Category: OT Studies

Psalms 31-40: Waiting on the Lord

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(31-40) Read 38:15.  Again and again in these psalms, we are encouraged to wait on the Lord.  What do you think that means?  Give an example of when you have had to wait upon the Lord.

For what situations in your life today do you need to wait upon the Lord?

In the following verses, what words further describe what this waiting should look like?  Or not look like?  How do each of these ideas apply to your current life situation?

31:24 –

33:20-22 –

37:7-9, 34 –

39:7 –

40:1 –

(31-40) What are we encouraged to do again and again in these verses: 31:6,14-15;  32:10,  33:21,  37:3,5;  40:3-4?  How is this related to waiting?

(31-40) What incentives does God give us to wait upon Him (33:20, 38:15, 40:1)?

What further incentives do we find in 31:19, 34:8, 36:7-9?

How do these incentives encourage you to wait on the Lord in your current life situation?

(31-40) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

Psalms 21-30: Different Types of Psalms

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(28) What is David doing in v1-2? How might you use these verses in your trials?

What trial is David facing according to v3-5?  What trials are you facing?

How does the psalm change in v6-9?  Have you experienced this change in your prayers?

(23) Why do you think this psalm is so popular?

How does it specifically encourage you right now?

(30) What is David doing in this psalm?

For what recent event in your own life could you use this psalm as your own prayer?

(29) For what does David praise the Lord in this psalm?

How might this psalm help you to praise the Lord?

(22) How does this psalm point to Jesus (see especially v1, 16, 18)?

How might it have helped Jesus?  How might it help you?

(21-30) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

Psalms 11-20: Responding to God’s Revelation

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(19) In what two ways does God reveal himself to us?

(12, 14) How do these two psalms describe the wicked?

From that description, how would you describe their response to God’s revelation of himself in Psalm 19?

(11-20) How do the following passages describe the righteous?

13:1-4 –

15:1-5 –

16:2, 5-6, 11 –

20:6-7 –

11:7, 17:5 –

How does their description in each of the passages above relate to God’s revelation of himself in Psalm 19?

How well do these descriptions describe you?  In what ways do you need to grow?

(16) How do v9-11 point to Jesus (see Acts 2:24-32)?

(1-10) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

Psalms 1-10: Two Ways To Live

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1) What two ways to live are presented in this psalm?

What are the results of each way?

(2-10) How do these psalms describe the righteous?  What are they like?  What do they do?

How well does this description describe you?  What changes do you need to make in your life?

How does God respond to the righteous?

When have you seen God act toward you in one of those ways?

(2-10) How do the psalms describe the wicked?  What are they like?  What do they do?

How does God respond to the wicked?  Does anything surprise you?

In light of these psalms, how do you think we should respond when we see the actions of the wicked?  How should we not respond?

(2) Since we all sin, how can any of us be counted among the righteous (v12, see also Hebrews 6:17-20)?

(1-10) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

II Samuel 20-24: Sin and Salvation

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(20) Summarize this chapter.

What was Sheba’s sin, and what were the consequences?

How would you describe Joab from this chapter and earlier chapters?

(21) What was Saul’s sin?  What were the consequences?  What was their solution?

What does their solution tell you about sin?  How might their solution point to Jesus?

Do you think their solution was God’s will?

(21, 23) What do 21:15-22 and 23:8-39 tell you about David’s success in battle and as king?

What spiritual principle is there for us to recognize?

(22-23) According to David, what was the ultimate source of his success as king?  How is David saved from his enemies?

Which verses in chapter 22 especially speak to you?

How might 23:1-7 point to Jesus?

(24) What was David’s sin?  What were the consequences?  Does that seem fair?  Can you think of contemporary examples?

How might this principle relate to Adam and Jesus?

How would you further describe Joab from this chapter?

How do David’s last actions in the book point to Jesus?

II Samuel 15-19: Hurting and Helping

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(15-19) In 12:10-12, Nathan predicted several consequences to David’s sin.  How do we see these predictions come true in chapters 15-19?

(15-19) What words would you use to describe Absalom?

What evidence do you see of his pride?

What contrast do you see in David?

How does Hushai use Absalom’s pride to help David?

(15-19) David’s sin and Absalom’s pride doesn’t just cause hurt to themselves.  Who else is negatively affected by their sin, and how?

What principle or warning do you see for our own lives today?

(15-19) In midst of this mess, we see numerous examples of loyalty and friendship.  How do each of the following show loyalty to David, and how are they an example for us?

  • His servants –
  • Ittai the Gittite –
  • Abiathar and Zadok –
  • Hushai –
  • Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai –
  • Joab –

How do you need to be a better friend?

II Samuel 8-14: Triumph and Failure

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(8, 10) What reason is given for David’s many victories (8:6, 14)?

What does this suggest about our victories, and how should we live in light of this truth?

How do Joab’s words balance the twin truths of man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty?  What would it look like to err by stressing either truth?

(8-10) How does 8:15 point forward to a greater King (Isaiah 9:7)?

How is David’s kindness to Mephibosheth a picture of God’s kindness towards us (chapter 9)?

How do the actions of Hanun remind us of the consequences of rejecting God’s kindness (10:1-5, John 3:36)?

(11-14) David’s triumphs give way to failure.  Trace David’s path into sin (11:1-4).  What should David have done differently to overcome temptation?

One sin often leads to another sin.  How does David’s first sin snowball into many more?

Describe David’s sin from God’s point of view (11:27; 12:9, 14).  How might seeing sin in this way help us to overcome temptation?

David repents and God forgives, but consequences remain.  What consequences does Nathan mention in 12:10-14, and how do you see these consequences play out in chapters 12-14?

How should the reality of sin’s consequences help us overcome temptation?  Why does it often not?

II Samuel 1-7: David Becomes King

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1) How does David respond to Saul’s death (v17-27)?  How does this relate to Jesus’ call to love our enemies?

What should this call look like in our own lives today?  Be specific.

(1) How might David’s response to the Amalekite relate to our culture’s current obsession with assisted suicide?

(2-4) Why does Joab kill Abner?  How does David respond?  Why?

How does David respond to the murder of Ishbosheth?  Why?

How are David’s responses informative for us today as we think about our own leaders?

(5) How does David respond when the Philistines come against him, and how is his response instructive for us?

When did you respond in this way during the past week?

(6) What principles do we learn about worship in v1-11?  In v12-19?

How might we apply these principles to our worship today?

(7) David wants to build a house for the Lord, but instead God will build a house for David.  What promises does God make to David in v12-16?

In what ways are these verses fulfilled in Solomon?

In what ways are these verses fulfilled in Jesus?

How does David respond to God’s promises in v18-29?  What principles about worship can we learn from his response?

I Samuel 25-31: Taking Matters Into Our Own Hands

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(25) How is David tempted to take matters into his own hands?

What reasons does Abigail give for David to not take vengeance?

What further instructions do you find in Romans 12:17-22?

What application do you see for your own life?

(26) How is David tempted to take matters into his own hands?

Why does David refuse?

What principle is this passage teaching us, and what application do you see for your own life?

(27) Do you think David is taking matters into his own hands in this chapter?  Why or why not?

Why are we tempted to take matters into our own hands?

(28, 31) How does Saul take matters into his own hands?  Why?

What do you think he should have done?

What are the results of his actions (see also I Chronicles 10:13-14)?

(29-30) What does David do when he finds out the Amalekites have kidnapped his family (v5-8)?  Then what does he do?

How does God help David recover his family?

How is David in this chapter a good example for us today?

I Samuel 25-31: Faithful

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(19-24) God is faithful to David.  How does God faithfully guide and protect David?

19:1-7 –

19:8-9 –

19:10-17 –

19:18-24 –

20:1-42 –

21:1-15 –

22:1-23 –

23:1-14 –

23:19-29 –

24:1-22 –

What application do you find for your own life?

(19-20, 23) Despite his dad’s murderous attempts on David’s life, Jonathan remains faithful to David, and David to Jonathan.  How do they show their faithfulness to one another in these passages?

19:1-7 –

20:1-42 –

23:17-18 –

What does it mean that Jonathan “strengthened his hand in God”?  How might we strengthen a friend’s hand in God?

How might we further apply their example to our own friendships?