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Weekly Guide：2022-2023 Week 58
February 12, 2023
Week 58 Day 1: David Committed Sin ⇧ ⇩
Question
What sin did David commit on the matter Bathsheba?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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David was going to show kindness to Hanun the new Ammonite king, but the envoy David sent was humiliated. Thus, the war between Israelites and the Ammonites began. Joab was fighting on the frontline and the ark was encamped, but David stayed behind in the palace.
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The army was fighting and yet David stayed in Jerusalem, saw Uriah’s wife Bathsheba, and committed adultery. David called Uriah back as a failed attempt to cover up Bathsheba’s pregnancy. Then, David used Joab and through the enemy’s hands to kill Uriah.
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But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - While the army fought on the frontline and the ark encamped on the battlefield, David stayed behind and did the preposterous thing. What life’s integrities can I see in Uriah from his answer to David? Much time had past from David first saw Bathsheba to when she became his wife. Why didn’t David repent in such a long time? How am I being warned seeing David did not repent immediately even though he had a good relationship with God? Have I ever fallen into the depth of sin but never realized it? How is God reminding me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 58 Day 2: David in Repentance ⇧ ⇩
Question
What was David’s attitude after Nathan had rebuked him?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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God sent Nathan to David to rebuke him and told him that he would be judged.
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Nathan started with a fable to point out that David was insatiable, had despised the Lord’s command, and done things displeasing to the Lord.
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Nathan declared God’s judgement that the sword will never depart from David’s house, his wives will be tarnished under broad daylight, and his son with Bathsheba will die.
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David repented immediately. The Lord took away his sin, but David must bear the consequence.
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David fasted and prayed to the Lord for mercy to the child. But the Lord’s mind did not change. David submitted to the Lord, cleansed himself and worshiped the Lord.
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God blessed David and loved Solomon, a son David had with Bathsheba.
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Joab subdued the Ammonites and invited David to receive the victory. The Ammonites were defeated.
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - Nathan told David that his sin began with his insatiability. From his insatiability, what laws of the ten commandments did David break? David’s seemingly insignificant insatiability, like Israelites’ in the wilderness, became ever greater sin. How am I being insatiable with everything God had given me? Let me pray to God to help me to be joyful and satisfied.
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Integrity - Although God had made up His mind on the judgment, David still prayed for His mercy and, at the same time, submitted to His will. What can I learn about prayer from seeing David’s worship to God after knowing His will would not change?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 58 Day 3: Murder and Adultery ⇧ ⇩
Question
What were David’s problems in educating his sons?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Encouraged by Jonadab, Amnon devised a plan to trick David into bringing Tamar, Amnon’s sister of different mother, to him and raped her. Tamar’s brother Absalom hated Amnon.
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Two years later, Absalom devised a plan to trick David and murdered Amnon. Absalom escaped to Geshur.
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Three years later, Joab found a wise woman and devised a plan to persuade David in bringing Absalom back to Jerusalem. However, David would not see Absalom.
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Two years later, Absalom devised a plan to force Joab to talk to David to let Absalom meet and reunite with David.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - Amnon raped his own sister of another mother. David did nothing besides being angry. What should have David done that would be pleasing to God? Absalom murdered Amnon and escaped to Geshur. Why again did David do nothing? Why did Joab persuade David to bring Absalom back? David would not see Absalom after he had come back so Absalom forced Joab to help with his meeting with David. What was Absalom’s motive? As a father, what should have David done but didn’t do during the seven-year span of all these events? Have I ignored my responsibility as a custodian of my inheritance from God and did not do what I should do, whether I am a parent or not?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 58 Day 4: Conspiracy of Betrayal ⇧ ⇩
Question
On way of his fleeing, what helps did David receive from God?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Absalom built his power and status in the dark and earned the heart of the Israelites. He went to Hebron by way of an excuse to fulfill a vow to conspire for mutiny against David. David’s counselor Ahithophel followed Absalom and the conspiracy gained strength.
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David fled Jerusalem but left ten concubines to take care of the palace.
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The foreigner Ittai did not want to leave David and vowed to accompany David, live or death. The priests Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark with them to David, but David asked them to go back. David went up the Mount of Olives, weeping, barefooted and head covered. David met his confidant Hushai on the summit and asked him to go to Absalom in Jerusalem to frustrate Ahithophel’s advice. Ziba brought food to David and claimed that Mephibosheth was going to betray David. So, David gave all that belonged to Mephibosheth to Ziba. Abishai wanted to kill Shimei as he cursed David but was stopped by David saying that it was coming from God.
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Absalom listened to Ahithophel’s advice to sleep with David’s concubines who stayed behind. This was God’s judgment to David. See 12:11.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - From what David said to priest Zadok when he fled Jerusalem, in his prayer to God on Mount of Olive, as well as what he said to Abishai in response to humiliation of Shimei’s curse, what was the state of his spirituality?
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Walking with God - Although he had to bear the consequences of sin, God’s blessings were never too far away from David. What protections and helps did David experience in the journey of his fleeing?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 58 Day 5: Destruction from God ⇧ ⇩
Question
Who defeated Absalom?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Ahithophel’s advice was not taken by Absalom which allowed David to avoid demise. This was God’s plan to disrupt Ahithophel and bring destruction to Absalom.
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David was supplied by Shobi, Makir, and Barzillai at Mahanaim.
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David deployed his troops and commanded them to be gentle with Absalom. Absalom was routed, his hair caught in the tree and unable to escape. Joab defied David’s command and killed Absalom. David mourned for Absalom.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Absalom was defeated despite the great strength from support of all Israel and a very good counselor. It is God who brings victory and it is also God who brings defeat. Is there ungodly power in the circumstance I’m in which seems to be strong and invincible? Looking from this passage, is God who is in absolute control giving me peace?
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Integrity - What was Joab’s motive in killing Absalom? What should have he done to be pleasing to God? What news did David want to learn most anxiously from the two messengers? How would David react differently had he submitted to God’s will? Contrast with David’s prayer when Bathsheba’s first son died.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 58 Day 6: Returned by Mercy ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did David do after he had gone back to Jerusalem?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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David sunk deep into the sorrow of losing Absalom. Joab warned David of calamities if the people were not comforted.
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All Israelites were arguing amongst themselves to bring David. However, David sent for the priests to ask the Judah elders to bring him back and made Amasa in place of Joab as the commander of army to win over the heart of Judah. This brought about discontentment of the Israelite tribes which indirectly caused Sheba’s unrest and Joab’s murder of Amasa.
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Shimei went to David and fell prostrate before him to ask for clemency. David refused Abishai’s request to put Shimei to death and vowed that Shimei would not die. Mephibosheth came and told David that Ziba slandered against him. David did not scrutinize Ziba’s motive nor did he ask him to return the land. David only asked Ziba and Mephibosheth to divide the land. Barzillai came to David to send him on his way. Barzillai refused David’s invitation to go to Jerusalem but sent Kimham to go with David.
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David sent Amasa to summon Judah to put down Sheba’s unrest but Amasa delayed his return. David sent Abishai to pursue Amasa. Joab went and killed Amasa then led his troops and killed Sheba.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - It was God’s mercy that David was able to return to Jerusalem. Did David rely on God? Is there evidence of interaction between David and God in these two chapters? How am I being reminded? David went for the support of Judah, his own tribe, but what was the consequence? Have I leaned on the power of the world more than God?
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Integrity - Did David truly forgive Shimei? (see 1 Kings 2:8-9) What might be the reason he forgave Shimei at this time? Was David’s treatment to Mephibosheth befitting to God’s will? Mephibosheth was misunderstood but remained loyal to David. How does this remind me when I’m being misunderstood?