Read 2 Samuel 11 - 1 Kings 2 and 1 Chron. 11-29
1. Read 1Chron 13:3-11. Why did God strike Uzzah dead? (1 Chron. 15:13-15)
Does this seem unfair? Why or why not?
Relate this to John 4:24
Compare this to the sin of Cain (the sacrifice not the murder) and the sin of Saul offering the sacrifices himself instead of waiting for Samuel.
2. Read 2Sam 11 & 12. List some factors that led to David's sin? (see also James 1:14,15)
Read 2 Sam. 12:11-14 , 1Chron. 21:29,30 and Psalm 51. List some consequences of David's sin
We've seen the consequences of Saul's sin and David's. Who in your opinion got the worst consequences? Try to explain why this might be.
2. Read about Absalom and his rebellion in chapters 13-18. What could David have done differently throughout Absalom's life to prevent this rebellion?
3. Hidden in the midst of these little known passages are 3 gems. Read these 2 verses and tell how they summarize the entirety of the Bible;
2 Sam. 14:14
2 Sam. 19:28
2 Kings 22:19,20
4. David let Absalom have Jerusalem. Why do you think he did?
Note 15:25,26 Why didn't David take the ark with him in your opinion?
Look at Shimei in 16:5-13 and 19:16-23. Do you have any Shimeis in your life? What spiritual principles do you learn from David's dealings with him?
5. Read 1 Chron. 21 and 27:23,24. Why was taking a census sinful?
Read 2Sam. 24:1. Compare this to 1Chron. 21:1. How do you explain the discrepancy?
What effect did the near death experience have on Arunah in 1Chron. 21:20-23?
What Biblical principle can we learn from that?
How does David respond in verse 24?
How does that apply to your life?
Why was this the perfect place to build the temple?
6. Read 1Chron. 22:5-16. How did David spend the last days of his life?
How is this different from the way that most people spend their last days?
Notes to Teachers/Students
A very "unfair" occurance happens to Uzzah. Here is this well meaning worshipper who just tries to keep the ark from hitting the ground and God strikes him dead. What is that all about? The reason is seen 2 chapters later where we see the set pattern God has established for transportation - priests and poles. It was not to be transported like the Phillistines did - on a cart. It was not to be touched - the ground is less sinful than us. Lastly, coming to God the way we determine rather than the way He determines is the essense of sin and lostness. Cain brought fruit and veggies rather than the prescribed blood. Eli's sons came up with a different way to offer fellowship offereings. Saul decided to offer the sacrifice himself even though he was a Benjaminite, not a Levite. Today the stumbling block to salvation is we want to earn our way to Heaven instead of accepting God's free gift by faith. (Rom.9:30-33)
David gets it right the second time, brings the ark home, and is at the pinnacle of success. But one time of battle he stays home while everyone else goes out fighting. He is alone, he is bored, he sees something he should have immediately turned away from and dwells on it. He inquires about her, sends for her, and sleeps with Bathsheba. It wasn't a sin to be tempted but he was foolish to put himself in a vulnerable position. We need to watch out for laziness, boredom, and being alone especially at night and keep busy doing the Lord's work. Nip temptations in your mind. Don't search for details, don't ask people what they know about such and such, just be like Joseph and flee. Also at the heart of this sin, David felt he was more important than Uriah and took his wife.
The consequences of his sin were tremendous. There was rape, murder, insurrection, isolation that occured within his family. His infant with Bathsheba died. His son slept with David's concubines. But worse than that was he lost his intimate fellowship with God and the clear conscience that went with that. When Absolom came against him, David left Jerusalem rather than expose the people to the collateral damage of his sin and I'm not convinced he had peace that he would defeat Absolom as punishment for his sin. When Shemei unjustly cursed him, David wasn't convinced the cursing wasn't true or undeserved because of his sin. The joy of living with a clear conscience before the Lord seemed totally non existant after this sin. Like Esau selling his birthright for a pot of stew, a rash decision to satisfy his appetites ruined his whole future. May we be able to step back and count the cost before satisfying the flesh.
Satan wants to tempt David to sin and God gives him permission. David takes a census of the fighting men to see how powerful he is and is immediately grieved when he hears the 7 figure number. He realizes numbering them is a sin because he is taking pride in his strength rather than God's. (see the lesson of Gideon). God gives him a choice of punishments and he chooses punishment by the hand of God because God is merciful. Indeed God is and stops short of the deserved punishment due to his mercy at the house of Arunah. The judgement of God for sin and the mercy of God meet and at that place the temple was built. What a beautiful picture. We are due judgement and death for our sin but God shows His mercy at the cross. We meet at a church where fellow believers meet together to celebrate God's mercy thru his son Jesus and we worship Him there offering everything we have because like Arunah, when you realize that God rescued us from death, "our" possesions and lives are seen in a brand new light.
As David was nearing death, he spent his last years preparing his child for serving God and rather than spending all "his" possessions on himself, he was using them to further God's glory. What a difference from our mentality - lets retire, get a house on the beach and sip Margaritas while we enjoy the fruiy of our labor. May that never be!!
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