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Lesson No. 11—Take Your Bible to Class for Reading the Scriptures.

LESSON THEME:—2 SAMUEL

2 Samuel 7:4-17.

  • KEY WORD—”KINGLINESS.”

  • KEY VERSE—2 Samuel 3:18.

  • KEY PHRASE—”DAVID A TYPE OF THE MESSIAH KING.”

Home Readings.

2 Samuel 21

NAME—Named like First Samuel, after Samuel the last of the Judges and the first of the prophets.

AUTHOR—The prophets, Nathan and Gad. Time of writing 940 B. C. Covers the period from 1017 to 977 B. C. About 40 years.

PURPOSE—To give the history of David, his character, his reign, his failures and achievements, revealing a kingly man.

GREAT FACTS:—

  1. Shepherd.

  2. Prince.

  3. Exile.

  4. King.

Great Fact I. David as Shepherd.

1 Samuel 16; 1 Samuel 17.

David, the son of Jesse and great-grandson of Ruth and Boaz, was born in Bethlehem. He was the youngest of eight sons, brave and devout spirit. When he was 18, Samuel was divinely directed to anoint him king to succeed Saul. In early life he shepherded his father’s flocks, skilfully guiding them and bravely defending them from wild beasts.

His fame as a harpist led him to be called to the court of Saul. He next slays Goliath, but having passed from boyhood to manhood since the king saw him he is not recognized.

LESSON—The shepherd life developed fearlessness and faithfulness in David and gave him time for devout meditation. He thus learned of the Good Shepherd who always sought the good of the flock and was ready to lay down his life for the sheep. Out of this experience he wrote Psalm 23. He learned also how to keep his temper, so that when his older brother, Eliab, taunted him he was able to rule his own spirit. Under the same conditions let us remember that the conflict is not with the scorner but with ourselves. In the fight with Goliath he showed wonderful faith, reasoning that the God who had helped him conquer the lion and bear would make him more than conqueror now. When special difficulties come to us let us remember former deliverances and so labour and pray, that labour and prayer will overcome all things.

Great Fact II. David a Prince at Court.

1 Samuel 18; 1 Samuel 19; 1 Samuel 20.

David wins the love of Jonathan, Saul’s son, and is promoted to a high command in the army, but his success makes Saul jealous so that he makes five attacks upon David’s life.

  1. He spoke to Jonathan and all his servants that they should kill him.

  2. He threw a spear at his head, 1 Samuel 19:10.

  3. Sent for David to be brought to him on a sick bed. 1 Samuel 19:15.

  4. Sent messengers to seize him at Ramah, 1 Samuel 19:20.

  5. Went to Ramah himself after David, 1 Samuel 19:23-24. Saul also flung a spear at Jonathan in his rage at their friendship.

LESSON—David was delivered from all these dangers and wrote the 59th psalm and many others like it testifying that God was his defence and refuge in those days of trouble. When we read these stern Psalms we must remember that danger and treason were all around him so that he was mightily stirred. As the farmer waits for the harvest let us rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, for evil-doers shall he cut off. Read Psalm 37, which is the good man’s medicine for hard times and hard places and the antidote for impatience.

Great Fact III. David, the Exile.

1 Samuel 21; 1 Samuel 22; 1 Samuel 23; 1 Samuel 24; 1 Samuel 25; 1 Samuel 26;
1 Samuel 27; 1 Samuel 28; 1 Samuel 29; 1 Samuel 30; 1 Samuel 31.

He flew to Nob where he wrongly persuaded the high priest to give him the showbread. Went westward to Gath where he pretended to be crazy and was driven out by the king. Psalm 34 records this escapade. Returning to the land of Judah he takes refuge in the cave of Adullum and becomes a captain of troops of sympathizers. Psalms 52; Psalm 57; Psalm 142; bear this date. At Engedi David finds Saul asleep and instead of killing him only cut off part of his robe. This generous act of mercy touches Saul’s heart for a time.

At Carmel, David threatens but afterwards spares the life of greedy Nabel whom he had protected from robbers, but who wouldn’t give him food. After this time Samuel dies and Psalm 63; is written. David spares Saul’s life the second time and goes to live among the Philistines for 16 months. Psalm 56; was written. Saul and his three sons having been killed by the Philistines, David’s exile ends.

LESSON—During these bitter experiences David learned his own weakness and gained a spirit of humble prayer and perfect trust. Good men will have their fears at times, but what should that man fear who pleases a God who can crush all his adversaries? A bride received a present of 15,000 dollars and was unhappy, fearing to be robbed before she placed it in the bank. Then she was perfectly at ease in her mind. So let us place our affairs in the hands of the Saviour and live a life of constant trust.

Great Fact IV. David the King.

2 Samuel

For seven and one-half years David reigns over Judah in the south with Heron as the capital. When a new dynasty came to the throne it was the custom to put the family of the predecessor to death. David, however. had different religious principles. However, Saul’s son, Ishbosheth, would not give up the throne without a struggle, so proclaimed himself king in the north and for seven and one-half years held the northern tribes against David. At last David captures Jerusalem, makes it the capital and removes the Ark to that place. Now thoroughly established on the throne, David earnestly desires to build a temple for the Ark and for the Lord to dwell in. Because he was a man of war God did not grant this desire, but makes Messianic covenant with David that through Christ he should have an everlasting kingdom. 2 Samuel 7:4-16. David had many foreign wars, committed the sin of adultery and murder, which he deeply repented. Psalm 51 and Psalm 32. He had many family troubles which culminated in the rebellion of his son Absalom, which was quelled. His sin in numbering the people and the land was punished with a three-day pestilence. He gathers great stores of material for the building of the temple and directs his son Solomon to build it. David dies at the age of seventy years.

LESSON—David is one of the unique men of the world, ranking with Abraham, Moses and Paul. His religious experiences as told in the Psalms have endeared him to all. In character he was unselfish, in ability a great soldier and ruler, as a sacred poet and hymn writer he is unequalled in all times. He is also a more complete type of Christ than any other for he was shepherd and king, lion and lamb, a man of sorrows, then crowned with glory and honour. Let us, like David, have right conceptions of the almightiness and righteousness od God, confidence in the mercy Of God, and a desire to do the will of God.

Questions on the Lesson.

  1. After whom is Second Samuel named?

  2. Who wrote the book and how many Years does it cover?

  3. What the purpose?

  4. Name the key word and key verse.

  5. Have you read your Home Readings?

  6. What did David’s shepherd life develop in him?

  7. Of what use are former deliverances?

  8. How many times did Saul try to kill David and why?

  9. What Psalm is good medicine for hard times and hard places?

  10. Why was David an exile?

  11. What did David learn at this time?

  12. How long did David reign in Judah, and in all?

  13. What city became the capital of David’s kingdom, and what the greatest event of all time that afterwards happened there?

  14. What did David desire to Wild, and who did build it?

  15. What covenant did God make with David?

  16. In what way was David a type of Christ?

  17. What ideas of God, and what desire concerning God’s will, did David have?

  18. Give your estimate of David’s character.

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