Tag: Bible Study

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?

I Samuel 13-18: A Tale of Three Men

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(13) How did Saul disobey God?  What excuses does he make?

What do Saul’s actions and excuses tell you about his heart?

(15) How did Saul disobey God?  What excuses does he make?

What do Saul’s actions and excuses tell you about his heart?

How would you summarize v22?

How should we apply this verse (and the entire passage) to our lives today?

(13-14) What contrasts do you see between Jonathan and Saul?

What do you learn about Jonathan’s heart?

(16-17) God is going to provide for himself a king.  What is God looking for, and not looking for (16:7, see also 9:2, 13:14)?

How might we apply 16:7 to our own lives today (see I Timothy 4:7-8)?

How does David exhibit what God is looking for in chapter 17?

How do David’s actions against Goliath point to Jesus?

(18) Again, what contrasts do you see between Jonathan and Saul?

What do you learn about each man’s heart?

(14, 17)  How do Jonathan and David demonstrate the truth found in II Corinthians 12:9-10?

How do we need to apply this truth to our lives today?

I Samuel 7-12: Where Is Your Heart?

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(7) What three instructions does Samuel give in v3?  How are they related to each other?

What commentary does this verse give to our culture’s obsession with the call to “just follow your heart”?

How does God respond to their repentance to further woo their hearts in this chapter?  How has God wooed your heart?

(8) On what are the hearts of Samuel’s sons set?

On what are the hearts of the people of Israel set in this chapter?  Why (v5, 20)?

How are we tempted in similar ways?

Samuel’s warnings of what a king will mean for them falls on deaf ears.  What are some examples of people whose hearts are set on something and so refuse to accept warnings?

(9-11) What characteristics does Saul have that might seem to make him a good choice for a king?  What concerns might there be?  How would you describe his heart?

God’s Spirit comes upon Saul making him a new man with a new heart to lead the people and fight their enemies (10:6, 9; 11:6).  So God is ultimately responsible for their victory over the Ammonites, as Saul himself recognizes (11:13).  Why is that important for the people to remember?  For us?

God touches the hearts of many men of valor to fight with Saul.  What has God placed on your heart?

(12) What instructions does Samuel give in v20-25?  What incentives are provided?

What are some empty things the world chases after that we might be tempted to also chase after?

What would it look like to serve God with all your heart?

I Samuel 1-6: To Honor God Or Not

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1) What word is used three times to show how Elkanah’s family honored God (1:3, 19, 26)?   What did that look like?

By application, what does that look like for us?

(1-2) In what ways does Hannah show honor to God?

How does the end of her prayer (2:10) foreshadow later events in this book and beyond?

(2) How does the rest of the chapter contrast Samuel and Eli’s sons as it relates to honoring God?

What applications might we find here for today?

(3) How does the author’s comment in 3:7 contrast to what we learned about Samuel in chapter 2?

In what ways might we see this contrast today?

(3) How does Samuel show honor to God? How does God respond?

(4) After Israel is defeated in v1-2, what smart idea do they have?  Are they honoring God or not?  Why?

How is this different from Hannah’s prayer in chapter 1?

When are we tempted to treat God like Israel did?

(5-6) How do the Philistines treat God at the beginning?  How does God respond?

How do the Philistines change their approach to God?  What do they decide to do?

(6) How do the people of Beth-shemesh treat God?  What happens?

What can we learn from the Philistines and the people of Beth-shemesh?

Ruth 1-4: The Story of Ruth

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1-2) What evidence do you see of Ruth’s full commitment to the God of Israel (1:16-17)?

What does she leave behind?  What has she gained (2:12b)?

How does her example challenge you?

(1-4) Kindness is a recurring theme throughout the book.  How does Ruth show kindness to Naomi?  To Boaz?

How does Boaz show kindness to Ruth and Naomi?

How does Naomi show kindness to Ruth?

How might we apply their example to our own lives?  Be specific.

(1-4) Kindness in 2:20 could refer to Boaz’s kindness or to God’s kindness.  How does God show his kindness toward Ruth and Naomi?

In what similar ways, has he shown his kindness toward you?

(2-4) Another recurring theme is redemption.  In what way is Boaz a redeemer for Ruth?  How does she ask?  What does he do?

How does Boaz’s redemption of Ruth point to Jesus?

How does their son point to Jesus (4:14-16)?

(1-4) What evidence of God’s sovereignty do you see in the details of this story?  In this story’s place in God’s plan of redemption?

(1-4) The book begins with loss as Naomi comes back bitter and empty.  By the end of the book there is new life, and Naomi has found blessing and joy.  How is that an encouragement to you?

Judges 17-21: Right In Our Own Eyes

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(17) In one sentence, summarize the story of Micah and his mom.

Which of the Ten Commandments did they break and how?

How is their story a good example of “do-it-yourself” religion?

Give some examples of “do-it-yourself” religion in our world today.

(18) How does Micah’s idolatry spread to a whole tribe?

Again, which of the Ten Commandments did the Levite and the tribe of Dan break and how?

(19-21) Chapter 19 relates horrible events that first mirrors the story of Sodom, and then gets even worse – all of it now taking place in Israel!  How does Israel respond in chapter 20?

What small glimmer of godliness is found in chapter 20?

What problem does Israel now have in chapter 21?  Did they seek the Lord’s direction to address the problem?  What did they do?

(17-21) What editorial comment does the writer make four times in this passage (17:17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25)?

Why is that significant?  How does it relate to Israel’s wickedness in these chapters?

What application is there for us today?

(17-21) What editorial comment does the writer use as a bookmark for these chapters (17:6, 21:25)?  Why is this a good summary of these chapters?

In what ways do you see this in our country and world today?

When are we tempted to live this way?  Why?

Application Questions

On By BrianIn Bible Journey1 Comment

After meditating on God’s Word, I often find God pointing to one or two ways that I need to apply the passage to my life.  These applications just “jump” out at me.

But what if an application doesn’t jump out?  Or what if we want to consider further possible applications?  Here are some good questions to help us apply God’s Word to our lives:

  • Is there a promise to claim?
  • Is there a truth to believe?
  • Is there a false way of thinking (from our culture) that I need to reject?
  • Is there a desire to embrace?
  • Is there a corrupt desire (from our culture) that I need to reject?
  • Is there a sin I need to confess and repent of?
  • Is there a command I need to obey?
  • Is there a good example I should follow?
  • Is there a sinful example that I should learn from and avoid?
  • How should this passage affect how I relate to God?
  • How should this passage affect how I relate to people?