Category: Life of David

David was After God's Heart?

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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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Life Lessons From David

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The Men of Steel get together on a regular basis for fellowship, service projects, biblical inspiration and sharing life. We can become better men, husbands and fathers by holding each other accountable and encouraging one another. I thought about King David, since he is the current topic of my Sunday Bible study class, and thought I’d share these insights from Second Samuel: 

  1. How many times has David been anointed king? 2 Samuel 5:3, (see also 1 Samuel 16:13 and 2 Samuel 2:4)
  2. How long does David rule over Israel and Judah together? 2 Samuel 5:5
  3. Who occupies Jerusalem before David takes the city? 2 Samuel 5:6
  4. How does David get in to the city? 2 Samuel 5:8 (I love how he takes the fortress)
  5. Why does Uzzah die during the March to Jerusalem? 2 Samuel 6:6-7
    • How does David respond to Uzzah’s death? 2 Samuel 6:8-10
    • What changes are made in bringing the ark for the second time? 2 Samuel 6:13 (notice the “bearers” and the sacrifice, compared to 2 Samuel 6:3)
  6. How does David’s wife react to his dancing before the Lord with all his might? 2 Samuel 6:16 (What might this suggest?)
    • Lesson 1 – The King was not immune to marriage troubles.
    • Lesson 2 – Other people cannot limit our expression of love and devotion toward God.
  7. Who was Nathan? 2 Samuel 7:2
  8. What does David say to Nathan? 2 Samuel 7:2 (sort of a, “what’s wrong with this picture” moment)
    • How is Nathan presumptuous? 2 Samuel 7:3
      1. Lesson 1 – Don’t assume every bright and noble idea is from God.
      2. Lesson 2 – Don’t assume that a godly leader (whom God has chosen) is always right.
    • What does the Lord promise David? 2 Samuel 7:10
  9. Who does the Lord say will build God’s house? 2 Samuel 7:12-13
    • Why not David? 1 Kings 5:3 and 1 Chronicles 22:8
    • An interesting twist: instead of David building a house for the Lord, the Lord builds a house for David! 2 Samuel 7:11, 16
    • Is this Davidic Covenant conditional or unconditional? 2 Samuel 7:13-16
    • How does David respond? 2 Samuel 7:18
  10. Who does David conquer during his reign over Israel and Judah? 2 Samuel 8:11-12 (this is called the expansion of the kingdom) How often did the Lord help David? 2 Samuel 8:6,14
    • Lesson 1 – God would give rest when the nation was obedient on the battlefield.
    • Lesson 2 – There was hope in that the nations where to be subservient, not totally destroyed or wiped out.
    • Lesson 3 – David never forgot the source of his strength. 2 Samuel 8:11
    • Lesson 4 – Fulfillment of his calling, 2 Samuel 8:15, the Christ nearly 1000 years later.
  11. Can we conclude that David had an adequate judicial system? 2 Samuel 8:15
    • Debatable, the lack of a system is the main reason for Absalom’s revolt, 2 Samuel 15:4
    • David’s sons were chief ministers. 2 Samuel 8:18
  12. Who was the royal recorder during David’s reign? 2 Samuel 8:17 (I love this guy’s name)
  13. Who is the servant of Saul that David locates? 2 Samuel 9:2
  14. How does she help David? 2 Samuel 9:3, then what does David demonstrate…?
    • David shows kindness, 2 Samuel 9:1, 7 (Romans 2:4)
    • David initiates the relationship, 2 Samuel 9:4 (Romans 5:8)
    • David accepts the son, just as he is, 2 Samuel 9:3, 7 (Philippians 1:6)
    • David demonstrates a calming spirit, 2 Samuel 9:7 (Ephesians 2:14)
    • David offers reconciliation and restoration, 2 Samuel 9:9, Psalm 23:3 (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)
    • There’s always room for more in the palace, 2 Samuel 9:10 (2 Peter 3:9)
  15. Why does David send his servants to Hanun, king of the Ammonites? 2 Samuel 10:1-2
  16. How does Hanun treat the servants? 2 Samuel 10:4 (too funny, we can laugh now, but such a vivid picture), but we can learn…
    • Lesson 1 – David shows active sympathy for the suffering, 2 Samuel 10:2
    • Lesson 2 – David’s intentions were misunderstood, 2 Samuel 10:3, 5
    • Lesson 3 – David is fiercely loyal and protective to his people, 2 Samuel 10:5
    • Lesson 4 – David took on their enemy himself, sending Joab and his mighty men, 2 Samuel 10:7
  17. What is the outcome of the inevitable battle? 2 Samuel 10:13-14

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