Part three of Second Samuel: Two national calamities (The famine, Chapter 21/The plague, Chapter 24), Two heroic deeds (Death of the Philistines, Chapter 21/David's Mighty Men, Chapter 23), Two poems (God's Heroic Deeds, Chapter 22/David's Last Words, Chapter 23).
Lesson 14: Awarding of Rewards
May 11, 2024 • Christy Voelkel
The King's Return, Rewards for Shimei, Abishai, Mephibosheth, Ziba, and Barzillai. Compassion (or the lack of it) as a determining factor in rewards, and comparison with Jesus' parable of Separating Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25). The Sheba Rebellion: Sheba's and Joab's rewards. Wrap-up of Part 2 of Second Samuel (Chapters 9-20).
Lesson 13: Serving Two Masters (p2)
May 4, 2024 • Christy Voelkel
The compassion of Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai; The battle with Absalom and Absalom's death; The dilemma of the men in the field when king and commander are at odds; Joab's error in placing service to the kingdom above obedience to the king. Parallels between Joab/David and Peter/Jesus.
Lesson 12: Serving Two Masters
April 27, 2024 • Christy Voelkel
Serving the masters of greed, pride, and vanity (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life 1 John 2:15-17).
Ziba, the unjust steward, curries favor with David (Parable of the Unjust Steward, Luke 16); Shimei curses David and Abishai seeks vengeance. Absalom seeks counsel from two counselors (the double-minded man, James 1).
Lesson 11: Loss of an Earthly Crown
April 20, 2024
David forgives Absalom, the rise of Absalom (how to stage a coup, Abimelech-style), and David's flight from Jerusalem. Discussion topic: Forgiving the unrepentant offender (David's model of forgiving without asking for repentance), how you respond when God takes your earthly kingdom from you, and the benefit of friends.
Lesson 10: Consequences (p2)
April 13, 2024 • Christy Voelkel
Absalom murders Amnon and flees to Geshur (see comparison chart in the handout tracking the parallels between the murders of Uriah and Amnon); Joab and the Wise Woman of Tekoa conspire to bring Absalom home. The problem with being a "fixer" of other people's problems.
Lesson 9: Consequences (p1)
April 6, 2024 • Christy Voelkel
Consequences of the Siege of Rabbah: Death of the Son, Amnon's Rape of Tamar; The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18)
Lesson 8: Crossing Boundaries (part 2)
March 23, 2024
David's war with Ammon resumes; siege of Rabbah, adultery with Bathsheba, murder of Uriah. The choices we have in responding to hate and humiliation, and the consequences of responding in like kind.
Lesson 7: Crossing Boundaries (part 1)
March 16, 2024 • Christy Voelkel
David and King Hanun, and the war with the Ammonites. How a good intention became an offense, and an offense became a war. Responding to hate, turning the other cheek, and recognizing sovereign boundaries in our relationships with one another.
Lesson 6: Attaining an Imperishable Crown (part 2)
February 29, 2024 • Christy Voelkel
End of Part 1, David's Ascent: David's response to the Davidic Covenant and Further Conquests (2 Samuel 7:18-8:18). What the perishable and imperishable crowns look like for us . . . Introduction to Part 2, David's Descent: Intro to four types of rewards (kindness repaid with kindness, kindness repaid with evil, evil repaid with evil, evil repaid with kindness). First case study: Grateful Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:1-13)
Lesson 5: Attaining an Imperishable Crown
February 24, 2024 • Christy Voelkel
Good intentions are not enough. Bringing the Ark to Jerusalem, building a Temple--there are right and wrong ways to go about the task of glorifying God, and right and wrong reasons for doing so, and even so, the answer is sometimes "no." A comparison of why David gained the eternal kingship and Saul lost it (and, FYI, it was not because Saul offered an "unlawful" offering).
Lesson 4: Establishing an Earthly Kingdom
February 17, 2024 • Christy Voelkel
Comparison of how David and Saul establish their kingship, initially, with battles and a legacy of children. Comparison of 2 Samuel 5 (David) with 1 Samuel 13-14 (Saul).
Lesson 3: Loyalties and Agendas (part 2)
February 3, 2024 • Christy Voelkel
What happens when personal agendas take priority over the king's agenda. Joab murders Abner; David's curse on Joab and lament for Abner; the death of Ishbosheth; Rechab and Baanah's reward. What Joab and Abner model for us as believers.
Lesson 2: Loyalties and Agendas
January 27, 2024 • Christy Voelkel
Ascent of the House of David; Descent of the House of Saul; Joab's conflict with Abner; Contrasting themes of war and peace. The Parable of the Great Supper and the Prodigal Son
Lesson 1 : Weights and Balances
January 20, 2024 • Christy Voelkel
The hierarchy of values by which David determines rewards
Two case studies: The Amalekite vs the men of Jabesh Gilead
