1st And 2nd Samuel (2015)

Are there any decisions that are too small to bother God about? Listen to this lesson to learn that David sought God’s guidance in everything. See the contrast between the wisdom of David and the foolishness of Saul and his followers. Find out that the providential sovereignty of God is always working behind the scenes but never interfering with man’s volition. Find out that we no longer have special revelation but need to rely on the wisdom we find by learning God’s Word and applying it to our lives.

Get ready for a quick overview of the book of 2 Samuel centering on David as the king of Israel. Learn that it is divided into three basic parts: blessing, discipline, and six episodes. Like any modern drama, hear about power lust, intrigue, and murder, but see how throughout it all David keeps his loyalty to God and is dependent on prayer. Learn about the center of the book involving two events that shape the rest. Hear six provisions of the Davidic Covenant and the eternal aspect of it. Find out the importance of kindness and graciousness which David showed to his enemies. The outline for 2 Samuel is available in the Notes link below.

What can we learn from the death of Saul and David’s response? Listen to this lesson to learn that the events in the Old Testament are relevant to what is happening in our world today, including political intrigue, lies, and religious motivations. Learn the details of Saul’s death that ended in his suicide. Hear about a messenger who came to David to tell about these events and the lessons we can apply to our own lives. Hear David’s expression of his respect and love for Saul’s position as king and for Jonathan.

How should we handle our battles in this life? Listen to this message to hear the lessons that David had learned about trusting God in the midst of all his adversities. See the importance of learning the characteristics of God so we can appreciate the provisions He has for us. Find out the necessity for training to be prepared for whatever happens. Understand that God trains us when we study His Word. As we conclude this psalm we should be reminded that God is sovereign and His justice will ultimately prevail.

Is Thanksgiving just a day for lots of good food and being with family for you? Listen to this lesson to learn that David shows us in his psalms that we should be thankful to God every day of our lives. Find out what is necessary to enjoy fellowship with God and how to be sure that our prayers are heard. See that only God can build a church or a family and that it’s not through our own efforts. Learn the meaning of humbling ourselves when we come under adversity so God can exalt us.

What does it mean that God blesses, recompenses, and rewards us? Listen to this lesson to see that David in Psalm 18 is not talking about salvation but about our fellowship with God after we are saved. Find out the importance of fellowship with God. See that God distributes blessings to us when we have the capacity for them and how this capacity is developed. Learn five basic things we need to know about rewards. Keep in mind that when we come to the end of our lives, all that will matter will be our relationship with the Lord.

When did you last take time to recall God’s goodness to you and His answers to your prayers? Listen to this lesson to learn how David described all God had done for him. Hear about the waters of Shiloah which speak of God’s protection. Find out the difference between the free gift of imputed righteousness and experiential righteousness which we earn by walking by means of the Holy Spirit. During this lesson Dr. Dean referenced an article on the Reformation by Barna Group. You can view it here. Dr. Dean also recommends that you view a video about Hezekiah's Tunnel and the Gihon Spring which he discussed this evening. The video is located here.

Does God intervene in human history in answer to prayer? Listen to this lesson to learn instances of God’s intervention. Hear four different parts of prayer that we can utilize in our personal prayers. See that our prayers are not to be designed to get God to give us what we want but are to change us to think like God thinks in the Word of God. Hear how David expresses God’s power as He rules His creation in amazing ways throughout Scripture. Learn about Bible believing scientists who made tremendous scientific discoveries throughout history.

What does the Bible teach about Sheol? Listen to this lesson to learn at least three meanings of the word, only one of which refers to a specific location. See that the word should not be translated as hell. Find out what we’re to do when we are deeply distressed. See what David means when he refers to God’s temple and compare and contrast God’s heavenly temple with His earthly temple. Marvel that when we pray to God He hears and answers us.

Do you feel surrounded by evil? Listen to this lesson to learn that prayer should be our normal procedure when chaotic torrents are washing over us. Find out that God always answers prayer, usually in one of three ways. Hear what the phrase “sons of Belial” means in the Scripture and learn about the evil associated with these people and how their actions result in destroying their own cultures and selves. Understand that only God can control the sons of Belial and bring order out of chaos.

Do you feel the need for strength some days? Listen to this lesson to see that God is the One who gives us physical, mental, and spiritual strength when we call on Him. Find out how the word “rock” is used in both the Old and New Testaments and how it refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. See that we can rely on God to protect us and we have nothing to fear. At the end of this lesson, hear Moses Onwubiko, an international evangelist and Bible teacher, tell about how he is bringing the gospel and the truth of the Bible to people around the world.

How grateful are you to God when He delivers you? Listen to this lesson to learn about a Psalm of David when he was delivered from his enemies. Hear why David was called a man after God’s own heart and what he means by his righteousness. See the importance of being honest about our thoughts to God and how that clarifies our own thinking. Hear three things that we must accomplish before we can express our love to God the way David does.

Do you trust God on a daily basis or do you wait until you have tried everything you can to help yourself? Listen to this lesson to learn about the example of Saul’s sin unto death in contrast to David’s life. Hear the principles of grace orientation and see how God treats us in grace so we should treat others in the same way. Find out Saul’s last words compared to David’s last words. Learn from Saul’s miserable death, which was the consequence of repeatedly rebelling against God.

Have you ever been involved with bitter people or even become bitter yourself? Listen to this lesson to learn how bitterness can destroy your ability to handle the stresses of life. See how when David faced bitter people he strengthened himself in God by remembering God’s goodness and help in times past. Find out how this incident in David’s life is a picture of how Christ rescues us. Learn from David’s attitude after he defeated the Amalekites the importance of being gracious and fair to those you are around.

How can we trust God when everything is going wrong in our lives? Listen to this lesson to see that we need to take the time to study the truth of God’s Word to be prepared for the difficult times. See that Saul is determined to make God guide him but he goes about it in a wrong way. Hear what a necromancer does and why Saul hoped to get some help from her. Find out if the woman was responsible for bringing Samuel back from the dead. Learn three reasons why Samuel was brought forward. Be reminded that our role is to orient to God’s ways and not to try to make God orient to ours.

How should believers handle their fears? Listen to this lesson to learn there is a right and a wrong way. See that Saul chose the wrong way and turned to the occult which was forbidden. Find out that the emotion of fear is basic to our sin nature and is the first emotion mentioned in the Bible. Hear principles on fear that teach us how to handle our fears in wisdom. Instead of listening to our fears, we should base our actions on what the Word of God says.

Can Christians become involved in the occult world? Listen to this lesson to learn about mediums and spiritists and the many synonyms for the demonic creatures. See that seeking answers from the dead carries the death penalty from God. Hear a list of the deeds of the spirit world that God forbids. Hear about two kinds of idolatry and how all of us are drawn to it to some degree. Learn that the ultimate issue is to get our answers from God’s revealed Word only.

When troubles come in the lives of believers they face two choices. Are they going to take matters in their own hands or are they going to trust God? Listen to this lesson to see how David handled severe testing. Hear his prayers in the Psalms where he saw God as his deliverer. Learn the history of the Amalekites and who God had commanded to destroy them completely. Today we face the same options when we have problems in our lives and need to realize God is protecting us.

When we’re in a period of deep mourning we should turn to Psalms for ways to pray and seek comfort from God. Listen to this lesson to hear one of David’s psalms that demonstrates this. Focusing on God’s truth gives us the stability we desperately need in difficult times. Find out that we need to remember God has poured out His grace on people from the beginning. This requires us to have learned the content of the Word of God before troubles come.

Wouldn’t it be great to know you are always under strong protection? Listen to this lesson to hear how David was being helped by the providence of God working behind the scenes. See that all believers have the assurance that God is taking care of them. Learn that David’s deception of Achish was a kind of wisdom we need when living in a pagan environment. Take comfort in knowing God is intimately involved in the oversight of His creation.