An overview of the book of 2 Samuel

 

2 Samuel – The Life of David – The Man After God’s Own Heart

24 chapters

Ch 1-11            God Building David

Ch 12-24          God Chastening David

AUTHOR:      Probably Nathan and Gad wrote 2 Samuel (1 Chron. 29:29). Samuel wrote most of I Samuel, but he died toward the latter part of the book, so the authorship of 2 Samuel favors the thought that Nathan and Gad penned it.

THEME:   “The Life of David.”   Just as I Samuel is built around the life of Samuel, II Samuel is built around the life of David. In fact, the entire book is a book about David, his weaknesses, strengths, virtues and faults. 2 Samuel Is devoted to the historical record of the monarchy of David over the nation of Israel. The book records King David’s rise to power, his capture and establishment of Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel, his desire and preparation in building the temple, The Davidic Covenant and it’s picture of the future reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the sorrows in a royal family.

Hence, let us notice some of the things about David that can be practical and helpful to our students.

THE NAME “DAVID” MEANS “BELOVED.”

He was called “a man after God’s own heart.”

Acts 13:21‑22         And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

22         And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

1 Samuel 13:14      But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

This means that he wanted what God wanted. This means that he wanted to please the Lord and do those things that pleased Him. David was in love with Jesus. David thought about Jesus all the time. David longed for God and loved to be with the Lord. Before David did anything he prayed and asked God to help him. David always wanted to know what God thought. David wanted to do what God wanted him to do. Why should David love God more than you? Why should anyone love Jesus more than you?

Jeremiah 29:13      And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

DAVID WAS YOUNGEST OF EIGHT BROTHERS.

1 Samuel 16:10‑13    Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before

Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

11       And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

12       And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

13       Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

I Samuel 17:2-14

He was the least likely of these brothers. When Samuel came to the house of Jesse, David’s father, to choose one of Jesse’s sons to be king, Jesse did not even bring David up from the flock. He had no idea it could have been David. For that matter, Samuel seemed to have little interest in the possibility that it could be David. This should be an encouraging thing to many of our pupils. God can use the unlikely, of course, God can use the strong, but He also can use the weak. (Teacher, by all means use this to encourage the less talented, the less attractive, and the less gifted persons in your class.)

1 Corinthians 1:25‑29      Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men;

and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26       For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27       But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28       And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29       That no flesh should glory in his presence.

1 Corinthians 15:10          But by the grace of God I am what I am:..

Matthew 11:25      At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

2 Corinthians 4:7   But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

 

III.       DAVID’S MOTHER WAS A GODLY WOMAN.

Psalm 16:6   The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

Psalm 116:16          O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.

David said his mother was God’s handmaid or servant.   No doubt this was the secret to David’s life. (Teacher, lead the mothers to be the right kind of mother and the pupils to appreciate the right kind of mother.)

 DAVID WAS COURAGEOUS. As the youngest son, he was charged with the care of his father’s sheep. He displayed his fidelity and courage in this occupation by slaying both a lion and a bear which attacked the flock. (Teacher, teach your class about courage, courage to do right in the face of opposition. Have the pupils think of people in the Bible who had courage, such as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Gideon, etc.)

DAVID WAS A FRIEND. His friendship with Jonathan is one of the most beautiful in all the Bible.

1 Samuel 18:1     And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

A real friend is someone who encourages you to love God more. A real friend is someone you can depend on and trust.

Proverbs 17:17      A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 18:24      A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

You don’t get friends by trying to get friends.

You get friends by trying to be a friend to someone.

Proverbs 22:11      He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

Proverbs 27:6         Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Proverbs 27:9         Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

A real friend is a source of good counsel.

Proverbs 27:17      Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

A good friend will improve your attitude.

1. DAVID WAS A HARD WORKER. He did not go to the top because of his natural gifts, but because he worked hard. He was a warrior and a statesman. In the whole range of Bible history there is no other such warrior. He subdued the enemies of Israel, raised the nation to its highest eminence, and made it the dominant power of western Asia. He had wisdom in commercial matters and in matters of agriculture. He was a man of justice, and he had an unwavering faith in God. (Teacher, stress the importance of hard work as a good tool to overcome weaknesses and frailties. This is the secret to David’s success.)

Ecclessiastes 10:10     If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: ……

Proverbs 10:4     He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Proverbs 21:25   The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

Proverbs 12:24   The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Proverbs 13:4   The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Proverbs 21:5   Proverbs 22:29

VII.      DAVID WAS FORGIVING. One of the most important virtues of David was his not taking vengeance on his enemies. There are at least two outstanding examples of this in his life.   The first had to do with Saul, who was king when David was a youth. After David had killed Goliath, the women began to sing more praises unto him than they did unto Saul. Saul became jealous, thought David was going to take his throne, and vowed that he would kill David. David ran from Saul, not because he was afraid, but because he did not want to fight God’s anointed. One day David found Saul fast asleep. Though Saul was on a mission at the time to kill David, David would not lift up his hand against God’s anointed. He did not slay Saul, though he was being pursued by Saul at the time.

In the darkest part of David’s life, his young son, Absalom, had taken over the kingdom. The armies of Absalom were fighting the armies of David. Rather than fight against Absalom, David fled. While he was away from the city, a fellow named Shimei threw stones at David, threw dust in his face, and called him names. II Samuel 16:5-14. One of David’s men asked if he could cut his head off. David said, “No! Probably God sent him to tell me some things I needed to hear.” David was not a man of vindication. He did not fight back. He was a man of forgiveness, patience and compassion. How important it is that we teach our pupils to love those that hate them, bless those that curse them, and pray for those that despitefully use them!

Matthew 5:44‑45  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45                  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: …

Psalm 35:11‑14      False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

12       They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

13       But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

14       I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

Proverbs 25:21‑22 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat;

and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22       For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

Luke 6:27‑29   But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28       Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29       And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Acts 7:59‑60    And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying,

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60       And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Ephesians 4:30‑32 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

31       Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32       And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

VIII.       DAVID WAS A SINNER.   During the Ammonite war, David committed his great sin in the matter of Uriah the Hittite, for which God rebuked him through Nathan, the prophet, and imposed the penalty that the sword should never depart from the house. II Samuel 11:1- 12:23. The interesting thing about this is that David sincerely repented. He always rose higher than he had fallen. The outstanding fact in David’s sin is that there is a forgiving God when one comes confessing his sin.

I John 1:9     If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 28:13     He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Psalm 32:1‑6           Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2           Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3           When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

4           For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

5           I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

6           For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

Proverbs 28:13      He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

1. DAVID WAS HAPPY. One should not leave the life of David without mentioning the fact that David had a happy disposition. He later received the distinguished designation of “the sweet psalmist (singer) of Israel.” II Samuel 23:1. Ancient Hebrew tradition, much of which was unquestionably proud of David’s own time, ascribed the composition of the Psalms to him, both directly and indirectly. He was fond of music. He played skillfully on the harp. I Samuel 16:16-23 and II Samuel 6:5. He arranged the service of praise for the sanctuary. I Chronicles 6:31, 16:7, 41, 42; 25:1. He composed a lament over Saul and Jonathan, a lament over Abner, a song of deliverance, and his last words. II Samuel 1:17-27, 3:33, 34; 22:1-51; 23:1-7. His musical activity is referred to by Amos in Amos 6:5; by Ezra in Ezra 3:10; and by Nehemiah in Nehemiah 12:24, 36, 45 and 46. Seventy-three Psalms designate David as their author. Someone has said that to read the Davidic Psalms on your knees means that David will raise your soul to the highest and most holy aspirations of God. Murray said, “However the historian may settle David’s character whether he be a just ruler great in his own right or an astute usurper who has snatched the laurels of another, his authentic writing will hand down to all future times the world’s greatest master of lyric song. He has entered closest to the heart of nature. He has caught as none other its ever manifold expression. He has soared nearest Heaven and lifted mankind toward divinity.”

God knows what will make us happy. He created us. God knows us better than we know ourselves. Sin never makes you happy. Sin only brings guilt and shame and regret and remorse.

Ps 144:15         Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

Ps 146:5            Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Proverbs 14:21      …but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Proverbs 16:20      ….and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

Proverbs 29:18      …but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

John 13:17       If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

1 Peter 3:14     But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye:

1 Peter 4:14     If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

 

14. DAVID PLEASED HIS GOD AND WAS A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART.“ I Samuel 13:14. Generally he “did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.” I Kings 15:5.

HE “SERVED HIS OWN GENERATION BY THE WILL OF GOD.“

Acts 13:36  For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

God has a will for your life. Don’t do your own thing. Do what God wants you to do. You will only be a success if you do the will of God. There is no failure inside the will of God. There is no success outside the will of God.

XII.        HE WAS AN IMPORTANT LINK IN THE ANCESTRY OF JESUS CHRIST.   Matthew 1:6; 22:41-45.

CONCLUSION: David died in his 71st year after having reigned forty years.

 

More LESSONS FROM 2 Samuel

2 Samuel 1:6-8     And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.

8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

Saul’s disobedience to God’s word haunted him until death (Numb. 32:23; 1 Sam. 15:3).

2 Samuel 2:12-17     And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

Young men’s anger arises in the playing of sports because of pride (Prov. 13:10).

2 Samuel 3:9-10     So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.

The law of first mention established the definition for the word translate. The word occurs five times throughout the Scriptures and it has a fivefold definition (Col. 1:13; Heb. 11:5): the LORD inspires the translation, man is involved in the translation, the work is eternal, the work is flawless; however, it may not match the original, and the translation is better than the original. Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament meet the fivefold definition (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38). The translation of the AV 1611 also meets the fivefold definition. In this passage David’s kingdom was better than Saul’s kingdom and God authorized the translation and the Lord Jesus will sit up on David’s throne (Luke 1:30-33).

2 Samuel 6:1-8     Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

8 An David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day.

 

This story illustrates the danger of doing right in a wrong way. The will of God must be fulfilled according to God’s word (Mark 7:13). God’s holy message must be given according to God’s methods (1 Cor. 1:17-31). David tried to bring the ark according to the Philistines method (1 Sam. 6:7-8), which illustrates the church following the world’s methods to perform the work of God (Jer. 48:10; 2 Cor. 10:3-6). Good intentions and sincerity must be closed in truth in order to be blessed of God (Josh. 24:14; John 4:24; 1 Cor. 5:8; Eph. 6:24).

2 Samuel 7:12-16   And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

The Davidic covenant established the throne of David return only. This covenant created an eternal security for the nation of Israel (Lev. 26:9; Ps. 132:11). Historically, the seed was Solomon, but he forsook God. Doctrinally, the seed is the Lord Jesus Christ (Ps. 89:20-37), who will rain from the throne of David (Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 22:30; Luke 1:30-33; Acts 2:29-32). This covenant established the sure mercies of David (2 Chron. 6:42; Isa. 55:3) that spiritually applied to the eternal security of born-again believers as sons of God (John 1:12-13; 14:16-17; Acts 13:34). Disobedience to this eternal covenant is punished with chastisement and the loss of blessings (Ps. 89:28-37; Heb. 12:5-11), God’s mercy sure and eternal.

2 Samuel 11:1-5     And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

The world revels in David’s sin with Bathsheba because the world is wicked. Wicked sins of fornication are common occurrences in politics (Josh. 2:3). In a degenerate society lewd behavior occurs secretly in politics and murder is the ultimate cover-up (Gen. 19; Rev. 17:2).

2 Samuel 12:1-8   And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8 And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

God’s mercy would not allow David to hide his sin (Prov. 28:13; Rev. 3:19). Nathan used a parable to paint a word picture for King David (Hosea 12:10). David pronounced a sentence against himself. David’s fourfold punishment included the death of the baby, Amnon (13:39), Absalom (18:14-18), Amasa (nephew – 17:25; 20:9-10), and Adonijah ( 1 Kings 2:24).

2 Samuel 12:9-10   Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

To despise God’s written word is to despise God himself (12:9-10; 1 Chron. 10:13).

2 Samuel 12:22-23   And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

All little children are safe in Jesus Christ (1 Kings 14:12-13; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16).

2 Samuel 13:1-5     And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.

3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.

5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.

Family and friends can get one to do wrong when the devil can’t (Job 2:11; 1 Cor. 15:33). Jonadab was a cousin (13:3) and this reveals a grave danger and family reunions when children are left unattended (Prov. 22:15; 29:15).

2 Samuel 15:1-6   And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Doctrinally, Absalom is a type of the antichrist. Absalom was a tall, dark, and handsome, Syrian-Jew like Judas Iscariot (15:8; Jer. 48:24-25). He manipulated gullible, religious people through flattery and feigned love (Prov. 20:19-20; Dan. 11:21). He used peace and fairness to gain the public’s confidence (Dan. 8:25). He manipulated people politically through a judicial conspiracy (Deut. 16:18-20; 2 Sam. 15:4-6; Ps. 58:1-2; 64:2; Jer. 11:6-10; James 2:4-13), but the egotistical murderer hung like Judas, was cast into a pit (18:17; Rev. 20:1-3), and went to his own place (18:17; Acts 1:25).

Modern-day Absaloms work like Korah in gaining control of a church (Numb. 16). He poses as a leader who cares for the grievances and complaints of the offended members. He manipulates people through friendly gestures of love and claims to have a more caring spirit in the pastor (3 John 9-11).

2 Samuel 19:10   And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

Spiritually, this is a good question. Why don’t religious instructors say a word about the Lord’s Second Coming? The Second Coming of Christ is the most important doctrine and the word of God and God honors those who love is appearing (2Tim. 4:7-8; Rev. 22:20).

2 Samuel 19:41-43   And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan?

42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s cost? or hath he given us any gift?

43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

People who make an issue about equal rights are not trustworthy because they are usually self-centered (20:1-2; Rev. 3:14-22). No government can give rides to one group without taking the rights of another group (Prov. 17:26; Amos 5:12).

Lessons from Chapter 1

Love your enemies – David wept when the man who chased him like an animal was reported as killed. David’s lamentation reveals his attitude of forgiveness and mercy, which he later received when he sinned (2 Sam. 12:13; Matt. 18:21-35; James 2:13)

How are the mighty fallen? — said 3x

It is hard to watch someone live a double standard.

Christian on Sunday but Heathen during the week.

David watched Saul live a demonically oppressed life but David didn’t quit trusting the Lord.

Lessons from Chapter 5

David is anointed in Hebron by all the people

He had already been anointed “King” by Samuel back in 1 Samuel

The people had to anoint or accept their God given king – Have you anointed your man of God in your heart?

David and his men take Jerusalem – the city of David

How to be a man after God’s own heart – How David’s life can inspire you

1) Use the hard times to bring you closer to the Lord

II Samuel 7:8 – I took thee from the Sheepcote

David lived with the sheep as a shepherd

2) You enquire or ask of the Lord

Lord, what do you want me to do?

Lord, is this a battle you want me to fight?

Lord, is this how you want me to spend my time?

3) You want the Lord glorified – II Samuel 7

You want God to have the best

4) You walk with God – Amos 3:3

You must yield to the Holy Spirit to walk with God – Romans 8

5) You understand and use the power of music correctly

David was called the Psalmist of Israel

David sang – Psalm 40:2-3 – David played an instrument

You will never grow spiritually past your music.

The spiritual level of the preaching you’re listening to will be over-ridden by the spiritual level of your music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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