Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
11:4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her.
(From Constable's Commentary) "The king who took another man's wife already had a harem full of women. The simple fact is that the passion of sex is not satisfied by a full harem of women: it is increased. Having many women does not reduce a man's libido it excites it… it stimulates it… One of the lies of our secular society is that is you just satisfy this drive, then it'll be abated."
The flesh is never satisfied, it always wants more – more sex, more alcohol, more drugs, more money, more…
11:4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her.
(From Constable's Commentary) "The king who took another man's wife already had a harem full of women. The simple fact is that the passion of sex is not satisfied by a full harem of women: it is increased. Having many women does not reduce a man's libido it excites it… it stimulates it… One of the lies of our secular society is that is you just satisfy this drive, then it'll be abated."
The flesh is never satisfied, it always wants more – more sex, more alcohol, more drugs, more money, more…
12:7-8 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.
David had started to take God's blessings for granted. And God said, "I would have given you even more." David had stopped short of pursuing all God had for him and had been seeking his own interests. God always has more for us – more to give us, teach us, and show us. We run into problems when we stop pursuing God.
12:7-8 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.
David had started to take God's blessings for granted. And God said, "I would have given you even more." David had stopped short of pursuing all God had for him and had been seeking his own interests. God always has more for us – more to give us, teach us, and show us. We run into problems when we stop pursuing God.
13:21 When King David heard all this, he was furious.
David was furious with Amnon for raping Tamar but did nothing. It was hard for him discipline Amnon because he himself was guilty of sexual sin.
(From Constable's Commentary) "Grace means that God, in forgiving you does not kill you. Grace means God gives you the strength to endure the consequences. It does not mean sin's consequences are automatically removed."
13:21 When King David heard all this, he was furious.
David was furious with Amnon for raping Tamar but did nothing. It was hard for him discipline Amnon because he himself was guilty of sexual sin.
(From Constable's Commentary) "Grace means that God, in forgiving you does not kill you. Grace means God gives you the strength to endure the consequences. It does not mean sin's consequences are automatically removed."
14:14 Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him.
This was in relation to Absalom after he killed Amnon. God's people know that God was merciful and devised ways so that a banished person doesn't have to remain banished. Even OT people knew this, they knew about cities of refuge etc. The ultimate way God devised was the cross.
14:14 Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him.
This was in relation to Absalom after he killed Amnon. God's people know that God was merciful and devised ways so that a banished person doesn't have to remain banished. Even OT people knew this, they knew about cities of refuge etc. The ultimate way God devised was the cross.
15:25-26 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.”
David committed himself to God and whatever outcome God desired. He didn't pray to be rescued but trusted God to do "whatever seems good to him." David knew he had done the wrong thing and accepted the outcome God ordained. Those it does seem he expected to go back to the palace (v. 16) as he left 10 concubines to take care of the palace.
15:25-26 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.”
David committed himself to God and whatever outcome God desired. He didn't pray to be rescued but trusted God to do "whatever seems good to him." David knew he had done the wrong thing and accepted the outcome God ordained. Those it does seem he expected to go back to the palace (v. 16) as he left 10 concubines to take care of the palace.