Join Us In The Digital Study

2 Samuel 22:7, 17, 47

2 Samuel 24:1-25

2 Samuel 23:1-39

1 Samuel 21:1-22:5

Guided Journal

Join us as we begin a new church-wide reading plan through the books of 1 & 2 Samuel, which chronicle the early rise of Israel from the 12 tribes to a unified kingdom. With timely wisdom and truth, these books tell the stories of the life of the prophet Samuel, the rise and fall of King Saul, and the reign of King David. This will be a powerful time of learning from these books as we continue Living in the Word together!

Dive Deeper Into The Study

Continue in the study and learn more with the sermon video series on Samuel.

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The Tests To Be Used By God

Earlier this week, we observed that Joab was David’s loyal right-hand man. Remember? Yet, in other passages, we see that he is self-serving, divisive, and disloyal. He put himself ahead of others, even killing relatives to strengthen his leadership. This becomes more apparent in 1 Kings, when Solomon puts an end to Joab’s aggression.

In contrast, as you read through chapter 24, notice how David responded after he sinned against God (see verses 14, 17, and 18-25), profoundly humbling himself in response to God’s correction. This is the moment when David purchased Auranah’s threshing floor and built an altar in the very place where King Solomon would later build the Temple (see 2 Chronicles 3:1).

2 Samuel 24:25

1. When you make mistakes (because we all do!), do you tend to repent and run toward God for His forgiveness and protection, or do you tend to run away from Him in fear of retribution?

2. Who are you second-in-command to, and how can you demonstrate humility, honor, and loyalty to them today?

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2 Samuel 24:1-25 - Day 45 - New Life Church

Many have said that the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, while the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Passages like 2 Samuel 23 are just that! This chapter begins with, “the last words of David,” but then there are more chapters with David’s words. Why? Parts of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings are not in chronological order because there is a literary design here. Chapters 21 and 24 have stories that reflect each other (the judgments and the mighty men), because they’re like bookends that point us to something more important.

In the middle, we see King David worshiping God and pointing to “an everlasting covenant,” which could only be brought to fruition through King Jesus! David didn’t know the name “Jesus,” but he surely looked forward to the coming King!

2 Samuel 23:5

1. When you make mistakes (because we all do!), do you tend to repent and run toward God for His forgiveness and protection, or do you tend to run away from Him in fear of retribution?

2. Who are you second-in-command to, and how can you demonstrate humility, honor, and loyalty to them today?

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2 Samuel 23:1-39 - Day 44 - New Life Church

Today’s passage is a refreshing respite from the gruesome rebellions of the previous chapters. King David is now close to 70 years old, tiring easily and struggling to stay warm. Yet, as is his custom, he sings songs of praise to God. He worships God and thanks Him for all that He has done for him and, according to this passage, God has done a lot for King David!

2 Samuel 22:2-3, 31

1. What victory can you thank God for today?

2. What area of your life may still need to experience the victory that comes from continued obedience to God?

3. Can you say with a pure heart that you follow God’s will and ways and are blameless before Him? If not, what do you need to surrender?

4. What else can you surrender to the Lord?

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2 Samuel 22:1-51 - Day 43 - New Life Church

When the Israelites first conquered the land, God told them to not make a covenant (or treaty) with any tribe. Their take-no-prisoners reputation spread quickly, so the Gibeonites tricked them into a treaty. Their enormous error was that they didn’t first consult with God. To make matters worse, King Saul later killed the Gibeonites, dishonoring the covenant.

Seeking God’s face in prayer is how David discovered why there was a famine in the land. Though God would have warned the Israelites not to make a covenant, now that they did make a covenant, God expected them to honor it!

2 Samuel 21:1

Have you ever given your word, made a promise or a commitment, and then later realized you didn’t consult with God about it? Maybe it was a business deal, a promise to spend time with someone or, more seriously, a marriage covenant?

If you answered “Yes” to the above question, what is your next step? What does God say about your situation? What does God’s Word say?

Now we need to be careful here, because sometimes the Lord may say, “This is a business venture, and I told you not to do it, and I’m still telling you not to do it.” In other situations, you may think you may have married the wrong person, but guess what? You married the right one now! So stick to it (unless your safety, or your children’s safety, is at risk).

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2 Samuel 21:1-22 - Day 42 - New Life Church

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The Cutting Edge

As we approach the last days of King David, today’s gruesome passage describes yet another rebellion within Israel. At this point, Joab had just assassinated Absalom after Absalom’s rebellion, and David grows weary of war. David tried to draw Amasa back onto his team, as Amasa was freshly back from supporting Absalom’s treason. But Joab didn’t trust Amasa, and for good reason! When given direct orders by King David, Amasa’s procrastination exposed his disloyal heart. Further, yet another divisive situation involving Joab begins brewing.

Repentance from having a divisive spirit is key, if you relate to the first two questions. And if you’re a leader who is trying to keep someone on the team, or get someone to return to the team, remain mindful of a potential need to set clear boundaries and stick to them.

2 Samuel 20:5

1. Like Amasa, have you ever had divided loyalties in your heart or been rebellious against your leadership?

2. Have you ever delayed obedience to someone in authority over you?

3. On the other side of the fence, are you now in a place of trying to pull someone back into the team who maybe hasn’t proven repentance or an obedient heart?

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2 Samuel 20:1-26 - Day 41 - New Life Church

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2 Samuel 19:1-43 - Day 40 - New Life Church

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2 Samuel 18:1-33 - Day 39 - New Life Church