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Weekly Guide：2024-2025 Week 28
July 14, 2024
Week 28 Day 1: 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 28 Day 2: 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 28 Day 3: 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?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 28 Day 4: Sin of Past ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did David inquire of God to release Israel from Saul’s past sin?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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There was a three-year famine during David’s reign. David inquired of God and was told that Saul put the Gibeonites to death by breaking the oath Israelites had made to them.
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By Gibeonites’ demand, David gave them seven descendants of Saul to be killed. David spared Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth for his oath to Jonathan.
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David heard that Saul’s concubine Rizpah was protecting the remains of the seven so he buried them along with Saul and Jonathan.
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Four of the worriers among the men who followed David killed four sons of Philistine giants.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - The root cause of the famine was Saul’s breaking of the oath Israelites made to Gibeonites in God’s name. The famine ended with David breaking the oath he made to Saul and Jonathan in God’s name. Reflecting on God’s faithfulness and righteousness, how should I fear the name of God?
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Integrity - When Abner was in power after Saul’s death, Saul’s concubine Rizpah could only let herself to be trampled upon. But, what courage and love did she display after Saul’s seven descendants were killed by the Gibeonites in revenge? Her deed touched David and reminded him of his promises to Saul and Jonathan. What danger did Rizpah face? How would Rizpah’s courage and love remind me when I face a circumstance where I am innocent and powerless?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 28 Day 5: Adoration and Thanksgiving ⇧ ⇩
Question
Where did David see God’s protections and blessings?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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2 Samuel 22 is David’s thanksgiving to the Lord for delivering him from Saul and all his enemies. The same song is also recorded in Psalm 18. In the first part, David depicted how God saved him when he faced death from his enemy (22:5-20). In the second part, David described how God’s salvation is based on faith (22:21-30). In the third part, David counted the helps God had given to him (22:31-46)
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2 Samuel 23:1-7 is David’s praising and thanksgiving to God near the end of his life. He realized it was the spirit of God working in him and looked up to God’s everlasting covenant with him and his descendants.
Meditation: My Story
- Walking with God - Although David had committed many sins in his life, but God still proclaims that David was pleasing to Him. What can I see in David’s heart from his psalms? How did he see God in saving him? How did he see God’s response to those who follow Him? Near the end of his life, how did David see God’s promise in his own life? What is a heart that is pleasing to God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 28 Day 6: The Warrior Roster ⇧ ⇮
Question
How does God see the warriors who followed David?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- The roster of the warriors who followed David and some of their accomplishments.
Meditation: My Story
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Community - David was not a “Lone Ranger” but faced the enemy and went to war with many. Do I have any brother or sister in Christ to go fight the war of our lives with? Is there anyone who can pray for me, to encourage and to lift me up?
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Fidelity - What are the commonalities of the warriors on the roster? What can I learn from them?