2 Samuel 1:1-27 — How Have the Mighty Fallen!
TRAGIC SETBACKS TO GOD’S SOVEREIGN PROGRAM SHOULD BE OCCASION NOT FOR OPPORTUNISTIC SELF-ADVANCEMENT BUT FOR MOURNFUL LAMENT ON THE PART OF SUBMISSIVE LOYALISTS
2 Samuel 2:1-32 — Power Struggle Divides the Nation and Costs Many Lives
LEADERSHIP TRANSITION SPARKS CIVIL WAR BETWEEN HOUSE OF JUDAH
2 Samuel 3:1-30 — Personal Vendettas Jeopardize Kingdom Goals
DAVID WISELY EXCELS AT DAMAGE CONTROL AFTER JOAB JEOPARDIZES KINGDOM CONSOLIDATON BY TAKING PERSONAL REVENGE ON ABNER
2 Samuel 4:1-12 — Treachery Should Never Be Rewarded – Righteous Goals Can Only Be Attained Through Righteous Means
THE COLD-BLOODED MURDER OF ISHBOSHETH WINS NO FAVOR FROM THE RIGHTEOUS KING DAVID
2 Samuel 5:1-25 — Enthroned on High – How Do People Respond to God’s King?
THE BLESSING OF GOD REACHES MAJESTIC HEIGHTS AS DAVID REIGNS OVER ALL OF ISRAEL AS A TYPE OF THE MESSIAH TO COME
2 Samuel 6:1-23 — Enthusiastic Devotion to the Presence of a Holy God
THE PRESENCE OF GOD SHOULD EVOKE HOLY REVERENCE AND EXUBERANT CELEBRATION – 2 KEY EXPRESSIONS OF WORSHIP
2 Samuel 7:1-29 — The Blessings of the Davidic Covenant
OUR HEARTS SHOULD OVERFLOW WITH PRAISE WHEN GOD REVEALS HIS ABUNDANT PROMISED BLESSINGS
2 Samuel 8:1-18 — Only the Blessing of the Lord Secures a Kingdom That Administers Justice and Righteousness
VICTORY OVER KINGDOM ENEMIES
– WINS WAR TROPHIES THAT BRING GLORY TO GOD AND
– GAINS US A GOOD REPUTATION TO MINISTER WISELY AND MORE EFFECTIVELY
2 Samuel 9:1-13 — David Favors Mephibosheth With Unexpected Kindness
POWERFUL SOVEREIGN DEMONSTRATES UNEXPECTED COVENANT LOYALTY TO CRIPPLED LEFTOVER FROM FORMER REGIME
2 Samuel 10:1-19 — Danger of Waking a Sleeping Giant — Rejecting God’s Kindness Unleashes God’s Wrath
MISJUDGING MOTIVES MOBILIZES POWERFUL FORCES TO ENGAGE IN COMBAT — BUT ENEMY ALLIANCES DISINTEGRATE BEFORE THE FOCUSED STRENGTH OF GOD’S ARMY
2 Samuel 11:1-27 — David and Bathsheba – The Tragedy of Sexual Sin – Backsliding – More Like a Free Fall
SEXUAL TEMPTATION CAN TRIGGER COMPOUNDING SINS WITH GRIEVOUS CONSEQUENCES
2 Samuel 12:1-31 — One Son Dies But Another is Born
THE BLESSING OF GOD CAN SPRING FROM THE SOIL OF SINFUL FAILURE – BUT NOT WITHOUT SORROWFUL CONFESSION AND PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES —
THE FOUR STEPS IN THE CYCLE OF JUDGMENT AND RESTORATION FOR A FALLEN LEADER
2 Samuel 13:1-39 — Judgment on David’s Royal Offspring
THE FLAME OF LUST IGNITES HORRIFIC CRIMES AND TEARS FAMILIES APART (VERY DESTRUCTIVE TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD)
2 Samuel 14:1-33 — Uneasy Standoff Between David and Absalom
RECONCILIATION WITHOUT GENUINE REPENTANCE AND APPROPRIATE PROPITIATION TRIVIALIZES THE JUSTICE OF GOD
2 Samuel 15:1-37 — Tearing Apart the Kingdom of God – Son Rises Up Against Father and King
SELF AMBITION ERUPTS IN A REBELLIOUS COUP THAT DIVIDES THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND CREATES DIFFICULT DECISIONS OF ALLEGIANCE
2 Samuel 16:1-23 — Humiliation Marks David’s Journey Into Exile
FOUR INCIDENTS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE DEPTHS OF HUMILIATION FOR KING DAVID AS HE FLEES INTO EXILE
2 Samuel 17:1-29 — Narrow Escape Engineered by the Providence of God
THE SOVEREIGN GOD PROVIDENTIALLY PROTECTS THE MESSIANIC LINE OF DAVID
2 Samuel 18:1-33 — Slaying of Absalom – David’s Leadership Deficiencies Overshadow Israel’s Kingdom Victory
GODLY LEADERSHIP FOCUSES ON KINGDOM PRIORITIES AT THE EXPENSE OF ANY PERSONAL AGENDA –
THE DEFEAT OF THE REBELS COMES WITH THE HEARTACHE OF THE MALICIOUS SLAYING OF ABSALOM BY JOAB IN DEFIANCE OF THE KING’S COMMAND
2 Samuel 19:1-43 — Kingdom Restoration Amidst Kingdom Rivalries
KINGDOM RESTORATION REQUIRES CAREFUL DIPLOMACY AMIDST QUARRELING FACTIONS
2 Samuel 20:1-26 — Foolish Rebels Destined to Lose Their Heads
BIG IDEA: DESTRUCTION WILL BE THE DESTINY OF THOSE WHO REBELLIOUSLY REJECT THE INHERITANCE OF THE LORD AND SEEK TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN DOMINION INTRODUCTION: A...
2 Samuel 21:1-22 — Cause for Relief and Rejoicing
THE PROVIDENCE AND POWER OF GOD SUSTAINED DAVID AND HIS KINGDOM – THREE EXAMPLES
2 Samuel 22:1-30 — Song of Praise for Deliverance and Security
DAVID’S EXPERIENCE OF GOD’S POWER AND PROVIDENCE ON HIS BEHALF EVOKES THIS SONG OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP –
6 WAYS THAT GOD HAS DEALT WITH US – LEADING US TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP HIM
2 Samuel 22:29-51 — Song of Praise for Deliverance and Security
TRANSFORMATION SHOULD LEAD TO VICTORY —
A SUPERGOD MAKES HIS ANOINTED VICTORIOUS LIKE A SUPERMAN
2 Samuel 23:1-39 — The Last Words of David – Legacy of Greatness
TWO LASTING MEMORIALS OF GREATNESS FROM THE REIGN OF KING DAVID
2 Samuel 24:1-25 — Stumbling Down the Homestretch – The Census and the Plague
FOR OUR WORSHIP TO BE ACCEPTABLE WE CANNOT COMPROMISE DEPENDENCE ON THE LORD BY TRUSTING IN THE FLESH