1. Text summary
2. How is Christ in the text?3. Application
David's Grief and Throne - 2 Samuel 19
1. Text summary
Joab cuts short David's grief over his son Absalom's death, pointing him to public duties. David moves to unite Israel again. Everyone scrambles to give homage to David, some obviously self-interested. David has mercy on all.
2. Jesus
Jesus will have this kind of day when He returns - everyone claiming they know Him.
3. Application
a. Leaders often need to put aside their personal feelings to do what is needed.
b. The unity of the family or church or nation often needs to take priority over personal opinion or feeling.
Rebellion - 2 Samuel 20
1. Text summary
Sheba rebels against David. Amasa, David's army general appointee in place of Joab, is late to muster the troops. So David sends out Abishai and Joab. Joab opportunistically kills Amasa. He traps Sheba in a city and wisely deals with the woman who kills him for them.
2. Jesus
Jesus has rebels in His ranks, in the church. There is plenty of strife and infighting among His leaders, too. Sometimes people will fight Jesus' enemies, just because it is in their best interest to do so.
3. Application
a. Rebellion against King Jesus leads to death.
b. Don't dally in doing the King's business.
c. Don't advance by taking wrongly. Wait for it to be given to you.
d. When you are on a hot crusade, take the time to listen to wisdom from unexpected places.
Imperfect Justice and Slaying Giants - 2 Samuel 21
1. Text summary
God via a famine sends David to the Gibeonites. An injustice is left unresolved: Saul killed many of them, when Joshua had sworn to protect them. David's goal is to have them bless Israel instead of curse Israel. What would that take? The execution of some of Saul's ancestors, they say. David spares Mephibosheth, but hands over all the children of Michal, his former wife, who had 5 kids with another guy. Another mother of some handed over weeps publicly, until David gives them all an honorable burial.
Philistines attack again, and almost kill David. His men begin to kill their giants!
2. Jesus
Jesus brings a more perfect justice to men than David can.
Jesus doesn't flag in His strength, but His followers do learn to slay giants as He did the dragon.
3. Application
a. Demanding complete justice on earth is the sign of an atheistic and materialist mind. It is evident in American political news today.
b. Don't just trust God for your salvation. Learn to obey and fight the way He wants you to in the world, as a way of working out your salvation.
A Psalm of Deliverance - 2 Samuel 22
1. Text summary
A reprint of Psalm 18, mostly.
David was in trouble.
God thundered and delivered him.
God helps me defeat them - praise His name!
2. Jesus
Jesus was oppressed by enemies and delivered because of His innocence.
3. Application
a. When in trouble, we need to call upon God.
b. When brought out of trouble, we need to thank and praise God.
Recap of David's Reign - 2 Samuel 23
1. Text summary
Justice establishes a ruler. Next to them, his men, established by merit and justice. Although the last one mentioned, David treated very unjustly.
2. Jesus
a. Jesus is perfectly just in His rule.
b. Jesus has valiant followers who do great things for Him, though most of their names are unknown to us.
3. Application
a. Know God's standards for your life roles (vs 3), what good you're seeking (vs 4), and admit when you fall short (vs 5).
b. Dare to attempt great things, and do them for your King, not for your own fame or fortune.
David's Sin and Intercession - 2 Samuel 24
1. Text summary
David sins by taking a census. This wasn't wrong in itself, but David may have been prideful, or trusting in the military, or planning a conquest God hadn't ordered.) Later, he knows it was wrong. God lets him choose between 3 consequences for the nation, and He chooses plague, since it would come directly from God's hand. David intercedes for the nation when he visibly sees the angel striking people down. God stops him, and David buys the plot of land where he stopped, and it is where the temple will be built!
2. Jesus
a. Jesus also interceded for His people just outside the city of Jerusalem.
b. Jesus was punished for our sins. Here, Israel is punished for David's sin.
3. Application
a. A leader's mistakes or moral compromises will drastically affect the people.
b. Many times an act that isn't wrong in itself, is wrong for us to do with the wrong motivation.
c. Financial sacrifice can be a consequence of sin, or in this case, a proper means of restitution after repenting of sin.
d. Near the end of a phase of life (David's reign), it's important to reflect on what you have learned (23:1-7), and to look ahead to what is coming (temple site).
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