2 Samuel David's Heart Revealed (MacArthur Bible Studies)

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David, even as he advances in years, perseveres through the chaos of kingship, inspired by Second Samuel.

In yesterday's passage, we learned how Sheba's insurrection was quickly snuffed out when the people saw through his lies and killed him, preventing a bloody battle with David's army. Today, we'll turn our attention back to Jerusalem where King David, now advancing in years, continues to rule through hard times, both internally and in conflict with neighboring nations. We'll see the perseverance of a king who continually seeks God's will and the best for his people.

We find the answer in 2 Samuel 21 and verse 1.

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Inspired by the book of 2 Samuel.

We hear his words to the king in 2 Samuel 19 verse 19.

Let not my Lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my Lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart.

His quest for peace and reconciliation continued. He understood what his son Solomon would one day write in Ecclesiastes that there is a time for everything, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time for war and a time for peace.

This was a time for peace and restoring peace and David knew the future of the nation depended upon it.

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David fleeing from his life again is met with true loneliness and comforted by the Spirit of God, as inspired by the book of 2 Samuel.

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In this story Absalom will return from hiding after Joab devised a way to convince David of his innocence as inspired by 2 Samuel.

Today's passage opens with Absalom in exile banished by his father for killing his half-brother Amnon but Joab, David's trusted commander, could sense the king's sadness.

Then she says this in 2 Samuel 14 verse 14: 'We must all die. We are like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again but God will not take away life and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.'

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inspired by the book of 2 Samuel.

Listen to David's words and God's reply in 2 Samuel 12-13.

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Now we see David growing complacent in victory.

And in today's passage we'll see what happens when David takes his eyes off the vision that God had given him and allows his gaze to settle on a married woman, the wife of one of his mighty men.

David should have recognized the temptation, the danger of that moment. He should have turned around, walked away and obeyed God.

He sent for Bathsheba to be brought to him and the two slept together.

And in our next reading we'll see how God deals with David and how his mercies persist even in the midst of David's sin and its consequences.

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Inspired by the book of 2 Samuel.

In yesterday's story, we heard about David's mighty men, how they mirrored his own devotion, bravery, courage and commitment.

The battle against the Philistines had been won. The dust of war and strife had begun to settle, and it was time for the Ark of the Covenant to come home to the people.

David arose early in the morning with 30,000 hand-picked men. A holy and fierce procession of warriors trailed the Ark of the Covenant as priests began to carry it.

David was elated to lead his people in this way. David would often forget that before he was a warrior or king, he was a musician and worship leader. His heart was warmed by the opportunity to lead the people in song.

David brought the Ark back to Jerusalem and the entire city rejoiced in its return.

David's joy could not be contained. He danced and leapt with joy in the courtyard of his home. David cast off his royal robes and danced among the people as one of them. David danced without inhibition, embarrassing his wife, Mihael, who watched from the window.

David looked at his wife knowing she was the daughter of Saul and expected a different type of king.

We open today's story with a defeated enemy. The Philistines had been driven out soundly defeated because God gave David and his armies many victories. This was no accident. David consistently sought God and his favor and God gave him victory after victory.

David knew he needed to be careful, but he also was in a hurry to get the ark back to Israel. So rather than call on the Levites to carry the ark on their shoulders using wooden poles as God commanded, David summoned two priests to carry the ark on an ox-pulled cart.

It was a reminder that God's holiness is serious. But David was angry and didn't understand why God would do that. So he left the ark at the home of a Levite. God blessed that home, and after some time David resolved again to take the ark to Israel. This time, the Levites bore the ark all the way to the city of David. David, along with all the people, was ecstatic, rejoicing before the Lord.

David threw off his kingly robes and danced without inhibitions. He wasn't dancing for appearances or for pleasure, but for his God. His wife, Michael, saw him and she was embarrassed. She chastised him when he got home. But David didn't care. In 2 Samuel 621 we hear his response. And David said to Michael, It was before the Lord who chose me above your father and above all his house to appoint me as a prince over Israel, the people of the Lord, and I will celebrate before the Lord. God deserves our praise and our worship, even when it is exuberant and enthusiastic. That's what David understood as he danced without inhibition or fear of embarrassment. He was dancing before and for Almighty God, because the ark was finally home where it belonged.

David was a king who waited on God and worshiped him without reservation and who led the people to do the same. This was the king that God had chosen, the man after God's own heart.

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David, God's anointed, will inherit a kingdom riddled with imperfection and in desperate need of God's guidance inspired by the book of 2 Samuel.

David, God's anointed, will inherit a kingdom riddled with imperfection and in desperate need of God's guidance inspired by the book of 2 Samuel.

Now we'll hear how the conflict between Israel and Israel is far from over.

David, God's anointed, will inherit a kingdom riddled with imperfection and in desperate need of a godly leader and in desperate need of a godly leader and in desperate need of a godly leader.

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We're going to 2 Samuel 11. The greatest king of Israel. The first king was Saul...