Q: How many years did David reign over the tribe of Judah?
BONUS: How many years did he reign over the rest of the tribes of Israel?
Sometimes words in the Bible are hard to understand. Take God’s promise to David: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16, italics added). David knew what God was saying, but do you?
• In the Bible, house can mean “family” as well as a building.
• In the Bible, throne often stands for a king’s rule.
• In the Bible, forever means forever.
This verse promises that someone born into David’s family will be a king who will rule forever. Does anyone qualify? Yes! Jesus was a descendant of David (Matthew 1:1). Raised from the dead, he is “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). “And he will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
Do you ever wonder if what you’re asking for in prayer is OK with God? You can gain confidence in prayer by “claiming God’s promises.” This is what David did in 2 Samuel 7:25–26. God through the prophet Nathan gave David a wonderful promise. So David thanked God and then claimed the promise: he asked God to “keep forever the promise you have made.” In keeping his promises God shows the universe that he is faithful to his word, that he can be trusted. As you read your Bible, underline the promises you find. Then when you pray, claim God’s promises and become more and more confident about prayer.
Sure, Christians should be “different.” But how? By carrying a Bible with your books? By listening to Christian music? By writing Bible verses on your homework? When David became king over Israel, he searched for descendants of Saul in order to show kindness to them (2 Samuel 9:1). Rulers in that day usually searched for members of the previous king’s family, not to show kindness but to kill them! David was different, in a godly way. How can you be different? You can be polite to classmates who don’t like you. You can be nice to unpopular teachers. Keep on being “different,” and you’ll be surprised how many of your friends will be interested in you and in Christ.
The brownies your sister baked are half gone. You’re the only one home, yet you look her in the eye and say, “But I didn’t eat them.” Even without that brown smear on your upper lip, she knows you did it. What’s worse, God knows. And you know. When David tried to hide his sin with Bathsheba, God didn’t let him rest. Finally, when confronted by the prophet Nathan, David confessed his sin. Then he wrote Psalm 51 to describe the sense of release that came when he admitted his sin and let God cleanse him. Check out this psalm, and you may find a better way to react than to claim, “But I didn’t do it,” when you really did.
My best friend had the worst thing done to her by her uncle. He abused her in the worst way. I’m the only one she has told. She’s hardly been eating and she’s very depressed. I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone. I’m scared. What can I do?
Holland, MI
Dear Friend,
I am so saddened by your letter. A vile thing has been done to your friend. Try to get her to tell someone. She needs help. She is lucky to have a friend like you.
There is a story in 2 Samuel 13 about a girl named Tamar. She was raped by her half brother, Amnon. This led to a series of terrible events. One of her other brothers, Absalom, tried to help her, but he gave her poor advice. Tamar’s father, King David, heard about what had been done and was furious, but he did nothing.
Eventually, Absalom killed Amnon and was later also killed. Now two of David’s sons were dead and Tamar never was given the help she needed. The Bible said she “lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman” (verse 20).
Rape and incest are wicked and very damaging to the victim as well as the perpetrator. With the help of a good counselor and the love and support of those around her, your friend can experience amazing healing. She can grow up and have healthy relationships. Remember to pray for your friend. God is the greatest mender of brokenness.
Jordan
Parents do make mistakes. David made a big one with his son Absalom. When Absalom killed his brother Amnon, David neither punished Absalom nor forgave him. By failing to act, David left Absalom without moral direction and was at least partly responsible when his son later rebelled. Are your parents quick to ground you when you get out of line? Or are they more likely to talk it over and give you a hug? Believe it or not, both kinds of discipline work. What counts is that Mom and Dad have well-defined moral standards and let you know by their actions that they care whether the choices you make are right or wrong.
Q: What foreigner remained faithful when David’s son Absalom led a rebellion against his father?
BONUS: How did David feel as he fled Jerusalem?
You ask Jenny what she thinks, and she says you should tell. Kendra says don’t tell. You ask Karen, and she says you should tell only if you’re asked. Sarah says you should pick up the phone and tell right away. So you ask Chrissy, and she . . . Somehow, when you want advice, everyone seems to have a different opinion. It may be good to get different views, but in the end you’re the one who has to make the decision. Even if all agree that one choice is better (2 Samuel 17:14), they may be wrong. In the end you have to decide. Ask God for help with your decisions. And do what you think is right.
Q: How did King David’s son Absalom die?
BONUS: Where was he when he was killed?
Have you ever wondered if something you wanted to do was right or wrong? How can you tell if there’s no commandment about it in the Bible? There’s no commandment in the Old Testament against taking a military census. But after David counted the fighting men in Israel, the Bible says he “was conscience-stricken” (2 Samuel 24:10). Somehow David knew he’d done wrong. Even though there was no command against a census, David’s motive was wrong. He had begun to rely on numbers instead of on God. When you have a decision to make and there’s no clear command in the Bible, check your motive. Even right things done for the wrong reasons are wrong.
2 Samuel
Dreams Come True.
David’s dreams come true. He is crowned king over all Israel. His armies pushed back the enemies until Israel had ten times as much land as before. David also led his people to worship in Jerusalem. Despite his successes, David made some choices that hurt him and his people.