God Is in the Old Testament, Too

GOD IS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, TOO!

II SAMUEL, PART III

I.OPENING TIME

QUESTIONS:

Some of us have a more difficult time than others making decisions. Concerning making decisions, which best describes you:

Make decisions easily and quickly,
Take whatever time needed to make a good decision,
Labor long over decisions,
Avoid making decisions,
Don’t even like being asked to make this decision!

After making decisions, do you ever second-guess yourself?
What is ‘buyer’s remorse’? (The regret some experience after an impulsive, emotional purchase made without planning or forethought.)
Have you ever called a friend when faced with a big decision?
Have you ever prayed when faced with a big decision?

SCRIPTURE:

(2 Samuel 5:17-25 NIV) 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 hand them over to me?" The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you." {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 balsam trees. {24} As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam 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.

In the previous lesson, we saw that David understood clearly that God had ‘placed’ him in a unique role in His overall plan for His people Israel. In addition to understanding God’s ‘placing’ him, David understood his need for God’s involvement in another area of his life.

David was not in office long before he was faced with a challenging decision. What does verse 19 tell us about David’s ‘decision process’? (Very simple: he inquired of the Lord.)
Does the verse indicate David spent a long time making this decision?
Does the verse indicate he called several for to get ‘godly counsel’?
Did David ask for some kind of ‘sign’?
How did God respond to David?
The verse doesn’t indicate how David inquired of the Lord. Neither does it indicate exactly how God answered David. What was God’s reason for not recording specifically how David made his request or specifically how God gave David an answer? (We can only speculate about God’s reason, but perhaps God knew that if we had some formula for making decisions…even a formula from Scripture…we might tend to place our faith in the formula for decision-making with God rather than trusting in God to give us an answer—even if we are not sure what form His answer will take.
David asked. God answered. What was the next step? (David had to act on God’s answer.) What did David do in verses 20-21 and what was the outcome?
After David followed God’s direction and defeated the Philistines, he named the battlefield Perazim.
What does this name mean? (Ask someone to read the footnote in their Bible.)
What is the significance of David’s acknowledging God’s role in this manner? (By naming the battlefield [This is where] “The Lord Broke Out Against My Enemies Before Me”, David was acknowledging God’s role in the conquest and provision, rather than taking credit himself. A contrast to Saul, David predecessor, when he put his soldiers under oath against eating anything “…Until I have avenged myself against my enemies…”, desiring all the credit for a victory that he had no right to claim in the first place.

An interesting thing happens in verse 22; the situation is repeated. The Philistines come back to the Valley of Rephaim. Wouldn’t it seem logical for David to assume that since it was God’s will for him to attack the Philistines the first time, he could do so again without bothering God by asking again?

What does David do in verse 23?
How does God’s second answer compare to the first?
What did David do? What was the outcome?
Do you think it took faith for David to activate a completely different battle plan from the first plan that was so successful?

Suppose you were faced with a difficult decision; you pray for wisdom and direction from God. After an appropriate amount of waiting on insight from God, you pursue a course of action with full confidence that God has directed your steps. The course is obviously right. Everything works out better than you had hoped.

Soon, you encounter virtually the same situation. You know you should pray for wisdom and direction from God again, but you can’t help but remember how successful the first course of action was. Is it possible to think you might not seek God’s direction as aggressively the second time? Nevertheless, you pray, listen and plan. As you do, you sense the first course of action might not be appropriate this time. Do you think your faith in God’s prompting would be tested a bit?

Perhaps David experienced this as well, but his actions deny any lack of faith. God gave him a different direction than the first mission that was so successful. David listened and followed. God blessed again. Do you think the experience drew God and David even closer to each other?

Many times when we are faced with a big decision, stress and anxiety levels increase—we experience emotional and mental unrest. Is there a remedy for this in Scripture?

(Philippians 4:6-7 NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {7} And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

What does verse 6 say we should not do?
What does verse 6 say we should do instead?
What do you think requests presented ‘with thanksgiving’ says about our faith in God’s answer? (If you ask a reliable friend to check on your house when you go out of town, you can ‘thank them’ with assurance as soon as they agree to do so. Why? Because you know them well enough to know they are reliable and will do what you ask them to do. Therefore, your ‘thank you’ is a statement of your faith in them.)
What does verse 7 tell us will happen to our stress and anxiety levels when we do this?

BOTTOM LINE:

Do the situations in our lives requiring tough decisions

a)bring us closer to God because we are relying on Him, or

b)separate us from Him because we are so self-reliant?

When we face major decisions, do we experience the stress and anxiety that comes from ‘doing it on our own’, or do we experience peace from God because we presented our requests to Him?

CLOSE WITH PRAYER.

II. TABLE TIME

QUESTION: What is an example of a tough decision people face?

SCRIPTURE:

(2 Chronicles 20:1-3 NIV) After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. {2} Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). {3} Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.

What news was given to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, in verses 1 and 2?
How did Jehoshaphat respond to this bad news in verse 3?

In the face of formidable odds, Jehoshaphat needed to make a decision about leading Judah in battle against the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites. He chose to inquire of the Lord. He addresses the assembly.

(2 Chronicles 20:4-9 NIV) The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. {5} Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard {6} and said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. {7} O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? {8} They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, {9} 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'

As Jehoshaphat prays publicly to God before the assembly, what statements does he make about God in verses 6-9?
What do you think is significant about the people hearing Jehoshaphat say these things about God? (It is a form of praising God for His provisions; it is also a public declaration by Jehoshaphat of his personal faith in God. The impact on the people as they listened to their leader say these things he believed about God is very significant.)
During the Gulf War, President George Bush abandoned the ‘social mores of political correctness’ and asked the people of America, via satellite television during prime time on every major network, to pray for God’s help. Do any of you remember seeing this? Do you recall how you felt when you heard the President of the United States acknowledge God—and our need for Him—on national television?
How do you think God responds to this kind of public acknowledgment and praise?

(2 Chronicles 20:10-12 NIV) "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and MountSeir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. {11} See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. {12} O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."

Jehoshaphat gets to the bottom line with the Lord in verse 12; what does he acknowledge about himself and the people of Judah? (For we have no power to face this vast army…We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.)
Notice that Jehoshaphat did not say how he expected God to answer him, but simply said “…our eyes are upon you…”. Like David, the fact that he was unaware of how God would answer, and yet believed He would, was a demonstration of his faith.

(2 Chronicles 20:13-17 NIV) All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD. {14} Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. {15} He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. {16} Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. {17} You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.'"

How did God answer in these verses?
Does God always answer this way?
What does God say about the battle in verses 15 & 17?
God told the Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah through prophets that this vast army approaching was nothing…as a matter of fact, they wouldn’t even have to fight…just stand back and watch! What different responses would you think they could have had to this message?

(2 Chronicles 20:18-21 NIV) Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. {19} Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice. {20} Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." {21} After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever."

In spite of the many different responses they could have had, what did they do in verses 18 & 19?
What did Jehoshaphat remind the people in verse 20?

(2 Chronicles 20:22-25 NIV) As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and MountSeir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. {23} The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from MountSeir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. {24} When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. {25} So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value--more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.

God ‘goes to work’ in verses 22 & 23; what was the result?
In addition to defeating their enemy, what else did God do for the Israelites in verse 25?

Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah sought God’s guidance and protection as they faced a tough situation; God not only provided that, he defeated their enemies for them and then gave them the wealth of their enemies as well.

In the examples of Jehoshaphat and David, God did not indicate the form of the request we should present to Him or the form of the answer He would give. As we said earlier, perhaps God knew we might focus on the formula more than on Him. Also, a ‘formula for decision making’ leaves the ultimate control in our hands; the lack of a formula forces us to put our trust in God, even if we don’t know how.

(Psalms 16:7 NIV) I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

From whom did the psalmist receive his counsel?
In Jehoshaphat’s case, God gave instruction through one of the Levites. How did God give instruction in this verse? (Directly to the heart…at night.)
Have you ever prayed that God would give you insight on a certain matter (That had no apparent solution) before going to bed, then wake up the next morning with a solution?

(Isaiah 30:19, 21 NIV) O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. {21} Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

The prophet is addressing the people of Jerusalem on the matter of their seeking God’s help and guidance. How does Isaiah describe God’s response to their cry for help?
What is the ‘lead-lag’ time between their cry for God’s help and His answer?
According to verse 21, how would God direct them so they would know which step to take?
Some may say we are taking these verses out of context to say God will do the same for us today that He did for the Israelites. Regardless of whether we agree or disagree about the context objection, perhaps the more important question is whether we believe God is capable of directing us in this manner. If He could do it for the people of Jerusalem, what would prevent Him from being able to do the same for us?

Perhaps one of the best sources of advice on listening to God would be to read from the personal memoirs of someone who knew how to do this. (Have the group look up Psalm 25, read it to themselves, and cite anything in these verses that would help us hear God more clearly when we call to Him for guidance and help.