The United Kingdom of Israel

1
The United Kingdom of Israel

• Lesson 1 David Becomes King
• II Sm. 1 - 55
• For whatever things were written before were
  written for our learning, that we through the
  patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have
  hope. (Romans 154)
• Now all these things happened to them as
  examples, and they were written for our
  admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have
  come. (I Corinthians 1011)

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Geography and Timeline

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Introduction

• Review The life times of Samuel, Saul and
  David.
• Samuel was the 13th judge, birth and early
  childhood.
• Hannahs vow and Eli/sons fall.
• Disaster and loss follows the arks to
  Kirjath-Jermin.
• Israel demands a king.
• Saul reigns 40 years with rejection, jealousy and
  death.
• Davids early history, advancement and outlaw
  life.
• Expectations
• Lots of reading and harmonizing the chronology.
• Read about the genealogies from the Patriarchs to
  the Tribes of Israel along with historical
  statements in I Ch. 1-9.
• If we do not learn from history, then we will be
  apt to repeat it.

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Two Key Characters Abner and Joab

• Abner (I Sm. 1755-57, 11, 24)
• Becomes Sauls commander (II Sm. 28)
• Cowardice and lazy to his duty (1830 2613-16)
• David is more wise (1813)
• Davids promotion is known (265)
• He was not a good man and no friend of David.
• Joab (I Sm. 266)
• He was related to David (I Ch. 212-17).
• Joins David at the cave of Addulum (221-2)
• Becomes Davids commander (I Ch. 116)
• He was a courageous military leader, mediator,
  and declined credit.

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Discussion Questions

• How was the death of Saul and his sons reported
  to David and how did David respond (II Sm. 11-
  16)?
• The man may have went to loot, not protect or
  fight.
• Report Arrows, not dead yet, leaning on a spear
  (110)
• Amalakite murdered Saul a mercy killing. Is
  this compassion?
• He thought David would be pleased (49-10 II Sm.
  410).
• He expected a reward, knows where to find David,
  tells all, mentions Jonathan and not Sauls other
  sons, assumes Saul and David are enemies, aware
  of David as the next king, proudly admits to
  killing Saul (11 II Sm. 15).
• David just defeated the Amalakites on a high
  note.
• David wants verification of the story How do
  you know? (I Sm. 31).
• David mourns, weeps, fast, and tore his clothes
  over the death of the Lords anointed (112).
• Your blood is on your own head, for your own
  mouth has testified against you, saying, I have
  killed the LORDs anointed. (116)

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Discussion Questions

• Describe the Song of the Bow (II Sm. 117-27).
• It is hard to say words of comfort at a funeral.
• A special labor of love (Saul Jonathan)
• Nothing negative about Saul
• Honors them as fallen heros
• Begins with Saul, and ends with Jonathan
• Expresses covenant with Jonathan
• Written for a wider audience than Davids 600 men
• Words of a Song Farther Along

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Discussion Questions

• Lesson to Learn Never glory in the misfortunes
  of others. (I Co. 134-7 Ro. 132 Ga. 61-5 I
  Co. 1212 Ep. 425-32)
• Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and
  evil-speaking are childish actions. Mature
  actions involve kindness, tenderness, and
  forgiveness. Ep. 431-32
• Weep with those who weep and rejoice with those
  who rejoice.
• We are the bear with one anothers burdens.
  It is hard to bear and care for others if we do
  not know them!
• Love does not rejoice in iniquity.

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Discussion Questions

• Lesson to Learn "Good news" is not always
  received as "good news. (II Sm. 410II
  Th.17-8)
• when someone told me, saying, Look, Saul is
  dead, thinking to have brought good news, I
  arrested him and had him executed in Ziklagthe
  one who thought I would give him a reward for his
  news. (II Sm. 410)
• Being deceptive and joking around is not always
  good.
• Some find the gospel offensive and distasteful.
• and to give you who are troubled rest with us
  when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with
  His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking
  vengeance on those who do not know God, and on
  those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord
  Jesus Christ. (II Th. 17-8)

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Discussion Questions

• Lesson To Learn We must deal with our enemies
  by trusting in God, obeying God, forgiving
  others, respecting and thinking highly of others.
  (Ph. 48 I Co. 144-5, 17, 26 14 Ge. 5020
  I Pt. 217 Mt. 544 Ph. 21-8 48 I Pt.
  221-25)
• If David is angry with a man who killed the
  Lords anointed, then how does God feel about
  those who killed Jesus, Gods anointed? Read Hb.
  1026-31.
• David and Joseph experience Gods providential
  care.
• Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the
  Lord. (Ro. 1219-21)
• We are to forgive and forget. Some may not get
  mad, but get even.
• We are to pray for and do good to our enemies
  because we want to, not because we have to.
• Follow Jesus example and His commands.

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Discussion Questions

• How did David become King of Judah (II Sm.
  21-7)?
• First, David seeks divine guidance David
  inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to
  any of the cities of Judah?... (21)
• Second, David obeyed the instructions to go to
  Hebron So David went up there (22).
• Judah anointed David as king (24). He was king
  of only Judah.
• Judah remembered his graciousness to Jabesh
  Gilead (25).

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Discussion Questions

• Who was Ishbosheth and how did he become king of
  Israel (II Sm. 28-11)?
• He was Sauls 40 year old son (210).
• Abner takes Ishbosheth and mades him king of all
  Israel (28-9).
• He reigned for 2 years in Mahanaim (28, 10).

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Discussion Questions

• Describe the civil war between Ishbosheth and
  David (II Sm. 212-31).
• 12 members of each gang fought to resolve a
  tribal dispute. Intent to kill was rooted in
  hatred and all 24 killed each other (215-17).
• Causalities of war were 20 versus 360 dead
  (230).
• Abner kills Joabs brother with the blunt end of
  a spear (223).
• The house of David and Saul are at war, but David
  gets stronger Now there was a long war between
  the house of Saul and the house of David. But
  David grew stronger and stronger, and the house
  of Saul grew weaker and weaker. (31).

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Discussion Questions

• Lesson To Learn It is not the big things that
  destroy us, but the little things that become
  big. At a time of stress the little cracks
  become a break or division. (SofS 215 Pr.
  2619 Eccl. 19 I Co. 110-13 1225)
• Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says,
  I was only joking!
• Tasteless jokes - I was just kidding.
• I bet your tongue will stick to the flag pole -
  I triple dog dare you.
• What starts division? Ego maniacs, following
  men, believing false doctrine, etc.
• Barney Fifes advise, Nip it in the bud.

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Discussion Questions

• How many sons did David have and who were they
  (II Sm. 32-5)?
• 6 Sons Amnon, Chileab, Absalom, Adonijah,
  Shephatiah, Ithream.
• 6 Wives Ahinoam, Abigal, Maacah, Haggith,
  Abital, Eglah.
• 7 Wife Michal was rightfully married to David,
  but Saul gave her to another man. David wants
  her back! (313-16)

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Discussion Questions

• How did Abner join forces with David (II Sm.
  36-21)? What happened to Abner (II Sm.
  322-30)? How did David respond to the death of
  Abner (II Sm. 331-39)?
• Abner joins David because
• Sauls house is weakens (38-11)
• Bold action with the concubine of Saul publicly
  declares the right to rule (37).
• Abner is now in control and can negotiate (312).
• David made a peace agreement (322-23)
• Joabs surprises, stabs and kills Abner by the
  gate. Joabs house is cursed (329).
• David mourned in sack cloth, fasted, wept, sang a
  lamenting song (331). A funeral message
  (333-34).
• David shows he did not intend to kill Abner out
  of respect (337-38).

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Discussion Questions

• How was Ishbosheth murdered and how did David
  respond (II Sm. 41-12)?
• The promise David made to Saul Therefore swear
  now to me by the LORD that you will not cut off
  my descendants after me, and that you will not
  destroy my name from my fathers house. So
  David swore to Saul (2421-22).
• David would not remove Ishbosheth.
• Two captains killed Ishbosheth by cutting his
  head off and bringing the good news to David.
• David had them killed.

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Discussion Questions

• How did David become king (II Sm. 51-5)? How
  old was David? How long and where did he reign?
• After 15 years, David the shepherd boy is to be
  king. He waited 7 more years due to Ishbosheths
  reign and his promise to Saul.
• David was 23 years old when he was made king over
  Judah, and 30 years old when he was made king
  over Israel.
• David reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel for 33
  years and in Hebron over Judah for 7 years and 6
  months (211). A total of 40 years.
• Elders of Israel made David king based on three
  things (51-2)
• We are family - Indeed we are your bone and your
  flesh
• Knowledge of Gods promise You shall shepherd
  My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.
• David is better than Saul - you were the one who
  led Israel out and brought them in.

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Discussion Questions Final Thoughts

• Lesson To Learn Waiting on the Lord is a part
  of life. Good things come to those who wait.
  God moves in His time, and is not in a hurry. In
  times of waiting many have failed in their faith
  and obedience. Satan takes advantage of us
  during divine waiting.
• Examples of waiting
• Abraham waited 25 years for Issac, the son of
  promise.
• Noah waited 120 years for the flood.
• Jacob waited 14 years for Rachal.
• Israel waited 430 years for deliverance from
  Egyptian bondage.
• We are waiting more than 2,000 years for Jesus
  return.

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Discussion Questions Final Thoughts

• Lesson To Learn Waiting on the Lord is a part
  of life. Good things come to those who wait.
  God moves in His time, and is not in a hurry. In
  times of waiting many have failed in their faith
  and obedience. Satan takes advantage of us
  during divine waiting.
• Satan capitalizes on doubt and distrust (II Pt.
  31-5).
• The testing (adversity) of our faith produces
  patience (Hb. 1113-16).
• We must be patience and wait to become mature, to
  join in the marriage union, discerning good and
  evil, etc.
• We must not give up like so many have done (i.e.
  pleasures, riches, fame, suicide, etc.)