Why was David successful?

2S5:10,12 “... David became greater ,,,for the Lord ...was with him ...And David realized that the Lord had established him ...for the sake of His people Israel...”

And what did David then do? Did he ask God about this?

2S5:13 “...David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem ...and more sons and daughters were born ...”

David did remember to inquire of the Lord regarding war.

2S5:18-20 “...The Philistines came ....Then David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” So David ...defeated them there ...”

2S5:22-25 “... Now the Philistines came up once again ...When David inquired of the Lord, He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” Then David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines ...”

2S6

Another time David failed to ask for God’s counsel?

2S6:2-6 “... David arose and went ...to bring up ...the ark of God ...They placed the ark of God on a new cart ...David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord ...But ...Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it...”

2S6:7 “...the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God...”

Why is zeal without knowledge dangerous?

Was they unaware of God’s specific instructions regarding how Levites were to transport the ark with poles, not on a cart. (E25:14)

We don’t break God’s laws. We break ourselves upon them.

2S6:8-11 “...David became angry ...was afraid of the Lord ...was unwilling to move the ark ...took it to the house of Obed-edom ...and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household...”

What do you suppose 3 months of blessing looked like?

David wants some of the blessing.

2S6:12-15 “...David went and brought up the ark ...six paces he sacrifice an ox ...David was dancing ...shouting ...”

2S6:16 “...Michal ...looked out ..saw David ...despised him...”

2S6:21-23 “... So David said to Michal, I will celebrate before the Lord. I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes ..Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death...”

2S7

What kind of relationship did David have with God?

2S7:2 “... that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains...”

2S7:4-7 “... the word of the Lord came to Nathan ...say to My servant David ...Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house ...even to this day ...did I speak a word ...saying, Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’...”’

2S7:11-13 “... I will give you rest from all your enemies ...When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you ...I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name..”

A covenant made by God with David and his descendants.

Psalm 89:3-4 "...I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant, I will establish your seed forever And build up your throne to all generations..."

2S7:15 “...My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul ...Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever ...”

David’s response to God speaking through Nathan.

2S7:18-24 “... David ...sat before the Lord ...said, “Who am I, O Lord God ...that You have brought me this far? ...You have spoken ...concerning the distant future ...there is none like You ... You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, O Lord, have become their God...”

2S7:25,26 “...the word that You have spoken ...confirm it forever ...that Your name may be magnified forever, ...”

2S7:29 “... bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You ...with Your blessing may the house ...be blessed forever...”

What would be forever?

There would be disturbances during David’s reign.

There would be rest during Solomon’s reign.

2S8

More war, death, servants, silver and gold.

2S8:6 “... the Lord helped David wherever he went...”

2S8:15 “...David reigned over all Israel, and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people...”

2S9

Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, is shown kindness.

2S9:13 “... Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem ...ate at the king’s table regularly..”

2S10

David’s attempt to show kindness to Hanun fails.

2S10:2-4 “... David sent some of his servants to console him concerning his father ...the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun ...Has David not sent his servants to you in order to search the city, to spy it out and overthrow it?” So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away...”

2S10:6 “... the sons of Ammon saw that they had become odious to David ...sent and hired the Arameans ...20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob with 12,000 men...”

2S10:19 “... they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them...”

2S11

David sees a U.F.O. (Unclad Female Object).

2S11:2-5 He sees Bathsheba and gets her pregnant, even though he knew she was Uriah’s wife.

2S11:6-13 Knowing his own sin, David manipulates circumstances to try to get Uriah to sleep with his wife. When he doesn’t, he even tries getting him drunk, but it still doesn’t work.

2S11:1421 Finally has him placed at the front of the battle so he can assure that he is killed.

At this point, David didn’t appear to be too concerned about “magnifying God’s name”.

How did this affect Joab? Bathsheba? God?

2S11:26,27 “...the wife of Uriah ...mourned ...David sent and brought her to his house and she became his wife; then she bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord...”

2S12

God sends Nathan with a story of greed and selfishness.

2S12:1-4 “... But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb ...A traveler came to the rich man ...To prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him ...he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him...”

2S12:5-6 “... David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said ...surely the man who has done this deserves to die ....he did this thing and had no compassion.”

2S12:7 “...Nathan then said ...you are the man...”

How are selfish actions actually a despising of God?

2S12:8,9 “... It is I who anointed you ...delivered you ...gave you ...house and ...wives ...and ...I would have added to you many more things like these! Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? ...struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword ...taken his wife to be your wife...”

Consequences and Redemption (Justice and mercy)

2S12:10 “...Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife...”

2S12:13 “...Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die...”

2S12:14 “...However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die..."

Passionate plea for the child.

2S12:15-18 “... the Lord struck the child ...so that he was very sick. David therefore inquired of God for the child ...fasted ...lay all night on the ground ...would not eat food ...on the seventh day ...the child died.

Moving into the future.

2S12:22 “...He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

2S12:24 “... Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba ...and she gave birth to a son, and he named him Solomon...”

2S12:25 “... The Lord ...sent word through Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah for the Lord’s sake...” (beloved of the Lord).

Another unique entry in the royal line along with Tamar (Judah’s daughter-in-law), Rahab (Jericho Harlot) and Ruth (Moabite).

Unusual bit of information from the battle of Rabbah,

2S12:30 “...Then he took the crown of their king from his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David's head...” Talent=75 pounds?

2S13

Fleshly desires lead to unrighteousness.

2S13:1-11 Ammon goes to great lengths to seduce Tamar.

2S13:12-14 “... she answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful thing! However, he would not listen to her; since he was stronger than she, he violated ...” Like father, like son?

But sin doesn’t satisfy for long.

2S13:15-17 “... Then Amnon hated her ..for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. ...he called his young man who attended him and said, “Now throw this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her…”

Tamar’s brother Absalom plans for revenge.

2S13:23,28 “...after two full years ...Absalom commanded his servants ...Strike Ammon, then put him to death...”

2S13:29 “...all the king’s sons arose ...and fled...”

2S13:32 “... Jonadab, responded, “Do not let my lord suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar...”

How might God see the actions of Amnon and Absalom.

Ex.22:16 “... If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged, and lies with her, he must pay a dowry for her to be his wife...”

Deut.22:28-29 “...If a man finds a girl who is a virgin, who is not engaged, and seizes her and lies with her and they are discovered, then the man who lay with her shall give to the girl's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall become his wife because he has violated her; he cannot divorce her all his days...”

Ex.20:13 “... You shall not murder...”

Numb.35:21 “... if he struck him down ...in enmity, and ...he died, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death, he is a murderer...”

Absalom spends the next three years in Geshur.

2S13:37 “... Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day...”

2S14

Joab, like Nathan, works on David’s heart.

2S14:1-3 Joab puts words in the mouth of the wise woman from Tekoa.

2S14:4-7 “... Help, O king ...I am a widow, for my husband is dead. Your maidservant had two sons ...the two ...struggled ...one struck the other and killed him ...the whole family has risen ...they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, that we may put him to death ...”

David gets the message.

2S14:8,11 “...the king said to the woman ...not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground...”

2S14:13,14,19 "... The woman said ...the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back his banished one ...God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from him ... it was your servant Joab who commanded me, and it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant;”

What did Absalom name his daughter?

2S14:27 “... To Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance...”

Absalom returns, but isn’t allowed to see David.

2S14:28,33 “... Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and did not see the king’s face ..he came to the king and prostrated himself on his face ...to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom...”.

2S15

Absalom conspires to overthrow his father.

2S15:6 “...so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel...”

2S15:7 “...it came about at the end of ar-baw-eem’ years...”

(forty: NASB,KJV,NKJV four: NLT, RSV, NIV, ESV,CSB,NASB20)

2S15:12 “...the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom...”

Could this have been avoided?

Remember 2S12:10 “...Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife...”

Is Cause/Effect final? We can speculate, but God determines what will happen. We may live with a consequence, even when forgiven.

David flees Jerusalem.

2S15:16,23 “... So the king went out and all his household with him. But the king left ten concubines to keep the house ...all the people over ...the brook of Kidron ...toward the way of the wilderness...”

2S15:24-26 “... the Levites ...set down the ark of God ...The king said ...Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then He will bring me back again ...But if He should say ...I have no delight in you ...let Him do to me as seems good to Him..."

It was a humble, mourning procession.

2S15:30 “... David ...wept as he went ...his head was covered and he walked barefoot ...all ...with him each covered his head and went up weeping ...”

But requests and decisions were still being made.

2S15:31 “...someone told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, “O Lord, I pray, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness...”

2S15:34,35 David sends Hushai to thwart counsel, and be an informant..

Is this a case of “pray like it all depends upon God, but act like it all depends upon you”

2S16

Ziba and Shimei have differing approaches.

2S16:1-4 Ziba pursues favor with an eye on David’s return.

2S16:5-14 Shimei curses and throws stones and dust.. Abishai wants to put an end to it. David refuses to focus on Shimei, but chooses instead to focus on the One who can bless:

2S16:12 "...Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day..."

Absalom enters Jerusalem.

2S16:20-22 On the advice of Ahithophel, Absalom takes his father’s concubines,

2S17

Hushai does what David had asked of him.

2S17:1,2 “...Ahithophel said to Absalom ...pursue David tonight ...while he is weary ...strike down the king...”.

2S17:7,8 “...Hushai said ...the advice of Ahithophel ...is not good ...You know your father and his men ...are fierce...”

2S17:14 “... Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring calamity on Absalom...”

2S17:22 “... Then David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed the Jordan; and by dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan...”

Ahithophel has an tragic response.

2S17:23 “... Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he ...arose and went to his home ...set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father...”

Possible reason for Ahithophel not liking David?

2S11:3 “... Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam...”

2S23:34 “... Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite...”

Apparently Ahithophel was Bathsheba’s grandfather.

2S18

The battle begins, but doesn’t last long.

2S18:5 “...The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom..."

2S18:7 “... The people of Israel were defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men...”

2S18:9 Absalom gets caught in a tree, dangling by his hair.

2S18:14,15,17 Joab gently puts 3 spears through his heart, 10 young men struck him and killed him, and they buried him in a deep pit..

David is less than pleased.

2S18:24-27 David assumed that good news was coming.

2S18:33 David mourns for his lost son. This is the son who he refused to see for years, a rebel who had no desire to do his father’s will.

How does this parallel our relationship with God? Is this a “man after God’s own heart” moment.

2S19

2S19:5-7 Joab urges David to show kindness to his people.

2S19:13 Joab is replaced by Amasa as commander of the army.

2S19:15,23 David is returning as king. Shimei is not killed ...yet. (1K2:46)

2S20

2S20:1,2 Sheba, a worthless fellow, rallies Israel against David.

2S20:4,10 David tells Amasa to assemble the army. Joab murders Amasa.

2S20:14-22 A wise woman surrenders Sheba’s head to prevent the destruction of Israel..

2S21

Why was there a three year famine?

2S21:1 “... David sought the presence of the Lord. And the Lord said, “It is for Saul ...because he put the Gibeonites to death...the sons of Israel made a covenant with them ...but Saul had sought to kill them...”

Does God hold people to their word? Is the land affected by our actions? Can the EPA lobby for legislation to change this?

How did the situation get resolved?

2S21:6-9 “... let seven men from his sons be given to us, and we will hang them ...the king ...gave them ...the seven ...were put to death...”

2S21:8 Barzillai, the 80 yr old “great man” who had helped David (19:32) lost 5 grandsons in this incident

2S21:14 “...and after that God was moved by prayer for the land...”

More war against Philistines.

2S21:15-22 More Philistine giants are killed, including another Goliath.

2S21:22 “... These four were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants..”

Remember the 5 stones that David had taken. All 5 giants are now dead.

2S22

David’s Psalm of Deliverance - Psalm 18

2S22:2,4 “... The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer ...who is worthy to be praised”

2S22:7 “...my cry for help came into His ears...”

2S22:17 "...He sent from on high ...He drew me out of many waters ...He delivered me from my strong enemy...”

2S22:22,24 “...I have kept the ways of the Lord, ...not acted wickedly ...And I kept myself from my iniquity...”

2S22:29 "...You are my lamp, O LORD ...the LORD illumines my darkness...”

2S22:31 "...As for God ...He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him...”

2S22:37 "...You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped...”

2S22:44 “... You ...delivered me from the contentions of my people...”

2S22:50 ”...Therefore I will give thanks to You ...I will sing praises...”

How can David use language like “...I have kept the ways of the Lord...”, “...I kept myself from my iniquity...”, and “...I was blameless before Him...”? Can we? How does God see a repentant person? Spotless?

2S23

David’s last Song

2S23:5 “...all my salvation and ...desire, Will He not indeed make it grow?..”

Could David have succeeded without his Might Men?

2S23:8-39 David’s mighty men, included “...Uriah the Hittite, 37 in all...”

Do leaders need mighty men now? For what?

2S24

How is David incited to take an inappropriate census?

2S24:1:1 “...Now again the anger of the Lord ...incited David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah...”

1Chr21:1 “... Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.

Can it be both? Is it David’s fault?

Joab recognized it was a mistake.

2S24:3 “...Joab said ...Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?”

Pride in numbers? Trust in numbers? Church attendance numbers?

David prevails and the counting begins.

2S24:8 It took 9 months and 20 days to count them.

2S24:9 800,000 in Israel, 500,000 in Judah = 1,300,000

N1:46 1st Census - 603,550

N26:51 2nd Census 601,730

1Chr.21:5 Census 1,570,000

David’s heart became troubled. Still sensitive?

2S24:10 “... David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done ...please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly...”

2S24:11 God, through the prophet Gad, gives David three choices:

7 years of famine, 3 months oppressed by foes, 3 days pestilence.

2S24:14 “... David said to Gad ...Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man...”.

Pestilence is sent. How?

2S24:15 “... the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel ...and seventy thousand men of the people from Dan to Beersheba died...”

2S24:16 “... the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it ...the Lord ...said to the angel who destroyed the people, “It is enough! Now relax your hand!...”

Are plagues and pestilence just random physical events?

2S24:17 “...David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, “Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong ... Please let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house...”

Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me ...

2S24:24 “... the king said to Araunah, ...I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver...”

2S24:25 “...David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel...”

1 KINGS

1K1

David is getting old, and cold. Who will be the next king?

1K1:3,4 “... So they ...found Abishag ...she became the king’s nurse and served him but the king did not cohabit with her...”

1K1:5-8 “...Adonijah ...exalted himself ...I will be king ...conferred with Joab ...and with Abiathar ...”

1K1:11-27 Nathan and Bathsheba act quickly to insure that Solomon is anointed king.

1K1:29,30 “... The king vowed and said ...Your son Solomon shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place ...”

How did Solomon come to be king?

1K1:38,39 “...So Zadok ...Nathan ...Benaiah ...the Cherethites ...and the Pelethites ...had Solomon ride on King David's mule, ...to Gihon ...Zadok ...anointed Solomon ...they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, Long live King Solomon...”

Who else came to Jerusalem this way? [Jesus]

Adonijah’s plan to be king fails, but he is spared.

1K1:49 Adonijah’s followers are terrified, and flee.

1K1:50-53 “... Adonijah was afraid of Solomon ...went and took hold of the horns of the altar ... Solomon said, If he is a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die ... So ...they brought him down from the altar ...he ...prostrated himself before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house...”

1K2

David’s advice to Solomon

1K2:2-3 “...I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. "Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,...”

1K2:5,7,9 Take action against Joab for his murders (Abner and Amasa). Show kindness to Barzillai (provider who lost 5 grandsons to atone for the Gibeonite fiasco). Punish Shimei (who cursed David).

Events following David’s death.

1K2:13-25 Adonijah is put to death for attempting to wed Abishag.

1K2:26,27 Abiathar is dismissed from being priest, fulfilling the Eli verdict.

Does God fulfill all that He has said, right in the middle of every day life?

Does reading what has been written give us a “heads up” on the future?

1K2:28-35 Joab is executed by Benaiah.

1K2:36-46 Shimei is executed by Benaiah. (Shimei left safety after 3yrs)

1K2:46 “...the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon…”