

f.  How seriously did God take this promise to David? ( Jeremiah 33:14-26) 

He said that if David’s descendants did not number more than the sand on the beaches, then day and night would cease to exist.

g.  How do we see this being fulfilled from now right through to the future?    ( Revelation 5:5; 22:16)

Jesus Christ describes himself as the Root of David, and it is through Him that this is being fulfilled.  Every believer is part of this promise and proof of it.

2 Samuel Twenty-three….(1-39)

1.  Verses  1-39

a.  How is David described in these verses?     ( verses 1-2)

He was the Annointed by God as king, and is described as the sweet psalmist of Israel who was moved by the Spirit of God and wrote and sang God’s Word.

b.  What had God made with David, and how do we see that being fulfilled at this time?       (verse 5; Matthew 1:1)

God had made this covenant with David that would be everlasting, a sure and certain salvation for all men and we see this being fulfilled today through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

c.  What did the people think of David?   (chapter 18 :16; 21:17)

The people loved him and said he was worth ten thousand of them, he was the light of Israel.

d.  After all tht David had done over the years, in his sin and battles, how could God say that David was a man after His own heart?     (Psalm 119:97, 103)

David’s heart was toward the Lord always….we never read of David being proud or arrogant, he loved God’s Word and meditated in it continually, finding it sweet to his taste. When he was confronted with his sin, he repented and confessed it immediately.

e.  What encouragement can we take from this?     (Psalm 32:1-5;37: 23-24; 1 John 1:9)

That even though we fall, God is there to lift us up, and when we confess our sin, He will forgive us and cleanse us, giving us a fresh start.

f.  What do we see in the rest of this chapter? ( verses 8-39) 

The names of David’s mighty men and some of the exploits that they did for him over the years.

2 Samuel Twenty-four….(1-25)

1.  Verses  1-2

a.  Why do you think God’s anger was over Israel at this time?     ( verse 1; Deuteronomy 31:29)

Because their heart wasn’t toward Him and they were doing evil things; God needed to teach them a lesson.

b.  Israel had everything going for them at this time…the land was at peace, and a king who was following the Lord, yet their hearts weren’t towards the Lord….what does this show us?       (1 Corinthians 10:12-13; Ephesians 6:11-14)

It shows us how vigilant we have to be to keep ourselves right before God ALWAYS, and to stand firm for Him and His truth without deviating….Satan never lets up on us.

c.  What are we told was REALLY behind this move of David’s?   (1 Chronicles 21:1-2)

It was Satan who was behind this thought, and God allowed it to teach Israel a lesson.

d.  What do we see about Satan’s workings, and God’s permissions?   (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7)

Satan does his best to destroy God’s plans and people, but he can’t go beyond what God allows.

e.  What are we to do when Satan attacks us?   (Ephesians 6:11-13; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9 )

We are to resist his suggestions, and stand firm for the Lord,  taking up and using God’s armour.

f.  God had given instructions of what to do if a census was ever taken, and David didn’t do this….what were these instructions?   (Exodus 30:11-16)

Each person numbered had to give a certain sum of money as atonement money for the running of God’s house….we are not told that David did this.

g.  What did God say would happen if this atonement money was not paid?    ( Exodus 30:12)

He said a  plague would come upon them.

2.  Verses  2-25

a.  What did Joab think of David’s command?     ( verse 3; 1 Chronicles 21:3-4a)

He didn’t like it and knew that it was wrong without the ransom money, so he never completed the job properly, leaving out the Levites.

b.  How long did it take for Joab to do this job?       (verses 4b-8)

It took him nine months and twenty days.

c. What number did Joab give to David?   (verse 9; 1 Chronicles 21:6)

This chapter says it was 800,000 in Israel and 500,000 in Judah; the Chronicles account says there were one million, one hundred thousand men in Israel, and  470,000 in Judah. We do not know why this discrepancy in numbers is recorded.

d.  What reason are we told why Israel was never to be numbered fully?   (Genesis 22:17-18; 1 Chronicles 27:23-24)

Because God had told Abraham that his seed would be an innumerable figure, as many as the sand grains on the sea shore.

e.  What are we told about God’s feelings in this matter of David’s disobedience?   (1 Chronicles 21:7)

He was displeased with Israel and with David.

f.  How did David feel when he realised the enormity of what he had done?   (verse 10; Psalm 32:5 )

He wished he had never done it, and he confessed his actions as sin before God.

g.  David had sinned and confessed it, but there were still consequences…..what were they?   (verses 11-14)

God still had to punish the evil that had been done and gave David three options to choose from….seven years of famine, three months of running from his enemies or three days of plague ….David chose to suffer from God directly.

h.  How many died in the subsequent plague?    ( verse 15)

Seventy thousand men died in this plague.

i. What can we learn from this episode in David’s life?   ()

We are not to take God’s rules lightly….we may not always understand the reason for them, but if we do our own thing we will have to learn the hard way and there are always consequences.

j. Can you think of one common example where God lays down a rule for His people which is often broken?  (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

God tells His people to not get into a situation of being tied in with an unbeliever irrevocably, either in marriage or in business deals, because it will not work in the end….there will always be a conflict of interest.

k.  What did David actually SEE during this plague from God?  How did it affect him?    (verses 16-17; 1 Chronicles 21:15-17)

An angel of God was striking the people with the plague, and was hovering in the sky over Jerusalem when David saw him there and it struck great awe into him. He fell to the ground and cried out to God confessing his sin in numbering the people  and saying it was not their fault at all.

l. Where did the angel stop? What did God tell David to do ?   (verse 18)

The angel stopped where Araunah the Jebusite was threshing his wheat, and God told David to make an altar right there.

m. How did Araunah feel when he saw King David coming towards him?  (verses 19-23)

He felt quite apprehensive and bowed low before him. When David made his request, Araunah offered it all to him for free, but David refused saying he couldn’t offer something to the Lord that had cost him nothing.

n. David built his altar there and the plague stopped….what was so special about this particular spot where the altar was built?  (Genesis22:1-14; 2 Chronicles 3:1; John 19:16-18)

Looking back in history, it was built on the same spot that God had  asked  Abraham to offer his son Isaac; looking forwards into time, it was also the same spot that the temple was built and subsequently where our Lord Jesus was crucified to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. Thus, it was a place of great significance in the history of mankind.

o. What significance does this spot have for us today?     (1John 1:7, 9)

It is only as we claim the blood of Christ for ourselves individually and confess our sins that we are cleansed from our sins. If we have never done this, then we must do it immediately to have our sins forgiven.

 

                                                  2 Samuel

2 Samuel One….(1-27)

We now see  David ,as  the Lord’s choice for king, begin his reign……..

1.  Verses  1-27

a. News travelled slowly in those days…what had David been doing and .how long did it take for him to hear about Saul’s death?  (verses 1-2)

David had been busy reclaiming his wives and stuff from the Amalekites, and it was three days before someone came with the news about Saul.

b.   What story did this messenger tell David? What proof did he have?         (verses 3-10)

He said he was an Amalekite and had seen Saul trying to kill himself off by falling on his spear, and how Saul asked him to finish the job as he was in terrible agony. He was sure Saul could not live, so he did and took his crown and bracelet to show David.

c.   What was David’s unexpected reaction now that his enemy was dead ?         (verses 11-12)

He mourned and wept for Saul and most of all for Jonathan,  and the men of Israel who had fallen.

d. We have already seen that this young man was an Amalekite and therefore a picture of the flesh in a believer’s life…what did David do to him? What must we do with our fleshly nature?  (verses 13-16; Romans 6:6; Galatians 5:24)

David ordered him to be killed for having had a hand in Saul’s death….we too, have to crucify and put to death our old nature so we are not ruled by its attitudes or actions.

e.  What phrase did David use three times in connection with the death of Saul and Jonathan? ( verses  19, 25, 27)

How are the mighty fallen!

f. What truth is this an example of?      (Proverbs 16:18)

Pride comes before a fall!

g. Can we, like David, say good things about those who dislike us? What did our Lord say about our attitude to our enemies?         (Matthew 5:43-45)

We are to do good to our enemies, pray for them and seek to love them!

h. What did David say about Jonathan?  (verses 23, 25-27)

He was closer to David than his brothers or his wives….his friendship meant everything to David.

i.   What does love for one another do for us?  (1 Corinthians 13:4-6; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:7-11)

It helps us to overlook other people’s faults if we love them….notice how a parent will always make excuses for a wayward child!

2 Samuel Two….(1-32)

1.  Verses  1-32

a. What was the first thing that David did now that he no longer needed to run from Saul?  (verse 1)

He asked the Lord where he and his men should settle, and God told him to go to Hebron.

b.   What happened there?         (verses 2-4)

They settled there with their families, and the people of Judah anointed David as their king.

c.  What did David hear once this was done? (verses 5-7)

He heard how the people of Jabesh-gilead had given  Saul and his sons a proper burial, and he commended them for this and promised them protection and provision.

d.   What do we see happened next?  Was this of God?  (verses 8-11)

The general of Saul’s army, Joab, took the last son of Saul and made him king over the rest of Israel; this was not part of God’s plan and it only lasted for two years..

e.  There is a bit of time discrepancy here…how long did Ishbotheth reign? How long was David king in Hebron over just Judah?     ( verses 10-11)

It must have taken some time before Ishbosheth was made king over Israel, because David remained king over just Judah for seven years.

f. What do we see in this next section?      (verses 12-17)

The two generals (Abner and Joab) each took twelve athletic young men and lined up on either side of the pool in Gibeon. Whether it was meant to be a friendly joust or indeed was a precursor to war is uncertain, but neither trusted the other and went into it to kill with the result that all twenty-four died. This caused a bitter battle between the two sides with Joab (David’s general) being victorious.

g. What happened next?          (verses 18-19)

David’s nephew Asahel  (brother of Joab and Abishai  who were sons of David’s sister), chased after Abner and was gaining on him.

h. To be fair to Abner, what did he say to Asahel?  (verses 20-22)

Stop chasing me or else get some armour on….how will I be able to face your brother Joab if I kill you?

i.   What happened?  (verses 23-25)

Asahel refused to take notice, and was almost ready to pounce on Abner when he threw his spear behind as he ran and it went right through Asahel and he died there. Joab and Abishai and their men continued to chase Abner and his men.

j. What happened next?  (verses 25-29)

The two opposing sides lined up on opposite hills and called a truce then went in different directions.

k.   How many of David’s men were killed in contrast to Israel’s army?  (verses 30-31)

David had lost nineteen men while Abner had lost 360 men.

l.   What did Joab do next?  (verse 32)

He saw to it that Asahel was buried in the family tomb, and then went back to the city of Hebron.

2 Samuel Three….(1-39)

1.  Verses  1-39

a. What do we notice about the political situation at this point?  (verse 1)

We see that David’s rule was growing stronger by the day while Saul’s line under Ishbosheth was getting weaker and weaker.

b.   What do we see about David’s domestic life at this time?         (verses 2-5)

David had six wives, and six sons were born to him while at Hebron…some of them we have already heard of and some come to light later.

c.  People often use David’s (who was a man after God’s own heart) many wives as an excuse for plurality of wives….was this God’s original plan for mankind? (Matthew 19:4-6)

No, God’s plan is for one man, one woman, and not to let anything come  between them.

d.   What is God’s criteria for leaders in the church today?  (1 Timothy 3:2, 12)

A leader of the church is to have only one living wife.

e.  What happened to make Abner turn against Ishbosheth?     ( verses 6-11)

It was over the matter of a woman that Abner took from Saul’s harem, and Ishbosheth remonstrated with him for doing it. Abner took exception to this and as he could see which way Ishbosheth/’s rule was heading, he decided to go to David with a proposition.

f. What was this proposition, and where was Joab when Abner came?      (verses 12-22)

Joab was away on a side issue when Abner came telling David that he would get all Israel under his rule if he (David) would make a league with him (to save his head)

g. What did Joab think of all this when he arrived back to David and heard of it?          (verses 23-27)

Joab didn’t agree with it or trust Abner’s motives, and he secretly dealt with the problem by killing Abner at the gate of Hebron .

h. Why did David say Abner died as a fool?  (verses 28-34; Numbers 35:11-15; Joshua 21:13)

He was a fool for going outside the city of Hebron  (which was a city of refuge) to talk to Joab. If he had stayed inside the city, Joab couldn’t have touched him.

i.   What does this story remind us of?  (John 3:36; Hebrews 6:27-30)

That when we place our trust and belief in God and Jesus Christ, He is our Refuge and we are safe from His judgment and anger.

j. How can we see God’s hand in this for bringing David to reign fully over all Israel as He had intended ?  (1 Samuel 13:13-14)

If Abner had remained alive, there would have been continual conflict between the two generals, and possibly another division in the kingdom….God’s intention was for David to reign over the whole kingdom and this came to pass.

k.   David was now established as king over all Israel….what did the people generally think of him? Why?  (verses 31-39)

The people were very pleased with David…they could see that he had nothing to with Abner’s death, and this was shown in the way he mourned for him. David took the humble place  before the people in this matter.

2 Samuel Four….(1-12)

1.  Verses  1-12

a. What is this chapter all about?  (verses 1-12)

It is about the remaining members of Saul;’s family…about Jonathan’s young son who became a cripple and how Ishbosheth was killed.

b.   Who did Ishbosheth have for his two captains now that Abner was dead?         (verse 2)

He had two brothers, Ba-anah and Rechab as his captains.

c.  What did they plot to do?  How did they go about it?     (verses:5-7)

They planned to get rid of Ishbosheth , and went to his house where he was resting after lunch, and killed him in his bed without anyone knowing, then got away.

d.   What did they probably think when they went to David with the news?  (verse 10)

They probably thought that David would reward them for getting rid of the last of Saul’s family.

e.  What actually happened to them? Why?     ( verses 9-12)

David did not commend them, instead he condemned them and ordered that their lives were forfeited for doing such a dastardly thing in cold blood to a man at peace in his own house.

f. How did the people regard David after all this settling in period?      (ch 3:36)

They understood that it wasn’t his idea to get rid of Saul’s family or general, and they were pleased with his actions.

2 Samuel Five….(1-25)

1.  Verses  1-10

a. Up until this time, David had been reigning as king over only the tribe of Judah with his base in Hebron…what change of attitude did the men of the rest of Israel now have towards him?  (verses 1-3)

They remembered how the Lord had said back in Samuel’s time that David would be His annointed king over the whole of Israel, so they went to him and told him they would agree to be one nation again under his rule.

b.   How old was David when this happened? What is this age usually regarded as?  Who else started their life work at that age?       (Genesis 41:46; Luke 3:23)

David was thirty years old….this is generally regarded as being at the peak of one’s physical strength, coupled with enough wisdom and maturity to rule.  We see that Joseph was thirty when he became prime minister of Egypt, and it was also the age when the Lord Jesus began His public ministry.

c.  David’s headquarters up until this time had been at Hebron…what did he turn his attention to now? What was this place like?     (verses:6-7;l Judges 19:10)

He looked at Jerusalem which was named Jebus, and was inhabited by a heathen people called the Jebusites; there were also a lot of handicapped people living there  which David couldn’t stand.

d.   What happened with this city? Why was it a special place?  (verses 7-10; Genesis 22-23; Psalm 116:19; John 19:17)

David took it and cleansed it of all imperfections and it became his headquarters…it was where the great temple of Solomon was built and subsequently Herod’s temple. This was the same place that God had told Abraham to offer his son Isaac and the same place where our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. It is a place of great significance to the world.

e.  What other names did David give to Jerusalem ?     ( verses 7, 9; Psalm 135:21, 147:12)

David gave Jerusalem the name of Zion and he also referred to it as the city of David.

f. Does the name “Zion” have any spiritual significance for us today?      (Hebrews 12:22)

Zion in the New Testament is the name for the heavenly Jerusalem , and refers to heavenly state that all believers will enjoy in eternity; it is God’s dwelling place with His people.

g. What significant statement do we read about David here?          (verse 10)

Not that he grew great, but that the Lord God of Hosts was with him.

h. Can people see that in us and say that about us?  (Galatians 2:20)

This is how every believer should live, so that others can see that Christ lives in us.

2.  Verses  11-25

a. Who was Hiram? What did he do for David?  (verse 11)

Hiram was king of Tyre where all the choice cedar trees grew, and he sent David the cedar timber for his house.

b.   What did David see about the Lord’s doings at this time?       (verse 12; Psalm 78:70-71)

He could see that the Lord had made him king and established his kingdom…and that God had taken him from feeding the sheep to feed the people of Israel.

c.  What did David do now that his kingdom was at relatively at peace?     (verses 13-16)

He took more wives and had eleven sons born in Jerusalem (as well as daughters!)

d.   What did the Philistines now do to David?    (verses 17-18)

Even though they were all living peacefully together, they decided to attack him and disturb things.

e.  Remembering that the Philistines are a picture of the flesh (our old nature), what can believers expect ?     ( Romans 7:18-25)

We can still be attacked by old habits and evil thoughts etc.

f. What can we do when we are attacked?      (Ephesians 6: 10-17; 1 John 1:7,9)

We are to put on the whole armour of God and rely mightily on His Word; we can claim the blood of Christ to cleanse us from ALL sin and to confess them to be forgiven and cleansed.

g. What did God tell David to do?          (verses 19-20)

To go and counter attack.

h. What are we to do to cause Satan to back off and leave us alone?  (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9)

To submit to God,  standing  firm and resisting Satan’s attacks.

i.  What did David do when the Philistines had fled?  How is this important for us too?  (verse 21)

He saw their idols left behind and he burned them, completely destroying them. We are to do this with things that tempt us to do evil…it is not enough to put them in the cupboard, they must be completely destroyed and got rid of if you can’t overcome the temptations that they make available. There is so much evil so easily available today, especially on the internet.

j. What did David do the second time he was attacked? Did he just go and do what he had done before?   (verses 22-25)

No, he asked God again what to do, and God gave him a different plan of attack this time and told him to stand aside and watch Him at work.

k.   Will Satan leave us alone once we have stood firm? What are we to do?  (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

Satan and the old nature will never leave us alone…we are to depend on God continually, especially when we feel we have reached the end of our strength, then He will remove the temptation and burden from us.

2 Samuel Six….(1-23)

1.  Verses  1-7

a. What was David’s first thought, now that he was established as king over all Israel?  (verses 1-2)

He wanted to bring the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem where his headquarters now were.

b.  What had happened to the Ark of God?   Where had it been for the last twenty years?       (1 Samuel 5:8; 6:1, 14-15; 7:1-2)

The Ark had been taken captive by the Philistines and carted around from place to place with disastrous results until it was sent back to Israel on a cart. It finally came to rest at the house of Abinadab  in Gibea where is stayed until this time.

c.  How did David organise to move the Ark and what were the consequences?     (verses 3-7)

He put it on a new cart that was being pulled by oxen with two men driving them. The oxen stumbled and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark and dropped dead as a result.

d.   Why did God’s anger rise against Uzzah for doing this?  (verse 7;  Numbers  4:15)

Because the Ark was being transported contrary to God’s instructions and it was touched by a person not a member of Kohath’s family or descendants.

e.  How did God mean for it to be transported ?     ( Exodus 25:10-15)

It had been made with rings at each corner and two long rods to go through these rings….these rods were never to be taken out. It was to be carried by four men of Kohath’s family high on their shoulders…there would never be a chance of it falling this way.

f. So David was doing the right thing in the wrong way and Uzzah lost his life as a result of it….what lesson does this teach us?      (Proverbs 3:5-6; 16:25)

We must realise that God is not to be taken lightly, and that we must look to Him  and make sure we are doing things according to His rules.. Uzzah thought he was doing the right thing to save the Ark, but it ended in his death.

g. What effect did this have on David?          (verses 8-9)

He was upset and began to look into the proper way to move the Ark.

h. What effect did the Ark have on the place where it was left? How long was it there for?   (verses 10-12)

It was left at the house of Obed-edom and God blessed him abundantly (enough for people to notice) in the three months that it was there.

i.  David decided to carry on with his plan to get the Ark to Jerusalem ….how did he transport it this time?  (verses 13-15)

He saw to it that it was carried on the shoulders of four men as God had ordained, and as it went along he sacrificed animals…he was dancing before the Lord dressed in priest’s clothes (an ephod) with the trumpet being sounded and much shouting as it went on its way.

j. What lesson is there in this for us?   (1 Corinthians 14:33, 37, 40)

We cannot expect the Lord to bless what we do, if we do it in a manner or attitude that is contrary to His Word. David’s attitude was right the first time, but his action was wrong….he was following what the Philistines did.

k.   David was doing what the Philistines did the first time, in putting the Ark on a cart….what must we beware of?  (Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:3a)

Doing the Lord’s work in the world’s way and with the wrong attitude. We must seek the Lord’s face first and line up our motives and actions by God’s Word.

l. What did David do when the Ark finally came to rest in the place he had prepared for it?  (verses 17-19)

He offered more sacrifices, and blessed all the people in the name of the Lord, and gave them each a present of  bread, flesh and wine.

m.   What did Michal have to say to him when he went home? How did she feel about the whole thing?       (verses 16, 20)

She didn’t appreciate how David felt and acted, and sarcastically told him so.

n.  What did David say in reply?     (verses 21-22)

He said he was doing it as to the Lord, and others could appreciate it even if she didn’t.

o.   What happened to Michal as a result?    (verse 23)

She had no child to David.

p.   What do we have to be careful of in similar circumstances? What did our Lord have to say about this sort of attitude?    (Mark 9:38-40)

We have to be careful not to despise those who do things differently to us….if God is blessing their work we must stop and take notice.

2 Samuel Seven….(1-29)

1.  Verses  1-17

a. David had a settled time of peace in his kingdom….what project did he think of doing during this time?  (verses 1-2)

He told Nathan the prophet that he would like to build a proper house for the Ark of the Lord.

b.  What did Nathan think of this idea?       (verse 3)

He thought it was a great idea, and told him to go ahead.

c.  What did God think of this idea?     (verses 3-17; 1 Chronicles 28:2-3, 6)

He told David he was not to build it, but that his son would after he was dead. God said He didn’t need a solid house for the Ark….He had ordained the tabernacle to house it as it moved around.

d.   Did God give David a reason for refusing to allow him to build this place?  (verses 9-10; 1 Chronicles 28:3)

Yes, David was a man of war, and his job was to settle the land and establish Israel as a force to be reckoned with.. It was the first time the nation had been one, under a ruler who knew what he was doing (Saul had been gone in the head for years).

e.  What was God’s plan for David’s life ?     ( verses 8-9)

It is not your job to build me a house…your job was to leave the sheep of your father and be ruler over My people….I have been with you, have cut off your enemies and given you a great name in history.

f. What lesson can we get from this?      (Romans 15:22)

We can’t always do what we would like to do….even though it seems a good idea, and even when other people think so too, it may not be God’s plan for US to do it. We have to be very sure  of God’s leading before we act.

g. David was concerned about doing this building for God, but what was God more concerned about? What promise did He give to David?          (verses 11-13, 16)

God was looking at the overall picture….He had plans for David that were far beyond David’s comprehension. David wanted to build God a house, but God was going to build a house for David that would last throughout eternity!

h. In what way was this fulfilled?   (Matthew 1:1; Revelation 22:16)

Jesus Christ calls Himself the Root (and offspring)  of David, and of His house there is no end….David had a part in this. This is an eternal kingdom that is being established through Jesus Christ, even today.

i.  What reason was there why it was David’s kingdom that would be established for eternity?  (1 Chronicles 29:23; Jeremiah 33:15-17, 20-22)

Because  it was not actually David’s throne….David was sitting on GOD’S throne; God had ordained in eternity past, that David’s descendants would number more than could be counted and that there would always be a king for eternity from Him.

j. How do we see this being fulfilled?   (1Timothy 6:14b-6; Revelation 1:5-6; 5:5, 11-12)

Through Jesus Christ who is described as  the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David, and through Him all the myriads of the redeemed. He is described as the only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords for everlasting.

2.  Verses  18-29

a. How did this promise make David feel?  (verses 18-20)

It made him feel very small and humble, and he wondered why God had  chosen him for this honour.

b.  How did it make him view God?       (verses 21-29)

He realised afresh God’s greatness and how there was no-one else like Him in all the universe.

c.  What promises do all believers have from God, regardless of their circumstances, that show His greatness and His magnificence?     (Ephesians 1:7, 18b; 3:8b-11, 16-19; 1 Timothy 6:17)

We are told in these verses of the riches of God’s grace, and the riches of the glory of His inheritance (which is His people!);  His riches are unsearchable….we can never come to an end of them…the riches of His glory which His Spirit dispenses to all of His people to richly enjoy.

d.   How should we feel as we contemplate these things?  ()

These things should take over our minds and make everything else in this world seem unimportant.

e.  Whose fault is it, if we are not living in the enjoyment of these “ALL THINGS” that God has for us ?     (Philippians 4:4, 8)

It is our own fault if we miss out on the enjoyment of these blessings…we are to rejoice in the Lord and all that He has done for us, and to only think of those things which are positive and good, lovely and honest. We have so many resources at our fingertips to do this, in this day and age. God has done and provided so many wonderful things for us to marvel at and rejoice in!

f. How did David take this wonderful promise from God, and what can we take from his attitude?      (verses 27-29)

He believed it, accepted it and rejoiced in it….we can do the same with all of God’s promises to us! We have no need to ever feel depressed, no matter what our circumstances!

2 Samuel Eight….(1-18)

1.  Verses  1-18

a. Read this chapter right through at one sitting…what is it all about?  (verses 1-18)

David subdued all his enemies round about and kept them under control so that they became his servants.

b.  Remembering that the enemies of Israel are a picture of things that would tempt and drag down the believer, what lesson is there in this for us?       (Romans 13:14; Ephesians 4:12-24; Titus 2:12)

We are to be on guard against everything that is unholy or  of the world….we are to keep our old nature under control and to make no provision for its desires. We are to follow the Lord Jesus and cultivate His nature, seeking to please Him at all times.

c.  What was David’s resolve? Where do we have to most be  on our guard?     (Psalm 101:1-7)

David said he would not let down his guard at home, and would guard his eyes and mind while relaxing. What we are home, is what we REALLY ARE! How we treat our families, what we read and watch, and how we use the internet. There is so much evil and temptation at our fingertips in this age, we are not to yield in the slightest, but be always on guard, nor are we to indulge in gossip (listening to those who lie).

d.   What did David do with what he took from his enemies?  (verses 7, 10-11)

Whatever he took as loot from his conquests, he dedicated to the Lord and laid it up for the future building of the temple.

e.  What does this tell us about any natural talent that we might have ?     ( Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 10:31b)

Whatever we can do, whether it be in music, art or general handy-man work, or behind the scenes, we are  to do it for the Lord and for His glory.

f. What are we told twice in this chapter about what God did for David?      (verses 6, 14b )

That God preserved David wherever he went and in whatever he did.

g. How can we apply this to ourselves?          (Romans 8:35-39; 1 Peter 1:5)

Once we belong to the Lord, NOTHING can separate us from His love, no circumstance or creature or spiritual force can take us away.

h. What was David known for in his kingdom?   (verse 15)

He was just and fair in all his dealings with his people.

i.  What do we see in the last few verses? What do we learn from this?  (verses 16-18)

David appointed capable men as his officers over different departments….God expects no one person to do everything themselves….no-one is indispensible!

2 Samuel Nine….(1-13)

1.  Verses  1-4

a. What did David remember once his enemies were all subdued and under control?  (verse 1)

He remembered his old friend Jonathan and his promise to him.

b.  What was this promise?       (1 Samuel 20:14-16, 42)

David and Jonathan had made a covenant, a binding forever promise to each other, that when David was king he would not cut off Jonathan’s family.

c.  Was this a normal practice to elevate one of the previous king’s descendants? Why not?   

No, because they might have got ideas of setting themselves up to reclaim their father’s kingdom….there would always be friction between people taking sides.

d.   How do we see this in David’s case immediately after Saul’s death?  (chapter 2:8-10)

Abner, captain of Saul’s army, took Ishbosheth  the last remaining of Saul’s sons, and made him king over the tribes of Israel while David was reigning over the tribe of Judah.

e.  Who actually took the kingdom from Saul’s dynasty? Why ?     ( 1 Samuel 15:23, 26, 28)

God was the One who took Saul’s kingdom away from him and his family…it was because of Saul’s disobedience in thinking he knew better than God.

f.  We see that Ishbosheth was not a strong king and was killed in his bed by his own servants after two years….who else was left of Saul’s descendants ?     ( verse 2-4)

Jonathan had one remaining son named Mephibosheth, who had a servant named Ziba. It was because of question C that Mephibosheth was keeping a very low profile….he was afraid (for his life) of David.

g. What do we know about Mephibosheth?          (verse 12; chapter 4:4)

He was five years old when  the news came through of Saul’s and Jonathan’s deaths, and his nurse had tripped and fallen on him breaking his legs when she was fleeing and carrying him. So he remained a cripple all his life. He was a married man at this time with a young son.

h. About how old would Mephibosheth have been at this time?   (chapter 2:11; 4:4)

He was five when his father was killed and David had been reigning in Hebron for seven years before moving to Jerusalem , then there were the intervening years when David was mopping up all his enemies. Mephibosheth may have been in his early twenties….at any rate he had a young son at this time.

i.  How did David feel about cripples and handicapped people?  (chapter 5:8)

David couldn’t stand them….he went for physical fitness!

2.  Verses  5-13

a. How do you think  Mephibosheth felt when he was called into David’s presence?  What did he do? (verse 6)

Mephibosheth was probably very afraid, having no idea of what was in David’s mind. He took the humble place and fell on the ground before David, prostrating himself before him.

b.  What did David say as introduction,  and what did Mephibosheth reply?       (verses 7-8)

David told him that he would be kind to him for his father Jonathan’s sake…Mephibosheth classed himself as a “dead dog” ( as one who was good for nothing at all!)

c.  What did David go on to tell him?     (verses 9-11)

That he would restore all Saul’s lands and farms to him and then called Ziba (Saul’s servant)  telling him that he was to look after this for Mephibosheth and give him the proceeds.

d.   What had David done about Mephibosheth’s handicap?  (verses 10b, 11b)

He completely overlooked  it.

e.  What is David’s kindness to Mephibosheth a picture of ?     ( Titus 3:3-6)

It is a picture of God’s kindness to undesrerving sinners who were crippled and under the power of sin which God hates; we were His enemies by nature, and yet God in His kindness provided a way of escape through Jesus Christ, giving us an inheritance  in the process, which can never be taken away.

f.  What did David do  for Mephibosheth as well, for Jonathan’s sake ?     ( verses 9-10)

He didn’t hold his lameness against him, but gave him back all of Saul’s land, appointing Saul’s servant Ziba to look after it for him, as well as giving him a place at his table with his sons.

g.  What did Mephibosheth have to do to enjoy all these benefits ?     ( verse 2-4)

He humbly and gratefully accepted it all, and then enjoyed it.

h. What do people have to do today to enjoy God’s forgiveness and provision?   (John 3:16; Romans 10:9)

Just accept it thankfully and follow Him….believe and enjoy! Then tell others about it.

i.  What other parallels are there between Mephibosheth and believers today?  (Galatians 4:5-7; Ephesians 2:4-8; 1 John 3:1-2)

Mephibosheth was given far more than he deserved, being treated as one of the king’s sons; we too, do not deserve what God has given us, all the blessings in Jesus Christ , being made the sons of God and brought into His family.

2 Samuel Ten….(1-19)

1.  Verses  1-19

a. Read this chapter through…what is it all about?  (verses 1-19)

It is about the heathen nations coming against David and how he defeated them.

b.  What was David’s initial feeling for Hanun, and why?       (verse 2)

He felt sorry that Hanun’s father had died and sent a message of sympathy to him.

c.  What did Hanun’s officers think of David’s men? What did they do them?     (verses 3-4)

They didn’t believe that their message of sympathy was genuine and thought that they were secretly spying out the land, so they took them and shaved off half their beards and cut off half of their clothes before sending them away.

d.   What did the men feel at this? What did David think of Hanun’s behaviour?  (verses 5, 7)

David felt sorry for his men who had been shamed in this way, and told them to wait  at Jericho until their beards had grown again. David stood no nonsense from the army coming against him and got his own men together..

e.  What was Joab’s attitude as he went into battle ?     ( verses 9-12)

He did his best strategically, with a positive attitude, and looked to God for help before going out to battle.

f.  How did the Syrians take their defeat ?     ( verses 15-18)

They came back for a second offensive against Israel, and David took the lead this time and came back triumphant.

g. What happened to the defeated enemy after this battle?          (verse 19)

They made peace with Israel and served them in paying taxes etc.

h. What does this story show us about believers trying to make friends with the world in socialising etc?   (1 John 2:15-17)

It doesn’t work….we cannot be friends with the world and get caught up in its system, and follow the Lord at the same time

i.  What are some ways that the world’s activities cut across a Christian’s activities?  ()

Sunday sport, socialising and drinking, listening to the negative talk and dirty jokes that go on in their club rooms, to mention just a few.

j. What does James say to do when we are tempted to be drawn into these things?   (James 4:4-8)

He says to stand firm against these temptations, and that God will give us the grace and strength to stand against them…it is of the devil and we are to resist him.

k. If we are good at something (sport, drama, or singing) what do we often find, parallel to this story?   (verse 15)

The world doesn’t give up easily, and it will come back with more tempting offers to attack us with.

l. How can we stand against these things?   (Psalm 119:9, 11; Ephesians 4: 22-24; 6:10-17)

It starts in our minds….we have to make up our minds to stand firm no matter what, and then take and use  the spiritual weapons which God has provided. God’s Word is our strongest weapon…we have to ask ourselves if what we are thinking about,  in line with it?

m. What did David do with these former enemies of his? How can we equate that with our own actions?  (Philippians 3:4-10)

David made them his servants, and we should keep and use our natural advantages and talents for the Lord and His glory. In themselves they are nothing but glory for self. Paul counted his qualifications as nothing but rubbish compared to knowing the Lord and serving Him.

2 Samuel Eleven….(1-27)

   We come to a rather sad episode in David’s life…a series of mistakes (sins)  that led to a matter that would have been better untold; yet it has been told so we can see that David had his weaknesses just as so many of us have………..

1.  Verses  1-27

a. What was David doing at this time? Where should he have been?     (verse 1)

David sent Joab off to fight the nation’s battle while he was loafing around Jerusalem ….he should have been out with his men and this affair would never have occurred.

b.  What time of the year was it? Why do you think so?       (verse 2)

It must have been summer with the weather too hot to sleep, and warm enough for someone to bathe outside in the open.

c.  What was David’s second mistake?     (verses 2b-3)

He took another look and then made enquiries who she was.

d.   What was his third mistake?  (verse 4)

David sent messengers to bring her to him and then committed  adultery with her and sent her home, thinking no-one would know.

e.  When does temptation become a sin ?    

When we take a second look at it and then give in.

f.  The first sin ever committed was a classic case of this….what did Eve do ?   ( Genesis 3:1-6) 

She KNEW what God had said, she LISTENED to the tempter, she LOOKED, and then she TOOK what she wasn’t supposed to.

g.  What was the consequence of David’s action, and what did he try to do about it  (David’s fourth mistake)?     ( verses 5-8)

The woman conceived and sent a message to David….he panicked and called for the woman’s husband from the war  and told him to go home and take a rest. He thought no-one would know then whose the child really was….he tried to cover it up.

h. Why didn’t David’s attempt to cover up not work?   (verses 6-12)

Because Uriah was a trusting and honourable man who refused to do it…he felt it wasn’t fair for him to have home comforts while his comrades were still on the battle field.

i.  How did David add to his series of sins?  (verse 13)

He made Uriah stay another day and got him drunk, thinking he would go home then, but he didn’t.

j. What did David do next, still trying to cover his first sin (his sixth mistake) ?   (verses 14-25)

He cause the death of Uriah by sending a letter to Joab telling him to put Uriah in the front line of battle purposely so he would be killed by the enemy…he caused Uriah’s murder.

k. What do the Scriptures teach us about trying to hide sin?   (Numbers 32:23)

It can’t be hidden…it will find us out in the end!

l. What happened then?   (verses 26-27)

When Bathsheba heard the news, she mourned for her husband and then David took her into his harem and she became one of his wives, and eventually bore a son.

m. What did God think about this? Had He taken notice of it all? Was everything OK now it was all over?   (verse 27c)

God had certainly seen it all and he was very displeased with David. But it was not the end of the story as we shall see in the next chapter.

n. What does the fact that God saw and noted what David did, tell us for today?   (2 Chronicles 16:9a; Psalm 139:1-4)

That God sees all we do and knows all we think and say….we cannot hide ANYTHING from God.

o What are we told about even THINKING wrong thoughts?   (Matthew 5:27-28)

We may not be able to help the first thought, but if we contemplate a second thought along the same lines, it is as bad as actually doing the deed…it is SIN.

p. What should be our constant prayer?   (Psalm 19:14;  139:23-24; Jeremiah 17:9-10)

We should pray constantly that our thoughts be acceptable to God, because we can never be sure of our own  motives. Our hearts are deceitful above all things and we can always rationalise and excuse ourselves for what we think, say and do. Only God can search our hearts and know our real motives. We know what we ought to think and do, and we know  we would like to be like that, but ARE WE?

2 Samuel Twelve….(1-31)

   David’s sin comes back to bite him…let’s see what we can learn from this…..

1.  Verses  1-14

a. We have already seen that the Lord was displeased with David’s actions….did He leave it at that? What did He do?     (verse 1)

No, God didn’t leave it at that….He sent the prophet Nathan to David with a sad story.

b.  What was this story?       (verses 2-4)

How a rich man with plenty of flocks and herds took from a poor man his one and only lamb to feed one of his visitors.

c.  What was David’s reaction to this story?     (verses 5-6)

He rose up in righteous anger and said that the rich man must be put to death for such a deed.

d.   What was Nathan’s reply to that?  (verses 7-10)

YOU are the man! God says that He has given you all you have and want, and you have gone and taken a poor man’s wife and put him to death so you could have her!

e.  Did God let David get away with this? What was his punishment ?    (verses 10-14)

It was threefold…he would always have wars and trouble; his wives would be taken from him by another person; the child by this union would die.

f.  What was David’s immediate reaction?  How did God take this admission? ( verse 13) 

He admitted his sin, and God forgave him, but didn’t rescind the consequences which would follow.

g.  What was the difference between Saul’s admission of sin, and David’s?     ( 1 Samuel 15:24-30; Psalm 51: 1-12)

Saul was only sorry he had been caught out, but David was truly repentant from the depths of his heart. David knew God’s forgiveness, whereas  it all played on Saul’s mind until he had a mental illness.

h. What must we be careful of not doing? What had David’s actions caused?   (verse 14)

David had caused God’s enemies to be able to point the finger and brought shame on His name; we too must be  careful to not do anything that will bring dishonour on God’s name.

i.  What lessons can we get out of this sad story?  (Psalm 139:2-3; Romans 14:7-8; Hebrews 12:6)

We may think we are sinning in secret, but God sees and knows what we are up to; We cannot get away with it….God’s chastisement will catch up with us; it causes others to mock Christianity and brings shame on the name of Christ. .

j. What is the long term result of our actions and unconfessed sin ?   (Romans 14:12)

We will all give an account of ourselves (not the next person!)  personally to God….nothing will be forgotten or left out.

2.  Verses  15-31

a. We are not told of David’s repentance in this chapter, but Psalm 51 pours it all out….what was David’s initial response?  What would be his main feeling as he realised this was God speaking to him?    (Psalm 51:1-6)

He knew he was at fault and admitted it openly….he acknowledged his sin and the fact that it God he had sinned against; he was conscious of his sin and God’s holiness and truth. He would have been covered in shame and remorse as well as repentance.

b.  What did he go on to say after his initial response?       (Psalm 51:7-11)

He needed cleansing from his sin, and a new heart and spirit; he begged that the Lord would not depart from him.

c.  How did he feel once he had faced and confessed his sin?     (Psalm 51:10-12)

He felt relieved and asked for the joy of salvation to be restored to him…he KNEW that God had heard his prayer and seen his contrition.

d.   We would do well to follow this pattern when we sin…what else are we told?  (1 John 1:7c-10)

We are told that we all sin in our daily walk, and that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son will cleanse us from it, BUT we have to confess it and believe that God has forgiven us  and go on to rejoice in Him.

e.  What was the first thing that David knew of God’s chastisement? What did David do ?    (verses 14-20)

Bathsheba’s son became very ill and David fasted and wept before the Lord praying that the child would recover. But he didn’t, and he died after a week’s illness; David got up, washed and dressed, and ate once more and then worshipped before the Lord.

f.  His servants couldn’t understand him….what reason did David give? ( verses 21-23) 

He said he had hoped the Lord would be gracious and spare the child, but when He didn’t, there was no point in continuing to grieve.

g.  What truth did David say which can be a comfort to Christian parents mourning the death of little children?     ( verse 23)

He knew the child was in God’s care and that he would one day see him again.

h. Who was the next son born to David and Bathsheba? What promise did God give concerning this child?  (verse 24; 1 Chronicles 22:9-10)

David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and the next son she had was named Solomon…God promised that he would be a great king who would have peace all his days and that he would build the temple of David’s plans.

i.  Joab was engaged in battle against the Ammonites….what did he think David should be doing? What happened when David did this?   (verses 26-31)

He felt David was shirking his duty and should be out in battle leading the people to victory; David went out and won the battle, took the spoil for the betterment of the land and made the people his servants.

j. What can we learn from this for ourselves ?   (Ephesians 6:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:3-4, 15)

We must realise that we are engaged in a spiritual warfare and that other people cannot fight our battles for us, but must be diligent in self discipline at all times, keeping our old nature under control and continuing our daily study of God’s Word for the necessary strength.

2 Samuel Thirteen….(1-39)

This is not a very nice story in the life of David’s family….lets look at it and see if there is anything we can learn from it…..

1.  Verses  1-20

a. Where did Amnon come in David’s family of sons?     (1 Chronicles 3:1-4)

He was David’s first born son, and his mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.

b.  Who was the mother of Absalom and Tamar?       (1 Chronicles 3:2)

She was  Maacha, the daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur.

c.  How many sons did Bathsheba have?     (1 Chronicles 3:5)

She had four sons beside the little one that died.

d.   Each wife would have had her own establishment so Amnon and Tamar would not have been brought up as brother and sister….what did Amnon feel for Tamar as he saw her around?  (verses 1-2)

He thought she was beautiful and lusted after her., but he thought he was in love with her.

e.  What did his friend suggest? What should he have done in the circumstances ?    (verses 4-6, 13b)

His friend said to pretend to be sick and ask David if Tamar could come and wait on him. He should have told David the truth, that he was in love with her and wanted to marry her.

f.  What happened when Tamar was looking after him? ( verses 8-14) 

His passion overtook him and he raped her; then his passion turned to hatred and he sent her off in anger.

g.  What was her attitude?  How did she feel? Where did she go?     ( verses 12-13, 16-20)

She tried to resist him and told him that her father would give her to him as wife if he would only go through the proper channels. She felt devastated after he sent her away and mourned and wept feeling desolate in her brother Absalom’s house

h. What had overcome Amnon in this situation?   (verse 11)

His lust overcame his commonsense….he didn’t really love Tamar at all, he had only lusted after her.

i.  What lessons can we get out of this sad story?  What must we be careful of?  (James 1 13-15; 2 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 2:15-17)

We must never allow ourselves to be put into compromising situations….we cannot blame God for tempting us and not keeping us safe if we do…God will never tempt us with evil and will deliver the godly from temptation.

j. If we DO fall, what are we to realise and do ?   (Proverbs 28:13; John 8:11-12;  1 John 1:9)

We are to face our sin and confess it before the Lord, then turn away from it altogether.

2.  Verses  21-39

a. How did David feel when he heard what Amnon had done to Tamar?     (verse 21)

He was very angry, but did absolutely nothing about it.

b.  What did Absalom feel and do? How long did this go on for?      (verses 22-23)

He hated Amnon with a great hatred and  refused to speak to him…..this went on for two years.

c.  What did Absalom plot at the end of this time?     (verses 23-29)

He had a sheep shearing feast and asked the king’s sons to attend and then organised his servants to assassinate Amnon while everyone was drunk.

d.   Absalom had been harbouring bitterness and hatred for two years….where are we told that this sort of thing comes from?  (John 8:44; James 3:14-16)

It originates from Satan who was a murderer from the beginning, and he has implanted it into the world system.

e.  What warning are we given about remaining bitter towards people or circumstances ? (Hebrews 12:14-15)

It is not being holy towards God and will only continue to trouble us as long as we give into it and harbour it…..not only that, but  it will fester and grow like a living organsim, and show in our speech and actions..

f.  David got the wrong message at first and there was great mourning in his household for this thing that had happened. What did Absalom do now? How did he know Talmai, king of Geshur? ( verses 30-38; 1 Chronicles 3:2) 

Absalom fled from his father’s court and went to stay with his mother’s father in the neighbouring country.

g.  How long was he there for? How did David feel about this?     ( verses 37-39)

Absalom was away for three years, and David missed him terribly and mourned for him every day, longing to see him again.

h. What sort of a father did David appear to have been in his dealings with his sons?   (verse 13, 25; 2 Samuel 18:5, 33)

It seems he was an indulgent father who didn’t discipline his sons….he would have given them anything they asked for; if David had dealt with Amnon after the episode with Tamar, Absalom wouldn’t have been eaten up with bitterness like he was and none of this would have happened. Then later when Absalom tried to take the kingdom, he should have taught him a lesson, instead of running away from him. The  people couldn’t understand the way he mourned for Absalom.

i.  What lessons can we get out of this episode in David’s life?  (Proverbs 4:10, 20-23)

We must  teach our children right from wrong, from when they are young, and then deal with matters as soon as they arise, being fair to all concerned.

2 Samuel Fourteen….(1-33)

1.  Verses  1-28

a. What did Joab observe about David during this time?     ( verse 1)

He saw that David was fretting for Absalom.

b.  What did Joab do about it?       (verses 2-3)

He called for a wise woman that he knew and told her to go to the king with this fabricated story about her two sons and how one killed the other and now the rest of the relatives wanted to kill him to avenge the death of his brother….this would leave her with no-one to carry on the family name.

c.  She agreed to do this….what was David’s initial reaction to this supposed situation?     (verse 11b)

He said that no-one should be allowed to touch the remaining son.

d.  What did she go on to say to David?     (verses 13-14)

She asked why he didn’t bring home the one of his own family that was in exile….this next move had to come from him as the father.

e.  David started to get suspicious bout this story she was telling….what did he then ask her ?  (verse 19a)

Has Joab put you up to this?

f.  What did David do about the situation now? ( verses 21-23) 

He told Joab to go and tell Absalom to come back to Jerusalem.

g.  David had half rectified the situation, but what was still wrong?     ( verse 24)

David refused to see him

h. How long did this situation last for?   (verse 28)

Another two years passed and  David still hadn’t called for Absalom  to come and see him.

i.  How many years was it now since Absalom killed Amnon?  (verse 28; ch. 13:38)

It was five years since David had seen him.

j. What is the right way to deal with family grievances (or any misunderstanding with anyone) ?   (Matthew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3-4)

To go direct to the person and talk it out, and if they won’t listen then you are to forgive them just the same.

k. Where do situations like this put a parent?   (Luke 15:11-24)

Parents cannot afford to stand off in righteous anger even when they are the ones who have been sinned against..,..they have no option but to freely forgive to get the relationship back to what it used to be.

l. How many times are we to forgive a rebellious child?   (Matthew 18:21-22)

Forever!

2.  Verses  25-27; 29-33

a. How would you describe Absalom? What did we read about David’s appearance?     ( verses 25-27; 1 Samuel 16:12)

Absalom was a handsome man with a mass of thick wavy (?) hair that he cut once a year…he had inherited his looks from his father and passed them on to his daughter who he had named after his sister. David had been a handsome young man with pink cheeks.

b.  What did Absalom do about getting to see his father?       (verses 29-32)

He called twice for Joab to come to him to act as go-between, but Joab took no notice of him. Absalom got annoyed with this and set Joab’s fields on fire, burning up his crops. This brought about the desired result….Joab went to see him about this matter!

c.  What happened then?     (verses 32-33)

Joab took the message from Absalom to David, to say what was the point of him coming home when David refused to see him! So David agreed to a visit, and there was a form of reconciliation with Absalom bowing low before David and David kissing him.

d.  What lesson can we learn from all this?     (Ephesians 4:30-32; Colossians 3:12-14)

We have to forgive one another whole heartedly, regardless of whose fault it all is, otherwise we are grieving the Holy Spirit.

2 Samuel Fifteen….(1-37)

1.  Verses  1-23

a. What was Absalom’s ambition?     ( verse 10)

He wanted to be king instead of his father.

b.  How did he prepare for this?       (verses 1-6)

He had  a small band of soldiers with horses and chariots and would sit at the gate to the city and intercept any who were going to the king for judgment, saying he would sort them out; he was very charming with them and said if only he had the authority he would see to it. So everyone thought he was just the greatest person….he had established a high profile and the people loved him.

c.  We know that David reigned for forty years (2 Samuel 5:4) , and that Absalom was born in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2-3) so it must have been towards the end of David’s reign that this happened….what did Absalom now go to the king and say?     (verses 7-9)

He said that he had promised God that if he got back to Jerusalem he would serve Him, so he wanted to go to Hebron to do this.

d.  David told him to go then, but what was Absalom really planning?     (verse 10)

He was planning to set himself up as king in Hebron and sent messengers to all the people of Israel  to tell them this.

e.  Who else did Absalom get on his side? How did David feel about this? (verse 12; Psalm 55:12-14, 16-17)

Absalom got Ahithophel, David’s counsellor, to defect from David and go with him. David was devastated at this, saying he could have borne it if it were someone else, but Ahithophel, his best friend? He felt he couldn’t trust anyone, and called on the Lord for help.

f.  What great statement did David make at this time that we can fall back on today when we are in trouble? ( Psalm 55:22) 

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.

g.  We notice that even though David was prepared to do this, he didn’t seem to ask God’s advice on what to do….what did he do instead?     ( verses 14-18)

David gathered up all his household and servants (except for ten women servants who were his concubines) and fled the city.

h. Who went with David as he left Jerusalem ?   (verses 16-22)

David’s household all left along with six hundred armed men, along with Ittai the Gittite,  a stranger who was in exile there. David told him he would be safe enough to stay, but Ittai said that he wanted to be with David wherever he went.

i. What did the local people think of all this, seeing their king run away from his son?   (verse 23)

They didn’t like it and all wept aloud as they watched him go.

j.  What should David have done instead of running from trouble? What are we told to do when faced with problems, family or otherwise?   (Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:8-10)

We take it to the Lord in prayer and then confront the problem, resisting the devil and his upsets; we are not to allow ourselves to be overcome.

2.  Verses  24-37

a. What was being taken into exile with David?     ( verse 24)

The priests had picked up the Ark of God and were taking it with them.

b.  What did David say when he saw this?       (verses 25-29)

He told the priests to take it back to its place….God was able to look after him even if the Ark wasn’t with him. He told Zadok to keep an eye on things and send his sons to report events to David while he was away.

c.  What hurt David more than anything else? What was David’s prayer about this?    (verse 31)

David was really hurt that Ahithophel was with Absalom, and he prayed that the Lord would turn Ahithophel’s advice to Absalom into foolishness.

d.  What friend did David have left who he could depend on? What did he tell him to do?  (verses 32-37)

Hushai the Archite caught up with David as he had stopped to have a time of prayer, and wanted to go with him.  David told him to go back to the city and when Absalom came there as king, to go to him and say he would serve him as he had served David. But he was to send the priest’s sons with whatever news there was of events as they unfolded.

e.  What other advantage was there for David in this arrangement?      (verse 34b)

Not only would David find out what was happening, but he hoped that Hushai would be able to counteract Ahithophel’s advice to David’s advantage.

f.  What example do we see in Hushai that we should follow?  Who is our great example in this respect?  ( Mark 10:43-45; Philippians 2:5-8) 

He was prepared to serve David no matter what, and we should be prepared to serve each other, and especially the church leaders. Our Lord humbled Himself to do the will of His Father and left everything behind Him in heaven when He came to earth to live and die as a man.

2 Samuel Sixteen….(1-23)

1.  Verses  1-23

a. Who came to light again in this story? What do we remember about him?     ( verse 1; chapter 9:1, 9-10)

Ziba had been one of Saul’s servants, and when David had given Mephibosheth back the land of Saul, he had also given Ziba the job of farming this for him.

b.  What did Ziba now see for himself in the circumstances that had arisen?       (verses 1-4)

He saw an opportunity for personal gain which worked. He had taken food and wine for David and when he was asked where Mepohibosheth was, he told lies about him, saying that he stayed back in Jerusalem to get the kingdom of his grandfather back. David believed this and told Ziba he could have all of Mephibosheth’s land for himself!

c.  What was the REAL situation with Mephibosheth?     (chapter 19:24-30)

When David finally returned he found that Mephibosheth had mourned the whole time he was away and that Ziba had told a pack of lies about him.

d.  What do we learn from this?     (

To not take things at face value, but to check the facts out before acting; even people we trust do not always have the facts right.

e.  What trial did David face next as he continued in exile?     (verses 5-13)

One of Saul’s relatives came and walked through the middle of David’s crowd cursing and swearing as he went, and was throwing stones at them as he went.

f.  What did David’s men say and how did David take this? ( verses 9-13) 

Abishai wanted to go and take off his head, but David wouldn’t allow it….he felt it may have been from the Lord, and if his own son had turned against him, this man’s cursing was of no consequence….God would sort it all out in the end.

g.  How are we to treat those who turn against us and put all sorts of slander out against us?     ( Matthew 5:43-44)

We are to pray for them and do them good, then leave the rest to the Lord to deal with.

h. How did David deal with Shimei when he returned to Jerusalem later ?   (chapter 19:23)

He spared his life in spite of Abishai wanting to take his head off.

i. Absalom and his men, along with Ahithophel, arrived in Jerusalem….who else turned up and what did Absalom think of this?   (verses 15-16)

Hushai turned up, pretending to go along with Absalom’s claim to be king….Absalom was a bit suspicious of this and asked why he wasn’t supporting his friend (David). Ahithophel replied that he was going to advise Absalom the same way he had advised David.

j.  Ahithophel was seen to be a very wise man, both with David and now with Absalom….what did Absalom ask him now? For what reason?   (verses 20-21)

Absalom wanted to know the best thing he could do to establish the fact that he was now king, and Ahithophel said that if he publicly took his father’s concubines, this would show Israel his contempt for his father and that he was now greater then he was.

k. Absalom did this…..what was this in fulfillment of?   (chapter 12:10-12)

This was part of David’s punishment from the Lord when he sinned in taking Bathsheba and killing her husband.

l. How highly did both David and Absalom regard Ahithophel?   (verse 23)

They took his advice as though it was from the Lord.

m. What must we beware of?   (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

To be careful who we listen to….if their message doesn’t follow through what the Scriptures teach, they are to be taken no notice of, no matter how charismatic their manner is. Even Satan can appear like an angel of light telling the truth!

2 Samuel Seventeen….(1-29)

1.  Verses  1-29

a. Absalom must have been wondering what to do next to solidify the kingdom….what advice did Ahithophel give him? What did Absalom think of this idea?     ( verses 1-4)

Ahithophel told him he would take 12,000 men and capture David while he was weary and weak, and then kill him only, and bring all his men back to Absalom. Absalom thought this was a good idea, but he must have still had some reservations.

b.  What did Absalom do next? What advice was he given from this direction?       (verses 5-14)

He then went to Hushai and asked what he would advise….Hushai reminded him that David was a mighty man of war (the idea of him being worn out was ludicrous!) and said it was a better idea if Absalom went himself with the whole army and pounced on him where he was hiding.

c.  Which man’s advice did Absalom choose to follow? Why? What did Hushai do?     (verses 15-22)

Absalom thought Hushai’s advice was better….it was God who inclined his thoughts this way as His plan was to get rid of Absalom. Hushai immediately sent his two messengers to David telling him what was going to happen.

d.  What did Ahithophel do when he saw Absalom didn’t take his advice?     (verse 23)

He went home, put his affairs in order and then hung himself.

e.  What did David do when he got the news of Absalom’s plans?     (verses 21-22)

He got all his people on the move and went across the river Jordan to Mahanaim.

f.  What did Absalom do then? ( verse 24) 

He followed him across the river with all his hordes of men, and pitched his camp in the land of Gilead.

g.  How did God provide food for David’s men?     ( verses 27-29)

He inclined three men to provide all that David needed.

h. What was David’s confidence at this time when he was on the run from Absalom ?   (Psalm 3:1-8)

He knew that God was watching over him, and he was able to sleep peacefully in spite of his circumstances….he wasn’t afraid of the enemy (who was his own son at this time) and he looked to the Lord to save him.

i. What are we to remember when things are going wrong for us?   (Psalm 42:1-11)

When we feel down in the dumps, we are to remember to hope in God….things WILL come right in the end! No matter how bad things seem at the moment, God is there with us and will bring us through.

2 Samuel Eighteen….(1-33)

1.  Verses  1-33

a. David was an experienced man of war…what battle strategy did he order?     ( verses 1-2)

He divided his men into three bands and said he would go with them.

b.  What did his men think of this idea?       (verse 3)

They didn’t think he should go with them as they said that he was the one that Absalom’s men would be after…he was a greater prize than any of them, so he should stay in the city and organise them from there.

c.  What did David decide to do in the face of that advice? What did he tell them to do with Absalom?     (verses 4-5)

He agreed to it, and stood in the gate as the men of war marched out. He gave orders to the three generals to deal gently with Absalom….in other words he didn’t want him killed….and everyone heard him say this.

d.  Where was the battle fought and what happened to Absalom there?     (verses 6-13)

It was fought in the woods of Ephraim,  and David’s three bands of men went in from different angles….as  Absalom’s men scattered, David’s men caught up with them among the trees, and twenty thousand men of Israel were slaughtered. Absalom saw what was happening and as he fled on his mule, his head got caught in the boughs of a thick tree. The mule went off from under him and he was stuck fast there. One of Joab’s men saw him and told Joab, who then went off and thrust three darts through his chest. He called the battle off and they tossed Absalom’s body into a big pit and threw a heap of stones over it.

e.  How did the news get to David?     (verses 19-23)

Joab refused to sent the news immediately, and then sent Cushi off to tell David. Ahimaz, who David had appointed to be the news bearer, badly wanted to go too, and left after Cushi. He was a faster runner (or may have gone a different way) and got to David first.

f.  What was David doing? What news did Ahimaz give? ( verses 24-29) 

David was waiting anxiously in the gate for news. When Ahimaz got there, he couldn’t bring himself to tell David what had really happened, so he waited for Cushi to arrive.

g.  How did David take the news?     ( verses 30-33)

He was very upset and lamented much for Absalom…he even said he wished that he been the one to die!

h. What was Absalom’s death proof of ?   (chapter 17:14)

God had ordained that it should happen at that time….Absalom was NOT God’s choice of the next king.

2 Samuel Nineteen….(1-43)

1.  Verses  1-43

a. What did David continue to do after Absalom’s death? What effect did it have on those around him?     ( verses 1-4)

He continued to mourn and lament and feel that life wasn’t worth living…his people started to leave him as they couldn’t handle this display of grief any longer.

b.  What did Joab tell him?       (verses 5-7)

He rebuked David and said it almost seemed that David thought more of that son who had become his enemy, than he did of those who loved him and stood with him. He told him straight that he was shaming his friends and family by his behaviour and that he had better pull himself together, and reminded him of his responsibilities to his people as their rightful king..

c.  What can we learn from this?     (Isaiah 53: 4-5)

To not allow our private griefs to overflow and affect others around us….after all no-one else will really understand, so we might as well pull ourselves together and present a cheerful front. We are to remember that God understands our griefs and that our Lord has borne far more for us….He was classed as a Man of Sorrows.

d.  So what did David do? How did they cross the river Jordan?     (verses 8-18a)

David brightened himself up and sat in the gate of the town where he was, then took his people back across the river Jordan to Jerusalem ….they crossed on a ferry boat.

e.  Who was the first to meet David as he returned? Why?     (verses 19-23;chapter 16:5-13 )

Shimei was the first to meet David and apologise for having cursed him when he was leaving….he was afraid of losing his head which was what Abishai wanted to do to him.

f.  How did David view Shimei’s actions as he was leaving? What about now as he heard his apology? ( verses 22-23; chapter 16: 10-12) 

He felt it was part of the Lord’s doings, and that maybe he deserved it; he was prepared to overlook Shimei’s earlier behaviour and save his life.

g.  Who else came to meet David as he returned?     ( verses 24-30)

Mephibosheth also came to meet David in a very shabby condition….he hadn’t changed his clothes or combed his hair since David left to show how much he missed him. He knew that Ziba had slandered him before David.

h. Why hadn’t Mephibosheth had gone with David when he went into exile ?   (verse 26; chapter 16:3)

Because Ziba had deceived him for his own gain, and hadn’t got the donkey ready for Mephibosheth to ride. He made out to David that Mephibosheth was planning a coup to take back the kingdom.

i. David seemed to be a bit peeved with Mephobosheth, almost as though he didn’t believe him…what indicates this?   (verse s 29-30)

David still allowed Ziba to take Mephibosheth’s land.

j.  Who was the third person to meet David? What do we know about him?      (verses 31-40; chapter 17:27-29)

Barzillai was over eighty years old and he was one of the three men who took provisions to David’s band of people when they first ran away from Absalom. He now came to meet David as he went back across the river Jordan….David wanted him to go right to Jerusalem with him, but he spoke up for a younger man, Chimham, to go in his place.

k. What sort of welcome did David receive when he got back to Jerusalem? What had happened to people without a leader ?   (verses 41-43)

The nation was divided and they were squabbling among themselves…Judah said the king belonged more to them than to the other ten tribes, while the other side said there were more of them, therefore they had more say.

l. What lesson can we get out of this whole episode of David and Absalom?  (Matthew 18:15-17)

David should have confronted his sons away back when Amnon had raped his sister ; perhaps if he had dealt with him then, Absalom wouldn’t have killed Amnon and run away….the whole family was in disarray and squabbling amongst themselves; then David shouldn’t have sulked with Absalom for those five years, as it gave Absalom time to set himself up against his father. It doesn’t pay to run from trouble when we have the power to correct and fix it….we must face it and do our best to put it right.

2 Samuel Twenty….(1-26)

1.  Verses  1-26

a. Who rose up against David next?     ( verses 1-2)

A man called Sheba who saw an opportunity to take the leadership from David.

b.  What was the first thing that David did when he returned to his home in Jerusalem?       (verse 3)

He dealt with the ten concubines he had left behind when he fled,  and shut them up, providing food and drink for them, but having no more to do with them.

c.  Who was Amasa?  What was his role? What do you think of this?   (verses 5-6; chapters 17:25; 19:13; 1 Chronicles 2:12-16)

Amasa was a nephew of David’s and first cousin to Joab….David gave him Joab’s role of captain of the army. One would have thought that David would have known Joab well enough to know that he wouldn’t take that lying down. David seems to have been not only impulsive, but also a bit foolish in this.

d.  What did David tell Amasa to do? What DID Amasa do?     (verses 4-5)

David told Amasa to have the men of war ready within three days, but he didn’t do as David said and dithered around.

e.  What could David see was going to happen with this delay? What did he do about it?     (verses 6-7)

David could see that Sheba would do more harm to his kingdom that Absalom did, and that the men of Israel were following him rather than David, so he told Abishai to get David’s men together and go after him.

f.  What happened to this set up now? ( verses 8-15) 

Joab came to light again and he and his men joined forces with Abishai. Joab caught up with Amasa and gave him a friendly greeting but stabbed him at the same time so that he died. He was left on the roadside wallowing in his blood and the people wouldn’t go past until his body was removed. They then went on their way and besieged the town where Sheba was taking refuge.

g.  Who rescued the town from total destruction?     ( verses 16-22)

There was a wise woman in the city who was not afraid to confront Joab and ask what was going on…she told him they were a peaceable town and asked what he wanted. He said that if they delivered Sheba to him he would go away, so the men of the place cut off Sheba’s head and tossed it over the wall to Joab, and he went off back to Jerusalem.

h. We see a list of David’s officers next….what position was Joab back in ?   (verses 23-26)

Joab was reinstalled as captain of the army.

i. How did David’s treatment of Sheba ( a rebel) compare with his treatment of Absalom (also a rebel)? 

He was more decisive with  Sheba and didn’t mess around, dealing with him as a rebel’s behaviour deserved, whereas he was too soft with Absalom and didn’t deal with him as he deserved.

j.  What lesson can we as parents learn from this?      (Proverbs 29:15-17; Hebrews 12:9-10)

To correct and punish our children fairly when they are young, and they will grow up to respect us….Absalom was never corrected by his father and he brought shame and unrest to David….he gave no delight to his father at all, only sorrow and mourning!

2 Samuel Twenty-one….(1-22)

1.  Verses  1-22

a. What went wrong for David next? Why was this?     ( verse 1; Joshua 9:2-16)

There came on the land a famine for three years, so David asked the Lord why this was so. The Lord said it was retribution for what Saul had done to the Gibeonites some years earlier, going against the treaty that Israel had made with them in Joshua’s time.

b.  What does this tell us about how the Lord views things?       (verse1c)

God takes promises that a person makes very seriously….whereas we take it or leave it, this is not God’s view.

c.  What did David do for reparation?   (verses 2-9)

He went to the Lord first to find out why; then he did what he could to rectify the situation.

d.  What did the Gibeonites ask for?     (verses 4-6)

They said they didn’t want money, but asked instead for the lives of seven of Saul’s descendants to make up for the lives of their people that Saul had taken.

e.  Who did David spare? Why?     (verse 7)

David spared Mephibosheth  because of the promise he had made to Jonathan.

f.  What happened to these seven men? ( verses 8-9) 

David gave them to the Gibeonites and they killed them and left their bodies strung up….one of Saul’s women watched over the bodies, keeping the birds and wild animals from eating them.

g.  What did David do then for the bones of Saul and Jonathan?     ( verses 12-14)

He had them exhumed and reburied with these seven men in the family burial place of Saul’s father Kish.

h. We are not given any time frame for these events….what do we find about David at this stage?   (verses 15-22)

David was still being harassed by the Philistines, and went out to fight against them, but he wasn’t as fit as he used to be and got tired very quickly. His nephew Abishai stood beside him, and killed the giant that was his adversary, and his men told him that he wasn’t to go out to fight any more, they would do it.

i. David had been fighting against the Philistines for many years, and here they were, still coming to light against him….what do we find in our Christian life?  (Romans 7:18-25)

We never completely conquer the sins and bad habits that beset us…. we want to serve God with a pure heart, but it seems impossible.

j.  What can we do when we slip and sin?      (1 John 1:9; 2:1-2)

We have an Advocate in Jesus Christ the only righteous One who paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, and if we confess our sin to Him, He will forgive us, and present us to His Father.

2 Samuel Twenty-two….(1-51)

1.  Verses  1-43

a.  This chapter is almost word for word the same as Psalm 18…..what is David saying to the Lord?     ( verses 1-4)

He is giving thanks and praise to the Lord for delivering him from all his enemies, and acknowledging that it is God alone who has preserved him.

b.  Ten is the number of perfection….what ten things can we see here that are part of God’s character?       (verses 2-4)

Rock;        Fortress;     Deliverer;   God of my Rock;      Shield;    Horn of Salvation              High Tower;     Refuge ;        Saviour   ;       Worthy of  Praise

c.  When did David call on the Lord?   (verse 7)

When he was in distress.

d.  Where did David’s idea of the appearance of God probably come from?     (Exodus 19:18-20; 20:18)

From what Israel saw when God was giving them the ten commandments on Mount Sinai.

e.  What was God’s physical presence accompanied by?     (verses 8-14; Exodus 20:18; Acts 9:3-4)

God’s physical presence is always accompanied by great light, and often with an earthquake and great rumblings and lightning.

f.  What state did David feel the Lord had brought him from? ( verses 17-18) 

He felt he had been taken from floundering  and nearly drowning to being delivered from his enemies.

g.  What sort of area did he now feel he was brought into?  Why?    ( verses 20-21

He felt he was set free and liberated into wide open spaces because he was delivered

h. David felt that he was righteous before God….where do we get our righteousness from?   (verses 23-25; Philippians 3:9)

David felt he had done the best he could….we know that we have no righteousness of our own, but only what God has given us by coming to Christ and believing on Him

i. What is a person’s own natural goodness like in God’s sight?  (Isaiah 64:6-7)

It is no better than filthy smelly rags…we can only claim the righteousness that Jesus Christ gives us when we believe on Him.

j.  Why isn’t being good enough in God’s sight? What more is needed?      (Micah 6:8; Romans 3:20, 23)

Our own standard of goodness does not reach God’s requirements…we still fall short of it. God does require us to be good and kind to others, but He also requires us to humble ourselves to walk with Him.

k. Who does David give the credit to? What twelve things do we see about God here ?   (verses 31-37)

David gives all the credit to God….he says it is God who gives these things….

His perfect way;     Trustworthy Word ;      Protection ;     God alone;     Stable Rock; Gives strength and power;    Maps our perfect way;       Gives speed;       Gives position; Gives Victory;              Gives Salvation;        Gives stability

l. When we look to God alone for strength in life’s battles, what happens?  (verses 38-44; Romans 8:37-39)

We get the victory! We are more than conquerors through the Lord Jesus Christ.

m. What has God provided for us to use to continue to live our Christian life?   (Ephesians 6:11-17)

He has given us His armour to protect us  from Satan’s darts and to encourage us and give us the victory.

2.  Verses  44-51

a.  What is David saying here?     ( verses 44-46)

He is acknowledging how God has delivered him from the squabblings of his own people and given him a wider kingdom than just his own people; those who would not submit to him would just fade away out of the picture.

b.  What is the wider picture that David is giving…who else can we see that fits this picture?    (Psalm 2:7-8;  Ephesians 2:10-22)

Our Lord Jesus has received an inheritance from His Father that covers not just the people of the old covenant (Israel) but also people who never knew Him, who were far away from God and from His covenants of promise. Through His work on the cross, He now has a people who will serve Him.

c.  What is David basically saying in these verses?   (verses 45-51)

He is giving God thanks and praise for giving him the position he now found himself in.

d.  What was David reminding himself of here?     (verse 51)

How that God had promised that his royal line would go on for ever.

e.  When did God first give this promise to David?     (chapter  7:8-29)

When David was contemplating build the temple for the Lord….God told him He didn’t want him to do it, but his son would instead; instead of David building Him a house, He (God) would build David an everlasting house.

f.  How seriously did God take this promise to David? ( Jeremiah 33:14-26) 

He said that if David’s descendants did not number more than the sand on the beaches, then day and night would cease to exist.

g.  How do we see this being fulfilled from now right through to the future?    ( Revelation 5:5; 22:16)

Jesus Christ describes himself as the Root of David, and it is through Him that this is being fulfilled.  Every believer is part of this promise and proof of it.

2 Samuel Twenty-three….(1-39)

1.  Verses  1-39

a.  How is David described in these verses?     ( verses 1-2)

He was the Annointed by God as king, and is described as the sweet psalmist of Israel who was moved by the Spirit of God and wrote and sang God’s Word.

b.  What had God made with David, and how do we see that being fulfilled at this time?       (verse 5; Matthew 1:1)

God had made this covenant with David that would be everlasting, a sure and certain salvation for all men and we see this being fulfilled today through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

c.  What did the people think of David?   (chapter 18 :16; 21:17)

The people loved him and said he was worth ten thousand of them, he was the light of Israel.

d.  After all tht David had done over the years, in his sin and battles, how could God say that David was a man after His own heart?     (Psalm 119:97, 103)

David’s heart was toward the Lord always….we never read of David being proud or arrogant, he loved God’s Word and meditated in it continually, finding it sweet to his taste. When he was confronted with his sin, he repented and confessed it immediately.

e.  What encouragement can we take from this?     (Psalm 32:1-5;37: 23-24; 1 John 1:9)

That even though we fall, God is there to lift us up, and when we confess our sin, He will forgive us and cleanse us, giving us a fresh start.

f.  What do we see in the rest of this chapter? ( verses 8-39) 

The names of David’s mighty men and some of the exploits that they did for him over the years.

2 Samuel Twenty-four….(1-25)

1.  Verses  1-2

a.  Why do you think God’s anger was over Israel at this time?     ( verse 1; Deuteronomy 31:29)

Because their heart wasn’t toward Him and they were doing evil things; God needed to teach them a lesson.

b.  Israel had everything going for them at this time…the land was at peace, and a king who was following the Lord, yet their hearts weren’t towards the Lord….what does this show us?       (1 Corinthians 10:12-13; Ephesians 6:11-14)

It shows us how vigilant we have to be to keep ourselves right before God ALWAYS, and to stand firm for Him and His truth without deviating….Satan never lets up on us.

c.  What are we told was REALLY behind this move of David’s?   (1 Chronicles 21:1-2)

It was Satan who was behind this thought, and God allowed it to teach Israel a lesson.

d.  What do we see about Satan’s workings, and God’s permissions?   (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7)

Satan does his best to destroy God’s plans and people, but he can’t go beyond what God allows.

e.  What are we to do when Satan attacks us?   (Ephesians 6:11-13; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9 )

We are to resist his suggestions, and stand firm for the Lord,  taking up and using God’s armour.

f.  God had given instructions of what to do if a census was ever taken, and David didn’t do this….what were these instructions?   (Exodus 30:11-16)

Each person numbered had to give a certain sum of money as atonement money for the running of God’s house….we are not told that David did this.

g.  What did God say would happen if this atonement money was not paid?    ( Exodus 30:12)

He said a  plague would come upon them.

2.  Verses  2-25

a.  What did Joab think of David’s command?     ( verse 3; 1 Chronicles 21:3-4a)

He didn’t like it and knew that it was wrong without the ransom money, so he never completed the job properly, leaving out the Levites.

b.  How long did it take for Joab to do this job?       (verses 4b-8)

It took him nine months and twenty days.

c. What number did Joab give to David?   (verse 9; 1 Chronicles 21:6)

This chapter says it was 800,000 in Israel and 500,000 in Judah; the Chronicles account says there were one million, one hundred thousand men in Israel, and  470,000 in Judah. We do not know why this discrepancy in numbers is recorded.

d.  What reason are we told why Israel was never to be numbered fully?   (Genesis 22:17-18; 1 Chronicles 27:23-24)

Because God had told Abraham that his seed would be an innumerable figure, as many as the sand grains on the sea shore.

e.  What are we told about God’s feelings in this matter of David’s disobedience?   (1 Chronicles 21:7)

He was displeased with Israel and with David.

f.  How did David feel when he realised the enormity of what he had done?   (verse 10; Psalm 32:5 )

He wished he had never done it, and he confessed his actions as sin before God.

g.  David had sinned and confessed it, but there were still consequences…..what were they?   (verses 11-14)

God still had to punish the evil that had been done and gave David three options to choose from….seven years of famine, three months of running from his enemies or three days of plague ….David chose to suffer from God directly.

h.  How many died in the subsequent plague?    ( verse 15)

Seventy thousand men died in this plague.

i. What can we learn from this episode in David’s life?   ()

We are not to take God’s rules lightly….we may not always understand the reason for them, but if we do our own thing we will have to learn the hard way and there are always consequences.

j. Can you think of one common example where God lays down a rule for His people which is often broken?  (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

God tells His people to not get into a situation of being tied in with an unbeliever irrevocably, either in marriage or in business deals, because it will not work in the end….there will always be a conflict of interest.

k.  What did David actually SEE during this plague from God?  How did it affect him?    (verses 16-17; 1 Chronicles 21:15-17)

An angel of God was striking the people with the plague, and was hovering in the sky over Jerusalem when David saw him there and it struck great awe into him. He fell to the ground and cried out to God confessing his sin in numbering the people  and saying it was not their fault at all.

l. Where did the angel stop? What did God tell David to do ?   (verse 18)

The angel stopped where Araunah the Jebusite was threshing his wheat, and God told David to make an altar right there.

m. How did Araunah feel when he saw King David coming towards him?  (verses 19-23)

He felt quite apprehensive and bowed low before him. When David made his request, Araunah offered it all to him for free, but David refused saying he couldn’t offer something to the Lord that had cost him nothing.

n. David built his altar there and the plague stopped….what was so special about this particular spot where the altar was built?  (Genesis22:1-14; 2 Chronicles 3:1; John 19:16-18)

Looking back in history, it was built on the same spot that God had  asked  Abraham to offer his son Isaac; looking forwards into time, it was also the same spot that the temple was built and subsequently where our Lord Jesus was crucified to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. Thus, it was a place of great significance in the history of mankind.

o. What significance does this spot have for us today?     (1John 1:7, 9)

It is only as we claim the blood of Christ for ourselves individually and confess our sins that we are cleansed from our sins. If we have never done this, then we must do it immediately to have our sins forgiven.

 

 

                                                  2 Samuel

2 Samuel One….(1-27)

We now see  David ,as  the Lord’s choice for king, begin his reign……..

1.  Verses  1-27

a. News travelled slowly in those days…what had David been doing and .how long did it take for him to hear about Saul’s death?  (verses 1-2)

David had been busy reclaiming his wives and stuff from the Amalekites, and it was three days before someone came with the news about Saul.

b.   What story did this messenger tell David? What proof did he have?         (verses 3-10)

He said he was an Amalekite and had seen Saul trying to kill himself off by falling on his spear, and how Saul asked him to finish the job as he was in terrible agony. He was sure Saul could not live, so he did and took his crown and bracelet to show David.

c.   What was David’s unexpected reaction now that his enemy was dead ?         (verses 11-12)

He mourned and wept for Saul and most of all for Jonathan,  and the men of Israel who had fallen.

d. We have already seen that this young man was an Amalekite and therefore a picture of the flesh in a believer’s life…what did David do to him? What must we do with our fleshly nature?  (verses 13-16; Romans 6:6; Galatians 5:24)

David ordered him to be killed for having had a hand in Saul’s death….we too, have to crucify and put to death our old nature so we are not ruled by its attitudes or actions.

e.  What phrase did David use three times in connection with the death of Saul and Jonathan? ( verses  19, 25, 27)

How are the mighty fallen!

f. What truth is this an example of?      (Proverbs 16:18)

Pride comes before a fall!

g. Can we, like David, say good things about those who dislike us? What did our Lord say about our attitude to our enemies?         (Matthew 5:43-45)

We are to do good to our enemies, pray for them and seek to love them!

h. What did David say about Jonathan?  (verses 23, 25-27)

He was closer to David than his brothers or his wives….his friendship meant everything to David.

i.   What does love for one another do for us?  (1 Corinthians 13:4-6; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:7-11)

It helps us to overlook other people’s faults if we love them….notice how a parent will always make excuses for a wayward child!

2 Samuel Two….(1-32)

1.  Verses  1-32

a. What was the first thing that David did now that he no longer needed to run from Saul?  (verse 1)

He asked the Lord where he and his men should settle, and God told him to go to Hebron.

b.   What happened there?         (verses 2-4)

They settled there with their families, and the people of Judah anointed David as their king.

c.  What did David hear once this was done? (verses 5-7)

He heard how the people of Jabesh-gilead had given  Saul and his sons a proper burial, and he commended them for this and promised them protection and provision.

d.   What do we see happened next?  Was this of God?  (verses 8-11)

The general of Saul’s army, Joab, took the last son of Saul and made him king over the rest of Israel; this was not part of God’s plan and it only lasted for two years..

e.  There is a bit of time discrepancy here…how long did Ishbotheth reign? How long was David king in Hebron over just Judah?     ( verses 10-11)

It must have taken some time before Ishbosheth was made king over Israel, because David remained king over just Judah for seven years.

f. What do we see in this next section?      (verses 12-17)

The two generals (Abner and Joab) each took twelve athletic young men and lined up on either side of the pool in Gibeon. Whether it was meant to be a friendly joust or indeed was a precursor to war is uncertain, but neither trusted the other and went into it to kill with the result that all twenty-four died. This caused a bitter battle between the two sides with Joab (David’s general) being victorious.

g. What happened next?          (verses 18-19)

David’s nephew Asahel  (brother of Joab and Abishai  who were sons of David’s sister), chased after Abner and was gaining on him.

h. To be fair to Abner, what did he say to Asahel?  (verses 20-22)

Stop chasing me or else get some armour on….how will I be able to face your brother Joab if I kill you?

i.   What happened?  (verses 23-25)

Asahel refused to take notice, and was almost ready to pounce on Abner when he threw his spear behind as he ran and it went right through Asahel and he died there. Joab and Abishai and their men continued to chase Abner and his men.

j. What happened next?  (verses 25-29)

The two opposing sides lined up on opposite hills and called a truce then went in different directions.

k.   How many of David’s men were killed in contrast to Israel’s army?  (verses 30-31)

David had lost nineteen men while Abner had lost 360 men.

l.   What did Joab do next?  (verse 32)

He saw to it that Asahel was buried in the family tomb, and then went back to the city of Hebron.

2 Samuel Three….(1-39)

1.  Verses  1-39

a. What do we notice about the political situation at this point?  (verse 1)

We see that David’s rule was growing stronger by the day while Saul’s line under Ishbosheth was getting weaker and weaker.

b.   What do we see about David’s domestic life at this time?         (verses 2-5)

David had six wives, and six sons were born to him while at Hebron…some of them we have already heard of and some come to light later.

c.  People often use David’s (who was a man after God’s own heart) many wives as an excuse for plurality of wives….was this God’s original plan for mankind? (Matthew 19:4-6)

No, God’s plan is for one man, one woman, and not to let anything come  between them.

d.   What is God’s criteria for leaders in the church today?  (1 Timothy 3:2, 12)

A leader of the church is to have only one living wife.

e.  What happened to make Abner turn against Ishbosheth?     ( verses 6-11)

It was over the matter of a woman that Abner took from Saul’s harem, and Ishbosheth remonstrated with him for doing it. Abner took exception to this and as he could see which way Ishbosheth/’s rule was heading, he decided to go to David with a proposition.

f. What was this proposition, and where was Joab when Abner came?      (verses 12-22)

Joab was away on a side issue when Abner came telling David that he would get all Israel under his rule if he (David) would make a league with him (to save his head)

g. What did Joab think of all this when he arrived back to David and heard of it?          (verses 23-27)

Joab didn’t agree with it or trust Abner’s motives, and he secretly dealt with the problem by killing Abner at the gate of Hebron .

h. Why did David say Abner died as a fool?  (verses 28-34; Numbers 35:11-15; Joshua 21:13)

He was a fool for going outside the city of Hebron  (which was a city of refuge) to talk to Joab. If he had stayed inside the city, Joab couldn’t have touched him.

i.   What does this story remind us of?  (John 3:36; Hebrews 6:27-30)

That when we place our trust and belief in God and Jesus Christ, He is our Refuge and we are safe from His judgment and anger.

j. How can we see God’s hand in this for bringing David to reign fully over all Israel as He had intended ?  (1 Samuel 13:13-14)

If Abner had remained alive, there would have been continual conflict between the two generals, and possibly another division in the kingdom….God’s intention was for David to reign over the whole kingdom and this came to pass.

k.   David was now established as king over all Israel….what did the people generally think of him? Why?  (verses 31-39)

The people were very pleased with David…they could see that he had nothing to with Abner’s death, and this was shown in the way he mourned for him. David took the humble place  before the people in this matter.

2 Samuel Four….(1-12)

1.  Verses  1-12

a. What is this chapter all about?  (verses 1-12)

It is about the remaining members of Saul;’s family…about Jonathan’s young son who became a cripple and how Ishbosheth was killed.

b.   Who did Ishbosheth have for his two captains now that Abner was dead?         (verse 2)

He had two brothers, Ba-anah and Rechab as his captains.

c.  What did they plot to do?  How did they go about it?     (verses:5-7)

They planned to get rid of Ishbosheth , and went to his house where he was resting after lunch, and killed him in his bed without anyone knowing, then got away.

d.   What did they probably think when they went to David with the news?  (verse 10)

They probably thought that David would reward them for getting rid of the last of Saul’s family.

e.  What actually happened to them? Why?     ( verses 9-12)

David did not commend them, instead he condemned them and ordered that their lives were forfeited for doing such a dastardly thing in cold blood to a man at peace in his own house.

f. How did the people regard David after all this settling in period?      (ch 3:36)

They understood that it wasn’t his idea to get rid of Saul’s family or general, and they were pleased with his actions.

2 Samuel Five….(1-25)

1.  Verses  1-10

a. Up until this time, David had been reigning as king over only the tribe of Judah with his base in Hebron…what change of attitude did the men of the rest of Israel now have towards him?  (verses 1-3)

They remembered how the Lord had said back in Samuel’s time that David would be His annointed king over the whole of Israel, so they went to him and told him they would agree to be one nation again under his rule.

b.   How old was David when this happened? What is this age usually regarded as?  Who else started their life work at that age?       (Genesis 41:46; Luke 3:23)

David was thirty years old….this is generally regarded as being at the peak of one’s physical strength, coupled with enough wisdom and maturity to rule.  We see that Joseph was thirty when he became prime minister of Egypt, and it was also the age when the Lord Jesus began His public ministry.

c.  David’s headquarters up until this time had been at Hebron…what did he turn his attention to now? What was this place like?     (verses:6-7;l Judges 19:10)

He looked at Jerusalem which was named Jebus, and was inhabited by a heathen people called the Jebusites; there were also a lot of handicapped people living there  which David couldn’t stand.

d.   What happened with this city? Why was it a special place?  (verses 7-10; Genesis 22-23; Psalm 116:19; John 19:17)

David took it and cleansed it of all imperfections and it became his headquarters…it was where the great temple of Solomon was built and subsequently Herod’s temple. This was the same place that God had told Abraham to offer his son Isaac and the same place where our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. It is a place of great significance to the world.

e.  What other names did David give to Jerusalem ?     ( verses 7, 9; Psalm 135:21, 147:12)

David gave Jerusalem the name of Zion and he also referred to it as the city of David.

f. Does the name “Zion” have any spiritual significance for us today?      (Hebrews 12:22)

Zion in the New Testament is the name for the heavenly Jerusalem , and refers to heavenly state that all believers will enjoy in eternity; it is God’s dwelling place with His people.

g. What significant statement do we read about David here?          (verse 10)

Not that he grew great, but that the Lord God of Hosts was with him.

h. Can people see that in us and say that about us?  (Galatians 2:20)

This is how every believer should live, so that others can see that Christ lives in us.

2.  Verses  11-25

a. Who was Hiram? What did he do for David?  (verse 11)

Hiram was king of Tyre where all the choice cedar trees grew, and he sent David the cedar timber for his house.

b.   What did David see about the Lord’s doings at this time?       (verse 12; Psalm 78:70-71)

He could see that the Lord had made him king and established his kingdom…and that God had taken him from feeding the sheep to feed the people of Israel.

c.  What did David do now that his kingdom was at relatively at peace?     (verses 13-16)

He took more wives and had eleven sons born in Jerusalem (as well as daughters!)

d.   What did the Philistines now do to David?    (verses 17-18)

Even though they were all living peacefully together, they decided to attack him and disturb things.

e.  Remembering that the Philistines are a picture of the flesh (our old nature), what can believers expect ?     ( Romans 7:18-25)

We can still be attacked by old habits and evil thoughts etc.

f. What can we do when we are attacked?      (Ephesians 6: 10-17; 1 John 1:7,9)

We are to put on the whole armour of God and rely mightily on His Word; we can claim the blood of Christ to cleanse us from ALL sin and to confess them to be forgiven and cleansed.

g. What did God tell David to do?          (verses 19-20)

To go and counter attack.

h. What are we to do to cause Satan to back off and leave us alone?  (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9)

To submit to God,  standing  firm and resisting Satan’s attacks.

i.  What did David do when the Philistines had fled?  How is this important for us too?  (verse 21)

He saw their idols left behind and he burned them, completely destroying them. We are to do this with things that tempt us to do evil…it is not enough to put them in the cupboard, they must be completely destroyed and got rid of if you can’t overcome the temptations that they make available. There is so much evil so easily available today, especially on the internet.

j. What did David do the second time he was attacked? Did he just go and do what he had done before?   (verses 22-25)

No, he asked God again what to do, and God gave him a different plan of attack this time and told him to stand aside and watch Him at work.

k.   Will Satan leave us alone once we have stood firm? What are we to do?  (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

Satan and the old nature will never leave us alone…we are to depend on God continually, especially when we feel we have reached the end of our strength, then He will remove the temptation and burden from us.

2 Samuel Six….(1-23)

1.  Verses  1-7

a. What was David’s first thought, now that he was established as king over all Israel?  (verses 1-2)

He wanted to bring the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem where his headquarters now were.

b.  What had happened to the Ark of God?   Where had it been for the last twenty years?       (1 Samuel 5:8; 6:1, 14-15; 7:1-2)

The Ark had been taken captive by the Philistines and carted around from place to place with disastrous results until it was sent back to Israel on a cart. It finally came to rest at the house of Abinadab  in Gibea where is stayed until this time.

c.  How did David organise to move the Ark and what were the consequences?     (verses 3-7)

He put it on a new cart that was being pulled by oxen with two men driving them. The oxen stumbled and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark and dropped dead as a result.

d.   Why did God’s anger rise against Uzzah for doing this?  (verse 7;  Numbers  4:15)

Because the Ark was being transported contrary to God’s instructions and it was touched by a person not a member of Kohath’s family or descendants.

e.  How did God mean for it to be transported ?     ( Exodus 25:10-15)

It had been made with rings at each corner and two long rods to go through these rings….these rods were never to be taken out. It was to be carried by four men of Kohath’s family high on their shoulders…there would never be a chance of it falling this way.

f. So David was doing the right thing in the wrong way and Uzzah lost his life as a result of it….what lesson does this teach us?      (Proverbs 3:5-6; 16:25)

We must realise that God is not to be taken lightly, and that we must look to Him  and make sure we are doing things according to His rules.. Uzzah thought he was doing the right thing to save the Ark, but it ended in his death.

g. What effect did this have on David?          (verses 8-9)

He was upset and began to look into the proper way to move the Ark.

h. What effect did the Ark have on the place where it was left? How long was it there for?   (verses 10-12)

It was left at the house of Obed-edom and God blessed him abundantly (enough for people to notice) in the three months that it was there.

i.  David decided to carry on with his plan to get the Ark to Jerusalem ….how did he transport it this time?  (verses 13-15)

He saw to it that it was carried on the shoulders of four men as God had ordained, and as it went along he sacrificed animals…he was dancing before the Lord dressed in priest’s clothes (an ephod) with the trumpet being sounded and much shouting as it went on its way.

j. What lesson is there in this for us?   (1 Corinthians 14:33, 37, 40)

We cannot expect the Lord to bless what we do, if we do it in a manner or attitude that is contrary to His Word. David’s attitude was right the first time, but his action was wrong….he was following what the Philistines did.

k.   David was doing what the Philistines did the first time, in putting the Ark on a cart….what must we beware of?  (Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:3a)

Doing the Lord’s work in the world’s way and with the wrong attitude. We must seek the Lord’s face first and line up our motives and actions by God’s Word.

l. What did David do when the Ark finally came to rest in the place he had prepared for it?  (verses 17-19)

He offered more sacrifices, and blessed all the people in the name of the Lord, and gave them each a present of  bread, flesh and wine.

m.   What did Michal have to say to him when he went home? How did she feel about the whole thing?       (verses 16, 20)

She didn’t appreciate how David felt and acted, and sarcastically told him so.

n.  What did David say in reply?     (verses 21-22)

He said he was doing it as to the Lord, and others could appreciate it even if she didn’t.

o.   What happened to Michal as a result?    (verse 23)

She had no child to David.

p.   What do we have to be careful of in similar circumstances? What did our Lord have to say about this sort of attitude?    (Mark 9:38-40)

We have to be careful not to despise those who do things differently to us….if God is blessing their work we must stop and take notice.

2 Samuel Seven….(1-29)

1.  Verses  1-17

a. David had a settled time of peace in his kingdom….what project did he think of doing during this time?  (verses 1-2)

He told Nathan the prophet that he would like to build a proper house for the Ark of the Lord.

b.  What did Nathan think of this idea?       (verse 3)

He thought it was a great idea, and told him to go ahead.

c.  What did God think of this idea?     (verses 3-17; 1 Chronicles 28:2-3, 6)

He told David he was not to build it, but that his son would after he was dead. God said He didn’t need a solid house for the Ark….He had ordained the tabernacle to house it as it moved around.

d.   Did God give David a reason for refusing to allow him to build this place?  (verses 9-10; 1 Chronicles 28:3)

Yes, David was a man of war, and his job was to settle the land and establish Israel as a force to be reckoned with.. It was the first time the nation had been one, under a ruler who knew what he was doing (Saul had been gone in the head for years).

e.  What was God’s plan for David’s life ?     ( verses 8-9)

It is not your job to build me a house…your job was to leave the sheep of your father and be ruler over My people….I have been with you, have cut off your enemies and given you a great name in history.

f. What lesson can we get from this?      (Romans 15:22)

We can’t always do what we would like to do….even though it seems a good idea, and even when other people think so too, it may not be God’s plan for US to do it. We have to be very sure  of God’s leading before we act.

g. David was concerned about doing this building for God, but what was God more concerned about? What promise did He give to David?          (verses 11-13, 16)

God was looking at the overall picture….He had plans for David that were far beyond David’s comprehension. David wanted to build God a house, but God was going to build a house for David that would last throughout eternity!

h. In what way was this fulfilled?   (Matthew 1:1; Revelation 22:16)

Jesus Christ calls Himself the Root (and offspring)  of David, and of His house there is no end….David had a part in this. This is an eternal kingdom that is being established through Jesus Christ, even today.

i.  What reason was there why it was David’s kingdom that would be established for eternity?  (1 Chronicles 29:23; Jeremiah 33:15-17, 20-22)

Because  it was not actually David’s throne….David was sitting on GOD’S throne; God had ordained in eternity past, that David’s descendants would number more than could be counted and that there would always be a king for eternity from Him.

j. How do we see this being fulfilled?   (1Timothy 6:14b-6; Revelation 1:5-6; 5:5, 11-12)

Through Jesus Christ who is described as  the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David, and through Him all the myriads of the redeemed. He is described as the only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords for everlasting.

2.  Verses  18-29

a. How did this promise make David feel?  (verses 18-20)

It made him feel very small and humble, and he wondered why God had  chosen him for this honour.

b.  How did it make him view God?       (verses 21-29)

He realised afresh God’s greatness and how there was no-one else like Him in all the universe.

c.  What promises do all believers have from God, regardless of their circumstances, that show His greatness and His magnificence?     (Ephesians 1:7, 18b; 3:8b-11, 16-19; 1 Timothy 6:17)

We are told in these verses of the riches of God’s grace, and the riches of the glory of His inheritance (which is His people!);  His riches are unsearchable….we can never come to an end of them…the riches of His glory which His Spirit dispenses to all of His people to richly enjoy.

d.   How should we feel as we contemplate these things?  ()

These things should take over our minds and make everything else in this world seem unimportant.

e.  Whose fault is it, if we are not living in the enjoyment of these “ALL THINGS” that God has for us ?     (Philippians 4:4, 8)

It is our own fault if we miss out on the enjoyment of these blessings…we are to rejoice in the Lord and all that He has done for us, and to only think of those things which are positive and good, lovely and honest. We have so many resources at our fingertips to do this, in this day and age. God has done and provided so many wonderful things for us to marvel at and rejoice in!

f. How did David take this wonderful promise from God, and what can we take from his attitude?      (verses 27-29)

He believed it, accepted it and rejoiced in it….we can do the same with all of God’s promises to us! We have no need to ever feel depressed, no matter what our circumstances!

2 Samuel Eight….(1-18)

1.  Verses  1-18

a. Read this chapter right through at one sitting…what is it all about?  (verses 1-18)

David subdued all his enemies round about and kept them under control so that they became his servants.

b.  Remembering that the enemies of Israel are a picture of things that would tempt and drag down the believer, what lesson is there in this for us?       (Romans 13:14; Ephesians 4:12-24; Titus 2:12)

We are to be on guard against everything that is unholy or  of the world….we are to keep our old nature under control and to make no provision for its desires. We are to follow the Lord Jesus and cultivate His nature, seeking to please Him at all times.

c.  What was David’s resolve? Where do we have to most be  on our guard?     (Psalm 101:1-7)

David said he would not let down his guard at home, and would guard his eyes and mind while relaxing. What we are home, is what we REALLY ARE! How we treat our families, what we read and watch, and how we use the internet. There is so much evil and temptation at our fingertips in this age, we are not to yield in the slightest, but be always on guard, nor are we to indulge in gossip (listening to those who lie).

d.   What did David do with what he took from his enemies?  (verses 7, 10-11)

Whatever he took as loot from his conquests, he dedicated to the Lord and laid it up for the future building of the temple.

e.  What does this tell us about any natural talent that we might have ?     ( Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 10:31b)

Whatever we can do, whether it be in music, art or general handy-man work, or behind the scenes, we are  to do it for the Lord and for His glory.

f. What are we told twice in this chapter about what God did for David?      (verses 6, 14b )

That God preserved David wherever he went and in whatever he did.

g. How can we apply this to ourselves?          (Romans 8:35-39; 1 Peter 1:5)

Once we belong to the Lord, NOTHING can separate us from His love, no circumstance or creature or spiritual force can take us away.

h. What was David known for in his kingdom?   (verse 15)

He was just and fair in all his dealings with his people.

i.  What do we see in the last few verses? What do we learn from this?  (verses 16-18)

David appointed capable men as his officers over different departments….God expects no one person to do everything themselves….no-one is indispensible!

2 Samuel Nine….(1-13)

1.  Verses  1-4

a. What did David remember once his enemies were all subdued and under control?  (verse 1)

He remembered his old friend Jonathan and his promise to him.

b.  What was this promise?       (1 Samuel 20:14-16, 42)

David and Jonathan had made a covenant, a binding forever promise to each other, that when David was king he would not cut off Jonathan’s family.

c.  Was this a normal practice to elevate one of the previous king’s descendants? Why not?   

No, because they might have got ideas of setting themselves up to reclaim their father’s kingdom….there would always be friction between people taking sides.

d.   How do we see this in David’s case immediately after Saul’s death?  (chapter 2:8-10)

Abner, captain of Saul’s army, took Ishbosheth  the last remaining of Saul’s sons, and made him king over the tribes of Israel while David was reigning over the tribe of Judah.

e.  Who actually took the kingdom from Saul’s dynasty? Why ?     ( 1 Samuel 15:23, 26, 28)

God was the One who took Saul’s kingdom away from him and his family…it was because of Saul’s disobedience in thinking he knew better than God.

f.  We see that Ishbosheth was not a strong king and was killed in his bed by his own servants after two years….who else was left of Saul’s descendants ?     ( verse 2-4)

Jonathan had one remaining son named Mephibosheth, who had a servant named Ziba. It was because of question C that Mephibosheth was keeping a very low profile….he was afraid (for his life) of David.

g. What do we know about Mephibosheth?          (verse 12; chapter 4:4)

He was five years old when  the news came through of Saul’s and Jonathan’s deaths, and his nurse had tripped and fallen on him breaking his legs when she was fleeing and carrying him. So he remained a cripple all his life. He was a married man at this time with a young son.

h. About how old would Mephibosheth have been at this time?   (chapter 2:11; 4:4)

He was five when his father was killed and David had been reigning in Hebron for seven years before moving to Jerusalem , then there were the intervening years when David was mopping up all his enemies. Mephibosheth may have been in his early twenties….at any rate he had a young son at this time.

i.  How did David feel about cripples and handicapped people?  (chapter 5:8)

David couldn’t stand them….he went for physical fitness!

2.  Verses  5-13

a. How do you think  Mephibosheth felt when he was called into David’s presence?  What did he do? (verse 6)

Mephibosheth was probably very afraid, having no idea of what was in David’s mind. He took the humble place and fell on the ground before David, prostrating himself before him.

b.  What did David say as introduction,  and what did Mephibosheth reply?       (verses 7-8)

David told him that he would be kind to him for his father Jonathan’s sake…Mephibosheth classed himself as a “dead dog” ( as one who was good for nothing at all!)

c.  What did David go on to tell him?     (verses 9-11)

That he would restore all Saul’s lands and farms to him and then called Ziba (Saul’s servant)  telling him that he was to look after this for Mephibosheth and give him the proceeds.

d.   What had David done about Mephibosheth’s handicap?  (verses 10b, 11b)

He completely overlooked  it.

e.  What is David’s kindness to Mephibosheth a picture of ?     ( Titus 3:3-6)

It is a picture of God’s kindness to undesrerving sinners who were crippled and under the power of sin which God hates; we were His enemies by nature, and yet God in His kindness provided a way of escape through Jesus Christ, giving us an inheritance  in the process, which can never be taken away.

f.  What did David do  for Mephibosheth as well, for Jonathan’s sake ?     ( verses 9-10)

He didn’t hold his lameness against him, but gave him back all of Saul’s land, appointing Saul’s servant Ziba to look after it for him, as well as giving him a place at his table with his sons.

g.  What did Mephibosheth have to do to enjoy all these benefits ?     ( verse 2-4)

He humbly and gratefully accepted it all, and then enjoyed it.

h. What do people have to do today to enjoy God’s forgiveness and provision?   (John 3:16; Romans 10:9)

Just accept it thankfully and follow Him….believe and enjoy! Then tell others about it.

i.  What other parallels are there between Mephibosheth and believers today?  (Galatians 4:5-7; Ephesians 2:4-8; 1 John 3:1-2)

Mephibosheth was given far more than he deserved, being treated as one of the king’s sons; we too, do not deserve what God has given us, all the blessings in Jesus Christ , being made the sons of God and brought into His family.

2 Samuel Ten….(1-19)

1.  Verses  1-19

a. Read this chapter through…what is it all about?  (verses 1-19)

It is about the heathen nations coming against David and how he defeated them.

b.  What was David’s initial feeling for Hanun, and why?       (verse 2)

He felt sorry that Hanun’s father had died and sent a message of sympathy to him.

c.  What did Hanun’s officers think of David’s men? What did they do them?     (verses 3-4)

They didn’t believe that their message of sympathy was genuine and thought that they were secretly spying out the land, so they took them and shaved off half their beards and cut off half of their clothes before sending them away.

d.   What did the men feel at this? What did David think of Hanun’s behaviour?  (verses 5, 7)

David felt sorry for his men who had been shamed in this way, and told them to wait  at Jericho until their beards had grown again. David stood no nonsense from the army coming against him and got his own men together..

e.  What was Joab’s attitude as he went into battle ?     ( verses 9-12)

He did his best strategically, with a positive attitude, and looked to God for help before going out to battle.

f.  How did the Syrians take their defeat ?     ( verses 15-18)

They came back for a second offensive against Israel, and David took the lead this time and came back triumphant.

g. What happened to the defeated enemy after this battle?          (verse 19)

They made peace with Israel and served them in paying taxes etc.

h. What does this story show us about believers trying to make friends with the world in socialising etc?   (1 John 2:15-17)

It doesn’t work….we cannot be friends with the world and get caught up in its system, and follow the Lord at the same time

i.  What are some ways that the world’s activities cut across a Christian’s activities?  ()

Sunday sport, socialising and drinking, listening to the negative talk and dirty jokes that go on in their club rooms, to mention just a few.

j. What does James say to do when we are tempted to be drawn into these things?   (James 4:4-8)

He says to stand firm against these temptations, and that God will give us the grace and strength to stand against them…it is of the devil and we are to resist him.

k. If we are good at something (sport, drama, or singing) what do we often find, parallel to this story?   (verse 15)

The world doesn’t give up easily, and it will come back with more tempting offers to attack us with.

l. How can we stand against these things?   (Psalm 119:9, 11; Ephesians 4: 22-24; 6:10-17)

It starts in our minds….we have to make up our minds to stand firm no matter what, and then take and use  the spiritual weapons which God has provided. God’s Word is our strongest weapon…we have to ask ourselves if what we are thinking about,  in line with it?

m. What did David do with these former enemies of his? How can we equate that with our own actions?  (Philippians 3:4-10)

David made them his servants, and we should keep and use our natural advantages and talents for the Lord and His glory. In themselves they are nothing but glory for self. Paul counted his qualifications as nothing but rubbish compared to knowing the Lord and serving Him.

2 Samuel Eleven….(1-27)

   We come to a rather sad episode in David’s life…a series of mistakes (sins)  that led to a matter that would have been better untold; yet it has been told so we can see that David had his weaknesses just as so many of us have………..

1.  Verses  1-27

a. What was David doing at this time? Where should he have been?     (verse 1)

David sent Joab off to fight the nation’s battle while he was loafing around Jerusalem ….he should have been out with his men and this affair would never have occurred.

b.  What time of the year was it? Why do you think so?       (verse 2)

It must have been summer with the weather too hot to sleep, and warm enough for someone to bathe outside in the open.

c.  What was David’s second mistake?     (verses 2b-3)

He took another look and then made enquiries who she was.

d.   What was his third mistake?  (verse 4)

David sent messengers to bring her to him and then committed  adultery with her and sent her home, thinking no-one would know.

e.  When does temptation become a sin ?    

When we take a second look at it and then give in.

f.  The first sin ever committed was a classic case of this….what did Eve do ?   ( Genesis 3:1-6) 

She KNEW what God had said, she LISTENED to the tempter, she LOOKED, and then she TOOK what she wasn’t supposed to.

g.  What was the consequence of David’s action, and what did he try to do about it  (David’s fourth mistake)?     ( verses 5-8)

The woman conceived and sent a message to David….he panicked and called for the woman’s husband from the war  and told him to go home and take a rest. He thought no-one would know then whose the child really was….he tried to cover it up.

h. Why didn’t David’s attempt to cover up not work?   (verses 6-12)

Because Uriah was a trusting and honourable man who refused to do it…he felt it wasn’t fair for him to have home comforts while his comrades were still on the battle field.

i.  How did David add to his series of sins?  (verse 13)

He made Uriah stay another day and got him drunk, thinking he would go home then, but he didn’t.

j. What did David do next, still trying to cover his first sin (his sixth mistake) ?   (verses 14-25)

He cause the death of Uriah by sending a letter to Joab telling him to put Uriah in the front line of battle purposely so he would be killed by the enemy…he caused Uriah’s murder.

k. What do the Scriptures teach us about trying to hide sin?   (Numbers 32:23)

It can’t be hidden…it will find us out in the end!

l. What happened then?   (verses 26-27)

When Bathsheba heard the news, she mourned for her husband and then David took her into his harem and she became one of his wives, and eventually bore a son.

m. What did God think about this? Had He taken notice of it all? Was everything OK now it was all over?   (verse 27c)

God had certainly seen it all and he was very displeased with David. But it was not the end of the story as we shall see in the next chapter.

n. What does the fact that God saw and noted what David did, tell us for today?   (2 Chronicles 16:9a; Psalm 139:1-4)

That God sees all we do and knows all we think and say….we cannot hide ANYTHING from God.

o What are we told about even THINKING wrong thoughts?   (Matthew 5:27-28)

We may not be able to help the first thought, but if we contemplate a second thought along the same lines, it is as bad as actually doing the deed…it is SIN.

p. What should be our constant prayer?   (Psalm 19:14;  139:23-24; Jeremiah 17:9-10)

We should pray constantly that our thoughts be acceptable to God, because we can never be sure of our own  motives. Our hearts are deceitful above all things and we can always rationalise and excuse ourselves for what we think, say and do. Only God can search our hearts and know our real motives. We know what we ought to think and do, and we know  we would like to be like that, but ARE WE?

2 Samuel Twelve….(1-31)

   David’s sin comes back to bite him…let’s see what we can learn from this…..

1.  Verses  1-14

a. We have already seen that the Lord was displeased with David’s actions….did He leave it at that? What did He do?     (verse 1)

No, God didn’t leave it at that….He sent the prophet Nathan to David with a sad story.

b.  What was this story?       (verses 2-4)

How a rich man with plenty of flocks and herds took from a poor man his one and only lamb to feed one of his visitors.

c.  What was David’s reaction to this story?     (verses 5-6)

He rose up in righteous anger and said that the rich man must be put to death for such a deed.

d.   What was Nathan’s reply to that?  (verses 7-10)

YOU are the man! God says that He has given you all you have and want, and you have gone and taken a poor man’s wife and put him to death so you could have her!

e.  Did God let David get away with this? What was his punishment ?    (verses 10-14)

It was threefold…he would always have wars and trouble; his wives would be taken from him by another person; the child by this union would die.

f.  What was David’s immediate reaction?  How did God take this admission? ( verse 13) 

He admitted his sin, and God forgave him, but didn’t rescind the consequences which would follow.

g.  What was the difference between Saul’s admission of sin, and David’s?     ( 1 Samuel 15:24-30; Psalm 51: 1-12)

Saul was only sorry he had been caught out, but David was truly repentant from the depths of his heart. David knew God’s forgiveness, whereas  it all played on Saul’s mind until he had a mental illness.

h. What must we be careful of not doing? What had David’s actions caused?   (verse 14)

David had caused God’s enemies to be able to point the finger and brought shame on His name; we too must be  careful to not do anything that will bring dishonour on God’s name.

i.  What lessons can we get out of this sad story?  (Psalm 139:2-3; Romans 14:7-8; Hebrews 12:6)

We may think we are sinning in secret, but God sees and knows what we are up to; We cannot get away with it….God’s chastisement will catch up with us; it causes others to mock Christianity and brings shame on the name of Christ. .

j. What is the long term result of our actions and unconfessed sin ?   (Romans 14:12)

We will all give an account of ourselves (not the next person!)  personally to God….nothing will be forgotten or left out.

2.  Verses  15-31

a. We are not told of David’s repentance in this chapter, but Psalm 51 pours it all out….what was David’s initial response?  What would be his main feeling as he realised this was God speaking to him?    (Psalm 51:1-6)

He knew he was at fault and admitted it openly….he acknowledged his sin and the fact that it God he had sinned against; he was conscious of his sin and God’s holiness and truth. He would have been covered in shame and remorse as well as repentance.

b.  What did he go on to say after his initial response?       (Psalm 51:7-11)

He needed cleansing from his sin, and a new heart and spirit; he begged that the Lord would not depart from him.

c.  How did he feel once he had faced and confessed his sin?     (Psalm 51:10-12)

He felt relieved and asked for the joy of salvation to be restored to him…he KNEW that God had heard his prayer and seen his contrition.

d.   We would do well to follow this pattern when we sin…what else are we told?  (1 John 1:7c-10)

We are told that we all sin in our daily walk, and that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son will cleanse us from it, BUT we have to confess it and believe that God has forgiven us  and go on to rejoice in Him.

e.  What was the first thing that David knew of God’s chastisement? What did David do ?    (verses 14-20)

Bathsheba’s son became very ill and David fasted and wept before the Lord praying that the child would recover. But he didn’t, and he died after a week’s illness; David got up, washed and dressed, and ate once more and then worshipped before the Lord.

f.  His servants couldn’t understand him….what reason did David give? ( verses 21-23) 

He said he had hoped the Lord would be gracious and spare the child, but when He didn’t, there was no point in continuing to grieve.

g.  What truth did David say which can be a comfort to Christian parents mourning the death of little children?     ( verse 23)

He knew the child was in God’s care and that he would one day see him again.

h. Who was the next son born to David and Bathsheba? What promise did God give concerning this child?  (verse 24; 1 Chronicles 22:9-10)

David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and the next son she had was named Solomon…God promised that he would be a great king who would have peace all his days and that he would build the temple of David’s plans.

i.  Joab was engaged in battle against the Ammonites….what did he think David should be doing? What happened when David did this?   (verses 26-31)

He felt David was shirking his duty and should be out in battle leading the people to victory; David went out and won the battle, took the spoil for the betterment of the land and made the people his servants.

j. What can we learn from this for ourselves ?   (Ephesians 6:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:3-4, 15)

We must realise that we are engaged in a spiritual warfare and that other people cannot fight our battles for us, but must be diligent in self discipline at all times, keeping our old nature under control and continuing our daily study of God’s Word for the necessary strength.

2 Samuel Thirteen….(1-39)

This is not a very nice story in the life of David’s family….lets look at it and see if there is anything we can learn from it…..

1.  Verses  1-20

a. Where did Amnon come in David’s family of sons?     (1 Chronicles 3:1-4)

He was David’s first born son, and his mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.

b.  Who was the mother of Absalom and Tamar?       (1 Chronicles 3:2)

She was  Maacha, the daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur.

c.  How many sons did Bathsheba have?     (1 Chronicles 3:5)

She had four sons beside the little one that died.

d.   Each wife would have had her own establishment so Amnon and Tamar would not have been brought up as brother and sister….what did Amnon feel for Tamar as he saw her around?  (verses 1-2)

He thought she was beautiful and lusted after her., but he thought he was in love with her.

e.  What did his friend suggest? What should he have done in the circumstances ?    (verses 4-6, 13b)

His friend said to pretend to be sick and ask David if Tamar could come and wait on him. He should have told David the truth, that he was in love with her and wanted to marry her.

f.  What happened when Tamar was looking after him? ( verses 8-14) 

His passion overtook him and he raped her; then his passion turned to hatred and he sent her off in anger.

g.  What was her attitude?  How did she feel? Where did she go?     ( verses 12-13, 16-20)

She tried to resist him and told him that her father would give her to him as wife if he would only go through the proper channels. She felt devastated after he sent her away and mourned and wept feeling desolate in her brother Absalom’s house

h. What had overcome Amnon in this situation?   (verse 11)

His lust overcame his commonsense….he didn’t really love Tamar at all, he had only lusted after her.

i.  What lessons can we get out of this sad story?  What must we be careful of?  (James 1 13-15; 2 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 2:15-17)

We must never allow ourselves to be put into compromising situations….we cannot blame God for tempting us and not keeping us safe if we do…God will never tempt us with evil and will deliver the godly from temptation.

j. If we DO fall, what are we to realise and do ?   (Proverbs 28:13; John 8:11-12;  1 John 1:9)

We are to face our sin and confess it before the Lord, then turn away from it altogether.

2.  Verses  21-39

a. How did David feel when he heard what Amnon had done to Tamar?     (verse 21)

He was very angry, but did absolutely nothing about it.

b.  What did Absalom feel and do? How long did this go on for?      (verses 22-23)

He hated Amnon with a great hatred and  refused to speak to him…..this went on for two years.

c.  What did Absalom plot at the end of this time?     (verses 23-29)

He had a sheep shearing feast and asked the king’s sons to attend and then organised his servants to assassinate Amnon while everyone was drunk.

d.   Absalom had been harbouring bitterness and hatred for two years….where are we told that this sort of thing comes from?  (John 8:44; James 3:14-16)

It originates from Satan who was a murderer from the beginning, and he has implanted it into the world system.

e.  What warning are we given about remaining bitter towards people or circumstances ? (Hebrews 12:14-15)

It is not being holy towards God and will only continue to trouble us as long as we give into it and harbour it…..not only that, but  it will fester and grow like a living organsim, and show in our speech and actions..

f.  David got the wrong message at first and there was great mourning in his household for this thing that had happened. What did Absalom do now? How did he know Talmai, king of Geshur? ( verses 30-38; 1 Chronicles 3:2) 

Absalom fled from his father’s court and went to stay with his mother’s father in the neighbouring country.

g.  How long was he there for? How did David feel about this?     ( verses 37-39)

Absalom was away for three years, and David missed him terribly and mourned for him every day, longing to see him again.

h. What sort of a father did David appear to have been in his dealings with his sons?   (verse 13, 25; 2 Samuel 18:5, 33)

It seems he was an indulgent father who didn’t discipline his sons….he would have given them anything they asked for; if David had dealt with Amnon after the episode with Tamar, Absalom wouldn’t have been eaten up with bitterness like he was and none of this would have happened. Then later when Absalom tried to take the kingdom, he should have taught him a lesson, instead of running away from him. The  people couldn’t understand the way he mourned for Absalom.

i.  What lessons can we get out of this episode in David’s life?  (Proverbs 4:10, 20-23)

We must  teach our children right from wrong, from when they are young, and then deal with matters as soon as they arise, being fair to all concerned.

2 Samuel Fourteen….(1-33)

1.  Verses  1-28

a. What did Joab observe about David during this time?     ( verse 1)

He saw that David was fretting for Absalom.

b.  What did Joab do about it?       (verses 2-3)

He called for a wise woman that he knew and told her to go to the king with this fabricated story about her two sons and how one killed the other and now the rest of the relatives wanted to kill him to avenge the death of his brother….this would leave her with no-one to carry on the family name.

c.  She agreed to do this….what was David’s initial reaction to this supposed situation?     (verse 11b)

He said that no-one should be allowed to touch the remaining son.

d.  What did she go on to say to David?     (verses 13-14)

She asked why he didn’t bring home the one of his own family that was in exile….this next move had to come from him as the father.

e.  David started to get suspicious bout this story she was telling….what did he then ask her ?  (verse 19a)

Has Joab put you up to this?

f.  What did David do about the situation now? ( verses 21-23) 

He told Joab to go and tell Absalom to come back to Jerusalem.

g.  David had half rectified the situation, but what was still wrong?     ( verse 24)

David refused to see him

h. How long did this situation last for?   (verse 28)

Another two years passed and  David still hadn’t called for Absalom  to come and see him.

i.  How many years was it now since Absalom killed Amnon?  (verse 28; ch. 13:38)

It was five years since David had seen him.

j. What is the right way to deal with family grievances (or any misunderstanding with anyone) ?   (Matthew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3-4)

To go direct to the person and talk it out, and if they won’t listen then you are to forgive them just the same.

k. Where do situations like this put a parent?   (Luke 15:11-24)

Parents cannot afford to stand off in righteous anger even when they are the ones who have been sinned against..,..they have no option but to freely forgive to get the relationship back to what it used to be.

l. How many times are we to forgive a rebellious child?   (Matthew 18:21-22)

Forever!

2.  Verses  25-27; 29-33

a. How would you describe Absalom? What did we read about David’s appearance?     ( verses 25-27; 1 Samuel 16:12)

Absalom was a handsome man with a mass of thick wavy (?) hair that he cut once a year…he had inherited his looks from his father and passed them on to his daughter who he had named after his sister. David had been a handsome young man with pink cheeks.

b.  What did Absalom do about getting to see his father?       (verses 29-32)

He called twice for Joab to come to him to act as go-between, but Joab took no notice of him. Absalom got annoyed with this and set Joab’s fields on fire, burning up his crops. This brought about the desired result….Joab went to see him about this matter!

c.  What happened then?     (verses 32-33)

Joab took the message from Absalom to David, to say what was the point of him coming home when David refused to see him! So David agreed to a visit, and there was a form of reconciliation with Absalom bowing low before David and David kissing him.

d.  What lesson can we learn from all this?     (Ephesians 4:30-32; Colossians 3:12-14)

We have to forgive one another whole heartedly, regardless of whose fault it all is, otherwise we are grieving the Holy Spirit.

2 Samuel Fifteen….(1-37)

1.  Verses  1-23

a. What was Absalom’s ambition?     ( verse 10)

He wanted to be king instead of his father.

b.  How did he prepare for this?       (verses 1-6)

He had  a small band of soldiers with horses and chariots and would sit at the gate to the city and intercept any who were going to the king for judgment, saying he would sort them out; he was very charming with them and said if only he had the authority he would see to it. So everyone thought he was just the greatest person….he had established a high profile and the people loved him.

c.  We know that David reigned for forty years (2 Samuel 5:4) , and that Absalom was born in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2-3) so it must have been towards the end of David’s reign that this happened….what did Absalom now go to the king and say?     (verses 7-9)

He said that he had promised God that if he got back to Jerusalem he would serve Him, so he wanted to go to Hebron to do this.

d.  David told him to go then, but what was Absalom really planning?     (verse 10)

He was planning to set himself up as king in Hebron and sent messengers to all the people of Israel  to tell them this.

e.  Who else did Absalom get on his side? How did David feel about this? (verse 12; Psalm 55:12-14, 16-17)

Absalom got Ahithophel, David’s counsellor, to defect from David and go with him. David was devastated at this, saying he could have borne it if it were someone else, but Ahithophel, his best friend? He felt he couldn’t trust anyone, and called on the Lord for help.

f.  What great statement did David make at this time that we can fall back on today when we are in trouble? ( Psalm 55:22) 

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.

g.  We notice that even though David was prepared to do this, he didn’t seem to ask God’s advice on what to do….what did he do instead?     ( verses 14-18)

David gathered up all his household and servants (except for ten women servants who were his concubines) and fled the city.

h. Who went with David as he left Jerusalem ?   (verses 16-22)

David’s household all left along with six hundred armed men, along with Ittai the Gittite,  a stranger who was in exile there. David told him he would be safe enough to stay, but Ittai said that he wanted to be with David wherever he went.

i. What did the local people think of all this, seeing their king run away from his son?   (verse 23)

They didn’t like it and all wept aloud as they watched him go.

j.  What should David have done instead of running from trouble? What are we told to do when faced with problems, family or otherwise?   (Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:8-10)

We take it to the Lord in prayer and then confront the problem, resisting the devil and his upsets; we are not to allow ourselves to be overcome.

2.  Verses  24-37

a. What was being taken into exile with David?     ( verse 24)

The priests had picked up the Ark of God and were taking it with them.

b.  What did David say when he saw this?       (verses 25-29)

He told the priests to take it back to its place….God was able to look after him even if the Ark wasn’t with him. He told Zadok to keep an eye on things and send his sons to report events to David while he was away.

c.  What hurt David more than anything else? What was David’s prayer about this?    (verse 31)

David was really hurt that Ahithophel was with Absalom, and he prayed that the Lord would turn Ahithophel’s advice to Absalom into foolishness.

d.  What friend did David have left who he could depend on? What did he tell him to do?  (verses 32-37)

Hushai the Archite caught up with David as he had stopped to have a time of prayer, and wanted to go with him.  David told him to go back to the city and when Absalom came there as king, to go to him and say he would serve him as he had served David. But he was to send the priest’s sons with whatever news there was of events as they unfolded.

e.  What other advantage was there for David in this arrangement?      (verse 34b)

Not only would David find out what was happening, but he hoped that Hushai would be able to counteract Ahithophel’s advice to David’s advantage.

f.  What example do we see in Hushai that we should follow?  Who is our great example in this respect?  ( Mark 10:43-45; Philippians 2:5-8) 

He was prepared to serve David no matter what, and we should be prepared to serve each other, and especially the church leaders. Our Lord humbled Himself to do the will of His Father and left everything behind Him in heaven when He came to earth to live and die as a man.

2 Samuel Sixteen….(1-23)

1.  Verses  1-23

a. Who came to light again in this story? What do we remember about him?     ( verse 1; chapter 9:1, 9-10)

Ziba had been one of Saul’s servants, and when David had given Mephibosheth back the land of Saul, he had also given Ziba the job of farming this for him.

b.  What did Ziba now see for himself in the circumstances that had arisen?       (verses 1-4)

He saw an opportunity for personal gain which worked. He had taken food and wine for David and when he was asked where Mepohibosheth was, he told lies about him, saying that he stayed back in Jerusalem to get the kingdom of his grandfather back. David believed this and told Ziba he could have all of Mephibosheth’s land for himself!

c.  What was the REAL situation with Mephibosheth?     (chapter 19:24-30)

When David finally returned he found that Mephibosheth had mourned the whole time he was away and that Ziba had told a pack of lies about him.

d.  What do we learn from this?     (

To not take things at face value, but to check the facts out before acting; even people we trust do not always have the facts right.

e.  What trial did David face next as he continued in exile?     (verses 5-13)

One of Saul’s relatives came and walked through the middle of David’s crowd cursing and swearing as he went, and was throwing stones at them as he went.

f.  What did David’s men say and how did David take this? ( verses 9-13) 

Abishai wanted to go and take off his head, but David wouldn’t allow it….he felt it may have been from the Lord, and if his own son had turned against him, this man’s cursing was of no consequence….God would sort it all out in the end.

g.  How are we to treat those who turn against us and put all sorts of slander out against us?     ( Matthew 5:43-44)

We are to pray for them and do them good, then leave the rest to the Lord to deal with.

h. How did David deal with Shimei when he returned to Jerusalem later ?   (chapter 19:23)

He spared his life in spite of Abishai wanting to take his head off.

i. Absalom and his men, along with Ahithophel, arrived in Jerusalem….who else turned up and what did Absalom think of this?   (verses 15-16)

Hushai turned up, pretending to go along with Absalom’s claim to be king….Absalom was a bit suspicious of this and asked why he wasn’t supporting his friend (David). Ahithophel replied that he was going to advise Absalom the same way he had advised David.

j.  Ahithophel was seen to be a very wise man, both with David and now with Absalom….what did Absalom ask him now? For what reason?   (verses 20-21)

Absalom wanted to know the best thing he could do to establish the fact that he was now king, and Ahithophel said that if he publicly took his father’s concubines, this would show Israel his contempt for his father and that he was now greater then he was.

k. Absalom did this…..what was this in fulfillment of?   (chapter 12:10-12)

This was part of David’s punishment from the Lord when he sinned in taking Bathsheba and killing her husband.

l. How highly did both David and Absalom regard Ahithophel?   (verse 23)

They took his advice as though it was from the Lord.

m. What must we beware of?   (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

To be careful who we listen to….if their message doesn’t follow through what the Scriptures teach, they are to be taken no notice of, no matter how charismatic their manner is. Even Satan can appear like an angel of light telling the truth!

2 Samuel Seventeen….(1-29)

1.  Verses  1-29

a. Absalom must have been wondering what to do next to solidify the kingdom….what advice did Ahithophel give him? What did Absalom think of this idea?     ( verses 1-4)

Ahithophel told him he would take 12,000 men and capture David while he was weary and weak, and then kill him only, and bring all his men back to Absalom. Absalom thought this was a good idea, but he must have still had some reservations.

b.  What did Absalom do next? What advice was he given from this direction?       (verses 5-14)

He then went to Hushai and asked what he would advise….Hushai reminded him that David was a mighty man of war (the idea of him being worn out was ludicrous!) and said it was a better idea if Absalom went himself with the whole army and pounced on him where he was hiding.

c.  Which man’s advice did Absalom choose to follow? Why? What did Hushai do?     (verses 15-22)

Absalom thought Hushai’s advice was better….it was God who inclined his thoughts this way as His plan was to get rid of Absalom. Hushai immediately sent his two messengers to David telling him what was going to happen.

d.  What did Ahithophel do when he saw Absalom didn’t take his advice?     (verse 23)

He went home, put his affairs in order and then hung himself.

e.  What did David do when he got the news of Absalom’s plans?     (verses 21-22)

He got all his people on the move and went across the river Jordan to Mahanaim.

f.  What did Absalom do then? ( verse 24) 

He followed him across the river with all his hordes of men, and pitched his camp in the land of Gilead.

g.  How did God provide food for David’s men?     ( verses 27-29)

He inclined three men to provide all that David needed.

h. What was David’s confidence at this time when he was on the run from Absalom ?   (Psalm 3:1-8)

He knew that God was watching over him, and he was able to sleep peacefully in spite of his circumstances….he wasn’t afraid of the enemy (who was his own son at this time) and he looked to the Lord to save him.

i. What are we to remember when things are going wrong for us?   (Psalm 42:1-11)

When we feel down in the dumps, we are to remember to hope in God….things WILL come right in the end! No matter how bad things seem at the moment, God is there with us and will bring us through.

2 Samuel Eighteen….(1-33)

1.  Verses  1-33

a. David was an experienced man of war…what battle strategy did he order?     ( verses 1-2)

He divided his men into three bands and said he would go with them.

b.  What did his men think of this idea?       (verse 3)

They didn’t think he should go with them as they said that he was the one that Absalom’s men would be after…he was a greater prize than any of them, so he should stay in the city and organise them from there.

c.  What did David decide to do in the face of that advice? What did he tell them to do with Absalom?     (verses 4-5)

He agreed to it, and stood in the gate as the men of war marched out. He gave orders to the three generals to deal gently with Absalom….in other words he didn’t want him killed….and everyone heard him say this.

d.  Where was the battle fought and what happened to Absalom there?     (verses 6-13)

It was fought in the woods of Ephraim,  and David’s three bands of men went in from different angles….as  Absalom’s men scattered, David’s men caught up with them among the trees, and twenty thousand men of Israel were slaughtered. Absalom saw what was happening and as he fled on his mule, his head got caught in the boughs of a thick tree. The mule went off from under him and he was stuck fast there. One of Joab’s men saw him and told Joab, who then went off and thrust three darts through his chest. He called the battle off and they tossed Absalom’s body into a big pit and threw a heap of stones over it.

e.  How did the news get to David?     (verses 19-23)

Joab refused to sent the news immediately, and then sent Cushi off to tell David. Ahimaz, who David had appointed to be the news bearer, badly wanted to go too, and left after Cushi. He was a faster runner (or may have gone a different way) and got to David first.

f.  What was David doing? What news did Ahimaz give? ( verses 24-29) 

David was waiting anxiously in the gate for news. When Ahimaz got there, he couldn’t bring himself to tell David what had really happened, so he waited for Cushi to arrive.

g.  How did David take the news?     ( verses 30-33)

He was very upset and lamented much for Absalom…he even said he wished that he been the one to die!

h. What was Absalom’s death proof of ?   (chapter 17:14)

God had ordained that it should happen at that time….Absalom was NOT God’s choice of the next king.

2 Samuel Nineteen….(1-43)

1.  Verses  1-43

a. What did David continue to do after Absalom’s death? What effect did it have on those around him?     ( verses 1-4)

He continued to mourn and lament and feel that life wasn’t worth living…his people started to leave him as they couldn’t handle this display of grief any longer.

b.  What did Joab tell him?       (verses 5-7)

He rebuked David and said it almost seemed that David thought more of that son who had become his enemy, than he did of those who loved him and stood with him. He told him straight that he was shaming his friends and family by his behaviour and that he had better pull himself together, and reminded him of his responsibilities to his people as their rightful king..

c.  What can we learn from this?     (Isaiah 53: 4-5)

To not allow our private griefs to overflow and affect others around us….after all no-one else will really understand, so we might as well pull ourselves together and present a cheerful front. We are to remember that God understands our griefs and that our Lord has borne far more for us….He was classed as a Man of Sorrows.

d.  So what did David do? How did they cross the river Jordan?     (verses 8-18a)

David brightened himself up and sat in the gate of the town where he was, then took his people back across the river Jordan to Jerusalem ….they crossed on a ferry boat.

e.  Who was the first to meet David as he returned? Why?     (verses 19-23;chapter 16:5-13 )

Shimei was the first to meet David and apologise for having cursed him when he was leaving….he was afraid of losing his head which was what Abishai wanted to do to him.

f.  How did David view Shimei’s actions as he was leaving? What about now as he heard his apology? ( verses 22-23; chapter 16: 10-12) 

He felt it was part of the Lord’s doings, and that maybe he deserved it; he was prepared to overlook Shimei’s earlier behaviour and save his life.

g.  Who else came to meet David as he returned?     ( verses 24-30)

Mephibosheth also came to meet David in a very shabby condition….he hadn’t changed his clothes or combed his hair since David left to show how much he missed him. He knew that Ziba had slandered him before David.

h. Why hadn’t Mephibosheth had gone with David when he went into exile ?   (verse 26; chapter 16:3)

Because Ziba had deceived him for his own gain, and hadn’t got the donkey ready for Mephibosheth to ride. He made out to David that Mephibosheth was planning a coup to take back the kingdom.

i. David seemed to be a bit peeved with Mephobosheth, almost as though he didn’t believe him…what indicates this?   (verse s 29-30)

David still allowed Ziba to take Mephibosheth’s land.

j.  Who was the third person to meet David? What do we know about him?      (verses 31-40; chapter 17:27-29)

Barzillai was over eighty years old and he was one of the three men who took provisions to David’s band of people when they first ran away from Absalom. He now came to meet David as he went back across the river Jordan….David wanted him to go right to Jerusalem with him, but he spoke up for a younger man, Chimham, to go in his place.

k. What sort of welcome did David receive when he got back to Jerusalem? What had happened to people without a leader ?   (verses 41-43)

The nation was divided and they were squabbling among themselves…Judah said the king belonged more to them than to the other ten tribes, while the other side said there were more of them, therefore they had more say.

l. What lesson can we get out of this whole episode of David and Absalom?  (Matthew 18:15-17)

David should have confronted his sons away back when Amnon had raped his sister ; perhaps if he had dealt with him then, Absalom wouldn’t have killed Amnon and run away….the whole family was in disarray and squabbling amongst themselves; then David shouldn’t have sulked with Absalom for those five years, as it gave Absalom time to set himself up against his father. It doesn’t pay to run from trouble when we have the power to correct and fix it….we must face it and do our best to put it right.

2 Samuel Twenty….(1-26)

1.  Verses  1-26

a. Who rose up against David next?     ( verses 1-2)

A man called Sheba who saw an opportunity to take the leadership from David.

b.  What was the first thing that David did when he returned to his home in Jerusalem?       (verse 3)

He dealt with the ten concubines he had left behind when he fled,  and shut them up, providing food and drink for them, but having no more to do with them.

c.  Who was Amasa?  What was his role? What do you think of this?   (verses 5-6; chapters 17:25; 19:13; 1 Chronicles 2:12-16)

Amasa was a nephew of David’s and first cousin to Joab….David gave him Joab’s role of captain of the army. One would have thought that David would have known Joab well enough to know that he wouldn’t take that lying down. David seems to have been not only impulsive, but also a bit foolish in this.

d.  What did David tell Amasa to do? What DID Amasa do?     (verses 4-5)

David told Amasa to have the men of war ready within three days, but he didn’t do as David said and dithered around.

e.  What could David see was going to happen with this delay? What did he do about it?     (verses 6-7)

David could see that Sheba would do more harm to his kingdom that Absalom did, and that the men of Israel were following him rather than David, so he told Abishai to get David’s men together and go after him.

f.  What happened to this set up now? ( verses 8-15) 

Joab came to light again and he and his men joined forces with Abishai. Joab caught up with Amasa and gave him a friendly greeting but stabbed him at the same time so that he died. He was left on the roadside wallowing in his blood and the people wouldn’t go past until his body was removed. They then went on their way and besieged the town where Sheba was taking refuge.

g.  Who rescued the town from total destruction?     ( verses 16-22)

There was a wise woman in the city who was not afraid to confront Joab and ask what was going on…she told him they were a peaceable town and asked what he wanted. He said that if they delivered Sheba to him he would go away, so the men of the place cut off Sheba’s head and tossed it over the wall to Joab, and he went off back to Jerusalem.

h. We see a list of David’s officers next….what position was Joab back in ?   (verses 23-26)

Joab was reinstalled as captain of the army.

i. How did David’s treatment of Sheba ( a rebel) compare with his treatment of Absalom (also a rebel)? 

He was more decisive with  Sheba and didn’t mess around, dealing with him as a rebel’s behaviour deserved, whereas he was too soft with Absalom and didn’t deal with him as he deserved.

j.  What lesson can we as parents learn from this?      (Proverbs 29:15-17; Hebrews 12:9-10)

To correct and punish our children fairly when they are young, and they will grow up to respect us….Absalom was never corrected by his father and he brought shame and unrest to David….he gave no delight to his father at all, only sorrow and mourning!

2 Samuel Twenty-one….(1-22)

1.  Verses  1-22

a. What went wrong for David next? Why was this?     ( verse 1; Joshua 9:2-16)

There came on the land a famine for three years, so David asked the Lord why this was so. The Lord said it was retribution for what Saul had done to the Gibeonites some years earlier, going against the treaty that Israel had made with them in Joshua’s time.

b.  What does this tell us about how the Lord views things?       (verse1c)

God takes promises that a person makes very seriously….whereas we take it or leave it, this is not God’s view.

c.  What did David do for reparation?   (verses 2-9)

He went to the Lord first to find out why; then he did what he could to rectify the situation.

d.  What did the Gibeonites ask for?     (verses 4-6)

They said they didn’t want money, but asked instead for the lives of seven of Saul’s descendants to make up for the lives of their people that Saul had taken.

e.  Who did David spare? Why?     (verse 7)

David spared Mephibosheth  because of the promise he had made to Jonathan.

f.  What happened to these seven men? ( verses 8-9) 

David gave them to the Gibeonites and they killed them and left their bodies strung up….one of Saul’s women watched over the bodies, keeping the birds and wild animals from eating them.

g.  What did David do then for the bones of Saul and Jonathan?     ( verses 12-14)

He had them exhumed and reburied with these seven men in the family burial place of Saul’s father Kish.

h. We are not given any time frame for these events….what do we find about David at this stage?   (verses 15-22)

David was still being harassed by the Philistines, and went out to fight against them, but he wasn’t as fit as he used to be and got tired very quickly. His nephew Abishai stood beside him, and killed the giant that was his adversary, and his men told him that he wasn’t to go out to fight any more, they would do it.

i. David had been fighting against the Philistines for many years, and here they were, still coming to light against him….what do we find in our Christian life?  (Romans 7:18-25)

We never completely conquer the sins and bad habits that beset us…. we want to serve God with a pure heart, but it seems impossible.

j.  What can we do when we slip and sin?      (1 John 1:9; 2:1-2)

We have an Advocate in Jesus Christ the only righteous One who paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, and if we confess our sin to Him, He will forgive us, and present us to His Father.

2 Samuel Twenty-two….(1-51)

1.  Verses  1-43

a.  This chapter is almost word for word the same as Psalm 18…..what is David saying to the Lord?     ( verses 1-4)

He is giving thanks and praise to the Lord for delivering him from all his enemies, and acknowledging that it is God alone who has preserved him.

b.  Ten is the number of perfection….what ten things can we see here that are part of God’s character?       (verses 2-4)

Rock;        Fortress;     Deliverer;   God of my Rock;      Shield;    Horn of Salvation              High Tower;     Refuge ;        Saviour   ;       Worthy of  Praise

c.  When did David call on the Lord?   (verse 7)

When he was in distress.

d.  Where did David’s idea of the appearance of God probably come from?     (Exodus 19:18-20; 20:18)

From what Israel saw when God was giving them the ten commandments on Mount Sinai.

e.  What was God’s physical presence accompanied by?     (verses 8-14; Exodus 20:18; Acts 9:3-4)

God’s physical presence is always accompanied by great light, and often with an earthquake and great rumblings and lightning.

f.  What state did David feel the Lord had brought him from? ( verses 17-18) 

He felt he had been taken from floundering  and nearly drowning to being delivered from his enemies.

g.  What sort of area did he now feel he was brought into?  Why?    ( verses 20-21

He felt he was set free and liberated into wide open spaces because he was delivered

h. David felt that he was righteous before God….where do we get our righteousness from?   (verses 23-25; Philippians 3:9)

David felt he had done the best he could….we know that we have no righteousness of our own, but only what God has given us by coming to Christ and believing on Him

i. What is a person’s own natural goodness like in God’s sight?  (Isaiah 64:6-7)

It is no better than filthy smelly rags…we can only claim the righteousness that Jesus Christ gives us when we believe on Him.

j.  Why isn’t being good enough in God’s sight? What more is needed?      (Micah 6:8; Romans 3:20, 23)

Our own standard of goodness does not reach God’s requirements…we still fall short of it. God does require us to be good and kind to others, but He also requires us to humble ourselves to walk with Him.

k. Who does David give the credit to? What twelve things do we see about God here ?   (verses 31-37)

David gives all the credit to God….he says it is God who gives these things….

His perfect way;     Trustworthy Word ;      Protection ;     God alone;     Stable Rock; Gives strength and power;    Maps our perfect way;       Gives speed;       Gives position; Gives Victory;              Gives Salvation;        Gives stability

l. When we look to God alone for strength in life’s battles, what happens?  (verses 38-44; Romans 8:37-39)

We get the victory! We are more than conquerors through the Lord Jesus Christ.

m. What has God provided for us to use to continue to live our Christian life?   (Ephesians 6:11-17)

He has given us His armour to protect us  from Satan’s darts and to encourage us and give us the victory.

2.  Verses  44-51

a.  What is David saying here?     ( verses 44-46)

He is acknowledging how God has delivered him from the squabblings of his own people and given him a wider kingdom than just his own people; those who would not submit to him would just fade away out of the picture.

b.  What is the wider picture that David is giving…who else can we see that fits this picture?    (Psalm 2:7-8;  Ephesians 2:10-22)

Our Lord Jesus has received an inheritance from His Father that covers not just the people of the old covenant (Israel) but also people who never knew Him, who were far away from God and from His covenants of promise. Through His work on the cross, He now has a people who will serve Him.

c.  What is David basically saying in these verses?   (verses 45-51)

He is giving God thanks and praise for giving him the position he now found himself in.

d.  What was David reminding himself of here?     (verse 51)

How that God had promised that his royal line would go on for ever.

e.  When did God first give this promise to David?     (chapter  7:8-29)

When David was contemplating build the temple for the Lord….God told him He didn’t want him to do it, but his son would instead; instead of David building Him a house, He (God) would build David an everlasting house.

f.  How seriously did God take this promise to David? ( Jeremiah 33:14-26) 

He said that if David’s descendants did not number more than the sand on the beaches, then day and night would cease to exist.

g.  How do we see this being fulfilled from now right through to the future?    ( Revelation 5:5; 22:16)

Jesus Christ describes himself as the Root of David, and it is through Him that this is being fulfilled.  Every believer is part of this promise and proof of it.

2 Samuel Twenty-three….(1-39)

1.  Verses  1-39

a.  How is David described in these verses?     ( verses 1-2)

He was the Annointed by God as king, and is described as the sweet psalmist of Israel who was moved by the Spirit of God and wrote and sang God’s Word.

b.  What had God made with David, and how do we see that being fulfilled at this time?       (verse 5; Matthew 1:1)

God had made this covenant with David that would be everlasting, a sure and certain salvation for all men and we see this being fulfilled today through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

c.  What did the people think of David?   (chapter 18 :16; 21:17)

The people loved him and said he was worth ten thousand of them, he was the light of Israel.

d.  After all tht David had done over the years, in his sin and battles, how could God say that David was a man after His own heart?     (Psalm 119:97, 103)

David’s heart was toward the Lord always….we never read of David being proud or arrogant, he loved God’s Word and meditated in it continually, finding it sweet to his taste. When he was confronted with his sin, he repented and confessed it immediately.

e.  What encouragement can we take from this?     (Psalm 32:1-5;37: 23-24; 1 John 1:9)

That even though we fall, God is there to lift us up, and when we confess our sin, He will forgive us and cleanse us, giving us a fresh start.

f.  What do we see in the rest of this chapter? ( verses 8-39) 

The names of David’s mighty men and some of the exploits that they did for him over the years.

2 Samuel Twenty-four….(1-25)

1.  Verses  1-2

a.  Why do you think God’s anger was over Israel at this time?     ( verse 1; Deuteronomy 31:29)

Because their heart wasn’t toward Him and they were doing evil things; God needed to teach them a lesson.

b.  Israel had everything going for them at this time…the land was at peace, and a king who was following the Lord, yet their hearts weren’t towards the Lord….what does this show us?       (1 Corinthians 10:12-13; Ephesians 6:11-14)

It shows us how vigilant we have to be to keep ourselves right before God ALWAYS, and to stand firm for Him and His truth without deviating….Satan never lets up on us.

c.  What are we told was REALLY behind this move of David’s?   (1 Chronicles 21:1-2)

It was Satan who was behind this thought, and God allowed it to teach Israel a lesson.

d.  What do we see about Satan’s workings, and God’s permissions?   (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7)

Satan does his best to destroy God’s plans and people, but he can’t go beyond what God allows.

e.  What are we to do when Satan attacks us?   (Ephesians 6:11-13; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9 )

We are to resist his suggestions, and stand firm for the Lord,  taking up and using God’s armour.

f.  God had given instructions of what to do if a census was ever taken, and David didn’t do this….what were these instructions?   (Exodus 30:11-16)

Each person numbered had to give a certain sum of money as atonement money for the running of God’s house….we are not told that David did this.

g.  What did God say would happen if this atonement money was not paid?    ( Exodus 30:12)

He said a  plague would come upon them.

2.  Verses  2-25

a.  What did Joab think of David’s command?     ( verse 3; 1 Chronicles 21:3-4a)

He didn’t like it and knew that it was wrong without the ransom money, so he never completed the job properly, leaving out the Levites.

b.  How long did it take for Joab to do this job?       (verses 4b-8)

It took him nine months and twenty days.

c. What number did Joab give to David?   (verse 9; 1 Chronicles 21:6)

This chapter says it was 800,000 in Israel and 500,000 in Judah; the Chronicles account says there were one million, one hundred thousand men in Israel, and  470,000 in Judah. We do not know why this discrepancy in numbers is recorded.

d.  What reason are we told why Israel was never to be numbered fully?   (Genesis 22:17-18; 1 Chronicles 27:23-24)

Because God had told Abraham that his seed would be an innumerable figure, as many as the sand grains on the sea shore.

e.  What are we told about God’s feelings in this matter of David’s disobedience?   (1 Chronicles 21:7)

He was displeased with Israel and with David.

f.  How did David feel when he realised the enormity of what he had done?   (verse 10; Psalm 32:5 )

He wished he had never done it, and he confessed his actions as sin before God.

g.  David had sinned and confessed it, but there were still consequences…..what were they?   (verses 11-14)

God still had to punish the evil that had been done and gave David three options to choose from….seven years of famine, three months of running from his enemies or three days of plague ….David chose to suffer from God directly.

h.  How many died in the subsequent plague?    ( verse 15)

Seventy thousand men died in this plague.

i. What can we learn from this episode in David’s life?   ()

We are not to take God’s rules lightly….we may not always understand the reason for them, but if we do our own thing we will have to learn the hard way and there are always consequences.

j. Can you think of one common example where God lays down a rule for His people which is often broken?  (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

God tells His people to not get into a situation of being tied in with an unbeliever irrevocably, either in marriage or in business deals, because it will not work in the end….there will always be a conflict of interest.

k.  What did David actually SEE during this plague from God?  How did it affect him?    (verses 16-17; 1 Chronicles 21:15-17)

An angel of God was striking the people with the plague, and was hovering in the sky over Jerusalem when David saw him there and it struck great awe into him. He fell to the ground and cried out to God confessing his sin in numbering the people  and saying it was not their fault at all.

l. Where did the angel stop? What did God tell David to do ?   (verse 18)

The angel stopped where Araunah the Jebusite was threshing his wheat, and God told David to make an altar right there.

m. How did Araunah feel when he saw King David coming towards him?  (verses 19-23)

He felt quite apprehensive and bowed low before him. When David made his request, Araunah offered it all to him for free, but David refused saying he couldn’t offer something to the Lord that had cost him nothing.

n. David built his altar there and the plague stopped….what was so special about this particular spot where the altar was built?  (Genesis22:1-14; 2 Chronicles 3:1; John 19:16-18)

Looking back in history, it was built on the same spot that God had  asked  Abraham to offer his son Isaac; looking forwards into time, it was also the same spot that the temple was built and subsequently where our Lord Jesus was crucified to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. Thus, it was a place of great significance in the history of mankind.

o. What significance does this spot have for us today?     (1John 1:7, 9)

It is only as we claim the blood of Christ for ourselves individually and confess our sins that we are cleansed from our sins. If we have never done this, then we must do it immediately to have our sins forgiven.

 

 

                                                  2 Samuel

2 Samuel One….(1-27)

We now see  David ,as  the Lord’s choice for king, begin his reign……..

1.  Verses  1-27

a. News travelled slowly in those days…what had David been doing and .how long did it take for him to hear about Saul’s death?  (verses 1-2)

David had been busy reclaiming his wives and stuff from the Amalekites, and it was three days before someone came with the news about Saul.

b.   What story did this messenger tell David? What proof did he have?         (verses 3-10)

He said he was an Amalekite and had seen Saul trying to kill himself off by falling on his spear, and how Saul asked him to finish the job as he was in terrible agony. He was sure Saul could not live, so he did and took his crown and bracelet to show David.

c.   What was David’s unexpected reaction now that his enemy was dead ?         (verses 11-12)

He mourned and wept for Saul and most of all for Jonathan,  and the men of Israel who had fallen.

d. We have already seen that this young man was an Amalekite and therefore a picture of the flesh in a believer’s life…what did David do to him? What must we do with our fleshly nature?  (verses 13-16; Romans 6:6; Galatians 5:24)

David ordered him to be killed for having had a hand in Saul’s death….we too, have to crucify and put to death our old nature so we are not ruled by its attitudes or actions.

e.  What phrase did David use three times in connection with the death of Saul and Jonathan? ( verses  19, 25, 27)

How are the mighty fallen!

f. What truth is this an example of?      (Proverbs 16:18)

Pride comes before a fall!

g. Can we, like David, say good things about those who dislike us? What did our Lord say about our attitude to our enemies?         (Matthew 5:43-45)

We are to do good to our enemies, pray for them and seek to love them!

h. What did David say about Jonathan?  (verses 23, 25-27)

He was closer to David than his brothers or his wives….his friendship meant everything to David.

i.   What does love for one another do for us?  (1 Corinthians 13:4-6; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:7-11)

It helps us to overlook other people’s faults if we love them….notice how a parent will always make excuses for a wayward child!

2 Samuel Two….(1-32)

1.  Verses  1-32

a. What was the first thing that David did now that he no longer needed to run from Saul?  (verse 1)

He asked the Lord where he and his men should settle, and God told him to go to Hebron.

b.   What happened there?         (verses 2-4)

They settled there with their families, and the people of Judah anointed David as their king.

c.  What did David hear once this was done? (verses 5-7)

He heard how the people of Jabesh-gilead had given  Saul and his sons a proper burial, and he commended them for this and promised them protection and provision.

d.   What do we see happened next?  Was this of God?  (verses 8-11)

The general of Saul’s army, Joab, took the last son of Saul and made him king over the rest of Israel; this was not part of God’s plan and it only lasted for two years..

e.  There is a bit of time discrepancy here…how long did Ishbotheth reign? How long was David king in Hebron over just Judah?     ( verses 10-11)

It must have taken some time before Ishbosheth was made king over Israel, because David remained king over just Judah for seven years.

f. What do we see in this next section?      (verses 12-17)

The two generals (Abner and Joab) each took twelve athletic young men and lined up on either side of the pool in Gibeon. Whether it was meant to be a friendly joust or indeed was a precursor to war is uncertain, but neither trusted the other and went into it to kill with the result that all twenty-four died. This caused a bitter battle between the two sides with Joab (David’s general) being victorious.

g. What happened next?          (verses 18-19)

David’s nephew Asahel  (brother of Joab and Abishai  who were sons of David’s sister), chased after Abner and was gaining on him.

h. To be fair to Abner, what did he say to Asahel?  (verses 20-22)

Stop chasing me or else get some armour on….how will I be able to face your brother Joab if I kill you?

i.   What happened?  (verses 23-25)

Asahel refused to take notice, and was almost ready to pounce on Abner when he threw his spear behind as he ran and it went right through Asahel and he died there. Joab and Abishai and their men continued to chase Abner and his men.

j. What happened next?  (verses 25-29)

The two opposing sides lined up on opposite hills and called a truce then went in different directions.

k.   How many of David’s men were killed in contrast to Israel’s army?  (verses 30-31)

David had lost nineteen men while Abner had lost 360 men.

l.   What did Joab do next?  (verse 32)

He saw to it that Asahel was buried in the family tomb, and then went back to the city of Hebron.

2 Samuel Three….(1-39)

1.  Verses  1-39

a. What do we notice about the political situation at this point?  (verse 1)

We see that David’s rule was growing stronger by the day while Saul’s line under Ishbosheth was getting weaker and weaker.

b.   What do we see about David’s domestic life at this time?         (verses 2-5)

David had six wives, and six sons were born to him while at Hebron…some of them we have already heard of and some come to light later.

c.  People often use David’s (who was a man after God’s own heart) many wives as an excuse for plurality of wives….was this God’s original plan for mankind? (Matthew 19:4-6)

No, God’s plan is for one man, one woman, and not to let anything come  between them.

d.   What is God’s criteria for leaders in the church today?  (1 Timothy 3:2, 12)

A leader of the church is to have only one living wife.

e.  What happened to make Abner turn against Ishbosheth?     ( verses 6-11)

It was over the matter of a woman that Abner took from Saul’s harem, and Ishbosheth remonstrated with him for doing it. Abner took exception to this and as he could see which way Ishbosheth/’s rule was heading, he decided to go to David with a proposition.

f. What was this proposition, and where was Joab when Abner came?      (verses 12-22)

Joab was away on a side issue when Abner came telling David that he would get all Israel under his rule if he (David) would make a league with him (to save his head)

g. What did Joab think of all this when he arrived back to David and heard of it?          (verses 23-27)

Joab didn’t agree with it or trust Abner’s motives, and he secretly dealt with the problem by killing Abner at the gate of Hebron .

h. Why did David say Abner died as a fool?  (verses 28-34; Numbers 35:11-15; Joshua 21:13)

He was a fool for going outside the city of Hebron  (which was a city of refuge) to talk to Joab. If he had stayed inside the city, Joab couldn’t have touched him.

i.   What does this story remind us of?  (John 3:36; Hebrews 6:27-30)

That when we place our trust and belief in God and Jesus Christ, He is our Refuge and we are safe from His judgment and anger.

j. How can we see God’s hand in this for bringing David to reign fully over all Israel as He had intended ?  (1 Samuel 13:13-14)

If Abner had remained alive, there would have been continual conflict between the two generals, and possibly another division in the kingdom….God’s intention was for David to reign over the whole kingdom and this came to pass.

k.   David was now established as king over all Israel….what did the people generally think of him? Why?  (verses 31-39)

The people were very pleased with David…they could see that he had nothing to with Abner’s death, and this was shown in the way he mourned for him. David took the humble place  before the people in this matter.

2 Samuel Four….(1-12)

1.  Verses  1-12

a. What is this chapter all about?  (verses 1-12)

It is about the remaining members of Saul;’s family…about Jonathan’s young son who became a cripple and how Ishbosheth was killed.

b.   Who did Ishbosheth have for his two captains now that Abner was dead?         (verse 2)

He had two brothers, Ba-anah and Rechab as his captains.

c.  What did they plot to do?  How did they go about it?     (verses:5-7)

They planned to get rid of Ishbosheth , and went to his house where he was resting after lunch, and killed him in his bed without anyone knowing, then got away.

d.   What did they probably think when they went to David with the news?  (verse 10)

They probably thought that David would reward them for getting rid of the last of Saul’s family.

e.  What actually happened to them? Why?     ( verses 9-12)

David did not commend them, instead he condemned them and ordered that their lives were forfeited for doing such a dastardly thing in cold blood to a man at peace in his own house.

f. How did the people regard David after all this settling in period?      (ch 3:36)

They understood that it wasn’t his idea to get rid of Saul’s family or general, and they were pleased with his actions.

2 Samuel Five….(1-25)

1.  Verses  1-10

a. Up until this time, David had been reigning as king over only the tribe of Judah with his base in Hebron…what change of attitude did the men of the rest of Israel now have towards him?  (verses 1-3)

They remembered how the Lord had said back in Samuel’s time that David would be His annointed king over the whole of Israel, so they went to him and told him they would agree to be one nation again under his rule.

b.   How old was David when this happened? What is this age usually regarded as?  Who else started their life work at that age?       (Genesis 41:46; Luke 3:23)

David was thirty years old….this is generally regarded as being at the peak of one’s physical strength, coupled with enough wisdom and maturity to rule.  We see that Joseph was thirty when he became prime minister of Egypt, and it was also the age when the Lord Jesus began His public ministry.

c.  David’s headquarters up until this time had been at Hebron…what did he turn his attention to now? What was this place like?     (verses:6-7;l Judges 19:10)

He looked at Jerusalem which was named Jebus, and was inhabited by a heathen people called the Jebusites; there were also a lot of handicapped people living there  which David couldn’t stand.

d.   What happened with this city? Why was it a special place?  (verses 7-10; Genesis 22-23; Psalm 116:19; John 19:17)

David took it and cleansed it of all imperfections and it became his headquarters…it was where the great temple of Solomon was built and subsequently Herod’s temple. This was the same place that God had told Abraham to offer his son Isaac and the same place where our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. It is a place of great significance to the world.

e.  What other names did David give to Jerusalem ?     ( verses 7, 9; Psalm 135:21, 147:12)

David gave Jerusalem the name of Zion and he also referred to it as the city of David.

f. Does the name “Zion” have any spiritual significance for us today?      (Hebrews 12:22)

Zion in the New Testament is the name for the heavenly Jerusalem , and refers to heavenly state that all believers will enjoy in eternity; it is God’s dwelling place with His people.

g. What significant statement do we read about David here?          (verse 10)

Not that he grew great, but that the Lord God of Hosts was with him.

h. Can people see that in us and say that about us?  (Galatians 2:20)

This is how every believer should live, so that others can see that Christ lives in us.

2.  Verses  11-25

a. Who was Hiram? What did he do for David?  (verse 11)

Hiram was king of Tyre where all the choice cedar trees grew, and he sent David the cedar timber for his house.

b.   What did David see about the Lord’s doings at this time?       (verse 12; Psalm 78:70-71)

He could see that the Lord had made him king and established his kingdom…and that God had taken him from feeding the sheep to feed the people of Israel.

c.  What did David do now that his kingdom was at relatively at peace?     (verses 13-16)

He took more wives and had eleven sons born in Jerusalem (as well as daughters!)

d.   What did the Philistines now do to David?    (verses 17-18)

Even though they were all living peacefully together, they decided to attack him and disturb things.

e.  Remembering that the Philistines are a picture of the flesh (our old nature), what can believers expect ?     ( Romans 7:18-25)

We can still be attacked by old habits and evil thoughts etc.

f. What can we do when we are attacked?      (Ephesians 6: 10-17; 1 John 1:7,9)

We are to put on the whole armour of God and rely mightily on His Word; we can claim the blood of Christ to cleanse us from ALL sin and to confess them to be forgiven and cleansed.

g. What did God tell David to do?          (verses 19-20)

To go and counter attack.

h. What are we to do to cause Satan to back off and leave us alone?  (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9)

To submit to God,  standing  firm and resisting Satan’s attacks.

i.  What did David do when the Philistines had fled?  How is this important for us too?  (verse 21)

He saw their idols left behind and he burned them, completely destroying them. We are to do this with things that tempt us to do evil…it is not enough to put them in the cupboard, they must be completely destroyed and got rid of if you can’t overcome the temptations that they make available. There is so much evil so easily available today, especially on the internet.

j. What did David do the second time he was attacked? Did he just go and do what he had done before?   (verses 22-25)

No, he asked God again what to do, and God gave him a different plan of attack this time and told him to stand aside and watch Him at work.

k.   Will Satan leave us alone once we have stood firm? What are we to do?  (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

Satan and the old nature will never leave us alone…we are to depend on God continually, especially when we feel we have reached the end of our strength, then He will remove the temptation and burden from us.

2 Samuel Six….(1-23)

1.  Verses  1-7

a. What was David’s first thought, now that he was established as king over all Israel?  (verses 1-2)

He wanted to bring the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem where his headquarters now were.

b.  What had happened to the Ark of God?   Where had it been for the last twenty years?       (1 Samuel 5:8; 6:1, 14-15; 7:1-2)

The Ark had been taken captive by the Philistines and carted around from place to place with disastrous results until it was sent back to Israel on a cart. It finally came to rest at the house of Abinadab  in Gibea where is stayed until this time.

c.  How did David organise to move the Ark and what were the consequences?     (verses 3-7)

He put it on a new cart that was being pulled by oxen with two men driving them. The oxen stumbled and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark and dropped dead as a result.

d.   Why did God’s anger rise against Uzzah for doing this?  (verse 7;  Numbers  4:15)

Because the Ark was being transported contrary to God’s instructions and it was touched by a person not a member of Kohath’s family or descendants.

e.  How did God mean for it to be transported ?     ( Exodus 25:10-15)

It had been made with rings at each corner and two long rods to go through these rings….these rods were never to be taken out. It was to be carried by four men of Kohath’s family high on their shoulders…there would never be a chance of it falling this way.

f. So David was doing the right thing in the wrong way and Uzzah lost his life as a result of it….what lesson does this teach us?      (Proverbs 3:5-6; 16:25)

We must realise that God is not to be taken lightly, and that we must look to Him  and make sure we are doing things according to His rules.. Uzzah thought he was doing the right thing to save the Ark, but it ended in his death.

g. What effect did this have on David?          (verses 8-9)

He was upset and began to look into the proper way to move the Ark.

h. What effect did the Ark have on the place where it was left? How long was it there for?   (verses 10-12)

It was left at the house of Obed-edom and God blessed him abundantly (enough for people to notice) in the three months that it was there.

i.  David decided to carry on with his plan to get the Ark to Jerusalem ….how did he transport it this time?  (verses 13-15)

He saw to it that it was carried on the shoulders of four men as God had ordained, and as it went along he sacrificed animals…he was dancing before the Lord dressed in priest’s clothes (an ephod) with the trumpet being sounded and much shouting as it went on its way.

j. What lesson is there in this for us?   (1 Corinthians 14:33, 37, 40)

We cannot expect the Lord to bless what we do, if we do it in a manner or attitude that is contrary to His Word. David’s attitude was right the first time, but his action was wrong….he was following what the Philistines did.

k.   David was doing what the Philistines did the first time, in putting the Ark on a cart….what must we beware of?  (Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:3a)

Doing the Lord’s work in the world’s way and with the wrong attitude. We must seek the Lord’s face first and line up our motives and actions by God’s Word.

l. What did David do when the Ark finally came to rest in the place he had prepared for it?  (verses 17-19)

He offered more sacrifices, and blessed all the people in the name of the Lord, and gave them each a present of  bread, flesh and wine.

m.   What did Michal have to say to him when he went home? How did she feel about the whole thing?       (verses 16, 20)

She didn’t appreciate how David felt and acted, and sarcastically told him so.

n.  What did David say in reply?     (verses 21-22)

He said he was doing it as to the Lord, and others could appreciate it even if she didn’t.

o.   What happened to Michal as a result?    (verse 23)

She had no child to David.

p.   What do we have to be careful of in similar circumstances? What did our Lord have to say about this sort of attitude?    (Mark 9:38-40)

We have to be careful not to despise those who do things differently to us….if God is blessing their work we must stop and take notice.

2 Samuel Seven….(1-29)

1.  Verses  1-17

a. David had a settled time of peace in his kingdom….what project did he think of doing during this time?  (verses 1-2)

He told Nathan the prophet that he would like to build a proper house for the Ark of the Lord.

b.  What did Nathan think of this idea?       (verse 3)

He thought it was a great idea, and told him to go ahead.

c.  What did God think of this idea?     (verses 3-17; 1 Chronicles 28:2-3, 6)

He told David he was not to build it, but that his son would after he was dead. God said He didn’t need a solid house for the Ark….He had ordained the tabernacle to house it as it moved around.

d.   Did God give David a reason for refusing to allow him to build this place?  (verses 9-10; 1 Chronicles 28:3)

Yes, David was a man of war, and his job was to settle the land and establish Israel as a force to be reckoned with.. It was the first time the nation had been one, under a ruler who knew what he was doing (Saul had been gone in the head for years).

e.  What was God’s plan for David’s life ?     ( verses 8-9)

It is not your job to build me a house…your job was to leave the sheep of your father and be ruler over My people….I have been with you, have cut off your enemies and given you a great name in history.

f. What lesson can we get from this?      (Romans 15:22)

We can’t always do what we would like to do….even though it seems a good idea, and even when other people think so too, it may not be God’s plan for US to do it. We have to be very sure  of God’s leading before we act.

g. David was concerned about doing this building for God, but what was God more concerned about? What promise did He give to David?          (verses 11-13, 16)

God was looking at the overall picture….He had plans for David that were far beyond David’s comprehension. David wanted to build God a house, but God was going to build a house for David that would last throughout eternity!

h. In what way was this fulfilled?   (Matthew 1:1; Revelation 22:16)

Jesus Christ calls Himself the Root (and offspring)  of David, and of His house there is no end….David had a part in this. This is an eternal kingdom that is being established through Jesus Christ, even today.

i.  What reason was there why it was David’s kingdom that would be established for eternity?  (1 Chronicles 29:23; Jeremiah 33:15-17, 20-22)

Because  it was not actually David’s throne….David was sitting on GOD’S throne; God had ordained in eternity past, that David’s descendants would number more than could be counted and that there would always be a king for eternity from Him.

j. How do we see this being fulfilled?   (1Timothy 6:14b-6; Revelation 1:5-6; 5:5, 11-12)

Through Jesus Christ who is described as  the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David, and through Him all the myriads of the redeemed. He is described as the only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords for everlasting.

2.  Verses  18-29

a. How did this promise make David feel?  (verses 18-20)

It made him feel very small and humble, and he wondered why God had  chosen him for this honour.

b.  How did it make him view God?       (verses 21-29)

He realised afresh God’s greatness and how there was no-one else like Him in all the universe.

c.  What promises do all believers have from God, regardless of their circumstances, that show His greatness and His magnificence?     (Ephesians 1:7, 18b; 3:8b-11, 16-19; 1 Timothy 6:17)

We are told in these verses of the riches of God’s grace, and the riches of the glory of His inheritance (which is His people!);  His riches are unsearchable….we can never come to an end of them…the riches of His glory which His Spirit dispenses to all of His people to richly enjoy.

d.   How should we feel as we contemplate these things?  ()

These things should take over our minds and make everything else in this world seem unimportant.

e.  Whose fault is it, if we are not living in the enjoyment of these “ALL THINGS” that God has for us ?     (Philippians 4:4, 8)

It is our own fault if we miss out on the enjoyment of these blessings…we are to rejoice in the Lord and all that He has done for us, and to only think of those things which are positive and good, lovely and honest. We have so many resources at our fingertips to do this, in this day and age. God has done and provided so many wonderful things for us to marvel at and rejoice in!

f. How did David take this wonderful promise from God, and what can we take from his attitude?      (verses 27-29)

He believed it, accepted it and rejoiced in it….we can do the same with all of God’s promises to us! We have no need to ever feel depressed, no matter what our circumstances!

2 Samuel Eight….(1-18)

1.  Verses  1-18

a. Read this chapter right through at one sitting…what is it all about?  (verses 1-18)

David subdued all his enemies round about and kept them under control so that they became his servants.

b.  Remembering that the enemies of Israel are a picture of things that would tempt and drag down the believer, what lesson is there in this for us?       (Romans 13:14; Ephesians 4:12-24; Titus 2:12)

We are to be on guard against everything that is unholy or  of the world….we are to keep our old nature under control and to make no provision for its desires. We are to follow the Lord Jesus and cultivate His nature, seeking to please Him at all times.

c.  What was David’s resolve? Where do we have to most be  on our guard?     (Psalm 101:1-7)

David said he would not let down his guard at home, and would guard his eyes and mind while relaxing. What we are home, is what we REALLY ARE! How we treat our families, what we read and watch, and how we use the internet. There is so much evil and temptation at our fingertips in this age, we are not to yield in the slightest, but be always on guard, nor are we to indulge in gossip (listening to those who lie).

d.   What did David do with what he took from his enemies?  (verses 7, 10-11)

Whatever he took as loot from his conquests, he dedicated to the Lord and laid it up for the future building of the temple.

e.  What does this tell us about any natural talent that we might have ?     ( Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 10:31b)

Whatever we can do, whether it be in music, art or general handy-man work, or behind the scenes, we are  to do it for the Lord and for His glory.

f. What are we told twice in this chapter about what God did for David?      (verses 6, 14b )

That God preserved David wherever he went and in whatever he did.

g. How can we apply this to ourselves?          (Romans 8:35-39; 1 Peter 1:5)

Once we belong to the Lord, NOTHING can separate us from His love, no circumstance or creature or spiritual force can take us away.

h. What was David known for in his kingdom?   (verse 15)

He was just and fair in all his dealings with his people.

i.  What do we see in the last few verses? What do we learn from this?  (verses 16-18)

David appointed capable men as his officers over different departments….God expects no one person to do everything themselves….no-one is indispensible!

2 Samuel Nine….(1-13)

1.  Verses  1-4

a. What did David remember once his enemies were all subdued and under control?  (verse 1)

He remembered his old friend Jonathan and his promise to him.

b.  What was this promise?       (1 Samuel 20:14-16, 42)

David and Jonathan had made a covenant, a binding forever promise to each other, that when David was king he would not cut off Jonathan’s family.

c.  Was this a normal practice to elevate one of the previous king’s descendants? Why not?   

No, because they might have got ideas of setting themselves up to reclaim their father’s kingdom….there would always be friction between people taking sides.

d.   How do we see this in David’s case immediately after Saul’s death?  (chapter 2:8-10)

Abner, captain of Saul’s army, took Ishbosheth  the last remaining of Saul’s sons, and made him king over the tribes of Israel while David was reigning over the tribe of Judah.

e.  Who actually took the kingdom from Saul’s dynasty? Why ?     ( 1 Samuel 15:23, 26, 28)

God was the One who took Saul’s kingdom away from him and his family…it was because of Saul’s disobedience in thinking he knew better than God.

f.  We see that Ishbosheth was not a strong king and was killed in his bed by his own servants after two years….who else was left of Saul’s descendants ?     ( verse 2-4)

Jonathan had one remaining son named Mephibosheth, who had a servant named Ziba. It was because of question C that Mephibosheth was keeping a very low profile….he was afraid (for his life) of David.

g. What do we know about Mephibosheth?          (verse 12; chapter 4:4)

He was five years old when  the news came through of Saul’s and Jonathan’s deaths, and his nurse had tripped and fallen on him breaking his legs when she was fleeing and carrying him. So he remained a cripple all his life. He was a married man at this time with a young son.

h. About how old would Mephibosheth have been at this time?   (chapter 2:11; 4:4)

He was five when his father was killed and David had been reigning in Hebron for seven years before moving to Jerusalem , then there were the intervening years when David was mopping up all his enemies. Mephibosheth may have been in his early twenties….at any rate he had a young son at this time.

i.  How did David feel about cripples and handicapped people?  (chapter 5:8)

David couldn’t stand them….he went for physical fitness!

2.  Verses  5-13

a. How do you think  Mephibosheth felt when he was called into David’s presence?  What did he do? (verse 6)

Mephibosheth was probably very afraid, having no idea of what was in David’s mind. He took the humble place and fell on the ground before David, prostrating himself before him.

b.  What did David say as introduction,  and what did Mephibosheth reply?       (verses 7-8)

David told him that he would be kind to him for his father Jonathan’s sake…Mephibosheth classed himself as a “dead dog” ( as one who was good for nothing at all!)

c.  What did David go on to tell him?     (verses 9-11)

That he would restore all Saul’s lands and farms to him and then called Ziba (Saul’s servant)  telling him that he was to look after this for Mephibosheth and give him the proceeds.

d.   What had David done about Mephibosheth’s handicap?  (verses 10b, 11b)

He completely overlooked  it.

e.  What is David’s kindness to Mephibosheth a picture of ?     ( Titus 3:3-6)

It is a picture of God’s kindness to undesrerving sinners who were crippled and under the power of sin which God hates; we were His enemies by nature, and yet God in His kindness provided a way of escape through Jesus Christ, giving us an inheritance  in the process, which can never be taken away.

f.  What did David do  for Mephibosheth as well, for Jonathan’s sake ?     ( verses 9-10)

He didn’t hold his lameness against him, but gave him back all of Saul’s land, appointing Saul’s servant Ziba to look after it for him, as well as giving him a place at his table with his sons.

g.  What did Mephibosheth have to do to enjoy all these benefits ?     ( verse 2-4)

He humbly and gratefully accepted it all, and then enjoyed it.

h. What do people have to do today to enjoy God’s forgiveness and provision?   (John 3:16; Romans 10:9)

Just accept it thankfully and follow Him….believe and enjoy! Then tell others about it.

i.  What other parallels are there between Mephibosheth and believers today?  (Galatians 4:5-7; Ephesians 2:4-8; 1 John 3:1-2)

Mephibosheth was given far more than he deserved, being treated as one of the king’s sons; we too, do not deserve what God has given us, all the blessings in Jesus Christ , being made the sons of God and brought into His family.

2 Samuel Ten….(1-19)

1.  Verses  1-19

a. Read this chapter through…what is it all about?  (verses 1-19)

It is about the heathen nations coming against David and how he defeated them.

b.  What was David’s initial feeling for Hanun, and why?       (verse 2)

He felt sorry that Hanun’s father had died and sent a message of sympathy to him.

c.  What did Hanun’s officers think of David’s men? What did they do them?     (verses 3-4)

They didn’t believe that their message of sympathy was genuine and thought that they were secretly spying out the land, so they took them and shaved off half their beards and cut off half of their clothes before sending them away.

d.   What did the men feel at this? What did David think of Hanun’s behaviour?  (verses 5, 7)

David felt sorry for his men who had been shamed in this way, and told them to wait  at Jericho until their beards had grown again. David stood no nonsense from the army coming against him and got his own men together..

e.  What was Joab’s attitude as he went into battle ?     ( verses 9-12)

He did his best strategically, with a positive attitude, and looked to God for help before going out to battle.

f.  How did the Syrians take their defeat ?     ( verses 15-18)

They came back for a second offensive against Israel, and David took the lead this time and came back triumphant.

g. What happened to the defeated enemy after this battle?          (verse 19)

They made peace with Israel and served them in paying taxes etc.

h. What does this story show us about believers trying to make friends with the world in socialising etc?   (1 John 2:15-17)

It doesn’t work….we cannot be friends with the world and get caught up in its system, and follow the Lord at the same time

i.  What are some ways that the world’s activities cut across a Christian’s activities?  ()

Sunday sport, socialising and drinking, listening to the negative talk and dirty jokes that go on in their club rooms, to mention just a few.

j. What does James say to do when we are tempted to be drawn into these things?   (James 4:4-8)

He says to stand firm against these temptations, and that God will give us the grace and strength to stand against them…it is of the devil and we are to resist him.

k. If we are good at something (sport, drama, or singing) what do we often find, parallel to this story?   (verse 15)

The world doesn’t give up easily, and it will come back with more tempting offers to attack us with.

l. How can we stand against these things?   (Psalm 119:9, 11; Ephesians 4: 22-24; 6:10-17)

It starts in our minds….we have to make up our minds to stand firm no matter what, and then take and use  the spiritual weapons which God has provided. God’s Word is our strongest weapon…we have to ask ourselves if what we are thinking about,  in line with it?

m. What did David do with these former enemies of his? How can we equate that with our own actions?  (Philippians 3:4-10)

David made them his servants, and we should keep and use our natural advantages and talents for the Lord and His glory. In themselves they are nothing but glory for self. Paul counted his qualifications as nothing but rubbish compared to knowing the Lord and serving Him.

2 Samuel Eleven….(1-27)

   We come to a rather sad episode in David’s life…a series of mistakes (sins)  that led to a matter that would have been better untold; yet it has been told so we can see that David had his weaknesses just as so many of us have………..

1.  Verses  1-27

a. What was David doing at this time? Where should he have been?     (verse 1)

David sent Joab off to fight the nation’s battle while he was loafing around Jerusalem ….he should have been out with his men and this affair would never have occurred.

b.  What time of the year was it? Why do you think so?       (verse 2)

It must have been summer with the weather too hot to sleep, and warm enough for someone to bathe outside in the open.

c.  What was David’s second mistake?     (verses 2b-3)

He took another look and then made enquiries who she was.

d.   What was his third mistake?  (verse 4)

David sent messengers to bring her to him and then committed  adultery with her and sent her home, thinking no-one would know.

e.  When does temptation become a sin ?    

When we take a second look at it and then give in.

f.  The first sin ever committed was a classic case of this….what did Eve do ?   ( Genesis 3:1-6) 

She KNEW what God had said, she LISTENED to the tempter, she LOOKED, and then she TOOK what she wasn’t supposed to.

g.  What was the consequence of David’s action, and what did he try to do about it  (David’s fourth mistake)?     ( verses 5-8)

The woman conceived and sent a message to David….he panicked and called for the woman’s husband from the war  and told him to go home and take a rest. He thought no-one would know then whose the child really was….he tried to cover it up.

h. Why didn’t David’s attempt to cover up not work?   (verses 6-12)

Because Uriah was a trusting and honourable man who refused to do it…he felt it wasn’t fair for him to have home comforts while his comrades were still on the battle field.

i.  How did David add to his series of sins?  (verse 13)

He made Uriah stay another day and got him drunk, thinking he would go home then, but he didn’t.

j. What did David do next, still trying to cover his first sin (his sixth mistake) ?   (verses 14-25)

He cause the death of Uriah by sending a letter to Joab telling him to put Uriah in the front line of battle purposely so he would be killed by the enemy…he caused Uriah’s murder.

k. What do the Scriptures teach us about trying to hide sin?   (Numbers 32:23)

It can’t be hidden…it will find us out in the end!

l. What happened then?   (verses 26-27)

When Bathsheba heard the news, she mourned for her husband and then David took her into his harem and she became one of his wives, and eventually bore a son.

m. What did God think about this? Had He taken notice of it all? Was everything OK now it was all over?   (verse 27c)

God had certainly seen it all and he was very displeased with David. But it was not the end of the story as we shall see in the next chapter.

n. What does the fact that God saw and noted what David did, tell us for today?   (2 Chronicles 16:9a; Psalm 139:1-4)

That God sees all we do and knows all we think and say….we cannot hide ANYTHING from God.

o What are we told about even THINKING wrong thoughts?   (Matthew 5:27-28)

We may not be able to help the first thought, but if we contemplate a second thought along the same lines, it is as bad as actually doing the deed…it is SIN.

p. What should be our constant prayer?   (Psalm 19:14;  139:23-24; Jeremiah 17:9-10)

We should pray constantly that our thoughts be acceptable to God, because we can never be sure of our own  motives. Our hearts are deceitful above all things and we can always rationalise and excuse ourselves for what we think, say and do. Only God can search our hearts and know our real motives. We know what we ought to think and do, and we know  we would like to be like that, but ARE WE?

2 Samuel Twelve….(1-31)

   David’s sin comes back to bite him…let’s see what we can learn from this…..

1.  Verses  1-14

a. We have already seen that the Lord was displeased with David’s actions….did He leave it at that? What did He do?     (verse 1)

No, God didn’t leave it at that….He sent the prophet Nathan to David with a sad story.

b.  What was this story?       (verses 2-4)

How a rich man with plenty of flocks and herds took from a poor man his one and only lamb to feed one of his visitors.

c.  What was David’s reaction to this story?     (verses 5-6)

He rose up in righteous anger and said that the rich man must be put to death for such a deed.

d.   What was Nathan’s reply to that?  (verses 7-10)

YOU are the man! God says that He has given you all you have and want, and you have gone and taken a poor man’s wife and put him to death so you could have her!

e.  Did God let David get away with this? What was his punishment ?    (verses 10-14)

It was threefold…he would always have wars and trouble; his wives would be taken from him by another person; the child by this union would die.

f.  What was David’s immediate reaction?  How did God take this admission? ( verse 13) 

He admitted his sin, and God forgave him, but didn’t rescind the consequences which would follow.

g.  What was the difference between Saul’s admission of sin, and David’s?     ( 1 Samuel 15:24-30; Psalm 51: 1-12)

Saul was only sorry he had been caught out, but David was truly repentant from the depths of his heart. David knew God’s forgiveness, whereas  it all played on Saul’s mind until he had a mental illness.

h. What must we be careful of not doing? What had David’s actions caused?   (verse 14)

David had caused God’s enemies to be able to point the finger and brought shame on His name; we too must be  careful to not do anything that will bring dishonour on God’s name.

i.  What lessons can we get out of this sad story?  (Psalm 139:2-3; Romans 14:7-8; Hebrews 12:6)

We may think we are sinning in secret, but God sees and knows what we are up to; We cannot get away with it….God’s chastisement will catch up with us; it causes others to mock Christianity and brings shame on the name of Christ. .

j. What is the long term result of our actions and unconfessed sin ?   (Romans 14:12)

We will all give an account of ourselves (not the next person!)  personally to God….nothing will be forgotten or left out.

2.  Verses  15-31

a. We are not told of David’s repentance in this chapter, but Psalm 51 pours it all out….what was David’s initial response?  What would be his main feeling as he realised this was God speaking to him?    (Psalm 51:1-6)

He knew he was at fault and admitted it openly….he acknowledged his sin and the fact that it God he had sinned against; he was conscious of his sin and God’s holiness and truth. He would have been covered in shame and remorse as well as repentance.

b.  What did he go on to say after his initial response?       (Psalm 51:7-11)

He needed cleansing from his sin, and a new heart and spirit; he begged that the Lord would not depart from him.

c.  How did he feel once he had faced and confessed his sin?     (Psalm 51:10-12)

He felt relieved and asked for the joy of salvation to be restored to him…he KNEW that God had heard his prayer and seen his contrition.

d.   We would do well to follow this pattern when we sin…what else are we told?  (1 John 1:7c-10)

We are told that we all sin in our daily walk, and that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son will cleanse us from it, BUT we have to confess it and believe that God has forgiven us  and go on to rejoice in Him.

e.  What was the first thing that David knew of God’s chastisement? What did David do ?    (verses 14-20)

Bathsheba’s son became very ill and David fasted and wept before the Lord praying that the child would recover. But he didn’t, and he died after a week’s illness; David got up, washed and dressed, and ate once more and then worshipped before the Lord.

f.  His servants couldn’t understand him….what reason did David give? ( verses 21-23) 

He said he had hoped the Lord would be gracious and spare the child, but when He didn’t, there was no point in continuing to grieve.

g.  What truth did David say which can be a comfort to Christian parents mourning the death of little children?     ( verse 23)

He knew the child was in God’s care and that he would one day see him again.

h. Who was the next son born to David and Bathsheba? What promise did God give concerning this child?  (verse 24; 1 Chronicles 22:9-10)

David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and the next son she had was named Solomon…God promised that he would be a great king who would have peace all his days and that he would build the temple of David’s plans.

i.  Joab was engaged in battle against the Ammonites….what did he think David should be doing? What happened when David did this?   (verses 26-31)

He felt David was shirking his duty and should be out in battle leading the people to victory; David went out and won the battle, took the spoil for the betterment of the land and made the people his servants.

j. What can we learn from this for ourselves ?   (Ephesians 6:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:3-4, 15)

We must realise that we are engaged in a spiritual warfare and that other people cannot fight our battles for us, but must be diligent in self discipline at all times, keeping our old nature under control and continuing our daily study of God’s Word for the necessary strength.

2 Samuel Thirteen….(1-39)

This is not a very nice story in the life of David’s family….lets look at it and see if there is anything we can learn from it…..

1.  Verses  1-20

a. Where did Amnon come in David’s family of sons?     (1 Chronicles 3:1-4)

He was David’s first born son, and his mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.

b.  Who was the mother of Absalom and Tamar?       (1 Chronicles 3:2)

She was  Maacha, the daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur.

c.  How many sons did Bathsheba have?     (1 Chronicles 3:5)

She had four sons beside the little one that died.

d.   Each wife would have had her own establishment so Amnon and Tamar would not have been brought up as brother and sister….what did Amnon feel for Tamar as he saw her around?  (verses 1-2)

He thought she was beautiful and lusted after her., but he thought he was in love with her.

e.  What did his friend suggest? What should he have done in the circumstances ?    (verses 4-6, 13b)

His friend said to pretend to be sick and ask David if Tamar could come and wait on him. He should have told David the truth, that he was in love with her and wanted to marry her.

f.  What happened when Tamar was looking after him? ( verses 8-14) 

His passion overtook him and he raped her; then his passion turned to hatred and he sent her off in anger.

g.  What was her attitude?  How did she feel? Where did she go?     ( verses 12-13, 16-20)

She tried to resist him and told him that her father would give her to him as wife if he would only go through the proper channels. She felt devastated after he sent her away and mourned and wept feeling desolate in her brother Absalom’s house

h. What had overcome Amnon in this situation?   (verse 11)

His lust overcame his commonsense….he didn’t really love Tamar at all, he had only lusted after her.

i.  What lessons can we get out of this sad story?  What must we be careful of?  (James 1 13-15; 2 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 2:15-17)

We must never allow ourselves to be put into compromising situations….we cannot blame God for tempting us and not keeping us safe if we do…God will never tempt us with evil and will deliver the godly from temptation.

j. If we DO fall, what are we to realise and do ?   (Proverbs 28:13; John 8:11-12;  1 John 1:9)

We are to face our sin and confess it before the Lord, then turn away from it altogether.

2.  Verses  21-39

a. How did David feel when he heard what Amnon had done to Tamar?     (verse 21)

He was very angry, but did absolutely nothing about it.

b.  What did Absalom feel and do? How long did this go on for?      (verses 22-23)

He hated Amnon with a great hatred and  refused to speak to him…..this went on for two years.

c.  What did Absalom plot at the end of this time?     (verses 23-29)

He had a sheep shearing feast and asked the king’s sons to attend and then organised his servants to assassinate Amnon while everyone was drunk.

d.   Absalom had been harbouring bitterness and hatred for two years….where are we told that this sort of thing comes from?  (John 8:44; James 3:14-16)

It originates from Satan who was a murderer from the beginning, and he has implanted it into the world system.

e.  What warning are we given about remaining bitter towards people or circumstances ? (Hebrews 12:14-15)

It is not being holy towards God and will only continue to trouble us as long as we give into it and harbour it…..not only that, but  it will fester and grow like a living organsim, and show in our speech and actions..

f.  David got the wrong message at first and there was great mourning in his household for this thing that had happened. What did Absalom do now? How did he know Talmai, king of Geshur? ( verses 30-38; 1 Chronicles 3:2) 

Absalom fled from his father’s court and went to stay with his mother’s father in the neighbouring country.

g.  How long was he there for? How did David feel about this?     ( verses 37-39)

Absalom was away for three years, and David missed him terribly and mourned for him every day, longing to see him again.

h. What sort of a father did David appear to have been in his dealings with his sons?   (verse 13, 25; 2 Samuel 18:5, 33)

It seems he was an indulgent father who didn’t discipline his sons….he would have given them anything they asked for; if David had dealt with Amnon after the episode with Tamar, Absalom wouldn’t have been eaten up with bitterness like he was and none of this would have happened. Then later when Absalom tried to take the kingdom, he should have taught him a lesson, instead of running away from him. The  people couldn’t understand the way he mourned for Absalom.

i.  What lessons can we get out of this episode in David’s life?  (Proverbs 4:10, 20-23)

We must  teach our children right from wrong, from when they are young, and then deal with matters as soon as they arise, being fair to all concerned.

2 Samuel Fourteen….(1-33)

1.  Verses  1-28

a. What did Joab observe about David during this time?     ( verse 1)

He saw that David was fretting for Absalom.

b.  What did Joab do about it?       (verses 2-3)

He called for a wise woman that he knew and told her to go to the king with this fabricated story about her two sons and how one killed the other and now the rest of the relatives wanted to kill him to avenge the death of his brother….this would leave her with no-one to carry on the family name.

c.  She agreed to do this….what was David’s initial reaction to this supposed situation?     (verse 11b)

He said that no-one should be allowed to touch the remaining son.

d.  What did she go on to say to David?     (verses 13-14)

She asked why he didn’t bring home the one of his own family that was in exile….this next move had to come from him as the father.

e.  David started to get suspicious bout this story she was telling….what did he then ask her ?  (verse 19a)

Has Joab put you up to this?

f.  What did David do about the situation now? ( verses 21-23) 

He told Joab to go and tell Absalom to come back to Jerusalem.

g.  David had half rectified the situation, but what was still wrong?     ( verse 24)

David refused to see him

h. How long did this situation last for?   (verse 28)

Another two years passed and  David still hadn’t called for Absalom  to come and see him.

i.  How many years was it now since Absalom killed Amnon?  (verse 28; ch. 13:38)

It was five years since David had seen him.

j. What is the right way to deal with family grievances (or any misunderstanding with anyone) ?   (Matthew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3-4)

To go direct to the person and talk it out, and if they won’t listen then you are to forgive them just the same.

k. Where do situations like this put a parent?   (Luke 15:11-24)

Parents cannot afford to stand off in righteous anger even when they are the ones who have been sinned against..,..they have no option but to freely forgive to get the relationship back to what it used to be.

l. How many times are we to forgive a rebellious child?   (Matthew 18:21-22)

Forever!

2.  Verses  25-27; 29-33

a. How would you describe Absalom? What did we read about David’s appearance?     ( verses 25-27; 1 Samuel 16:12)

Absalom was a handsome man with a mass of thick wavy (?) hair that he cut once a year…he had inherited his looks from his father and passed them on to his daughter who he had named after his sister. David had been a handsome young man with pink cheeks.

b.  What did Absalom do about getting to see his father?       (verses 29-32)

He called twice for Joab to come to him to act as go-between, but Joab took no notice of him. Absalom got annoyed with this and set Joab’s fields on fire, burning up his crops. This brought about the desired result….Joab went to see him about this matter!

c.  What happened then?     (verses 32-33)

Joab took the message from Absalom to David, to say what was the point of him coming home when David refused to see him! So David agreed to a visit, and there was a form of reconciliation with Absalom bowing low before David and David kissing him.

d.  What lesson can we learn from all this?     (Ephesians 4:30-32; Colossians 3:12-14)

We have to forgive one another whole heartedly, regardless of whose fault it all is, otherwise we are grieving the Holy Spirit.

2 Samuel Fifteen….(1-37)

1.  Verses  1-23

a. What was Absalom’s ambition?     ( verse 10)

He wanted to be king instead of his father.

b.  How did he prepare for this?       (verses 1-6)

He had  a small band of soldiers with horses and chariots and would sit at the gate to the city and intercept any who were going to the king for judgment, saying he would sort them out; he was very charming with them and said if only he had the authority he would see to it. So everyone thought he was just the greatest person….he had established a high profile and the people loved him.

c.  We know that David reigned for forty years (2 Samuel 5:4) , and that Absalom was born in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2-3) so it must have been towards the end of David’s reign that this happened….what did Absalom now go to the king and say?     (verses 7-9)

He said that he had promised God that if he got back to Jerusalem he would serve Him, so he wanted to go to Hebron to do this.

d.  David told him to go then, but what was Absalom really planning?     (verse 10)

He was planning to set himself up as king in Hebron and sent messengers to all the people of Israel  to tell them this.

e.  Who else did Absalom get on his side? How did David feel about this? (verse 12; Psalm 55:12-14, 16-17)

Absalom got Ahithophel, David’s counsellor, to defect from David and go with him. David was devastated at this, saying he could have borne it if it were someone else, but Ahithophel, his best friend? He felt he couldn’t trust anyone, and called on the Lord for help.

f.  What great statement did David make at this time that we can fall back on today when we are in trouble? ( Psalm 55:22) 

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.

g.  We notice that even though David was prepared to do this, he didn’t seem to ask God’s advice on what to do….what did he do instead?     ( verses 14-18)

David gathered up all his household and servants (except for ten women servants who were his concubines) and fled the city.

h. Who went with David as he left Jerusalem ?   (verses 16-22)

David’s household all left along with six hundred armed men, along with Ittai the Gittite,  a stranger who was in exile there. David told him he would be safe enough to stay, but Ittai said that he wanted to be with David wherever he went.

i. What did the local people think of all this, seeing their king run away from his son?   (verse 23)

They didn’t like it and all wept aloud as they watched him go.

j.  What should David have done instead of running from trouble? What are we told to do when faced with problems, family or otherwise?   (Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:8-10)

We take it to the Lord in prayer and then confront the problem, resisting the devil and his upsets; we are not to allow ourselves to be overcome.

2.  Verses  24-37

a. What was being taken into exile with David?     ( verse 24)

The priests had picked up the Ark of God and were taking it with them.

b.  What did David say when he saw this?       (verses 25-29)

He told the priests to take it back to its place….God was able to look after him even if the Ark wasn’t with him. He told Zadok to keep an eye on things and send his sons to report events to David while he was away.

c.  What hurt David more than anything else? What was David’s prayer about this?    (verse 31)

David was really hurt that Ahithophel was with Absalom, and he prayed that the Lord would turn Ahithophel’s advice to Absalom into foolishness.

d.  What friend did David have left who he could depend on? What did he tell him to do?  (verses 32-37)

Hushai the Archite caught up with David as he had stopped to have a time of prayer, and wanted to go with him.  David told him to go back to the city and when Absalom came there as king, to go to him and say he would serve him as he had served David. But he was to send the priest’s sons with whatever news there was of events as they unfolded.

e.  What other advantage was there for David in this arrangement?      (verse 34b)

Not only would David find out what was happening, but he hoped that Hushai would be able to counteract Ahithophel’s advice to David’s advantage.

f.  What example do we see in Hushai that we should follow?  Who is our great example in this respect?  ( Mark 10:43-45; Philippians 2:5-8) 

He was prepared to serve David no matter what, and we should be prepared to serve each other, and especially the church leaders. Our Lord humbled Himself to do the will of His Father and left everything behind Him in heaven when He came to earth to live and die as a man.

2 Samuel Sixteen….(1-23)

1.  Verses  1-23

a. Who came to light again in this story? What do we remember about him?     ( verse 1; chapter 9:1, 9-10)

Ziba had been one of Saul’s servants, and when David had given Mephibosheth back the land of Saul, he had also given Ziba the job of farming this for him.

b.  What did Ziba now see for himself in the circumstances that had arisen?       (verses 1-4)

He saw an opportunity for personal gain which worked. He had taken food and wine for David and when he was asked where Mepohibosheth was, he told lies about him, saying that he stayed back in Jerusalem to get the kingdom of his grandfather back. David believed this and told Ziba he could have all of Mephibosheth’s land for himself!

c.  What was the REAL situation with Mephibosheth?     (chapter 19:24-30)

When David finally returned he found that Mephibosheth had mourned the whole time he was away and that Ziba had told a pack of lies about him.

d.  What do we learn from this?     (

To not take things at face value, but to check the facts out before acting; even people we trust do not always have the facts right.

e.  What trial did David face next as he continued in exile?     (verses 5-13)

One of Saul’s relatives came and walked through the middle of David’s crowd cursing and swearing as he went, and was throwing stones at them as he went.

f.  What did David’s men say and how did David take this? ( verses 9-13) 

Abishai wanted to go and take off his head, but David wouldn’t allow it….he felt it may have been from the Lord, and if his own son had turned against him, this man’s cursing was of no consequence….God would sort it all out in the end.

g.  How are we to treat those who turn against us and put all sorts of slander out against us?     ( Matthew 5:43-44)

We are to pray for them and do them good, then leave the rest to the Lord to deal with.

h. How did David deal with Shimei when he returned to Jerusalem later ?   (chapter 19:23)

He spared his life in spite of Abishai wanting to take his head off.

i. Absalom and his men, along with Ahithophel, arrived in Jerusalem….who else turned up and what did Absalom think of this?   (verses 15-16)

Hushai turned up, pretending to go along with Absalom’s claim to be king….Absalom was a bit suspicious of this and asked why he wasn’t supporting his friend (David). Ahithophel replied that he was going to advise Absalom the same way he had advised David.

j.  Ahithophel was seen to be a very wise man, both with David and now with Absalom….what did Absalom ask him now? For what reason?   (verses 20-21)

Absalom wanted to know the best thing he could do to establish the fact that he was now king, and Ahithophel said that if he publicly took his father’s concubines, this would show Israel his contempt for his father and that he was now greater then he was.

k. Absalom did this…..what was this in fulfillment of?   (chapter 12:10-12)

This was part of David’s punishment from the Lord when he sinned in taking Bathsheba and killing her husband.

l. How highly did both David and Absalom regard Ahithophel?   (verse 23)

They took his advice as though it was from the Lord.

m. What must we beware of?   (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

To be careful who we listen to….if their message doesn’t follow through what the Scriptures teach, they are to be taken no notice of, no matter how charismatic their manner is. Even Satan can appear like an angel of light telling the truth!

2 Samuel Seventeen….(1-29)

1.  Verses  1-29

a. Absalom must have been wondering what to do next to solidify the kingdom….what advice did Ahithophel give him? What did Absalom think of this idea?     ( verses 1-4)

Ahithophel told him he would take 12,000 men and capture David while he was weary and weak, and then kill him only, and bring all his men back to Absalom. Absalom thought this was a good idea, but he must have still had some reservations.

b.  What did Absalom do next? What advice was he given from this direction?       (verses 5-14)

He then went to Hushai and asked what he would advise….Hushai reminded him that David was a mighty man of war (the idea of him being worn out was ludicrous!) and said it was a better idea if Absalom went himself with the whole army and pounced on him where he was hiding.

c.  Which man’s advice did Absalom choose to follow? Why? What did Hushai do?     (verses 15-22)

Absalom thought Hushai’s advice was better….it was God who inclined his thoughts this way as His plan was to get rid of Absalom. Hushai immediately sent his two messengers to David telling him what was going to happen.

d.  What did Ahithophel do when he saw Absalom didn’t take his advice?     (verse 23)

He went home, put his affairs in order and then hung himself.

e.  What did David do when he got the news of Absalom’s plans?     (verses 21-22)

He got all his people on the move and went across the river Jordan to Mahanaim.

f.  What did Absalom do then? ( verse 24) 

He followed him across the river with all his hordes of men, and pitched his camp in the land of Gilead.

g.  How did God provide food for David’s men?     ( verses 27-29)

He inclined three men to provide all that David needed.

h. What was David’s confidence at this time when he was on the run from Absalom ?   (Psalm 3:1-8)

He knew that God was watching over him, and he was able to sleep peacefully in spite of his circumstances….he wasn’t afraid of the enemy (who was his own son at this time) and he looked to the Lord to save him.

i. What are we to remember when things are going wrong for us?   (Psalm 42:1-11)

When we feel down in the dumps, we are to remember to hope in God….things WILL come right in the end! No matter how bad things seem at the moment, God is there with us and will bring us through.

2 Samuel Eighteen….(1-33)

1.  Verses  1-33

a. David was an experienced man of war…what battle strategy did he order?     ( verses 1-2)

He divided his men into three bands and said he would go with them.

b.  What did his men think of this idea?       (verse 3)

They didn’t think he should go with them as they said that he was the one that Absalom’s men would be after…he was a greater prize than any of them, so he should stay in the city and organise them from there.

c.  What did David decide to do in the face of that advice? What did he tell them to do with Absalom?     (verses 4-5)

He agreed to it, and stood in the gate as the men of war marched out. He gave orders to the three generals to deal gently with Absalom….in other words he didn’t want him killed….and everyone heard him say this.

d.  Where was the battle fought and what happened to Absalom there?     (verses 6-13)

It was fought in the woods of Ephraim,  and David’s three bands of men went in from different angles….as  Absalom’s men scattered, David’s men caught up with them among the trees, and twenty thousand men of Israel were slaughtered. Absalom saw what was happening and as he fled on his mule, his head got caught in the boughs of a thick tree. The mule went off from under him and he was stuck fast there. One of Joab’s men saw him and told Joab, who then went off and thrust three darts through his chest. He called the battle off and they tossed Absalom’s body into a big pit and threw a heap of stones over it.

e.  How did the news get to David?     (verses 19-23)

Joab refused to sent the news immediately, and then sent Cushi off to tell David. Ahimaz, who David had appointed to be the news bearer, badly wanted to go too, and left after Cushi. He was a faster runner (or may have gone a different way) and got to David first.

f.  What was David doing? What news did Ahimaz give? ( verses 24-29) 

David was waiting anxiously in the gate for news. When Ahimaz got there, he couldn’t bring himself to tell David what had really happened, so he waited for Cushi to arrive.

g.  How did David take the news?     ( verses 30-33)

He was very upset and lamented much for Absalom…he even said he wished that he been the one to die!

h. What was Absalom’s death proof of ?   (chapter 17:14)

God had ordained that it should happen at that time….Absalom was NOT God’s choice of the next king.

2 Samuel Nineteen….(1-43)

1.  Verses  1-43

a. What did David continue to do after Absalom’s death? What effect did it have on those around him?     ( verses 1-4)

He continued to mourn and lament and feel that life wasn’t worth living…his people started to leave him as they couldn’t handle this display of grief any longer.

b.  What did Joab tell him?       (verses 5-7)

He rebuked David and said it almost seemed that David thought more of that son who had become his enemy, than he did of those who loved him and stood with him. He told him straight that he was shaming his friends and family by his behaviour and that he had better pull himself together, and reminded him of his responsibilities to his people as their rightful king..

c.  What can we learn from this?     (Isaiah 53: 4-5)

To not allow our private griefs to overflow and affect others around us….after all no-one else will really understand, so we might as well pull ourselves together and present a cheerful front. We are to remember that God understands our griefs and that our Lord has borne far more for us….He was classed as a Man of Sorrows.

d.  So what did David do? How did they cross the river Jordan?     (verses 8-18a)

David brightened himself up and sat in the gate of the town where he was, then took his people back across the river Jordan to Jerusalem ….they crossed on a ferry boat.

e.  Who was the first to meet David as he returned? Why?     (verses 19-23;chapter 16:5-13 )

Shimei was the first to meet David and apologise for having cursed him when he was leaving….he was afraid of losing his head which was what Abishai wanted to do to him.

f.  How did David view Shimei’s actions as he was leaving? What about now as he heard his apology? ( verses 22-23; chapter 16: 10-12) 

He felt it was part of the Lord’s doings, and that maybe he deserved it; he was prepared to overlook Shimei’s earlier behaviour and save his life.

g.  Who else came to meet David as he returned?     ( verses 24-30)

Mephibosheth also came to meet David in a very shabby condition….he hadn’t changed his clothes or combed his hair since David left to show how much he missed him. He knew that Ziba had slandered him before David.

h. Why hadn’t Mephibosheth had gone with David when he went into exile ?   (verse 26; chapter 16:3)

Because Ziba had deceived him for his own gain, and hadn’t got the donkey ready for Mephibosheth to ride. He made out to David that Mephibosheth was planning a coup to take back the kingdom.

i. David seemed to be a bit peeved with Mephobosheth, almost as though he didn’t believe him…what indicates this?   (verse s 29-30)

David still allowed Ziba to take Mephibosheth’s land.

j.  Who was the third person to meet David? What do we know about him?      (verses 31-40; chapter 17:27-29)

Barzillai was over eighty years old and he was one of the three men who took provisions to David’s band of people when they first ran away from Absalom. He now came to meet David as he went back across the river Jordan….David wanted him to go right to Jerusalem with him, but he spoke up for a younger man, Chimham, to go in his place.

k. What sort of welcome did David receive when he got back to Jerusalem? What had happened to people without a leader ?   (verses 41-43)

The nation was divided and they were squabbling among themselves…Judah said the king belonged more to them than to the other ten tribes, while the other side said there were more of them, therefore they had more say.

l. What lesson can we get out of this whole episode of David and Absalom?  (Matthew 18:15-17)

David should have confronted his sons away back when Amnon had raped his sister ; perhaps if he had dealt with him then, Absalom wouldn’t have killed Amnon and run away….the whole family was in disarray and squabbling amongst themselves; then David shouldn’t have sulked with Absalom for those five years, as it gave Absalom time to set himself up against his father. It doesn’t pay to run from trouble when we have the power to correct and fix it….we must face it and do our best to put it right.

2 Samuel Twenty….(1-26)

1.  Verses  1-26

a. Who rose up against David next?     ( verses 1-2)

A man called Sheba who saw an opportunity to take the leadership from David.

b.  What was the first thing that David did when he returned to his home in Jerusalem?       (verse 3)

He dealt with the ten concubines he had left behind when he fled,  and shut them up, providing food and drink for them, but having no more to do with them.

c.  Who was Amasa?  What was his role? What do you think of this?   (verses 5-6; chapters 17:25; 19:13; 1 Chronicles 2:12-16)

Amasa was a nephew of David’s and first cousin to Joab….David gave him Joab’s role of captain of the army. One would have thought that David would have known Joab well enough to know that he wouldn’t take that lying down. David seems to have been not only impulsive, but also a bit foolish in this.

d.  What did David tell Amasa to do? What DID Amasa do?     (verses 4-5)

David told Amasa to have the men of war ready within three days, but he didn’t do as David said and dithered around.

e.  What could David see was going to happen with this delay? What did he do about it?     (verses 6-7)

David could see that Sheba would do more harm to his kingdom that Absalom did, and that the men of Israel were following him rather than David, so he told Abishai to get David’s men together and go after him.

f.  What happened to this set up now? ( verses 8-15) 

Joab came to light again and he and his men joined forces with Abishai. Joab caught up with Amasa and gave him a friendly greeting but stabbed him at the same time so that he died. He was left on the roadside wallowing in his blood and the people wouldn’t go past until his body was removed. They then went on their way and besieged the town where Sheba was taking refuge.

g.  Who rescued the town from total destruction?     ( verses 16-22)

There was a wise woman in the city who was not afraid to confront Joab and ask what was going on…she told him they were a peaceable town and asked what he wanted. He said that if they delivered Sheba to him he would go away, so the men of the place cut off Sheba’s head and tossed it over the wall to Joab, and he went off back to Jerusalem.

h. We see a list of David’s officers next….what position was Joab back in ?   (verses 23-26)

Joab was reinstalled as captain of the army.

i. How did David’s treatment of Sheba ( a rebel) compare with his treatment of Absalom (also a rebel)? 

He was more decisive with  Sheba and didn’t mess around, dealing with him as a rebel’s behaviour deserved, whereas he was too soft with Absalom and didn’t deal with him as he deserved.

j.  What lesson can we as parents learn from this?      (Proverbs 29:15-17; Hebrews 12:9-10)

To correct and punish our children fairly when they are young, and they will grow up to respect us….Absalom was never corrected by his father and he brought shame and unrest to David….he gave no delight to his father at all, only sorrow and mourning!

2 Samuel Twenty-one….(1-22)

1.  Verses  1-22

a. What went wrong for David next? Why was this?     ( verse 1; Joshua 9:2-16)

There came on the land a famine for three years, so David asked the Lord why this was so. The Lord said it was retribution for what Saul had done to the Gibeonites some years earlier, going against the treaty that Israel had made with them in Joshua’s time.

b.  What does this tell us about how the Lord views things?       (verse1c)

God takes promises that a person makes very seriously….whereas we take it or leave it, this is not God’s view.

c.  What did David do for reparation?   (verses 2-9)

He went to the Lord first to find out why; then he did what he could to rectify the situation.

d.  What did the Gibeonites ask for?     (verses 4-6)

They said they didn’t want money, but asked instead for the lives of seven of Saul’s descendants to make up for the lives of their people that Saul had taken.

e.  Who did David spare? Why?     (verse 7)

David spared Mephibosheth  because of the promise he had made to Jonathan.

f.  What happened to these seven men? ( verses 8-9) 

David gave them to the Gibeonites and they killed them and left their bodies strung up….one of Saul’s women watched over the bodies, keeping the birds and wild animals from eating them.

g.  What did David do then for the bones of Saul and Jonathan?     ( verses 12-14)

He had them exhumed and reburied with these seven men in the family burial place of Saul’s father Kish.

h. We are not given any time frame for these events….what do we find about David at this stage?   (verses 15-22)

David was still being harassed by the Philistines, and went out to fight against them, but he wasn’t as fit as he used to be and got tired very quickly. His nephew Abishai stood beside him, and killed the giant that was his adversary, and his men told him that he wasn’t to go out to fight any more, they would do it.

i. David had been fighting against the Philistines for many years, and here they were, still coming to light against him….what do we find in our Christian life?  (Romans 7:18-25)

We never completely conquer the sins and bad habits that beset us…. we want to serve God with a pure heart, but it seems impossible.

j.  What can we do when we slip and sin?      (1 John 1:9; 2:1-2)

We have an Advocate in Jesus Christ the only righteous One who paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, and if we confess our sin to Him, He will forgive us, and present us to His Father.

2 Samuel Twenty-two….(1-51)

1.  Verses  1-43

a.  This chapter is almost word for word the same as Psalm 18…..what is David saying to the Lord?     ( verses 1-4)

He is giving thanks and praise to the Lord for delivering him from all his enemies, and acknowledging that it is God alone who has preserved him.

b.  Ten is the number of perfection….what ten things can we see here that are part of God’s character?       (verses 2-4)

Rock;        Fortress;     Deliverer;   God of my Rock;      Shield;    Horn of Salvation              High Tower;     Refuge ;        Saviour   ;       Worthy of  Praise

c.  When did David call on the Lord?   (verse 7)

When he was in distress.

d.  Where did David’s idea of the appearance of God probably come from?     (Exodus 19:18-20; 20:18)

From what Israel saw when God was giving them the ten commandments on Mount Sinai.

e.  What was God’s physical presence accompanied by?     (verses 8-14; Exodus 20:18; Acts 9:3-4)

God’s physical presence is always accompanied by great light, and often with an earthquake and great rumblings and lightning.

f.  What state did David feel the Lord had brought him from? ( verses 17-18) 

He felt he had been taken from floundering  and nearly drowning to being delivered from his enemies.

g.  What sort of area did he now feel he was brought into?  Why?    ( verses 20-21

He felt he was set free and liberated into wide open spaces because he was delivered

h. David felt that he was righteous before God….where do we get our righteousness from?   (verses 23-25; Philippians 3:9)

David felt he had done the best he could….we know that we have no righteousness of our own, but only what God has given us by coming to Christ and believing on Him

i. What is a person’s own natural goodness like in God’s sight?  (Isaiah 64:6-7)

It is no better than filthy smelly rags…we can only claim the righteousness that Jesus Christ gives us when we believe on Him.

j.  Why isn’t being good enough in God’s sight? What more is needed?      (Micah 6:8; Romans 3:20, 23)

Our own standard of goodness does not reach God’s requirements…we still fall short of it. God does require us to be good and kind to others, but He also requires us to humble ourselves to walk with Him.

k. Who does David give the credit to? What twelve things do we see about God here ?   (verses 31-37)

David gives all the credit to God….he says it is God who gives these things….

His perfect way;     Trustworthy Word ;      Protection ;     God alone;     Stable Rock; Gives strength and power;    Maps our perfect way;       Gives speed;       Gives position; Gives Victory;              Gives Salvation;        Gives stability

l. When we look to God alone for strength in life’s battles, what happens?  (verses 38-44; Romans 8:37-39)

We get the victory! We are more than conquerors through the Lord Jesus Christ.

m. What has God provided for us to use to continue to live our Christian life?   (Ephesians 6:11-17)

He has given us His armour to protect us  from Satan’s darts and to encourage us and give us the victory.

2.  Verses  44-51

a.  What is David saying here?     ( verses 44-46)

He is acknowledging how God has delivered him from the squabblings of his own people and given him a wider kingdom than just his own people; those who would not submit to him would just fade away out of the picture.

b.  What is the wider picture that David is giving…who else can we see that fits this picture?    (Psalm 2:7-8;  Ephesians 2:10-22)

Our Lord Jesus has received an inheritance from His Father that covers not just the people of the old covenant (Israel) but also people who never knew Him, who were far away from God and from His covenants of promise. Through His work on the cross, He now has a people who will serve Him.

c.  What is David basically saying in these verses?   (verses 45-51)

He is giving God thanks and praise for giving him the position he now found himself in.

d.  What was David reminding himself of here?     (verse 51)

How that God had promised that his royal line would go on for ever.

e.  When did God first give this promise to David?     (chapter  7:8-29)

When David was contemplating build the temple for the Lord….God told him He didn’t want him to do it, but his son would instead; instead of David building Him a house, He (God) would build David an everlasting house.

f.  How seriously did God take this promise to David? ( Jeremiah 33:14-26) 

He said that if David’s descendants did not number more than the sand on the beaches, then day and night would cease to exist.

g.  How do we see this being fulfilled from now right through to the future?    ( Revelation 5:5; 22:16)

Jesus Christ describes himself as the Root of David, and it is through Him that this is being fulfilled.  Every believer is part of this promise and proof of it.

2 Samuel Twenty-three….(1-39)

1.  Verses  1-39

a.  How is David described in these verses?     ( verses 1-2)

He was the Annointed by God as king, and is described as the sweet psalmist of Israel who was moved by the Spirit of God and wrote and sang God’s Word.

b.  What had God made with David, and how do we see that being fulfilled at this time?       (verse 5; Matthew 1:1)

God had made this covenant with David that would be everlasting, a sure and certain salvation for all men and we see this being fulfilled today through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

c.  What did the people think of David?   (chapter 18 :16; 21:17)

The people loved him and said he was worth ten thousand of them, he was the light of Israel.

d.  After all tht David had done over the years, in his sin and battles, how could God say that David was a man after His own heart?     (Psalm 119:97, 103)

David’s heart was toward the Lord always….we never read of David being proud or arrogant, he loved God’s Word and meditated in it continually, finding it sweet to his taste. When he was confronted with his sin, he repented and confessed it immediately.

e.  What encouragement can we take from this?     (Psalm 32:1-5;37: 23-24; 1 John 1:9)

That even though we fall, God is there to lift us up, and when we confess our sin, He will forgive us and cleanse us, giving us a fresh start.

f.  What do we see in the rest of this chapter? ( verses 8-39) 

The names of David’s mighty men and some of the exploits that they did for him over the years.

2 Samuel Twenty-four….(1-25)

1.  Verses  1-2

a.  Why do you think God’s anger was over Israel at this time?     ( verse 1; Deuteronomy 31:29)

Because their heart wasn’t toward Him and they were doing evil things; God needed to teach them a lesson.

b.  Israel had everything going for them at this time…the land was at peace, and a king who was following the Lord, yet their hearts weren’t towards the Lord….what does this show us?       (1 Corinthians 10:12-13; Ephesians 6:11-14)

It shows us how vigilant we have to be to keep ourselves right before God ALWAYS, and to stand firm for Him and His truth without deviating….Satan never lets up on us.

c.  What are we told was REALLY behind this move of David’s?   (1 Chronicles 21:1-2)

It was Satan who was behind this thought, and God allowed it to teach Israel a lesson.

d.  What do we see about Satan’s workings, and God’s permissions?   (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7)

Satan does his best to destroy God’s plans and people, but he can’t go beyond what God allows.

e.  What are we to do when Satan attacks us?   (Ephesians 6:11-13; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9 )

We are to resist his suggestions, and stand firm for the Lord,  taking up and using God’s armour.

f.  God had given instructions of what to do if a census was ever taken, and David didn’t do this….what were these instructions?   (Exodus 30:11-16)

Each person numbered had to give a certain sum of money as atonement money for the running of God’s house….we are not told that David did this.

g.  What did God say would happen if this atonement money was not paid?    ( Exodus 30:12)

He said a  plague would come upon them.

2.  Verses  2-25

a.  What did Joab think of David’s command?     ( verse 3; 1 Chronicles 21:3-4a)

He didn’t like it and knew that it was wrong without the ransom money, so he never completed the job properly, leaving out the Levites.

b.  How long did it take for Joab to do this job?       (verses 4b-8)

It took him nine months and twenty days.

c. What number did Joab give to David?   (verse 9; 1 Chronicles 21:6)

This chapter says it was 800,000 in Israel and 500,000 in Judah; the Chronicles account says there were one million, one hundred thousand men in Israel, and  470,000 in Judah. We do not know why this discrepancy in numbers is recorded.

d.  What reason are we told why Israel was never to be numbered fully?   (Genesis 22:17-18; 1 Chronicles 27:23-24)

Because God had told Abraham that his seed would be an innumerable figure, as many as the sand grains on the sea shore.

e.  What are we told about God’s feelings in this matter of David’s disobedience?   (1 Chronicles 21:7)

He was displeased with Israel and with David.

f.  How did David feel when he realised the enormity of what he had done?   (verse 10; Psalm 32:5 )

He wished he had never done it, and he confessed his actions as sin before God.

g.  David had sinned and confessed it, but there were still consequences…..what were they?   (verses 11-14)

God still had to punish the evil that had been done and gave David three options to choose from….seven years of famine, three months of running from his enemies or three days of plague ….David chose to suffer from God directly.

h.  How many died in the subsequent plague?    ( verse 15)

Seventy thousand men died in this plague.

i. What can we learn from this episode in David’s life?   ()

We are not to take God’s rules lightly….we may not always understand the reason for them, but if we do our own thing we will have to learn the hard way and there are always consequences.

j. Can you think of one common example where God lays down a rule for His people which is often broken?  (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

God tells His people to not get into a situation of being tied in with an unbeliever irrevocably, either in marriage or in business deals, because it will not work in the end….there will always be a conflict of interest.

k.  What did David actually SEE during this plague from God?  How did it affect him?    (verses 16-17; 1 Chronicles 21:15-17)

An angel of God was striking the people with the plague, and was hovering in the sky over Jerusalem when David saw him there and it struck great awe into him. He fell to the ground and cried out to God confessing his sin in numbering the people  and saying it was not their fault at all.

l. Where did the angel stop? What did God tell David to do ?   (verse 18)

The angel stopped where Araunah the Jebusite was threshing his wheat, and God told David to make an altar right there.

m. How did Araunah feel when he saw King David coming towards him?  (verses 19-23)

He felt quite apprehensive and bowed low before him. When David made his request, Araunah offered it all to him for free, but David refused saying he couldn’t offer something to the Lord that had cost him nothing.

n. David built his altar there and the plague stopped….what was so special about this particular spot where the altar was built?  (Genesis22:1-14; 2 Chronicles 3:1; John 19:16-18)

Looking back in history, it was built on the same spot that God had  asked  Abraham to offer his son Isaac; looking forwards into time, it was also the same spot that the temple was built and subsequently where our Lord Jesus was crucified to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. Thus, it was a place of great significance in the history of mankind.

o. What significance does this spot have for us today?     (1John 1:7, 9)

It is only as we claim the blood of Christ for ourselves individually and confess our sins that we are cleansed from our sins. If we have never done this, then we must do it immediately to have our sins forgiven.