David was After God's Heart?

This Sunday we continue in the life of David with this somewhat humorous episode of what happens to David’s servants as they deliver condolences to the Ammonite king; then we will look at the wages of sin from the Bathsheba era in his life. 

1. Why does David send his servants to Hanun, king of the Ammonites? 10:1-2
2. How does Hanun treat the servants? 10:4 (too funny, we can laugh now, such a picture), but we can learn…
   • Lesson 1 – David shows active sympathy for the suffering, 10:2
   • Lesson 2 – David’s intentions were misunderstood, 10:3, 5
   • Lesson 3 – David is fiercely loyal and protective to his people, 10:5
   • Lesson 4 – David took on their enemy himself, sending Joab and his mighty men, 10:7
3. What is the outcome of the inevitable battle? 10:13, 14
4. Introduction:
   • What is your favorite springtime activity?
   • How soon do you believe people begin sunbathing in Virginia Beach?
   • Who was your “girl next door” or “big man on campus?”
5. What significance do you see in the timing of David’s sin? 2 Samuel 11:1, 2
   • What was he supposed to be doing? 2 Samuel 11:1
   • What three specific actions did David take toward his sin? 2 Samuel 11:3, 4
6. Where did David go wrong?
   • Lesson 1 – He was in the wrong place at the wrong time 2 Samuel 11:1, 2 (he was at home rather than in battle, and he got up from his bed, open to boredom and temptation.
   • Lesson 2 – He failed to protect himself with a network of accountability, answering to no one, he grew accustomed to wanting and getting.
   • Lesson 3 – He was lonely and made a plan (note the three actions of #5. b.)
     • Sinned in thought – 2 Samuel 11:2
     • Sinned in word – 2 Samuel 11:3
     • Sinned in deed – 2 Samuel 11:4
7. Could Bathsheba have prevented this from happening?
8. What superior character qualities do you see in Uriah? 2 Samuel 11:9, 11, 13 (Deuteronomy 23:9-10).
   • What does this reveal about David?
   • Where do you see the first hint of fear in David? About Uriah? About Joab?
   • Have you ever felt someone was faking an interest in you for an ulterior motive?
   • How did David involve Joab in his sin?
   • How would you describe David’s heart at this point? 2 Samuel 11:25
9. How far away is David’s heart? God’s commentary is 2 Samuel 11:27
   • Lesson 1 – He resisted opportunities to repent, but chose to stay in this revolving door of deception. 
     • How could he have repented or acted with integrity?
     • Why did he NOT repent
   • Lesson 2 – He was unmoved by Uriah’s integrity.
   • Lesson 3 – He tried to cover his own sin, rather than confess it. (Psalm 32:1)
   • Lesson 4 – He involved a lot of others in his sin.
10. What is Bathsheba feeling as her identity changes from Uriah’s wife, to David’s lover, to Uriah’s widow, to David’s bride? 2 Samuel 11:26-27
11. Why does Nathan the prophet speak to David using a parable? 2 Samuel 12:1, 2, 3, 4
    • Why did he use a sheep in his story?
    • Why does the absence of justice and mercy in Nathan’s story enrage David? 2 Samuel 12:5-6
    • What is Nathan’s perspective on gratitude? 2 Samuel 12:7-9
    • What three sons will meet a violent death in this prophecy? 2 Samuel 12:10
      • 2 Samuel 13:28-29
      • 2 Samuel 18:14-15
      • 1 Kings 2:24-25
12. How did the prophecy of 2 Samuel 12:11, 12 come to pass? 2 Samuel 16:21, 22
13. What toll did this sin take on David? Psalm 32:3, 4, 5
14. How does David’s response to rebuke compare to Saul’s response in a similar situation? 2 Samuel 12:13, Psalm 51 (1 Samuel 13:11-12, 15:13-26).
15. How did David respond to the child’s sudden illness? 2 Samuel 12:15-25
16. Notice God did not do what David asked (2 Samuel 12:16) but died (2 Samuel 12:18). Since prayer did not change the child’s health, what did change?
    • Lesson 1 – David’s plea forced him to a place of dependence on God.
    • Lesson 2 – David’s plea satisfied his spirit (the child did not die because he did not ask God to spare him).
    • Lesson 3 – David’s plea ensured his survival through this tragedy he and his wife would suffer (enabling him to comfort his wife 2 Samuel 12:24-25).
    • Lesson 4 – David’s plea touched God’s heart, He disciplines those whom He loves (Hebrews 12:6). Solomon was called, Jedidiah, which means “beloved of the Lord,” the successor to the throne.
17. No relief like repentance – Psalm 51
    • Psalm 51:1 – have mercy, according to Your love and compassion
    • Psalm 51:2 – wash and cleanse from sin
    • Psalm 51:3 – I know my sin, you can live without it, give it up
    • Psalm 51:4 – sin is against God alone; the biggest heartbreak
    • Psalm 51:5 – sinful at birth; it is a part of me
    • Psalm 51:6 – God desires truth; even when we don’t want to believe it
    • Psalm 51:7 – cleanse me with hyssop (Exodus 12:22-23) I’ll be whiter than snow
    • Psalm 51:8 – let the bones You have crushed rejoice; the pain of confessing and repenting will bring healing
    • Psalm 51:9 – hide Your face from my sin; our total depravity keeps us from looking to God, shame, embarrassment, He wants to forgive
    • Psalm 51:10 – create in me a pure heart; create is bara, like in Genesis 1:1, which only God can do for us
    • Psalm 51:11 – don not take the Holy Spirit from me; a fate worse than death
    • Psalm 51:12 – restore the joy of Your salvation
    • Psalm 51:13 – I will teach others and they will return to God; the forgiven become evangelists to God’s goodness

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