Secret Sin, Public Punishment

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting February 28 to study 2 Samuel 12.  This is where David is confronted with his sin.  It also forms the beginning of all his troubles in his reign.  On the other hand, you will discover some elements of God's grace hidden among the sadness and shame.

Read through the chapter a few times, and look especially for those elements of this familiar story that escaped you before.  There are some that had escaped me.  Note curious things, and questions about God, David, or other elements in the text.  After you've read through it a few times, read through with the questions below:

• It may not be a big deal, but God sent Nathan to David.  What do you think it would mean if Nathan already knew, but God pushed him into confronting David?
• Consider the elements in Nathan's story carefully.  Think about how each character is revealed, a piece at a time.  At first what do you think of the rich man?
• Considering the detail given, how much do you think the rich man is concerned with his flocks & herds?
• Considering the contrast just in the amount of detail given regarding the poor man's ewe-lamb (give her name, it will help you emote this through), what do you think of the poor man's obsession with his ewe-lamb (Lamberkins? Lamborgini? Lamberta?)?
• A traveler comes to visit the rich man.  The wording is 'he spared his own' as he chose what to provide the traveler.  So, what do you think went through the rich man's mind as he 'opted' for his neighbor's sweet, tender, lamby-wammy?
• The story ends, and David goes off.  Why do you think this might have resonated so strongly with David; you know, besides the obvious shepherd connection?
• David calls the rich guy a 'son of death', yet says he should pay back four-fold.  Considering the details, how much would four lambs make up for what the one meant to the poor man?  How much 'punishment' is four lambs to the rich guy?
• So, how 'in-tune' with the story do you think David really was?
• Nathan then does the 'big reveal' by saying, "You the man!"  What do you think went through David's mind?
• Nathan the Prophet then starts the 'Thus says the Lord' part (or the first one), and God lists out all he did for David.  Consider what's on the list.  What would you think God should, or could, have left off for David's benefit?
• "Why have you despised the word of Yahweh?" is what God asks David.  Think about it, though, what does that imply?  What must David be familiar with in order for him to despise it? And so, how did he become familiar with it?
• God then lists a litany of 'curses' on David.  What do you think of this list?  How bad do you think it is?
• Nathan stops and there's a pause.  Consider David's response.  What does David's response reveal about David? How does how he receives his rebuke mark him as one still after the heart of God?
• Since David repents, Nathan says that he will live.  What does that reveal about what was actually hanging in the balance?  What does that mean for us when we think we know the consequences of our own sin?
• David won't die, but the child will.  How do you feel about God for this glimpse of His character?
• Who do you think the 'blaspheming enemies of Yahweh' might be?
• It takes seven days for the child to die. What does that say about God's character?
• David fasts and lays on the ground while the child lives.  Why do you think he does this after God told him the child would die?
• Who do you think these 'elders of David's house' are?
• After the child dies, the servants of David stand around whispering.  What do you think they fear about David if they told him the child died?
• David behaves rationally after the child dies.  What happened? Do you think there was any more to it than he stated?
• Who was consoling Bathsheba?  What do you think David's role in that should have been?
• What does David do first (after cleaning himself up)?  What do you think that says about his attitude toward God?
• David worships, eats, then goes into Bathsheba.  Why do you think that was the right order, or do you?
• Read verse 23 in as many translations as possible.  What do you think David means?
• Who names the second son Solomon?  Why do you think he goes by that instead of Jedidiah?
• What do you think Joab meant by the city will be named after him?  What other city was named for the conqueror that you can remember?
• This account of the defeat of the sons of Ammon is much more detailed than chapter 10.  So, what do you think the 'city of waters' or 'royal city' refers to?
• What do you think of David wearing the crown of the king of the sons of Ammon?
• What do you think of the decision to give conquered people 'sharp iron implements'?  How wise is that?
• So far, only one city of the sons of Ammon has been mentioned.  Now we read that all their cities were treated the same way.  What does that mean do you think?

That should keep us plenty busy for the evening.  Remember to bring your questions and observations!

Deadly Lack of Discretion

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting February 19 to study 2 Samuel 11.  Well, this is the one we all seem to know best.  This is where the life of David becomes a tragic 'soap opera'.  For him this is the turning point where so much of his life seems to slide downhill.  I can probably come up with a lot of other descriptive cliche's but you get the picture.

Per my usual instructions, read the chapter through a few times.  There's a better than even chance that you will find details you had always missed before.  You will probably notice elements to the story that you've never heard.  Please jot these down so we can discuss them Thursday.  One element that dawned on me is how many people in David's household were involved in all of this.  I always thought of it as some big secret, but seriously, there's no way.  What were some you noticed?

After reading it through several times, jotting down observations and questions, read it through again with the questions below:

• It may have been the season when kings go out to war, but how odd do you think it was for David to remain in Jerusalem?  What do you think might be wrong here?
• David walks about on the roof in the evening.  What do you think might be wrong with this?
• While on the roof he sees some woman bathing, and she's pretty.  What do you think is wrong so far?
• David inquires about her.  How do you think he accomplishes this? Who else is now involved?
• What about David's inquiry do you think might be a problem?
• After finding out about her, he then sends for her.  Now we've obviously crossed a line.  This is clearly wrong.  How do you think David got to this place?  
• How long do you think it took, from seeing her from the roof, inquiry, to sending for her?
• David sends, but they 'take' her, but she goes with them (read verse 4 in as many translations as you have available).  So, how much do you think was coercion, and how much was her willingness?
• The NIV seems to imply this takes place after her 'period' (see Leviticus 15), but look at other translations as well, especially if you have a New American Standard.  It's certainly possible, otherwise it's confusing.  What are some interesting things we know now about such timing? (i.e.the 'calendar method'?)
• So, the 'calendar method' doesn't work for them (what a surprise).  She sends to David letting him know she's pregnant.  As king, why do you think this is a big deal for him?
• David sends for Uriah the Hittite.  He comes and David asks about the people fighting.  In each case, he uses the term, 'shalom'.  What does that tell you about the term we normally think of as some sort of divine peace?
• Uriah refuses to go to his own house, but remains with David's servants.  Consider the elements of Uriah's reason given to David.  What kind of character does Uriah show here?  What sort of guy is this Uriah?
• What do you think of Uriah's 'oath' in stating he will not do such a thing as go home?
• David then tries getting Uriah drunk, but he still doesn't go home.  How is Uriah looking now?
• Take a second, and consider Bathsheba.  How do you think she feel about her husband's devotion? If this is his character then in their life together, where is she in his 'pecking order'?
• David sends Uriah back to Joab with a note...Uriah carries his own death warrant.  What do you think Joab thinks when he reads the note Uriah carries?
• Joab complies, but it costs more than just Uriah.  How is David looking to you right now?  What do you feel as you read this particular piece?  That emotion is what the writer/editor is trying to evoke in the people of his day.  Why do you think he would do that?  What do you think is his point?
• Joab sends a messenger back to David and gives him some rather strange details, guessing David will refer to a historical tactical lesson.  Read Judges 9 to get the back story on the 'lesson'.  But the messenger seems to jump to the part about Uriah without waiting.  What would you think if I told you that the older Greek text has David saying exactly what Joab expected?
• What does it reveal to you about the historical setting that the story in Judges is so well known, that such stories are 'lessons' in tactics and God?
• David is then consolatory with the messenger's return message to Joab.  What do you think the messenger thinks?  Consider only what he knows, what do you think he thought of all this?
• For propriety, Bathsheba mourns for Uriah.  When the time is over, David brings her into his house.  What do you think everyone else thinks?  
• Remember what the messenger knows.  Do you think he can connect the dots yet?
• Do you think that after the battle the other soldiers moved a few more blocks away from the palace?
• What do you think about the very last verse of the chapter?

That should keep us busy for two weeks, but we'll see if we can get it into one.  Remember to bring your questions, observations, and differences between how you thought it went and how you see it now.   I look forward to seeing everyone Thursday!