This week we
will continue the study of the Book of 2 Samuel in the Old Testament.
(1) What prompted David to think of building a temple for the Lord?
(2) What was so right and admirable about his desire to build a temple for the Lord?
(3) Would you, if you were David? Why or why not?
(4) What was Nathan’s immediate reaction to David’s request or thought?
(5) What was Nathan’s assumption behind his reply?
(6) What mistake did Nathan make?
(7) Why did God still speak through Nathan, and not directly to David?
(8) God said, “Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?”. In essence, God was reminding David that even if he had the desire to build a house for God, not everyone was chosen to do so. What might be the message to us today?
(9) God’s reply to David can be divided into four parts:
a. Vv. 6-7: Why was it not conducive to build anything permanent as a house for God while roaming in the desert? What does this tell us about the desire and commitment of God to be wherever we are?
b. Vv. 8-9: The Lord described David’s former life as one of “following the flock” — shouldn’t it be the flock which followed David? What did the Lord mean? Does it describe your life as well? What was the significant change God had wrought in David’s life? Is it also true in your life?
c. Vv. 10-11: While God elevated and protected David, what was His ultimate desire?
d. Vv. 12-16 is what is called “the Davidic Covenant”: There are two parts to this covenant:
- There is the eternal dimension: To whom does it point? How is it fulfilled in our days?
- There is, however, an earthly and human dimension: To whom does it point? How was it fulfilled?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
David’s response to the words of the Lord through Nathan the prophet:
V. 18-21: “Who am I?”
(1) Why was David so overwhelmed by the reply of the Lord through Nathan?
(2) What made David feel so special before the Lord?
(3) Do you? Why or why not?
Vv. 22-24: God is Real
(4) What might have caused David to experience the reality of God beyond what he had “heard with (his) own ears”?
(5) How special were the people of
Vv. 25-26: Reasons for God to keep His promise
(6) What were the three reasons he cited for God to keep His promise?
(7) Was the last reason rather self-centered? Why or why not?
Vv. 27-29: God’s promise to build David’s house instead
(8) What was David’s prayer for his own house?
(9) What was the basis on which he could have such courage to ask?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
This chapter appears to sum up the victories of David over the surrounding enemies of Israel, likely during his entire reign. Chapters 10 and 11 recount his battles with the Ammonites and their allies the Syrians.
(1) If you have access to a biblical map of David’s reign, it would be helpful for you to attempt to locate the Philistine and other territories like Moab, Zobah, Aram, Edom, as well as those of other enemies of David like the Amalekites and Ammonites. What areas did David conquer and which peoples became subject to him?
(2) Which of the enemies that David defeated had the greatest number of casualties?
(3) Which of the enemies that David defeated were best equipped?
(4) What was David’s strategy in securing continuous control over some of the enemies?
(5) What is the point that the biblical author tries to make by reporting to us the geographical extent of David’s conquest, the size of the armies he captured or defeated, and the plunder that he made?
(6) In spite of David’s great success, what does the biblical author attribute his success to? (8:6, 14) Why is it mentioned twice in this short chapter?
(7) What did David do with many of the articles of silver, gold and bronze that he captured or was given as gifts from the surrounding nations? What could he have done with these valuables?
(8) What did his action (of dedicating these articles to the Lord) show?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
(1) Perhaps, David had already heard of the surviving son of Jonathan and so the real question to ask was where he was or whether he was still alive. What does this search for Jonathan’s surviving descendent say about David as a friend of Jonathan?
(2) How did he show his kindness to Mephibosheth?
(3) Although calling oneself a dead dog was a kind of ancient eastern humility, when said by Mephibosheth in his situation, how true might it actually be?
(4) In what way can you see God’s faithfulness revealed in a righteous and faithful person like Jonathan?
(5) We do not know much about Makir who looked after Mephibosheth, but he was also there to take care of David when he fled from his son (17:27):
a. In your estimation, why did he bother to take care of Mephibosheth in the first place?
b. What risk might he be taking?
(6) Do you think Mephibosheth’s physical disability is a curse or a blessing?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) When God promised to give David rest from all his enemies (7:11), it obviously does not mean that he would not have enemies, but that he would prevail over his enemies. This chapter shows us the reality of God’s promise is this respect. How then may you apply this truth in your life about being able to “rest” in the Lord?
(2) Why would David wish to show kindness to the son of a former enemy (See 1 Samuel 11)? How unusual was such an act by a king?
(3) How was his kind gesture received? Should it be a surprise? Why or why not?
(4) What do you think was the intention behind the advice of the Ammonite nobles to their king?
(5) If the Ammonites knew that they were no match for the army of David, why then would they insult David’s messengers?
(6) How many mercenaries had the Ammonites hired? We are not told how many men David had (except in 6:1 when he first united the kingdom), but it appears that the two sides were quite equal in strength:
a. What then, in your opinion, would be the deciding factor in the outcome of the battle?
b. Does it mean that no battle strategy was needed for David’s army?
c. What strategy did Joab employ?
d. Did the Arameans give up upon Joab’s victory?
e. What was the eventual outcome of the second battle?
(7) What did this battle mean to the neighboring nations?
(8) What did this battle mean to David?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) While the previous battle saw the active involvement of David, why did he remain in Jerusalem during such a time “when kings go off to war” (11:1)?
(2) This story took place in the evening. Why would David get up from his bed at such a time? What might it show about his spiritual condition?
(3) Once he caught sight of a woman bathing, what should David have done?
(4) Instead, what did he do next? (See Jas. 1:14-15)
(5) Knowing that Bathsheba was a married woman and that her husband was fighting his war, what should David have done?
(6) Instead, what did he do?
(7) How could such a godly man commit such a horrible crime? What explanation could one give for David’s action?
(8) Bathsheba was now pregnant, meaning David had time to reflect on the sin he had committed. What options were open to him? What option did he take according to vv. 6-13?
(9) What kind of a person was Uriah? Did he deserve such a fate? Did you ask in your heart why God would allow such a horrible thing to happen to him?
(10) What did David tell Joab to do?
(11) Compare
what David did here and what Joab did back in