Second Samuel is actually the second half of a single book that was divided into two part, 1 and 2 Samuel because together they were too long to fit on one scroll. Most of 2 Samuel is a history of the rule of King David.
After the death of King Saul, the people of the Judah tribe chose David to be their king. And for the next seven years, David was at war with Saul's son, King Ishbosheth of Israel. Then David became king of the entire nation.
David conquered the enemies of Israel and became the ruler of a small empire. But he also had an affair with Bathsheba, the wife of an army officer who was away at war. As a result, the Lord allowed David to have serious troubles later on, and many of those troubles came from within his own family. For example, one of David's sons, Ammon, raped David's daughter Tamar. Ammon was then killed by David's son Absalom, who later led a rebellion against David.
David wasn't perfect, but he was loyal to the Lord and worshiped only him. And for as long as Judah continued as a nation, the Lord kept the promise he made to David:
Now I promise that you and your descendants will be kings. I'll choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I'll make him a strong ruler, and no one will be able to take his kingdom away from him... I will be his father, and he will be my son. (7.11-14)
Here are 11 Lessons from the book of 2 Samuel
Reward for Faithfulness
1 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 2 Samuel 1.1-16
David's faith in God was strong. Rather than taking things into his own hands, David waited for God's promises to be fulfilled. Several times he ignored the opportunity to kill King Saul when these moments presented themselves.
When the man came bearing the news of Saul's death, David was not excited-he was quite sad. It may have been that the man had hoped he would be rewarded for delivering this message, but this was not the case.
Second Samuel describes how David was later rewarded for his faithfulness to God, and his refusal to kill Saul. Today, God still rewards his people when they are faithful to him.
Jerusalem-The City of David
2 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 2 Samuel 5.1-10
When David was crowned king of all Israel, one of his first goals was to capture the fortress on Mount Zion. This area was perched high on a mountainous ridge and provided a strategic advantage against any would-be attackers.
Jerusalem was controlled by the Jebusites, who thought it was impossible for anyone to mount a successful attack against their fortress. But David proved the Jebusites wrong. He sent his men into the city by way of the water tunnel, surprised the Jebusites, and defeated them.
The city became known as Jerusalem, the capital of the nation of Israel. David's victory reminds us that no matter how strong or well armed the enemy is when we follow God's direction he will make a way for us.
Sometimes the Lord's plan may not seem to be working. But as we continue to follow God's plan, step-by-step, we see his plan unfold. Wait for him.
When God Says No
3 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 2 Samuel 7.1-17
God said no to David' request to build a temple to house the sacred chest. David thought he was doing the right thing, he wanted to please and honor God, but God had other plans in mind for him.
The Lord promised David that someone from his family would always be Israel's king. This promise must have overwhelmed David!
Has God ever said no to your prayers? Even when you prayed with pure motives for something you thought would please God, he still said no. We need to remember that when God refuses our requests, he is not rejecting us. He has a better plan in mind for our lives.
An Undeserved Favor
4 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 2 Samuel 9.1-13
In David's time, a new king who came to power usually made an effort to kill the family members of the former ruler to keep them from trying to regain the throne. But David didn't do this. Instead, he asked if there were any of Saul's family members still alive so he could help them.
When King David called for lame Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, the king showed him kindness rather than killing him. David didn't treat Mephibosheth kindly because he deserved it, but because David had promised Jonathan that he would be kind to all of his relatives.
this is a wonderful example of what we know as "grace". Although we were helpless and hopeless - like Mephibosheth - God found us and welcomed us into his family. We have done nothing to deserve this favor; it is God's gift to us. Like Mephibosheth, all we can do is gratefully accept God's wonderful gift of love and kindness.
A Useless Cover-Up
5 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 2 Samuel 11.6-27
When Bathsheba found out she was pregnant, David called her husband, Uriah, home from the front. David hoped that Uriah would sleep with his wife and everyone would assume the baby belonged to him. But Uriah's loyalty to David and the country stood in stark contrast to David's attempted deception.
After two failed attempts at getting Uriah to go home, David resorted to having the brave soldier intentionally killed in battle. Then, after a suitable period of mourning, David took Bathsheba as his wife.
We all do things that are wrong - things we wish we could just cover up and make them disappear. But it is foolish to do this. Our sins have a way of surfacing when we least expect them to. Instead of covering our sins, we can confess them to God. He will forgive us and help us deal with the effects of our sin.
Hero at Work, Failure at Home
6 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 2 Samuel 14.1-23
For all of David's many great qualities as a leader of God's people, he did not manage his own family matters well. David never punished Ammon for his sin, nor did David address Absalom's murder of Ammon. Although David's permitting his son to come home was noble and gracious, he again only went part way - David did not speak to Absalom for two whole years. By not letting Absalom come to see him, David caused even more resentment and rebellion to develop in his son.
Two lessons can be learned from this: First, when sin is swept under the carpet, it always causes more misery than if it is dealt with and forgiven. Second, when forgiveness is only partial or conditional, the problem will only get worse, "I forgive you, but keep your distance from me," is not forgiveness. When we forgive someone for hurting us, our forgiveness must be complete.
Friends in Low Places
7 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 2 Samuel 17.27-29
As King, David probably had many friends in high positions throughout Israel. But the three friends in this account - all of them unlikely helpers - proved their loyalty to David when he was at a very low point. They helped him in a practical way by bringing food for David and his followers when David was in the town of Mahanaim. These men helped David without being asked and at great risk to themselves.
Our friends need our help the most when they are going through the low places of life. Often our help can take a practical form, such as supplying food, clothing, or money. At other times "just being there" with a hurting friend is all we need to do. We don't have to be trained counselors; we don't need to know all the answers. We just need to be there when our friends are going through their low places.
A Woman of Courage
8 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 2 Samuel 20.16-22
Though the Bible does not even mention her name, this woman had the courage to stand on the top of a wall in the middle of a siege, and ask to speak with the person leading the attack on their city. As a result, she saved her city from destruction.
It is always the person whose name is in the headlines who changes the course of history. Often it is the unsung hero - the person who dares to stand up and speak out for what is right - who makes the real difference. The world may never take note of your courage, but God will not miss it.
God Takes Promises Seriously
9 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 2 Samuel 21.1-14
When David asked the Lord why Israel was having such a hard time growing food, the answer may have been surprising. God reminded David that Saul had broken Israel's promise to the Gibeonites.
Long ago, when God's people first crossed into Canaan, they had been tricked into making a promise not to harm the Gibeonites. It seems that Saul had ignored this promise and had tried to kill off the Gibeonites. The Bible does not record Saul's attack against the Gibeonites, but it was a big mistake.
While other people may not have noticed Saul's actions, God did. Once David made things right with the Gibeonites, God's blessing upon the land returned. God does not take promises lightly. Never make a promise you do not intend to keep, and always keep the promises you make.
God Is Our Shelter
10 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 2 Samuel 22.1-30
David sang this song of praise to God for bringing him through some tough times in his life. As we read through this section, we notice how many ways David describes God's great care for him.
God rescued David many times not only from physical enemies, but also from enemies of loneliness, discouragement, despair, and emotional pain. When times are tough in our lives, we can take heart from these words of David that remind us of God's wonderful love and care for us. God, you are "always loyal to your loyal people, and you are faithful to the faithful" (v.26)
The Future Belongs to God
11 # Short Commentary & Lesson from 2 Samuel 22.50.51
Throughout this song, David honored God as his place of safety, his security, his light, and the source of his strength. As he closes his song, he expresses his hope in God for a great future. David knows his own days are numbered - her is now old and losing his strength.
But David believed that God would keep his promises and that he would continue to bless David's descendants down through the ages. When we truly trust the Lord and obey his Word, we can trust that he will follow through with his plans for our lives.
Promises For Us
Think about a time in your life when you felt like you were on top of the world. Perhaps you've successfully completed a big project at work, or have gotten a promotion. Once you've reached a peak, though, there is often a time when you come back down to earth.
King David soared to great heights of military and political accomplishment in ancient Israel. He wrote exquisite poetry and played the harp. He was the most popular ruler Israel ever had. Then David committed adultery and tried to conceal it with murder. His personal life, his family relationships, and his kingdom never recovered completely. God freely forgave David, but he still experienced the consequences of his sin.
Everyone wants peace and harmony in their l9ives. It's good to know that God wants us to have peace and harmony. At the birth of Jesus, the angels announced, "Peace on earth everyone who pleases God" (Luke 2.14). Second Samuel reminds us that we can enjoy this peace and harmony when we live to please God.
For Consideration
- What Character traits made David a great and fascinating person?
- Why do moral failures have such long-lasting effects?
