Background: Title: 2SAMUEL 2 Samuel is a result of the division made by the and the Latin . It was originally known as the second division of the The Best of Times book of 1 Kings. Our English have used the titles from the Old Hebrew and retained the divisions of the Septuagint and Vulgate translations.

Author: Key Text: 2Sa 7:12-13 See 1 Samuel notes. The author of 2 Samuel may well have drawn his When your days are over and you rest material from Samuel’s own words and those of the prophets who with our fathers, I will raise up your followed him. He knew some of ’s poems (2Sa 1:19-27, 22; 2:51; offspring to succeed you, who will 23:1-7). come from your own body, and I will Date: See 1 Samuel notes. establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, Time Span: and I will establish the throne of his From the death of Saul to the time just prior to the death of David. kingdom forever. Approximately 40 years.

Summary: Saul, Jonathan, and Samuel are now dead and David mourns the death of Saul and Jonathan. David is anointed as king and establishes his capital at Hebron. Later it is moved to Jerusalem when he begins to Theme: reign over all Israel. The lives of Biblical heroes are “open books” and their defeats, failures, and sins are recorded along with their victories. I. 2 Samuel shows the establishment of David’s life is no exception. In his early life as king, he triumphs over David’s rule over a consolidated Israel the puppet king Ish-Bosheth, he captures the hill of Zion from the with Jerusalem as its capital. Jebusites, he recovers the ark of God, and he receives a covenant from God that David’s seed would rule on the throne of Israel forever. Still, II. 2 Samuel shows the success of David as no matter how great the leader, temptation is still a problem. David sins against God, Uriah, and himself when he commits adultery with king, and that he was a man after God’s Bathsheba. This leads to a series of “cover-up” moves by David which own heart. are “uncovered” by Nathan the prophet. David repents, but still suffers the consequence of his sin.

Absalom’s rebellion is another sad chapter in David’s life. As soon as this rebellion is put down, a civil war erupts. The ten northern tribes under a man named Sheba revolt against David and the two tribes of Benjamin and Judah. Joab defeats the rebels and David is victorious.

Prophets will extol David’s leader- ship, and point to a time when David, a figure of the , shall reign forever.

In later years, as more and more men prove themselves to be unfit to rule, the people of God will look back to David as their great ruler. Prophets will extol David’s leadership, and point to a time when David, a figure of the messiah, shall reign forever.

41 Sermon Outline

Long Live the King! Introduction: Outline: The greatest and most bloody revolutions in history I. “Give Us a King” have been fought over issues of leadership. France A. The People Take Matters Into Their Own Hands (1Sa 8) threw off the yoke of her extravagant monarchy in the 1. Samuel is growing old and feeble (vs 1). revolution of 1789. Thirteen years earlier, the Ameri- 2. He has appointed his sons as judges after him (vss 1-3). cans had fought for the right of self-governance. En- 3. The people ask for a King instead (vss 4-5). gland, Germany and Russia - each in her turn - 4. “They have rejected me as their King” (vs 7). struggled to determine what form of government B. Saul is Chosen as King (1Sa 9-11) would be best. Princes, presidents, prime ministers, 1. Saul is chosen by God and anointed by Samuel (9:1-10:8). and priests have formed governments and attempted to 2. Saul is crowned before the people of Israel (10:9-27). lead nations. It appears that human beings are vitally 3. The people acknowledge Saul as King (11). interested in how they will be lead. C. Samuel Makes Clear the Issues Involved (1Sa 12) 1. God has always provided leaders for his people (12:6-11). The same is true of the church. Throughout the years, 2. By taking matters into their own hands, they have usurped Christendom has struggled with the issue of leader- God’s authority and rejected him as King (12:12-13). ship. During the early centuries, dissatisfaction with local elderships led to the elevation of regional bishops. II. God is Responsible for Raising Up Leaders This eventually led to the establishment of a papacy. A. He Provided Leadership for the Wilderness Wanderings In the 16th Century, the Protestant Reformation re- 1. - called by God from the burning bush (Ex 3). jected the leadership of the Pope, and began to move 2. Joshua - commissioned by God (Nu 27:12). back towards a more Biblical pattern. Today, churches 3. Judges - chosen by God as the need arose. are led by every conceivable form of government: 4. All of God’s leaders were selected, not by elections, succes- elders, preachers/pastors, congregational democracy, sion or contests of strength, but by the will of God. prophets, denominational hierarchies, ad nauseam. Raising up leaders was not the people’s task, but God’s. B. God Continued to Provide Leadership During Samuel’s Time The Israelites struggled over this same issue as well. 1. Samuel - God literally raises a leader. Many of the conflicts recorded in the 2. Saul - God continued to choose leaders. arise over the matter of government and how the people 3. David - Called from the flocks to the throne. respond to their leaders. Judges, prophets, priests and kings try their hands at managing the Israelites. From III. God Also Takes Responsibility for Rejecting Leaders the time of Moses, through the judges, until the anoint- A. Eli is a Leader Rejected by God ing of Saul, the children of Israel argue over the best 1. He condones the wickedness of his sons (1Sa 2:12-30). means of providing leaders for themselves. 2. God rejects Eli’s leadership and promises to raise up a “faithful priest” (1Sa 2:35). You would think that, at least when it comes to those B. Saul is a Leader Rejected by God who claim to be God’s people, we might listen more 1. He disobeys God’s explicit commands (1Sa 13:7b-13). closely to Him who is our ultimate leader and King. 2. God rejects Saul’s leadership and promises to appoint a new God has always had a plan for providing his people leader (13:14). with leadership, a means of transmitting His will and wisdom through agents He has chosen . The book of IV. Lessons on Leadership for God’s People Today 1 Samuel tells of that plan and of our failure to follow A. God is Our Leader - All Others Exercise “Borrowed Author- it through much of our history. ity” and must Follow Even as they Lead. B. Leadership Depends on the Will of God. 1. God must be allowed to raise up leaders among his people. 2. God must also be allowed to reject leaders who no longer fulfill their function. C. To Follow God’s Leaders is to Follow God; to Rebel Against His Leaders is to Reject Him as our King.

42 Topics

Christ in 2 Samuel Major Lessons The Establishment of the Davidic Kingdom 2Sa 7:11-16 1. Strong spiritual leadership comes by individuals who have given themselves over to God (2Sa). 1. David desires to build God a “house,” but is denied and told that God will build David a house (1-11). 2. Weak spiritual leadership comes when individuals fail to yield themselves to God (2Sa). 2. The house of David will be built while David lies (dead) with the fathers (7:12; 1Ki 2:10). Therefore, David will be in the 3. God demands that His word be obeyed (2Sa 6). tomb when his house is built (Ac 2:29, 34). 4. The presence of God brings blessings to a spiritual house 3. It would be through the seed of David that the kingdom (2Sa 6:11). would be established (7:12; Am 9:11; Hos 3:5). Christ, as the seed of David, established the kingdom (Lk 1:31-33; 5. Leaders who know God, act like God. They are kind and Ac 2:29-31, 15:12-18, 13:22-23). demonstrate love (2Sa 9).

4. It would be an everlasting kingdom (7:13, 16; Da 2:44, 7:13- 6. No individual is beyond committing sin (2Sa 11). 14; Ps 145:13; Isa 9:7; Mic 4:7). Christ established this kingdom (Mt 16:18-19; Lk 1:33; Heb 12:28; Col 1:13-14; 7. “Nathans” are needed to point out the sins of others in order Mk 9:1; Ac 28:20-23). to bring about repentance (2Sa 12).

5. The seed of David will be the Son of God (7:14; Ps 89:26- 8. The righteous lament even the death of those who oppose 27). Christ Jesus is that seed (Heb 1:5; Ro 1:3-4). them (2Sa 1, 3 19).

6. The loving kindness of God will not depart from this seed (vs 9. All victories, great and small, are of the Lord’s doing, and 14, 15; Ps 89:30-37). Christ saves (Ro 5:8-9, 17-21; Eph not ours (2Sa 22). 2:8-9; Tit 3:4-7).

These are the last words of David:

...The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.’’ Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? -- 2 Samuel 23: 1-8

43 Outline Small Group Study

I. David’s Lament Over Saul & Jonathan (1:1-27) Warm-up: A. News of Saul’s Death (1:1-16) Describe a time in your life when you thought you were doing the B. Odes for Saul and Jonathan (1:17-27) right thing, only to find out that you were doing what was wrong.

II. David’s Reign as King in Jerusalem (2:1-5:25) Look at the Book 2 Samuel 6:1-10 A. Rival Kings and Conflict with Abner (2:1-4:12) 1. Why was it necessary for a cart to carry the ark of God? 1. David proclaimed king of Hebron (2:1-7) a. It was heavy. 2. Ish-Bosheth made king by Abner (2:8-11) b. It was too sacred or holy to be carried in other ways. 3. Fight and pursuit of Abner (2:12-32) c. It was not necessary. In fact, it was against God's will. 4. Sons born to David (3:1-5) d. It was commanded by God. 5. Division of Ish-Bosheth and Abner (3:6-21) 6. Abner is killed by Joab (3:22-39) 2. If you had been in Uzzah’s and Ahio’s place, what would 7. Ish-Bosheth killed by Baanah and Recab (4:1-12) you have done when the cart started to tip over? B. Ruler Grows in Strength (5:1-25) a. run, so as not to be crushed C. Ark of God is Returned to the City of David (6:1-23) b. yelled for the oxen to stop D. The Temple is Planned by David (7:1-17) c. done just as Uzzah did E. David’s Prayer and Thanksgiving (7:18-29) d. screamed at Ahio to watch where he was going F. Surrounding Nations Taken (8:1-18) G. Mephibosheth Treated with Kindness (9:1-13) 3. How do you think Ahio reacted when Uzzah was struck H. Conflict with the Ammonites and Syrians (10:1-11:1) down?

III. David’s Sin with Bathsheba; Nathan’s Rebuke 4. What do you think made this act of Uzzah an “irreverent (11:2-12:25) act?” A. The Act of Adultery (11:1-5) B. Attempts to Cover It Up (11:6-27) 5. What do you think of David’s reaction to the Lord’s anger C. The Announcement by Nathan (12:1-25) against Uzzah? D. The Death of the Child Conceived in Sin (12:15-23) E. The Birth of (12:24-25) Looking Closer: 1. Do you think Uzzah would say that God was unjust in his IV. David’s conflict with Absalom (12:26-18:33) punishment? Why? A. Rabbah is Taken (12:26-31) B. Amnon Rapes his Sister Tamar (13:1-22) 2. Are there things in your life that should have caused God to C. Absalom Slays Amnon and Flees (123:23-39) react in a similar manner as He did with Uzzah? Why do you D. Woman of Tekoa Pleads for Absalom (14:1-20) think that? E. Joab Sent to Bring Absalom to Jerusalem (14:21-33) F. Absalom Steals the People and David Flees (15:1-37) 3. Do you ever become angry with God because of His judg- G. Mephibosheth Cheated and David Cursed (16:1-14) ments on man? How do you overcome that feeling? H. Absalom’s Counselors (16:15-17:14) I. The Conflict Progresses (17:15-29) 4. Does this action by God (against Uzzah) help you respect J. David’s Battle with Absalom (18:1-18) God’s authority? How? K. David Mourns for Absalom (18:19-33) L. David’s Return and Sheba’s Revolt (19:1-20:26) Looking Around: Go around the group and share one way you have seen them V. The Last Days of David’s Reign (21:1-24:25) obeying and respecting God. A. Famine and Victory Over the Philistines (21:1-22) B. Song of Thanksgiving (22:1-51) C. Last Words of David (23:1-7) D. The Mighty Men of David (23:8-39) E. Numbering of the People (24:1-9) F. Punishment of David for the Census (24:10-17) G. Threshing Floor of Araunah (24:18-25)

44 © 1994 Glen Gray and Tim Woodroof, Look Press, P.O. Box 219156, Portland, OR 97225.