JanMary

Q1. (Acts 17:1-10) Why do you think there was so much strong opposition to Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica? Jealousy over the large crowds Paul was drawing, which threatened the Synagogue's numbers and therefore loss of financial support. Paul preached the gospel of salvation by grace through Jesus Christ, which infuriated the Jews who would not recognize Him as their Messiah. Why do you think Paul keeps preaching the gospel, even though there is often a violent reaction against him? After Paul's encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, his former zeal to destroy Christians and stop their message, was changed to zeal for the gospel. It was his life work to share with as many people as possible, first to the Jews, and when they completely rejected the message, he preached to gentiles. He considered himself a bond slave of Jesus and wanted only to serve Him. Does a violent reaction to our ministry necessarily mean we should stop? No. Just the opposite! It means the Word of God is having an impact on the hearers, and they feel their unbelieving life/lies are being threatened or called into question. The gospel message demands an answer, not complacence and apathy, and this angers some unbelievers.

Q4. (1 Chronicles 22-29) Why do you think David prepares for the temple, even after the Lord refuses to let him build it? David's heart's desire from the get-go had been to build a "house for the Ark", and when the Lord told him he could not build it, because he was a man of war and had shed blood, he accepted that and moved to "planning, preparing and provision for seeing that his desire and God's was implemented and completed. How did David cooperate with the Holy Spirit in designing the temple and its worship? He copied down the detailed plan he had in mind, (by the Spirit) for the house of the Lord, and for every detail. (ch 28:12) He sought the Lord's guidance, listened and in obedience copied down what the Spirit showed him was His desire for the Temple. How did David’s example in giving motivate others to give? David (ch 29) shared his vision and his deep love and desire to honor the Lord with this house, with the people, and itemized how he had himself provided for the work. Then said "Now who will offer willingly to fill his hand (and consecrate it) today to the Lord (like one consecrating himself to the priesthood)? v5. He presented the offer as a holy sacrifice, a love offering to their God, rather than manipulating or "guilting" them into begrudgingly giving, and by first being the example to give willingly and sacrificially with joy!

Q3. (2 Samuel 24:14-25) Why does David choose the punishment of a plague on the people rather than his other choices? David knew that God would be merciful with him in his repentance....but did not want to fall into any other hands! David insists on paying Araunah for the threshing floor and the sacrifices. What principle drives this decision? David did not want to sacrifice anything to the Lord which cost him nothing....his sin cost 70,000 lives. He wanted to give a costly sacrifice. How should this principle guide our own giving to God? All that we have is His.... how we give reflects how much of a hold on us our money has....stinginess shows that money controls us, whereas generosity in giving shows that our priorities about money are in balance. He loves a cheerful giver who gives with a willing heart of gratitude for all that He has given us and that He is first in our lives.

Q2. (2 Samuel 23:1-7) How does David describe himself in verse 1. "David, son of Jesse, the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist. The Spirit of God spoke IN and BY me, His word was upon my tongue." In what sense was David a prophet? He spoke what the Lord put in his mouth to speak, not realizing at times he was speaking in great detail about the coming Messiah, the permanent King of Israel...and King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What is the main message of verses 3-7? The one who governs in the love and knowledge of God and in His righteousness, will lead the nation to prosper and thrive. How can this psalm guide government officials and elected leaders in our day? Oh, if only we had righteous leaders who seek the face of God! Just one example is the front page of our newspaper this morning which declares that the recently defeated Senator, Pete Stark, the longest reigning Senator, and avowed Atheist will speak at the Atheist convention". What impact for good and godliness we could have been bathed in, had he been a lover of our Lord Jesus, instead of the corruption, self interest, self pandering, perversion and craziness which has been his "legacy".

Q1. (2 Samuel 22 = Psalm 18) What do you find the most inspiring in the language of this psalm? David's personal knowledge of God's faithfulness and their intimate relationship..".MY keen and firm Strength, MY Rock, MY Fortress, MY Deliverer, MY shield, MY Horn of Salvation, MY high tower"....also David's dependence upon his God...."You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; the Lord my God illumines my darkness" and "For by You I can run through a troop and by my God I can leap over a wall"...and so many more! I love this Psalm!!!! What encourages you the most? The Lord's deliverance when David cried for help describing God rushing to his aid in terms of a rapid and violent storm whose response was swift, sure and violent on David's behalf (and mine), and His tender care for His child. Write down all the various titles and metaphors used of God in this psalm. My Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer, my God, my keen and firm Strength, my Refuge, my Shield, my Horn of Salvation, my High Tower, The Lord. (the only one true God and Savior), my Promoter (he brings us forth into a large place), He orders my steps (and stops), my Rewarder and my Reward, the Word, Kind, Merciful, Holy, Pure, Contrary to the perverse, my Lamp Who illumines my darkness and Who lights my lamp and causes me to shine, Perfect, Trustworthy and True, my Teacher and Trainer, my Source of Stability, my Victory and my Victorious One, the Living God, my Exalted God, my Avenger, the Merciful God who is worthy of all praise and worship, the Lover of my Soul! There is NONE like Him, and I will worship Him and praise Him forever!!!! He has been to me every one of those qualities, in the 40 years I've walked with Him. Like David, I love Him "fervently and devotedly!" Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!!!

Q4. (2 Samuel 16-20) What does this passage teach us about David’s character and faith? David had integrity of character, and was a man of his word (Mephibosheth is a beautiful example!). David was a man of faith, and like most of us, his faith ebbed and flowed at times depending upon the pressure and circumstances. What does it reveal about Joab’s character? Joab had lousy character, shaky at best....an opportunist, and untrustworthy.. What kind of faith do you see in Joab? Joab was a secular man, and a conniver, who operated in the flesh and did what was good for himself and his long range plans. What does this passage teach us about the importance of friends? Choose them carefully and prayerfully! Friends are a blessing and a gift from the Lord, but we are told to "put no confidence in the flesh", and to rely completely on "the Friend who sticks closer than a brother", and who will "never leave us or forsake us". Friends can offer fellowship, comfort, help, insight, companionship, as we can to them, but only the Lord can be counted on in every situation to be faithful and to have our best interests at heart, always! Is Joab really David’s friend? No, he was not David's friend. He was treacherous, and a betrayer; A man of blood, wily, always seeking to further his own situation.

Q3. (2 Samuel 18:1-19:8) Why does David command mercy for Absalom in the battle? David had mourned the deaths of two sons already. He loved Absalom even though his aim was to dethrone and kill his father. I think David felt on some level that his poor job as a father, made him somewhat responsible for Absalom's rebellion and hatred. Why does Joab kill him against David’s orders? Joab's role was to assist and provide guidance to David. Until Absalom was dead, David's life and throne would be in danger. He saw it as his duty to end the hostile takeover and to protect David. How does David’s loud mourning threaten his kingdom? Joab told David that "You love those who hate you (Absalom!!!) and you hate those who love you!" (The men who risked their lives in battle against Absalom's army to save David and his throne). They felt ashamed of their victory, in that David was not only ungrateful and self absorbed in his grief, but that he would have preferred them dead and his son alive. Joab told him, and rightly so, that he would be without an army if he continued thus, and to go and speak to those loyal troops who must have been stunned and confused by his contempt for their sacrifice while loudly grieving his son, and ignoring their victory on his behalf! What does this say about his followers’ loyalty? They loved their King! They wanted to support and protect him. Disloyal followers may have turned and attacked such weakness and foolishness as David was displaying. They stayed true, in spite of their victory being turned into a day of mourning, added to their humiliation as they slinked shamefaced into town as deserters would do. What does it say about David’s faith? I don't see David's faith here, only guilt, remorse, self absorption, and lack of concern for those who loved and supported him. David knew and had written about how God opposes the proud, and had seen the monument Absalom had raised for himself so his name would be remembered. Faith would have acknowledged that God's will was to remove this troublesome son and hindrance to His revealed will for David's throne, and to grieve privately the death, and his own failure to discipline Absalom. (the years of silent treatment were not discipline, but were cruel torture and were where the seeds of his hatred for his father were sown.) About his weaknesses? David was both a warrior and a worshipper! However this behavior shows none of those strengths of character. Warriors fight to win, and in his weakness, fatigue, fear and confusion, his emotion was on the wrong side of the battle! I love David and his heart for God, and I love that the Lord in writing the Bible does not hesitate to show us the humanity, and weaknesses of His own, as well as their faith and strengths when displayed. This season in David's life reveals more of his flaws than his faith.

Q2. (2 Samuel 16:5-14) Why doesn’t David silence Shimei son of Gera from cursing him? It seems clear that David knew this man was from the house of Saul. It sounds as if David believes he deserves the cursing, as God Himself had told David he could not build the temple because he was a man of blood. David was in fact a warrior, but he had the guilty remorse of having killed Uriah, Bathsheba's husband. Is this a political decision or a spiritual decision? I believe this was a spiritual decision. David was resigned to whatever God was going to allow, and was not only not going to fight Absalom, but would not shed more blood in allowing Shimei to be beheaded, for cursing and declaring "the Lord has delivered the Kingdom into the hands of Absalom your son!" David believed "the Lord has bidden him to do it" (to curse David). What does it tell us about David’s faith? David had not lost his faith in God, and was resigned to whatever was God's will in this situation.

Q1. (2 Samuel 15:14-30) Why does David flee Jerusalem rather than stay and fight? "David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise and let us flee, or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring evil upon us and smite the city with the sword." David was in his old default mode....fear! Run from the enemy, unlike his Goliath days when his trust was fully in the Lord to fight the battle for him. What are David’s emotions during this retreat? In David's mind, he was already defeated and dethroned. He told Ittai the Gittite to return to his place and remain with the King...Absalom. His old fight and spark were gone. He seemed to expect that God's favor was "iffy". I believe David had not forgiven himself for past failures and sins and his guilt made him vulnerable to Absalom's coup attempt...almost as if he felt he deserved to be driven out of town and replaced due to unworthiness. Perhaps he was remembering the prophecy of Nathan (II Sam 12:10) after Uriah's murder, that the sword would never depart from David's house, and he expected to die at Absalom's hand. Why doesn’t he take the ark with him into exile? I think he believed the ark belonged in Jerusalem with the King....and since he was declaring Absalom King, at least to Ittai the Hittite, it should stay where it belonged. If he found favor in God's eyes, he'd "see it and the Lord's house again"....if not, he'd either die at Absalom's hand or be exiled. Also, he fled in great haste, not allowing for the special care the Ark required for transportation, as he'd learned when he'd carried it on the cart. Does this exhibit faith, fatalism, or submission? I think David was in the fatalism mode. He didn't even stop to pray, inquire, or to ask the priest to seek guidance on his behalf. He'd already given up and fled for his life in fear. What does this tell us about his faith? It tells me David was wonderfully human and that like most of us, his faith ebbed and flowed in degrees as he went through trials and testing's. He never lost his love for the Lord nor his faith in Him, but he was no longer confident of victory, only in God's sustaining love.

Q4. (2 Samuel 13-15:13) It’s difficult to find positive spiritual lessons in these sad and grim chapters. What negative spiritual lessons do you find? Chapter 13 is a study in witchcraft, manipulation and deception, re: Tamar and the plot to enable Amnon to rape her. (beginning with Jonadab, David's nephew, which involved deceiving David so he would send Tamar to her "sick" half brother. I see in this that David's children either were not taught about David's Lord and his Love for Him, or they were disillusioned because of the way David lived in later life after they were born, so they had no interest in God. Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. David's zeal and love for God seemed to wane after his affair with Bathsheba, and his governing the country and overseeing his family seemed minimal and distracted. Perhaps lingering guilt (self loathing?) for his sin and the terrible consequences took a toll on his ability to engage in his duties. We can be forgiven but unwilling to forgive ourselves. The typical dysfunctional family....Ignore the elephant in the room, sweep things under the rug, "Don't talk- don't tell", "Do as I say, not as I do", "Maybe if I ignore this it will go away", silent treatment....rather than confronting in love, spare the rod and spoil the child...no discipline (although with the many wives and children David had, I can't imagine how one father could have much impact on the family). Amnon followed his father's example of forcing himself on one who was not his! Absalom followed his father's example of "murder by hire", to get rid of a problem individual...his brother. Ch. 14, more witchcraft, manipulation and deception, through Joab, rather than speaking directly to David! Absalom in exile for several years, had children David had never seen...his silent treatment festered into mutiny as Absalom tried to anoint himself King while David was still alive, after "working the crowds" to ingratiate himself to the people in ch 15. David's heart was after God, but apparently not "after his children" enough to teach and train them. He was a detached father. They were self willed, while David seemed self absorbed, tired, and impotent, as Eli the priest had been with his wayward sons.

Q3. (2 Samuel 15:1-6) What are the elements of Absalom’s public relations campaign to win over the people to his side? Similar political "glad handing" as is used today....adding that" there is a vacuum I can fill, as the King is not doing his job!" Kissing hands instead of today's "kissing babies". The big motorcade with him in a chariot and 50 secret service....er 50 men to run before him. He stole the hearts of the men of Israel through manipulation and flattery. (otherwise known as witchcraft) How effective is it? This deception is very effective...tell the people what they want to hear, and promise to give them what they want, will get you elected, every time. What should David have done differently? David, instead of running in guilt induced fear and confusion, should have taken a stand and quelled the coup....better to discipline late than never! Which of David’s weaknesses does Absalom exploit? David reverted to his old default mode....Fear: run for your life when threatened. It felt familiar, as he had done this a number of times, but this time it was the wrong tactic. Once again, he made a decision, by not making a decision! (another example of impotence, and apathy and fear)

Q2. (2 Samuel 13:39-14:24) Why do you think Joab conspires to get David to bring Absalom home? (v39) David longed to go to Absalom, as his grieving for his son Amnon was behind him, and Joab knew that David's heart was toward Amsalom (14:1) It seems to me that from the connivance with the woman of Tekoah he sent to David with the made up story, that Joab thought Absalom should be brought back and anointed King, and further, from Joab's concocted story, that he feared Absalom may be killed before he could be crowned. There's the aspect of Job security for Joab as well....keep the King happy, keep my job. Why do you think David does not immediately show Absalom his favor? Guilt, impotence and apathy. If he banished him and didn't deal with the murder of Amnon, David would be absolved of having to sentence Absalom to death. Just as with Tamar's rape, he lived as though nothing had happened. I don't think it was denial...just completely impotent and apathetic. God had extended grace to David, in not giving him the sentence of death, which David had declared to Nathan, as suitable punishment for his own sin. Amnon was dead, as was his son with Bathsheba, and he didn't want any more death!

Q1. (2 Samuel 13:21-22) Why do you think David doesn’t discipline his son Amnon for his sexual assault on his half-sister? I think it was that he may have thought "I have sexual sin involving adultery with Bathsheba, and the assigned murder of her husband Uriah.....how can I speak into my sons life? Who am I to discipline a son after what I've done, which is far worse! David knew he was forgiven, but doubtful that he had forgotten....perhaps he wanted to ignore it rather than have his past thrown in his face. So guilt may have also been a factor. What are the consequences of David’s inaction? More heartache in the family.....Absalom murdered Amnon who had raped Tamar, and she was left disgraced and broken hearted, unavenged, and now no longer a virgin, unsuitable for marriage. She was left alone in her anguish and betrayal and probably spinsterhood. Absalom was not disciplined, other than being ostracized , and he then humiliated David by lying with his wives/concubines on the roof where it was visible to the kingdom. He then tried to take over the throne....so rather than being swept under the rug by ignoring the rape, it festered into a full blown coup, and Absalom's death as well.

. (2 Samuel 12:10-14) What punishment does David deserve? David said when he heard about the ewe lamb being killed, the man deserved death! What does he get instead? He gets mercy ("The Lord has put away your sin, you will not die" 12:13) But he had to grieve the death of his son; the sword would never leave his house, and the Lord would raise up evil from his own house. How does this punishment relate to the provisions of the Davidic Covenant in 2 Samuel 7:14-15? "When he commits iniquity I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the sons of men"...which is what David suffered. This is also prophetic of how the Lord Jesus was chastened and killed for my sins at the hands of men. How do David’s sins hurt God’s glory? David was the anointed King (and example) for Israel. He tarnished and besmirched his place as spiritual leader and as a result the people were punished and experienced the Righteous anger of God, instead of His blessing! How do our sins reflect on Jesus Christ? We all sin, and He died once for all. However when we blatantly sin, I think it appears to others that we cheapen His death.

Q3. (2 Samuel 12:1-10) Why might it be dangerous for Nathan the prophet to confront the king? David's word was law! Nathan risked his life to confront him, if David chose to kill him, as many kings before and after him, killed God's prophets who displeased them! What device does Nathan employ to get the king to listen to him? Nathan used a parable about a beloved ewe lamb who was killed, which echoed David's sin in stealing Bathsheba from her husband Uriah. How does David’s condemnation of the rich man’s greed help him acknowledge and condemn his own actions? He was enraged by this cruel act, and demanded punishment by death for the man who did this....when Nathan said "You are the man!" David instantly recognized himself as the cruel murderer and thief and acknowledged his sin. Nathan said "the Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die" So David was forgiven but had to live with the painful consequences of his actions.

Q2. (2 Samuel 11) How can a “man after God’s own heart” do something so ugly, so despicable as this – first adultery and then murder by proxy to cover it up? David's heart was after God, but his will was after fulfilling his fleshly desires. He could do this evil thing because he is a member of the fallen human race! David was not filled with the Holy Spirit as believers are today, and yet the same evil is done by believers who love God. We are lost without Him! What does this teach us about our human condition? Our human condition is desperate for a Savior, Who is the only way of escape from a date with the second death! What is our problem as humans? That is our problem...we're humans, with the gift of free will. Left to ourselves we are in a hopeless fallen condition with no choice but to sin with an eternity in hell....BUT GOD, sent a perfect, sinless, Lamb who paid the price for all of our sins and wickedness, and delivered us to a future in Heaven with Him forever. How can David ever recover his integrity after this? David moved past the place of regret which leads to despair and hopelessness, and allowed godly sorrow to lead him to repentance, which leads to forgiveness, healing, salvation, and deliverance. When the Lord took the child born of Bathsheba, he accepted that loss as the will of God, grieved and did not grow bitter toward the Lord. David knew the mercy of God, received it, and knew he was forgiven and cleansed.

Q1. (2 Samuel 9:1-13) Why does David honor Mephibosheth? David asked if anyone of the house of Saul still lived to whom he could show the unfailing mercy and kindness of God. (Remembering his covenant with Jonathan) When Ziba told him "Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who is lame in his feet", he was sent for and cared for all his days. What does this teach us about David’s character? David honored his covenant and was true to his word!

Q4. The Davidic kingdom did end in 587 BC – temporarily. How did God fulfill his promises in the Davidic Covenant? There was a break in the line until the perfect, sinless King was born of the Virgin Mary. In what ways is it fulfilled in Christ? He is the 2nd Adam, sinless and perfect...King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He saved and redeemed that which was lost (me! )He reigns now through the Body of Christ who has been given His authority on earth to heal and deliver and to continue the work of making disciples for His Kingdom. At the appointed time He will come back and reign on earth as King in Jerusalem for 1,000 years.....and His kingdom will never end!!! Hallelujah! "Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly!" Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!

Q3. (2 Samuel 7:14-16) There is a conditional aspect in the Davidic Covenant – that God will discipline David’s descendants when they sin. How did God discipline David and his descendants? David lost the son born from his adulterous and disastrous union with Bathsheba. David did not discipine his son Amnon after he raped his sister Tamar. From then on there was grief and strife in David's family. David was humiliated by Absalom's threat to the throne, and had to run for his life. Absalom was murdered. When David took a sinful census, a plague fell upon the people....on and on it went through the generations.

Q2. (2 Samuel 7:8-13) What are the main promises of the Davidic Covenant? 1. I will make you a great name, like that of the great men of the earth. 2. I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them and free them from affliction from wicked men. 3. I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. 4. I will make for you a house: I will establish the kingdom of one of your future offspring, and he shall build a house for me. 5. I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Are these promises conditional or unconditional? They are unconditional. Why does conditionality make a difference? The difference is that they may or may not happen, depending on the performance of the recipient. Which of these promises is most important to you as a Christian? The one which is so precious to me is the everlasting Kingdom....where the King of all Eternity will reign, and the place reserved for me there with Him.... a permanent home with my Lord.

Q1. (2 Samuel 7:1-7) Why is Nathan so quick to give David approval to build the temple? David had brought the Ark back to Jerusalem after all those years and Nathan knew that God was with him....it sounded like a great idea! There was no reason to assume otherwise, since David was King and had the desire to build the temple. What should have Nathan done instead? Nathan should have checked with the Lord first, instead of just assuming it was the thing to do. What is the danger of leaders and followers too quickly approving major spiritual directions without really waiting upon the Lord? Spiritual wild goose chases and wasted time and effort. Flesh endeavors never please God! David’s heart is partly right about building the temple though. Which part does David have right? David's desire for a permanent home for the Ark was right, but God had not requested one to be built.

Q3. (2 Samuel 6:14, 22) How would you describe David’s approach to worship? David's worship was a reflection of his great love, faith, and trust in the Lord. His spirit was free and unhindered because he had an authentic, gut level honest relationship with the Lord, and believed and understood that he was loved unconditionally by the Lord...he was truly a man after God's own heart. What does his dancing here teach us? We are to worship in freedom, rather than bondage or prescribed "proper", legalistic formula worship. We are free to "twirl" in joy if we want to!....don't we do all of the craziest things when our team wins? God loves celebration! I'm learning to cast off my "frozen chosen" background and to dance in His presence! (decently and in order with my clothes on!!! What do we learn about praise from the psalms he wrote? We learn that praise comes from our heart...in the deepest part of our knowing God. If worship is stale and stifled, it reflects a stale and stifled relationship. David had no past "proper" training to restrict his worship....he expressed his love and joy through his body! Does what others might think affect your ability to worship? It used to totally shut me down. Having come out of teaching where you stood up straight with hands at the sides and sang perfectly in tune, and with a prescribed quote to share with the person next to you at greeting time, and in which they were to respond with the prescribed response. I no longer care what anyone thinks! (This is funny enough to share: one Sunday in a new church where I finally felt free to worship, the person with me, scolded me and said "what will people think of you, with eyes closed and hands raised, moving with the music???" I said ".How I worship is between the Lord and me, you don't get to dictate how I worship".....then the pastor began his message about the consequence to Michal for her ridicule of David's worship....barrenness!..I grinned and said silently "Thank you, Lord that you are pleased, whether anyone else is or not!" How has God been working in your life to teach you to worship him in spirit and in truth? As I've learned more about how much I'm loved and accepted, and have had some teaching about worship about which I was ignorant, and shed the dark cloak of guilt and mistrust which used to weigh me down, I'm honest and authentic with the Lord, and my worship reflects this. (I learned in Hebrews 2:11,12 For He (Jesus) says, "I will declare Your (the Father's) Name to My brethren; in the midst of the worshipping congregation, I will sing hymns of praise to You (the Father)" (also Ps. 22:22) Once I understood that Jesus worships His Father through my voice, I'm thrilled to let the Spirit praise Him through me! What a privilege!!! When I stood nearly mute all those years, I stifled Jesus' ability to praise His Father using my voice! My life is one of worship.....I love to dance to worship music at home...to praise Him when rejoicing over the beauty He's created around me...every day!

Q4. (2 Samuel 6:16, 20-23) What has happened to Michal that she is so bitter at David? Michal had been taken away from David and given to Paltiel who loved her and followed behind weeping as she was brought back to David, like someone else's baggage. She was now to share David with his other wives! She was in deep grief over that loss and the loss of her father Saul, and brother Jonathan...part of the grief process is anger. When she saw David rejoicing in God, instead of sharing in her grief and comforting her, I'm sure she was furious at both he and God. I still remember looking out of the hearse window while being driven to the cemetery for Dad's burial, and seeing people in cars going by, laughing and eating ice cream cones....and thinking "Our world has been stopped cold by grief and loss....how is it possible for others to feel joy?" How does her bitterness cause her to misjudge what she sees? The anger stage of grief, when prolonged can become bitterness, where one implodes and all we see is ME and MY PAIN and seeking who to blame for it. In that state, all she saw was David "cavorting disrobed", rather than her husband worshipping his Lord and God! He returned to bless his household previous to his worship (v20), which went unnoticed and misunderstood by Michal. Are you bitter towards God about something in your past? What effect might this have had on your spiritual life? How can you find healing from the bitterness? Not any longer. After I became a Christian and realized that God is Sovereign, I secretly blamed Him for not protecting me from sexual, physical, verbal abuse, including death threats from my parents. It was buried in my subconscious, hidden even from me, until one day after He led me through a long period of grieving for all of my past pain, He showed me that I had been holding Him responsible for all of it. No wonder I had no joy, and little intimacy with Him. I was still afraid of Him and didn't trust that He really loved me and has my best good always in mind. At first I railed and shook my fist in anger for not protecting me. When I was spent, He literally sat on the side of my bed near me, and showed me that He cannot, in His Sovereignty barge in where He is not invited. We were not Christians, and He had been excluded from our lives. Then this sweet exchange: "I did not allow them to make good on their threats to kill you. I was with you every moment, even in your mother's womb. I have been with you through every pit of sin and darkness, waiting for the day when you would come to me. I know and understand completely, everything you have ever done! You are forgiven, and washed as white as snow! I love you with an everlasting love." Then I wept tears of joy for the first time in my life! I forgave Him (silly, since He does nothing wrong, but it was a release for me of the bitterness which I'd carried since I was a child.)and have never been the same! I rejoice in the Lord my Savior, and am enjoying intimate fellowship, and friendship with Him, and unhindered joyful worship. What would have happened if David had conformed his worship expression to his wife’s preferences? He would Have moved to the place of pleasing Michal and his worship would have been fake and edited! His relationship with the Lord would have been stifled!!! We would not have had his Psalms to comfort and encourage us!

Q2. (2 Samuel 6:11-13) How should the ark have been transported? God's requirement was that it be carried by poles inserted through rings, upon the shoulders of the Levites. How are Uzzah and David responsible if they don’t know the provisions of the Mosaic Law? It was their responsibility to read and know the Mosaic law. It seems like David was the more responsible as their King and leader, but all men were to know the Law. What does David’s mistake in this incident teach us about seeking to do God’s will? This was one of David's few lapses in failing to seek God's will, and it was a disaster...tough learning curve for him and for the people, but powerful! God knows what I will face each day and it's to my benefit to seek Him early....to ask for guidance and direction and the wisdom and strength to follow His will. I love that He gives us the privilege of free will, and that I can use that freedom to walk with Him, rather than in my own ignorance and frailty! Even after 40 years as His child, I'm still excited about the adventure it is to follow Him step by step!

Q1. (2 Samuel 6:1-10) Why does God strike Uzzah? The ark had been at Kiriath-jearim for nearly 100 years (I Sam 7:2) Through Samuel's entire judgeship, Saul's reign and well into David's reign) David neglected to seek the proper but long forgotten method for moving the ark (carried by poles upon the shoulders of priests), rather than on an ox cart like common baggage,( but which is the way it arrived there when the Philistines sent it away due to the tumors with which they were afflicted, because of its' presence in their country, probably without the poles!) When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah put out his hand and took hold of it. The whole operation: Right motive, wrong method. (Interesting that Saul had no desire to return the Ark to Jerusalem) Why is David so angry? V 9 "David was afraid of the Lord that day", and his plan/desire was thwarted. His motive was pure, so he must have been bewildered by God's harsh correction. The King's word was law, so it must have been humiliating for him to have failed to seek the Lord in this huge event, and to have the celebration ruined. What a powerful lesson...kings and priests must follow the Lord's protocol, as well as the ordinary citizen!