2 Samuel

1. Name: Year: Tuesday (Read 2 Samuel 23: 8-39) David ends the chapter with the names of his mighty men and their works. This was not without reason; for the Holy Book intended to confirm that, of the most prominent attributes of the prophet David, was making use of all the energies within his hands. This is the role of the prophet, as well as of every true spiritual leader; of the father and the mother; of the young man and even of the child; Everyone should do his best, not to be self-centred, but to motivate others to work, with no isolation of thought, nor individualism, or selfishness.” Those mighty men are classified into three ranks or categories: a. The first three: Josheb, Eleazar, and Shammah; who refer to the early fathers, prophets, and people of the Old Testament. b. The following three: Abishai, Benaiah, and a third whose name was not mentioned; These refer to the disciples, the apostles, and people of the New Testament. c. Thirty ... who refer to the congregation of believers. Monday (Read 2 Samuel 23: 1- 7) Father Tadros Malaty writes: “David could have presented us in his last words, with a plenty in every aspect of life. He lived under several circumstances: He experienced life of richness, and tasted poverty; He enjoyed glory, and humiliation; was loved by many, and hated by some, to turn into a fugitive; led a life of righteousness, and experienced fall, repentance, and chastisement. He lived as a prophet, a king, a judge, a man of war, a psalmist, a husband, a father, a shepherd of a few sheep, as well as a king over an extended kingdom ... . Yet he made his final speech a very concise One” In verse 5 David felt his unworthiness to enjoy that everlasting covenant with God, in that while he the human is unworthy still kept His promise. God never breaks His promises, He will always be there when you need Him and He will always hear your prayers. David clearly understood God’s faithfulness: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13 2 Samuel Did you know…. David used the cave of Adullam as a hiding place while he was on the run from King Saul. The cave was located just outside the city of Adullam southwest of Jerusalem. (Refer to 2 Samuel 23:13) Wednesday (Read 2 Samuel 24: 1-9) God’s anger against David was not because of the census in itself; as the prophet Moses did the same three or more times, but rather because David did not seek God’s counsel as he usually did and because he started to rely on his men and his own capabilities. In verse 3, Joab realises David’s fault and tried to draw his attention, but Kind David “word’s prevailed”. Many times we find before we sin, God is sending us warning signs either through friends, parents, through the Bible etc… yet we ignore them anyway… Do you humble yourself before the Lord? Do you pray before making decisions? Do you ask Him for guidance before taking action???

2. Thursday (Read 2 Samuel 24: 10-12) Verse 10 starts by saying “David’s hearts condemned him”… David realises his error and is QUICK to repent. No wonder God loved David so much and called him “A man after My own heart”. David’s heart was sensitive to the Lord, that when he sinned, he knew straight away and asked God for forgiveness. David also stayed the whole night praying in bitterness and repentance. We should take the time to compare this to our hearts, how do you feel when you sin? Do you realise when you upset God? Do you quickly repent? Or do you put excuses and try to justify your wrong doings? Saturday(Read 2 Samuel 24: 18-25) God listened and responded to David’s cry out, full of love toward the people of God; He sent to him the prophet God, to instruct him to erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Aruanah the Jebusite, where he saw the angel of the Lord; Although Aruanah was a Gentile, Yet he enjoyed seeing the angel. Because he was characterized by humility, love, and giving, the temple was erected on his land ... The offering to the Lord also prefigures Christ’s rejection by the Jews and his coming to the Gentiles, with the promise of forgiveness having been purchased through his blood. 2 Samuel Friday (Read 2 Samuel 24: 13-17) St. Ambrose says about David, who humbled himself before God: “And the prophet Nathan was sent again to him to offer him the choice of three things, that he might select what he chose: a famine in the land for three years, flight from the face of his enemies for three months, or pestilence in the land for three days. And David answered, “These three things are a great distress to me, yet I shall fall into the hand of the Lord since His mercies are exceedingly great, and I shall not fall into the hands of men.” David’s fault was that he desired to know the number of all the people who were with him, and the knowledge of this he should have left to God alone. And it is said that when the pestilence came upon the people on the first day at dinner time, when David saw the angel striking the people, he said, “I have sinned, I, the shepherd, have done evil and this flock, what has it done? Let your hand be upon me and upon my father’s house.” So the Lord relented, and He bade the angel to spare the people, but David to offer sacrifice, for sacrifices were then offered for sin, but now they are sacrifices of penance. Thus, by his humility he became more acceptable to God, for it is not strange that people sin, but it is reprehensible if they do not acknowledge that they have erred and humble themselves before God.”