2 Samuel 3

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2 Samuel: Lesson 4 — A Deadly Feud

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

A Man After God’s Own Heart:
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

A Study of the Book of 2 Samuel

Lesson 4 (A Deadly Feud)
2 Samuel 3:22-39

The Text:

  1. Where have David’s men been?  Who has been leading them?  How successful have they been?  What had taken place while they were gone?
     
  2. When he hears of what had happened while he was away, who does Joab go to?  What are his stated concerns?  What response does David have? 
     
  3. What does Joab have done?  What does Joab do when Abner returns?  Why?  How much of this was David aware of as it happened? 
     
  4. How does David react when he hears of what Joab did?  What is his wish, or prayer, for Joab’s house?  What was the difference between the deaths of Abner and Asahel?
     
  5. What did David require Joab and all those with him to do?  What did David do?  What statement did these actions make to the people?  How did these events make David feel as a leader?

     

  The Application:

  1. How focused are you on being successful at what you do?  What defines that success?  Does it ever seem like what you do causes you to miss things that are important?
     
  2. When you disagree with a decision you had no part of, how likely are you to go to the person responsible for the decision?  How thorough would you be with the real reasons for your concern?  Is an explanation or response from the “other side” important to you?
     
  3. Have you ever gone “behind the back” of an authority that you disagreed with to accomplish what you thought should have been done?  Would it have been helpful to hear the authority out before you acted?  What can be the problem of pursuing justice as you see it?
     
  4. How appalled/accepting are you of sin in the lives of the people closest to you?  Why? 
     
  5. How can you keep the wrong of others from discrediting you when it appears that you would benefit from the wrongdoing?  How does having to address sin in others make you feel?

  

Next Week: Look What I Did!
2 Samuel 4

 

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2 Samuel: Lesson 3 — Changing Sides

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

A Man After God’s Own Heart:
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

A Study of the Book of 2 Samuel

Lesson 3 (Changing Sides)
2 Samuel 3:1-21

The Text:

  1. How well is the house of David and the house of Saul getting along?  What things take place over time?  Who seems to be the actual leader of the house of Saul?
     
  2. What does Saul’s son, Ish-Bosheth, accuse Abner of?  How does Abner respond to Ish-Bosheth?  What does Abner promise to do?  What is Ish-Bosheth’s response?
     
  3. What message does Abner send to David?  How does David respond?  What condition does he place on having a meeting?  What happens? 
     
  4. What does Abner say to the elders of Israel?  What does this statement say about the intentions, or desires, of those elders?  What promise of God does Abner remind the elders of?
     
  5. Who else does Abner confer with?  What was Abner’s purpose in travelling to Hebron?  What request does Abner put before David?  How does David respond?

  

  The Application:

  1. What conflicts exist in your life?  Are there extended conflicts between what you want and what God wants?  What effect does extended conflict have on you personally?  Who is the real leader of the opposition against you?
     
  2. Have you ever been accused of something that seemed to make absolutely no sense?  How does it make you feel?  Have seemingly outlandish remarks from someone ever brought you to the point of doing something you should have already done?
     
  3. When you realize you are on the wrong side of an issue, or relationship, how can you initiate changing sides?  What if changing to the “right side” has a condition or cost, are you still willing to change?
     
  4. Are there people who have followed you that are actually waiting for you to lead them in the way that is right?  What promises of God do you need reminded of? 
     
  5. How gracious are you in hearing out people who have opposed you?  How hard is it to be at peace with someone who has spent much of their life as your enemy?  What things make it easier or harder?

Next Week: A Deadly Feud
2 Samuel 3:22-39