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Weekly Guide：2022-2023 Week 56
January 29, 2023
Week 56 Day 1: David being Anointed ⇧ ⇩
Question
Why did the Lord elect David as king of Israel?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king.
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The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
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The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. Saul’s servant suggested to have David play lyre for Saul to refresh him to make him well.
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The Philistines and the Israelites went to war, David relied on God to defeat Goliath; The Israelites defeated the Philistines and plundered Philistine camp; David now entered the sights of Saul and the Israelites.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks in the heart. What is the heart that is pleasing to God according to the words Samuel said to Saul? (vs. 15:22-23) How Samuel’s words were reflected in what David said and acted when he defeated Goliath? How shall I make my heart pleasing to God?
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Integrity - What was David’s focus in his speech and action when defeating Goliath? What was he relying on? Did he know his mission? How may I defeat the tall and seemingly undefeatable giants in my life I’d inevitably meet?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 56 Day 2: Jealousy over David ⇧ ⇩
Question
Why was Saul afraid and wanted to kill David?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and they became good friends. David was successful in battles that Saul set him over the men of war and he was good in the sight of all the people.
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The Israelites welcomed David’s return from victory, the women sang joyful songs “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” This brought out the jealousy in Saul.
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Saul was afraid of David as God was with David but departed from Saul. He tried to kill David secretly but never succeeded. David was loved by people even more, including Saul’s son Jonathan and daughter Michal.
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Jonathan advised Saul and he listened but soon changed. Michal help David to escape to Samuel. Saul sent people to go after David and later went but they were all stopped by the spirit of God.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - David escaped Saul’s many attempts to kill him. What have I learned from this where God protected David and His own servants so that Saul would not succeed? When Saul could not see God’s work and saw only the worldly power, his spiritual eyes went blind. Am I busy going after the worldly things such as money and unable to see what God is doing? Let me pray to the Lord to help me to put my eyes on Him.
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Community - Compare Jonathan’s encouragement to Michal’s deceit for David. What were the differences even though both came out of love for David? What is the God pleasing relationship between Christians?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 56 Day 3: David in Exile ⇧ ⇩
Question
What is the real reason behind Saul’s fear for David?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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David met Jonathan and through him reaffirmed Saul’s attempt to kill David.
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Jonathan and David made a covenant to bring their families together through their friendship.
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David began his life as an exile. For his own safety, David lied to the priest and cause the death of the entire town of priests. He pretended to be insane in front of the Philistines and got kicked out.
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - The friendship between Jonathan and David faced great challenge. David accused Jonathan of knowing Saul’s will. How did Jonathan answer David’s accusation? Being a prince, how was Jonathan’s integrity reflected in his reaction to David? It can be seen that Jonathan knew God’s will from the covenant between him and David. What choice did Jonathan make?
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Integrity - David had little help and was surrounded by enemies in the early days of his exile. David was not without weakness. Why did David lie to the priest and pretend to be insane in front of the Philistines? Read Psalms 34 and 55 to get a taste of what David experienced when he was weak and how leaned on God.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 56 Day 4: Blessed in Disguise ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did David grow stronger in the Lord’s grace and peace while facing persecution?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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David brought his family to take refuge in Moab, but God revealed to him through prophet Gad to go back to Judah where it was under Saul’s control.
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Because Ahimelek helped David, Saul destroyed the priesthood established by God and severed his own connection to God with the killing of Ahimelek and the entire town of priests.
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David gained fighting men, a prophet who had connection to God, and a priest who could make offerings to God and inquire of God.
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David followed God’s will and saved Keilah but attracted Saul’s attention. God revealed to David that the citizens of Keilah would surrender him to Saul. The Ziphites also told Saul of David’s hiding place and caused Saul to pursue him. But David was again protected by God.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - God protected David’s life and grew his strength even as he was under persecution and affliction. David’s kingdom was being formed and build up. Suffering is usually a blessing in disguise! How have I experienced or heard such testimony of God’s protection and building up of His faithful people? How would David’s experience help me set focus on God’s faithfulness when facing my next challenge?
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Integrity - Saul blamed and killed innocent people while David saved those who were in danger even as he was facing danger. And, ironically, those who David saved sold him out to Saul. It is tough doing what is right in God’s eyes and not getting paid back. How does David’s integrity remind me of my own life? What warnings do I get from Saul’s example?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 56 Day 5: Forgiven by God ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did David forgive Saul in God and how did he almost commit great sin of flesh?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Saul went to take David’s live but was delivered to David’s hand by God. However, David did not want to harm God’s anointed and told Saul about it. Saul wept in atonement and admitted David’s righteousness as well as God’s election. Saul also asked David not to kill off his descendants.
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Nabal insulted David even though David gave him protection. David wanted to kill all males in Nabal’s household. Nabal’s wife Abigale brought with her gifts to David and dissuaded David from committing sin with her wisdom. God himself avenged for David and David gave thanks to the Lord for He had prevented David from sinning. With Abigale’s consent, she became David’s wife.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - David depended on God and wasn’t willing to harm his enemy but in a blink of eyes, with fleshly revenge, he almost killed the one who insulted him and implicated many who were innocent. Doing good in God now does not mean the flesh won’t take over in the future. Have I ever experienced similar events in my own spiritual journey? How may I stay alert so that the evil one will not take over?
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Integrity - How did Abigale dissuade David? What wisdom can I see from her conversation with David? Why would David listen to a little woman? This is because what he saw was not just a wise woman, but God talking through her. God would also help us in our life with some insignificant things or people to remind us. Let me pray to God to help me have a humble and sensitive heart.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 56 Day 6: Protection from Men ⇧ ⇩
Question
Why did David stray away from God’s protection?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Ziphites again revealed David’s hiding place to Saul and he went searching for David. God then delivered Saul to David one more time. David’s men suggested to him to kill Saul but David continued to spare Saul’s live. David again questioned Saul and he expressed remorse.
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David could not trust Saul and escaped to the Israelites’ arch-enemy Philistines and earned the trust of Philistine king. He went attacking the Israelites’ enemies, the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites, but lied to the Philistine king that he was attacking Israelites in order to gain trust of the king.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - David left Judah to the Philistines. It seemed, on the surface, David did not believe Saul but, in truth, David did not have faith in God’s protection. Why? What is the basis of our faith when we forgive someone? Is it based on their transformation or God’s mercy and omnipotence?
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Integrity - David did not inquire of God when he went to the Philistines but totally on his own will to seek their protection. He strayed away from God and caused him to commit more sins. Although he used the opportunity to attack Israelites’ enemies but had to cover it with lies. Is this pleasing to God?