Dear Readers,

For those who are doing the NT reading, you will be beginning the book of Romans this week. This is a pretty intense book, but it is also a very rewarding book. The very essence of the Christian life is found in this book. It will cover the topics of knowing our sin, understanding our salvation, and living in service to God. Dig deep as you begin the journey through this book.

Those doing the WB, we continue with the story of David found in the books of Samuel. Are you seeing David as a man after God's heart? Do you see his care of others, repentance, humility before God? What are some of the lessons you are learning as you read about David? I am sure some of them are in contrast to his mistakes and some are pathway you desire to follow. Keep asking God to reveal to you what makes David a person after his heart. Than ask God to help build that into your own life.

Have fun reading this week!

DAY ONE, MAY 7 - II SAMUEL 3-5
Chapter 3
What happened between those who sided with David and those who sided with Saul's family?
How well are you able to recognize the leaders that God has given you?
How many sons did David have and who where their mothers? Do you think this was God's best for David or just a cultural norm? NOTE: you will see the effects of this in David's life in the rest of this book.
What does Abner say he wants to do for David?
What happens to Abner?
What kind of a heart does David show in response to Abner and the wickedness against him?
How do you react to injustice?
How do the people respond to David?
What are David's feelings toward Joab and Abishai?
Who does David expect will handle any revenge on Joab and Abishai?
Where do you leave the need for revenge?
Chapter 4
What happens to Isbosheth, the son of Saul?
What did Baanah and Recap think they were doing for David?
Again, where does David expect revenge and punishment to come from?
What does this say about David's heart?
How do you handle those who are enemies to you and have wronged you?
Chapter 5
What finally happened to David in Hebron?
How long are you willing to wait for the fulfillment of God's promises in your life?
According to verse 10, why did David "become more and more powerful?"
How is God's presence in your life evident?
Why was David made great?
How is your work in the Kingdom of God making a difference among the people of God?
What does David say about God in verses 20-21?
How has God "broke through" your enemies in your life?
Read verse 24 again, how does God go before you?

DAY TWO, MAY 8 - II SAMUEL 6-8
Chapter 6
Thinking back over your past reading, why was the Arc of God at Abinadab's house?
What is the attitude and behavior of the people as the Arc is coming home?
What happens to Uzzah and why?
How is it possible to have both celebration and holy respect for the presence of God?
Do the ways of God sometimes confuse you?
CHALLENGE QUESTION: How do you try to clarify what God's will is?
Read verses 21-22, how foolish are you willing to be before man in order to celebrate completely before the Lord?
Chapter 7
What does David want to do?
What is God's response to it and why?
What does God promise David?
How does David respond to God's promises?
In what way has God blessed you?
In what way do you feel completely unworthy?
Write a prayer of praise in response to the great things that God has done in your life and what he has promised you.
Chapter 8
What does this chapter describe?
According to verse 11 what did David do with all he has received?
What do you need to dedicate to God today?
According to verse 15, how does David reign?
How do you treat others?

DAY THREE, MAY 9 - II SAMUEL 9-12
Chapter 9
What had David promised Jonathan many years before?
How does David go about fulfilling that promise?
What promise do you need to go back to and make right?
Chapter 10
How do the people of the Ammonites dishonor David and the Israelites?
What was the result?
How strong is the Israelite army?
How does that show God's blessing on David as the faithful leader of Israel?
Chapter 11
NOTE: Even people who have a heart for God sin and that sin effects others too. The sin of others does not justify our own willful sinning.
Describe David's decline into sin. How could he have stopped this downward spiral?
Describe Bathsheba's responsibility in this activity.
How does David continue in sin by trying to cover it up?
How does each sin get bigger and bigger?
What is God's attitude toward David's actions?
Chapter 12
What is the story that Nathan goes to tell David and what does it mean?
What is David's punishment for his lust and greed (and now also murder)?
How was David's sin done in secret have to be dealt with in public?
NOTE: Often we think we are getting away with our sin and keeping it secret (from ourselves, others, and God) or even justifying it and rationalizing it to the point we think we are right. But if we continue in our sin the consequence may often go public. This is not the act of a vindictive and mean God but the result of our own choices.
What sin do you need to deal with?
What does David do in verse 13?
How does this show David to have a heart for God?
Read verse 13-14 again. How does God show forgiveness to us and yet not remove the consequences of them? CHALLENGE QUESTIONS: Why does he do it that way?
Describe David's reaction to the sick baby.
How does God show his love toward David and Bethsheba again?
How have you felt a restored relationship with God after you confessed your sin and dealt with the consequences?

DAY FOUR, MAY 10 - II SAMUEL 13-14
Chapter 13
Who are Tamar, Absalom, Amnon and Jonadab?
What is their relationship to each other and to David?
How many of these relationships were the result of David having many wives?
What does Jonadab advise Amnon to do?
Whose advise are you taking? Should you be taking that person's advise?
What is Amnon's feeling toward Tamar before he took what he wanted and what is it afterwards?
What is our attitude often like toward something we just take when we know it isn't right for us?
What does it say that David did or did not do when he heard about the incident?
How do you think this adds to Tamar's shame?
How did this compound the dysfunction in the home?
What does Absalom do in response to the incident?
How is the beginning of God's promise of the consequences to David's lust and greed that escalated to murder, seen here?
Chapter 14
NOTE: In situations where one sin has been added to another, it is difficult to know what to do. There is no easy way to unravel the effects. It is impossible to tell who is more right or wrong and who is more sinful than the other person is. Even Christians can get into situations like that. It requires a lot of prayer and forgiveness on everyone's part.
What does the woman of Tekoa do and say to David about her son?
What does she say to David about his son?
What is she trying to say to him? What does he do? Is his reconciling complete?
Is there someone you are estranged from due to his/her sinful ways and should you try to reconcile with him or her?

DAY FIVE, MAY 11 - II SAMUEL 15-17
Chapter 15
How does Absalom treat David and what does he end up doing?
How does David react to the news that Absalom is leading a rebellion?
Does this sound like the mighty David who was a successful military leader?
CHALLENGE QUESTIONS: Why do you think David reacts this way?
How would you rate David in his parenting ability?
What is the plan to use his advisor that David came up with?
Have you ever felt betrayed by someone very close to you?
How did you react?
Chapter 16
How does Mephibosheth treat David?
Has someone you treated more than fairly ever mistreated you?
How does David response to Shimei's curse show how low David is, thinking that even God is cursing him?
Have you ever felt that rejected, depressed, worthless, helpless, weary, and unable to help yourself as David does now?
What act of extreme insult did Absalom do against David?
Chapter 17
What was the advice from Ahithophel and what was from Hushai?
Who was God with and why?
What plan saved David?
How did God take care of David?
How has God taken care of you in a hopeless time?

DAY SIX, MAY 12 - II SAMUEL 18-20
Chapter 18
Who had God's favor in the battle?
What happened to Absalom?
How did Absaloms glory become his end?
NOTE: Often the thing we price more than God and don't use for His glory may become our downfall. Pride in ourselves and not in God shows where our heart is.
Why do you think Joab killed Absalom even though David told him not to do so?
What do you think would have happened to Israel if Absalom were not stopped?
Have you ever had to make a hard choice at the expense of one to benefit many?
Chapter 19
What was Joab's rebuke to David?
Have you had to listen to truthful words of another because you where blind to them on your own?
How was David reinstated after his despair?
How did David extend that to Shimei, Mephbosheth, Barzillai and others?
How has God restored you to a right relationship with him?
How have you extended that forgiveness to others?
Chapter 20
How does warfare continue to plague David and his armies?
How is much of that strife distorting many things that God built?
What advice does Joab get from a woman in the city?
Is there another way to handle a dispute you are having right now with someone?

DAY SEVEN, MAY 13 - II SAMUEL 21-22
Chapter 21
This is another of those strange events in the Bible that is hard to explain.
What does David do to try and find the truth?
How do we see David trying to show respect and honor to others in this situation?
In the unusual situations in your life, where do you seek truth and how do you treat others?
Even though David killed Goliath, there continued to be more giants in his life. Are there things in your life that seem insurmountable? How do you handle it?
Chapter 22
What does David continue to do before God through all is trials as he realizes it is always God who helps him?
What parts of this Psalm of praise can you identify with?
Try writing your own Psalm of praise to God for helping you through your trials.

YOU CAN ALWAYS USE THESE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR ANY BIBLE READING:

Always begin your time of God with prayer. Ask him for understanding and insights. You can pick out a verse, thought or feeling from the passage and think on it (mediate) on it all day. Meditating on God's word means to digest it, put it into your mind, think on it, and concentrate in different ways on the passage.

Some ways you can do this is:
1. Put yourself into the scene.
2. Emphasize different words in the verse.
3. Paraphrase the passage in your own words.
4. Pray the passage back to God if it is a prayer, song, poem, etc (personalize it).
5. Use SPACE PETS acrostic to ask some standard questions.
     S - Sins to confess? Do I need to make restitution?
     P - Promises to claim? Have I met the conditions(s)?
     A - Attitudes to change? Am I willing?
     C - Commands to obey? Even if I don't feel like it?
     E - Examples to follow? One to copy or avoid?
     P - Prayers to pray? Is there something I need to tell God?
     E - Errors to avoid?
     T - Truths about God or the Bible I need to believe?
Adapted from 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods (Chapter 1) by Richard Warren and William A. Shell.