Weekly Guide：Week 57
February 24, 2019
Forward
We will complete the reading of the Second Samuel and start on the First Kings.
David spend his later life in consequences of sin. The vicious cycle of hatred and violence in man’s heart is characteristic of opposition to God’s grace and kindness. We don’t need to look far. No need to go into the filthy history of politics of the world but our own heart filled with bitterness and resentments.
Murder and Adultery in David’s house caused the death of Amnon and Absalom in despicable struggles. The violence driven by hatred hurts the avenger more than the punishment he laid upon the avenged. Impulsive actions of personal enmity are like replicating the genes of deformed spirituality which brought about the disease Adam and Eve contracted in the garden of Eden, spreading into our family, community, and society. The tragedy of David’s house gives us deeper understanding into the essence of sin. Let us depend upon the Spirit of God to block out the hatred which leads us into self-destruction.
May you all be renewed in God’s word every day!
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?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What sin did David commit in his old age?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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David ordered Joab to take a census of Israel and Judah.
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David knew he committed great sin and was conscience-stricken after the census was completed.
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David picked plague out of the choice of three disasters. Seventy thousand from Dan to Beersheba died.
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David build an altar for God, sacrificed burnt offering and fellowship offering. The plague on Israel stopped.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - What did David pick out of the three disasters God let him choose from? Why? How do I view the discipline from God?
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Integrity - Why did David take census? What similar mistakes have I done in my life? What does this remind me of?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did Solomon succeed David to become king for he was not David’s first born?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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David was very old. Adonijah conspired with Joab and Abiathar in attempt to usurp the throne.
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Nathan the prophet and Solomon’s mother Bathsheba went to David to uncover the conspiracy.
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David took an oath by the Lord to make Solomon king and anointed him in Gihon. David gave a charge to Solomon then died.
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Solomon made Shimei to promise to stay in Jerusalem. Shimei broke the promise and was struck down.
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - Adonijah attempted to usurp the throne and David had never rebuked him. David did not fulfill his responsibility as a father. He did not discipline his children and got to taste the consequences . For us who are parents, what can we learn from David’s example?
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Fidelity - Right after learning Adonijah’s plan, David acted wisely and fulfilled his promise to have Solomon succeed him to the throne. David was decisive under God’s witness. Likewise, we may be decisive without any doubt if we act in His Name.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What did Solomon ask the Lord for?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter while the Israelites were still sacrificing at the high places.
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Solomon asked the Lord for a discerning heart. The Lord was pleased and gave Solomon the wisdom to govern.
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God gave Solomon a wise and discerning heart, faithful officials and governors, gave prosperity for all people, and peace on all sides.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Why was God pleased with what Solomon asked for? What do I ask for in my prayers? Make a connection to what Jesus taught us in His Sermon on the Mount. What does it remind me of?
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Identity - God’s promise to Abraham of kingdom, people, and blessings is now becoming a reality under Solomon’s reign. What promise from God have become a reality in my life?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did Solomon start in building the temple?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Solomon made a treaty with Hiram king of Tyre to build the temple. They transported lumbers on the sea from Lebanon to Israel.
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Four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, he began to build the temple of the Lord.
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Israelites worked together to build the temple. The inner rooms, cherubim, and outer rooms all followed the Lord’s command. Seven years spanned in building the temple.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - What was the first building being constructed in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign? Why did he start this construction? What am I building up? What is the most important construction of my life?
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Fidelity - Israelites worked with foreigners to build the temple. How do I see my own job? How do I see those co-workers of mine who are yet to believe in the Lord? How may I approach them?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What did Solomon build next?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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It took Solomon thirteen years to complete the construction of his palace. He also built the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.
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Solomon brought Huram from Tyre to cast bronze pillars, to cast the Sea of cast metal, to make movable bronze stands and bronze basins.
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Solomon also made the golden altar and golden tables for the Lord’s temple, the golden lampstands and the gold floral works, lamps, tongs, pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers, the gold sockets for the doors of the innermost room, the Most Holy Place, and also for the doors of the main hall of the temple.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - How much time did Solomon spend on each building the temple and palace? What are the sizes of the temple and palace? How do I think about Solomon’s action? How does that remind me to love God with a pure heart?
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Fidelity - Compare Solomon’s temple to Moses’ tent of meeting (Exodus 25-27, 30-31.) What were the similarities and differences? What similarities and differences are there in their constructions? How can I serve to please God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Solomon ask the Lord for?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter while the Israelites were still sacrificing at the high places.
+ Solomon asked the Lord for a discerning heart. The Lord was pleased and gave Solomon the wisdom to govern.
+ God gave Solomon a wise and discerning heart, faithful officials and governors, gave prosperity for all people, and peace on all sides.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Why was God pleased with what Solomon asked for? What do I ask for in my prayers? Make a connection to what Jesus taught us in His Sermon on the Mount. What does it remind me of?
+ **Identity** - God's promise to Abraham of kingdom, people, and blessings is now becoming a reality under Solomon's reign. What promise from God have become a reality in my life?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Solomon start in building the temple?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Solomon made a treaty with Hiram king of Tyre to build the temple. They transported lumbers on the sea from Lebanon to Israel.
+ Four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, he began to build the temple of the Lord.
+ Israelites worked together to build the temple. The inner rooms, cherubim, and outer rooms all followed the Lord's command. Seven years spanned in building the temple.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - What was the first building being constructed in the fourth year of Solomon's reign? Why did he start from this building first? What am I building up? What is the most important construction of my life?
+ **Fidelity** - Israelites worked with foreigners to build the temple. How do I see my own service? How do I see those co-workers of mine who are yet to believe in the Lord? How may I approach them?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Solomon build next?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ It took Solomon thirteen years to complete the construction of his palace. He also built the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.
+ Solomon brought Huram from Tyre to cast bronze pillars, to cast the Sea of cast metal, to make movable bronze stands and bronze basins.
+ Solomon also made the golden altar and golden tables for the Lord's temple, the golden lampstands and the gold floral works, lamps, tongs, pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers, the gold sockets for the doors of the innermost room, the Most Holy Place, and also for the doors of the main hall of the temple.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - How much time did Solomon spend on each building the temple and palace? What are the sizes of the temple and palace? How do I think about Solomon's action? How does that remind me to love God with a pure heart?
+ **Fidelity** - Compare Solomon's temple to Moses' tent of meeting (Exodus 25-27, 30-31.) What were the similarities and differences? What similarities and differences are there in their constructions? How can I serve to please God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Solomon dedicate the completed temple to God?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Solomon summoned the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord's covenant from the City of David. The glory of the Lord filled His temple.
+ King explained to whole assembly of Israel the purpose for constructing the temple, prayed to the Lord and then blessed them.
+ King sacrificed offers to the Lord with the whole assembly of Israel.
+ King Solomon gave twenty towns in Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre. King Solomon conscripted foreigner as forced labor.
+ Three times a year Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar he had built for the Lord, burning incense before the Lord along with them.
+ King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - Solomon brought the ark into the temple and God's glory filled the temple. Where is God's glory now that He dwells in us today? (John 1:14, 2 Corinthians 3:18)
+ **Identity** - Solomon's prayer to the Lord included thanksgiving, petition, repentance, and blessings. How may I incorporate all these into my prayer?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why was God angry to Solomon when he grew old?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Queen of Sheba witnessed the wisdom of Solomon.
+ King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. He also accumulated chariots and horses.
+ King Solomon loved many foreign women. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods.
+ The Lord was angry with Solomon and raised up adversaries, Hadad the Edomite, Rezon son of Eliada, and Jeroboam son of Nebat against Solomon.
+ Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh revealed to Jeroboam that Israel would be broken apart.
+ Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - At the peak of Solomon's time, with much wealth and power, he chose to follow other gods and angered God. How could Solomon fall so far? What should I watch out for while my career and wealth are stacking up?
+ **Fidelity** - What changed after Queen of Sheba visited Israel? What did Solomon do? Have I set a goal to glorify God every moment of my daily life?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why was Israel split into two parts, north and south?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Rehoboam was made king in Shechem.
+ Rehoboam took advice from young men to treat the Israelites harshly caused them to rebel against the house of David.
+ Jeroboam was made king by the Israelites. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David.
+ God prevented war between Rehoboam and Israelites.
+ Jeroboam made two golden calves and brought the people into sin.
+ A man of God warned Jeroboam that he would be killed by lion if he defies God's command.
+ Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - What was Jeroboam's biggest mistake? Have I worshiped the created more than God?
+ **Community** - Rehoboam rejected elders' advice but took young men's and caused rebellion. How should I look at the advices from elders? Am I humbly seeking elders' experiences?
+ **Fidelity** - The Israelites first submitted then rebelled because Rehoboam's improper governing. Leaders have a lot of influences on people. How should I watch my own conduct when I serve?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did God rescue David from a difficult situation?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Philistines gathered to attack Israel. Saul could not get any answer from God, so he went to consult a medium which God despised. The answer he got caused great horror and made him to lose all hope.
+ Being in the land of the Philistines, David was caught in a difficult position for he had to choose either to follow the Philistines to attack Israel or refuse and be killed by the Philistines. But God used the doubts from within the Philistines to remove David from the Philistines and relieved him of this impossible position.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - Saul broke off his connection with God, walked ever farther away from Him and unable to find peace from anything he had his hands on. However, God never forsake his elected. David strayed away from God, but God protected him and miraculously brought him out of the dire situation. Was God unfair to Saul? Let me go back a few chapters to see if God gave Saul the opportunities to turn back to Him.
+ **Integrity** - The reason David got stuck in such dire situation was his straying away from God, seeking of protection from the Philistines, and then the lies. What can I learn from this? If I ever stray away from God, let me not cover up prior sins with even more sins.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did David turn back to God?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Amalekites revenged on David by raiding Ziklag of all women, all things, all the young and the old. Not only saddened, David also faced danger of being stoned by his own men. It is in this hopeless situation, David turned back to God, to lean on Him for strength.
+ God blessed David's rescue plan. Not only was he able to save his family, recovered all things he had lost, but he took plunders from the battle.
+ David treated the Amalekite slave with mercy and received his help. David was also merciful to those who were exhausted and had to stay behind. He shared God's blessings with them and all the places he roamed.
+ Saul met his end in the last battle. He ended his own life for he could not face the unknown future. He wanted to avoid humiliation but his remain was humiliated completely. The people of Jabesh Gilead whom Saul had saved before, took his remain back, buried it despite of danger, and fasted seven days for him.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - The Bible had no record of David inquiring of God after he went to the Philistines. Obviously, those were the days he was away from God. But David did turn back to God when he was facing danger and depended upon God for strength. God answered David's prayer and led him to the rescue. What inhibits me from turning to God when facing danger? How does David encourage me?
+ **Integrity** - David was willing to stop and help the dying slave while in pursue of the Amalekites. This slave became an important help to David. When in victory, David shared equally the plunders to include those two hundred who stayed behind because "what the Lord has given us, all will share alike" and made it into a statue and ordinance of Israel. He then shared the plunder to all the places he had roamed. Why was David so generous? Was he a clever king who knew how to buy into people's hearts or was that a transformation resulted from his spiritual journey?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How is it different for Ish-Bosheth being king and David being king?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ A young Amalekite came to David to report the death of Saul and claimed that he had killed him. David executed the young man for he killed the Lord's anointed. He then mourned for Saul and Jonathan and written for them the lament of the bow.
+ The people of Judah anointed David in Hebron. David reigned in Hebron as king of Judah for seven years and six months. At the same time, the commander of Saul's army, Abner, made the son of Saul the king of Israel in Mahanaim. The war between the house of David and the house of Saul started.
+ Abner challenged Judah and started fighting with Joab. They began with a small fight with a few involved then escalated into an all-out fierce war with heavy lost on both sides.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - What are the differences in the following three instances of kingship? Abner making Ish-Bosheth king, Judah anointing David as king, and the Israelites casting lot to select Saul as king. Thinking about the differences between a life following God's will and a life following the world's will, what kind of life do I want to live?
+ **Community** - We see the friendship between David and Jonathan in the lament of the bow. How is it different from the worldly friendships? Abner and Joab started with restrained fight then escalated to become a fierce civil war between brothers. This led to the killing of Asahel and Joab's hatred. They were all descendant of Jacob and children of God. What turned them into enemies? What disputes between them do I see are happening in today's Christians that started as insignificant contest then turned into vicious fight? Have I experienced anything like this and need to atone before the Lord?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Saul's kingship meet its end?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
+ David became king of Judah, continued to have more wives and sons.
+ Abner betrayed the house of Saul and defected to David. Abner submitted to David's demand to bring him back Michal who was Saul's daughter and David's first wife. Abner went back to confer with the Israelite elders about establishing a covenant with David.
+ Joab murdered Abner as revenge for his brother Asahel. David cursed Joab and mourned for Abner. Thus, the Israelites in the north knew it wasn't David's idea to kill Abner.
+ The Israelite king Ish-Bosheth was murdered by two of Saul's raiding band leaders. They were executed by David when they asked David for the credit of the killing. David buried Ish-Bosheth with Abner.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - Abner knew David was God's anointed and yet made Ish-Bosheth king? When angered by Ish-Bosheth, Abner defected to David. What was his motive? What was Joab's sin in killing Abner? Why did David curse Joab and told him to mourn and bury Abner? What is the relationship between the three?
+ **Integrity** - The two leaders of Saul's raiding bands went to David to claim credit for killing Ish-Bosheth. Whey did David execute them? David should have known that Abner was behind the weak Ish-Bosheth during the seven-year-standoff against the house of Saul. Why was David's attitude different toward Abner compared to these two raiding band leaders? What strengths or shortcomings do I see in David's life?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was David's relationship with God after he was anointed as king of Israel?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ David got anointed as Israel king, captured Jerusalem, and built a palace. David knew God had established him as the king of Israel.
+ Led by God, David defeated the Philistines.
+ David attempted to bring the ark back to Jerusalem but did not follow the law when transporting it. They committed infraction against God's holiness and caused God's anger to burn against Uzzah. David was angry and afraid until God's anger had gone away. David brought the ark back the second time to Jerusalem. He obeyed the law, humbled himself, danced with all his might, and shouted in the sound of trumpets in great rejoice.
+ David wanted to build a house for the Lord. Instead, God promised David that He would establish for David and descendants a house and kingdom forever. This is the hope of the Messiah. David prayed to answer God's blessings, His promise is for all His people, and all people would come back to Him and praise Him.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - What was the mistake David made in his first attempt to bring the ark back? Why was Uzzah killed? What caused David to be angry and then afraid? Seen from David's attitude, how had his relationship with God changed in the second attempt? Have I experienced the serious side of God's righteousness in my spiritual life? How did this experience help me in my relationship with God?
+ **Integrity** - What characters of David can I see in his prayer replying to God's promise? He not only thanked God for establishing his household, he also saw God's promise for all Israelites and all people to go to God and praise God. What can I learn from David with him looking beyond his own spiritual circumstance? In what areas may I see farther?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What nations surrounding Israel did David defeat?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ God gave victories to David over the surrounding nations. David dedicated to the Lord the gold, silver, and bronze articles he had plundered from the nations.
+ David was king over Israel and acted righteously.
+ David brought Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan and showed him God's kindness.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - God gave David victories over the nations. Some of them weren't driven out by the Israelites when they first entered the land of Canaan. David dedicated the gold, silver, and bronze articles to God. Compare to Saul when God commanded him to drive out the Amalekites, how was David's relationship to God different from Saul's? How should I seek God's will in the works of my daily life?
+ **Community** - David wanted to "show God's kindness" toward Mephibosheth and took him as his own son. What standard shall we adhere to in loving our fellow Christians? How may we show God's kindness?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses