Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 20

Helpful thoughts:

• Sheba was a part of Saul’s tribe and took advantage of the division at the end of the last chapter.
• David did not lay with his former concubines after they had been with Absalom during his rebellion.
• After Amasa failed to bring the army together, David turned to Abishai instead of Joab.  But, by the end of this event, Joab was reinstalled over the army
• The wise woman had the right to appeal for peace in Israel (Deuteronomy 20:10).

Questions to consider:

1. What kind of leadership/power did Joab possess if he was able to disobey David’s orders for command and still have troops readily loyal to him?
2. On what basis did the woman make her appeal?  What did she want to prevent Joab from doing to a city of Israel?
3. Who was right in this chapter?  Is there a true hero?  Is Joab being loyal to David or to Israel or both or neither?  How does this narrative further point us to our need for a true sinless hero in King Jesus?

Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 19

Helpful thoughts:

• Through David’s example, the victors returned as though they had been defeated.
  • Leaders lead by example even when they don’t desire to do so.
• Joab had a great deal of power himself.  It could be argued that his words to David, though appearing to be quite threatening, were an expression of loyalty and love.
  • Israel needed a leader.  Joab alerted David to his responsibility and window of opportunity to reclaim his role.
  • Sitting at the gate to judge was David’s act/communication of his return to the throne.
• Mephibosheth wasn’t actually giving all his land to Ziba.  His response to David was a way of saying thank you and being happier about the safety of David than the return of any land.
  • We might be right to think that dividing the land between Ziba and Mephibosheth was unjust.  What is apparent is that Mephibosheth truly exemplified his overall gratitude toward David by accepting the judgment.

Questions to consider:

1. Why would it make sense for David to mourn for the death of Absalom?  Why would it make sense for him to extend gratitude to his supporters and protectors?  How could we compare the response of the people to Paul’s instruction to the church at Corinth to, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)?  When does following a leader become dangerous and even sinful?
2. How many further consequences are we seeing of people’s sinful actions? (Deaths, rivalries, jealousy, etc.)  Do we get to control the consequences of our sin?  What kinds of positions are people put in when sin is happening all around?  What will Heaven be like where there is no sin!?
3. Now that David’s back, is everyone living happily ever after?  What is still happening?  How will King Jesus’ return be different than this return of King David?

Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 18

Helpful thoughts:

• Men from Gath of the Philistines (Ittai the Gittite) and from Cush in Africa were loyal and fought with David in Israel.  God has always intended for and welcomed the nations into His family by faith. (Leviticus 19:34, Romans 4:13-18)
• David considered Absalom his boy and desired to be restored after this rebellion.
  • This rebellion cost the lives of 20,000 Israelites.
• Words like “happened” and “a certain man”, and the fact that the forest killed more men than the sword, remind us that even though things look like chance, God is providentially in control.
• A heap of stones covered Absalom in his death.  This mimicked the death of stoning which was due a rebellious son (Deuteronomy 21:20-21) and had been utilized in the past against Israel’s enemies (Joshua 7:26).

Questions to consider:

1. Why do you think Joab was so ready to disobey David’s orders?  How might the people who supported David felt after David mourned the loss of Absalom before the loss of so many soldiers?
2. How did the Cushite’s word choice reflect a different view of Absalom from David’s?  How did the Cushite speak of Absalom?
3. What might you have noticed is missing from this chapter?  Who hasn’t David consulted?  In what ways have David’s priorities gotten out of sorts?  How has he allowed his despair to take over in a way that prevented him from seeking the Lord?  How has this changed his view of what was happening?

Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 17

Helpful thoughts:

• The advice of Ahithophel sounded right in the minds of Absalom and also to all the elders of Israel.
  • Absalom had been working on this for over four years.
  • It may have looked or felt like the whole government shifted overnight.
• Hushai’s counsel would allow time for David to prepare and required Absalom to be personally involved in the battle, risking his own life.
• Perhaps Ahithophel was aware of what would come of Absalom’s choice to follow Hushai’s counsel instead of his own.  He preferred suicide to being held responsible for a plan to overthrow King David.  His suicide was a selfish act even if it was used to communicate what would come of Absalom.
• Shobi was a prince over the Ammonites.  They pledged their loyalty to David during this time of distress.

Questions to consider:

1. Why did Hushai’s counsel sound better to all the people (Verse 14)?  What does this teach us about the sovereignty of God and the hearts of man?
2. Is it OK that the female servant lied to protect the messengers?  How does the accuracy of the accounts (For better or worse) give us reason to be even more sure of the honesty of the Scriptures?  How does this remind us who the real hero of the story is?

Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 16

Helpful thoughts:

• Ziba’s “kindness” to David will later be proven false (19:24-27).  He attempted to selfishly capitalize on the chaos of the situation.
• If God intended for David to receive rebuke, then he knew he needed to be willing to take it.
  • Proverbs 27:6 – If our friends are speaking the truth to us in love, especially when it’s hard, may we have ears to hear.
• David’s consequence from 2 Samuel 12:11 comes true through the counsel of Bathsheba’s grandfather…
  • Possession of the harem was passed down with the throne.  Absalom’s action was a wicked form of declaration that he was now the king of Israel.
  • Don’t let verse 23 fool you…  Ahithophel’s advise was regarded as being from the Lord.  But, having put his faith in this man’s counsel brought great shame and sin on Absalom.

Questions to consider:

1. Why don’t we have to worry about defending ourselves?  What (Who) defines us as people?  What does the fear of man push us to do when others think poorly of us?
2. When we rush to defend ourselves from the negative perceptions of others, what might we miss out on?
3. When do we know that the counsel we receive from others (Or give to others) is godly counsel?  (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3-4)

Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 15

Helpful thoughts:

• Without reconciliation with king David, Absalom would not have had access to these chariots and horses.  Absalom used his father’s forgiveness against him.
• The gate of the city was the common place for public judicial hearings.  Absalom found a weak spot in David’s governing and utilized against him.
  • He flattered the people and stole their hearts for four whole years before moving to the next phase of his plan.  This was not a decision made on a whim.
• Having taken so many officials from Jerusalem would have given the appearance that David knew of and supported Absalom’s actions.  It was not too uncommon then for a king to crown his heir before he died and for them to reign together for a time.
• Ahithophel was Bathsheba’s grandfather and would become a counselor to Absalom.  Hushai’s job was to give Absalom the opposite counsel from whatever Ahithophel suggested.

Questions to consider:

1. What do you believe God’s opinion was towards the sacrifices Absalom offered during this rebellion?  What kind of sacrifice does God desire and deserve?
2. In rejecting the presence of the Ark of the Covenant (Allowing it to remain in Jerusalem), and in relinquishing control of the situation to God, who was David trusting in?  Who was he seeking to protect?  Was David utilizing the tension to garner for himself more followers and secure his power or was he acknowledging that God might have a better plan for the people than for him to remain the king?
3. How would you compare and contrast the leadership styles portrayed by Absalom and David in this chapter?  How does believing in and relying on the goodness and the sovereignty of God change the way we see people and our role in relationships?  In leadership?

Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 14

Helpful thoughts:

• This chapter is troubling.  It’s hard to tell at times what is going right and what is going wrong…  Manipulation and selfish interest are being sought in the name of mercy and reconciliation.
• While there are many similarities in the woman’s fictitious story, there were embellishments when compared to David’s situation.  One being that Absalom was not David’s only way to carry on the family name.
• Absalom showed his lack of repentance by setting Joab’s field on fire to force action.
  • Absalom demanded either restoration or death.  Godly sorrow does not produce demands (2 Corinthians 7:10-11).
  • Joab had stuck his neck out previously for Absalom and now had skin in the game.  Absalom selfishly took advantage of that.
  • David extended forgiveness and reconciliation to Absalom perhaps not knowing that he wasn’t truly repentant (Luke 17:3).

Questions to consider:

1. What happens to relationships when everyone is seeking to protect and serve themselves?  How about when we seek to protect and serve one another?
2. How are restoration and reconciliation connected to forgiveness?  If a person refuses to admit wrong-doing and is unwilling to make right what was wrong (Wherever possible), should they be reconciled and restored?  Why is it right to have a heart of forgiveness (A readiness to extend forgiveness), but to wait until restoration and reconciliation are sought to grant it?  When does God forgive us and cleanse us from all our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)?
3. Are there sins you need to turn from and confess?  Are there others who have confessed to you that you need to forgive?  How should/can God’s forgiveness of you encourage you to be ready to forgive others (Matthew 18:21-35)?

Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 13

Helpful thoughts:

• Lust is confused with love and it “torments.”  Love produces joy.  Love is a sacrifice of self for others.  Lust is a sacrifice of others for myself.
  • Amnon later hated Tamar simply because she refused to help him realize his desires and now posed a threat to his good image (Even though he was in the wrong)!
    • Tamar on the other hand tore her clothes because was now no longer available for marriage as a virgin daughter of the king, she wore ashes in mourning, she mourned the death of the life she hoped to live.  She had become an idolatrous sacrifice.
• Tamar appealed to her half-brother in four ways:
  • This was against the law.
  • She would be shamed.
  • Amnon would be shamed.
  • She even offered herself in marriage.  This was still illegal (Leviticus 18:9-11) but preferable to her in the desperation of the moment.
• After having Amnon killed, Absalom fled to Geshur, the homeland of his mother, where his grandfather was king.
  • The violence in the household of David (2 Samuel 12:10) has begun.

Questions to consider:

1. Why might David have failed to execute justice on Amnon?  What emotions or thoughts would have accompanied his anger in this situation (Verse 21)?
2. What part does Jonadab play in this narrative (Verses 3-5, 32-33)?  How dangerous is “craftiness” which smooths over what should be abhorrent to us and surely is before our holy, righteous, just God?
3. How has God shown His love for us through Christ?  How does the gospel message give us a pattern for love in all our relationships, certainly including the relationship of marriage, and even in intimacy?