2 Samuel 5-7 - Daily Study Questions
1. 2 Samuel 5:1-16. A) What was the reaction of the elders of Israel after Ishbosheth’s death (end of ch. 4)? B) How did David begin his reign over all of Israel? C) What was the reason for David’s success (v10, 12)? D) Apply this to your own life. / A)Interestingly enough, the leaders of the tribes of Israel acknowledge that David has been a leader of the people for a long time. He had led them into battle many times under Saul and, apparently, they all knew of his call by God to be the next king. They were, therefore, very ready to acknowledge his position as their rightful king before Yahweh. True to form, David made a covenant with the leaders of Israel. We do not know what this covenant was but it does show that David remained a servant-leader.B) Following this official placement as king over all Israel, David left Hebron and went to Jerusalem to establish his official capital. Unfortunately, Jerusalem was controlled by the Jebusites still. These Jebusites were very confident in their ability to defend themselves against David and his army. They said that even the blind and the lame could defend such a well-fortified city. Showing his prowess in battle and strategy, David entered the city through its water tunnel and defeated them. C) Both here (v10) and a few verses later(v12), David readily acknowledges that it is Yahweh who has set him in place as king and is blessing his reign. Yahweh is lifting up His people Israel for His glory. D) We must enter into all situations with the knowledge that, as children of God, our highest goal and chief end is to glorify the Father. Yahweh still seeks to bring all men to Himself by glorifying Himself through us, whether it is at work, at home, at church or anywhere else we may go. No success is just for us but also to bring glory to His name. On a final note, we see at the end of this section that Solomon, David’s son and successor, did not come by his love of women and wives by accident.2. 2 Samuel 5:17-25. A) Describe how the Philistines respond to David’s anointing as king over all Israel. B) How did David handle the situations? C) What was the result? D) What truth to believe is found in this passage? / A)The Philistines, who had many interactions with David under Saul, were understandably disturbed by the news that he was now king over all Israel – not to mention that David was still technically a servant/ally of the king of Gath (see I Samuel ch. 27 and ch. 29). They quickly mobilized to attempt to undercut David before he became too strong to defeat.B&C) David shows that his heart is still Yahweh’s by immediately seeking out Yahweh’s will as to how to respond. Yahweh commands him to attack the Philistines and they are thoroughly defeated. The term Baal-perazim (literally “lord of the breaches”) being used need not disturb us. Although the Canaanites had named their god Baal, the word itself simply means “lord.” Also, the reference to David and his men confiscating the idols is simply indicating that they captured everything that was worth anything. The idols would have been made of precious metal or wood and could be used for other things. The Philistines came back a second time and David again asked Yahweh how to respond. Yahweh gave a different set of instructions to David and his men this time and David obeyed. The result was yet another sound defeat of the Philistines. D)The truth to believe we can take from this passage is that when we seek Yahweh’s direction as to what our actions should be and we obey His instructions, we can be assured that victory will follow. God honors the heart that is obedient to Him.
3. 2 Samuel 6:1-11. A) What was David’s next act as king (v1-2)? B) Describe how the ark was transported (see Num 7:7-9), the mood of the people (v3-5), and how did things change (v6-7)? C) How did the response of David (v8-9) compare with the response of God? D) Where did the ark end up (v10-11)? / A) David’s next act as king was to mobilize thirty thousand chosen men of Israel and to go to Baale-Judah (better known as Kiriath-jearim) to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. An interesting thing to notice is there is no mention of David asking God if this was His will, especially in light of what will happen next. B) Remember, Scripture never includes details for no reason. Here we are given a very detailed description of the mode of transportation used to carry the Ark. They put it on a new cart drawn by oxen and the people were very excited, going before the Ark in praise and song and dancing. The problem is that in Numbers 7:7-9, the mode of carrying the Ark is distinctly made clear. It states in verse 9, “But he did not give any to the sons of Kohath because theirs was the service of the holy objects, which they carried on the shoulder.” That is plain and simple. The holy objects, of which the Ark would have been holiest, were to be carried on poles on the shoulders, not in carts. David should have known this. When the oxen stumbled and the Ark almost fell from the cart, Uzzah stuck out his hand and steadied it. Yahweh struck him dead for his disrespect. C) David may have become angry with God for His response to Uzzah or he may have been angry with himself for not properly carrying the Ark. The language here is not clear enough to make a distinction. He in fact named the place after the event calling it, literally, “outbreak against Uzzah.” Following his anger, David began to fear bringing the Ark to Jerusalem to himself. Had David become a little arrogant? Was this an attempt to make himself look good instead of Yahweh? The evidence we have seems to hint at this possibility anyway. After all, we see only concern for himself and not Yahweh’s glory here. D) As a result of all this, David left the ark at the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. He and his household were blessed during the three months the Ark remained there.
4. 2 Samuel 6:12-23. A) What caused David’s change of mind about the ark and how was the ark handled differently (v12-13)? B) Describe David’s actions and why they were right (v13-15, 17-19, 21-22), as opposed to Michal’s response to David’s joy and why it was wrong (v16, 20). C) And Michal’s consequence (v23)? / A)It was reported to David how the blessing of God had fallen on Obed-Edom and all he owned. For this reason, David felt comfortable with going and bringing the Ark the rest of the way to Jerusalem. Two things are seen to be different immediately. One is just hinted at by the wording of verse thirteen, “And so it was, that when the bearers of the Ark of the Lord…” (emphasis mine). No longer was the Ark on a cart but it was now on the shoulders of the men, the bearers. The second thing is that after only six steps, David sacrifices an ox and a fatling. This time, it appears, David wants to be sure all attention is on Yahweh, not himself. B) David also danced before Yahweh with all his might, shouting and praising Him. David also, after the Ark was placed in the tent he had pitched for it, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He blessed the people in the name of Yahweh Sabaot, literally “I AM of Hosts.” He then gave every person there a cake of dates and of raisins. In all these things, David was saying “I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes…” (v22) David was putting the glory of Yahweh before his own. Michal, his wife and Saul’s youngest daughter, was not pleased. She was embarrassed at David’s unabashed show of affection for Yahweh before “the maids” of Israel. Her heart and mind were set on her own glory. C) As a result, she was barren until the day of her death. God’s glory must always be first and foremost in our lives.
5. 2 Samuel 7:1-7. A) What troubled David (v1-2) and how did Nathan the prophet respond initially (v3)? B) Paraphrase God’s response in verses 4-7. C) Why did He respond that way? D) What truth can we take from this for our lives today? / A)David had been built a great palace of cedar in which to dwell and as he had the opportunity to rest in it, he was troubled by the fact that the Ark of God was in a tent. He desired to build a temple, a place for the Ark of God and, therefore, God to dwell in. Nathan the Prophet, Yahweh’s mouthpiece in David’s life, said of his own accord, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for Yahweh is with you.” (v3b) B)There was only one problem. Yahweh did not agree. A paraphrase of what He said would be as follows, “Who are you, David, to build Me a house? I have never dwelt in a house made by the hands of men, why should I do so now? It has never even been suggested by Me to anyone in the past so why would I ask it now?” Wow!! Strong words. C)David, it seems, is assuming that Yahweh is like himself and therefore needs a place to dwell. Yahweh is nothing like us and needs no physical place to dwell, which David, at least when he was younger, knew full well. After all, he worshipped Yahweh while out tending the sheep. D) Two applications come to mind from this passage. The first is that, just because God is blessing you does not mean that you have free reign to do whatever comes to mind. We must always seek God’s will before we act, even if it seems like a good “spiritual” idea. Secondly, we must never forget that, although He loves us and has done all that is necessary to draw us into relationship with Him, Yahweh remains wholly other than us. Never forget that truth. Our God is the Almighty Creator of all things, eternal and vastly beyond our ability to comprehend.
6. 2 Samuel 7:8-17. A) God reminded David of what from his past (v8-9) and what promise did He make Israel (v10-11a)? B) How did He promise to bless David (v11b-14) and in what way would God’s relationship with David and his descendants be different than with Saul (v15-17)? C) Why? / A)Yahweh reminded David that He had been with him from the time he was tending sheep for his father Jesse. He pointed out that He had defended David and kept him safe from all his enemies. Yahweh promised to make David’s name great like the other great rulers of the world. He also promised make Israel secure in their land and that He would give them rest from the attacks of their enemies. B)Yahweh then promised David that He would establish a dynasty with David and his descendants that He would raise up kings to follow in David’s footsteps, kings from his own children. The son that would follow David, he would build a temple for Yahweh. Yahweh promised to treat that son as His own, loving and establishing him as king. He also promised to punish that son’s wrong doing through the nations around Israel.Yahweh also promised that His relationship with David and his descendants would be different than with Saul and his descendants. His dynasty would remain for all time and Yahweh’s love would remain with them forever.C)The immediate question that comes to mind is why the difference. Well, there are at least two reasons. The first is that, unlike Saul, David not only trusted Yahweh but he also loved Him with all his heart. Was he perfect? By no means, as we will soon see. However, his heart was turned towards his God and that was all that Yahweh truly wanted. Secondly, this would be the line from which the Messiah, our Savior Jesus, would come.
7. 2 Samuel 7:18-29. A) How did David respond to the Lord (v18-22)and was it appropriate? B) For whom had God had established Israel (v23-24) and for whose glory did David request God’s promise be carried out (v25-26)? C) What did David desire for his house or legacy (v27-29) and how does this apply in our lives? / A) David’s response shows the truth of what Yahweh says about his heart. He cries out, “Who am I to be so richly blessed?!” David understood his shortcomings, his sinfulness, his unworthiness. There were no illusions of grandeur or belief that he deserved what he had received. David understood that all of these blessings were to come because of the grace of Yahweh, not his own merit. This is exactly why Yahweh had chosen him. B) Yahweh had redeemed Israel from Egypt for Himself, for His glory. All that had occurred for Israel up to this point had been for the glorification of Yahweh and no one else. David understood this clearly and readily gave that glory to his God. He accepted this great promise of Yahweh’s and desired that the fulfillment of that promise occur for Yahweh’s glory alone, not his own. C)David desired that his house, his legacy be blessed. However, this blessing was not for the purpose of glorifying David and his family. No, it was so that Yahweh would be glorified, that Yahweh’s name be lifted up in praise. For us, that would mean several things. First, it is not wrong to seek blessing for your family. Yahweh, in fact, desires to give it, though it may not be in the way you expect. Wealth comes in many forms, the least of which is monetary and material. Secondly, we must seek that blessing with a right heart. Never are we blessed solely for ourselves. Yahweh always intends for it to be used for His glory, for His purposes. Thirdly, the best legacy you can leave your family is to be a man after God’s own heart. There is nothing that can compare with that legacy.