April 5, 2025
Big Book Idea
From David's line will come a ruler who will sit on the throne forever!
He said,
"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold and my refuge,
my savior; you save me from violence.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies."
1 And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said,
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
3
my
1
22:3
Septuagint (compare Psalm 18:2); Hebrew lacks my
God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold and my refuge,
my savior; you save me from violence.
4
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
5
For the waves of death encompassed me,
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
2
22:5
Or terrified me
6
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
7
In my distress I called upon the LORD;
to my God I called.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry came to his ears.
8
Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations of the heavens trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
9
Smoke went up from his nostrils,
3
22:9
Or in his wrath
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
10
He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
11
He rode on a cherub and flew;
he was seen on the wings of the wind.
12
He made darkness around him his canopy,
thick clouds, a gathering of water.
13
Out of the brightness before him
coals of fire flamed forth.
14
The LORD thundered from heaven,
and the Most High uttered his voice.
15
And he sent out arrows and scattered them;
lightning, and routed them.
16
Then the channels of the sea were seen;
the foundations of the world were laid bare,
at the rebuke of the LORD,
at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
17
He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
18
He rescued me from my strong enemy,
from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
19
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the LORD was my support.
20
He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
21
The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
22
For I have kept the ways of the LORD
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23
For all his rules were before me,
and from his statutes I did not turn aside.
24
I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from guilt.
25
And the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness in his sight.
26
With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
27
with the purified you deal purely,
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
28
You save a humble people,
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.
29
For you are my lamp, O LORD,
and my God lightens my darkness.
30
For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
31
This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
32
For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?
33
This God is my strong refuge
and has made my
4
22:33
Or his; also verse 34
way blameless.
5
22:33
Compare Psalm 18:32; Hebrew he has blamelessly set my way free, or he has made my way spring up blamelessly
34
He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
35
He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36
You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your gentleness made me great.
37
You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet
6
22:37
Hebrew ankles
did not slip;
38
I pursued my enemies and destroyed them,
and did not turn back until they were consumed.
39
I consumed them; I thrust them through, so that they did not rise;
they fell under my feet.
40
For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
you made those who rise against me sink under me.
41
You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
7
22:41
Or You gave me my enemies' necks
those who hated me, and I destroyed them.
42
They looked, but there was none to save;
they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.
43
I beat them fine as the dust of the earth;
I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets.
44
You delivered me from strife with my people;
8
22:44
Septuagint with the peoples
you kept me as the head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
45
Foreigners came cringing to me;
as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.
46
Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling
9
22:46
Compare Psalm 18:45; Hebrew equipped themselves
out of their fortresses.
47
The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,
48
the God who gave me vengeance
and brought down peoples under me,
49
who brought me out from my enemies;
you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you delivered me from men of violence.
50
For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations,
and sing praises to your name.
51
Great salvation he brings
10
22:51
Or He is a tower of salvation
to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever.”
1 Now these are the last words of David:
The oracle of David, the son of Jesse,
the oracle of the man who was raised on high,
the anointed of the God of Jacob,
the sweet psalmist of Israel:
11
23:1
Or the favorite of the songs of Israel
2
“The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me;
his word is on my tongue.
3
The God of Israel has spoken;
the Rock of Israel has said to me:
When one rules justly over men,
ruling in the fear of God,
4
he dawns on them like the morning light,
like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning,
like rain
12
23:4
Hebrew from rain
that makes grass to sprout from the earth.
5
For does not my house stand so with God?
For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things and secure.
For will he not cause to prosper
all my help and my desire?
6
But worthless men
13
23:6
Hebrew worthlessness
are all like thorns that are thrown away,
for they cannot be taken with the hand;
7
but the man who touches them
arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear,
and they are utterly consumed with fire.”
14
23:7
Hebrew consumed with fire in the sitting
8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. 15 23:8 Or of the captains He wielded his spear 16 23:8 Compare 1 Chronicles 11:11; the meaning of the Hebrew expression is uncertain against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.
9 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. 10 He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.
11 And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, 17 23:11 Or gathered together as a camp where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the LORD worked a great victory.
13 And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 15 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the LORD 17 and said, “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
18 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. 18 23:18 Two Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts three And he wielded his spear against three hundred men 19 23:18 Or slain ones and killed them and won a name beside the three. 19 He was the most renowned of the thirty 20 23:19 Compare 1 Chronicles 11:21; Hebrew Was he the most renowned of the three? and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.
20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man 21 23:20 Or the son of Ishhai of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two ariels 22 23:20 The meaning of the word ariel is unknown of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 21 And he struck down an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. 23 He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.
24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, 27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Bahurim, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezro 23 23:35 Or Hezrai of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
1 Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” 2 So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, 24 24:2 Septuagint to Joab and the commanders of the army who was with him, “Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.” 3 But Joab said to the king, “May the LORD your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see it, but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?” 4 But the king's word prevailed against Joab and the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel. 5 They crossed the Jordan and began from Aroer, 25 24:5 Septuagint; Hebrew encamped in Aroer and from the city that is in the middle of the valley, toward Gad and on to Jazer. 6 Then they came to Gilead, and to Kadesh in the land of the Hittites; 26 24:6 Septuagint; Hebrew to the land of Tahtim-hodshi and they came to Dan, and from Dan 27 24:6 Septuagint; Hebrew they came to Dan-jaan and they went around to Sidon, 7 and came to the fortress of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites; and they went out to the Negeb of Judah at Beersheba. 8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000.
10 But David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” 11 And when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12 “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer 28 24:12 Or hold over you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” 13 So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall three 29 24:13 Compare 1 Chronicles 21:12, Septuagint; Hebrew seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 14 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”
15 So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men. 16 And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house.”
18 And Gad came that day to David and said to him, “Go up, raise an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 So David went up at Gad's word, as the LORD commanded. 20 And when Araunah looked down, he saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. And Araunah went out and paid homage to the king with his face to the ground. 21 And Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be averted from the people.” 22 Then Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Here are the oxen for the burnt offering and the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. 23 All this, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.” 24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels 30 24:24 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams of silver. 25 And David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.
The author or authors of 1 and 2 Samuel are not known. These books recount the stories of Samuel, Saul, and David. Saul’s reign began between 1050–1030 B.C. and ended in 1010. David then reigned until 971. The books were probably written soon after the end of his reign.
The central theme of the books of Samuel is how the Lord (1) established a dynasty (“house”) in Israel for David rather than Saul and (2) how he chose Jerusalem as the place where David’s successor would establish the temple (“house”) for the worship of the divine King Yahweh.
The purpose of 1 Samuel is to highlight two major events: the establishment of the monarchy in Israel (chs. 8–12); and the rise of David to be king after Saul (chs. 16–31). After ruling for a while, Saul was rejected by the Lord in favor of David (chs. 15–16), though Saul stayed on the throne until his death at Mount Gilboa (ch. 31). Later, in 2 Samuel 7, God promises David and his house an eternal dynasty. The book of 1 Samuel establishes the principle that obedience to the word of God is the necessary condition for a king to be acceptable to the God of Israel.
First and Second Samuel deal with a transitional period in the history of ancient Israel. There is a transition of leadership first from the priest Eli to the judge Samuel, then from the judge Samuel to the king Saul, and then from Saul to David. Samuel thus is the link between the judgeship and the kingship in Israel. He is the prophet God uses to anoint both Saul and David. The kingdom of Saul was also transitional. Under Saul, Israel was more than a loose confederation that gathered together whenever there was a common threat, but there was no strong central rule such as existed later. The story of the rise of David in the second half of 1 Samuel prepares for the full-scale kingship of David in 2 Samuel.
Therefore, obedience to God’s word is of prime importance. Only God’s grace allows sinful human beings to be in relationship with the holy God. Only the God-given way of approaching him through sacrifice can prepare humans to come closer to God. Believers can only wait on God, who will do his will according to his own purpose. What is impossible for humans is possible for God. This should encourage believers to put their faith in the one who is sovereign over the entire creation.
The themes of 1 Samuel are related to the themes of 2 Samuel: the sovereign God, who has guided David’s life, chooses David as the ruler of God’s people. God pledges to David an eternal covenant. David thus becomes the prototype of the future Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The book of 1 Samuel is set in Israel during the transition between the period of the judges and the period of the monarchy. It opens with Samuel’s birth and then describes his role as judge over Israel. When the people ask for a king, the Lord instructs Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel’s first king.
The book of 2 Samuel recounts David’s reign over Israel and his battles to establish Israel as the dominant power in Syria and Palestine. David expanded Israel’s borders from Saul’s smaller territory. By the end of his reign, David controlled all of Israel, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Syria, and Zobah. Other kingdoms, such as Tyre and Hamath, established treaties with him.
How does Chronicles differ from Samuel and Kings? The books of 1–2 Samuel and 1–2 Kings show that the Lord drove Israel and Judah from their land because of their sin. The books of 1–2 Chronicles agree that Israel sinned and suffered exile as a result. They also show that God still had a purpose for his people.
King David is the main character in 1 Chronicles. The writer presents a very positive picture of him, leaving out many of the tragic details of his life that the writer of 2 Samuel describes.
David’s Song of Deliverance is nearly identical to Psalm 18. Perhaps 2 Samuel 22 was meant to be read aloud for instruction and Psalm 18 was meant to be sung or prayed as part of worship.
David’s census was most likely a military census. Its purpose would have been to find the age and location of potential new draftees for service in the army. It was either intended to give David pride in the number of his supporters or was a sign of his fear of another rebellion. Either way, it showed his lack of faith in God.
The book of 2 Samuel recounts David’s reign over Israel and his battles to establish Israel as the dominant power in Syria and Palestine. David expanded Israel’s borders from Saul’s smaller territory. By the end of his reign, David controlled all of Israel, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Syria, and Zobah. Other kingdoms, such as Tyre and Hamath, established treaties with him.
1 Samuel | Incident | Psalm |
---|---|---|
19:11 | David’s house surrounded | 59 |
21:10–11 | David seized by Achish | 56 |
21:12–22:1 | David escapes from Achish (called Abimelech in Psalm 34 title) | 34 |
22:1 (possibly also 24:3) | David in cave | 57; 142 |
22:9–19 | Doeg the Edomite | 52 |
23:14–15 (possibly) | Desert of Judah | 63 |
23:19 | David betrayed by Ziphites | 54 |
2 Samuel | Incident | Psalm |
---|---|---|
8:1–14 | Victory over Transjordan | 60 |
chs. 11–12 | Against house of Uriah | 51 |
chs. 15–17 | Absalom’s revolt | 3 |
chs. 15–17 (possibly) | Desert of Judah | 63 |
ch. 22 | Victory over all enemies | 18 |
David’s Rise (1 Samuel 16–2 Samuel 10) | David’s Failures (2 Samuel 11–20) |
---|---|
Eager holy warrior | Remains in palace |
Marries honorably | Adultery with Bathsheba |
Protects Saul’s life | Plots Uriah’s death |
Decisive | Indecisive |
Prayers effective | Prayers ineffective |
Fearless when outnumbered | Fearfully takes census |
Attracts thousands of followers | Loses thousands of followers |
1 Chronicles | 2 Samuel | |
---|---|---|
Genealogies | 1:1–9:44 | |
Death of Saul and sons | 10:1–14 | 1 Sam. 31:1–2 Sam. 1:16 |
Lament for Saul | 1:17–27 | |
David king of Judah | 2:1–7 | |
War between house of Saul and David; Ish-bosheth made king | 2:8–3:1 | |
David’s sons in Hebron | 3:2–5 | |
Abner helps David | 3:6–21 | |
Joab kills Abner | 3:22–39 | |
Ish-bosheth killed | 4:1–12 | |
David king of Judah and Israel | 11:1–3 | 5:1–5 |
Conquest of Jerusalem | 11:4–9 | 5:6–10 |
David’s mighty men | 11:10–47 | 23:8–39 |
David’s men at Ziklag | 12:1–22 | |
Celebration at Hebron | 12:23–40 | |
Attempted return of ark; death of Uzzah | 13:1–14 | 6:1–11 |
David’s house built | 14:1–2 | 5:11–12 |
David’s children in Jerusalem | 14:3–7 | 5:13–16 |
David defeats Philistines | 14:8–17 | 5:17–25 |
Spiritual preparation for the ark’s return | 15:1–24 | |
Ark brought to Jerusalem | 15:25–16:6 | 6:12–19 |
David and Michal | 6:20–23 | |
David’s psalm of praise | 16:7–43 | |
David’s desire to build the temple | 17:1–2 | 7:1–3 |
Davidic covenant | 17:3–15 | 7:4–17 |
David’s prayer of praise | 17:16–27 | 7:18–29 |
David’s victories | 18:1–13 | 8:1–14 |
David’s officials | 18:14–17 | 8:15–18 |
David helps Mephibosheth | 9:1–13 | |
Ammonites defeated | 19:1–15 | 10:1–14 |
Syrians defeated | 19:16–19 | 10:15–19 |
Ammonites defeated | 20:1–3 | 11:1; 12:26–31 |
David and Bathsheba | 11:2–12:25 | |
Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom | 13:1–14:33 | |
Absalom’s rebellion | 15:1–19:43 | |
Sheba’s rebellion | 20:1–26 | |
Famine; death of Saul’s sons | 21:1–14 | |
War with Philistines; the Philistine giants | 20:4–8 | 21:15–22 |
David’s psalm of deliverance | 22:1–51 | |
David’s last words | 23:1–7 | |
David’s census | 21:1–27 | 24:1–25 |
David plans for the temple | 21:28–22:5 | |
David’s charge to Solomon and the leaders | 22:6–19 | |
David organizes temple personnel | 23:1–26:32 | |
Israel’s military | 27:1–15 | |
Israel’s leaders | 27:16–34 | |
David’s charge to Israel; affirmation of Solomon | 28:1–10 | |
Pattern for the temple | 28:11–21 | |
Offerings for the temple | 29:1–9 | |
David’s prayer of thanks for the temple | 29:10–19 | |
1 Kings | ||
David and Abishag | 1:1–4 | |
Adonijah claims the throne | 1:5–27 | |
Solomon’s coronation | 29:20–25 | 1:28–40 |
David instructs Solomon | 2:1–9 | |
Death of David | 29:26–30 | 2:10–11 |
Solomon establishes his kingdom | 2:12–46 | |
2 Chronicles | ||
Solomon marries Pharaoh’s daughter | 3:1–3 | |
Solomon at Gibeon | 1:1–6 | 3:4 |
God gives Solomon wisdom | 1:7–12 | 3:5–14 |
Solomon’s wise judgment | 3:16–28 | |
Solomon’s prosperity | 1:14–17 | 4:20–34 |
Preparations for the temple | 2:1–18 | 5:1–18 |
Temple built | 3:1–5:1 | 6:1–38;7:13–51 |
Solomon’s palace | 7:1–12 | |
Ark brought to the temple | 5:2–12 | 8:1–9 |
God’s glory fills the temple | 5:13–14 | 8:10–11 |
Solomon blesses the people | 6:1–11 | 8:12–21 |
Solomon consecrates the temple | 6:12–42 | 8:22–61 |
Fire from the Lord consumes the sacrifices | 7:1–3 | |
Solomon and the people offer sacrifices | 7:4–7 | 8:62–64 |
Feast of Tabernacles | 7:8–10 | 8:65–66 |
The covenant confirmed | 7:11–22 | 9:1–9 |
Solomon’s territory increases | 8:1–6 | 9:10–19 |
Solomon’s enemies defeated | 8:7–10 | 9:20–23 |
Solomon’s religious practices | 8:11–16 | 9:24–25 |
Solomon’s economic operations | 8:17–18 | 9:26–28 |
Queen of Sheba visits | 9:1–12 | 10:1–13 |
Solomon’s wealth | 9:13–28 | 10:14–29 |
Solomon’s apostasy and adversaries | 11:1–40 | |
Death of Solomon | 9:29–31 | 11:41–43 |
Division of the kingdom | 10:1–11:23 | 12:1–33 |
Man of God from Judah warns Jeroboam (Israel) | 13:1–34 | |
Ahijah’s prophecy against Jeroboam | 14:1–18 | |
Death of Jeroboam | 14:19–20 | |
Shishak invades Judah | 12:1–12 | 14:25–28 |
Reign of Rehoboam (Judah) | 12:13–16 | 14:21–24,29–31 |
War between Judah and Israel | 13:1–22 | 15:1–8 |
Evaluation of Asa (Judah) | 14:1–8 | 15:9–12 |
Ethiopians defeated | 14:9–15 | |
Azariah the prophet | 15:1–7 | |
Asa’s reforms | 15:8–19 | 15:13–15 |
Asa defeats Syria | 16:1–10 | 15:16–22 |
Death of Asa | 16:11–14 | 15:23–24 |
Reigns of Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri (Israel) | 15:25–16:28 | |
Ahab becomes king (Israel) | 16:29–34 | |
Elijah | 17:1–19:18;21:17–29 | |
Call of Elisha | 19:19–21 | |
Ahab conquers Syria, acquires Naboth’s vineyard | 20:1–21:29 | |
Evaluation of Jehoshaphat (Judah) | 17:1–9 | |
Expansion of Judah | 17:10–19 | |
Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahab; death of Ahab | 18:1–34 | 22:1–40 |
Jehoshaphat’s reforms, crisis, and deliverance | 19:1–20:30 | |
Reign of Jehoshaphat | 20:31–37 | 22:41–50 |
Reign of Ahaziah (Israel) | 22:51–53 | |
2 Kings | ||
Death of Ahaziah; Elijah’s prophecy | 1:1–18 | |
Elijah and Elisha | 2:1–25 | |
Evaluation of Jehoram (Israel) | 3:1–3 | |
Moab rebels | 3:4–27 | |
The widow’s oil | 4:1–7 | |
The Shunammite woman | 4:8–37 | |
Miracles for the prophets | 4:38–44 | |
Naaman healed | 5:1–27 | |
The axe head recovered | 6:1–7 | |
Chariots of fire | 6:8–23 | |
Siege of Samaria | 6:24–7:20 | |
Shunammite’s land restored | 8:1–6 | |
Hazael kills Ben-hadad | 8:7–15 | |
Evaluation of Jehoram (Judah) | 21:1–7 | 8:16–19 |
Edom and Libnah rebel | 21:8–11 | 8:20–22 |
Warning of Elijah | 21:12–15 | |
Invasion of Philistia and Arabia | 21:16–17 | |
Death of Jehoram | 21:18–20 | 8:23–24 |
Reign of Ahaziah (Judah) | 22:1–9 | 8:25–29; 9:15–16, 27–28; 10:12–14 |
Reign of Jehu (Israel) | 22:7–9 | 9:1–10:36 |
Reign of Athaliah (Judah) | 22:10–23:15 | 11:1–16 |
Jehoiada’s reforms (Judah) | 23:16–21 | 11:17–20 |
Evaluation of Joash (Judah) | 24:1–3 | 11:21–12:3 |
Joash repairs the temple | 24:4–14 | 12:4–16 |
Death of Jehoiada | 24:15–16 | |
Jehoiada’s son killed | 24:17–22 | |
Syria invades Judah | 24:23–24 | 12:17–18 |
Death of Joash | 24:25–27 | 12:19–21 |
Reign of Jehoahaz (Israel) | 13:1–9 | |
Reign of Jehoash (Israel) | 13:10–13 | |
Elisha’s final prophecy and death | 13:14–25 | |
Reign of Amaziah (Judah) | 25:1–16 | 14:1–20 |
Israel defeats Judah | 25:17–24 | 14:8–14 |
Death of Amaziah | 25:25–28 | 14:17–20 |
Evaluation of Uzziah (Judah) | 26:1–5 | 14:21–22; 15:1–5 |
Reign of Jeroboam II (Israel) | 14:23–29 | |
Victories of Uzziah | 26:6–15 | |
Sinful offering of Uzziah | 26:16–21 | |
Death of Uzziah | 26:22–23 | 15:6–7 |
Reign of Zechariah (Israel) | 15:8–12 | |
Reign of Shallum (Israel) | 15:13–16 | |
Reign of Menahem (Israel) | 15:17–22 | |
Reign of Pekahiah (Israel) | 15:23–26 | |
Reign of Pekah (Israel) | 15:27–31 | |
Reign of Jotham (Judah) | 27:1–9 | 15:32–38 |
Evaluation of Ahaz (Judah) | 28:1–4 | 16:1–4 |
Israel defeats Judah | 28:5–21 | 16:5–9 |
Ahaz’s idolatry and death | 28:22–27 | 16:10–12 |
Fall of Israel | 17:1–23 | |
Resettlement of Israel | 17:24–41 | |
Evaluation of Hezekiah (Judah) | 29:1–2 | 18:1–8 |
Hezekiah cleanses the temple | 29:3–19 | |
Hezekiah restores temple worship | 29:20–36 | |
Hezekiah restores Passover | 30:1–27 | |
Hezekiah destroys idols, organizes priests | 31:1–21 | |
Fall of Israel (restated) | 18:9–12 | |
Assyria invades Judah | 32:1–23 | 18:13–19:37 |
Hezekiah’s illness and restoration | 32:24–26 | 20:1–11 |
Hezekiah’s wealth and foolish pride | 32:27–31 | 20:12–19 |
Death of Hezekiah | 32:32–33 | 20:20–21 |
Reign of Manasseh (Judah) | 33:1–9 | 21:1–18 |
Manasseh’s repentance | 33:10–20 | |
Reign of Amon (Judah) | 33:21–25 | 21:19–26 |
Evaluation of Josiah (Judah) | 34:1–2 | 22:1–2 |
Josiah’s early reforms | 34:3–7 | |
Josiah repairs the temple | 34:8–13 | 22:3–7 |
Book of Law discovered; Josiah’s reforms | 34:14–33 | 22:8–23:20 |
Passover celebrated | 35:1–19 | 23:21–27 |
Death of Josiah | 35:20–27 | 23:28–30 |
Reign of Jehoahaz (Judah) | 36:1–3 | 23:31–33 |
Reign of Jehoiakim (Judah) | 36:4–8 | 23:34–24:7 |
Reign of Jehoiachin (Judah); Babylonian captivity | 36:9–10 | 24:8–17 |
Evaluation of Zedekiah (Judah) | 36:11–12 | 24:18–20 |
Destruction of Jerusalem | 36:13–21 | 25:1–21 |
Remnant flees to Egypt | 25:22–26 | |
Jehoiachin released | 25:27–30 | |
Proclamation by Cyrus | 36:22–23 |
Psalm | Incident in David’s Life | References |
---|---|---|
3 | David flees from and battles Absalom | 2 Samuel 15–17 |
7 | The words of Cush, a Benjaminite (persecution by Saul?) | Unknown |
18 | David delivered from enemies and from Saul | 2 Samuel 22 |
30 | Dedication of the temple | Nothing in David’s lifetime; see 1 Kings 8:63 |
34 | David delivered from danger by feigning madness in the presence of King Achish of Gath | 1 Sam. 21:12–22:1 |
51 | Nathan confronts David about his adultery with Bathsheba | 2 Samuel 11–12 |
52 | Doeg the Edomite tells Saul that David went to the house of Ahimelech | 1 Sam. 22:9–19 |
54 | The Ziphites tell Saul that David is hiding among them | 1 Sam. 23:19 |
56 | The Philistines seize David in Gath | 1 Sam. 21:10–11 |
57 | David flees from Saul into a cave | 1 Sam. 22:1 or 24:3 |
59 | Saul sends men to watch David’s house in order to kill him | 1 Sam. 19:11 |
60 | David’s victory over Transjordan | 2 Sam. 8:1–14 |
63 | David in the desert of Judah | 2 Samuel 15–17?; 1 Sam. 23:14–15? |
142 | David flees from Saul into a cave | Same as Psalm 57 |
Abishai was David’s nephew and became the commander of David’s “thirty men.” Like his brothers Joab and Asahel, Abishai was a loyal but ruthless warrior. He killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He urged David to allow him to kill Saul, but David refused to let him kill “the LORD’s anointed” (1 Sam. 26:8–9). He fought alongside his brothers at the Battle of Gibeon, where Abner killed Asahel. Abishai later helped Joab kill Abner in revenge. When Shimei cursed David, Abishai thought he should be put to death, but again David refused his request. He helped lead David’s troops against Absalom, and again fought for David when Sheba led a rebellion against him. Abishai also saved David’s life by killing the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob. (2 Samuel 23:18–19)
2 Sam 22:5–6 Here Sheol is a synonym for “death.”
2 Sam 22:7 Heard implies an attentive listening and, usually, a positive response. Temple probably refers to the heavenly temple of God, from which he came down (v. 10; see Ps. 11:4; Mic. 1:2–3).
2 Sam 22:10 Bowed the heavens could mean “spread open” or “parted” the heavens.
2 Sam 22:15 Them refers to David’s enemies.
2 Sam 22:8–16 The Lord’s sudden appearance to help David is described in vivid language. It sounds like a description of a volcano, which causes earthquake, smoke, fire, fiery coals, and ash clouds (compare Ps. 77:18; Isa. 5:25; 24:18).
2 Sam 22:17 many waters. Compare v. 5, where “waves” and “torrents” of trouble were overwhelming David.
2 Sam 22:20 A broad place is a place of comfort and freedom.
2 Sam 22:26–27 To the crooked, God shows himself tortuous. That is, he makes simple truths seem confusing and impossible to understand.
2 Sam 22:35 A bow of bronze is probably a bow reinforced with bronze, which would be powerful but difficult to draw.
2 Sam 22:1–51 David’s song recorded in this chapter is almost identical with Psalm 18, where it was adapted to serve as a public hymn.
Psalm | Incident in David’s Life | References |
---|---|---|
3 | David flees from and battles Absalom | 2 Samuel 15–17 |
7 | The words of Cush, a Benjaminite (persecution by Saul?) | Unknown |
18 | David delivered from enemies and from Saul | 2 Samuel 22 |
30 | Dedication of the temple | Nothing in David’s lifetime; see 1 Kings 8:63 |
34 | David delivered from danger by feigning madness in the presence of King Achish of Gath | 1 Sam. 21:12–22:1 |
51 | Nathan confronts David about his adultery with Bathsheba | 2 Samuel 11–12 |
52 | Doeg the Edomite tells Saul that David went to the house of Ahimelech | 1 Sam. 22:9–19 |
54 | The Ziphites tell Saul that David is hiding among them | 1 Sam. 23:19 |
56 | The Philistines seize David in Gath | 1 Sam. 21:10–11 |
57 | David flees from Saul into a cave | 1 Sam. 22:1 or 24:3 |
59 | Saul sends men to watch David’s house in order to kill him | 1 Sam. 19:11 |
60 | David’s victory over Transjordan | 2 Sam. 8:1–14 |
63 | David in the desert of Judah | 2 Samuel 15–17?; 1 Sam. 23:14–15? |
142 | David flees from Saul into a cave | Same as Psalm 57 |
David’s Song of Deliverance is nearly identical to Psalm 18. Perhaps 2 Samuel 22 was meant to be read aloud for instruction and Psalm 18 was meant to be sung or prayed as part of worship.
2 Sam 23:1 The man who was raised on high refers to David’s position as king. the sweet psalmist of Israel. David wrote about half of the psalms in the book of Psalms.
2 Sam 23:2 The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me. David describes himself as a prophet, whose songs and wise sayings come from God (see Acts 1:16; 4:25).
2 Sam 23:4 Like the morning light, like the sun . . . like rain are images for bringing health and life. He in this verse refers to the just ruler of the previous verse.
2 Sam 23:5 This verse refers to the covenant God made with David in ch. 7 (see also Ps. 89:29; 132:12). Ordered in all things and secure is probably a legal term. It stresses the validity of God’s covenant with David.
2 Sam 23:1–7 The “last words of David” are a song praising God for establishing his house as the ruler; the song recalls God’s promise in 7:8–19. It contrasts the just ruler and worthless men. The righteous ruler is like the morning light at sunrise; worthless men are like uprooted thorns.
2 Sam 23:11–12 Shammah is remembered for defending a garden against the Philistines. Compare the Philistines’ robbing the threshing floors in 1 Sam. 23:1.
2 Sam 23:13–17 The three men remembered in these verses were apparently not the “three” of vv. 8–12 but rather members of the “thirty” listed in vv. 18–39. This episode may have occurred while David was fleeing Saul, or possibly during one of the Philistine attacks in 5:17–25. Oh, that someone would give me water . . . from the well of Bethlehem. David’s words are not a command. It probably did not occur to him that someone might actually act on his words.
2 Sam 23:16–17 When his men actually brought David water from Bethlehem, he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the LORD. David realized that the water represented the very blood of his men, for they had risked their lives to get it. By pouring it out, David was saying that he was not worthy of it; he offered it “to the LORD” instead.
2 Sam 23:32 The sons of Jashen probably refers to two men, possibly twins. In the list, however, they seem to be counted as one item.
2 Sam 23:8–39 This list of David’s mighty men is divided into two groups: the three (vv. 8–12), and the thirty (vv. 18–39). Together, these two groups include thirty-seven in all (v. 39). Actually, the list of the “thirty” includes 34 names. This could mean that (1) “thirty” is a round number; or (2) the group began with 30 members and continued to be called “the thirty” when other men were added to the group; or (3) the group remained at 30, but when some died they were replaced by others on this list (the parallel list in 1 Chron. 11:10–47 has 16 additional names, probably for this reason).
2 Sam 23:18–39 This is the list of David’s thirty men. Some of the names appear as officers in 1 Chronicles 27. Most appear in the list in 1 Chron. 11:20–47, which is an expansion of this list but is not labeled as being a list of “the thirty” (compare 2 Sam. 23:24 and 1 Chron. 11:26).
Abishai was David’s nephew and became the commander of David’s “thirty men.” Like his brothers Joab and Asahel, Abishai was a loyal but ruthless warrior. He killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He urged David to allow him to kill Saul, but David refused to let him kill “the LORD’s anointed” (1 Sam. 26:8–9). He fought alongside his brothers at the Battle of Gibeon, where Abner killed Asahel. Abishai later helped Joab kill Abner in revenge. When Shimei cursed David, Abishai thought he should be put to death, but again David refused his request. He helped lead David’s troops against Absalom, and again fought for David when Sheba led a rebellion against him. Abishai also saved David’s life by killing the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob. (2 Samuel 23:18–19)
2 Sam 24:1 Here the text says the LORD . . . incited David, while the parallel account in 1 Chron. 21:1 reads, “Satan . . . incited David.” God himself never does evil, but sometimes he uses either Satanic forces or sinful human beings to accomplish his purposes. For more on how to reconcile the two accounts, see note on 1 Chron. 21:1; see also notes on Gen. 50:18–21; 1 Sam. 16:14; Mark 14:21; Acts 2:23.
2 Sam 24:3 By numbering the people for military purposes (v. 9), David apparently was showing a lack of trust in the Lord to supply soldiers when they were needed. He was also displaying a sinful pride in the hundreds of thousands of fighting men at his command (see v. 10). Joab knew it was wrong. See note on 1 Chron. 21:5–6.
2 Sam 24:5–8 The fortress of Tyre was probably an Israelite fortress.
2 Sam 24:9 For the contradiction between these numbers and those given in 1 Chron. 21:5–6, see note there.
2 Sam 24:10 I have sinned. See note on v. 3.
David’s census was most likely a military census. Its purpose would have been to find the age and location of potential new draftees for service in the army. It was either intended to give David pride in the number of his supporters or was a sign of his fear of another rebellion. Either way, it showed his lack of faith in God.
2 Sam 24:13 Pestilence kills faster (three days) than famine (three years).
2 Sam 24:17 Behold, I have sinned. David pleads that the people may not suffer for his sin. But he is the representative of God’s people: they will bear the consequences of his behavior, whether good or evil.
2 Sam 24:18 Go up. From David’s home there was a yet higher place, the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. The Jebusites were the previous inhabitants of Jerusalem (see 5:6), and some still lived there.
2 Sam 24:20 Araunah looked down. Threshing floors were usually on a high place so that the wind could blow the chaff away. This site was on the top of a hill about 450 yards (412 m) to the north of the city of David (see illustration).
About four millennia ago, Melchizedek was king of Jerusalem, which was then called Salem (Gen. 14:18). This was an unwalled city, which was taken over in c. 1850 B.C. by the Jebusites, who built a city wall around it and called it Jebus (see 1 Chron. 11:4).
King David captured this city after having ruled for seven years in Hebron (2 Sam. 5:5). The city was strongly fortified, especially the area around the Gihon Spring, where massive towers dating from this period have been excavated. The Jebusites were so confident of their fortifications that they taunted David, saying that even the blind and the lame would prevent him from capturing their city (2 Sam. 5:6).
However, Joab, David’s commander-in-chief, managed to secretly enter the city through its water system and open the gates for David to take control (1 Chron. 11:6). The Jebusite Citadel was destroyed and replaced by the “stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David” (2 Sam. 5:7).
Later on in his life, David built an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, which stopped a plague sent by God upon Israel from reaching Jerusalem (2 Sam. 24:18–25).
2 Sam 24:23–24 David feels that, because he is the one who sinned, and because it is for the sake of the nation, he should pay for the sacrifice. He pays fifty shekels of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen.
21:1–24:25 Epilogue. The last four chapters provide an epilogue to David’s story. They contain six episodes, which are not necessarily in chronological order (e.g., the first episode occurred “in the days of David”; 21:1). The first describes a famine and its connection to Saul’s family. The second details David’s wars with Philistia. The third and fourth are psalms of David. The fifth lists David’s heroic warriors. The sixth describes David’s pride and its results, concluding with the important story of how David acquired the future site of the temple.
2 Sam 24:1–25 The Lord’s anger and David’s sin lead to a plague. It also leads to the purchase of a place of worship in Jerusalem.
2 Sam 24:25 The parallel account in 1 Chron. 22:1 states that this threshing floor is where Solomon would build the temple. This is a fitting end to the story of David.
1 Samuel | Incident | Psalm |
---|---|---|
19:11 | David’s house surrounded | 59 |
21:10–11 | David seized by Achish | 56 |
21:12–22:1 | David escapes from Achish (called Abimelech in Psalm 34 title) | 34 |
22:1 (possibly also 24:3) | David in cave | 57; 142 |
22:9–19 | Doeg the Edomite | 52 |
23:14–15 (possibly) | Desert of Judah | 63 |
23:19 | David betrayed by Ziphites | 54 |
2 Samuel | Incident | Psalm |
---|---|---|
8:1–14 | Victory over Transjordan | 60 |
chs. 11–12 | Against house of Uriah | 51 |
chs. 15–17 | Absalom’s revolt | 3 |
chs. 15–17 (possibly) | Desert of Judah | 63 |
ch. 22 | Victory over all enemies | 18 |
David’s Rise (1 Samuel 16–2 Samuel 10) | David’s Failures (2 Samuel 11–20) |
---|---|
Eager holy warrior | Remains in palace |
Marries honorably | Adultery with Bathsheba |
Protects Saul’s life | Plots Uriah’s death |
Decisive | Indecisive |
Prayers effective | Prayers ineffective |
Fearless when outnumbered | Fearfully takes census |
Attracts thousands of followers | Loses thousands of followers |
About four millennia ago, Melchizedek was king of Jerusalem, which was then called Salem (Gen. 14:18). This was an unwalled city, which was taken over in c. 1850 B.C. by the Jebusites, who built a city wall around it and called it Jebus (see 1 Chron. 11:4).
King David captured this city after having ruled for seven years in Hebron (2 Sam. 5:5). The city was strongly fortified, especially the area around the Gihon Spring, where massive towers dating from this period have been excavated. The Jebusites were so confident of their fortifications that they taunted David, saying that even the blind and the lame would prevent him from capturing their city (2 Sam. 5:6).
However, Joab, David’s commander-in-chief, managed to secretly enter the city through its water system and open the gates for David to take control (1 Chron. 11:6). The Jebusite Citadel was destroyed and replaced by the “stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David” (2 Sam. 5:7).
Later on in his life, David built an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, which stopped a plague sent by God upon Israel from reaching Jerusalem (2 Sam. 24:18–25).
The book of 2 Samuel recounts David’s reign over Israel and his battles to establish Israel as the dominant power in Syria and Palestine. David expanded Israel’s borders from Saul’s smaller territory. By the end of his reign, David controlled all of Israel, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Syria, and Zobah. Other kingdoms, such as Tyre and Hamath, established treaties with him.
The author or authors of 1 and 2 Samuel are not known. These books recount the stories of Samuel, Saul, and David. Saul’s reign began between 1050–1030 B.C. and ended in 1010. David then reigned until 971. The books were probably written soon after the end of his reign.
The central theme of the books of Samuel is how the Lord (1) established a dynasty (“house”) in Israel for David rather than Saul and (2) how he chose Jerusalem as the place where David’s successor would establish the temple (“house”) for the worship of the divine King Yahweh.
The purpose of 1 Samuel is to highlight two major events: the establishment of the monarchy in Israel (chs. 8–12); and the rise of David to be king after Saul (chs. 16–31). After ruling for a while, Saul was rejected by the Lord in favor of David (chs. 15–16), though Saul stayed on the throne until his death at Mount Gilboa (ch. 31). Later, in 2 Samuel 7, God promises David and his house an eternal dynasty. The book of 1 Samuel establishes the principle that obedience to the word of God is the necessary condition for a king to be acceptable to the God of Israel.
First and Second Samuel deal with a transitional period in the history of ancient Israel. There is a transition of leadership first from the priest Eli to the judge Samuel, then from the judge Samuel to the king Saul, and then from Saul to David. Samuel thus is the link between the judgeship and the kingship in Israel. He is the prophet God uses to anoint both Saul and David. The kingdom of Saul was also transitional. Under Saul, Israel was more than a loose confederation that gathered together whenever there was a common threat, but there was no strong central rule such as existed later. The story of the rise of David in the second half of 1 Samuel prepares for the full-scale kingship of David in 2 Samuel.
Therefore, obedience to God’s word is of prime importance. Only God’s grace allows sinful human beings to be in relationship with the holy God. Only the God-given way of approaching him through sacrifice can prepare humans to come closer to God. Believers can only wait on God, who will do his will according to his own purpose. What is impossible for humans is possible for God. This should encourage believers to put their faith in the one who is sovereign over the entire creation.
The themes of 1 Samuel are related to the themes of 2 Samuel: the sovereign God, who has guided David’s life, chooses David as the ruler of God’s people. God pledges to David an eternal covenant. David thus becomes the prototype of the future Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The book of 1 Samuel is set in Israel during the transition between the period of the judges and the period of the monarchy. It opens with Samuel’s birth and then describes his role as judge over Israel. When the people ask for a king, the Lord instructs Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel’s first king.
The book of 2 Samuel recounts David’s reign over Israel and his battles to establish Israel as the dominant power in Syria and Palestine. David expanded Israel’s borders from Saul’s smaller territory. By the end of his reign, David controlled all of Israel, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Syria, and Zobah. Other kingdoms, such as Tyre and Hamath, established treaties with him.
How does Chronicles differ from Samuel and Kings? The books of 1–2 Samuel and 1–2 Kings show that the Lord drove Israel and Judah from their land because of their sin. The books of 1–2 Chronicles agree that Israel sinned and suffered exile as a result. They also show that God still had a purpose for his people.
King David is the main character in 1 Chronicles. The writer presents a very positive picture of him, leaving out many of the tragic details of his life that the writer of 2 Samuel describes.
Do you ever make a decision and think, "What's the big deal?," especially when you receive a reaction you weren't expecting? At first glance, that could have been what David was thinking when he ordered a census for Israel. This was a very common practice at that time, but David's motives are unclear. Was he doing this in order to know what chess pieces were at his disposal if he wanted to conquer a neighboring country to expand Israel's territory? Was he doing this to show how great a king he was and how many people were under his rule? Or maybe anxiety got the better of him, and this helped him sleep at night knowing Israel wasn't in a vulnerable position to be conquered again? At this point, David was probably tired of being on the run or being a prisoner in an enemy camp.
Joab, the commander of David's army and right-hand man, even asks David, ". . . [W]hy does my lord the king delight in this thing?" (2 Samuel 24:3) How many times in life do we have a friend, family member, or spouse throw us one last lifeline to help save us, only for us to continue down the path of personal destruction because we have our blinders on? As we have seen throughout the book of Samuel, David continues down this path and receives another round of consequences, which ultimately costs thousands of lives. It isn't until after David receives these consequences that he ultimately repents and builds an altar to the Lord. David had no idea that one day the temple would be built on this altar.
It's so easy to get lost in the moment or when reason tells us that, logically, something is a wise answer. Our blinders allow us to see only what's right in front of us; but when you take them off, you can begin to look around and see the whole picture. When you seek the wisdom of God first, you can rest in the fact that God has good plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11).
This month's memory verse
"God's way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?" (NLT)
1. Looking back, what is one decision you made with your blinders on and didn't look at the big picture? How do you think this decision would have gone differently if you had sought God's wisdom before making this decision?
2. Currently, what keeps you from seeking God first when it comes to making decisions?
3. Do you have a community in place around you that you can go to for wise counsel when it comes to making decisions? If not, what steps can you take to have others around you to help point out when your blinders are on? (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
4. After all of David's mistakes, God still promised David that Messiah would come from his lineage. No matter where you are or what you've done, what promises of God can you hold on to today?