SCRIPTURE

2 Samuel 2:1-32

2 Samuel 3:1-39

2 Samuel 4:1-12

2 Samuel 5:1-5

Proverbs 9:10

James 3:13

Ephesians 5:15, 16

A Man After God’s Own Heart

One of the reasons David is called a man after God’s own heart is that he had depth of character. Although he certainly struggled with lust, deception, and other sins, David had in his core a foundation of faith in God that was unshakeable. In 2 Samuel 2, 3, and 4, David shows his deep respect and devotion (fear) for God when he does not pursue the annihilation of Saul’s family or Saul’s lineage of leaders. When warriors who are loyal to David kill Saul’s family members, David does not respond positively. He does not want the relatives of Saul to be assassinated. Instead, in godly wisdom, David respects the calling God placed on Saul and his family and gives his enemies an honorable burial and does not reward or praise those who killed them.

OPENING ACTIVITY: DEFINE WISDOM

Supplies: paper, pencils

Give each person a paper and pencil. Ask everyone to brainstorm about what they believe wisdom is. Discuss their responses and the following questions.

QUESTIONS

• What is wisdom? Is there worldly wisdom and also godly wisdom? Explain your thoughts.
• Describe a person who is wise.
• What is the opposite of wisdom? Describe a person who is not wise.
• How do you acquire wisdom in your life?
• Why is gaining godly wisdom important? How will wisdom make your life better?

BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

Fear God

Read Proverbs 9:10.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

DISCUSSION

• What does the “fear of the Lord” mean in this verse? Think of how you could restate this verse in your own words. Share with the group.

• In what ways did King David have fear of the Lord? How did his fear of the Lord lead him to have greater wisdom and understanding?
• How do wisdom and understanding go together?
• Why does having respect and devotion (fear) for God lead to wisdom?
• Do you rely on God to give you wisdom to do well in school? Why or why not? In what ways do you rely on wisdom from Him?
• Do you seek godly wisdom when making decisions or solving a problem? Why or why not?
• How can you grow in wisdom and understanding?

Wisdom Fuels a Good Life

Read James 3:13.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

DISCUSSION

• King David had to be humble to step aside when the ancestors of Saul took the job of king of Israel. Why did David choose not to kill them or seize the throne by force?
• How does David’s position as subservient to Saul’s family show that he had godly wisdom?
• Why do wisdom and humility thrive together in a good life?
• Do you see evidence of humility and wisdom in your life? In what ways do these two values create a good life for you?

Live Carefully

Read Ephesians 5:15, 16.

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

DISCUSSION

• King David had to be careful how he reacted to Saul’s relatives becoming king in Israel. How did his godly wisdom help him keep the best perspective?
• Although David chose to accept who God had appointed as king at various times, there were still evil things that happened. Why do you think the people who were loyal to David assassinated God’s chosen leaders? Did they have godly wisdom?
• David’s patience and trust in God paid off, because he did eventually become king of Israel. How did David live carefully and make the most of every opportunity?
• How do you live carefully and make the most of every opportunity?

APPLICATIONS

You need wisdom in your life to guide you on the path of life that God wants you to walk on.

• Like King David, you may stumble and fall, but your faith in God and the wisdom He gives you will help get you back on your feet and going forward in the way God has planned for you.
• Living in a world where sin has damaged and contaminated everything is difficult, but you can be victorious by holding firm to your foundation of faith in God and seeking His wisdom and guidance through prayer and Bible study.   

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

2 Samuel 5:1-25

LEADER’S NOTE

For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.

You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.

Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.

Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.

DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUT

OVERVIEW

Chapter after chapter (in the Bible), year after year, David had faithfully been following God. But God’s promise for David to become king, made tangible when the prophet Samuel anointed him to be Israel’s next king, seemed delayed for eons!

Do you know what it’s like to wait, and wait, and wait, and wait some more? That seems to be what David experienced. Young people often seem to have to wait until they graduate from high school, or maybe college, or perhaps even graduate school. How long should a person wait, especially when God has already given that person a clear calling?

This week’s lesson gives us the transition from David running from the king of Israel to finally becoming the king of Israel. It takes time!

Here’s this week’s RBS (Relational Bible Study) about David finally being crowned as the king of all Israel.

It’s About Time

When have you had to wait for something longer than you wanted?

Read 2 Samuel 5:1-25.

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’ 

3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.

8 On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”

9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

1.  When would you have expected David to be crowned King of Israel?

• Right after Samuel anointed him (1 Samuel 16:13).
• Shortly following David’s defeat of Goliath.
• Once he married King Saul’s daughter, he was in the family.
• Reading the story it seems David will be killed before becoming king.
• Never.
• Soon.
• Once King Saul died, Jonathan would make David king in his place.
• About a year after successfully ruling just the one tribe of Judah.
• Other.

2. Why would David be a good king over all 12 tribes of Israel?

• He wouldn’t.
• He had so many military victories—he was a tough guy!
• Saul had no more living sons to replace him as the next king.
• Samuel previously anointed David to be the next king.
• David had a uniting influence and was popular with so many people.
• He wrote such awesome songs/psalms.
• The tremendous wisdom he had.
• The tremendous passion he had.
• Other.

3. What was involved in the covenant for David to become king (vs. 3)?

• The leaders of the people had to agree to it.
• David had to agree to it.
• Promises were made.
• God had to give His blessing.
• It was put to a vote.
• A vow to unselfishly put others first.
• A fresh commitment to follow God’s law.
• This involved taking a risk.
• Other.

4. Is 30 a good age to become king?

• Yes.
• No.
• It depends on your maturity.
• It depends on your trust in God and your reliance upon Him.
• Based on all of David’s experiences, he was ready.
• It should be based on character rather than age.
• At the age of 30 I expect to _______ (or at 30 I was ________).
• Other.

5.  What happened in Israel once David became king?

• Peace throughout the land.
• Positive interactions with other nations.
• Some people threatened to revolt.
• Establishing a capital city and building a palace.
• Taxes increased to pay for the king’s expenses.
• More marriages and more children.
• David attacked all of his enemies.
• Other.

6.  What do you do when God doesn’t act as quickly as you’d expect?

• Pray.
• Get input from others.
• Get frustrated.
• Try harder.
• Wait patiently.
• Quit.
• Take risks for God.
• Other.

7.  When is time on your side? When does it seem time is not on your side?

8.  What is God doing in your life right now that could be preparing you for something later?

SUMMARY

If you’re 50 years old, one year might not seem like a long time. When you’re 15 or 16 years old, a lot can happen in one year—it seems much longer. What about the one year from a baby’s first year to their second year—lots and lots of changes! Through years and years of waiting, God’s promise to David finally was fulfilled when David was 30 years of age. But all that time of waiting turned out to be much less than the actual number of years David served as the king of Israel (40 years). God’s plan and involvement in your life has already started. Follow David’s example and stay true to God through each year of your life, and let God write the details in the order and at the times He chooses.

APPLICATION

Have you ever said something like, “It’s about time!” when it seemed like something should have happened much sooner than it did? Often it seems like as you look forward, things should happen much faster than they are happening. But looking back often brings a different perspective. Here are three options you can choose from this week to consider in conversation with others about God’s timing compared to what you may have wanted when it came to your timing.

TALK (AND LISTEN) TO SOMEONE OLDER.

• Contact someone older than you who has followed God longer than you have. This could be someone you respect at your church or maybe a trusted older relative.
• Ask them about a time they wished God would have acted faster than He did, and how God’s timing turned out to be better even though that only became evident later.
• After you’ve heard their experience, share with them something about your life in which you wish God would do something sooner rather than later, and ask for their input for you.

TALK (AND LISTEN) TO SOMEONE YOUNGER.

• Find someone younger than you at your church and ask them about something they wish God would do faster for them than what’s happening now.
• Draw out their story, asking for more details.
• Ask additional questions about what they are doing to build their trust in God when things don’t necessarily go the way they want or as fast as they want.
• After you’ve listened well, silently pray for God’s guidance and influence as you share with the person younger than you an experience from your own life when God’s timing turned out better than the timing you wanted (at the time).
• Then offer to pray with the younger person for increased trust in God for them and for you.

TALK (AND LISTEN) TO GOD.

• Talk to God about things that don’t seem right about His timing now. This could be about uncertainty regarding your future, or maybe something in the present.
• Reflect on earlier times in your life when you might have had similar thoughts and feelings. What did God do during those times? What did you do?
• Be sure to wait for impressions from God and then remain still and “listen” for God to communicate to you. It might not happen at the time you expect, but keep listening! You’ll be glad you did!