Daily Bible Studies
|Series Theme: Studies in 2 Samuel - "David as King"|
Introduction to 2 Samuel - David as King
Previous History & Context
In 1 Samuel we saw Samuel's life (see “Samuel's Story” in these studies) followed by Saul's reign and then the exploits of David after he has been anointed as king but while Saul is still alive (see “David on the Run”)
2 Samuel starts with Saul's death and traces the following years of David reign as king. The chronology for both books is not clear but some have suggested the following:
To cover all of 2 Samuel in this set of Studies, we have omitted some of the less significant passages and concentrated on the main key points of David's reign. The latter period where he hands over to Solomon will be covered in the studies on Solomon's reign. The structure of these studies is as follows:
Part 1 : “David becomes King”
The facts covered by this first Part are simply the death of Saul, David being made king over Judah, the ensuing conflicts between Saul's men and David's men, and the eventual (after 7 years) making David king over all Israel.
However, more than the basic facts, observe in this Part David's emotions, his feelings generated by the death of Saul & Jonathan and his feelings about the death of various others. There is much to learn in this part about a “man after God's own heart.”
Chapter: 2 Sam 1
Passage: 2 Sam 1:1-16
A. Find Out:
1. Where does this story start? v.1
2. What news does the man bring? v.2-4
3. What does David want to find out? v.5
4. How does the young man reply? v.6-10
5. What is David's first response? v.11,12
6. Why did David have the messenger killed? v.15,16
1. Also read 2 Sam 1:17-27.
3. Also read 1 Sam 24:5-7 & 26:8-11.
4. What did David understand about authority?
Two particular things stand out in this first chapter. The first is David's response to the news of Saul's death. He anguishes and mourns deeply over what has happened. Many of us would have rejoiced that our enemy has died, but David, the man after God's own heart, mourns at the loss of a man who could have achieved so much, but who simply failed to rise to the occasion.
David saw the tragedy of this, the potential greatness of Saul and Jonathan. He saw their good points and grieved over that loss. We so often major over the bad points and rejoice that they are gone. What a challenge!
The second thing to note is David's response to the young man who claimed to have killed Saul. Whatever else he was, Saul was God's anointed. God had put him in the role and it was for God to remove him, and so heaven help any man who raised his hand against God's man. David displays again and again, a remarkable insight into the reality of leadership and authority. He sees they are put there by God and man is to respect that and leave it to God to deal with any of His agents (leaders) who do not come up to scratch!
1. Do we see as David saw, with spiritual insight?
2. Are our priorities those of God, like David's were?
Chapter: 2 Sam 2
Passage: 2 Sam 2:1-7
A. Find Out:
1. What 2 things did David ask and what answer did he get? v.1
2. Who went with David? v.2,3
3. What happened there? v.4a
4. Who had buried Saul? v.4b
5. How did he bless them? v.5,6
6. What did he instruct them and why? v.7
1. Where had David been and where does he now go?
2. Why might the move have been dangerous, do you think?
3. How did it come about that he made the move?
David had been staying at Ziklag (1:1) in the south west of Judah, an area largely outside the control of Saul. Now that Saul is dead, David wonders if he may return to the land. Note that he is not at all presumptuous about it; he first of all asks the Lord. Here is an example to follow. Again and again we see David seeking the Lord to know the right thing to do. It is the Lord who tells him where to go.
Hebron was further into Judah yet still somewhat in the south. Saul's sons and his remaining army would still be in control in Israel and so it was by no mean certain that David would be safe in Israel. He, his family and his men move up to Hebron. There he is made king over Judah. This is a partial fulfilment of God's word through Samuel (1 Sam 16:1). Note that David does not force the pace, he is happy for God to bring about His declared will in His time.
David does nothing to provoke a confrontation with Saul's family. Yet while he is there he hears that it was men from Jabesh Gilead (80 miles to the north east of Hebron on the other side of the Jordan) who had buried Saul. David, ever the peacemaking diplomat sends thanks and encouragement to these people and, indirectly, spreads the word that he has been made king in the south. Smart move!
1. David sought God for guidance. A good example for us.
2. David rested in God's timing and God's will. An example for us.
Chapter: 2 Sam 2
Passage: 2 Sam 2:8-32
A. Find Out:
1. Who ruled in Israel and why? v.8-11
2. What happened when Abner's men met Joab's men? v.12-17
3. How did Asahel come to die? v.18-23
4. How did the fighting come to a stop? v.24-28
5. So what did Abner do? v.29
6. And what did Joab do? v.30-32
1. What was the power situation in Israel at this time?
2. Who were the main leaders in contention?
3. How do you think they were each left feeling at the end?
We now observe the main followers of the two opposing parties. In the south is David with Joab as his commander, and in the north is now Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, with Abner as his commander. The difference between the two leaders in interesting: David is leader because he was anointed by God and has earned his position by what he has done; Ish-bosheth is leader because Abner made him leader and because he is Saul's son. Which is the real leader???
We then come to this encounter between foraging bands from the two sides. It is Abner who initiates the fighting, but then probably comes to regret it as his men are overcome by Joab's men. The result is that he and his men have to flee from the superior fighting of David's men. Abner appears considerate in that he does not want to kill Joab's brother, knowing that he is the superior fighter and if Asahel continues to pursue him, he will end up having to kill him, and that is what does eventually happen. It is only when Abner comes across reinforcements that Joab gives up the pursuit and returns home.
At the end of the day Abner is wiser, having lost more men than Joab and Joab is probably plotting revenge for the death of his brother. Thus we see the balance of power in Israel at this time and the key participants. We have also seen the seeds sown for further disharmony!
1. Fighting others only brings grief.
2. WE are called to be peacemakers.
Chapter: 2 Sam 3
Passage: 2 Sam 3:6-21
A. Find Out:
1. What had Abner been doing? v.6,7
2. How did Abner respond when Ish-bosheth criticised him? v.8-11
3. So what did Abner do? v.12
4. What did David demand, and what happened? v.13-16
5. To whom did Abner speak? v.17-19a
6. What did he then do? v.19b-21
1. What appears Abner's intention back at home?
3. What do you feel about the part concerning David here?
Abner sees himself as the powerful second in command in Israel and everything he does seems to be to strengthen his own position. His actions and motivation seem to be purely to strengthen Abner himself, and are not for any other “good” motive. As soon as he is questioned by his king over his behaviour he flies into a rage and decides to change camps. He first sends messengers to David to sound out what David's response might be. He then approaches other leaders in Israel and seeks to persuade them of the wisdom of going over to David. Next he goes to Saul's own tribe, the Benjamites and seeks to convince them. Finally he goes in person to see David.
Let's observe next David's response to all this. He is first of all willing to bring together the nation under his leadership but before that happens he wants his wife restored to him. Michal had been given to him as wife by Saul but had had to leave her behind when he fled from Saul. That she had been given to another had been wrong. Not a very tidy situation and the fact that David has other wives doesn't help it. That Ish-bosheth is willing to concede to David's demand for his wife to be sent back, indicates his weak position. Perhaps not the most glorious part of David's time!
1. The motives of self-centred men are always self-centred.
2. We increasingly live in a messy world of confused relationships.
Chapter: 2 Sam 3
Passage: 2 Sam 3:22-39
A. Find Out:
1. Where was Abner where Joab returned? v.22,23
2. What did Joab feel about Abner having been there? v.24,25
3. So what did he do? v.26,27
4. What did David feel about this? v.28,29,38
5. What did David then instruct and do and why? v.31-37
6. What did he feel about Joab and his family? v.39
2. How would you summarise what David felt about Abner's death?
3. What do you think David's last comment means?
While Abner had been discussing with David the handing over of Israel to him, Joab and his men had been away. The discussion comes to an end and Abner departs from David in peace. Joab returns, hears about it, pursues Abner and kills him in revenge for killing his brother.
Those are the simple facts of what happened. In a tough day, when fighting was the norm for these men, it was perhaps a fairly natural thing to happen. The expression, “dog eats dog” perhaps applies aptly.
If this is so, and everything about Joab seems to indicate this is the way things are, then David's reaction to it is all the more surprising. Instead of being glad that an obstacle to his total reign has been removed, he actually anguishes over Abner's death. He first of all disclaims any part in his death, then he declares a curse on Joab and his family and then he commands, what is tantamount to a state funeral for Abner.
Abner's death was not death in battle; it was pure murder and as such it revolts David. Despite being a warrior king, he has a gentle and upright heart. These strong warriors-turned-murderers make him feel weak and dispirited. In this we perhaps see something of the man described as “a man after God's own heart.”
2. We are commanded to love our enemies & pray for them (Mt 5:44 ).
Chapter: 2 Sam 4
Passage: 2 Sam 4:1-12
A. Find Out:
1. What had been the result of Abner dying? v.1
2. What did the two men do? v.5,6
3. What did they then do with the body? v.7,8
4. What did David think about this? v.9-11
5. So what happened? v.12
1. What do you think motivated the two men to do what they did?
2. How did David view what they had done?
3. What do you think David felt about those still in Saul's house?
We see history repeating itself in this chapter. Originally an Amalekite had killed Saul and thought David would be pleased. Now these two men kill Saul's son and again think David will be pleased. What is it that makes people think like this? It is the simple human characteristic of revenge and wanting to do down your enemies, because after all that's what you do to enemies, isn't it?
It took Jesus to say, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44), as he expressed his Father's heart. Now David was a man after God's own heart (1 Sam 13:14 & Acts 13:22) and again and again he expressed God's heart. It would take Ezekiel to prophesy, “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord” (Ezek 18:32) but David was already feeling it. Whether it was the ungodly king who had hounded him out of Israel, or that king's son who stood in the way of him becoming king, David did not rejoice in the death of them.
As with the death of Abner, David considered the death of the Israelite king as murder, an innocent man hacked down while his defences were down. If this had occurred in battle, perhaps he might have felt differently, but this was an innocent man murdered by men who looked for an opportunity to get in with the new man. David, as with God, does not rejoice in this death.
1. Unrighteous men have unrighteous motives as well as acts.
2. The man after God's heart feels as God feels about such things.
A. Find Out:
1. Who came to David at Hebron? v.1a
2. What did they acknowledge? v.1b
3. What 2 further things did they acknowledge? v.2
4. What then happened? v.3
5. How old was David & how long did he reign? v.4
6. How was that reign split? v.5
1. What 3 things stated here made David acceptable as king?
2. What additional factor probably prompted this at this time?
3. How must David have been a man of patience?
The fact that Ish-bosheth has been killed and Israel is without a king probably prompts the action in today's verses. The word would have gone round Israel for a number of years that David was there in Hebron, anointed king over Judah. Some would have remembered how David had been a valiant commander in Saul's army. Some would have heard of the prophetic word that had come through Samuel about David being raised up by God as the new ruler over His people. And yes, he was a Hebrew, he was from the tribe of Judah and that was part of the whole nation of Israel. All these things helped contribute to what now takes place.
It would have been the elders of each of the tribes of Israel who would have come down to Hebron and there with David's consent they make him king over all Israel.
When we consider the time scale for David's life we realise the patience of this man. God's word came to him about becoming king over all Israel, a number of years pass while Saul is hunting him, another seven and a half years pass while he waits as king over Judah alone, all the while trusting God that He would fulfil His word and bring him to kingship in His time and in His way. What an example! David, in al this goes through a process to produce a king. It is long and protracted.
1. Can we rest in God's timing for our lives?
RECAP - "David becomes King" - 2 Samuel 1-5
In this first group of 7 studies we have seen :
- David's reaction to the death of Saul (1:1-16)
- David being made king over Judah (2:1-7)
- Conflict between Abner and Joab (2:8-32)
- Abner seeking to make a treaty with David (3:6-21)
- Joab killing Abner (3:22-27)
- David's reaction to that (3:28-39)
- Ishbosheth's death (4:1-12)
- David being made king over all Israel. (5:1-16)
In these early chapters we have seen about eight years of David's life following the death of Saul and up to David being made king over all Israel. It has been a time of conflict among those below David, but for David himself, he seems to have done little to promote himself. He has been an example of one who is content to allow the Lord to fulfil His word in His time and in His way. Now he is king.
1. Can we see the potential in others?
2. We are called to be peacemakers.
3. Guidance comes from God. We need to seek Him.
4. We are called to pray for our enemies.
5. The state of our heart determines our motives.
6. A godly man feels as God feels
Ask the Lord to give you His heart, that sees people as they really are. Pray for those you don't find easy people to get on with.
PART 2 : "Victory & Defeat"
In this next Part we will see David establishing the kingdom and triumphing over all his foes. We'll also see him having a frightening encounter as he seeks to bring the ark to Jerusalem. This will be followed by his tragic defeat as he falls to temptation in respect of Bathsheba. This will be a glorious time which is then followed by a tragic failure. Note the contrasts in all this.