Where do I begin? This has been an INCREDIBLE few months as we have studied the life of David together!! Thank you for sharing this journey with me. You have worked so hard! Even if you were unable to complete each and every week’s homework, you set your heart on studying God’s Word. I pray that through this study you have grown closer to God and that you have experienced Him in new and fresh ways that have changed and transformed your hearts forever.

Time and time again, your comments have brought tears to my eyes. They reveal the work God has done in and through our time together, and that blesses me more than you will know. It is why I do what I do.

For just a moment, let me pray over you,

Abba Father, thank You for instructing us and teaching us through the life of King David. Thank You for taking each one of us deeper still with You. Thank You for the privilege of walking alongside these beautiful women. As we end our time together, I ask that You continue to counsel and watch over these precious sisters in Christ. Thank You that Your eyes will be upon them and Your ears attentive to their hearts. Father help them pursue a heart that reflects that of your servant David. Give them an undivided heart set on You and submitted to You. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit enable them to surrender every area of their lives so that they can live in a way that pleases You each and every day. May they continue to hunger and thirst for Your Word. Bless each on of my sisters as they faithfully continue their journey with you. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Below please find our last and final video for this study. I recorded it with a sadness in my heart because our time together is over. Thank you for your sweet words of appreciation. They mean so much to me and feed my soul. Bible study is what makes my heart sing!!

Please leave a comment today and share one way God has changed your heart to make it more like His. From your comments, I will select one name to receive a copy of the One Year Chronological Bible. I will announce the winner a week from today.

My dear friend, Wendy Pope, hosts a year long walk through the Chronological Bible, and I encourage you to stop by her blog to see what it is all about. It is a wonderful way to stay in the Word, and Wendy is a great Bible teacher.

Although our study is over, please be sure to stop by and say hello as time allows. Also, please don’t forget that I do have a Bible study E-book available for purchase through Proverbs 31, All Things Wise and Wonderful: Applying God’s Wisdom in Everyday Life. The cost is $10, and it is a great study to do individually or with a small group. You can also find my book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God’s Story , for sale on the web site as well.

Please remember to be notified of any upcoming studies, I need your first name and e-mail address. If you have friends who might like to participate in future studies, please send them my way. They can contact me on my blog, via facebook, or via e-mail at deuteronomysix@aol.com.

Blessings to you today!

Welcome to my Proverbs 31 friends visiting from Encouragement for Today. I am so thankful you stopped by. We are in the last week of The Heart of a Mighty Warrior, an on-line Bible study on the life of David. Please take a few minutes to listen to the video below. It ties in perfectly with the devotion because it shares Truths, powerful truths from God Himself, about the significance of walking in obedience to His Word and the blessings that abundantly flow when we do!

If you have never joined us for a study, I would love to register you for the next one. Please leave a comment today, send me a message on Facebook, or send an e-mail to deuteronomysix@aol.com with your first name and e-mail address, and I will register you and let you know about any future studies. You can also subscribe to my blog to learn about new studies, giveaways, Proverbs 31 news, and other great stuff!

Now on to the homework. Congratulations, my sweet sisters in Christ. Today is a day for celebration! You have spent the last six weeks journeying through one of the most beautiful yet most painful stories in all of Scripture. Thank you for your hard work and discipline to walk this journey. My prayer is that your hearts have been forever changed because of the time we have spent together in God’s Word.

We have one last set of questions below covering the last days of David’s life. We will meet here again one more time next week. I am truly sad our study is at an end. You have been the most wonderful big “small” group ever!! I am praying about what our next study will be.

Registration: We are nearly finished with our David study. If you have not officially registered for this study but are interested in any further on-line studies we do, please register now. It will ensure that you receive future e-mails about new studies, giveaways, and other good stuff. Register by leaving your first name and e-mail address in a comment on my blog, e-mailing me at deuteronomysix@aol.com, or sending me a message on Facebook . I will never share your personal information.

Subscribing via e-mail: Don’t forget you can subscribe by e-mail and receive this post in your in-box each week. However, you will not be able to see the videos or comments unless you visit my blog directly.

This Week’s Memory Verse: …acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. 1 Chronicles 28:9

Homework Questions: Please do as many questions as time allows. It is in your reading and studying that God will do His greatest work.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for revealing powerful Truths, sometimes very hard Truths, each and every week. Be with me this week as I end my study. Father, give me an abundance of Your wisdom and knowledge, give me discernment to find the treasures hidden in these last chapters. I started this study wondering what You meant when You said David was “a man after Your own heart.”

Father, breathe fresh wind and fresh fire into my dry and parched heart. Fill me with the fullness of Your Spirit. Empower me to live out what I have learned. Give me insight so I can do all that You call me to do. I desire for my life to be one long, obedient response to Your call. Let Your love and Your Word shape my life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today is a tragic day in the life of David. These last few weeks of reading have been difficult and painful as we have watched his family disintegrate before our very eyes. As we near the end of our study, let us remember that God placed David’s life in Scripture to teach us. So although we are sometimes shocked, saddened, disappointed, even disgusted by what has gone on, God has a purpose for it. He desires us to take the story of David’s life and allow it to teach us and transform us so that we will have a heart like his.

1. Read 2 Samuel 18:1-18. David’s men did not want him to lead them into battle, so he stayed behind.

a. What specific instructions did David give to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai in verse 5?

b. What happened to Absalom?

c. When Joab asked the soldier why he did not kill Absalom, what did he say?

d. Read verses 14-17. What did Joab do next?

e. Why do you think Joab killed Absalom in direct disobedience to David’s order?

What comes to mind as we come to the tragic end of Absalom’s life is how different it could have been had he responded appropriately and chosen differently after Amnon raped his sister. He had the choice to respond in wisdom and forgiveness or in hate and unforgiveness. He chose the latter. And that is why we end up where we are today.

2. Read 2 Samuel 18:19-33.

a. Where did David go when he learned his son was dead?

b. What did he do and what did he say?

The intensity of David’s grief is apparent in his words, “O, my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you – O Absalom, my son, my son.” David found himself with two sons dead as a consequence of his one stolen moment of self-indulgent sin.

Read 2 Samuel 20:1-26.

The fighting between the Israelites and the Judeans was heating up. In this chapter we meet Sheba. He led a revolt against David. David knew he had to stop Sheba, so he sent Amasa, who had replaced Joab as David’s new commander, to do the job. In the process of this battle, Joab committed a terrible crime. What makes this crime even worse is that Joab and Amasa were in fact cousins (sons of two of David’s half sisters)

3. What did Joab do and why? (see 2 Samuel 19:13)

We see again Nathan’s prophecy in 2 Samuel 12:10 coming true, “The sword will never depart from your house.”

There are still a few chapters left in David’s life, and we do not have time to cover them all. Let’s jump ahead to 2 Samuel 24.

Read 2 Samuel 24.

Chapter 24 relays a story that I personally struggle to understand. It is believed this event happened late in David’s reign, during his most prosperous and successful period. It begins with these words, “The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He incited David against them, saying, ‘go and take a census of Israel and Judah.’”

There is a parallel account of this story in 1 Chronicles 21:1. It says, “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.”

There have been other times in Scripture where God allows Satan to work in the lives of His children to accomplish His ultimate purposes. If you would like more understanding of this truth, please read Job 1:6-12, 2:1-6 and reread 1 Samuel 16:14 (about Saul).

What I want to make clear is that God did not incite David to do evil. He allowed Satan to provoke David to number his people.

4. Read James 1:13. What does it say? How does it shed light here?

Scholars believe that because David counted only the fighting men, he was trying to determine his military strength, and herein lay his sin. It was the sin of pride. Friends, Scripture clearly teaches that sometimes God allows us to be tempted to test us, to train us, to prune us, or to grow us.

First Corinthians 10:13, tells us

“…And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

David ordered Joab and his men to take the census. Joab knew this was contrary to what God wanted and offered David a way out. But David did not take it, so Joab obeyed, took the census, and brought the numbers back to David.

5. As soon as David received the report, what happened in 2 Samuel 24:10 and 1 Chronicles 21:8?

6. Can you believe God gives David a multiple choice question for his punishment? It is the only time we see this in Scripture. What did David choose?

7. What were David’s words to God in verse 17?

8. What happened when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem?

9. Read 2 Samuel 24:18-24. Do you think David’s offering had anything to do with God’s action in verse 16?

Why did 70,000 have to die? Remember, the first verse of this chapter also said that God’s anger burned against the Israelites. Most likely Israel was living in disobedience to God and His law. Deuteronomy Chapter 28 warned Israel what would happen as a direct result of their disobedience. So although we do not know exactly what Israel did, we can be assured this punishment was consistent with what God promised would happen in the event of disobedience in Deuteronomy 28.

Now let’s travel back to 2 Samuel Chapter 22 and read how David celebrates God as his Deliverer.

10. Read Chapter 22. This is a beautiful memorial written by David to honor His God.

a. As you read, pay attention to the words David used to describe God and share them below.

b. Please take a few moments today and write your own memorial. Share times in your life where you have seen God at work…where He has rescued you…where He has disciplined you, blessed you, spoken to you, and/or used you.

Now we come to the end of David’s life. David decides he wants to build a permanent place of worship. But earlier in his life, God told David that it was not him that was to build the structure, it was Solomon.

11. Read 1 Chronicles 22:5-19. What did David say and do in these verses?

In First Chronicles Chapters 23 through 27, David organized his kingdom for his successor….the army, the government, and the priesthood. In chapter 28 and 29, he designed the architectural plans for God’s Temple.

12. In 1 Chronicles 28:5-6, who chose Solomon as king?

13. Read 1 Chronicles 28:8-10, 12. What charge does David give Solomon? Who gave David the plans for the Temple?

14. How can you apply this charge in your own life and in your own family?

First Chronicles 29:10-20 is another beautiful outpouring of David’s heart.

15. Read 1 Chronicles 29:10-20. What do David’s words reveal about his heart at the end of his life?

a. What does David pray for his son in verse 19?

b. In your own words, what does it mean to have “wholehearted” devotion to God? How can we achieve this?

16. Read verses 21-25. What happened the next day?

We end our time together with David’s death. Yes, it is a sad day, but how wonderful to read verses 21 through 25 and see how David’s life ended…with people praising and celebrating…with people loving and accepting his son as king…with people pledging their submission to him. Listen to these words,

“The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.”

David’s life ended well.

17. Read Psalm 71:14-24. Does this psalm accurately reflect David’s life?

18. Read Psalm 78:70-72. Write verse 72 below.

David served God well. He shepherded God’s flock. He lived his life to the glory of God. 1 Kings 2:10 says of the end,

“Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.”

Life went on in Israel. But it was forever changed by God’s anointed one, the “man after God’s own heart.”

What a difficult week this was as we watched David tumble straight into a pit of sin and disobedience. I don’t know about you, but the first few readings were very difficult for me. How hard to watch such a good and godly man fall so far so fast. But as we will see in our lesson, it was not something that happened over night.

Below please find the lesson for Week Five and the first half of the homework for Week Six.

There is so much rich material in Week Six, that I am splitting the homework into two weeks. So we will meet here again next week for the second half of the homework. Hope that works with your schedules!!

Registration: We are nearly finished with our David study. If you have not officially registered for this study but are interested in any further on-line studies we do, please register now. It will ensure that you receive future e-mails about new studies, giveaways, and other good stuff. Register by leaving your first name and e-mail address in a comment on my blog, e-mailing me at deuteronomysix@aol.com, or sending me a message on Facebook . I will never share your personal information.

Subscribing via e-mail: Don’t forget you can subscribe by e-mail and receive this post in your in-box each week. However, you will not be able to see the videos or comments unless you visit my blog directly.

This Week’s Memory Verse: …acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. 1 Chronicles 28:9

Homework Questions: Please do as many questions as time allows. It is in your reading and studying that God will do His greatest work.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for revealing powerful Truths, sometimes very hard Truths, each and every week. Be with me this week as I end my study. Father, give me an abundance of Your wisdom and knowledge, give me discernment to find the treasures hidden in these last chapters. I started this study wondering what You meant when You said David was “a man after Your own heart.”

Week after week, You have given me glimpses and windows into David’s heart. I have seen David at his best and at his worst. Help me to learn from both. When I step out of line due to sin and disobedience, humble my heart and ready me to receive Your discipline. Give me the strength to endure the consequences.

Father, breathe fresh wind and fresh fire into my dry and parched heart. Fill me with the fullness of Your Spirit. Empower me to live out what I have learned. Give me insight so I can do all that You call me to do. I desire for my life to be one long, obedient response to Your call. Let Your love and Your Word shape my life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sadly, this week begins the fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy spoken in Second Samuel Chapter 12. The Lord had already taken the life of David’s son for his sin with Bathsheba. But God also promised the He would bring calamity t0 David and his household (2 Samuel 12:10-11).

To fully grasp the truths in this chapter, let’s review the members of David’s family. We learned earlier that David disobeyed God’s law by taking many wives. One of his wives gave birth to a son named Amnon, the heir to the throne. One of his other wives gave birth to a son, Absalom, and a daughter, Tamar.

1. Read 2 Samuel Chapter 13:1-22.

a. Share what you learn about each of these children.

o Amnon

o Tamar

o Absalom

b. Who is Jonadab? How is he related to Amnon?

c. How did Amnon’s behavior mirror David’s actions with Bathsheba?

What a tragic and devastating event. Amnon’s lust destroyed this beautiful young virgin’s life in a single moment. Tamar pled with him to stop, but Scripture says “he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.” Such relationships were forbidden in Israel and Amnon knew it!

2. How do Absalom’s words to Tamar in verse 20 make you feel? How do you think they made Tamar feel?

3. Read the last few words of verse 20. What word does the author use to describe how Amnon left Tamar?

This comes from the Hebrew word “shamem.” It means to deflower, to devastate, to ravage. “Deflower,” means to destroy the innocence, integrity, and beauty of a woman. Amnon stole something from Tamar that she would never recoup. Absalom’s response did nothing to help move Tamar to a place of healing. In fact, his words hurt and heaped more shame and grief upon her.

Now we turn to another disappointing day in David’s life. He learned that his son, the heir to his throne, raped his daughter. Scripture tells us in verse 21 that he was “furious.” But what did he do about it? Absolutely nothing. There is no record that he took any disciplinary or punitive action against Amnon. Sadly, David’s abdication of his responsibilities will eventually lead to greater trouble for David in the next chapter. David may have been effective and powerful as a king, but not so much as a father.

4. Why do you think David did not discipline Amnon?

Two years have passed, and the consequences of David’s sin continue.

5. What do you think has been going on in Absalom’s heart during this time? Who was he watching and what was he wanting?

6. Read 2 Samuel 13:23-38. Describe Absalom’s plan.

7. Share the parallels between Absalom’s actions against his brother and David’s actions against Uriah (find 3 to 4 similarities)?

The time of sheep-shearing was a festive occasion and a time for family celebrations. Absalom planned a party and invited his father to come. David refused. Absalom requested Amnon’s presence instead.

8. What happened at this family “celebration?”

David had now lost both of his oldest living sons. And once again, we find him failing to hold his son accountable for what he did. For years there seemed to be no communication between the two. Yet, Scripture tells us in verse 39 David longed to go to Absalom. Joab, David’s loyal servant, had enough of this and finally intervened to reconcile the two.

9. Read 2 Samuel 14:1-33. Why do you think Joab concocted such an elaborate scheme?

10. David finally agreed for Absalom to come home on one condition. State his condition? (verse 24)

Sadly, too much time had passed for there to be reconciliation and restoration. Oh, that David would have stepped up to the plate years before and disciplined his sons. When Amnon raped Tamar, David did nothing. When Absalom killed Amnon, David did nothing. When Absalom finally came back home, David did nothing. He never held his children accountable. He never disciplined them with truth and in love. It seemed that at this meeting, their hearts were cold. They reunited…did what they were “supposed” to do…but did not reconcile.

11. Do you have someone in your life who has hurt you or whom you have hurt? Have you resisted reconciliation? If so, why? Or have you experienced painful consequences because of the lack of reconciliation? If yes, what are they?

12. Has God used this story to speak to you? If He has, will you take steps today to begin reconciliation? Your first step is to pray for God to open a door…to create an opportunity for a first step. Your next step is when God opens that door, walk through it in obedience…a phone call, a note, an apology, a listening ear, a tender heart. Whatever it looks like you can be assured of God’s promise that blessings will follow your obedience.

 
Second Samuel Chapter 15 in the NIV begins, “In the course of time…”

13. 2 Samuel 15:1-12.

a. What do Absalom’s actions reveal about his heart?

b. Absalom asked his father’s permission to go to Hebron. What was his ultimate plan? (verses 10-11).

c. Was his conspiracy successful? (verse 12)

Absalom spent years seething with bitterness and revenge. He waited two years for David to punish Amnon. He spent three years hiding from his father after killing Amnon. Once back in Jerusalem, he spent two years waiting for his father to acknowledge him and another four years plotting revenge. Friends, he allowed unforgiveness and hatred to steal eleven years of his life.

14. Read Luke 6:37. If you struggle with any kind of bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness, please let this Truth soak deep into your heart.

Nathan’s prophecy in 2 Samuel 12:10-12 came true. There was now division in David’s house.

15. Read verses 13-14. Does it surprise you that David, the one who defeated Goliath and conquered the Philistines, the one hand picked by God to be Israel’s king, so easily ran away from his throne?

As you read the next verses, remember the Mount of Olives is where Jesus went to pray on the night of His betrayal (Matthew 26:30, 39) and where Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9,12)

16. Read 2 Samuel 15:30-31. How does the author describe David?

Not only had Absalom rebelled, but then David learned that one of his most trusted advisors, Ahithophel, had joined Absalom’s cause.

David’s actions signified deep sorrow and despair. The covering of the head in David’s time was a sign of sorrow, and being barefoot was a sign of mourning and shame.

It was on the Mount of Olives that David humbled himself before God and prayed.

17. Read Psalm 3. This is the prayer David prayed on the Mount of Olives.

a. Examine the words of this prayer and share the state of David’s heart and mind.

b. What verbs stand out to you as you read David’s psalm?

Friends, we have many more issues to discuss to finish out the lesson, so please remember to return here next week for the second half of Week Six’s homework questions. See you then!

God bless you and know I will be praying for you.