Session 1 Respected God calls individuals to lead His people, and they should be honored as such. 2 SAMUEL 1:22-27; 2:1-7 God chooses to use human beings to accomplish His purposes. He could use angels to do this. Presumably, God could deliver messages to His creation by writing them in the sky. He could bring His will to pass through a vast variety of methods. However, Scripture declares that God calls individuals to accomplish His purposes by leading His people. Those leaders deserve our respect. Should all leaders be given respect? Explain. What are the dangers of failing to respect leaders? 10 Date of My Bible Study:
UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT 2 SAMUEL 1:1 2:7 Second Samuel is a book about kings. While the desire for a king by God s people exposed an improper motive on their part (1 Sam. 8:4-21), the role of king was a part of God s purpose in Israel (Deut. 17:14-20). Although some kings failed miserably in their role, the whole idea of kingship was a part of God s redemptive plan to bring Jesus to earth as the eternal King and Messiah. Second Samuel begins where 1 Samuel left off the demise of Israel s first king. It provides additional details about Saul s death. Ironically, it details how an Amalekite killed Saul in his last moments of life after the king attempted to take his own life. Saul s downfall began with his failure to completely annihilate the Amalekites (Deut. 25:17-19, see also 1 Sam. 15:18-19). David, on the other hand, sought to fulfill God s command against Amalek (1 Sam. 30:16-17; 2 Sam. 1:1). Although Saul was deficient as a leader of the people of Israel, David showed respect for him and his office as the Lord s anointed (2 Sam. 1:14-16). And although the Amalekite messenger from Mount Gilboa paid homage to David (1:2), it was formal and ritualistic, probably designed to ingratiate himself to David. Ultimately, respect for God s leaders is a matter of the heart. After dealing with the treacherous Amalekite and putting him to death for his rejection of and disdain for the Lord s anointed (1:15-16), David and his men began to mourn the deaths of Saul and Jonathan (1:17-27). Those who followed David modeled their behavior after him which was a tribute to David s leadership. The dirge, which he composed in his grief, was poignant and touching. He ordered that it be taught to the people and thus taught them how to honor their leaders. Such an act affirmed the importance of kingship in ancient Israel. What characteristics of godly leadership did David demonstrate in 2 Samuel 2:1-7? Session 1 : Respected 11
EXPLORE THE TEXT COMMEMORATION (2 SAM. 1:22-27) 22 From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied. 23 Saul and Jonathan in life they were loved and admired, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 24 Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold. 25 How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. 26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women. 27 How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished! VERSE 22 David celebrated through poetry the effectiveness of Saul and Jonathan in battle. They were great warriors whose competency protected the Israelites. Jonathan was a skilled archer (1 Sam. 14:13-14) whose bow had actually protected David at a vulnerable time in his life (see 1 Sam. 20:36-39). It is interesting that David s commendation of Saul related more to his competency in battle while Jonathan was also praised for a characteristic virtue. What David did not say seems striking. Saul s great downfall was his lack of character, yet David chose to focus on his more redeeming qualities. The fallen king was effective in battle, bringing military victory to Israel, and thus made a significant contribution to the people of God. VERSES 23-24 As we read David s words, it is almost as if we can hear his memories of Saul and Jonathan come flooding over him. In his mind they were loved and admired. Though many times Saul harassed him because of insecurity, David never came to hate his king. There was always respect for his office and affection for the man himself. In death the late king and his loyal son were not parted. Perhaps David saw the Lord s hand of mercy in the fact that neither outlived the other. It could be that he was highlighting Jonathan s loyalty to 12 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
his father. They made an effective military combination in their speed (swifter than eagles) and strength (stronger than lions). Because of Saul s royal aptitude, David reminded the women of the kingdom to mourn for the passing of their king. In ancient cultures, the women of a nation played a prominent role in its national and collective mourning. Because of Saul s military victories, in effect he clothed them and brought great prosperity to the nation. This was evidenced through their scarlet, their finery, and ornaments of gold. David could have chosen to mention the less virtuous aspects of Saul s life and reign but he did not do so. This should not be viewed as deception on his part. Rather, we should see it as more of a statement about David than Saul. He honored the Lord s anointed because that was the will of the Lord Himself. In a similar fashion, believers can celebrate the faithful service of leaders called by God. In what ways should a church celebrate its leaders, especially its pastors? BIBLE SKILL: Compare related Bible passages. Read 3 John 9-10 and 1 Timothy 4:12-16, comparing Diotrephes and Timothy. What contrasting attitudes do these two persons illustrate concerning taking authority in the church? Which attitude is seen in David the attitude of Diotrephes or Timothy? Explain. VERSES 25-27 David s mournful refrain lamented Saul and Jonathan s death as an example that the mighty have fallen. Jonathan was especially the object of David s grief because of their great friendship and Session 1 : Respected 13
commitment to each other (1 Sam. 20:41-42). The poignant aspect of the story was the sad truth that their dream of leading Israel together would not be fulfilled (23:15-18). Unwarranted assumptions have been made about David s description of his affection for Jonathan as more wonderful than that of women. Sadly some have insinuated that it indicates a homosexual relationship. Nothing could be further from the truth. In Hebrew culture, wives were not always expected to be confidants to their husbands. Jonathan was a brother to David in the sense that he encouraged him during dark moments of life and this friendship became a refuge to the future king. KEY DOCTRINE: Man God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love. CORONATION (2 SAM. 2:1-4a) 1 In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah? he asked. The Lord said, Go up. David asked, Where shall I go? To Hebron, the Lord answered. 2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah. VERSE 1 Typically, the best remedy for grief is time. David allowed the healing of his heart by observing a season of mourning. This was also the appropriate public demonstration of his grief for both Saul, his former father-in-law, and Jonathan, his dear friend. One way in which David distinguished himself as a godly leader in contrast to Saul was his habitual inclination of seeking guidance from God before making a major decision (see also 1 Sam. 23:9-12; 30:7-8). Ziklag [ZIK lag], David s previous residence and base of operations, 14 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
had been rendered uninhabitable (1 Sam. 30:1-3), and so he inquired of the Lord about where he and his people should go and dwell. In what ways do people typically respond when faced with a major decision? In what ways do their responses reveal who or what they trust? David was of the tribe of Judah (Matt. 1:1-6), which occupied the territory just to the west of the Dead Sea. Genesis 49 records the prophecy of Joseph that Judah s descendants would rise, and Jesus Christ was the ultimate fulfillment of that prophecy. The Lord s first answer to David was that he was to Go up to Judah. David sought even more specific guidance from God, and the Lord directed him to Hebron. As the location of the burial of the patriarchs and as a Levitical city (Josh. 21:13), Hebron was respected among the cities of Judah. It was one of the cities of refuge, a safe haven for those falsely accused of murder. It is possible that some would have assumed David s complicity in Saul s death based on Saul s persecution of him. In seeking God s guidance, David demonstrated great respect for the office of king. Even though Samuel had anointed him previously (1 Sam. 16:12-13), David did not assume anything but yielded to the Lord s will regarding the next king of Israel. By his actions, David assumed the throne without dishonoring Saul. VERSES 2-3 Gathering up his family, David went to Hebron. The reference to his caravan s settlement in the towns of Hebron indicates the largeness of the group, perhaps as many as a thousand people. There would probably not have been sufficient housing within the walls of the city, and so some would have been forced to find accommodations in the surrounding areas. VERSE 4a The men of Judah recognized David as their king. They signified this in that they anointed him. In the Old Testament, anointing was done to set someone apart for an important task. Those who were anointed were expected to pursue and fulfill the purpose of God (Isa. 44:28 45:1). Session 1 : Respected 15
The very title Christ is the English rendering of the Greek word christos, which means, anointed (Luke 4:16-21; Acts 10:38). COMMENDATION (2 SAM. 2:4b-7) 4b When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to them to say to them, The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them. VERSE 4b Saul had rescued Jabesh Gilead [jay besh GIL ih uhd] from the siege of the Ammonites (1 Sam. 11:1-11), an event that was a catalyst to his ascension to the throne. Presumably out of gratitude to Saul, courageous men from the city retrieved his remains and buried them in Jabesh (1 Sam. 31:11-13). Their actions honored Saul s memory, as an improper burial was considered shameful (1 Kings 14:10-14). At the time of his anointing, David learned from the men of Judah about this event. VERSES 5-6 The first act of the newly inaugurated king was to express appreciation to the men of Jabesh Gilead for the respectful act of securing Saul s body. David, too, had demonstrated respect for Saul and his family in the two times he spared Saul s life and put to death the Amalekite who killed him. Those called by God to lead His people lead most effectively when their actions are in alignment with their affirmations. To affirm what the men Jabesh-gilead did when they buried Saul, David sent messengers to them with a blessing. In particular, he affirmed the special kindness they showed to Saul. The word used by David to denote kindness was the Hebrew word hesed. It conveys the ideas of loyalty and love, along with kindness. What are some appropriate ways to express loyalty and kindness to those who lead? 16 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
David elaborated on the blessing he gave to the men who honored Saul. First, he asserted that the Lord would bless them by showing kindness and faithfulness to them. The same word hesed is used in both verses 5 and 6. Secondly, David assured them that he would also show the same favor to them. David demonstrated a great quality of godly leaders. Godly leaders pattern their behavior toward others after that of the Lord Himself. Godly leaders pattern their behavior toward others after that of the Lord Himself. VERSE 7 No doubt the people of Jabesh-gilead grieved the loss of Saul. He had championed their cause and provided them with protection. David alluded to this when he said for Saul your master is dead. He understood their grief, for he had experienced and expressed it himself. But David called them to rise above that grief, to be strong and brave even in uncertain times. He communicated the possibility of Jabesh Gilead recognizing his succession of Saul as king. Doing so would require courage on their part. David was sincere in his affirmation of the men of Jabeshgilead. It was not a calculated political move to garner support for his dynasty. Granted, he did inform them of his establishment as king of Judah and that the people of Judah have anointed me king over them. However, the daring enterprise of the rescue of Saul s body might have exposed those men and even the town to reprisals from the Philistines. David promised his support of them; this was truly a win-win situation, good for both the king and the people. A wise move such as David s does not equate to self-centered political maneuvering. How is the goodness of the Lord reflected in His provision of leaders? How might a person be blessed by demonstrating respect to leaders God places in this world? Session 1 : Respected 17
IN MY CONTEXT Believers can celebrate the faithful service and friendship of leaders called by God. Believers must seek God and His timing. Believers should honor the leaders God provides them, both in the past and in the present. What are some vital spiritual disciplines you can observe that will keep you focused on the Lord s will and His timing for you? Who has been instrumental in your coming to Christ and your growth as a Christian? How could you acknowledge this person s impact on your life? Read Psalm 89:20. Discuss with your group ways of affirming your church leaders. Define one action you will take based on this discussion. Prayer Needs 18 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide