HeartQuest 101

This Sunday we continue in the life of David with this somewhat humorous episode of what happens to David’s servants as they deliver condolences to the Ammonite king; then we will look at the wages of sin from the Bathsheba era in his life. 

1. Why does David send his servants to Hanun, king of the Ammonites? 10:1-2
2. How does Hanun treat the servants? 10:4 (too funny, we can laugh now, such a picture), but we can learn…
   • Lesson 1 – David shows active sympathy for the suffering, 10:2
   • Lesson 2 – David’s intentions were misunderstood, 10:3, 5
   • Lesson 3 – David is fiercely loyal and protective to his people, 10:5
   • Lesson 4 – David took on their enemy himself, sending Joab and his mighty men, 10:7
3. What is the outcome of the inevitable battle? 10:13, 14
4. Introduction:
   • What is your favorite springtime activity?
   • How soon do you believe people begin sunbathing in Virginia Beach?
   • Who was your “girl next door” or “big man on campus?”
5. What significance do you see in the timing of David’s sin? 2 Samuel 11:1, 2
   • What was he supposed to be doing? 2 Samuel 11:1
   • What three specific actions did David take toward his sin? 2 Samuel 11:3, 4
6. Where did David go wrong?
   • Lesson 1 – He was in the wrong place at the wrong time 2 Samuel 11:1, 2 (he was at home rather than in battle, and he got up from his bed, open to boredom and temptation.
   • Lesson 2 – He failed to protect himself with a network of accountability, answering to no one, he grew accustomed to wanting and getting.
   • Lesson 3 – He was lonely and made a plan (note the three actions of #5. b.)
     • Sinned in thought – 2 Samuel 11:2
     • Sinned in word – 2 Samuel 11:3
     • Sinned in deed – 2 Samuel 11:4
7. Could Bathsheba have prevented this from happening?
8. What superior character qualities do you see in Uriah? 2 Samuel 11:9, 11, 13 (Deuteronomy 23:9-10).
   • What does this reveal about David?
   • Where do you see the first hint of fear in David? About Uriah? About Joab?
   • Have you ever felt someone was faking an interest in you for an ulterior motive?
   • How did David involve Joab in his sin?
   • How would you describe David’s heart at this point? 2 Samuel 11:25
9. How far away is David’s heart? God’s commentary is 2 Samuel 11:27
   • Lesson 1 – He resisted opportunities to repent, but chose to stay in this revolving door of deception. 
     • How could he have repented or acted with integrity?
     • Why did he NOT repent
   • Lesson 2 – He was unmoved by Uriah’s integrity.
   • Lesson 3 – He tried to cover his own sin, rather than confess it. (Psalm 32:1)
   • Lesson 4 – He involved a lot of others in his sin.
10. What is Bathsheba feeling as her identity changes from Uriah’s wife, to David’s lover, to Uriah’s widow, to David’s bride? 2 Samuel 11:26-27
11. Why does Nathan the prophet speak to David using a parable? 2 Samuel 12:1, 2, 3, 4
    • Why did he use a sheep in his story?
    • Why does the absence of justice and mercy in Nathan’s story enrage David? 2 Samuel 12:5-6
    • What is Nathan’s perspective on gratitude? 2 Samuel 12:7-9
    • What three sons will meet a violent death in this prophecy? 2 Samuel 12:10
      • 2 Samuel 13:28-29
      • 2 Samuel 18:14-15
      • 1 Kings 2:24-25
12. How did the prophecy of 2 Samuel 12:11, 12 come to pass? 2 Samuel 16:21, 22
13. What toll did this sin take on David? Psalm 32:3, 4, 5
14. How does David’s response to rebuke compare to Saul’s response in a similar situation? 2 Samuel 12:13, Psalm 51 (1 Samuel 13:11-12, 15:13-26).
15. How did David respond to the child’s sudden illness? 2 Samuel 12:15-25
16. Notice God did not do what David asked (2 Samuel 12:16) but died (2 Samuel 12:18). Since prayer did not change the child’s health, what did change?
    • Lesson 1 – David’s plea forced him to a place of dependence on God.
    • Lesson 2 – David’s plea satisfied his spirit (the child did not die because he did not ask God to spare him).
    • Lesson 3 – David’s plea ensured his survival through this tragedy he and his wife would suffer (enabling him to comfort his wife 2 Samuel 12:24-25).
    • Lesson 4 – David’s plea touched God’s heart, He disciplines those whom He loves (Hebrews 12:6). Solomon was called, Jedidiah, which means “beloved of the Lord,” the successor to the throne.
17. No relief like repentance – Psalm 51
    • Psalm 51:1 – have mercy, according to Your love and compassion
    • Psalm 51:2 – wash and cleanse from sin
    • Psalm 51:3 – I know my sin, you can live without it, give it up
    • Psalm 51:4 – sin is against God alone; the biggest heartbreak
    • Psalm 51:5 – sinful at birth; it is a part of me
    • Psalm 51:6 – God desires truth; even when we don’t want to believe it
    • Psalm 51:7 – cleanse me with hyssop (Exodus 12:22-23) I’ll be whiter than snow
    • Psalm 51:8 – let the bones You have crushed rejoice; the pain of confessing and repenting will bring healing
    • Psalm 51:9 – hide Your face from my sin; our total depravity keeps us from looking to God, shame, embarrassment, He wants to forgive
    • Psalm 51:10 – create in me a pure heart; create is bara, like in Genesis 1:1, which only God can do for us
    • Psalm 51:11 – don not take the Holy Spirit from me; a fate worse than death
    • Psalm 51:12 – restore the joy of Your salvation
    • Psalm 51:13 – I will teach others and they will return to God; the forgiven become evangelists to God’s goodness

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