II Samuel
Memory Verse:
“Let thy
name be magnified forever.” II Samuel 7:26
Key Facts
Author: Unknown
Why
written:
chronicles the reign of David; one of the twelve historical books of the Old Testament.
Key
Lesson: God can
use us even when we fall.
Important
people: David (the
most famous ancestor of Christ; Jesus is known as Son of David), Absalam, Ammon
When: between 1055 – 1015
Key Stories in Book
Personal
relationship with Jesus 2
Samuel 6: 12-15
Importance
of obeying God 2
Samuel 6: 14-19
God can
direct your path 2
Samuel 9: 1-13
No one
is perfect 2 Samuel 12: 9-13
Ability
to forgive 2 Samuel 18: 6-9, 22: 1-4
Lesson #1 – Purpose of the ark –
read 6: 12-15
“Now King David was
told, ‘The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has,
because of the ark of God.’ So David
went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City
of David with rejoicing. When those who
were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and
a fattened calf. David, wearing a linen
ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house
of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of
trumpets.”
1.
What
was the purpose of the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament? (It was built
for a place for God to dwell in it; it was considered holy ground and only
priests could enter in it).
2.
Why
do we not need an ark today? (We can ask Jesus to live in our hearts – we have
replaced the ark and can have a direct relationship with him).
3.
Do
we need a priest to talk to God for us or can we talk directly to God
ourselves?
4.
How
can we ask Jesus to live in our hearts? (Admit that we make some bad decisions
– sin; ask God to forgive us; acknowledge that Jesus is Savior; invite Jesus
into our hearts).
5.
How
can having Jesus live in your heart help you make right decisions in your life?
Summary: In the Old Testament, God
commanded the Israelites to build an ark so that he could dwell with his
people. Today, God can live within your
heart and dwell with you. You only need
to ask.
Lesson #2 – Importance of Obeying
God – read 6: 5-8
“David and the
whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord,
with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of
Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen
stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against
Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died
there beside the ark of God. Then David
was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this
day that place is called Perez Uzzah.”
1.
Why
did Uzzah die? (He disobeyed when he touched the ark).
2.
Why
was King David so happy? (He knew God’s presence was with them again).
3.
David
was given many talents by God. He was an
athlete, a musician, a writer, a military officer, and a king. What are some talents that God has given you?
4.
How
can you develop your talents?
5.
How
can God use your talents for his purpose?
Summary: One of the most important
things that we can do as Christians is to obey.
We need to obey God, our parents, our teachers, and anyone in authority. When we obey, God can use our talents for his
glory.
Lesson #3 – God can direct your
path – read 5:1-5
“All the tribes of Israel came to
David at Hebron and said, ‘We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you
were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd
my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’
When all the elders of Israel had come to King
David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the Lord
and they anointed David king over Israel.
David was thirty years old when
he became king, and he reigned forty years.
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in
Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.”
1.
Who
is Jonathan? (King Saul’s son)
2.
What
happened to King Saul? (killed in battle)
3.
David
was appointed King after Saul was killed.
When King David was obedient to God, God would direct his path. How can
God direct your path?
4.
What
are some decisions that you can pray about for God’s guidance?
5.
Do
you have any ideas on how God might call you to serve him? (give the kids some
ideas on how God has guided your own path).
Summary: God will link the talents he
has given you with the desires of your heart.
Pray that God will direct your path to his preferred path.
Lesson #4 – No one is perfect,
not even David – read 12: 7-13
“Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the
man! This is what the Lord, the God of
Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the
hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house
to you, and your master’s wives into your arms.
I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would
have given you even more. Why did you
despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the
sword and took his wife to be your own.
You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from
your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to
be your own.’
Then David said to
Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’”
1.
Is
there anybody that you know who is perfect?
2.
Who
are some good role models in your life?
3.
What
areas do we often fail in? (Lying, getting angry, not obeying our parents, bad
attitudes).
4.
When
we fail, what should we do? (Ask forgiveness from God, ask forgiveness from
people we have hurt).
5.
How
do you ask for forgiveness? (Apologize for the action, ask the purpose to
please forgive you – you can practice this in your small group)
6.
Does
God use people who are not perfect? (Yes – look at King David).
7.
Can
God use people who are deliberately disobedient and follow a life of poor
choices? (No – you have to try and follow the principles within the bible).
Summary – God uses us in spite of our
short-comings. He will use you for his
purpose if you strive to follow him.
Lesson #5 – Ability to forgive –
read 13:28-31, 37-38
“Absalom ordered his men,
‘Listen! When Ammon is in high spirits
from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Have not I given you this order? Be strong and brave.’ So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom
had ordered. Then all the king’s sons
got up, mounted their mules and fled.
While they were on their way, the report came
to David: ‘Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them is
left.’ The king stood up, tore his
clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their
clothes torn.
Absalom fled and went to Talmai
son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King
David mourned for his son every day.
After Absalom fled and went to
Geshur, he stayed there three years. And
the spirit of the king longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning
Amnon’s death.’
1.
Who
were Absalom and Ammon? (King David’s sons).
2.
Who
killed Ammon? (Absalom was angry with Ammon, lost his temper, and had him
killed).
3.
How
do you think King David felt when he found out that Absalom had killed Ammon?
(He grieved deeply)
4.
What
happened to Absalom after he killed Ammon? (He hid from King David out of fear)
5.
What
was King David’s response to Absalam? (He forgave him).
6.
Is
forgiveness an easy thing to do?
7.
Is
forgiveness something God wants us to do? (Yes, Jesus died on the cross so that
we can have forgiveness of all of our sins.
He paid the price for all of us.
Because of this – we need to forgive others).
8.
Is
there someone that you need to forgive today? (Pray that God will give each
child the courage to forgive).
Summary
– King David was able to forgive his son through the grace that only God can
give us. If he can forgive, how about
us?
*The scriptures used for this study were taken from the “Young Women of Faith Bible New International Version published in 2001 by the Zondervan Corporation.
Posted 1.9.09
