Lesson 12—2Nd Samuel 21-24, 1 Kings 1, 1 Chronicles 29 End Of

Lesson 12: OT: 2nd Samuel 21-24, 1 Kings 1, 1 Chronicles 29 www.sistersatthewell.org

nd Lesson 12—2 Samuel 21-24, 1 Kings 1, 1 Chronicles 29 End of David’s Life

1. Read 2 Sam 21: 15-22. (Reading Note) The beginning of David’s reputation in Israel came from killing one of these giants. Now he is older, and not the warrior he once was. What lessons can we take from this passage that will help us meet the season of our own aging?

2. Read 2 Samuel 22. Find the four verses in David’s psalm where he refers to God as his “rock.” This is a psalm about deliverance from enemies. How is a God who is like a rock be a help against enemies?

3. In verses 5 & 6, David names some enemies that we all face. Read 2 Nephi 9:10, and D&C 138:23 to see modern scripture summaries of our enemies. (see Scripture List following) What poetic images does David use for God in the psalm of Chapter 22 that illustrate different ways in which God delivers those who trust in him? (Example: he is a lamp that delivers from darkness.)

b) CHALLENGE QUESTION: Now read Psalms 38 & 116, (Scripture List) very personal heart cries of David. What do you see of his personal life story in these psalms?

5. Read 2 Samuel 23:1-7. We are told that these are David’s last words, or more accurately, his final testimony. Please read carefully and answer the following questions: a. David gives a one-verse history of himself in verse1. Elaborate on each of these things with something you have learned from the study of David’s life. 1. He was the son of Jesse (a sheep rancher):

2. God raised him high:

3. God anointed him:

4. He was the “sweet psalmist of Israel.”

b. According to vs. 2-3, David’s message that follows can be considered revelation, or prophecy. T or F?

c. What 2 characteristics of a righteous king are given in v.3?

d. V. 4 is particularly beautiful, showing that David was indeed a poet as well as a prophet. This is a beautiful picture of the reign of a good king. Some consider it to be a reference to Christ’s perfect millennial reign. What do you learn about the benefits to mankind from a perfect king from this verse?

6. God had made a covenant with David in 2 Sam. 7, promising him a descendant on the throne forever. But in the spirit of prophecy that David says is upon him, he sees his own descendents on the throne in the future, that “his house be not so;” in other words, his descendents will not be the kind of king described in verse 4 (and they certainly were not.) Still, David trusts in God’s “eternal covenant, ordered in all things, and sure.” Other places in scripture refer to the “sure mercies of David.” (Isa. 55:3; Acts 13:34 see List) What did David know about the plan of God that made him feel secure in this covenant, even though he seemed to also know that his own descendents would not live righteously? What did he see? (hint: read Revelation 22:16 List)

Lesson 12: OT: 2nd Samuel 21-24, 1 Kings 1, 1 Chronicles 29 www.sistersatthewell.org

b. A late psalm of David, psalm 69:5 says: “O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.” Earlier in his life he had written of himself, “ 21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.” How had David’s knowledge of David changed between the writing of these two verses?

c. How does our own life experience, move us from pride in our own righteousness, to dependence on the sure mercies of the eternal covenant given through Jesus Christ, the prophesied “offspring of Jesse,” the Messiah who would come through David’s descendants.

7. Skim 2 Sam 23:8-39. Many great and mighty men devoted their lives to serving King David and many men were made mighty and great by their service to him. What do these verses tell you about the man David?

b. PERSONAL: Make a list of the people who have been mighty in your own life by inspiring you to follow them. Share one, and tell why they made your list.

8. Skim 2 Samuel 24. (If you find this story troubling, look at the “Falling-off-a-Cliff Notes” posted on the website for this chapter.) Read verses 17-25, where David confesses his sin and makes an offering to the Lord. How can we apply verse 24 to our own lives and be sure that we do not give sacrifices to the Lord that “cost us nothing”?

9. Read 1 Kings 1: Adonijah decided to make himself king. Which of David’s chief men sided with Adonijah and which did not?

10. How did Nathan and Bathsheba work together to get Solomon crowned king?

Read 1 Chronicles 29 11. First read 1Chronicles 22:7-10. (List) Who chose Solomon to be king, and when was he chosen?

12. Much of David’s speech in Chapter 29 is about building the temple. This is the passion of his life in his mature years. Which phrases in the first 9 verses show David’s and the people’s attitudes about the temple?

13. David speaks in verse 14 of the principle we find in the hymn, “We Give Thee But Thine Own.” (#218) List some of the particular blessings that God has given you that you can return to Him. How does one do this?

14. David had been guilty of the sin of murder. The Book of Mormon has scriptures that deal with the consequences of this serious sin. Read 3 Nephi 30:2 and Alma 39:5-6. (See Scripture List.) David had murdered Uriah many years before. Was he a murderer still? In other words, when a sin is repented of, does it still define us? Give your answers from scripture only please.

Lesson 12: OT: 2nd Samuel 21-24, 1 Kings 1, 1 Chronicles 29 www.sistersatthewell.org

15. Solomon is anointed king for the second time on the great public occasion of Chapter 29? (For the first time this hap- pened, note again 1 Kings 1:38-39.) What differences are there in the first and second time Solomon is anointed?

16. As we say good-bye to David, what about his life do you most want to remember to take with you? What were you most surprised to learn about him?

Reading Notes from the LDS Institute Manual

Chapter 24:1–10: Why Was the Lord Angry with David When “He Moved David” to Do So? “God could not be angry with David for numbering the people if he moved him to do it: but in the parallel place [see 1 Chronicles 21:1 ] it is expressly said, Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. David, in all probability, slackening in his piety and confidence toward God, and meditating some extension of his dominions without the Divine counsel or command, was naturally curious to know whether the number of fighting men in his empire was sufficient for the work which he had projected. . . . He therefore orders Joab and the captains to take an exact account of all the effective men in Israel and Judah. God is justly displeased with this conduct, and determines that the props of his vain ambition shall be taken away, either by famine, war, or pestilence .” (Clarke, Bible Commentary, 2:377.)

Chapter 24:18-25 The Threshing Floor of Araunah In an attempt to appease the Lord and stay the plague that was smiting Israel, David purchased the threshing floor (a large open area where the rock base is flat and the grain could be threshed and winnowed without getting mixed with dirt) from Araunah and there built an altar to the Lord. This site later became the place where Solomon built his temple (see Fallows, Bible Encyclopedia, s.v. “Araunah,” 1:140). (And where Abraham once almost sacrificed Issac! LLM) This is sacred ground. Symbolically speaking, it was on this spot that not only was the plague affecting Israel stopped, but would be the spot from which the greater plague (curse) affecting all mankind for their sins would be stopped as well, because of the infinite and eternal sacrifice offered here by God Himself, for this geographical ridge that held the threshing floor of Auruna, also would one day contain the temple of the Jews and at its furthest end, the ground known as Calvary.

Scripture List for Lesson 12: (Q #’s denote which question scriptures apply to)

Q-3 2 Nephi 9:10 “O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.”

D&C138:23 “ And the saints rejoiced in their redemption, and bowed the knee and acknowledged the Son of God as their Redeemer and Deliverer from death and the chains of hell.”

Psalm 116: “I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: 11 I said in my haste, All men are liars. 12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 16 O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people,

Lesson 12: OT: 2nd Samuel 21-24, 1 Kings 1, 1 Chronicles 29 www.sistersatthewell.org

19 In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.”

Psalm 38: 1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. 10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. 11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. 12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imag ine deceits all the day long. 13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. 17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. 19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is. 21 Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation

Q-6 Isaiah 55:3 “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” Acts 13:34 “And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.” Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

Q-11 1 Chronicles 22:7-10 “And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God: 8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. 10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.”

Q-14 3 Nephi 30:2 “Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel.”

Alma 39:5-6 “ Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost? 6 For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness.”